George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-06-02-0384

To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 October 1776

From Major General William Heath

Kingsbridge Octr 7th 1776

Dear General

Inclosed is the Disposition which I have made of the Troops of this Division which is to be observed in Case of attack1—Colo. Knox has a map of new York & its vicinity by which your Excellency may Determine if the Disposition is properly made[.] I did not See the map untill the Disposition is properly made[.] I did not See the map untill the Disposition was Compleated—I have this Day ordered a party to the Heighth on Harlem River who are to throw up a work there as the Massachusetts militia are nearby[.] I hope your Excellency will order Some of them to this Post where I am Sure they might be well Employed in Fortifying the Post[.] This However I humbly Submit to your Excellencys Determination. I am &c.

W. Heath

ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.

1A copy of this long, detailed disposition dated 3 Oct. and addressed to Col. John Chester is in MHi: Heath Papers; see also Force, American Archives description begins Peter Force, ed. American Archives. 9 vols. Washington, D.C., 1837–53. description ends , 5th ser., 2:855–56.

Samuel Blachley Webb had written Heath the previous day at GW’s direction to inform him “that in the night about twelve oClock our Men distinctly heard the Enemy throwing tools into Boats from Montrasors & Blackwells Islands—and that Boats were moveing up [the] Sound most of the Night, abt day light Twenty Boat Load of Men—row’d up & Landed on one of the Islands call’d the two Brothers. The General [GW] thinks the above Manoevre should not in the least draw your Attention from Morrissea [Morrisania], tho: a good look out should be keep [kept] on all their Movements—& at the same time bids Me add ‘that no time should be lost in takeing possession of the Hill[’] you yesterday mentioned to him—below the Gut” (MHi: Heath Papers). North Brother and South Brother islands are in the East River a short distance east of Montresor’s (now Randall’s) and Blackwell’s (now Ward’s) islands.

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