101From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
The unfortunate circumstance of the French Fleet having left Rhode Island at so critical a moment, I am apprehensive, if not very prudently managed, will have many injurious consequences, besides merely the loss of the advantages we should have reaped from succeeding in the Expedition. It will not only tend to discourage the people, and weaken their confidence in our new alliance, but may...
102From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 6 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 26th and 30th August, and 1st and 2d instants. I am glad to find that your sentiments, respecting the reception that ought to be given to the Count D’Estaing and his Officers, corresponded with mine, and that you had taken proper Steps to prepare for refitting his fleet, previous to the receipt of my letter —As the Rhode Island expedition is now at an end, I...
103From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just received advice from the Board of War, that they have given directions to Mr Fletcher, to send forward to Springfield and Hartford all the ready made cloathing in his possession, there to be sorted and repacked previous to their coming to Camp, except a few particular articles, which are ordered immediately on; and to deliver Messrs Otis and Andrews all the Cloths, woolens linnens...
104From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 14th instant. Whatever may be the future intentions of the enemy, it is evident that they have lain aside all designs against Boston for the present: Lord Howe having returned to the Hook with his Fleet, and the Troops under Genl Gray have come down the sound again, and have landed at White Stone upon Long Island. I shall keep the best possible watch upon their motions,...
105From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by yours of the 19th that such progress had been made in forwarding the Cloathing from Boston to Springfeild &ca. I think you did right under the appearance of matters, to send the unmade Cloathing out of town, and I would recommend it to you to keep the Bulk still there, bringing it in as the Taylers want it. By a letter from Genl Greene of the 19th I am informed that the...
106From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favor of the 21st Instant and thank you much for the intelligence it contains. I hope we shall have a confirmation, ’ere it be long, of the advantages said to be gained over Admiral Keppel, in public dispatches to the Count and Monsr Gerard. When I wrote you on the 23d, I apprehended that the General Court had been induced to order in the Militia, merely from General...
107From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Brigadier General Du Portail, whom I recommend to you as a Gentleman of merit and abilities, and knowlege in his profession. He is Chief Engineer in the army of the United-States. I have sent him to examine into the nature and condition of the fortifications, which have been erected or are erecting for the defence of the Town of Boston on the land side, and to...
108From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am to thank you for your favor of the 28th Ulto and its several inclosures—the intelligence given you by Mr Colvill is very interesting if it can be depended on—and particularly to Count d’Estaing—to whom no doubt you have communicated it. Your distribution of the twelve hundred Militia men ordered out by the Council of State—exactly coincides with my wishes—their labour if it has not its...
109From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Captains Gawen Brown and John Langdon and Lieut. William Davis of Colo. Henry Jackson’s Regiment have requested to resign their Commissions and have lodged Certificates, that they are not indebted to the public. You will be pleased to call for their Commissions and to give discharges upon them. And as there are frequent applications by the Officers, employed at the Eastward, of the same nature...
110From George Washington to Major Generals William Heath and John Sullivan, 18 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd intelligence, bearing strong marks of authenticity, that the enemy mean a total evacuation of New York. Various are the conjectures of their destination. I cannot think that they mean to attempt any thing against Boston considering the danger of carrying a heavy Fleet round Cape Cod at this advanced season; but to be prepared at all events, I had, upon the first intimation of...
111From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In my last letter of the 18th Instant I observed that the whole current of intelligence from New-york suggested an immediate evacuation of the City—My accounts from different quarters still wear the same complexion. An intelligent officer stationed at Amboy reports—“that the 16th Otbr about twelve ships fell down to the Hook—and the 17th early in the morning about one hundred ships of war, and...
112From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I transmitted you, by a letter of yesterday, all the intelligence I then had, respecting the movements of the enemy in New-York. I now send you by this conveyance, extracts of a letter from Lord Stirling, and the report of a spy, which contain my latest information upon the subject. I am D. Sir. Your most hble servt p.s. I have the pleasure to inform you, that the taking of Dominica by the...
113From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote to you this morning the inclosed Resolve of Congress came to my hands. As Sir Henry Clinton never complied with the request of granting passports for the transportation of Flour by Water it becomes necessary that the Convention troops should, without loss of time, be put in motion for Charlotteville in Virginia agreeable to the order of Congress. You will be pleased to signify...
114From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday inclosing the resolve of Congress for the removal of the Troops of the Convention to Virginia. I find, upon perusing the resolve more attentively, that Sir Henry Clinton by the resolve of the 11th of Septemr—recited in that of the 15th Inst.—had the choice of either granting passports to transport Flour by Water, or to supply the Troops himself by the 1st Inst. If...
115From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
If the fleet of Men of War and Transports, which have lately sailed, should appear off Boston, be pleased instantly to send an Express to meet Genl Gates with information of it, that he may hasten the march of the six Brigades under the command of himself and General Mcdougall. Be pleased also to advise me of it with the greatest dispatch, as I mean, should such an event take place, to set out...
116From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have just recd intelligence from two different quarters that the Fleet, which sailed on the 19th and 20th instants from the Hook, contained only the Invalids of the Army bound for Europe—the Officers of the reduced Regiments, and the families of several public and private Gentlemen. perhaps all outward bound Vessels might have taken the benefit of Convoy, which may have swelled the fleet to...
117From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your Letter of the 21st Instant. I have not received General Du Portails plan of the works necessary for the defence of Boston and therefore, cannot determine the propriety of it. My wish is, that such works as are essential to its safety—and only such—may be erected. With respect to Captain McFall, as I know nothing of him—I can say nothing. He may be sincere in his...
118From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last evening received your favor of the 25th copy of which I have transmitted to Congress to show them the state of your Magazines —The want of Flour every where opens really a distressing prospect—It is much to be feared we shall find the greatest possible difficulty in supplying the demands for that article through the Winter. I inclose you the copy of a Resolve of Congress of the 22d...
119From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with your several Letters of the 23d—26th & 28th Ulto—the first and last of which came to hand last night and this morning. On the 29th, I wrote you of the difficulties that attend the procuring of flour. The Commissary I am persuaded, does not leave a step untried to obtain supplies; but it will be, at least, immensely difficult to do it. The loss of the Biscuit was an...
120From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 6 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favor of the 30th ulto by Captain Master, who waits in this Neighbourhood until he can hear from New York, having written to Sir Henry Clinton in order to effect his exchange. a Resolve of Congress lately passed put it out of my power to indulge his wish of going in himself. From part of Genl Phillips’s letter I am led to believe, that he had not received orders from you to prepare...
121From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favs. of the 31st ulto and 2d and 3d instants. As I do not think myself at liberty to grant Genl Hamiltons request without the concurrence of Congress I have transmitted the Copy of his letter to them and have desired their immediate answer, that if they do not chuse to comply, the Flag Vessel may not be unnecessarily detained. I have sent Officers to meet the troops at Enfeild and...
122From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with Your Letter of the 11th Instant—and I am also to acknowledge the receipt of the one that came by Mr Holker. When I wrote you on the 29th of October and the 6th of November—Congress seemed to apprehend that an Attack might be made on Boston—and indeed it was the opinion of many. This consideration—as your services in such case might have been very essential there—and...
123From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had your favor duly handed me of the 25th Ultimo. Perfectly satisfied in your recommendation of Major Lyman, I should not hesitate on the propriety of serving him. But on considering the situation of those corps, attatched to no one State; with the inexpediency of augmenting the number of their officers, in the present circumstances of the army; and at a juncture, when we have been obliged...
124From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a letter to the honorable the council of Massachusetts, by which you will observe I am directed by Congress to appropriate the cannon lent this State, to the defence of the posts on Hudsons river. I have to request you to seal the letter, and deliver it to the council. And further, upon receiving the councils permission, that you will take the most effectual and immediate...
125From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 8th inst. with its inclosures—I have reason to hope that the extremity of distress to which the troops at the Eastward have been exposed for want of bread will be relieved and that the Commissary will have it in his power to prevent its happening again. The state of our money involves a variety of distracting difficulties which are rather to be lamented...
126From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favors this morning—I have only to request you will take the best measures in your power to ascertain the enemy’s movements and designs, and have your troops in readiness to act as occasion may require but without interrupting the works. You will continue to advise me. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obet, servant P.S. I think it will be adviseable to detach a couple hundred men...
127From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In consideration of the scarcity of forage, where you now are, and the plenty, which you mention to be at the Continental village, I think it will be best for one or both the Brigades, Parsons & Huntington’s to move to that place—Nixon’s will remain where it is. In this position it will be necessary to be very vigilant against a surprise, particularly from a sudden movement of the enemy by...
128From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this morning by General Woodford—I am glad to find the ideas of your letter correspond with mine —You will act accordingly—It is the more necessary to proceed with caution as I have just received advice from General Gates, that a considerable detachment sailed from Rhode Island the 25th instant, steering a Western course —This seems to indicate some serious design this way. I am...
129From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Major General Baron De Steuben will have the pleasure of delivering you this. He waits upon you to make some arrangements in your division relatively to his department, in which I am persuaded you will chearfully cooperate. His important services intitle him to our confidence & esteem. I am Sir Your most Obedt servant LS , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers. The general orders...
130From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received Your favors of the 1st 2d & the present date. I do not yet know in what light Captain Cole will be considered, whether as a prisoner of War, or a Citizen. I have written to Major Talmadge to inform me of the circumstances of his capture. The Deserters to Bedford, I think, had better go to Connecticut. Directions will be given for purchasing their Arms—and as to the sum to...