121To George Washington from William Heath, 27 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed has been handed me this morning by Lt Colonel Hull, which I beg leave to submit to your Excellency. It is with much reluctance Colonel Hull thinks of being absent at this time, but assures me necessity compels him to request it. How the orderly duty will be done when Colonel Hull goes away I cannot say; it may be attended with some difficulty unless the Adjutant General sends one...
122To George Washington from William Heath, 26 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to your orders of the 22d I wrote the Contractors on the subject of the salted and damaged provisions, and yesterday received an answer from them, which I take the liberty to enclose. I wish to know your pleasure whether Messrs Sands shall take such of the provisions as are not fit to issue, and credit the united States what they may be thought worth; or dispose of them and...
123To George Washington from William Heath, 25 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I forward two sailors who lately made their escape from the British man of war, Adamant—and inclose a New York paper of the 19th the latest I have received. When I was honored by your Excellency the winter before last with a command similar to that you have been pleased now to assign me, your pleasure was signified that I should approve or disapprove the sentences of courts-martial, except...
124To George Washington from William Heath, 22 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was the last evening honored with yours of the 21st. I have been also honored with yours of the 16th respecting the contract, and one of the 18th respecting the recruits raising in Massachusetts—I shall write lieutenant colonel Badlam by the next post on the subject of the latter. I am not yet able to answer the former so fully as may be necessary, and shall enquire of the commanding...
125To George Washington from John Paterson, 22 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency having been pleased in your letter to major-general Heath of the 17th instant to request our opinion at what places it may be best to establish magazines of provisions for the moving army—and also what should be deemed the dependencies of West-point—We beg leave to give our opinion as follows; viz. Considering the contingencies of the campaign, magazines may be eligible at...
126To George Washington from William Heath, 21 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I forward one John Jacob Chieser, a deserter from the British—says he was six years a serjeant-major in the royal American or 60th British regiment—was barrack-master and fort-major at Pensecola—has been quartermaster to Arnold’s corps—was promised but has never received a commission. He may be honest—he may not. He says prince William Henry, general Knyphausen and general Birch are to embark...
127To George Washington from William Heath, 20 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a report of the committee appointed a few days since to survey the provisions which were represented to be bad, when the whole was overhauled. It appears by the report, that a part of that which was represented to be bad, is good; but it is in a state which will soon grow worse if it is not issued. That which is condemned will also grow worse the longer it remains—some of it is...
128To George Washington from William Heath, 19 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with yours of the 17th covering several queries, &c.—copy of the queries I have given to major-general Howe and brigadier-general Paterson; should have done the same to baron de Steuben, but he left West-point yesterday afternoon. If your Excellency should not communicate the queries to him before his return I will do it afterwards. I will also state to, and obtain the...
129To George Washington from William Heath, 19 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from major Oliver, came to hand the last evening. Inclosed is also a note which I received yesterday from major Maxwell. What encouragement the man wishes or expects, or how far advantage may be derived from him, I cannot say, further than that major Maxwell informed me, before the late attack upon the mail, that he had received information that persons were employed to do it, and...
130To George Washington from William Heath, 18 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with yours of the 16th covering copy of a letter from major-general McDougall. Lest your Excellency might think I have been unreasonable, I beg leave to observe— necessity and duty compelled me to arrest major-general McDougall, and to exhibit charges against him—these I endeavoured to make as specific as is usually practised in our army—When he demanded the charges being made...
131To George Washington from William Heath, 18 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Enclosed is Just come to hand with the person who was Sent up a few Days Since a Deserter from the Enemy on their late excursion to Haverstraw. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys most Obedt Sert MHi : Heath Papers.
132To George Washington from William Heath, 17 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The stores are now fitted for the safe depositing the powder, a part of which has for some time been in places by no means secure at Fish-kill. Colonel Crane has examined the bomb-proofs at Westpoint and the other stores which have been fitted—He informs me four or five hundred barrels can be deposited at Westpoint—the places dry and good, from this time to the next winter—in which season only...
133To George Washington from William Heath, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed are two letters which I have received from captain Banister, who has for some time been at Springfield receiving recruits. My receipt of the first of the letters, I took the liberty to mention to your Excellency when I had the honor of seeing you here; The other came to hand this morning. As your Excellency’s letter to major-general Lincoln while he was at Boston, which I had the...
134To George Washington from William Heath, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The field officers of regiments have been convened agreeable to your Excellency’s directions of the 13th instant—An officer was present from every regiment at this post except the 1st and 8th Massachusetts and invalid regiments. Their opinion on the question proposed to them is contained in the inclosed report, copy of which I shall transmit to Mr Phelps by to morrow’s post. All the officers...
135To George Washington from William Heath, 16 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Some of the Regiments have not a Sufficiency of metal to make Buttons for the Soldiers Cloathing Lt Colo. Hull informs me that Mr Ruddock Commissary Military Stores at Fishkill has some Pewter or Blo ck Tin in Store if your Excellency thinks proper to give an order for the delivery of what may be wanting, Colonel Hull mentions Fifteen or Twenty lb. for the Regt which he recommends—I have the...
136To George Washington from William Heath, 15 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
There are reports from below that a general embargo was laid the last week on all shipping at New York—that several merchants who had shipped their effects for England were obliged to land them again, and are murmuring much—that the hands employed on private buildings in the city are stopped working—that general Kniphausen is to embark soon for Europe—that Arnold’s corps is ordered down to...
137To George Washington from William Heath, 14 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I was the last evening honored with yours of the 13th with copy of a letter from the honorable the secretary at war. I have called a meeting of the officers commanding brigades and regiments, for the purpose mentioned in your Excellency’s letter. I am sorry the letter from the secretary at war is not more particular—or that mr Phelps or some other person for him, have not mentioned what fish...
138To George Washington from William Heath, 13 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 13th of March I took the liberty to mention to your Excellency my wishes, as well as the necessity of my making a short visit to the eastward, before the campaign opened. Several family matters have since that time conspired to encrease my desire as well as the necessity of making the journey, if it can be granted. It is disagreeable to me to ask the indulgence at this season; but as...
139To George Washington from William Heath, 12 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed from captain Pray I received the last evening. It contains the manoeuvres of the enemy when up the river on the 10th. Inclosed is also a letter from mr Marshall magazine-keeper to the contractors, respecting the damaged provisions. I wrote the mr Sands, some days since the state of the provisions; I have not had a written answer—but am informed verbally that they would have a...
140To 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...
141To George Washington from William Heath, 7 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I take the liberty to enclose the two latest New York papers that have come to my hand. Two deserters from the enemy who came in this morning, inform me it was reported five or six days since, that there was a hot press for seamen in New York—that it was said a detachment from the grenadiers and other corps were to embark; but the embarkation had not taken place, nor was the destination known....
142To George Washington from William Heath, 6 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
In December last I received orders from the honorable the secretary at war to direct the commissaries and all others at West-point and its vicinity who had public provisions in their hands on the first day of January to deliver them to one of the mr Sands, &c. Orders were given conformably. There were at that time fifteen or sixteen hundred barrels of salted provisions in the magazine at...
143To George Washington from William Heath, 5 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed is a New York paper of the 1st instant, the latest which has come to hand, and a letter I have just received from colonel Tupper. Twenty-seven recruits arrived yesterday from Massachusetts. By letters and other information the recruiting service is successful at the eastward. I have the honor to be, With the highest respect, Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant DLC : Papers of...
144To George Washington from William Heath, 3 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed your Excellency will find a New York paper of the 27th ultimo, which came to hand this morning—is the latest I have received. The escort to the mail on the return from Morristown on Sunday afternoon, was attacked by Moody and his gang a few miles beyond Suffrans—One of the escort was killed but the mail was saved. I have just received a letter from colonel Tupper, dated at Albany the...
145To George Washington from William Heath, 1 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
This will be presented by colonel Putnam of the 5th Massachusetts regiment, who will solicit your permission to be absent from the army for a short time. He was some time since appointed one of the arbitrators to ascertain the quantity of forage consumed by the allied army in West Chester county the last campaign, which has detained him, and will again require his attention on the 20th of May...
146To George Washington from William Heath, 28 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am this moment honored with yours of the 26th instant, and have given orders for a guard to be detached and put in motion with all possible despatch, agreeable to your directions—hope they will arrive in season. I have the honor to be With the highest respect, Your Excellencys Most obedient servant, DLC : Papers of George Washington.
147To George Washington from William Heath, 20 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have obtained from colonel Varick copy of a paper respecting challenges of members of courts-martial, but it is not conclusive—and colonel Varick informs me, that after searching and researching, he cannot yet find any other. By the paper he has sent me, it appears a council of general officers were convened at Middle Brook the first of June 1779, when your Excellency was present and stated...
148To George Washington from William Heath, 13 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
By the last post I was honored with yours of the 28th ultimo, and two of the 4th instant. The mode proposed for supplying the officers with clothing, is to some of them agreeable, to others disagreeable—on which side the majority lays, I am at loss to determine. Necessity will probably oblige many to accept the offer. They have for a long time been expecting some relief of money—they are as...
149To George Washington from William Heath, 6 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor, on the 28th ultimo, to acquaint your Excellency of the success of a small party of volunteer horse in making prisoners six of colonel Delancy’s men on the 26th. Apprehending from the disposition of the enemy, discovered at that time, that they might be drawn into ambuscade, it was determined to make the attempt. Major Woodbridge who commands on the lines, having settled a plan...
150To George Washington from William Heath, 5 March 1782 (Washington Papers)
A person from Morrissania acquainted me yesterday morning, that he was informed by an officer, about ten or twelve days since, that a council of war was then sitting—that the question under consideration was, whether to evacuate New York or Charlestown. Captain Pray, who is continued in the guard-boats, to observe the motions of the enemy and collect intelligence, has just written me, that he...