To George Washington from William Heath, 26 April 1782
Highlands April 26th 1782
Dear General
In obedience to your orders of the 22d I wrote the Contractors on the subject of the salted and damaged provisions, and yesterday received an answer from them, which I take the liberty to enclose. I wish to know your pleasure whether Messrs Sands shall take such of the provisions as are not fit to issue, and credit the united States what they may be thought worth; or dispose of them and account to the Public: or whether they shall be sold at vendue by the Quarter Master General, the late Commissary (altho I beleive the Commissary is absent) or any other persons.
I take the liberty to enclose a letter from Lt Colonel Badlam received by the last Post. I am still apprehensive, that altho Major General Lincoln had fixed Lt Colo. Badlam at Boston, Officers have not been appointed to muster the Recruits at the three places mentioned as Rendezvous in the Resolve of the General Assembly. Lt Colonel Badlam makes no mention of any Officers being retained by order of General Lincoln, but Ensign Robinson, and he for a limited time only. Before I received Lt Colonel Badlams letter, I had written him on the subject, his answer will determine the matter.
If Lt Colonel Badlam has not written Your Excellency respecting Ensign Robinson being permitted to continue with him longer, I request a signification of your pleasure on that particular. I have the honor to be with the highest respect Your Excellency’s most Obedient Servant
W. Heath
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
Boston April 15th 1782
Honble Sir.
Being appointed by the honle Secretary at War to Muster the Levies at this Post, I now embrace the earliest opportunity of sending forward the Schedule for raising fifteen hundred Men: The Recruits come in very slowly, but you may depend on my sending Parties on as fast as possible, as I am sensible the Troops Should now be Assembled in the Field. I reject all those who are improper Subjects, or unfit for Actual Service, as I have recived particular orders from General Lincoln to that purpose.
General Lincoln thought proper to detain Ensign Robinson of the first Regiment to Act with me as an Assistant untill the end of April—this Gentleman has acted as a Clark or Assistant in the Office from the begining of April 1781—and I believe has proved a very Vigilant and useful Officer in this department.
I shall endeaver to make myself as useful to the Line as possible, and intend to Send on exact Discriptive Lists with the Parties, and conduct the business as expeditiously as the nature of it will permit of.
It is to be much lamented that Desertions too frequently prevaild in the Course of last Campaign and as the last mode of Recruiting gave too fair an opportunity to Men of low dispicable Characters to hurt the Service by buying or rather Selling of Men &c. I am Streneous to descountenence and prevent such Dishonourable and injurous proceedings for the futur, and render abortive the attempts of such Miscreants.
I could wish that, the General would please to order Ensign Robinson to Continue with me as an Assistant as he is Experienced in the business, and is acquainted with the faces of the Diserters and likewise of those Characters above alluded to and Especially as the State of that Gentlemans health is such that Renders it bearly possible for him to be of any Actual Service in the Field. As there is no other Officer here that I coud get as an Assistant, I shall take the Liberty to detain Ensign Robinson till I Recive the General Orders on the Subject.
Colonel Putnam just arriv’d from Camp informs me that His Excellency had made some Enquiry Respecting the mode adapted by this State.I have therefore taken the liberty of writing to His Excellency on the Subject, and likewise enclos’d, a Copy of the Resolve—of the General Court to your Honor.
As for News I have none worth communicating. I Remain in a poor State of health, but hope to recover my health again in the corse of this Summer. I am Honbe Sir your most obdt and most humble Servant
Ezra Badlam
Enclosure
Fishkill April 24th 1782
Sir
Your letter repecting the salt provisions We received; and are much pleased with the steps you have taken—We will give the necessary directions for the Issuing of such as is wholesome without delay, and what remains unfit to Issue & yet may serve some other purposes shall be disposed of in such a manner as you may think proper to point out. We are With the greatest Respect, Sir your Mo. Ob. Hume servts
Comfort Sands & Co.