421From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your several favors of the 5th 6th & 7th Inst. What I mentioned to you in a former letter about a second Attempt on Fort Independence was intended merely as a Hint, on which You might improve if Circumstances should favr. I did not desire that it might interfere with the Order to march some of yr Division this way, unless it should be found highly practicable. When you arrive at...
422From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 4 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
This Letter is in addition to my public one of this date —It is to hint to you, and I do it with concern, that your conduct is censured (and by Men of sense and Judgment who have been with you on the Expedition to Fort Independance) as being fraught with too much caution, by which the Army has been disappointed, and in some degree disgraced. Your Summons, as you did not attempt to fulfil your...
423From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your two favs. of the 30th last month reached me last Night. I cannot say, but I was a good deal surp[r]ized and disappointed at the contents. I never was very sanguine as to any thing more being effected than to oblige the Garrison of Fort Independance either to surrender or evacuate, and retire within the Island, as neither has been done, I wish your summons had never been sent, as I am...
424From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have not been favd with a line from you since the 24th Ulto. Anxious for the Success of the Troops with You, I wish to hear from you frequently; An Express may meet with a ready Passage across the North River. While You are lying in that quarter I would by all means have the Forage & Provisions removed to some interior parts of the Country, entirely out of the Enemy’s reach; For altho’ the...
425From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will receive with this a Copy of my Letter to you of the 19th Inst. Two reasons have led me to send it, the one lest the Original may have miscarried, the other to explain it fully if you have already recd it—I do not mean to tie up your hands from effecting, or even attempting any thing that may prove honourable to yourself, or usefull to the Cause. Altho’ the original design of your...
426From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
By this time nearly, you must have discover’d what effect your movement towards New York has occasioned. If the City on the one Hand is not left so destitute of Troops as to afford you an easy conquest of it, nor so strengthened as to leave the Enemy weak in this State, the End of your expedition is not answered, and the junction of your Troops with these under my Command (after leaving...
427From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Bell of Philada a very intelligent and credible person, made his Escape from New York about ten days ago. He informs that there were no troops upon Long Island but Delanceys Brigade, and not more than 1000 Men upon York Island, all the rest having joined the Army now in Jersey. And that Transports were gone up the sound to bring back the Troops from Rhode Island, in order to make a...
428From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 10th. In the Settlement for Arms I plainly perceive that the loss is all likely to be thrown upon the public, and I dont know how it is to be avoided, I can only as I did before, desire you to act up to the best of your Judgment in this Matter. If some of those persons who have reinlisted are in such a Situation on Account of their Health, that they require a time to...
429From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have yours of the 9th inclosing the proceedings of the Court Martial who set upon Strang. In my opinion the Sentence should be confirmed & executed. It gives me great pleasure to find that your Troops are in so great fordwardness, to move down on both sides of the River. I think the diversion which you will create, will be attended with the most happy Consequences to us and distress to the...
430From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you lately, since which the Enemy appear to be drawing their whole force to Brunswick whether with design to move towards Philadelphia Attack Us—or secure themselves from the inconveniences of detach’d bodies I know not; but as many valuable purposes may, I think be answered by your moving towards New York, I wish that no time may be lost in doing it. I have good reasons to believe...
431From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 7 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you on the 5th from Pluckemin, a Copy of which I inclose, least the Original should have miscarried. I confirm all the Orders given in mine of the 5th only that I would (if it is agreeable to you both) have Genl Lincoln continue with you, and let some other proper Officer conduct the Troops who are to join me. But this I leave intirely to yourselves. I beg you will keep up every...
432From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
We have made a Successfull attack upon Princeton—General Howe advanced upon Trenton—we evacuated the Town, & Lay at the other-side of the Mill Creek until dark, then Stole a March and attackd Princeton about nine o Clock in the Morning—there were three Regiments quarterd there, the Killd, wounded, and prisoners taken amounts to about 500, The enemy are in great Consternation, and as the...
433From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I just now received your favor of the 26th, and am sorry Genl Wadsworth’s Brigade should have left the Stores in such a situation. I hope you have secured ’em all. I had flattered myself that many of the Eastern Troops, if not the Whole, had got to Pecks Kills before the date of your Letter. I refer you to my last for what I would have done with ’em, & only shall add on that Subject, That I...
434From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Head Quarters, New Town [Pa.] 28 December 1776 . Acknowledges receipt of “Your favor of the 21st Instant” and encloses a duplicate of his letter to Heath of that date “least that should have miscarried.” GW then repeats almost verbatim the text of his letter to Hancock of 27 Dec. concerning the Battle of Trenton. “I some time ago, mentioned to you the importance, of attacking the Enemy’s...
435From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the pleasure of informing you Yesterday of our Success at Trenton, I have received Advice that Count Donnop with the remainder of the Enemy’s Army, immediately upon the News, decamped, and was on his Retreat towards South Amboy. On hearing this Genl Ewing and Colo. Cadwallader passed the River with the Troops under their command, and Genl Mifflin will follow this day with a...
436From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have been favoured with yours of the 13th Instt and wish you may have succeeded in your intended scheme to dislodge the Enemy from Heckensec bridge. In my Letter of the 18th I transmitted you a Copy of a Letter from the Council of the Massachusets Bay advising that 6000 men were coming from that State under Genl Lincoln to supply the place of the militia which had returned Home and of their...
437From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter just received from the State of Massachusets (Copy of which you have inclosed) I find that they had ordered 6000 Militia to be raised, and appointed the place of rendezvous at Danbury in Connecticut, where they are to meet Genl Lincoln who is to take the Command. You will perceive from the Tenor of the Letter, that the Appearance of the Men of War and Transports off the Coast of N....
438From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday I received a letter from the Council of the State of Massachusetts by Major Shaw, informing me he had in charge a few Indians from N. Scotia who were inlisted into the Continental Service; as they will be of no use to me here I have directed Mr Shaw to deliver them into your Care, & request you will employ them in such a manner as you may judge most advantageous to the Service, and...
439From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I reciev’d your favor of the Eleventh instant, advising me of the march of Parsons Brigade from Pekeskill to join us; I am now to acquaint you that from information reciev’d of the Enemy’s movements, it appears to me that they intend leaving this part of the Country, & to retire towards Brunswick & the towns contiguous to it, perhaps for the purpose of going into Winter quarters, unless indeed...
440From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favor of the 10th Instt. I am extremely pleased by the ready attention you have paid to my Orders and have only to request that you will proceed with your Troops with all possible expedition to Pitts Town, pursuing General Lee’s rout & where I expect you will join him. You will not lose a Moment. The situation of our Affairs demands industry and dispatch on all...
441From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 8th Instant has come duly to hand, and am glad to hear that Greatons Bond’s and Porter’s regiments are coming forward to join me; at the same time I must acknowledge I should have been much better satisfied, if they had contained a greater number of men than what you have mentioned: your sending them on with all possible expedition, was exceedingly proper; indeed no time is...
442From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 7 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
You are upon Receipt of this to cross the North River with the Troops under your Command in the Continental Service to wit Parsons’s Brigade & move on so as to give all possible Protection to the Country & Vigour to the Cause. If you could move on towards Morris Town in New Jersey it would be best, as by this Means a Junction may be made if necessary & at all Events such a Movement would...
443From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 26th overtook me a few Miles from this place where I arrived this day at Noon. The Enemy gave us not the least Interruption upon our March. I am glad to hear that the Stores that were at Tapan and Slotts Landing are all got safely up; I hope you will have the same good Luck with the Flour. I approve of the Steps you have taken to keep the Tories, in the Neighbourhood of your post,...
444From George Washington to Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath, 16–17 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the inclosed Resolves, that Congress have entered into some New regulations respecting the Inlistment of the New Army, and reprobating the measures adopted by the State of Massachusetts Bay for raising their Quota of Men. As every possible exertion should be used for recruiting the Army as speedily as may be, I request that you immediately publish in Orders that an...
445From George Washington to Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath, 14 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
As an Exchange of Prisoners, is likely to take effect, as soon as the circumstance of the case will admit, and as, in the course of the transaction, it may possibly happen, that an attempt may be made by the Enemy to redeem their prisoners by men in their possession, who were never ingag’d in our service, I must request you, to direct the Colonels, or Commanders of Regiments under your...
446Instructions to Major General William Heath, 12 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
The uncertainty with respect to the designs of the Enemy renders any disposition of our army at this time a little unsettled; but for the present, your division, with such Troops as are now at Forts Constitution, Montgomery, & Independance are to be under your Command and remain in this Quarter for the security of the above Posts and the Passes through the Highlands from this place—and the one...
447From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Ships which have got up the River with their Tenders (and now two of our Row Galleys) must be well attended to, or they may undertake something against our Stores, Craft, or &ca at Spiten devil—delay no time therefore in having some Work thrown up at the Mouth of that Creek for the defence of what lyes within, & to prevent Surprizes. A Small number of Troops Imbark’d on Long Island...
448From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of yesterday is before me with the list Inclosed; but this is doing the matter by halves only, and the delay must inevitably defeat the end; as it is impossible from the nature of things that the different Governments can withhold the nomination of Officers much longer—I therefore entreat you to delay not a moments time in summoning the Officers (under Sanction from me) to consider...
449From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment yours of this Evening. The Party of 100 Men were ordered up to assist a Detachment of Artillery in covering the two New Ships, should the Enemy attempt to cut them out or destroy them. Soon after I got home from Fort Washington I recd a Report that the Enemy had passed the new Ships and were landing at Dobb’s Ferry, I then directed Colo. Read to desire you, if that should be...
450From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I should be glad if you would order Genl Saltenstall to draw as much Powder as will compleat his Militia to about fifteen or 18. Rounds a Man; as also Lead if they have it not, and Cartridge Paper that they may make their own Cartridges. At the sametime let him know, & desire him to Impress it strongly upon the Minds of his Men, that they must Acct for every Load which is not used in Action....