To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 February 1781

From Major General William Heath

West point. Feb. 22. 1781

Dear General,

Four Prisoners of war, belonging to Delancey’s corps, are just sent to this post; they were a patroling party, sent out by Delancy the day before yesterday, and were taken by a reconnoitring party of six men from Major Maxwell’s detachment—The four are all wounded, a fifth so badly, as obliged our party to leave him at Sing sing—two others of the party ran off.1 I have the honor to be, With the greatest respect, Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant,

W. Heath

LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman acknowledged GW’s receipt of this letter when he wrote Heath on 25 Feb. (see General Orders, that date, source note).

1. Maj. Hugh Maxwell had written Heath from Crom Pond, N.Y., on 21 Feb. with the names of six prisoners taken the previous morning “within a Mile and half of Kings Bridge. … They are Reputed Some of the worst of Theives Except [John] Williams who may posibly be an honest fellow” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Wilson, Heath’s Memoirs description begins Rufus Rockwell Wilson, ed. Heath’s Memoirs of the American War. 1798. Reprint. New York, 1904. description ends , 289).

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Source Project: Washington Papers
Title: To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 February 1781
Author: Heath, William
Recipient: Washington, George
Date: 22 February 1781

Reference

Cite as: “To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 February 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-30-02-0505. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 30, 1 January–6 March 1781, ed. Benjamin L. Huggins. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2022, p. 571.]

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