To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 20 January 1781
From Major General William Heath
West point Janry 20th 1781
Dear General
The foregoing was some Days Since, handed to me, I believe Capt. Tuckerman has been a dilligent and faithfull Officer, and apprehend all the Facts Stated by him are true,1 I therefore beg leave to recommend him to your Excellency notice.2 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect Your Excellencys most Obedient Servant
W. Heath
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Capt. Abraham Tuckerman’s letter to Heath, dated 11 Jan., setting out the details of his army service and asking Heath to recommend him to GW for assignment to the corps of invalids at Boston due to lingering sickness, is in DLC:GW.
Abraham Tuckerman joined Col. Jonathan Brewer’s Massachusetts regiment as a second lieutenant in April 1775. He transferred to the 6th Continental Regiment in January 1776, also serving as the regimental adjutant. He became a first lieutenant in October 1776. After the 6th Continental Regiment disbanded, Tuckerman joined the 1st Massachusetts Regiment as a captain in January 1777. Deranged from that regiment in April 1779, he served as brigade quartermaster to Brig. Gen. John Glover’s brigade until January 1781.
2. GW could not respond explicitly because of unfamiliarity with the transfer process “to the Corps of Invalids” (see his second letter to Heath on 29 Jan.).