181From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
In making my arrangements for the disposition of the Army this Winter I have found it necessary to assign the command of the posts upon the North River to you. Inclosed you will find instructions for your government. Lt Colo. Pawling with the York Militia has undertaken to finish the Redoubt upon Stoney point. You will therefore have no further occasion to send a fatigue party from Nixon’s and...
182From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
You, being appointed to the command of the posts upon the North River, will forthwith proceed to West point or the Vicinity of it. All the posts on the North River from Kings Ferry inclusively upwards will be comprehended within the limits of your command. The troops destined for the Garrison of these posts and under your immediate command will be the four Massachusetts Brigades—General Poors...
183From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you will find a Copy of Genl Du Portails state of the Troops necessary for the defence of this Post. It may be very useful during your command—You will however be pleased to observe that the Enemy were, when it was made, in possession of the Posts at Kings Ferry, which not being the case now, a less number of Guards is necessary; such as are superfluous will readily occur to you, in...
184From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter to Genl Howe is left open for your perusal—You will be pleased to Seal & forward it to him without loss of time. I am with great regard Dr Sir Your Most Obet servant LS , in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . The enclosure was a letter written at Morristown on this date from GW to Maj. Gen. Robert Howe. The draft...
185From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13–17 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received Your Letter of the 7th Instant, with Copies of the papers to which you allude. As the appointment or promotion of Officers does not in the least depend on me, I can not undertake to give you directions, in either of the cases, in which you request it; however since they are before me, I shall offer my sentiments with respect to them. As to the case of Majors Maxwell & Ballard,...
186From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the long preparations at New York and the strong appearances of a large Detachment’s being made from thence—it seems certain from very recent advices, that no Troops have sailed as yet, and that the Enemy hold themselves in collected force. What their designs really are I have not been able to learn, altho I have taken all the pains in my power to effect it. The Southern States...
187From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed you have the Copy of a Return which I received the 18th instant from Colo. Putnam, specifying the number of Men, drawn from each Regiment of the line, to compose his Regiment of Infantry, and the quantity of Cloathing furnished to each detachment. Colo. Putnam complains, with justice, of the partiality of the distribution referred to in the Return, as not bearing a due proportion to...
188From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favs. of the 21st and 26th Inst. Certificates from the paymasters of the 1st and 15th Massachusetts Regiments setting forth that Ensigns Gilbert and porter have settled their regimental accounts are necessary before those Gentlemen can obtain discharges. Upon producing them to you, you may indorse their discharges upon their Commissions, and inform me of the date, that I...
189From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I herewith transmit you an extract of a letter from the Board of war, on the supposed delinquency of Mr Hatfield Commissary of hides, and an extract of a letter on the same subject from Mr Henry commissary of hides at Lancaster to the Board of war. In compliance with the Boards request, you will be pleased to direct an inquiry into Mr Hatfields conduct in the discharge of the duties of his...
190From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14–15 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your letters of the 27th and 30th of Decr last and that of the 5th Instant. The measures you have taken to provide against a scarcity, with the assistance of the goverment, will I hope furnish you with a tolerable and constant supply. Our distresses, have been so pressing as to compel me to call upon the several counties in this State for a certain quota of grain and...
191From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several favors of the 17th—18th 21st and 23d of this month. As it will be less expensive to Major Painter, and to the public, to have his tryal held in your quarter, you will be pleased to order a court martial for the purpose. I return you Col. Scammels letter on the subject. Bostwicks letter which came in yours of the 18th is very ambiguous. At first view one would...
192From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am exceedingly sorry to find by yours of the 26th ulto that you are again involved in difficulties on the score of Bread. I flatered myself that your wants on that account had been overcome, and that you would not have been again distressed throughout the Winter. We are in a better situation than we were, but we may yet be said to be living from hand to mouth, never having more than two or...
193From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I have been favd with yours of the 27th ulto I am happy to hear that the Fire, in the Garrison, has been suppressed with so little damage. The Officers, who lost their Cloathing, may have the liberty of drawing what Articles they may find suitable in the public store, at the prices fixed by Congress, which are, one half more than such Articles sold for in the year...
194From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
General poor sent down the Bearer Capt. Leigh for 10,000 dollars for the purpose of recruiting, but the military Chest here being intirely exhausted, I must request you, if possible to spare him that sum. But should your stock of Cash not admit of the whole, be pleased to let him have as much as you conveniently can. I am informed that the New Hampshire troops are just now in good temper and...
195From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
Congress have been pleased to determine by an Act of the 9th Instant, a Copy of which I received last night, the Quota of Troops to be furnished by each of the States for the ensuing Campaign, and have directed me to transmit them respectively, accurate Returns of their NonCommissioned Officers & privates, that they may know the deficiency for which they are to provide. I therefore request...
196From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your several favors of the 2d 4th 8th and 10th Instants. From the frequency of fires at West point and its dependencies, one would think there was something more than accident, and yet, from the enquiry, they do not appear to be the effect of design. It is possible that there may be Fire Engines in some of the town up the River, one of which you might perhaps obtain upon...
197From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I wrote You on the 15th and requested You to send me as soon as possible, a Return of the number of Non Commissioned Officers and privates in the Fifteen Massachusetts Regiments, distinguishing particularly what proportion of them are inlisted for the War and the different terms of service of the Residue, digested in Monthly columns. To this I intended to have added, as I informed You, All the...
198From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday informed that the enemy had removed their Horse from Staten to York Island—They had also some days ago, impressed all the Sleighs within their reach in Bergen and carried them over to New York, but they have returned them upon the melting of the snow. It should seem from this that they had had some enterprize in view which may not yet be totally laid aside. I have thought it...
199From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 19th ulto with the several papers to which it refers—You will be pleased to grant Capt. Flowers of the 3d Massachusetts Regt a dismission from the service, the Certificates transmitted being sufficient, and inform me of the time whe⟨n⟩ his resignation took place, that I may register it—If the number of Feild Officers with the first Brigade and the state of...
200From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
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 expediency 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. I am still of the same opinion—and that...
201From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 28 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter of the 2d informing me of your arrival at Roxbury. It is very essential that every thing in our power, not inconsistent with the establishments of Congress, or the States, should be done that can in any ways facilitate the recruiting service. I am of your opinion, that if clothing could be procured on the spot for such of the State quota as inlist, it would be a...
202From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 17 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received some days ago your letter of the 27th of last month. I have communicated your request with respect to recruiting Officers, to Major General Howe & desired him to send on a number, if the state of the regiments would admit of it, informing them however previously, to prevent a misapprehension on the subject and that they might use their own discretion upon the occasion, that I knew...
203From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 May 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to inform You in strict confidence, that we have authentic advices of his Most Christian Majesty’s determination to send a respectable armament of Sea & Land forces, to operate on the Continent—and that the period is not remote when we may expect their arrival. Having informed You of this, I am now to add, that the destruction of Hallifax—of the Naval arsenals & Garrison...
204From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
It is expected that the fleet of our Ally will in the first instance touch at Rhode Island for the purpose of landing their sick and supernumerary Stores and to meet the intelligence necessary to direct their operations. I have already sent forward Doctor Craik to take up proper Houses for Hospitals and to make some previous arrangements in that department: But as I apprehend the French...
205From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your several favors of the 12th 21st 23d and 25th instants. I think it but reasonable that the extra expences incurred by your present command should be defrayed by the public, and I will, upon your being releived, furnish you with a Warrant upon the Military Chest for the amount. You will draw from the Commissary whatever it is in his power to provide. Your Baggage, which is...
206From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 20th and 30th ulto. The Ammunition—The Cannon belonging to the Continent, and the other Stores had been ordered to Springfeild, and part had been removed, at very considerable expence, on account of transportation. On the prospect of a safe navigation of the Sound, I directed Major Perkins to withhold the removal of the remainder, but to deposit them in...
207From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your two favors of the 11th instant. The latter announcing the appearance of the French fleet off New-port harbour. We wait anxiously for further particulars which we expect to day. Mr Corny mentions the bad state of the road of communication between Providence and New-port. It appears essential, as the intercourse may be great on this route, to have it attended to. I...
208From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your several favors of the 12th 16th and two of the 21st. What you have done with respect to the deserters from Col. Green’s Regt is conformable to my views. A pardon may be extended to all other deserters in your quarter, and to give it the more efficacy, I shall as soon as I have time, send you a proclamation to this purpose. I have taken measures, as to the...
209From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here last night having met your favors of the 25th and 26th at Paramus where the Army then lay. Immediately upon hearing that the transports with the troops which had been some days on board, had sailed Eastward, I put the Army in motion again—they will cross the ferry to day, and will be joined by the troops from hence. I propose moving as rapidly as possible down towards...
210From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I received Yesterday your letter of the 29th Ulto. Before this comes to hand you will have been informed that the Fleet in the Sound, which it is generally believed was designed to proceed to Rhode Island, has returned. We have so many accounts of this that we have no doubt of it, and are pursuing measures accordingly. With respect to the return of the Militia who were called for, under the...