From George Washington to Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath, 14 November 1776
To Major Generals Charles Lee and William Heath
Genl Green’s Quarters [Fort Lee, N.J.]
Nov. 14th 1776.
Dear Sir.
As an Exchange of Prisoners, is likely to take effect, as soon as the circumstance1 of the case will admit, and as, in the course of the transaction, it may possibly happen, that an attempt may be made by the Enemy to redeem their prisoners by men in their possession, who were never ingag’d in our service, I must request you, to direct2 the Colonels, or Commanders of Regiments under your command,3 immediately to make out an exact list of the particular officers & Privates who have been killed, taken prisoners or are missing in the respective Regiments and companies to which they belong’d; specifying the names of the whole, and the time when each officer and Soldier4 was killed, taken Prisoner, or was missing.
The List (as soon as it is completed) you will transmit to Head Quarters.
I now inclose you, a Copy of the recommendation of the Officers for the State of Rhode Island, which was furnished by General Green, and transmitted by me to Governor Cooke sometime since;5 if the Commissioners have not yet arrived from thence, you will be pleased to direct the officers therein nominated who chuse to serve, to recruit as fast as possible out of their own regiments, & agreable to the general orders issued at the White Plains before my departure.6 I am Sir Yr most Obedt Servt
Go: Washington
P.S. We have well attested Accts of the Enemy’s having Imbarkd a number of Men—& it is said for So. Carolina, but they have not yet left the Harbour. I was this day at Mount Washington and perceived some Incampment of the Enemy at, and near the Bridge (Kings) but not very large, & it is suspected they are removing towards Morrissania in order to Imbark, but I think they cannot pass that Fort without Investing it.
G: W——n
LS, addressed to Lee, in William Grayson’s writing, owned (1994) by Mr. Richard Maass, White Plains, N.Y.; LS, addressed to Heath in Grayson’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The postscript to the letter that was sent to Lee is in GW’s writing, and it appears only on that document. Grayson addressed the cover of the letter: “To The Honble Major Genl Lee at the White Plains.” The text of the letter that was sent to Heath consists only of the two paragraphs regarding casualty returns. Its cover is addressed in Grayson’s writing: “To The Hon’ble Major Genl Heath at the White Plains.” Below that address a notation in another writing reads: “forwarded ⅌ Express from Peeks Kills.” The draft and Varick transcript both include the part of the text regarding casualty returns in the main body of the letter and the paragraph about the Rhode Island regiments in a postscript. They do not include GW’s postscript about anticipated British movements.
1. The draft and Varick transcript read “as soon as the nature.”
2. The draft and Varick transcript read “immediately to direct.”
3. The letter sent to Heath reads “of Regiments in your division.” The same wording is in the draft and Varick transcript.
4. The draft and Varick transcript read “each Officer or Private.”
5. See GW to Nicholas Cooke, 12–13 Oct., and note 1.
6. See General Orders, 10 November.