From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 July 1779
To Major General William Heath
West point July 19: 1779
Dr Sir
I have received Your favor of the 18th and two of to day. The disposition you mention to have made of the Troops will stand till further Orders. You will write to General Glover and direct him to halt with his Brigade at Ridgefield, where he will remain till he is further instructed.1 I am much fatigued—and as I shall see you in the course of a day or two—I shall not add any thing more upon the present occasion. I am Dr sir with great regard Yr Most Obedt sert
Go: Washington
P.S. Your third favor of this date has just come to hand. You will send the Two Twelve pounders to New Windsor. The Officer who came with them from the park will return with them—and also their Ammunition Waggons &c. The Intrenching Tools sent to Genl Howe should be kept collected and no loss of them suffered.2
LS, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS.
1. Heath wrote Brig. Gen. John Glover from Mandeville’s (Dutchess County, N.Y.) on this date, 8:00 P.M.: “I dispatched an Express to you but a few minutes Since to quicken your march, After the Express Sit out I received a Letter from General Washington in which is the following paragraph …
“You will please therefore to halt at Ridgfield, or if you have passed that place before this reaches you you will turn back to that place Untill further orders” (MHi: Heath Papers). Heath’s letter to Glover earlier on this date reads: “The Enemy are out in force, They are not far from Croten River, you had best inquire as you advance where the Enemy are, keep well to the right and Come forward with all possible expedition” (MHi: Heath Papers).
Glover’s reply to Heath from Norwalk, Conn., on 21 July reads: “Your two favrs of the 19th I had the Honor of receiving last Night at 9 OClock. The Troops being much Fatigued, having March’d from New Haven in two days shall Lay by, to rest them this day—I shall March to morrow Morning 2 OClock for Ridgefield” (MHi: Heath Papers).
2. For this supply of entrenching tools, see Robert Howe to GW, 17 July (second letter), and GW to Howe, same date.