1To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 17 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Last night the Fire Ships & Row Gallies made an attempt, Upon the Enemys ships, which lay at Anchor up the River, The Fire ships were well Conducted, the Armed Schooner was Grappled and Burnt, The Phenix was Grappled for a Bought Ten minutes, But got herself Clear, The Lady Washington Galley and Independence, were Conducted with Great Judgment and Bravery, I wish I could Say that the Other...
2To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Early this morning the Phoenix Man of War, Rose Frigate & the Two Tenders, came to Sail & stood down the River, keeping close under the East Shore, in order to avoid the Fire of our Cannon; but notwithstanding this Precaution, the Phoenix was thrice Hull’d by our Shot from Mount Washington, & one of the Tenders once—The Rose was Hull’d once by a Shot from Burdit Ferry—They kept their men...
3To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 20 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Pleasure to Inform you, that we have taken out of the wreck of the Tender lately burnt up the north River, The following Cannon Vizt One Six Pounder, Two Three Do One Two Do and Ten Swivels, One Cabooses and Apron, Two Cutlasses, Two Gun Barrels, One Crow bar and 4 Gapp[l]in[g]s and Chains, Lieut. Landon of Colo. Nicolls Regiment with Two of the Company to Which he belongs went off...
4To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honor this moment to receive yours of the last Evening Inclosing Copy of a Letter from Genl Livingston. I can Assure your Excellency that every thing in my Power shall be Done to be in Readiness, either to receive the Enemy here or to afford you Aid, Fort Washington is in Good order, but our works here are not yet Compleated, and we are as yet Entirely without any Cannon...
5To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor this moment to receive your Orders for augmenting the Detachment designed for your Aid—Genl Mifflin, Clinton & myself an Hour or Two Ago had determined upon the same Plan, and think our Selves happy in having the same order’d by your Excellency—The Detachment shall be got ready with all Expedition, & Officer’d with the best Officers which we have, Genl Mifflin will command...
6To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am so unhappy as not to receive your Letter Untill this moment, having been all this forenoon with the Engineers viewing the Ground & laying out the works, But upon Sight of your Letter I have ordered the Detachment Here to Parade and march for Mount Washington as Soon as Possable, And the Detachment at that place which Consists of near Eight Hundred to march forward agreable to your...
7To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 24 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Order to Ease Head Quarters as much as Possible, And on Account of our Distance from thence, General or Garrison Court Martials have been Appointed at this Post for the Tryal of Offenders, Brigadier General Mifflen has Sent me the Inclosed this Day, But I pause Untill I Know your Excellency’s Pleasure (which I Desire you would be pleased to Signify as Soon as Convenient) whether the before...
8To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just had the Honor to receive your’s of this day’s Date, & shall continue in the most perfect readiness, the Detachment designed for your Aid if Occasion should require it—I will further confer with the Brigadier Generals & Engineers, on the Probability of the Fire Rafts answering the Purpose of a floating Bridge, It is my own, as well as Genl Clinton’s Opinion that they will, and it...
9To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 27 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Express this moment, I am Informed that Two Ships and One Brig are Just Come to Anchor above Frog Point near the New City—I have Instantly Detached Colo. Graham with his Regiment with orders to prevent their Landing to Pillage or Burn, I Imagine that more ships will follow them—But whether their Plan is only to Block up the Sound or to make a Diversion on this Side, Time must Discover, I...
10To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
A Sloop from Red Hook (up the North River) has Just Come to Anchor near this Place, having on Board about 4 Tons & half of Gun Powder made at Livingstons Mills which was to be Deliver’d to your Excellency at New York, but the master has Stoped here Untill He Knows your Pleasure where to Land it. A very Extraordinary Report has Just Spread here, that whether True or false we are as yet...
11To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Ever Since my arrival at New york I have considered this Post to be the Key of the Island, and Consequently of great Importance[.] Its Importance at this Time is apparently Enhanced, And much more is necessary to be Done than we Can Possibly Do with our few Scattered Troops, General Clintons five Regiments Consist of near 1400 Rank and file fit for Duty Two Hundred of that number are on...
12To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
What Fatality Attends the Sinking of the Chevaux De Frise I cannot tell, I was Extremely Uneasy yesterday at the Delay, I went to the Place, Called Capt. Cooke on Shore, told him every moment was precious, and that if any Benifit was ever to be reaped from them it would Probably be Soon, He told me that they met with many & Great Dificulties, that the night before last one of the Vessells...
13To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Enclosing—Col. Remsen’s Regiment are here, they say their Time of Engagement is up this Day many of them are desirous, to go over and if possible save their Families & Effects, Should be glad to know your Excellency’s Pleasure in this respect—They say they mean to return, I cannot answer for them—I suppose the like Applications will be made by many of Col. Smith’s Men—I beg an immediate...
14To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received Information that a Large Body of the Enemy appeared Opposite to Hunts Point Just before Sun Sit and Pitched their Tents on an Hill to the number of 100 or more[.] it is also Said that numbers of men have been Put on Board the Ships, this Day, I have Ordered the Regiments to lie on their Arms &c. I have the Honor to be &c. with great respect your Excellencys most...
15To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Appearance of the Enemy on Long Island the last Evening, near Newtown, Induced Genl Mifflin to leave Col. Hand’s Battalion at Harlem, & proceed with the other Battalions over Kingsbridge, & take Post on the Heights on the East side of Harlem River, towards Morrisania—Consequently Mount Washington has only Col. Hutchinson’s Regiment, & a Detachment of 300 Men for it’s Defence—It is the...
16To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I find many of the Soldiers belonging to the Battalions, that suffered the Most, in the late Action on Long Island much Dispirited, & often uttering Expressions that they have lost their Officers, lost their Blankets, & have no money, & the like, I could wish that your Excellency would just think of the matter, & if the Paymaster has Money in the Treasury, that they may be paid—I am confident...
17To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Honor of the receipt of your favor of yesterday I was in Hopes this morning to have Given you Some fresh Intilligence, but have not yet Receiv⟨ed⟩ it but Still Expect it, as we have undoubtedly a Spy on the Island, Every necessary and Proper preparation having been made for that Purpose the Last night, and it is rather too Early in the morning as yet to receive our...
18To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Enclosing my other Letter I am informed that several Houses are left with large Quantities of valuable Furniture (in particular at Delancy’s) which are in danger it is said of being plundered, there were also on that Farm about Ten Horses, more than half of which are already taken away—Such practices surely ought to be restrained—Wou’d it not be much better for the Quarter Master...
19To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colonels Nicoll DuBois & Drake are just come in and give the following Information vizt That one Mr Cornwall of Cow Neck came over to Frogg’s Point the last Night (Co[r]nwall is a stanch Friend to the Liberties of America, a Relation to Comfort Sands Auditor General of the State of New York) and says that he is a Soldier in the Militia of Cow Neck, under the Command of Capt. Stephen Thorn of...
20To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Two Persons who Came from Long-Island this morning (who we have Employed for the purpose of Secret Intelligence) we are Informed That the Enemy are Encamped in three Divisions, One at Newtown which is Head Quarters, One at Flushing, and One at Jamaica The Hessians are at Newtown, That 1500 waggons are Employed in Bringing aCross the Boats &c. That an Attack will Soon be made Some where East...
21To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from Frog’s Point, Hunt’s point & Morrisania—I find the Enemy have been all this Day landing Troops on Montrosure’s Island where there appears to be a very large Number of them & Senteries posted all round the Island. In Addition to 150 Men sent down this morning near to Hunt’s point—I have this Evening ordered 200 as a Piquet to rendezvouz, at the Widow Morrises, & have...
22To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being so unhappy as to Differ in Sentiment from a Majority of the Honble Board of General Officers of the Army of the United States of america, in the Important Question whether, a Former Determination of the Board Should be reconsidered, and the City of new York no⟨w⟩ be Evacuated, and Some of the General officers Desiring that the reasons of the Gentlemen Differing in Sentiment from the...
23To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 14 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am Just returned (much Fatigued) from East Chester Bay, where I have been with Genl Clinton and Colonel Chester to Reconnoitre the Ground. I have the Honor this moment to receive yours of this Day, and have Immediately ordered all the Teams here or that Can be Procured to be Sent to you —Would to God that the Business of a Certain Department, was Performed with alertness, I wish it may not...
24To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon the receipt of yours on Yesterday I immediately sent an Express to West-Chester, with the Letter directed to Col. Williams, & a Line from myself for his immediate march to Mount Washington—The Express informs that Col. Williams with his Regiment was not arriv’d, but hourly expected—The Major of the Regiment is at West-Chester, and will as soon as the Regiment reaches that place deliver...
25To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Three Troops of Light Horse, making about 90 Men in the whole, have already got in, & others are nearby—Col. Douglas & Col. Stores’s Regiments of Militia are at West Chester—Col. Williams’s have not reached this as yet, but will move forward as soon as they come in—Col. Stores acquaints me that about 4000 Militia may be expected soon; what will be done with them I cannot tell—They have neither...
26To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Heath, 21 September 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Heath, 21 Sept. 1776. On this date William Grayson wrote to Heath: “In answer to your letter of this date, I am commanded by his Excy to inform you that he thinks it expedient that an officer with about twenty five men should be immediately sent to Dobbs ferry; and that the Pensylvany troops under your command should be marched directly for this place;...
27To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
If your Excellency should be fully Satisfied with the Intelligence Brought by the Two Lads who Swam from the LaBrune, with respect to the number of the Enemy on Montrasures Island, I think they may be taken, I Desired General Clinton to lay this matter before your Excellency this Day, But having thought more of it Since he left me, and apprehending that He may not return Untill late this...
28To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 29 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I send your Excellency the report of the Court Martial, which I laid before you the Last Evening, with the addition of another report Given in this morning, I have Passed upon all the Sentences in the first report Except that of McCormick and on all in the Second Report, Except the Lieutenants, I Should be Happy to Know your Excellency’s Opinion, not only with respect to the Present,...
29To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter Just received from Colo. Harrison, I am Informed that it is your Excellency’s Pleasure, That Such of the militia belonging to General Saltonstalls Brigade as have not been ordered to move Forward, should now march and take Post opposite to Head Quarters on the Morrisania Side of Harlem River & c. I beg leave Just to represent to your Excellency, That this Brigade Consists of nine...
30To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday at Ten oClock A:M. a Sloop or Frigate Came through Hell Gate and Came to Anchor near L[a] Brune where she remained untill about Twelve when She Came to Sail and Stood to the Eastward, and was Soon out of Sight Just at night another Ship Came through Hell Gate, and this morning is at Anchor in Harlem River, not far from Montizure’s Island—These movements seem to indicate an Intention...