To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 17 December 1779
From Major General William Heath
Robinsons House [N.Y.] Decr 17th 1779
Dear General
In the late Scarcity of Flour Some of the Troops were Ten Days without Bread, which was Such a Tryal even to the veterans that one Brigade was on the point of a mutiny,1 The Corps of New York Levies under the Command of Colo. Pawling, posted at Stony Point did not continue through it, your Excellency having promised them when they had Compleated, the work at Stony point that they should be discharged, it Operated powerfully on them and no men ever worked better, but after being a number of Days without Bread, a Spirit of Desertion took place which by the Day before yesterday had reduced their numbers near two Thirds, as their Time of Service expires the first of January, and Colo. Gouvion having given his Opinion that from their reduced numbers and Circumstances no advantage to the public could be expected from their remaining longer at the Post, and at the Earnest request of the Officers I have ordered them to march to Poughkeepsie, to prevent the whole of the Soldiers from deserting. I have wrote Governor Clinton and advised that after those who have remained are mustered and returned their arms &c. they should be discharged, have represented the great Desertion which had taken place and the occasion of it, and at the Same time its banefull tendency on the discipline of the army,2 I hope the steps which I have taken will meet your approbation, others shall be taken if your Excellency should think them necessary.
Our Supply of Flour is Still only from Day to Day, and the present Cold Weather threatens an early Obstruction of the water Transp[ort]ation, every Quarter Master and Commissary is pressed to exert himself and every Barrel of Flour that can be found is forwarding, but when ample Supplys will be obtained or whether at all is not in my Power to determine.
no new Intelligence has been received from below Since that forwarded by Major Genl Howe by the last Express.3
General Glover informs me that the Troops grow Uneasy for their pay, and the Commanding Officers, of Regts represent the want of money to pay the Continental Bounty to the reinlisted men.
Enclosed is the request of Two Officers for leave to resign their Commissions in the army, they are desireous to retire as Soon as May be convenient to your Excellency to grant their requests.4
agreable to your Excellencys Instructions I have made enquiry respecting the Beacons, and have wrote Governor Clinton on the Subject I find that the Guard at the one on Butter Hill (which must give the Signal to the others) has been discontinued for Some time and Said to be by your orders or consent, I beg to be informed, whether your Excellency Considers it unnecessary to have Guards at the Beacons during the winter, or advisable that they should be again mounted and Continued.5
ADf, MHi: Heath Papers.
1. Brig. Gen. John Glover’s brigade was the veteran command that nearly mutinied (see Heath to GW, 14 Dec., and n.2 to that document).
2. Heath had written New York governor George Clinton from Beverly Robinson’s house on 16 Dec. describing how the “late great scarcity of flour, (during which time, part of the Troops were Seven days without bread, and one of the Brigades on the verge of a mutiny,) has had such an effect on the Corps commanded by Lt. Colo. Pawling, that by the report of the Major, just now made, two thirds of the Corps have deserted within a few Days past.” Heath praised this command for their diligence constructing fortifications at Stony Point, N.Y., but urged their prompt discharge. What to do with the deserters, however, troubled Heath: “I scarcely know what to say; the tryal which they experienced was great, yet the crime is of a nature, which if passed over unnoticed may have a banefull influence on the future discipline of the Army” ( 5:421–22; see also Heath to GW, 31 Oct., n.4, and GW to Heath, 22 Nov., and n.1 to that document). In his reply to Heath from Poughkeepsie on 23 Dec., Clinton expressed alarm “at the Information I continue to receive respecting the Scarcity of Provisions for the Army” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also 5:429–30, and Clinton to GW, 26 Dec.). In his reply to Clinton, written at Robinson’s house on 27 Dec., Heath exclaimed: “Your being exceedingly Alarmed at the Information you Continue to receive respecting the Scarcity of Provisions for the Army effects me most sensibly, and Since you are so exceedingly Obliging as to offer me your Aid for the public service both before your departure, and while with the Legislature at Albany, I thankfully embrace it, and earnestly request that if any measures Can be devised, that will tend to ensure, an Increase of Provisions (especially of Flour), for the Use of the Army without Injury to the good People of the State they may be adopted” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also 5:433–35, and Heath to GW, same date).
3. See Robert Howe to Heath, 16 Dec., at Howe to GW, same date, source note.
4. The enclosures have not been identified, but the officers seeking to resign almost certainly were Ensign Elisha Gilbert and Lt. Jonathan Porter (see GW to Heath, 31 Dec.; see also Heath to GW, 21 Dec.).
5. Heath wrote Clinton from Robinson’s house on 20 Dec.: “I have the honor to enclose and forward your Excellency a Letter received this morning by Express from His Excellency General Washington.
“I have not been able to give you a State of the Several Beacons, agreable to your request of the 2nd Inst. untill now, upon enquiry I found that the Guard at the one on Butter Hill had been taken off for Some time I could not find by whose order it was done Untill application was made to Major General McDougall, from whom I learn that the Guard before mentioned was taken off with the approbation of The Commander in chief, as this Beacon must give the Signal to the others above, the other Guards are rendered of no Service, I have therefore thought, as it will be extremely difficult and uncomfortable to Continue Guards on the Tops of those mountains where the Beacons are erected through the Severe Season and as their is but little probability of the Enemys makeing any Considerable Movements during that Time, that the Guards in general had best be taken off” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also 5:423–24; GW’s second letter to Heath, 27 Nov., and n.6; GW’s first letter to Heath, 21 Dec.; and Heath to GW, 27 Dec.).