1. Col. Michael Jackson had written Heath from West Point, N.Y., on 23 April that he had “Sent three [officers] from Camp” for recruiting and wanted two officers on furlough returned, because “to stop other officers on thir aCount will make Grate uneaseness … I hear [h]is Exelencey Genl washington is Very uneasey with our officer Resining So fast he wont Even luck [look] on thir plee but orders them to be Discharged what is the Reason both officers & men So many leving the Service the Reason I think is this its not the best imploy as Soldiring is become an old afair men in Genl will follow that Calling where thir is the most Profitt” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Officer Resignations, 10 March–10 May 1780, editorial note). For other officers designated to recruit in Massachusetts, see “Recruiting officers Sent on from the army,” a list dated 27 April, and Abraham Williams to Heath, same date, both in MHi: Heath Papers; see also “List of Officers appointed on the recruiting Service” and “List of officers detained on the recruiting Service and Since ordered to Join their Regts,” both dated 1780 (MHi: Heath Papers).

2. Heath is referring to an act that Congress passed on 9 March 1779 (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 13:298–99, and John Jay to GW, 12 March 1779, and n.3 to that document).

3. See Mass. Acts and Resolves description begins The Acts and Resolves, Public and Private, of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay. … 21 vols. Boston, 1869–1922. description ends , 5:1282–83.

4. Heath wrote the Massachusetts General Assembly from Roxbury on 1 May 1780: “Yesterday morning I had the honor to receive the enclosed letter from his Excellency General Washington in answer to one I some time since addressed to him on the subjects of bounty money and Cloathing for the recruits raised for your Battalions which leaves me at much uncertainty what bounty your recruits are to receive, or expect and as many recruiting Officers are out in different parts of the State on the recruiting Service and others daily applying for instructions it becomes absolutely necessary that this matter should be immediately and fully explained for which purpose I have thought it my duty without loss of time to lay before your honors, The continental bounty given in consequence of the act of Congress of March 1779 was Two Hundred dollars, your Resolve of the 30th of Sept. last directs ‘That a Bounty of Three hundred Dollars in addition to the bounty and subsistance money allowed by Congress be paid to each nonCommissioned Officer and Soldier who has, or shall enlist as one of this States Quota of the Continental Army during the continuance of the present war between the United States of America and Great Britain,’ this made the whole bounty five Hundred dollars, which the reinlisted Soldiers and recruits in your Regiments received Untill I left the army and all others enlisted Since I apprehend have received the Same Sum or expect to receive it, His Excellency Seems to be of opinion that the Continental bounty ceased when the requisition of Congress to the Several States to Compleat their respective Quotas was made on the 9th of Febry last but appears by his letter to be at Some uncertinty about it, your Honors, who have the resolves of Congress and their requisition before you can best Judge and determine what the Continental and what the States Bountys really are, and I am convinced that you will think an immediate determination and communication of such determination necessary to prevent that confusion and embarrassment to the officers and uneasiness in minds of the Soldiers as well as injury to the Service which will otherwise be consequent, your Honors will see the Light in which his Excellency veiws the Regiment of artillery, this Corps I apprehend as well as Several Others not of the 15 Battalions [that] receive your bounty.

“From the first moment of my arrival here to the present, I have been most anxiously concerned that your Battalions might be Seasonably recruited, and by every means in my power have been endeavouring to effect it I am Sorry that the Success has not been equal to my wishes and expectations the Season is now far advanced it will be really [m]ortifying if at a time when the Enemy appear to be almost in their last agonies, the debility of our Battalions should prove a reviving Cordial to them, or put it in their power in the Struggles of their expiring moments, to gain an advantage as unexpected to themselves as it seems at present to be to us” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Brig. Gen. John Paterson wrote Heath from West Point, N.Y., on 7 May: “The iniquities of America are so many and of such a nature that in reason we cannot, or at least ought not to, expect success, unless like the waggoner we pray the gods to help our carriage out of the mire without any exertions of our own.

“Our army reduced to nothing, no recruits have arrived, neither do I hear of any coming. I cannot conceive what ideas possess the minds of the people at home,—do they think the war at an end? …

“It is indeed very discouraging to the army, our numbers are so reduced that we cannot call ourselves an army. … Indeed the officers begin to think the country do not intend to support either them or the cause, and will, as they say, get out of the scrape as soon as possible, unless supported with men” (“Heath Papers,” description begins “The Heath Papers.” Parts 1–3. Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 5th ser., 4:1–285; 7th ser., vols. 4–5. Boston, 1878–1905. description ends 3:61–62).

5. The Independent Ledger, and the American Advertiser (Boston) of 1 May printed a notice about the arrival of these ships in Salem, Mass., on 25 April. The notice described the vessels as a “large letter of marque ship of 20 guns” and two privateers, “Franklin and Saucy Jack.”

6. Heath’s informant likely was the “J. APEDAILE” who advertised in The Virginia Journal and Alexandria Advertiser for 24 March 1785. The item, datelined Alexandria, 12 March 1785, reads: “THE Subscriber begs leave to acquaint his friends and the public in general, that after many years private and public practice in the hospitals in Europe and America, he has settled at Mr. John Short’s, where he designs following his profession, as Surgeon, Man-Midwife, &c.—Any family honoring him with their business, may depend on every attention being paid them.” J. Apedaile subsequently advertised in The Columbian Herald, or the Patriotic Courier of North-America (Charleston, S.C.) for 8 June 1785 that he “has settled at No. 136, King-street, where he designs following his profession.” In his later advertisement, he emphasized that he would provide smallpox inoculations to “poor people” and attend “poor women in labour” at no cost.

7. William Stacy (1734–1802) served as major in Col. Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge’s Massachusetts Regiment during 1775 and became lieutenant colonel of the 7th Massachusetts Regiment in January 1777. He transferred to the 4th Massachusetts Regiment in September 1778 and was taken prisoner at Cherry Valley, N.Y., on 11 Nov. of that year. Stacy did not return to the army after his exchange in late 1781. While captive, he allegedly saved himself “from the stake by giving to an Indian the sign of Free Masonry” (Washington County, Ohio description begins History of Washington County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, 1788–1881. Cleveland, 1881. description ends , 609). For a biographical treatment, see Leo L. Lemonds, Col. William Stacy—Revolutionary War Hero: Cordwainer, Minuteman, Prisoner of War, Pioneer (Hastings, Neb., 1993).

For the frontier operations of Loyalist lieutenant colonel John Johnson during summer 1780, see Frederick Haldimand to George Germain, 12 July, in Davies, Documents of the American Revolution description begins K. G. Davies, ed. Documents of the American Revolution, 1770–1783; (Colonial Office Series). 21 vols. Shannon and Dublin, 1972–81. description ends , 18:116–18.

8. At this place on his draft, Heath wrote and then struck out a sentence: “I have thought my duty to mention it.”

For similar warnings of pending British and Indian operations in the Mohawk River valley, see George Clinton to GW, 7 April, n.4; see also George Clinton to GW, 19 May (DLC:GW), and GW to James Clinton, 30 May (NNPM).

9. Heath had written Major General Lafayette from Roxbury on this date: “Permit me to request you will take the trouble, of a Letter to his Excellency General Washington, I this morning had the honor of a Letter from him, dated at Morristown the 17th Instant I have no news worth communicating, enclosing the names of Several Quarter masters on the rout to the Highland, with every wish for your honor and happiness” (MHi: Heath Papers). Lafayette replied to Heath on “Monday Morning” (1 May): “I Beg, My dear Sir, You Will be so kind as to Send me Your Commands for head quarters, and wish in the Same time I Might get from You directions for the shortest Road to Camp through har[t]ford and fishkills. I intend Setting out to Morrow Morning By the Break of the day—in expecting the pleasure of Seeing You in a few days at head quarters” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Lafayette, who had arrived at Boston Harbor on 27 April, described his reception when he wrote his wife from Waterbury, Conn., on 6 May: “I disembarked after noon in the midst of an immense crowd. They welcomed me with the roar of guns, the ringing of all the city’s bells, the music of a band that marched ahead of us, and the huzzas of all the people that surrounded us. In this way I was led to the house that the council and the assembly of representatives of Boston had prepared for me. There was a deputation from these bodies to welcome me … In the evening the people gathered in front of my door and built a great bonfire with much cheering, which lasted until after midnight” (Lafayette Papers description begins Stanley J. Idzerda et al., eds. Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790. 5 vols. Ithaca, N.Y., 1977-83. description ends , 3:8–10; see also Samuel A. Otis to Nathanael Greene, 30 April, in Greene Papers description begins Richard K. Showman et al., eds. The Papers of General Nathanael Greene. 13 vols. Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005. description ends , 5:536–39, and Wilson, Heath’s Memoirs description begins Rufus Rockwell Wilson, ed. Heath’s Memoirs of the American War. 1798. Reprint. New York, 1904. description ends , 248).

An item in The Boston Gazette, and the Country Journal for 1 May (Monday) reads: “Friday last arrived here, His Most Christian Majesty’s Frigate the Hermoine, of 36 Guns. …

“In this Frigate the Marquis Le FAYETTE, and several other Gentlemen came Passengers.

“The arrival of this Nobleman was Announced by the Discharge of Cannon from the Batteries and Ships in the Harbour. …

“The great Respect all Ranks of People entertain for this Nobleman, was testified by Demonstrations of Joy.” For a longer newspaper account of Lafayette’s reception, see The Continental Journal, and Weekly Advertiser (Boston), 4 May 1780.