From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 March 1780
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters Morris Town 2d March 1780.
Dear Sir
I have been favd with yours of the 20th ulto respecting Capt. Cartwright. I gave it as my opinion upon his personal application that he could not with propriety or expediency1 be again admitted into the regimental line, but that he might continue with the rank of an Aide de Camp appointed before the Resolve of Congress for the new arrangement of the Army.2 I am still of the same opinion—and that he is intitled to draw the pay and subsistence allowed to persons of that Rank from the time of his appointment. I am Dear Sir yr most obt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. A note in Tilghman’s writing under Heath’s name on the address of the draft reads: “If not at West point to be forwarded to Boston.”
1. The previous two words do not appear on the draft.
2. Maj. Thomas Cartwright’s application and GW’s response likely were verbal. No correspondence between Cartwright and GW on this subject has been found.