To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 August 1779
From Major General William Heath
Mandavilles [Dutchess County, N.Y.]
Augst 1st 1779
Dear General
This morning at half past three oClock, I received the enclosed pr Express From Capt. Hopkins—it is probable further Intelligence will come to hand in the Coarse of the Day, if their should it shall be transmitted immediately.1
can Capt. Hopkins purchase the Horses he has taken for the Use of the Regt?2 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys most obedient Servt
W. Heath
ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.
GW replied to Heath on this date from headquarters: “I have just received your favor, with Captain Hopkins’s intelligence. You will be pleased to inform him that I have no objection to the horses being purchased for the use of the regiment.” GW added the following postscript: “Be pleased to forward the letter to Genl Howe” (LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). GW is probably referring to his letter to Robert Howe of this date.
1. The enclosure from Capt. David Hopkins of the 4th Continental Light Dragoons has not been identified, but Heath in his memoirs notes that on 1 Aug.: “Capt. Hopkins gave notice that the British army had moved below Kingsbridge” ( 227).
2. For Hopkins’s engagement with Lt. Col. Andreas Emmerich’s Loyalist corps, in which Hopkins captured these horses, see Heath to GW, 30 July, and n.2 to that document.