To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 4 February 1780
From Major General William Heath
Highlands [N.Y.] Feb: 4 1780
Dear General
A relation of disagreable circumstances has of late composed my correspondence. this is of the Same complexion. The enclosed I received this morning about 10 oClock.1 The detachment who have been doing duty on the Lines consisted of 250 rank and File, properly officer’d & commanded by a Feild officer whose instructions were to be constantly moving between Hudsons river and Bedford, Croten River and the white plains and, to avoid being Surprized, never to remain long in one place. As I have not yet receiv’d all the particulars of this unhappy event I cannot relate them: As Soon as they come to hand they Shall be transmitted.2 It is said the Enemys force consisted of 80 Horse of the Legion and refugees under a Colo. DeLancy3 & 200 Infantry principally from the Irish volunteers. I had Some days since intelligence that the Enemy were meditating an enterprise, said to be against Colo. Mead, which I mention’d in mine of the 27th ultimo—I then caution’d Lt Colo. Thompson who commanded on the Lines to be much on his guard as he probably might be their real object; indeed, more explicit orders could not have been given than those which he had in writing.4 Yesterday was the day Lt Colo. Thompson was to have been relieved—Lt Colo. Badlam with the relief were on their march for that purpose. the augmentation of the Enemys Horse may be Something troublesome on the Lines.
Enclosed is the report of the Court of enquiry ascertaining the loss of Public Stores in the late Fire at west point, as near as possible—which is very considerable.5 A Court is now sitting to investigate the cause of the Bomb proof taking Fire on the night of the 1st Inst.6 this has been done in every instance of Fire, but with the most critical enquiry, we cannot fully ascertain how the late fires have happened—whether by design or accident—there are Some Suspicions of the former—there are Strong grounds for the later.
As the sound is now frozen over and Troops may with ease pass almost any where, I fear the Enemy will do Some mischief—and our numbers are So much reduced by the men’s time of Service having expired, and daily expiring, and by Furloughing the reinlisted men that it is not in my power to make any Considerable detachments. I expect next to hear that the Enemy have beaten up Colo. Meads quarters. The Season, the deep Snows, and long inactivity of the Enemy, have led many to suppose that there is not the most distant danger. it is hard to convince them of the contrary. some will be taught only by misfortune. I have the honor to be, With the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most obedt servt
W. Heath
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers; copy (extract), enclosed in GW to Samuel Huntington, 14 Feb., DNA:PCC, item 152; copy (extract), DNA:PCC, item 169.
1. Heath enclosed the report of Capt. Orringh Stoddard. The letter, dated 3 Feb. at “Younges Farm,” Westchester County, N.Y., reads: “have a very disagreable account to send You. this Morning 9 oClock we were informed of a party of the Enemys Horse being within one mile of our Guards. the Colo. immediatly sent orders for all the Companies to repair to his Quarters. Capt. Cooper on the Left had not time to joine before the Enemy had atacked the Colo. I also on the wright were Cut off from joining the party. but had an opertu[n]ity of coming on their left wing, but two late to due much only had a fue fires on them. and retreated with my company. lost no men—whe had 15 men kild the Colo. 2 Captains 2 Subs. and a Number made prisoner at present dont know the Number. the Enemy after Burning Younges House retired with some loss but at present not asertaind.
“beg the Genls orders what shall be done here” (DLC:GW).
2. See Heath to GW, 10–11 February.
3. Col. James De Lancey commanded the Westchester County Refugees and Militia, a royal militia unit composed of one troop of horse and two companies of infantry. Captured in November 1777, De Lancey was paroled in January 1778 and, after his exchange, named colonel of the Westchester County Refugees in January 1780.
4. On 28 Jan., Heath had warned Lt. Col. Joseph Thompson that it was “not improbable” that his command might be the enemy’s target and urged him to take “every precaution.” He specifically ordered Thompson to “endeavour to develop their designs, and Seasonably to observe their motions” (MHi: Heath Papers).
5. For Heath’s report of this fire, see his letter to GW of 27 January. Heath enclosed a document, signed by Col. Michael Jackson, that reads: “A Court of Inquiry, ordered by Brigr General Patterson, to sit in Fort Arnold this 2d February 1780 ‘to investigate in as accurate a manner as possible, what Public Stores &c. were consumed in the late Fire at this Garrison’—of which Coll Jackson is Pres[iden]t [and] Coll Wesson [and] Capt. Fleming of the Artilly [are] Members—Are of opinion the Garrison Quartr Master has done his utmost to save what Public Stores it was possible; and believe, on examination, that the annexed Return is right” (DLC:GW).
Included with the report of the court of inquiry was a “Return of Stores in the Quarter Master Generall Department under the care of Timo. Whiting A[ssistant] D[eputy] Q[uarter] M[aster] G[eneral] at West Point Consumed & rendered unfit for service by the late fire,” dated at West Point on 2 Feb., signed and attested correct by Aaron Francis, quartermaster of the West Point garrison, for Timothy Whiting, and endorsed by Jackson on the same date. The return listed, for every type of equipment in the stores, the number fit and unfit for service. It showed that 500 of 750 axes, 6 of 17 saws, all 36 planes, 60 of 210 chisels, 17 of 37 gouges, 5 of 111 tents, 3 of 13 valises, 7 of 47 wooden bowls, 1 of 3 pack saddles, 50 of 110 camp kettles, 10 of 20 picks, 2 of 7 grindstones, and 1 of 2 saddles had been rendered unfit for service. According to the inventory, much of the remaining equipment listed had been left undamaged (DLC:GW).
6. For Heath’s report of this fire, see Heath to GW, 2–3 February.