451From 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...
452From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 28th March and 1st of this Month. I have, in my several late letters, wrote to you so fully upon the necessity of forwarding the Troops to Ticonderoga and peekskill, that I need only to refer you to them, and to beg your Attention to the several Matters recommended in them. You will be kind enough not only to insist upon, but to see that the Feild Officers do not stay...
453From 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...
454From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 30th ulto found me at this place. Upon the Enemy’s quitting Jersey and embarking, there was the strongest presumption to think, that this sudden alteration of their original move towards Philadelphia could only be owing to an intent to co-operate with Genl Burgoyne and the Northern Army. It was therefore determined to move this army up towards Peekskill to be ready to act as...
455From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 22d and 25th of October. As you have wrote to Congress respecting the difficulty of supplying the prisoners of Genl Burgoine’s Army with Quarters, Fewel and provisions, I imagine they will give proper directions in the matter. I do not think it to our interest, to expedite the passage of the prisoners to England, for you may depend upon it that they will,...
456From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favrs of the 26th and 30th last Month. Colo. Conway and the two Gentlemen who accompanied him are gone forward to Congress, who, I make no doubt, will provide for them in a manner suitable to their merits. The Board of War have sent orders to the Continental Agents, at Boston, Portsmouth and providence, to remove all the military Stores, Arms &ca in their possession, from those...
457From 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...
458From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 20 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I yesterday Evening received your Favor of the 7th Inst., and am happy to find the first account of the arrival of the Ship with Artillery &c. fully confirmed. This Event is fortunate & interesting, as it not only manifests the strong attachment of France to our Cause, but also makes us respectable in point of Artillery. I doubt not of your attention to secure the Stores, and wish your care of...
459From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favs. of the 21st and 26th Inst. Certificates from the paymasters of the 1st and 15th Massachusetts Regiments setting forth that Ensigns Gilbert and porter have settled their regimental accounts are necessary before those Gentlemen can obtain discharges. Upon producing them to you, you may indorse their discharges upon their Commissions, and inform me of the date, that I...
460From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received repeated intelligence this morning that besides the detachment which went from New Haven, the enemy in considerable force was moving by land towards horse neck, with a good many pieces of Artillery and a large number of Waggons. My accounts are that the first mentioned detachment had left New Haven, gone to Fairfield burnt the Town reimbarked and were off Norwalk, where ’tis...
461From 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...
462From 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...
463From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 5th in Answer to your’s of the 22d Ulto, I mentioned, that it was not our interest to expedite the passage of the prisoners to England. Upon a review of the matter, I am more & more convinced of the propriety of the observation. The most scrupulous adherence on the part of the Enemy to the Convention of Saratoga, will justify their placing the prisoners in Garrisons, as...
464From John Adams to William Heath, 14 December 1807 (Adams Papers)
As I did not wish to oppress you with my Letters I have not acknowledged the receipt of your favour of the 18th of May, though I received it in due Season and esteemed it very highly. I have seen lately in the Chronicle, that like the good Steward you bring out of your Treasury Things new and old, and in very good Season. The Military Countryman written five or six and thirty years ago I have...
465From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13–17 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of the 7th Instant, with Copies of the papers to which you allude. As the appointment or promotion of Officers does not in the least depend on me, I can not undertake to give you directions, in either of the cases, in which you request it; however since they are before me, I shall offer my sentiments with respect to them. As to the case of Majors Maxwell & Ballard,...
466From 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...
467From 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...
468From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 10th inst. inclosing a petition from Lt Colonel Tudor and Lieut. Thompso⟨n⟩ desiring a liberty to resign. I desire that their reques⟨t⟩ may be granted, not that it is my wish to have an Officer of Colo. Tudors good character out of the Army but as there will be a necessity of reducing the 16 additional Battalions to a less number, the more Officers that resign...
469From George Washington to William Heath, 21 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
Upon my arrival at this place yesterday, I found your letter of the 2d, inclosing the complaints of sundry field Officers of the Massachusetts line. It is a painful reflection, that the best meant endeavors to promote the Service is subject to, and often meets with, the most unfavourable constructions; and that the numerous embarrassments which the distressed situation of our affairs...
470From 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...
471From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
You, being appointed to the command of the posts upon the North River, will forthwith proceed to West point or the Vicinity of it. All the posts on the North River from Kings Ferry inclusively upwards will be comprehended within the limits of your command. The troops destined for the Garrison of these posts and under your immediate command will be the four Massachusetts Brigades—General Poors...