31To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
A Sloop from Red Hook (up the North River) has Just Come to Anchor near this Place, having on Board about 4 Tons & half of Gun Powder made at Livingstons Mills which was to be Deliver’d to your Excellency at New York, but the master has Stoped here Untill He Knows your Pleasure where to Land it. A very Extraordinary Report has Just Spread here, that whether True or false we are as yet...
32To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Ever Since my arrival at New york I have considered this Post to be the Key of the Island, and Consequently of great Importance[.] Its Importance at this Time is apparently Enhanced, And much more is necessary to be Done than we Can Possibly Do with our few Scattered Troops, General Clintons five Regiments Consist of near 1400 Rank and file fit for Duty Two Hundred of that number are on...
33To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
What Fatality Attends the Sinking of the Chevaux De Frise I cannot tell, I was Extremely Uneasy yesterday at the Delay, I went to the Place, Called Capt. Cooke on Shore, told him every moment was precious, and that if any Benifit was ever to be reaped from them it would Probably be Soon, He told me that they met with many & Great Dificulties, that the night before last one of the Vessells...
34To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Enclosing—Col. Remsen’s Regiment are here, they say their Time of Engagement is up this Day many of them are desirous, to go over and if possible save their Families & Effects, Should be glad to know your Excellency’s Pleasure in this respect—They say they mean to return, I cannot answer for them—I suppose the like Applications will be made by many of Col. Smith’s Men—I beg an immediate...
35To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received Information that a Large Body of the Enemy appeared Opposite to Hunts Point Just before Sun Sit and Pitched their Tents on an Hill to the number of 100 or more[.] it is also Said that numbers of men have been Put on Board the Ships, this Day, I have Ordered the Regiments to lie on their Arms &c. I have the Honor to be &c. with great respect your Excellencys most...
36To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Appearance of the Enemy on Long Island the last Evening, near Newtown, Induced Genl Mifflin to leave Col. Hand’s Battalion at Harlem, & proceed with the other Battalions over Kingsbridge, & take Post on the Heights on the East side of Harlem River, towards Morrisania—Consequently Mount Washington has only Col. Hutchinson’s Regiment, & a Detachment of 300 Men for it’s Defence—It is the...
37To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 3 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I find many of the Soldiers belonging to the Battalions, that suffered the Most, in the late Action on Long Island much Dispirited, & often uttering Expressions that they have lost their Officers, lost their Blankets, & have no money, & the like, I could wish that your Excellency would just think of the matter, & if the Paymaster has Money in the Treasury, that they may be paid—I am confident...
38To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowledge the Honor of the receipt of your favor of yesterday I was in Hopes this morning to have Given you Some fresh Intilligence, but have not yet Receiv⟨ed⟩ it but Still Expect it, as we have undoubtedly a Spy on the Island, Every necessary and Proper preparation having been made for that Purpose the Last night, and it is rather too Early in the morning as yet to receive our...
39To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since Enclosing my other Letter I am informed that several Houses are left with large Quantities of valuable Furniture (in particular at Delancy’s) which are in danger it is said of being plundered, there were also on that Farm about Ten Horses, more than half of which are already taken away—Such practices surely ought to be restrained—Wou’d it not be much better for the Quarter Master...
40To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Colonels Nicoll DuBois & Drake are just come in and give the following Information vizt That one Mr Cornwall of Cow Neck came over to Frogg’s Point the last Night (Co[r]nwall is a stanch Friend to the Liberties of America, a Relation to Comfort Sands Auditor General of the State of New York) and says that he is a Soldier in the Militia of Cow Neck, under the Command of Capt. Stephen Thorn of...
41To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By Two Persons who Came from Long-Island this morning (who we have Employed for the purpose of Secret Intelligence) we are Informed That the Enemy are Encamped in three Divisions, One at Newtown which is Head Quarters, One at Flushing, and One at Jamaica The Hessians are at Newtown, That 1500 waggons are Employed in Bringing aCross the Boats &c. That an Attack will Soon be made Some where East...
42To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just returned from Frog’s Point, Hunt’s point & Morrisania—I find the Enemy have been all this Day landing Troops on Montrosure’s Island where there appears to be a very large Number of them & Senteries posted all round the Island. In Addition to 150 Men sent down this morning near to Hunt’s point—I have this Evening ordered 200 as a Piquet to rendezvouz, at the Widow Morrises, & have...
43To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being so unhappy as to Differ in Sentiment from a Majority of the Honble Board of General Officers of the Army of the United States of america, in the Important Question whether, a Former Determination of the Board Should be reconsidered, and the City of new York no⟨w⟩ be Evacuated, and Some of the General officers Desiring that the reasons of the Gentlemen Differing in Sentiment from the...
44To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 14 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am Just returned (much Fatigued) from East Chester Bay, where I have been with Genl Clinton and Colonel Chester to Reconnoitre the Ground. I have the Honor this moment to receive yours of this Day, and have Immediately ordered all the Teams here or that Can be Procured to be Sent to you —Would to God that the Business of a Certain Department, was Performed with alertness, I wish it may not...
45To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon the receipt of yours on Yesterday I immediately sent an Express to West-Chester, with the Letter directed to Col. Williams, & a Line from myself for his immediate march to Mount Washington—The Express informs that Col. Williams with his Regiment was not arriv’d, but hourly expected—The Major of the Regiment is at West-Chester, and will as soon as the Regiment reaches that place deliver...
46To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 19 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Three Troops of Light Horse, making about 90 Men in the whole, have already got in, & others are nearby—Col. Douglas & Col. Stores’s Regiments of Militia are at West Chester—Col. Williams’s have not reached this as yet, but will move forward as soon as they come in—Col. Stores acquaints me that about 4000 Militia may be expected soon; what will be done with them I cannot tell—They have neither...
47To George Washington from Brig. Gen. William Heath, 21 September 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Brig. Gen. William Heath, 21 Sept. 1776. On this date William Grayson wrote to Heath: “In answer to your letter of this date, I am commanded by his Excy to inform you that he thinks it expedient that an officer with about twenty five men should be immediately sent to Dobbs ferry; and that the Pensylvany troops under your command should be marched directly for this place;...
48To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
If your Excellency should be fully Satisfied with the Intelligence Brought by the Two Lads who Swam from the LaBrune, with respect to the number of the Enemy on Montrasures Island, I think they may be taken, I Desired General Clinton to lay this matter before your Excellency this Day, But having thought more of it Since he left me, and apprehending that He may not return Untill late this...
49To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 29 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed I send your Excellency the report of the Court Martial, which I laid before you the Last Evening, with the addition of another report Given in this morning, I have Passed upon all the Sentences in the first report Except that of McCormick and on all in the Second Report, Except the Lieutenants, I Should be Happy to Know your Excellency’s Opinion, not only with respect to the Present,...
50To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
By a Letter Just received from Colo. Harrison, I am Informed that it is your Excellency’s Pleasure, That Such of the militia belonging to General Saltonstalls Brigade as have not been ordered to move Forward, should now march and take Post opposite to Head Quarters on the Morrisania Side of Harlem River & c. I beg leave Just to represent to your Excellency, That this Brigade Consists of nine...
51To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 1 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday at Ten oClock A:M. a Sloop or Frigate Came through Hell Gate and Came to Anchor near L[a] Brune where she remained untill about Twelve when She Came to Sail and Stood to the Eastward, and was Soon out of Sight Just at night another Ship Came through Hell Gate, and this morning is at Anchor in Harlem River, not far from Montizure’s Island—These movements seem to indicate an Intention...
52To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 3 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have just received by a Letter from Col. Grayson, the Signification of your Excellency’s Pleasure, that the Officers of my Division should get thoroughly acquainted, with the Grounds between this post & Morrissania —This I have been daily inculcating already, & shall now press, in consequence of your Excellency’s Direction. In my Orders on Yesterday I endeavoured to rouse the Officers &...
53To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is the Disposition which I have made of the Troops of this Division which is to be observed in Case of attack —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...
54To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 8 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Being Posted at Some Distance from The other General Officers of the State of Massachusetts Bay, I have found it very difficult to Obtain their Opinion of the Field Officers Proper to be Recommended, to that State, to Serve in the Army in future, General Nixon was at my Quarters on Yesterday, General Fellows was on Duty and Could not attend. I did with General Nixon arrainge The Officers for...
55To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Upon being Informed yesterday in the afternoon that a party of the Enemy had Landed at Dobbs’s Ferry, and had Posted Sentries in the Road, I Ordered Colo. Sargent with 500 men and 40 of the Light Horse to march and Dislodge them, at Two oClock this morning he Sent an Express Informing me, that he had reach’d The Ferry, & that there was no Enemy Landed, at that Time, and that the Ships were...
56To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Col. Sargent has just return’d from Dobbs’s Ferry—he informs that the Enemy’s Ships, took Two of our Gallies on Yesterday near that place which were run on shore—our men got out the small Arms & Baggage—That the Enemy sent Four Boats from their Ships, three to the Gallies & one on Shore, the men in the latter landed & broke open a Store, & plunder’d many Articles, & Stove the Remainder, & set...
57To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 11 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have Just Received the Honor of yours of this Day’s date, and am fully Convinced that a Work should be thrown up without the Least Loss of Time at the mouth of Spiten devil—If Colonel Putnam and Colo. Knox Can be spared a few hours I wish Your Exellency would please to Send them Here in Order to Trace out a Proper Work, and Determine what Ordnance will be necessary to be Mounted at the Mouth...
58To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 13 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote your Excellency Earlier this morning, But have waited to have Intelligence from the Two Regiments near frogs Point, which I have but Just Received, a Large number of vessells, Ships, Brigs, Schooners, Sloops Lighters &c. Saild through Hell gate yesterday afternoon, and Came to anchor last night off Frogs Point, where they still remain, during the night, Lanthorns were...
59To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th Inst. I called a Council to consider & determine upon the Posts most important & proper to be occupied by our Troops—There were present Brigadier Generals James & George Clinton, & Scott, (General Morris, Col. Dewer, & Col. Putnam, whom I invited to sit with us)—After Deliberation it was thought best to make the following Disposition of the Troops at this post for the present...
60To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 24 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I some Days Since Presented to your Excellency The Disposition of the Troops at this Post. I have not as yet received your Excellency Express approbation I am Endeavouring to Compleat the Business your Excellency Assigned to me, as fast as Possible. On the 21st Instant I received a Letter from General Lee a Copy of which is Inclosed, I returned him for Answer that my Division was Posted at...