301From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of this day—Capt. Hopkins conduct really deserves applause and shows a spirit of enterprise that does him honour—I beg you, in your next, to present my thanks to him. In what, I said to Col. Harrison respecting a work to be erected in the gorge of the mountains I did not mean to confine you to any particular spot; but to leave it to you to choose the most...
302From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
As it is an object of importance to have ascertained as soon as possible the account which is said to have been brought by a vessel arrived at New-London, out of which a Capn Johnson was taken on board Count D’Estaigns fleet in the lattitude of Bermudas, I would therefore wish you to dispatch without loss of time an officer intelligent in marine affairs to New-London to learn the particulars...
303From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you yesterday inclosing the resolve of Congress for the removal of the Troops of the Convention to Virginia. I find, upon perusing the resolve more attentively, that Sir Henry Clinton by the resolve of the 11th of Septemr—recited in that of the 15th Inst.—had the choice of either granting passports to transport Flour by Water, or to supply the Troops himself by the 1st Inst. If...
304From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of yesterday. As the detachment, now in formation, may be absent five or six Weeks or more, (which I mention in confidence) the security of West point will become our principal object, and you will, for that purpose, as soon as the detachment marches, order the remaining troops on the East side into the Garrison, and such part of Hazens Regt as is not absolutely...
305From George Washington to William Heath, 9 May 1789 (Washington Papers)
The numerous congratulations which I have received from Public Bodies & respectable individuals since my appointment to my present station, are truly grateful, as they hold forth the strongest assurances of support to the Government as well as a warm attachment to myself. It is from the good dispositions of the people at large—from the influence of respectable characters—and from the patriotic...
306From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of yesterday is before me with the list Inclosed; but this is doing the matter by halves only, and the delay must inevitably defeat the end; as it is impossible from the nature of things that the different Governments can withhold the nomination of Officers much longer—I therefore entreat you to delay not a moments time in summoning the Officers (under Sanction from me) to consider...
307From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 28th ulto —From the circumstances which you mention, the command on the lines may be continued at one hundred Men, with strict orders to the Officer to fall back upon the posts, on the first serious move up the River. I shall set out for New port tomorrow morning. My notice is so short, that I am obliged to deprive myself of the pleasure of seeing you before I go,...
308From George Washington to William Heath, 1 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favors of the 9th and 12th of Septr. I am perfectly satisfied with the propriety of the measures you have taken in consequence of the Enemy’s Movements, and the intelligence you had received. Directions have already been given to the Quarter Master General for relanding the Provisions, which were shipped with design to be put under the protection of the Count de...
309From 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...
310From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of yesterday —Brigr Genl Warner waited upon me this day with a letter from Governor Hancock informing me that that Gentleman had been sent on with part of the hard Money Gratuity, allowed by the State to their Soldiers who had been inlisted for the War, previous to the 2d day of Decemr last. You will therefore be pleased to cause the most accurate Returns to be made out...
311From George Washington to William Heath, 13 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to You on the 8th instant urging the Necessity of having the Supplies of Provision, Rum, and Cloathing immediately forwarded from the States. These things are of such immense Importance to all our Plans, that they cannot be repeated too often, or pressed with too much Importunity. And I know there is Nothing so likely to succeed as incessant Representations on the Spot. In Addition to...
312From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
If the two Connecticut Brigades have crossed, be pleased [to] direct Colo. Hazen to follow as expeditiously as possible, if he is not already over. He may be directed to march without loss of time if the Virginia Division has moved, to Sufferans (by the new Road lately repaired by General Woodford which leaves Kakeate on his left) thence to Pompton and by Rockaway Bridge towards Morris town....
313From George Washington to William Heath, 26 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I recollect there was a Gun Boat employed on the River, which was withdrawn at the setting in of Winter, and which is again necessary for the same service, I wish therefore you would have it refitted, & stationed as formerly, for the same purposes. In answer to your Letter of the 25th respecting inoculation, you will be pleased to observe; it was under the idea of the New Hampshire Troops...
314From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your favor of the 22d Ultimo by the hands of Captain Horton. It is a melancholly consideration that in the execution of our duty an officer of the convention should suffer so unfortunate a fate. However your conduct in the affair will meet general approbation. I have attended to Ensign Ponds memorial and accept of his resignation. In my last of the 24 Ulto I gave you the course of...
315From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of this date. The intercourse which you mention to be carrying on by Women, with Verplank’s point, may be attended with many bad consequences—or at least great inconveniences and must be suppressed. Those now detained, may be released under strict injunctions never to do the like again, and at the peril of being closely confined and otherwise severely punished—if...
316From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favors of the 21st and 26th April, the last inclosing the Resolve of the General Assembly of Massachusets for compleating the Battalions and for raising 1300 Men to serve upon the North River. I hope that clause, prohibiting the receiving Prisoners or deserters either as Draughts or Substitutes, will be particularly attended to, for reasons given at large in my last. If Lieut....
317From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your several favors of the 12th 16th and two of the 21st. What you have done with respect to the deserters from Col. Green’s Regt is conformable to my views. A pardon may be extended to all other deserters in your quarter, and to give it the more efficacy, I shall as soon as I have time, send you a proclamation to this purpose. I have taken measures, as to the...
318From George Washington to William Heath, 2 June 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have to reply to your three favors of the 29th May & 1st Instants. The private Soldiers paroled by Sir Guy Carleton, must be ordered to join & do Duty in their Regiments—I have given Directions to Our Comry of Prisoners to inform the British Comry that such will be my Orders in all such Cases—& that they will be credited to their Account. Capt. Pray is directed to send in the Officers...
319From George Washington to William Heath, 8 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letter of this date. It is my opinion that Major Porter be bro’t to a Court Martial immediately, as I have no idea of an officer being absent, in the manner he has, without being made a public example of. Whatever Shoes are wanted for the use of the Men, over the number assigned them, may be drawn for & charged to their respective Accounts. I am much obliged by...
320From George Washington to William Heath, 13 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I transmit you herewith, a complaint of Lt Allen against the settlement of Rank as fixed by the Board of Officers for the Massachusetts Line. It signifies very little to appoint Boards of Officers for these matters, if their determinations are not to be final—and I am to be eternally troubled on the Subject—If, thro’ any mistake or otherwise, manifest injury is done to individuals by the late...
321From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
By this time nearly, you must have discover’d what effect your movement towards New York has occasioned. If the City on the one Hand is not left so destitute of Troops as to afford you an easy conquest of it, nor so strengthened as to leave the Enemy weak in this State, the End of your expedition is not answered, and the junction of your Troops with these under my Command (after leaving...
322From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favored with Yours of the 17th and 18th Inst. I am not sufficiently informed of the mode of transferring to the Corps of Invalids to give a definitive Answer; but as Mr Frye is represented as a good Officer, I have no objection to his having leave of absence for the recovery of his health. If the Levies who remain, are well cloathed, and capable of duty, it may be well, to retain them...
323From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 6 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 4th[.] Shoes for the Massachusetts Line must be drawn by the State Cloathier or his Assistant for the Line at large and distributed according to their wants. If he will apply, he may have an order upon the Cloathier General for a proportion of the public Stock, which is at present scanty. I have no power to give Colo. Hazen authority to inlist the troops of any State...
324From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 11 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
The new arrangements of all the Masssachusetts Regiments have been delivered in, agreeable to General Orders; but they are not accompanied by the Returns of the names and Ranks of the retiring Officers. As these are equally essential—you will be pleased to call for them immediately, and send them up to me as soon as they come in, that I may transmit them to the Board of War, at the same time...
325From George Washington to William Heath, 11 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Resolve of Congress relative to the Forage belonging to this State, which was used by the Army during the last Campaign, was perticularly addressed to you; and is that matter hitherto been wholly under your direction, I return you the Report of the Arbitrators, and request you to bring this matter to a conclusion agreeably to the Instructions that have been given. I also return the report...
326From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
When yours of this morning came to Head Quarters, I was from home. The direction of the Board of War to apprehend Deserters from the Convention Troops was clearly meant only to extend to those who should attempt to desert from CharlotteVille. Inclosed you have the order itself. You will therefore be pleased to order the two persons at present in confinement to be sent safely back to the...
327From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 19th ulto with the several papers to which it refers—You will be pleased to grant Capt. Flowers of the 3d Massachusetts Regt a dismission from the service, the Certificates transmitted being sufficient, and inform me of the time whe⟨n⟩ his resignation took place, that I may register it—If the number of Feild Officers with the first Brigade and the state of...
328From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I am just now informed that the Enemy landed yesterday Morning at Amboy (said to be 5000) and were advancing towards Brunswic. Their design is not yet known, but a forage or an attempt to interrupt the communication from the southward, is most probable. The Virginia division and the Light Infantry have in consequence, moved from the Neighbourhood of Kackeat, lower down. Till we are assured of...
329From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Major Blacckden of Colo. Sheldons Light Dragoons goes to Boston to procure Cloathing and Accoutrements for the Regiment against the ensuing Campaign. As the prices of many articles have risen from there being too great a number of Bidders, I have directed the Major, if there are any persons purchasing for the Continent, not to interfere with them, but to apply to them for such Articles as he...
330From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of Yesterday; And as I conceive it will be necessary for the security of the Posts below, & to prevent the Enemy from attempting a surprize, to have a Capts. Command for the Water Guard—I would have Capt. Welles continued on that service with his Detachment. In consequence of Colo. Hays information that there are considerable quantities of Flour on the River, which...
331From George Washington to William Heath, 6 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your several Letters of the 13th—20—and 21st of September, have been received. The Quarter Mastr Genll’s of the Allied Army will be called upon for their return respecting Forage used at Phillipsburg, which you request; our present circumstances may perhaps render it difficult for them to attend to it at so early a time as may be expected. A Copy of the Report of a Board of Genll Officers, on...
332From George Washington to William Heath, 8 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was duly favored with your Letter of the 15th of May and have just now had the pleasure to receive that of the 29th—I intreat you not to relinquish or relax your Sollicitations and importunities until the great Object of your mission are fully accomplished. As the plan of the Campaign is now settled upon the presumption of the success of your Application, a Failure in the smallest degree on...
333From George Washington to William Heath, 23 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
I received your Favor ⅌ Messenger Kane—I have now to inform you that I arrived at this Place on the 14th and findg it necessary to have a personal Interview with the Count de Grasse, I paid him a Visit on Board the Ville de Paris, at Cape Henry—from whence I am just returned; after a very decisive Conversation with the Count, Upon Matters which may prove very interesting in our present...
334From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday informed that the enemy had removed their Horse from Staten to York Island—They had also some days ago, impressed all the Sleighs within their reach in Bergen and carried them over to New York, but they have returned them upon the melting of the snow. It should seem from this that they had had some enterprize in view which may not yet be totally laid aside. I have thought it...
335From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
In my Letter of the 26th Ulto, by which I requested You to rejoin the Army, I desired that You would come Yourself to Head quarters. I am now to request that You will proceed to West point and take upon you the command of that post and its Dependencies. Major General Greene, who is at present there, will either communicate to You himself or leave with General McDougal to be transferred, the...
336From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 4 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
This Letter is in addition to my public one of this date —It is to hint to you, and I do it with concern, that your conduct is censured (and by Men of sense and Judgment who have been with you on the Expedition to Fort Independance) as being fraught with too much caution, by which the Army has been disappointed, and in some degree disgraced. Your Summons, as you did not attempt to fulfil your...
337From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 9th. From the representation made by General Clinton and Colo. Hay of the supply of Meat in the Northern department, I do not think there will be any need of sending the 100 Barrels of salt Beef to Albany. You will endeavour to have it distributed in the different Works. Under present circumstances, we should rather increase than diminish the discharge of the...
338From George Washington to William Heath, 4 September 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Bearer of this, a Serjt of Hazen’s, is sent to apprehend some deserters from that Regt, and as it is probable a number will leave the Regiments, that are now on their march for the Southward, who will direct their course for the North River. I wish you to place some cearfull Persons at every Ferry, from Kings ferry to Albany, who will apprehend them as they pass that River. The Eastern...
339From George Washington to William Heath, 18 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your two favrs of the 16th of this Day. In Reply to the postscript of the first, I can only say, that the Report of the Commissioner who met at Elizabeth Town, has been sent on to Congress, with a Submission to them, how far Exchanges in future shall be practised—How ever desirable all Exchanges may be, nothing can be done untill I am furnished with the Determination of...
340From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 14th instant. Whatever may be the future intentions of the enemy, it is evident that they have lain aside all designs against Boston for the present: Lord Howe having returned to the Hook with his Fleet, and the Troops under Genl Gray have come down the sound again, and have landed at White Stone upon Long Island. I shall keep the best possible watch upon their motions,...
341From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am to thank you for your favor of the 28th Ulto and its several inclosures—the intelligence given you by Mr Colvill is very interesting if it can be depended on—and particularly to Count d’Estaing—to whom no doubt you have communicated it. Your distribution of the twelve hundred Militia men ordered out by the Council of State—exactly coincides with my wishes—their labour if it has not its...
342From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have reciev’d your letter of this day, and concur with you in sentiment as to the probability of the Enemy’s endeavoring to land their forces at Hunts point, or some place not far distant from it; in order to prevent such an attempt from being carried into execution, I have sent up General Mifflin with the troops he brought from your quarters strengthened by a reinforcement; with this...
343From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to march tomorrow morning early towards Peeks Kill—in the vicinity of which you will find Major General Howe with a couple of Brigades. The command of the whole will, of course, devolve upon you. He will communicate the instructions he has received by which you will govern yourself. Send to hasten on Glovers brigade to join you at the same place. I am Dr Sir Your most Obed....
344From George Washington to William Heath, 30 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letters of the 29th. The situation of the New York Troops, I am sensible, is indeed distressing—but I am in hopes their distresses will be in some measure alleviated, by an Order which the Dep. Pay Master has just received on the Treasury of the State for money to pay the Troops of its Line—Should this not be productive of releif, I will make representations to Congress,...
345From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours of the 21st and 22d instants, containing the pleasing accounts of the late arrivals at Portsmouth and Boston. That of the French Ship of War with Artillery and other military Stores is a most valuable acquisition. It was my intent to have all the Arms, that were not immediately wanted by the Eastern States, removed to Springfeild, as a place much safer...
346From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favors of the 31st ulto and 3d instant. I should have been very glad had the situation of the Works, which Count de Rochambeau is constructing for the defence of the Island, admitted of the immediate dismission of the three months Massachusetts Militia, but as it does not, and the Count seems very desirous of compleating them, we cannot but consent to their staying out their...
347From George Washington to William Heath, 7 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received and thank you for your information of this date. To guard against Assassination (which I neither expect, nor dread) is impossible—but I have not been without my apprehensions of the other attempt—Not from the enemy at New York—but the Tories & disaffected of this place; who might, in the Night, carry me off in my own Boat and all be ignorant of it till the Morning. If the Water...
348From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favors of the 14th & 17th. Genl Knox is just now absent, but when he returns, I will inquire into the necessity of keeping the guard, you mention at Litchfield. North Castle Church would certainly be a very ineligible situation for Genl Howe. From his letter to me, he had not taken post there, but was rather reconnoitering a proper position. I had a particular object in view when I...
349From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 6 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The present posture of our Affairs, the Season of the year, and many other reason’s which might be urged, renders it indispensably necessary that some Systematic plan should be form’d, and, as far as possible pursued, by us—I therefore desire that immediately upon receipt of this Letter you will let Genls Mifflin & Clinton know that I desire to see them with you, at this place, (Head Quarters)...
350From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 2d informing me of your arrival at Roxbury. It is very essential that every thing in our power, not inconsistent with the establishments of Congress, or the States, should be done that can in any ways facilitate the recruiting service. I am of your opinion, that if clothing could be procured on the spot for such of the State quota as inlist, it would be a...