151To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Mr Deane Brother to the Hon. Silas Deane Esqr. being on his way to Congress Charged with Dispatches of the most Happy & Interesting nature to the United States of america and being anxious to proceed Immediately I have not Time to write Save to Congratulate your Excellency on the Court of France having acknowledged the Independence of these United States and having entered into Two Treaties...
152To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been Honored with yours of the 8th Instant. I do myself the Honor to enclose the resolves of the General assembly of this State for Drafting a number of men to Compleat their Battalions, and to Serve on Hudsons River which They appear to be Determined to accomplish without Delay. On the 13th Instant I Published an order in the publick Papers for all Soldiers in this Quarter belonging to...
153To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 27 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
27 April 1778. Recommends Col. Henry Jackson to GW’s notice as “an Honest man a worthy Citizen and Good Officer.” States that he has “taken the Liberty to enclose under Cover addressed to your Excellency” a letter to the president of Congress and asks that it be “forwarded by the first Conveyance.” ADf , MHi : Heath Papers. Heath’s letter to Henry Laurens of 27 April requested congressional...
154To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 4 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this day forward from this place to the Treasury at York Town 127,334 ⅓ Dollars in Specie under the care of John Adams Esqr. who will have the honor to deliver this. The Money is loaded on three Waggons, the Boxes marked, Musket Cartridges, and covered with upward of 5000 Canteens for the purpose of deception. The Escort is commanded by Captain Hutchins of the State of New Hampshire; his...
155To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly honored by the receipt of yours of the 29th Ulto & 5th Instant. I communicated to the Council of this State that part of your Excellency’s Letter of the 29th which respected the inlisting of prisoners or Deserters from the Enemy, and have added another admonition to the many I had before given the recruiting Officers on the same subject. Having done myself the honor to enclose...
156To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
A Colonel Armand is here with a number of recruiting Officers of his Corps. He has for some time been expecting orders from Congress to inlist such of the foreign Troops as appear disposed to enter our service, and is continually harrassing me to Cloath such as he has already inlisted—I wish to do every thing in my power to promote the public service, but at present am at a loss in this...
157To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to your Excellency by the Marquis Devienne lately from France. He has come to serve in our Army, and requested a line to you. We have a report this day that a number of the Enemy from Rhode Island, yesterday morning surprised a party of our men who were posted at Warren Neck and made prisoners of nearly the whole, burnt the meeting house & destroyed a large number of Boats...
158To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your favor of the 20th Ultimo. Several Detachments are now on their march to join you. Mr Parker the pay Master of Colonel H. Jackson’s Regiment has in charge for you Seven & a half pounds of Sealing Wax—hope it will come safe to hand. We are pushing on the Stores of all kinds with the utmost expedition. Mr Agent Bradford has just informed me that he has received 28...
159To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment informed that a french Ship of Twenty Guns arrived at Portsmouth on fryday last with a valuable Cargo of Cloathing Arms, Horse furniture &c., for the use of the United States. She left France the 12th of April. War was not declared at that time, but the greatest preparations making for it, both in France & England. Major Courtis and Adjutant Dunckerley never received...
160To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be presented by Mr Torrey whom I have in Consequence of Directions from the Board of war Some Time Since received nominated as a director to a Company of Bakers which I was to raise and Send on to the army, notwithstanding the Encouragment to the Bakers is Handsome yet it is Small when Compared with the Bounties given by the respective Towns to men to Compleat their Quotas Some of...
161To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Perhaps ere this reaches you, you will hear that an Officer of the Convention troops has been lately shot at Cambridge by one of our Sentinels. this happened on the 17th Instant, the Officer attempting to ride out of the Chain of Sentries with two Women, which by express orders are not to pass without passports, the Sentry did his duty—repeatedly ordered the Officer to stop, and was at length...
162To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 29 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be handed to your Excellency by Captain Langdon of Colo. Henry Jackson’s Regiment who will also present a packet from General Phillips addressed to Sir Hy Clinton, which your Excellency is requested to send in by the first flag if you should approve thereof. General Phillips first sent me a letter for Sr Heny Clinton which contained many expressions, which, duty to the honor &...
163To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday a Xebeck arrived in this port from Spain, and a Cutter from France, I have this day forwarded the Letters to Congress ⅌r Express. If we may give credit to common reports brought by these Vessels Chesepeck or Deleware will soon (if they are not already) be honored with a French Squardron, and the Letters in the Mail, addressed to the Count de Estaing Vice Admiral in the French Fleet,...
164To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 17th Ultimo. Captain Robert Davis left this place to join the Army some three or four weeks since. I believe General Glover & his Brigade Major Fosdick are much better acquainted with his conduct and services while here, than I am. The Military Stores which arrived at Portsmouth from France in the Dutchess of Grammond I have ordered to this place on their...
165To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 15 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
This moment Colonel Armand & a major Ottendroff called at my quarters, and being about to set out for the Army, the Major desires I would write your Excellency that he is exceeding sorry for leaving the service the last year, and wishes you would over look it; that he desires again to serve in the Army. He has made several applications to the Navy Board to serve in the navy; he is now...
166To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 17 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The day before yesterday I received a letter from Peter Colt Esqr. A.C.G. of Purchases of which the enclosd is a copy The provissions in our Magazines are by no means very considerable; but finding Mr Colt so pressing, and not knowing but the most fatal consequences might take place if salted provisions were not sent on, I immediately gave orders for Six Hundred Barrels of pork and four...
167To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 25 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 18th Instant. The greatest expectations are formed of the most singular and important advantages to the American Cause from the seasonable arrival of the French Squadron, it is to be hoped that the most sanguine will not be disappointed. I immediately communicated that part of your Excellency’s Letter to the Navy Board which respected the rendezvousing the...
168To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Some Time in the month of april last Capt. Willoe of the Troops of the Convention, went to Canada by the way of Hallifax in order to forward to this Place the Baggage Belonging to those Troops—to which by the Convention they had a Right if it was found necessary, nothing has been heard of Capt. Willoe Since, General Phillips applies for leave for an other Officer to go to Canada by the way of...
169To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 12 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 24th June and 3rd July Came to hand by this Days Post. where they have been so long detained I cannot Conceive, as they Contain Several Peices of Intelligence of the then motions of the Enemy—had they Come to hand in the Usual Time would have gratifyed the Publick exceedingly; be pleased Sir to accept my warmest acknowledgements of Gratitude and Thanks for the Honor Done me in...
170To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 14 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Express who came from Congress being taken Sick here, prevents his returning at Present I am therefore to request the favor that your Excellency would be pleased to Send on the Packet addressed to the Hon. President by the First Express that goes from your Quarters—which will lay me under great obligation. I have the Honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys most Obt Hbble...
171To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Nearly our whole time for several weeks has been taken up in forwarding provisions, Stores &c. to Rhode Island, and in order to accelerate the operations of the Expedition we have sent to that place all the provisions that could possibly be spared from the Magazines, in particular Flour, of which upwards of 1000 Barrels have been forwarded. The unexpected destination of the Count D’Estaing’s...
172To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with the receipt of yours of the 14th Instant. I beg leave to observe to your Excellency that a large Sum of Money is now due to the United States from the British Government for Supplies furnished to the Troops of the Convention and that the pay Master and Commissary to those Troops were just going for Rhode Island with the Accounts to obtain the money, when the Expedition...
173To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Last Evening I received the Honor of yours of the 28th ulto. your Excellency may be Assured of my utmost attention & Exertions as far as in my power to paliate and vindicate the Conduct of the Count DEstaing in leaving Rhode Island His Ships are now Formed in Line of Battle in Nantasket Road, at the Entrance of which on Hull and Long Island Batteries are Erecting which will afford a Cross...
174To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
a Large Fleet of men of war are now almost up to our Light House and are beyond a doubt an Enemy the alarm is Given, and the militia assembling, There are no Continental Troops here except about 40 Invalids—our Militia are as good as any but your Excy is sensible they are not like Regular Troops about Twenty Ships are in Sight & Some of them very large. I am Dear Genl in haste your obt Servt...
175To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
8 O’Clock A.M. By the observations made at Hull (Nantasket) the last evening at 6 o’Clock, the Enemy’s Fleet, in sight, consisted of Twenty Ships, one Sloop & one Schooner within about Two leagues, veering E.S.E., from Light house Island, 8 or 10 of them Ships of the Line (one wearing a blue Flag at her fore Top mast head) 8 Frigates the others small. Between 1, & 3, O’Clock this morning 6 or...
176To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 5 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Nothing worthy of notice has Transpired Since I had the honor to write you on the Second Inst. whether the British Fleet that came and looked at the French Squadron are gone to Hallifax, or to Newport or are Still Cruizing off is Unknown, a Considerable firing of Cannon was heard off in the Bay this morning. Upon the receipt of your Excellencys Letters this morning for the Count DEstaing, I...
177To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed I do myself the honor to transmit the Commission of Capt. R. Allen late of Colo. Aldens Regiment who had your Excellency permission to Resign. Colo. Lee some time since received leave from Congress to resign his commission in the army —The time when the resignation was to take place I have settled with him but have not taken his Commission as his accounts are not settled—He informs me...
178To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 12 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of yours of the 6th instant; and have given orders for the Artificers at Springfield to be cloath’d, agreeable to your direction. This moment the Continental sloop of war, commanded by Capn John Rathburn arrived in this Port from a cruise, and gives the inclosed intelligence —Whether this fleet was from Europe, and what is calld the Glasgow fleet —or whether they were...
179To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 12 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosed I have Just received, the Gentlemen are here on furlough from Major General Sullivan, I mentioned to them that as the Regt was with General Sullivan, it would have been proper for them to have Applied to him, They acquaint me that they mention’d it to the General before they left providence and that He advised them to apply to your Excellency through me I fear the greater part of...
180To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 15 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Enemy’s Fleet which visited and destroyed a considerable part of Bedford on the 5th & 6th Instant are now between Martha’s Vineyard and Falmouth, (Cape Cod) —it is this Day reported that their number is increased to Seventy Sail, and that they have made a demand on the Inhabitants of the Island for 300 Head of Cattle & 10000 Sheep. I think the Enemy are meditating mischief this way, indeed...