181From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 12th dated at Amewalk and on account of the pressing situation of affairs, have written to Col. Lamb at Fish kill, to send to your care 25,000 Cartridges —which you will distribute among the Militia if there is really a necessity for it. I cannot send more. The respective States in general, as I have been informed have good supplies of Military stores of their...
182From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 14th with its inclosures. I would not wish you to advance further eastward, unless the movements of the enemys main body in that direction should make it necessary. It is my intention that your division should as far as possible preserve a relative position to, and ensure a timely communication with the Highlands posts. This may not be practicable if the...
183From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to march tomorrow morning early towards Peeks Kill—in the vicinity of which you will find Major General Howe with a couple of Brigades. The command of the whole will, of course, devolve upon you. He will communicate the instructions he has received by which you will govern yourself. Send to hasten on Glovers brigade to join you at the same place. I am Dr Sir Your most Obed....
184From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with Your Two Letters of the 15th. I wrote you Yesterday upon the subject of your conduct and now inclose you a Copy, Lest my Letter should have miscarried. I have written to General Glover and commit the Letter to your care, which you will forward to him, if you have not already given him orders to join you with his Brigade, in consequence of my Letter of Yesterday....
185From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of yesterday—From the information I have had, it is probable you will have joined General Howe before this reaches you—I have given him instructions which he was directed to communicate to you—But for fear of a miscarriage I shall repeat them. It was directed that one of the four brigades, which compose your two commands, should be stationed in the Gorge of the...
186From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your favor of the 18th and two of to day. The disposition you mention to have made of the Troops will stand till further Orders. You will write to General Glover and direct him to halt with his Brigade at Ridgefield, where he will remain till he is further instructed. I am much fatigued—and as I shall see you in the course of a day or two—I shall not add any thing more upon the...
187From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 24 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of this morning inclosing a letter from Captain Hopkins I have just received. The present situation of the enemy and our ignorance of their designs induces me again to express my anxiety that you should use your utmost exertions to obtain a knowledge of their plan—I know of no means so effectual as that of employing a faithful inhabitant—if you can meet with such a one—by giving the...
188From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely anxious to obtain accurate information of the Garrison & Works on Verplanks point; I therefore request that you will have the post as particularly and critically examined as you can. The Officers sent on the duty will endeavour to ascertain, whether there are New Works constructed or raising—their number and their nature—whether inclosed or otherwise—and in what part. They will...
189From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this day—Capt. Hopkins conduct really deserves applause and shows a spirit of enterprise that does him honour—I beg you, in your next, to present my thanks to him. In what, I said to Col. Harrison respecting a work to be erected in the gorge of the mountains I did not mean to confine you to any particular spot; but to leave it to you to choose the most...
190From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of this morning accompanied by a Deserter. You will be pleased agreeable to a General order Issued a long time since to have the deserters you mention tried by their own Brigade Courts Martial —This mode was adopted to expedite business, & the Brigadier enpowered except in capital cases or where Officers are concerned & the sentences extend to Cashierment to approve or...
191From George Washington to Major General William Heath and a Board of General Officers, 3 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I hoped after the pains you had taken to arrange the Massachusetts line —that neither of us would be troubled farther upon the subject. In this however I have been disappointed. When I was about to transmit the arrangement to Congress—the inclosed memorial from sundry Officers was presented me by Col. Bayley. It seems from their state, that Mr Banister was originally appointed Paymaster to...
192From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter inclosing that from Gen. Howe yesterday afternoon; which, agreeable to your desire, I herewith return. Col. White and the Infantry appear to have acquitted themselves with much reputation. From the representation made of Danls case by Col. Drak[e], I think he had better be discharged; but as to the ordering him back into the country, it is a measure...
193From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have just now received your two favors of this date, inclosing General Parson’s letter on the detention of Leach. The propriety of the proposed attempt on Lloyds neck, can be best determined by those who are nearer the ground than I am, and whose inquiries may have been more particular, as to the exact situation and strength of the enemy, in its vicinity. If you find a favorable report, I...
194From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege your favor of this day with its inclosure to your address from Gen: Nixon. The apprehending of Rissimbarack is worth a little trouble. I have therefore sent back, deserter, Nifer; and would recommend the using him as a pilot to the place he has pointed out as Rissimbarack’s rissidence. You may send with him three or four trusty soldiers, and a sergeant, under proper...
195From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of this date. The intercourse which you mention to be carrying on by Women, with Verplank’s point, may be attended with many bad consequences—or at least great inconveniences and must be suppressed. Those now detained, may be released under strict injunctions never to do the like again, and at the peril of being closely confined and otherwise severely punished—if...
196From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform you that in the night of the 18th Major Lee with a detachment of 400 men surprised the enemy’s garrison at Powles-hook (which you know is within cannon shot of the batteries at New York)—& brought off the garrison consisting of about 150 Men. Such repeated instances of disgrace to the British arms will undoubtedly, make them feel sore, & seek opportunities to...
197From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of Yesterday, inclosing a representation by Capt. Heywood of the treatment of his Flag, and a letter from General Huntingdon on the subject of the deficiency of Rations. I have wrote to Sir Henry Clinton, remonstrating against the indelicacy of such behaviour, and hoping that no such insult will be offered in future. You will be pleased to send the inclosed to...
198From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
That the long expected Fleet is arrived admits of no doubt, though the strength of the re-inforcement is matter of uncertainty. If it is so powerful as to enable the Kings Troops to take the field with a view of meeting this army, Generl clinton will not, it is to be presumed, delay the commencement of his operations a moment; because a knowledge of the event must have produced preparatory...
199From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
When yours of this morning came to Head Quarters, I was from home. The direction of the Board of War to apprehend Deserters from the Convention Troops was clearly meant only to extend to those who should attempt to desert from CharlotteVille. Inclosed you have the order itself. You will therefore be pleased to order the two persons at present in confinement to be sent safely back to the...
200From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am just now favored with your letter of to-day with its inclosures which I return. I do not see that any further measures can be taken on your part, to apprehend those prisoners who have escaped, or to prevent their gaining the enemy’s lines. It will be necessary on this occasion to order the person who had the principal charge of the provost, provided he is an officer under arrest—if a...
201From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favor of this Morning, inclosing a letter from General Parsons on the subject of Cloathing. To enable me to give an answer, it will be necessary to see General Parsons, which I shall be glad to do in the morning or when it is convenient to him. I am Dear Sir Your most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The LS...
202From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 6 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will find a representation from Capt. Titus Watson of the Connecticut line in which he states his having been injured by the promotion of Capt. Cleft, a junior officer to a Majority, in violation of his rights as a senr officer, and urges the determination of a Board of Officers to this effect of which he produces certificates which are also inclosed —As Capt. Watson states, that...
203From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to put General Nixons brigade under marching orders that it may be ready to move at the shortest notice: You will receive further directions for its destination. You will also send off in the morning early to Fish Kill a subaltern’s guard of chosen men to take charge of the French Minister’s baggage, when it arrives there and escort it to Philadelphia. Let the officer—be of...
204From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
It is my intention that General Nixon shall form a junction with General Howe at Pines’ bridge Croton River. This you will communicate to him, and send to Genl Howe to know, when he espects to be there; and let General Nixon begin his march so as to arrive there nearly at the same time with him. You will give General Nixon your instructions accordingly, and advise him to be cautious in his...
205From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favors of the 14th & 17th. Genl Knox is just now absent, but when he returns, I will inquire into the necessity of keeping the guard, you mention at Litchfield. North Castle Church would certainly be a very ineligible situation for Genl Howe. From his letter to me, he had not taken post there, but was rather reconnoitering a proper position. I had a particular object in view when I...
206From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 24 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Major Fontaine the Engineer who conducts the works on the other side the river when I was over yesterday complained that Genl Parsons Brigade was repeatedly deficient in furnishing its proportion of fatigue men—He seemed well satisfied that you had given the necessary orders, but as they had not had the intended effect, I am to silicit you most earnestly to arrange matters in such a way that...
207From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
As it is an object of importance to have ascertained as soon as possible the account which is said to have been brought by a vessel arrived at New-London, out of which a Capn Johnson was taken on board Count D’Estaigns fleet in the lattitude of Bermudas, I would therefore wish you to dispatch without loss of time an officer intelligent in marine affairs to New-London to learn the particulars...
208From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of this date inclosing a representation of the Subs of the 3d Connecticut Regt against Mr Pomeroys holding his Commission subsequent to his appointment of Auditor for settling the deficiencies of Cloathing for 1777. General Parsons represented the same matter to me the 1st Augt last to which I gave the following answer. “If Mr Pomeroy has accepted the appointment...
209From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Du portail proposes to reconnoitre the Enemy’s situation upon Verplanks point tomorrow Morning. He will apply to you for a proper covering party and will fix the time of their being at Peekskill in the Morning. Be pleased to give orders for the party. I am Dear Sir Your most obt Servt LS , in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . For...
210From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
You wrote to me a few days ago respecting a small guard that is kept at Litchfeild upon the military Stores there. I could not give you an answer then, as I had not seen Genl Knox. He now tells me, that there is a necessity for their remaining, more especially as he is obliged to withdraw a small detachment of Artillery who are there. Be pleased to direct the non Commissioned Officer who...