To George Washington from William Heath, 17 May 1782
Highlands, May 17. 1782.
Dear General,
The enclosed is this moment handed to me.
In justice to colonel Swift I beg leave to observe that he has been the whole winter with the troops, and has had many embarrassments and difficulties to encounter. He has repeatedly mentioned to me the necessity of his visiting his family before the campaign opened. I assured him he should, but being appointed a member of the general court-martial for the trial of major-general McDougall, and that court having been continued much longer than was expected, has prevented: an opportunity opens now to offer, and I earnestly request your Excellency to grant the indulgence. I have the honor to be With the highest respect, Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant,
W. Heath
DLC: Papers of George Washington.
Enclosure
Camp Connecticut Villag May 17th 1782.
Sir
the Court Martial has this Day adjurned till the 10th day of June next. I think with your Honors Leve I can have opertunity to Visset my famely—I conclude your Permission for my absence under my Present Circumstance will be [surficient] without my aplying to his Excellency the Commander in Chief—& therefore beg your [ ] Honors Permission to be absent till the 10th day of June aforesd.
if your Honor s’uld not Chuse to grant my request your Self I beg the favour of you Sir to give me a Line to his Excellency the Commander in Chief informing him my Circumstance and request of him the favour for me [ ] to be absent for that time—but am in hops it will not be necessary to Trouble his Excellency on the Subject. I have Directed the [barer] to wait your answer. I have the Honor to be Sir your obedt Humle Servt
Heman Swift