To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 8 June 1780
From Major General William Heath
Roxbury [Mass.] June 8th 1780
Dear General
The enclosed State of the British Garrison at Hallifax, was obtained from the Gentleman mentioned in my last, but is rather more particular than what he mentioned to the Honble Mr Bowdoin, I therefore take the liberty to enclose it.1
Two Days after I had the honor last to write your Excellency,2 your requisition to the General Assembly here to raise a number of men to Complete their Battalions was received by them, and yesterday their orders were Sent to the several Brigadiers of the militia to cause the men to be drafted immediately,3 they will probably in the usual way, be bought at a very high price, I am however happy to hear that many of the old Soldiers intend to offer themselves, I am Just informed that the men are to rendezvous at Springfield, where they are to wait your Excellencys further orders, A large number of officers are here on the recruiting service, which will now be at an end,4 They might receive and march the drafts on immediately to Camp, and as the Season is far advanced, and it is very probable many of the drafts will be raw, I apprehend that it will be your Excellencys wish to have them marched on, formed and drill’d as soon as possible, at the Same time as I have not received the least hint of your pleasure respecting them, and by late accounts from West point the Troops at that Post being at half allowance, leaves me at loss to determine what your intentions are, or what mode of Conduct is to be pursued, I will however venture to order Several Officers to repair to Springfield to receive the men from the Superintendent, preserve Order, and have them in readiness to march the moment your pleasure is Signified.5
Capt. la Touch, who lately Sailed from Boston to the southward in the Hermione Frigate, has Just sent into Dartmouth, a Brig⟨gtine⟩ which he took off Nantucket Shoals bound to New York, with upwards of 1700, Firkins of butter, 150 Boxes of Candles, and 150 Boxes of Soap on board,6 This will be agreable news to the Marquis de la Fyette who will be happy to hear of the good Fortune of Capt. la Touch.7 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys most Obedient Servant
W. Heath
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.
1. The enclosed “State of the British Garrison at Hallifax the last winter,” dated 6 June at Boston, listed three British and two provincial regiments and two companies of artillery totaling 2,580 men. Additionally, one regiment of 450 men and one provincial regiment of 250 troops were stationed at Penobscot Bay and at Fort Cumberland (in present-day New Brunswick), respectively. The document also noted that “about 1000 Militia men can be raised at Hallifax, And about 4000 Militia thro’ the rest of the Province.” The naval forces stationed at Halifax consisted of one ship of the line, two frigates, and two hulks (DLC:GW).
3. On 5 June, the Massachusetts general assembly passed a “Resolve for raising a number of men for a reinforcement for the Continental army for six months,” which ordered 3,934 men raised in the state “by draft, lot, or voluntary inlistment” to serve for six months. It called on the brigadiers of militia to assemble the companies of their regiments and order the drafts made according to the specified quota for the towns in their brigade. Among the many provisions of the act, the assembly ordered that each recruit supply himself with “a good firelock, bayonet, cartouch box, haversack and blanket” (Mass. Resolves, 31 May–4 Oct. 1780, 6–11).
4. Heath issued an order from Roxbury on 15 June that appeared in the Continental Journal, and Weekly Advertiser (Boston) for 22 June: “The Recruiting Officers belonging to the Massachusetts Line of the Army, are hereby directed to hold themselves in readiness, to join their respective Corps. One Commissioned Officer of each Regiment will immediately attend the Town Major, at Boston, for further Orders.” A draft of the order is in MHi: Heath Papers.
5. On 15 June, Heath wrote John Rice, Boston town major: “I have directed One officer belonging to each Regiment in the massachusetts Line who is on the recruiting Service, to call on you for orders, please to direct them as follows, when the drafts receive orders to march to the General rendezvous to be delivered to the Commissioner they repair immediately to Such place to be in readiness to receive the men when orders are given for that purpose” (MHi: Heath Papers).
6. An item under the dateline “NEWPORT, June 10” in The Connecticut Journal (New Haven) for 22 June reads: “Last Thursday night [8 June] arrived here his Most Christian Majesty’s frigate, the Hermione, commanded by Captain La Touche, Lieutenant of his Majesty’s navy; who, on his passage from Boston, took a brig from Ireland, loaded with upwards of 1700 firkins of butter, some candles, soap, &c. also a sloop loaded with salt, both which are arrived at safe ports.”
7. Major General Lafayette had returned to the United States in Captain La Touche-Tréville’s frigate.