George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0319

To George Washington from Brigadier General William Heath, 9 March 1776

From Brigadier General William Heath

March 9th 1776

Visited the Guards on Yesterday before noon, found them in Good Order, Ordered Grand Rounds at Eleven, Visiting Rounds at half Past Three and Patroles between each Relief, Grand Rounds Report that they found the Guards Vigilant, and Sentinels Alert.

Capt. of the White House Guard Reports That the Enemy worked all night, That at 4 oClock this morning the Bells rang in Boston, and a number of muskets were Fired—Field Officer at Cobble Hill Reports, That the Enemy moved One or Two peices of artillery from Bunkers Hill to the Ferry, also one Ammunition Waggon, and that during the night there was great motion of Carriages in Boston.1

The Officer of the Day in the Center Division, Reports that when going his Grand Round he heard great noise of Carriages in Boston, and Frequent Firing of Small arms.2

W. Heath Brigr Genl of the Day

ADS, DNA: RG 93, Revolutionary War Rolls; ADf, MHi: Heath Papers. Heath included with his report a return of the guards “in the Two Divisions in the Cambridge Department.”

1Capt. Daniel Egery (1741–1801) of Col. William Bond’s 25th Continental Regiment was captain of the White House guard on 8 Mar., and Maj. James Collins (1724-c.1778) of Col. Moses Little’s 12th Continental Regiment was the field officer for Cobble Hill on that date. See “Report of the Several Guards In Major General Lee’s Division,” 8 Mar. 1776, MHi: Heath Papers.

2Col. Edmund Phinney, field officer of the day for the center division at Cambridge on 8 Mar., reported the following day that “as I went the Grand Rounds the last night, as i was down by the South & middle Ridoubts, I observed a Great Noise of Carriages in the Town of Boston, and heard a Frequent fireing of Small Arms, which Appeard to me to be the South of Boston” (“A Report of the Several Guards in Colo. Phinneys Jurisdiction as Officer of the Day,” 9 Mar. 1776, MHi: Heath Papers).

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