651To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 2 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I send herewith a Capt. Coles of the Militia lately taken from Long Island, by the letters I take the Liberty to enclose your Excellency will observe, that it is wished he may be exchanged for One of the Captains lately taken from us by the Enemy. I also send a deserter with his arms who left Verplanks Point on Tuesday. In a Letter which I received the last evening from Major Talmage he...
652To George Washington from William Heath, 10 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from captain Pray came to hand a few minutes since with the two New-York papers. The serjeant who was the bearer of the letter acquaints me that after he left captain Pray he was informed that a party of refugees landed early this morning at Haverstraw and took several militia men, and then reimbarked. Probably this manoeuvre is a feint to cover a design somewhere else on the...
653To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I most Heartily Congratulate Your Excellency on the Safe arrival of the ship Amphitrite, at Portsmouth from L’Orient in France, with a most Vallueable Cargo for the United States Manifest of which will be Handed to you by mr Champney the Express. I am Pushing off the Troops with all Possible dispatch to the Places of Destination, A Second Detachment from Colo. Cranes Battalion of artillery...
654To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 14 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Scarcity of Forage in this quarter is become So great that the Troops must either move or the Horses be Sent out into the Country. The feed that was in the meadows has been the principal support of the Horses for Some time, and a great Saving to the Public. It is now nearly gone, and altho’ there is a considerable quantity of Forage in the hands of the Farmers it cannot be obtain’d. By a...
655To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Ever Since my arrival at New york I have considered this Post to be the Key of the Island, and Consequently of great Importance[.] Its Importance at this Time is apparently Enhanced, And much more is necessary to be Done than we Can Possibly Do with our few Scattered Troops, General Clintons five Regiments Consist of near 1400 Rank and file fit for Duty Two Hundred of that number are on...
656To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th Inst. I called a Council to consider & determine upon the Posts most important & proper to be occupied by our Troops—There were present Brigadier Generals James & George Clinton, & Scott, (General Morris, Col. Dewer, & Col. Putnam, whom I invited to sit with us)—After Deliberation it was thought best to make the following Disposition of the Troops at this post for the present...
657To George Washington from William Heath, 1 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to lay before your Excellency several votes of a board of officers consisting of the generals and officers commanding regiments and corps in the cantonment of New Windsor, passed yesterday, and also a copy of the report of a committee appointed to confer with the contractors respecting the agreement made between the contractors and the army in January last, and certain abuses in the...
658To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received the honor of yours of the 27th Ultimo per Capt. Gooch; shall communicate your advice to Brigr Genl Learned immediately. Colo. Lee has been anxiously waiting an answer to his request for leave to resign his Commission, and was much disappointed on finding that your Excellency had not mentioned it in your last, He has beg’d of me again to renew his request for leave to resign,...
659To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 28 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am this evening Honored with yours of the 15th Instant handed to me by the Honble Mr Bowdoin, no endeavours shall be wanting to obtain the intelligence required, a Flag is now in the Harbour from Hallifax, a Gentleman who came in the Flag and is to return, has business to transact with Mr Bowdoin, I have requested mr Bowdoin to ask Several questions respecting the works, Garrison Ships &c....
660To George Washington from William Heath, 7 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
We have had no arrivals since my last except the Cato at Marblehead whose passage was nearly as long as the Fortune which arrived at Boston, consequently has brought no late news. The Inhabitants of the Eastern parts of this State, are much alarmed at the growing Power and force of the enemy at Ponobscot, and the preparations which are said to be makeing at that place, The Garrison was...
661To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed, I received from General Parsons yesterday afternoon; its complexion is very favorable. The order for drawing & coocking four days provission here yesterday, turned the whole conversation of the Troops on the subject of the Detachment, & conjecture of its design. such as have been reported to me, I shall relate to Your Excellency. A woman in Colonel Greatons Regiment, was sent...
662To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 29 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The receipt of the enclosed papers, which this moment came to hand, compels me again to take up my pen, and trouble your Excellency on a subject, on which the very existance of these Posts depend. I therefore trust you will excuse the repetition. I submit to your Excellency what expectations are to be formed, from the spirit & complexion of the papers. If the Q.M. General wants any number of...
663To George Washington from William Heath, 8 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the morning of the 4th I was honored with yours of the 29th and 31st ultimo, with several packets for the eastward; the latter were forwarded the next morning by a trusty officer, instructed conformably to your directions. The returns of the New Hampshire regiments were not come to hand, although I had written three or four times in the most pressing manner for them. It seems the first...
664To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 11 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd the Honor of yours of the 16th Ulto and 2d Instant. I wrote your Excellency in a former Letter that Mr Langdon had consented to deliver the Cannon, Ordnance & Military Stores lately arrived at Portsmouth to Mr Barber, which he has since done. They are now forwarding with all possible despatch. Inclosed is the Return of what has been sent on in the course of the last week, Ten...
665To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday afternoon I received the enclosed from Colonel Hull—The News papers are sent up by the Bearer. It gives me pain so frequently to represent to your Excellency our wants, but necessity compels me. No beef Cattle have arrived since I had the honor last to write you on that head, nor do I hear of any comeing—The beef salted in bulk is all gone—Yesterday the Commissary began to issue the...
666To George Washington from William Heath, 6 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor, on the 28th ultimo, to acquaint your Excellency of the success of a small party of volunteer horse in making prisoners six of colonel Delancy’s men on the 26th. Apprehending from the disposition of the enemy, discovered at that time, that they might be drawn into ambuscade, it was determined to make the attempt. Major Woodbridge who commands on the lines, having settled a plan...
667To George Washington from William Heath, 9 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
since I had the honor of addressing your Excellency, this morning I have received the enclosed papers from Major General Lord Stirling by which, your Excellency will perceive, that the enemy have been compleatly disappointed in their designs on the northern frontiers of this State, and defeated with considerable loss. The Address, gallantry, and persevering activity exhibited by Colonel...
668To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Sargent has just return’d from Dobbs’s Ferry—he informs that the Enemy’s Ships, took Two of our Gallies on Yesterday near that place which were run on shore—our men got out the small Arms & Baggage—That the Enemy sent Four Boats from their Ships, three to the Gallies & one on Shore, the men in the latter landed & broke open a Store, & plunder’d many Articles, & Stove the Remainder, & set...
669To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 15 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th Instant I reached Tapan, and Yesterday made a Forced march to this Place, with so much Secrecy and Dispatch that the Inhabitants had no Knowledge of my Coming, The Enemy had left the Town Some Days Since Except five whom we took, Two of them sick, we have taken about 50 of the Disaffected, and about 50 or 60 Muskets the greater part of which had been taken from the Whigs as is...
670To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 24 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
The last Evening I was honored with yours of the 21st 21st and 22d Instant to which I shall duly attend. The minister of France passed by the Peeks Kill road Yesterday before I was honored with your letter or heard of his approach. The Enemy did not come out as was expected, and Colo. Hazen has returned. I shall appoint a Court of Enquiry for Lieut. Colonel Varick &c. and facilitate Mr...
671To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 24 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of your’s of the 19th Instant. In my last I informed your Excellency of our Arrival in the Neighbourhood of Fort Independence, and of our taking a number of Arms —In stead of 15 at one place, we took upwards of 40, & about as many Blankets. I also mention’d in my last our Intention of Attacking the Hessians at the Bridge, the next day—Every praparation was made & the...
672To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy’s Fleet which visited and destroyed a considerable part of Bedford on the 5th & 6th Instant are now between Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth, (Cape Cod) —it is this Day reported that their number is increased to Seventy Sail, and that they have made a demand on the Inhabitants of the Island for 300 Head of Cattle & 10000 Sheep. I think the Enemy are meditating mischief this way, indeed...
673To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have received the Honor of yours of the 16th & 18th Instant. I have the Pleasure to acquaint your Excellency that on the 19th Instant a Detachment of our Troops Consisting Partly of Continental Troops and Partly of the Militia of Orange and Ulster Counties, having marched Down to the English Neighbourhood in the night Deceived the Sentinel and Surprised the Out Guard of Colonel Buskirks...
674To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of yours of the 23d Ulto and most heartily congratulate your Excellency on the fair prospect of your soon driving the Enemy from the Jersies, and hope your next will communicate such Intelligence, I think General Howes late advancing his Army in order to facilitate & secure the safe removal of his Baggage and Stores from Brunswick may be considered as one of his best...
675To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to transmit the enclosed Intelligence received from Genl Huntington the last night about Ten oClock —and request your Excellencys direction respectg the arms brought out by Deserters. I take the Liberty to enclose Several Papers received from Colo. Allen the Day before I left Boston. I shall endeavour to have the Troops in this Quarter in readiness for any emergency. have...
676To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am now to acknowledge the Honor of the receipt of yours of the 30th Ultimo and 8th Instant. We have this moment receivd the agreable news of General Burgoynes Surrendering himself and Army Prisoners on the 17th Instant to General Gates, on this Happy Event I beg leave most Heartily to Congratulate your Excellency, I find by the Articles of Capitulation that Burgoynes army is to be Sent to...
677To George Washington from William Heath, 12 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday honored with yours of the 27th and 29th ultimo. If a greater number of beef–cattle should come on than necessary for the present subsistence of the troops, they shall be slaughtered and salted at some convenient place near the river. I had ordered on the salted provisions from Connecticut except those which had been shipped previous to the receipt of your Excellency’s letter. I...
678To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Conformable to the signification of your pleasure in your’s of the 29th June last, I take the liberty to enclose an account of such of my extra expences at Rhode Island, as were paid by me, and request your order thereon for the ballance. The General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island politely passed a resolve directing their purchasing Commissary to furnish the Commissary of Issues with...
679To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 27 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
The last night between eleven and twelve oClock a fire broke out at west point in the Building occupied by Colonel Marshall, and Mr Whiting the D. Q. Mr of the Garrison. The Fire began in the inside, and (as is Supposed), in the wooden mantle piece of the Chimney, had got to such a head that the first discovery was the whole bursting out in flames. Several Persons who were asleep in the House,...
680To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 8 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been honor’d with the receipt of yours of the 22d Ultimo. I never received any List of the Officers names under the Convention of Saratoga on their arrival at Cambridge, as taken at the Convention, but do myself the honor to enclose Copy of their Names and ranks as Subscribed to a parole Soon after their arrival at Cambridge. I take the Liberty to enclose Extract of a Letter lately...
681To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 January 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored by the receipt of yours of the 29th December & 9th Instant. Every assistance in my power shall be afforded to Major Blackden, and I am happy to find that he will obtain most of the Articles which are necessary without much difficulty or delay. General Steuben having grown impatient to proceed to the Army, had set out before the arrival of your Excellency’s Letter which...
682To George Washington from John Paterson, 22 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having been pleased in your letter to major-general Heath of the 17th instant to request our opinion at what places it may be best to establish magazines of provisions for the moving army—and also what should be deemed the dependencies of West-point—We beg leave to give our opinion as follows; viz. Considering the contingencies of the campaign, magazines may be eligible at...