To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 November 1780
From Major General William Heath
West point November 10 1780
Dear General,
I have not received any intelligence from the Northward, Since I had the honor of writing you last.1
The enclosed letter I apprehend is from General Bailey and probably contains an Account of the late movements of the Enemy in his quarter.2
The 1st and 5th New York Regiments embark’d with great expedition, and Sail’d the night before last for Albany, but as the Wind has been pretty fresh down the River Since, I fear, they beat up Slowly.
The Troops were yesterday fortunately relieved3 by the arrival of the Flour at Kings ferry—for which I am under great obligations to your Excellency’s goodness.4 If any thing worthy of notice comes to hand from any quarter, it shall be immediately communicated.
There is said to be a very large quantity of Forage below the Lines. I intended in a few days to have made a grand forage in that quarter—the matter has been mentioned to the Governor, and he has intimated to the Majestrates to Lend their Aid to furnish Teams &c. This, I fear will give Air of the design—Should the Enemy be disposed to counteract us, our numbers are so reduced that I shall not be able to afford so strong a covering party as I intended.
The proposed forage is to be above White plains, in Sinsing and North Castle, and if pursued will probably be the beginning of the next Week.5 I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most obedient Servt
W. Heath
P.S. I have this moment received a Letter from Governor Clinton dated the 8th instant. I take the liberty to inclose a Copy of two paragraphs.6
The Governor has also requested that Joshua Smith should be sent to the prison in Orange County. he will be sent there under proper guard immediately.7
In a Letter which I some days Since sent to General Clinton at Albany by Express, I requested him to give me the earliest intelligence of whatever might happen in that quarter.8
W.H.
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.
2. Heath presumably means Jacob Bayley’s letter to GW dated 28 October.
3. Heath wrote and then struck out “from their distress” at this point in his draft.
5. Heath delayed his decision on this plan at GW’s request (see his reply to Heath, 12 Nov.; see also Heath to Clinton, 13 Nov., in , 6:411).
6. Heath enclosed the second and third paragraphs of New York governor George Clinton’s letter to him written at Poughkeepsie on 8 Nov. (MHi: Heath Papers; see also n.7 below). The extract sent GW reads: “The last accounts I have from the Northward, were dated on the 3d in the afternoon: when the Enemy were Said to be at fort George, and advancing. their numbers about 1600: I will immediately on receipt of it, transmit you any farther intelligence I may receive from that quarter.
“I am exceedingly sorry to hear that the Troops under Your immediate command are again in want of Flour. Our agent Colonel Hay is now to the Northward using every exertion for collecting in the quota of that part of the State for the purpose of Supplying the Troops in that quarter and furnishing a competent supply for the Garrison of Fort Schuyler, which at present is not provided for longer than the first of January—When he returns to this place (which I expect daily) I will urge him to the utmost of his power to procure as much as possible for the posts in the Highlands” (DLC:GW).
7. The pertinent portion of Clinton’s letter to Heath dated 8 Nov. reads: “I take the liberty of enclosing a Mittimus from the Commissioners of Conspiracies for the Commitment of Joshua H. Smith to the Goal of Orange County and as I have no Guard for the purpose but from the Militia who might not be so proper I have to request, Sir, that you will be pleased to direct his being sent thither under a safe Guard and with the Mittimus delivered to the Keeper of the Goal at Goshen” (see n.6 above). Heath replied to Clinton from West Point on 11 Nov.: “Yesterday I was honored with yours of the 8th and this morning Sent off Joshua Smith Under proper Escort with the Mittimus of the Commissioners for detecting Conspiracies, to the Sheriff or Goaler of Orange County.
“No news in this Quarter” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also The Smith Family and Major General Benedict Arnold’s Treachery, 26 Sept–30 Oct., editorial note, especially Document XVII).
8. Heath refers to his letter to Clinton dated 7 Nov., which Clinton acknowledged when he wrote Heath on 8 Nov. (see , 6:392–93, and notes 6 and 7 above).