91From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your two favs. of the 30th last month reached me last Night. I cannot say, but I was a good deal surp[r]ized and disappointed at the contents. I never was very sanguine as to any thing more being effected than to oblige the Garrison of Fort Independance either to surrender or evacuate, and retire within the Island, as neither has been done, I wish your summons had never been sent, as I am...
92From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 4 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
This Letter is in addition to my public one of this date —It is to hint to you, and I do it with concern, that your conduct is censured (and by Men of sense and Judgment who have been with you on the Expedition to Fort Independance) as being fraught with too much caution, by which the Army has been disappointed, and in some degree disgraced. Your Summons, as you did not attempt to fulfil your...
93From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 9 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your several favors of the 5th 6th & 7th Inst. What I mentioned to you in a former letter about a second Attempt on Fort Independence was intended merely as a Hint, on which You might improve if Circumstances should favr. I did not desire that it might interfere with the Order to march some of yr Division this way, unless it should be found highly practicable. When you arrive at...
94From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 3 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Having been desired by Congress to place some other in the room of General Ward, I have to request you will receive the command from him and hold it till further orders. I have accordingly desired him to resign it to you. I am Sir Your most Obedient servant LS , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, MHi : Heath Papers; Df , DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . GW apparently sent this letter with...
95From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
By my former directions, the fifteen Regiments, belonging to your State, were all ordered to march to Ticonderoga, as soon as they were raised armed and equipped. But upon a reconsideration of the matter, founded upon several peices of Intelligence, there is a probability that the Enemy will draw part of their force from Canada by water as soon as the St Lawrence is navigable, in order to...
96From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote to you the 13th directing you to order eight of the Regiments of your State to march with the greatest expedition to peekskill. I then gave you my reasons for this alteration of my former orders. Altho’ I called upon you, in the most pressing manner, to hurry the Troops on, I cannot help again repeating my distress for the want of Men; the general Backwardness of the recruiting...
97From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 29 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
The Situation of our Affairs again compells me to call upon you in express and positive Terms to hasten the Troops of your State (those inlisted for the continent I mean) to Peekskill and Ticonderoga, in such proportions as I have before directed, without one Moments loss of time. The Enemy have lately, taking advantage of our weakness at Peekskill, made a descent there, burnt the lower...
98From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since mine of yesterday, I recd your favor of the 16th: The fortunate arrival of Arms at portsmouth will remove all difficulties which you laboured under for want of them, and I therefore hope that your next will inform me that some of your Troops are on their march to peekskill as well as to Ticonderoga. You will see the Necessity of sending part to peekskill, as quick as possible, by my...
99From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 5 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 25th March. I have had no request as yet from the Council of your State, for part of the new arrived Arms, to put into the hands of such of your Troops as were ready and only waited for them, but I desire that as many as are necessary, may be immediately drawn, and the Troops forwarded. So that there can be no further plea for delay upon that head. One thing I must...
100From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have, within these few days, received an application from the honorable Messrs Sever and Cushing, for arms and blankets, for the use of the Massachusetts regiments, destined for Ticonderoga. Surely those troops are not, at this day, to begin their march, for that post! And sorry I am to observe, that nothing now will content that government, but the new arms lately arrived there, which will...
101From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18–19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 28th March and 1st of this Month. I have, in my several late letters, wrote to you so fully upon the necessity of forwarding the Troops to Ticonderoga and peekskill, that I need only to refer you to them, and to beg your Attention to the several Matters recommended in them. You will be kind enough not only to insist upon, but to see that the Feild Officers do not stay...
102From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 16th and am glad to find that you are forwarding on the Troops with expedition. pray be careful to send new Cloaths after those who have marched without them, as the Quantity drawn from the Eastward by the Cloathier General for the southern Troops is not more than sufficient for them. I would not have those detatchments who have already marched by the common Rout...
103From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 2 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this morning favoured with yours of the 21st and 22d instants, containing the pleasing accounts of the late arrivals at Portsmouth and Boston. That of the French Ship of War with Artillery and other military Stores is a most valuable acquisition. It was my intent to have all the Arms, that were not immediately wanted by the Eastern States, removed to Springfeild, as a place much safer...
104From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favrs of the 26th and 30th last Month. Colo. Conway and the two Gentlemen who accompanied him are gone forward to Congress, who, I make no doubt, will provide for them in a manner suitable to their merits. The Board of War have sent orders to the Continental Agents, at Boston, Portsmouth and providence, to remove all the military Stores, Arms &ca in their possession, from those...
105From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 18 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 9th instant by Capt: Mullen is this day handed me. I am happy to hear, that the assembly have resolved to complete the Regiments by drafts, and have adopted the three recommended to them in addition to the 15th. The drafts must come on to Peeks Kill as fast as possible. Those who have not had the small pox will be inoculated there, which will put them in the way of being...
106From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday your Two favors of the 11th & 14th Instant. I think with you, that it will not be entirely prudent, to deposit All our Stores at one place, not so much from an apprehension that the Enemy will penetrate the Country to destroy them, as that the whole may not be lost, in case of other unhappy events. I have spoke to Genl Knox, who will direct, what he judges proper to be...
107From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 1 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favour of the 19th May. General De Coudrée arrived here last night, and set off this morning for Philadelphia. What his engagements with Mr Dean are, I cannot say; but as he is represented to be a Gentleman of great ability in his profession, I dare say his expectations are high. Congress will undoubtedly make a genteel and honorable provision for him; but I hope it may be done, in...
108From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 8 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this day favor’d with yours of the 27th & 29th of May. I am surprised at the accounts you give me of the want of Cloathing for the Troops of Massachusetts. I took it for granted that they had been sent forward when it was intended that all your Troops shou’d go the Northward, & that they wou’d meet them at Peekskill. My reason for this was, that the Cloathier General repeatedly assured me...
109From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 23 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am favd with yours of the 3d 7th and 12th. Nothing has given me more uneasiness than the Complaints of want of cloathing for the Troops of your State, especially as I had been led to beleive that they were most amply provided. I have ordered all the Cloathing now coming on to stop at Peekskill, and the Cloathier General has sent up a deputy to distribute it to those who want. As it consists...
110From 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...
111From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 4 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favor of the 16th Ulto only came to hand Two days ago. The arrivals which you mention and the capture of the Brig. by Commodore Manly are fortunate circumstances. The Cargoes are valuable & such as we wanted. In respect to General Spencers claim of pay on the footing of a separate command, It is what I do not conceive myself authorized to allow. I know of but One separate command in the...
112From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Yours of the 30th ulto found me at this place. Upon the Enemy’s quitting Jersey and embarking, there was the strongest presumption to think, that this sudden alteration of their original move towards Philadelphia could only be owing to an intent to co-operate with Genl Burgoyne and the Northern Army. It was therefore determined to move this army up towards Peekskill to be ready to act as...
113From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 19 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have your favs. of the 7th and 10th instants. I am pleased to find from the Copy of the letter from Bordeaux that matters wore so good a face in France, it is more than probable that they will push an advantagious Trade with us before a formal declaration of War, indeed if they were to strike a Blow before the declaration, they would only repay England, for playing a Game of the same kind in...
114From George Washington to Major General William Health, 27 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favor of the 16th instant, informing me of an application from the Board of War, of your state for a sufficiency of arms and other necessaries to accommodate a body of men to be employed in a secret expedition to St John’s River, and desiring my instructions upon the occasion. As I am not acquainted by Congress with what steps they have taken in the affair, nor with their...
115From 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...
116From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 10–11 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with yours of the 1st and 2d instants. I am convinced if any Ships appeared off your Coast at the time you mention, that they could not have been the Fleet that sailed from the Hook, because they were off the Capes of Delaware just at that time. But I think it more than probable, that you will have heard something of the Enemy before this reaches you. We have not recd the...
117From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 12 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have now before me your favour of the 30th Ulto which only came to hand last night. Having written you fully yesterday, I have but little to add at this time and indeed Nothing but what respects the Subject of your Request. Springfeild being in the Massachusetts State is certainly included in your Command, and you will from time to time order payment to the persons employed in the...
118Lieutenant Colonel Tench Tilghman to Major General William Heath, 6–10 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favs. of the 13th and 20th August. I should have answered the former before this time, but as I recd it upon my march to this place I had not an opportunity of doing it sooner. As the Expedition to St Johns was set on foot by order of Congress, you should apply to them for directions about the payment of the Officers for the time they were engaged in...
119From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 14 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
As the object of the enemy is now reduced to an absolute certainty, and they are bending their whole force, with great vigor, to the Southward, it can no longer answer any valuable purpose to keep a body of Continental troops in your state, whose presence in the further progress of the Campaign will probably be essentially necessary in this quarter. You will therefore, on receipt of this,...
120From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favoured ⟨w⟩ith yours of the 10th instant. With respect to supply⟨in⟩g the Continental frigates with ammunition from the Continental magazines, as I have not copies of the letters you mention with me, I am not certain how far they may have authorised the measure, but I intirely approve of your granting the necessary supply from them. The frigates ought not to want so essential...