631To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 21 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
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. Admiral Greaves has probably joined Admiral Arbuthnot and their design is to block up the Fleet of Monsieur Le Chevalier De Ternay, and...
632To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 30 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was some time since honor’d with yours of the 28th ultimo respecting Cloathing for the recruits—and this morning with that of the 17th Instant. Several Officers have already come from West-Point on the recruiting service and others are on the road: I wish they may be successfull—but, am at loss from the tenor of your Excellencys Letter to determine what bounty the recruits raised by this...
633To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The day before yesterday I received a packet from the General Assembly of the State of Massachusetts bay Containing several papers, (of which the enclosed are Copies) and a number of Warrants for Officers they have promoted and by which they are to act untill they receive Commissions from the board of war, to whom there is a Certificate among the papers. The assembly desire that I would...
634To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is a letter I received yesterday from Lt Colonel Hull. I wrote him an answer that he was not to put himself, or the Regular Troops, under the Command of a Militia Officer —Whether upon the receipt of my letter, Colonel Thomas would conclude to act as a Voluntier, under Colonel Hull or not, I have not yet learnt. The heavy rain this day will probably suspend the Enterprise untill the...
635To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 2 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was the last evening honored with Yours of yesterday. I had given orders, the day before to the Guards at the Ferry, at the water Battery, at Swims’s, & at Kings Ferry not to allow any Boats to pass up, or down the river between Tattoo & Revillee. I am happy to hear Colonel Humphries, the Officers, and men who were with him have safely returned. I have releived Lt Edes with a Lt White, the...
636To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The last Evening about 8 O’Clock I received the honor of your’s of the 7th Instt, & immediately gave Orders for the Regiments of General Parsons’s Brigade which are on this Side of Hudson’s River, to pass over which they will do this day —I shall also order Huntington’s & Tyler’s to join them, & pursue the effecting the purposes, which your Excellency has been pleased to point out. This post...
637To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 2 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Day before yesterday I received the Honor of yours of the 27th Decr and most Heartily Congratulate your Excellency on your Signal victory over the Enemy at Trenton, This will be Productive of the Best Consequences, and has already given New Life to Our affairs. The last night I had the Honor of yours of the 28th Containing the agreable News of the Retreat of Count Donnop—I am Extremely...
638To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 9 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received the honor of your’s of the 31st of December, & 5th & 7th of Jany. In my last I mentioned to your Excellency the taking of one Strang & the Appointment of a General Court martial for his Tryall—The Court gave in their Judgment on the 5th Inst. Copy of which I take the Liberty in inclose —I have not as yet approved or disapproved the Sentence, as this is the first Tryal of the...
639To George Washington from William Heath, 17 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
On the morning of the 13th instant lieutenant Deforest of the Connecticut line, who had been detached by major-general Parsons, with twenty-five regular troops and captain Lockwood of the militia with fifteen volunteers, including lieutenants Hull and Mead of the Connecticut state troops, formed a design of boarding a sloop of ten carriage guns then at anchor in East Chester bay, and having...
640To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 27 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having been pleased on yesterday to request the Opinion of the General Officers in Council on certain matters there communicated to them having considered the Same am of Opinion. That from the Inferiorty of the Army of the United States in numbers to that of the Enemy and the Necessity of keeping a proper Garrison at West Point and its dependencies the disposition and...
641To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 3 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
A few days since, a young man by the name of Hazleton Spencer was Sent here prisoner from Albany. he asserts that he is an Ensign in Sir John Johnsons Corps, but has not his commission With him. I appointed three Officers to examine him. Enclosed is Copy of their report. I Wish your Excellency’s opinion and direction. I have kept him closely confined in the provost. probably upon a strict...
642To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
The day before yesterday I was honored with yours of the 17th Instant. If his Excellency General de Rochambeau should consent to the three months militia marching forward while I remain in this quarter they shall be directed to the place you are pleased to point out. At present they are employed in fortifying and rendering very strong, Butts’s hill, a post which the Count considers of the...
643To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 24 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The last Evening I received the Honor of yours of the 14th Instant and this day that of the 6th—shall forward the Troops with all Possible dispatch, as the Regiments had no apprehensions of being Called Upon to march on so Short notice, They are not prepared for takeing the Field but the Utmost Vigilance shall be Exerted to prepare them, Their Strength is but Inconsiderable, Jacksons about 200...
644To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 10 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to enclose the Sentiments of the Officers of the three Brigades on this Side the river with respect to the regulateing the prices of the necessaries of Life in Camp as expressed by their Committee appointed by the respective Brigades—for that purpose. From my present particular Situation I wish to Obtain the earliest notice of the movements of the Enemy on the River both...
645To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 17 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
In the late Scarcity of Flour Some of the Troops were Ten Days without Bread, which was Such a Tryal even to the veterans that one Brigade was on the point of a mutiny, The Corps of New York Levies under the Command of Colo. Pawling, posted at Stony Point did not continue through it, your Excellency having promised them when they had Compleated, the work at Stony point that they should be...
646To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 4 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to acquaint your Excellency, that Major General Lincoln has just arrived at this Post, but his Troops have not as yet got in, except about Two Regiments. That no time should be lost I have been sending over a Quantity of provisions to Haverstraw, and as soon as the Militia arrive in sufficient numbers shall pass over with them—A Body of the Militia belonging to this State,...
647To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed is Copy of a Letter which I have just received from Major General Riedesel and Brigadeir General Hamilton with whom I have for some time transacted the public Business of the Troops of Convention, having found it impossible to do business with propriety with Major General Phillips. Your Excellency will observe, what they advance, and that they seem rather to hold up an Idea that...
648To George Washington from William Heath, 20 February 1782 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed your Excellency will find copy of return of the two New Hampshire regiments, some time since called for. The original was forwarded to major general Lincoln, agreeable to your directions in a former letter. Abel Whitcomb, a soldier in the Massachusetts line, was executed here the last week, for repeated desertions, changing his name & inlisting again. Two others who were sentenced to...
649To George Washington from William Heath, 24 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I last addressed your Excellency the 18th instant. I have since been honored with yours of the 13th and 15th. The Towns are now makeing the greatest exertions to compleat their Quotas of men for the Continental Battalions, the greater part of them will be raised, some of them for the Campaign only, these how ever, will be of the best men, The militia will be detached conformable to your...
650To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 7 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to congratulate your Excellency on the safe arrival of the Ship Flamond at Portsmouth in 75 days passage from Marseilles having on board for the service of the United States, besides a General Officer, 48 peices of brass Cannon 4 pdrs with Carriages compleat. 19 nine Inch Morters, 2500 Bombs 9 Inch. 2000–4 pd Ball. a number of intrenching Tools, 3000 Fusees, 1110 of another Quality...
651To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 2 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I send herewith a Capt. Coles of the Militia lately taken from Long Island, by the letters I take the Liberty to enclose your Excellency will observe, that it is wished he may be exchanged for One of the Captains lately taken from us by the Enemy. I also send a deserter with his arms who left Verplanks Point on Tuesday. In a Letter which I received the last evening from Major Talmage he...
652To George Washington from William Heath, 10 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from captain Pray came to hand a few minutes since with the two New-York papers. The serjeant who was the bearer of the letter acquaints me that after he left captain Pray he was informed that a party of refugees landed early this morning at Haverstraw and took several militia men, and then reimbarked. Probably this manoeuvre is a feint to cover a design somewhere else on the...
653To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I most Heartily Congratulate Your Excellency on the Safe arrival of the ship Amphitrite, at Portsmouth from L’Orient in France, with a most Vallueable Cargo for the United States Manifest of which will be Handed to you by mr Champney the Express. I am Pushing off the Troops with all Possible dispatch to the Places of Destination, A Second Detachment from Colo. Cranes Battalion of artillery...
654To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 14 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
The Scarcity of Forage in this quarter is become So great that the Troops must either move or the Horses be Sent out into the Country. The feed that was in the meadows has been the principal support of the Horses for Some time, and a great Saving to the Public. It is now nearly gone, and altho’ there is a considerable quantity of Forage in the hands of the Farmers it cannot be obtain’d. By a...
655To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 31 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Ever Since my arrival at New york I have considered this Post to be the Key of the Island, and Consequently of great Importance[.] Its Importance at this Time is apparently Enhanced, And much more is necessary to be Done than we Can Possibly Do with our few Scattered Troops, General Clintons five Regiments Consist of near 1400 Rank and file fit for Duty Two Hundred of that number are on...
656To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 18 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
On the 12th Inst. I called a Council to consider & determine upon the Posts most important & proper to be occupied by our Troops—There were present Brigadier Generals James & George Clinton, & Scott, (General Morris, Col. Dewer, & Col. Putnam, whom I invited to sit with us)—After Deliberation it was thought best to make the following Disposition of the Troops at this post for the present...
657To John Adams from William Heath, 20 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
I must ask your Pardon for having repeatedly received your favors Since I have been in the Army, without returning you an Acknowledgement of them. From the opinion which I have long had of your abilities and Patriotism, I have wished for an Intimate Acquaintance with you, And Shall ever Consider it as a great Honor to Correspond with you. In your last to me of the 15th. of April you were...
658To George Washington from William Heath, 1 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to lay before your Excellency several votes of a board of officers consisting of the generals and officers commanding regiments and corps in the cantonment of New Windsor, passed yesterday, and also a copy of the report of a committee appointed to confer with the contractors respecting the agreement made between the contractors and the army in January last, and certain abuses in the...
659To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 22 March 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received the honor of yours of the 27th Ultimo per Capt. Gooch; shall communicate your advice to Brigr Genl Learned immediately. Colo. Lee has been anxiously waiting an answer to his request for leave to resign his Commission, and was much disappointed on finding that your Excellency had not mentioned it in your last, He has beg’d of me again to renew his request for leave to resign,...
660To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 28 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am this evening Honored with yours of the 15th Instant handed to me by the Honble Mr Bowdoin, no endeavours shall be wanting to obtain the intelligence required, a Flag is now in the Harbour from Hallifax, a Gentleman who came in the Flag and is to return, has business to transact with Mr Bowdoin, I have requested mr Bowdoin to ask Several questions respecting the works, Garrison Ships &c....