201From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 2d informing me of your arrival at Roxbury. It is very essential that every thing in our power, not inconsistent with the establishments of Congress, or the States, should be done that can in any ways facilitate the recruiting service. I am of your opinion, that if clothing could be procured on the spot for such of the State quota as inlist, it would be a...
202From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received some days ago your letter of the 27th of last month. I have communicated your request with respect to recruiting Officers, to Major General Howe & desired him to send on a number, if the state of the regiments would admit of it, informing them however previously, to prevent a misapprehension on the subject and that they might use their own discretion upon the occasion, that I knew...
203From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform You in strict confidence, that we have authentic advices of his Most Christian Majesty’s determination to send a respectable armament of Sea & Land forces, to operate on the Continent—and that the period is not remote when we may expect their arrival. Having informed You of this, I am now to add, that the destruction of Hallifax—of the Naval arsenals & Garrison...
204From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is expected that the fleet of our Ally will in the first instance touch at Rhode Island for the purpose of landing their sick and supernumerary Stores and to meet the intelligence necessary to direct their operations. I have already sent forward Doctor Craik to take up proper Houses for Hospitals and to make some previous arrangements in that department: But as I apprehend the French...
205From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several favors of the 12th 21st 23d and 25th instants. I think it but reasonable that the extra expences incurred by your present command should be defrayed by the public, and I will, upon your being releived, furnish you with a Warrant upon the Military Chest for the amount. You will draw from the Commissary whatever it is in his power to provide. Your Baggage, which is...
206From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 20th and 30th ulto. The Ammunition—The Cannon belonging to the Continent, and the other Stores had been ordered to Springfeild, and part had been removed, at very considerable expence, on account of transportation. On the prospect of a safe navigation of the Sound, I directed Major Perkins to withhold the removal of the remainder, but to deposit them in...
207From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your two favors of the 11th instant. The latter announcing the appearance of the French fleet off New-port harbour. We wait anxiously for further particulars which we expect to day. Mr Corny mentions the bad state of the road of communication between Providence and New-port. It appears essential, as the intercourse may be great on this route, to have it attended to. I...
208From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your several favors of the 12th 16th and two of the 21st. What you have done with respect to the deserters from Col. Green’s Regt is conformable to my views. A pardon may be extended to all other deserters in your quarter, and to give it the more efficacy, I shall as soon as I have time, send you a proclamation to this purpose. I have taken measures, as to the...
209From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here last night having met your favors of the 25th and 26th at Paramus where the Army then lay. Immediately upon hearing that the transports with the troops which had been some days on board, had sailed Eastward, I put the Army in motion again—they will cross the ferry to day, and will be joined by the troops from hence. I propose moving as rapidly as possible down towards...
210From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received Yesterday your letter of the 29th Ulto. Before this comes to hand you will have been informed that the Fleet in the Sound, which it is generally believed was designed to proceed to Rhode Island, has returned. We have so many accounts of this that we have no doubt of it, and are pursuing measures accordingly. With respect to the return of the Militia who were called for, under the...
211From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received in order of their dates your several Letters of the 31st & 31st Ulto & of the 2d & 4th Instant. I am exceedingly happy in the conduct of the Militia, in turning out with so much spirit & alacrity. It does them great honor, at the same time it is very interesting to the Common cause. The Count de Rochambeau has expressed himself highly pleased with them, and in such terms as has...
212From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received successively Your three favors of the 9th 12th & 13th with three Inclosures. With respect to the Militia or Three Months Men as they are called—I do not wish them to leave the Count—as long as he shall think their services really essential; but when he judges that he can part with them without injury or inconvenience, the whole, as well those furnished by Rhode Island as those...
213From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 17th reached me last Evening. I have recieved intelligence that Sir Henry Clinton went himself towards the East End of Long Island on the 16th and that the troops at Whitestone were again embarking. I have an account of Sir Henry’s movement through two different Channels—that of the embarkation only thro’ one. I can hardly suppose that he will, considering the present...
214From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of the 22d. The late European intelligence has so altered the immediate prospects of the Campaign, that I think it adviseable to dismiss the Militia now in service and prevent any other coming out for the present. You will therefore let those now with you return home as soon as their services are no longer thought necessary by the Count de Rochambeau, for as the...
215From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 25th and 28th ulto. The State of Rhode Island were called upon for a considerable monthly supply of Forage, and as they acceded to the requisition, I should have hoped you would have obtained a sufficiency for the small continental force under your command, without any difficulty. An application to the state, founded on the above, is the best measure I can...
216From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 31st ulto and 3d instant. I should have been very glad had the situation of the Works, which Count de Rochambeau is constructing for the defence of the Island, admitted of the immediate dismission of the three months Massachusetts Militia, but as it does not, and the Count seems very desirous of compleating them, we cannot but consent to their staying out their...
217From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favr of the 6th with the intelligence to which it refers. should any part of the Fleet mentioned by Capt. Jotham be destined for the Continent, we must soon hear of them. Lest my letter of the 28th ulto in answer to yours of the 22d should have miscarried, I inclose you a Copy. You will find in it an answer to all your questions, except that which respects the Arms for...
218From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
In the present situation of things I think it necessary that You should Join the Army and request that You will do it. You will come to Head qrs yourself. The rout through Litchfield will be the most eligible for You, on account of security, and You may direct your baggage to halt at Fish Kills for your further Orders. I write to the Count de Rochambeau by this conveyance, & I trust that your...
219From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Lt Colo. Varick and Major Franks late of General Arnolds family having requested of me a Court of inquiry to ascertain the part they acted relative to the transactions of General Arnold; you will be pleased to appoint a Court of Inquiry, to examine into the conduct of the Gentlemen in their connection with the late Major General Arnold, during his command at West-point, and relative to the...
220From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have sent Joshua Smith to West Point to be confined there ’till further Orders, unless the Civil Authority should in the mean time demand him, in which case you will be pleased to deliver him up. I am with great esteem Dear Sir Your Most Obed. Servt P.S. I would not wish Smith’s Confinement to be rigorous only secure. Be so good as to forward the inclosed Letter to the Governor or in his...
221From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 26th Ulto, by which I requested You to rejoin the Army, I desired that You would come Yourself to Head quarters. I am now to request that You will proceed to West point and take upon you the command of that post and its Dependencies. Major General Greene, who is at present there, will either communicate to You himself or leave with General McDougal to be transferred, the...
222From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 20th—The disposition you have made of the troops at and near West point is agreeable to me. The two small Regiments at present at King’s Ferry were purposely stationed there, because they could not be Brigaded with convenience—They are shortly to be reformed and incorporated, and had therefore best remain where they are untill that time. Genl Greene had proposed to...
223From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Mrs Moore, Mother of Mrs General Huntington, having obtained Governor Trumbulls permission to return to New York—you will be pleased to direct an Officer with a Flag to escort her to the Enemys lines at Kings Bridge. Major Alden will accompany Mrs Moore. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers. Elizabeth Channing Moore (c.1729–1805) was the wife of...
224From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 24 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
In one of my former, I barely acknowledged the receipt of your favor of the 19th. Business prevented my going fully into it. I wish it was in my power to give a satisfactory answer to the representation made by Doctor McKnight in behalf of the Gentlemen of the Hospital, on the subject of Cloathing. They are not the only sufferers—There are a great number of the Officers of the line, who have...
225From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 24th Instant. As the characters and circumstances of the Prisoners at West Point are much better known to you on the spot, than they can possibly be to me, I have only to request that you will use your discretion with respect to them. The Proceedings of the Court on Burtiss have never been in my hands. There is I am informed by Gen. Irvine, a Chest belonging...
226From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured successively with your letters of the 30th & 31st Ulto and the 1st & 2d inst. Inclosed you will receive a warrant for the money due on your account. In respect to the removal of the chain, I am of opinion it ought neither to be taken up too soon, nor suffered to remain too late, I could wish you to have every thing in readiness by the time you mention, & shall speak to...
227From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 4th and 7th. Upon hearing of the destruction committed upon the western Frontier, and that we should thereby be deprived of the Magazines of Bread which we expected from that quarter, I immediately wrote to Congress and pointed out to them the absolute necessity of having a supply of Flour, equal to the winter consumption of the Garrison of West Point, and...
228From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Upon a full view of what (from the returns) must be the state of our Army when the Levies leave it the first of January —and of the little prospect there is of getting the places of many, if any of them supplied by that time —and when the importance of West point and the Southern communication with it is taken into consideration I can think of no better disposition of the Army for Winter...
229From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from the Marquis de la Fayette announces the expected arrival of several French Officers of distinction upon a visit to the Army. Should they pass the posts under your command I am convinced you will pay them every attention and honor due to their Rank. As I should wish to have notice of their approach to this Camp, you will oblige me by dispatching an Express as soon as they...
230From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
Your forage will be made to subserve a project I have in view, the success of which depending upon a concurrence of things, and upon causes that are unalterable, I have to request that matters may be so ordered by you, as that the detachment employed on this occasion may be at the white plains, or as low down as you mean they should go, by two Oclock on thursday the 23d Instt: They will remain...
231From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 12th and 13th: The proceedings of the Court of Enquiry, on Colo. Varick, accompanied the former. I cannot conceive that the Jersey line has received the number of Recruits, which the Cloathing Return specifies, since those which were inlisted last Winter, and they, I presume, must have obtained their proportion of Cloathing with the other Men. You will...
232From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 15th and 16th instants. When the 1st and 5th New York Regiments were ordered up to Albany, I directed Genl Clinton, if he should receive advice that the enemy had retired, to send them down again. Under this order he accordingly directed their return: I had not then fixed, in my mind, the line of Cantonment of which I afterwards informed you. Upon the whole,...
233From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 18th and 21st. When the Army gets together and settled in their Winter Quarters, I intend to make some general Regulations respecting the troops receiving Flour or Bread, in the mean time, they may continue to draw in the manner that they have been accustomed to do. You will be pleased to order the New York line to the same position which that of New Hampshire...
234From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I gave directions to Generals Glover—Patterson and Huntington to discharge the Levies of Connecticut and Massachusetts, by degrees, upon their arrival at their places of cantonment, beginning with those first who were worst clad and otherwise unfit for service, as this would diminish our numbers insensibly, and not give the enemy an opportunity of knowing the truth before the time which they...
235From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored upon my arrival here, with your several Letters of the 28th and 29th Ulto also the 1st and 3d Instant. I am informed that the salted Beef which was expected from the Eastward, has come forward; and am to request that 100 Barrels of it, may be immediately embarked and sent to Albany, while the River remains open, for the use of the Garrison of Fort Schuyler: the remainder...
236From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 9th. From the representation made by General Clinton and Colo. Hay of the supply of Meat in the Northern department, I do not think there will be any need of sending the 100 Barrels of salt Beef to Albany. You will endeavour to have it distributed in the different Works. Under present circumstances, we should rather increase than diminish the discharge of the...
237From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your favor of yesterday, I have to observe; that it appears to me there can be no propriety, in arresting an Officer, in ordinary cases, a long time before he can be brought to tryal; And that in the instance of Major Reed, upon his being brought before the Court, they would be the proper Judges, whether the Proceedings should be postponed, ’till further evidence was obtained. In...
238From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with Yours of the 17th and 18th Inst. I am not sufficiently informed of the mode of transferring to the Corps of Invalids to give a definitive Answer; but as Mr Frye is represented as a good Officer, I have no objection to his having leave of absence for the recovery of his health. If the Levies who remain, are well cloathed, and capable of duty, it may be well, to retain them...
239From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 20 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely unhappy that our want of Magazines, and precarious mode of supply, subject us, to such repeated inconveniences and distresses; but hope the flour from Ringwood or Red hook will arrive soon, to give at least a temporary releif. By the general Return of the Issues, I observe the number of Rations to be much greater than I apprehended, & that they do not diminish in the proportion,...
240From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
Some days ago, General McDougall informed me, that a Majr Hayes (I think that was the name)—or Hughes, had suggested to him, that the Inhabitants of Westchester County could, without inconvenience to themselves, spare at least Ten thousand Bushels of Indian Corn and Five hundred Tons of Hay; and that a number of Pettiaugua’s sent to the nearest good Landings to the Foragers (but not too low...
241From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The time of the reform of Livingstons and Spencers Regiments is so near at hand, that you will be pleased immediately to relieve the Posts at King’s ferry which they at present occupy with a Captain and fifty to each. I would wish you to make choice of good Officers, because I think it will be better to let them remain the Winter, than to be often changing. Inclosed you have the Returns of the...
242From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have but a moment to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of this date. I beg of you to charge Lt Edes to be attentive to the Water Guards about Verplanks point—and the Guards at West point to the Order I requested you to Issue, relative to Boats passing after Tattoo. The perspective delivered by Lt Edes belongs to me—which with the other articles (supposed to be Humphreys’s) had better be...
243From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of Yesterday; And as I conceive it will be necessary for the security of the Posts below, & to prevent the Enemy from attempting a surprize, to have a Capts. Command for the Water Guard—I would have Capt. Welles continued on that service with his Detachment. In consequence of Colo. Hays information that there are considerable quantities of Flour on the River, which...
244From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to observe on the subject of your Letter of last Evening, that altho I am not very sanguine in my expectation of the success of the Enterprize proposed, yet I think in our present circumstances it will be adviseable to encourage it. Col. Hull may therefore have permission to make the attempt in conjunction with the Militia, but I would not advise the destruction of any...
245From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased immediately to summon all the General Officers and the Colonels or Officers commanding the Regiments of the lines under your command to meet punctually at ten OClock tomorrow morning at your quarters. I will be down myself by that time. You need not send to Colo. Hazen. I am Dear Sir Yr most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers; Df , DLC:GW ;...
246From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Marqs De la Fayette Colo. Laurens & others arrived here yesterday, but bring no later accts than those I had with me at West-point —nor have I heard any thing further from the revolted Troops, or the Comee of Congress since Genl Sullivans Letter which you heard read. I beg therefore that the detachment may be hurried, and I informed when it will be ready to move. I will direct Colo. Blaine...
247From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have just received your favors of the 10th & 11th Instant. I had always considered you as having the command of the Troops at Fish Kill. and am fully of your opinion that an investigation into the issues of Provision at that place, and the Landing is absolutely necessary—You will be pleased therefore to take such Measures as you think proper to detect the abuses in this or any other article...
248From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 10th was received the Morning I was last at West Point—a variety of avocations have prevented my acknowledging it untill this time. With respect to the Soldiers who have been Prisoners, I have to observe, that I think it reasonable, the indulgence of Furloughs should be granted to those whose circumstances require it, and for whose return their Officers can become in a great...
249From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your favor of last Evening. I cannot by the Intelligence I have had from Jersey, beleive the Enemy are preparing to make a Movement in that Quarter—however I could wish to have the truth ascertained. Col. Hay informs me there are at least two Hundred Barrels of Flour, at the Landings near Poughkeepsie —The present favorable weather urges strongly the necessity of having it...
250From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received last Night your favors of the 16th and 18th Instant. and will attend to the subjects of them as early as possible. Indeed I shall write immediately to Govr Trumbull Govr Hancock, and the Agents of that State at Springfield, to forward on the supplies of Beef Cattle, unless they will expect to see a dissolution of the Army. I approve of the Arrangements made for carrying into...