51From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your several favors of the 5th 6th & 7th Inst. What I mentioned to you in a former letter about a second Attempt on Fort Independence was intended merely as a Hint, on which You might improve if Circumstances should favr. I did not desire that it might interfere with the Order to march some of yr Division this way, unless it should be found highly practicable. When you arrive at...
52George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 March 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Morristown [ New Jersey ] March 3, 1777. Orders Heath to relieve Major General Artemas Ward. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Heath, who was in command of the Hudson River posts, was appointed Artemas Ward’s successor as commander of the Eastern Department on Ward’s resignation.
53From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having been desired by Congress to place some other in the room of General Ward, I have to request you will receive the command from him and hold it till further orders. I have accordingly desired him to resign it to you. I am Sir Your most Obedient servant LS , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . GW apparently sent this letter with...
54From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
By my former directions, the fifteen Regiments, belonging to your State, were all ordered to march to Ticonderoga, as soon as they were raised armed and equipped. But upon a reconsideration of the matter, founded upon several peices of Intelligence, there is a probability that the Enemy will draw part of their force from Canada by water as soon as the St Lawrence is navigable, in order to...
55From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you the 13th directing you to order eight of the Regiments of your State to march with the greatest expedition to peekskill. I then gave you my reasons for this alteration of my former orders. Altho’ I called upon you, in the most pressing manner, to hurry the Troops on, I cannot help again repeating my distress for the want of Men; the general Backwardness of the recruiting...
56From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of our Affairs again compells me to call upon you in express and positive Terms to hasten the Troops of your State (those inlisted for the continent I mean) to Peekskill and Ticonderoga, in such proportions as I have before directed, without one Moments loss of time. The Enemy have lately, taking advantage of our weakness at Peekskill, made a descent there, burnt the lower...
57From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I recd your favor of the 16th: The fortunate arrival of Arms at portsmouth will remove all difficulties which you laboured under for want of them, and I therefore hope that your next will inform me that some of your Troops are on their march to peekskill as well as to Ticonderoga. You will see the Necessity of sending part to peekskill, as quick as possible, by my...
58From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 25th March. I have had no request as yet from the Council of your State, for part of the new arrived Arms, to put into the hands of such of your Troops as were ready and only waited for them, but I desire that as many as are necessary, may be immediately drawn, and the Troops forwarded. So that there can be no further plea for delay upon that head. One thing I must...
59From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have, within these few days, received an application from the honorable Messrs Sever and Cushing, for arms and blankets, for the use of the Massachusetts regiments, destined for Ticonderoga. Surely those troops are not, at this day, to begin their march, for that post! And sorry I am to observe, that nothing now will content that government, but the new arms lately arrived there, which will...
60From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 28th March and 1st of this Month. I have, in my several late letters, wrote to you so fully upon the necessity of forwarding the Troops to Ticonderoga and peekskill, that I need only to refer you to them, and to beg your Attention to the several Matters recommended in them. You will be kind enough not only to insist upon, but to see that the Feild Officers do not stay...