181From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have duly received your favor of the 8th inst. with its inclosures—I have reason to hope that the extremity of distress to which the troops at the Eastward have been exposed for want of bread will be relieved and that the Commissary will have it in his power to prevent its happening again. The state of our money involves a variety of distracting difficulties which are rather to be lamented...
182From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 22 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had your favor duly handed me of the 25th Ultimo. Perfectly satisfied in your recommendation of Major Lyman, I should not hesitate on the propriety of serving him. But on considering the situation of those corps, attatched to no one State; with the inexpediency of augmenting the number of their officers, in the present circumstances of the army; and at a juncture, when we have been obliged...
183From George Washington to William Heath, 15 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Commander in Chief States to the General Officers— That—From the best Information he has been able to obtain, the regular force of the Enemy in N. York, at this Time , including their established provincial Corps, amounts at least to 9,000 Men. That—The City Militia, volunteer Companies, Rangers and some other small Corps in the Town, amounted by a Report made to the Secretary of State in...
184From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I last night received your favor of the 21st Instant and thank you much for the intelligence it contains. I hope we shall have a confirmation, ’ere it be long, of the advantages said to be gained over Admiral Keppel, in public dispatches to the Count and Monsr Gerard. When I wrote you on the 23d, I apprehended that the General Court had been induced to order in the Militia, merely from General...
185From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 November 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favored with yours of that date. I wish it was in my power to comply with your request for leave of absence at this time, but such will be the state of the Army in regard to General Officers, that I shall be left very destitute of assistance. General Sullivan has requested the liberty of Congress to retire from the service —General Putnam has obtained a short leave of absence...
186From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Some advices which I have received will detain me here longer than I expected —I am to desire you will immediately have all the light companies of the troops under your command completed to fifty rank and file each, and assemble the whole without delay at Peeks Kill. They must be completed with shoes and as far as possible with all other necessaries, for a march to Morris Town; as it will be a...
187From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 24 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your letter of Yesterday, and can assure you, that no measures have been wanting on my part, to obtain Commissions for the Massachusetts line in consequence of the late arrangement. As soon as it was finished it was transmitted to Congress—with an earnest request—that it might be committed to the Board of War, if it was approved—that the Commissions might be issued. Since...
188From George Washington to William Heath, 22 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have occasion immediately for the sentiments of the General Officers on the question mentioned in a former Letter, viz., what are to be considered the subordinate Posts or Dependencies of West Point? Respecting the salted Provision of which you enclosed me a survey in your Letter of the 20th, I have to observe, it should be demanded immediately of the Contractors what proportion of it, they...
189From George Washington to William Heath, 5 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
I was last evening favored with your Letters of the 3d and 4th Instant. I am pleased to find the Recruits arrive in such numbers as you mention, and desire only that you will use your discretion entirely, in barracking or encamping the Troops in the best manner possible to preserve their health—Straw will be an essential article upon their first going into Tents. I have not the least...
190From George Washington to William Heath, 11 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have this moment received a Letter from Count De Rochambeau (by one of His Aids, in five days from Williamsburg) informing me that he is on his way to Philadelphia—that He will be there the 13th or 14th, and wishes for an Interview with me—for this purpose I shall set out in the morning very early, & have only to request your usual attention. I am Dr Sir Yr Most Obedt Servt P.S. I entreat...
191From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Notwithstanding the immense advantages which we shall derive from the acknowledgement of our Independency by, and our late alliance with the Court of France, yet much remains to be done to extricate ourselves intirely from our oppressors. even taking it for granted that the Enemy, from the situation of European Affairs, cannot be further reinforced, their remaining Strength, if Collected and...
192From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 26th overtook me a few Miles from this place where I arrived this day at Noon. The Enemy gave us not the least Interruption upon our March. I am glad to hear that the Stores that were at Tapan and Slotts Landing are all got safely up; I hope you will have the same good Luck with the Flour. I approve of the Steps you have taken to keep the Tories, in the Neighbourhood of your post,...
193From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 15 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a letter to the honorable the council of Massachusetts, by which you will observe I am directed by Congress to appropriate the cannon lent this State, to the defence of the posts on Hudsons river. I have to request you to seal the letter, and deliver it to the council. And further, upon receiving the councils permission, that you will take the most effectual and immediate...
194From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favr of the 6th with the intelligence to which it refers. should any part of the Fleet mentioned by Capt. Jotham be destined for the Continent, we must soon hear of them. Lest my letter of the 28th ulto in answer to yours of the 22d should have miscarried, I inclose you a Copy. You will find in it an answer to all your questions, except that which respects the Arms for...
195From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 16 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favors of the 12th and 13th: The proceedings of the Court of Enquiry, on Colo. Varick, accompanied the former. I cannot conceive that the Jersey line has received the number of Recruits, which the Cloathing Return specifies, since those which were inlisted last Winter, and they, I presume, must have obtained their proportion of Cloathing with the other Men. You will...
196From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your two letters of the 17th & 19th Instant. It is Strange Cols. Whitcomb & Phiney should have suffered their Claims to have remained so long unpaid. Their conduct is extremely reprehensible and must produce a great deal of Embarasments, if not some injustice. Have their Abstracts made out in such a way as shall appear agreable to propriety and the usual practice in such...
197From George Washington to William Heath, 29 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 18th and 19th instants. I am extremely sorry that there has been a necessity for your taking such disagreeable measures, with Major General Mcdougall. The Adjutant General will transmit an order for holding a General Court Martial on the occasion. Considering the situation of the 10th Masachusetts Regiment, I would not have them hurried up to Albany. When they...
198From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 25 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The time of the reform of Livingstons and Spencers Regiments is so near at hand, that you will be pleased immediately to relieve the Posts at King’s ferry which they at present occupy with a Captain and fifty to each. I would wish you to make choice of good Officers, because I think it will be better to let them remain the Winter, than to be often changing. Inclosed you have the Returns of the...
199From George Washington to William Heath, 12 October 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 25th ulto reached me Yesterday. I am obliged by the Attention you pay to giving me every important Intelligence from your Department—Other Accounts, as well as yours, agree, that the British fleet suffered much in the Action with Count de Grasse—and that, in Consequence of this shattered Condition of their fleet, the Transports had returned to N. York, and debarked their...
200From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 24 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
For the Reasons assigned in yours of this date and to protect the communication by Kings ferry, I think the Connecticut Division may as well move down as low as the neighbourhood of Pecks Kill—leaving a sufficient party to continue the work at the two Redoubts —I shall direct Colo. Gouvion to lay out two small Works at Verplanks and Stoney points. You will be pleased to order the one on...
201From George Washington to William Heath, 13 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
In reply to your favor of the 8th, 10th, & 11th I have to observe that Mr Parker ought to be transferred; that the subject mentioned in your private Letter of the 10th should excite particular vigilence on the part of the Officers; that Leiut. Col. Badham should be relieved; that as General Glover (an extract from whose Letter I enclose) has at the request of the General Court appointed...
202From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 27 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have been regularly favd with yours of the 13th 18th 19th and 25th January and 10th current. As these letters principally respect your transactions with General Burgoine, you will be guided by the directions of Congress in every point that relates to him. If they consent to the Exchange of Colo. Anstruther and Lord Napier I have not the least objection. I only desire that the exchange may...
203From George Washington to William Heath, 19 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
You are to take the Command of all the Troops remaining in this Department—consisting of the Two Regiments of New Hampshire, Ten of Massachusetts, & five of Connecticut Infantry—the Corps of Invalids, Sheldons Legion, the third Regiment of Artillery—together with all such State Troops & Militia as are retained in Service, of those which would have been under my own Comand. The Security of West...
204From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have duly receiv’d your favor of 23d of July—I believe the Evacuation of Tyconderoga has dissatisfied the people in general, nor can I say, that I have as yet heard any reason, which makes such a step appear absolutely necessary to me, however, as a Strict enquiry into the conduct of the commanding Officers is soon to take place, the public will, no doubt, be fully satisfied with the...
205From George Washington to William Heath, 23 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
To the General Officers of the Army Assembled at Head Quarters, Newburgh, 24th June 1783. Gentlemen I am to request your opinions of the three following Questions. viz. 1st—Whether all the measures which were proper for giving satisfaction to Brigadr General Hazen and a number of the Officers of his Corps, respecting Major Reid, have been persued, or not? 2dly—In case they have not, what...
206From George Washington to William Heath, 20 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
It was exceedingly proper to order the men who left the Detachment under the Marquis, to be confined—if the practice should prevail, severe examples must be made—but if it ceases here, and the number is small, it may not be worth the while to send them back, (Altho there should not be evidence sufficient to convict them here with certainty) lest the fear of Punishment should induce them to a...
207From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Letters of the 30th of [January] and 1st Instant. You will be pleased to observe that Colonel Cranes Regiment is not to be included in the present distribution of Cloathing in the Massachusetts Returns; because this Regt has already drawn a proportion of Cloathing with the Corps of Artillery—and the second dividend is to be made upon the same principles. The...
208From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 10th was received the Morning I was last at West Point—a variety of avocations have prevented my acknowledging it untill this time. With respect to the Soldiers who have been Prisoners, I have to observe, that I think it reasonable, the indulgence of Furloughs should be granted to those whose circumstances require it, and for whose return their Officers can become in a great...
209From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Brigadier General Du Portail, whom I recommend to you as a Gentleman of merit and abilities, and knowlege in his profession. He is Chief Engineer in the army of the United-States. I have sent him to examine into the nature and condition of the fortifications, which have been erected or are erecting for the defence of the Town of Boston on the land side, and to...
210From 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...