To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 July 1780
From Major General William Heath
Newport July 21 1780 10 oClock P.M.
Dear General,
This afternoon fifteen or sixteen Brittish Ships of war have made their appearance off this Harbour to the Eastward of Block island—more than half of them I think are Ships of the Line—from appearances at Sunsetting they intended to come to under Block Island.1
Admiral Greaves has probably joined Admiral Arbuthnot and their design is to block up the Fleet of Monsieur Le Chevalier De Ternay, and if possible intercept the expected Second division of the French Fleet.2 I thought it my duty to give immediate notice to your Excellency, and beg leave to Submit the expediency of Some small Cruizers being immediately Sent from the Delaware to Cruize for the French Fleet and direct them to a place of Safety.3 I have written to the Council and navy board at Boston & proposed the same in Case the fleet should take the Eastern Coast.4 I have mentioned this to his Excellency General Rochambeau, who was So much pleased with it that he requested I would write, for that he should leave it wholy with me.
This night is Spent in mounting a number of Guns at advantageous posts at the entrance of the Harbour to make a cross fire with the Ships &c.5
Here are with the army a number of good engineers and an exceeding fine Corps of Artillery with a numerous train of Field Artillery and some battering Cannon.
I had order’d Colo. Green’s Regiment to march immediately for the main army, but under present appearances think it best to detain them a few days.6 I have ordered them to take post at Butts’ hill the north end of the island to Secure the communication. This has given much satisfaction to General Rochambeau & I hope will meet with your Excellencys approbation. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Your Excellencys Most obedient Servant
W. Heath
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. GW acknowledged this letter when he wrote Heath on 27 July.
1. In what was most likely a mistaken entry for this date, with date and ship numbers transposed, French captain Ludwig von Closen wrote in his journal entry for 19 July: “In the midst of all these landing difficulties … we learned, in the evening of the 19th [21st], of 21 [19] sails, which were steering directly towards the entrance to the channel, and which were soon identified as warships. This unexpected visit was tremendously disturbing to our generals and the whole army, which did not feel strong enough as yet to receive such a formidable enemy, since only half our troops were in condition to fight and oppose a landing; moreover, we had brought ashore only a very little of our artillery and munitions at that time” (, 32).
2. This British naval operation was part of a larger design to attack the French army at Newport (see GW’s second letter to Rochambeau, 27 July, n.3).
3. Lieutenant General Rochambeau soon made a similar request (see Rochambeau to GW, 22 July; see also GW to Rochambeau [first letter] and to La Luzerne, both 27 July; La Luzerne to GW, 30 July; and GW to the Board of Admiralty, 6 Aug.).
4. Heath’s letters to James Bowdoin, president of the Massachusetts council, and to the Eastern Navy Board, both of this date, are in MHi: Heath Papers.
5. Closen also notes the construction of these defenses (see , 32–33).
6. See Heath’s first letter to GW on this date, and n.2 to that document.