To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 June 1780
From Major General William Heath
Providence June 23d 1780
Dear General,
Enclosed is paragraph of an act of the Honorable the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island passed at their last session.1
The motive for making the disposition proposed is the much greater ease in obtaining the recruits if to be formed by themselves, as many are averse to being incorporated with the blacks. this disposition I do not think myself authorised to make without your Excellencys approbation and direction. If you should approve of the measure, I beg leave to Submit the sending such officers from Colo. Angels Regiment as your Excellency may judge necessary to march the men on. It will be necessary to retain the music of Colo. Green’s Regiment. I beg your Excellency answer to this as soon as may be convenient.2 I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Your Excellencys most obedient Servt
W. Heath
P.S. General Glover has just come to Town on his way to the Army—He left Boston on Wednesday last3—the day before (Tuesday) it was reported in Boston that a Cartel from Halifax had arrived at Portsmouth New Hampshire—by Some of the People it was said that a fleet was off Halifax Supposed to be French4—that the inhabitants were much alarmed and that a Cutter had been dispatched to New York with the news. this may be without foundation.
W.H.
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. Heath sent this letter with his letter to GW of 25 June.
1. A marked paragraph on the enclosed printed copy of a recruiting measure reads: “It is further Enacted, That the Honorable Jabez Bowen, Esq; and James Mitchel Varnum, Esq; and Esek Hopkins, Esq; be and they are hereby appointed a Committee to wait upon the Honorable Major-General Heath, and request him to cause the Privates in Col. Christopher Greene’s Regiment to be incorporated into the Regiment commanded by Col. Israel Angell, or otherwise disposed of for the best Good of the Service: And that Col. Greene and his Officers be appointed to command the Men ordered to be raised by this Act, in a Corps separate and entire” (DLC:GW). For Heath’s prior reference to this act, see his letter to GW, 21 June, n.1.
3. The previous Wednesday was 21 June.
4. The French naval squadron convoying the French expeditionary army was at this time near Bermuda (see , 21–23).