1. Heath compiled an undated memorandum headed “Intelligence obtained from divers persons respecting the Harbour works and shiping at Hallifax” that includes information received from 29 May to 2 June and reported in this letter (MHi: Heath Papers; see also GW to Heath, 15 May, and notes 2, 3, 7, and 9 below).

2. According to his memorandum, Heath received this intelligence on 29 May: “Second hand from a person who lately left Hallifax reports that there was in the Harbour The Robuste 74 Guns Galateas 20 Guns one Sloop of war and Several Privateers Garrison Small but works very Strong” (see n.1 above).

3. According to his memorandum, Heath obtained this intelligence “from mr P-sc-t by mr [James] Bowdoin” on 31 May: “That there are Six Regiments at Hallifax each about 500 Strong, 4 at Hallifax Town and Two at other posts in the Province, The militia of Hallifax about 1100 Strong, General [Francis] McLane a very active vigilant Officer Commands, 22, 48 p[oun]drs at the South End of the Town, a Breast work and ditch with Several ravelins extended from the arsenal to the Town, a Battery at the point between the Town and Sandwich River” (see n.1 above). The man relaying this intelligence probably was the “Gentleman” mentioned in Heath’s letter to GW of 28 May (see also Heath to GW, 8 June).

Brig. Gen. Francis McLean wrote Lord George Germain on 13 May that Halifax’s garrison was “not the garrison of a fortified place but a force to defend an extensive coast and posts and batteries separated by the harbour.” The naval force present consisted of the “Robust which is repairing and under sailing orders when fitted out, one frigate and one sloop, which are not sufficient to clear us from an amazing number of privateers which are continually hovering about us” (Davies, Documents of the American Revolution description begins K. G. Davies, ed. Documents of the American Revolution, 1770–1783; (Colonial Office Series). 21 vols. Shannon and Dublin, 1972–81. description ends , 18:89–90).

4. French inhabitants originally called Georges Island, located in the middle of Halifax harbor, “Ile de la Raquette” (Snow-Shoe Island). The British renamed the island after George II in 1749 and immediately began fortifications. A prison on the island served as a place of confinement during the French and Indian War. Additional military works, including Fort Charlotte, were later constructed on the island.

5. The Narrows in Halifax Harbor, less than a quarter mile wide, is about one mile above the upper part of the city. It serves as a passage to Bedford Basin, the largest part of the harbor.

6. For a description of the citadel, see James Bowdoin to GW, this date, n.2.

7. According to his memorandum, Heath received this intelligence on 30 May from “Capt. [Ebenezer] Wales a member of the [Massachusetts] General Court who has made upwards of forty voyages to Hallifax” before the war. Heath continued: “a Battery opposite Georges Island on the South side about half a mile from the Center of the Town, about the Same distance from Georges Island, a Battery on the Dartmouth Side about Two miles below or without Georges Island—Batteries at the Town. … there are one or two places at the entrance of the Harbour which require some Skill and Judgment in passing—Capt. [Samuel] Laha one of the best Pilots for Hallifax.” Heath also noted that his informant “thinks that there are Some other Block Houses at other parts of the Bason” (see n.1 above).

8. Bowdoin wrote GW on this date.

9. In his memorandum under the date of 2 June, Heath recorded additional intelligence on Penobscot Bay relayed by a farmer who had recently come from that vicinity. The British had “but one work at Ponobscot, which is very strong, Eleven feet high with a ditch and Pickets or frasies on the Berm the Ground cleared for half a mile round Colonel [John] Campbell commands, the Garrison Said to be chiefly Scotchmen, about 500 strong short of Provisions” (see n.1 above; see also Heath to GW, 8 June, and n.1 to that document).

10. French captain La Touche-Tréville had received authorization from the Massachusetts Council to use his frigate Hermione against British privateers and to cruise between Boston Bay and Penobscot Bay. The Hermione had a minor encounter on 19 May with British ships near the British fort around the Bagaduce Peninsula in Maine, and La Touche-Tréville was back in Boston on Sunday, 21 May (see Lafayette to La Luzerne, 24 May, in Lafayette Papers description begins Stanley J. Idzerda et al., eds. Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790. 5 vols. Ithaca, N.Y., 1977-83. description ends , 3:31–33; see also Samuel Cooper to Benjamin Franklin, 23 May, in Franklin Papers description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. 42 vols. to date. New Haven, 1959–. description ends , 32:414–16; and Wilson, Heath’s Memoirs description begins Rufus Rockwell Wilson, ed. Heath’s Memoirs of the American War. 1798. Reprint. New York, 1904. description ends , 251). The Pennsylvania Packet or the General Advertiser (Philadelphia) for 10 June reported under the heading “BOSTON, May 25”: “Sunday last arrived here after a short cruize, his Most Christian Majesty’s frigate the Hermoine, commanded by M. la Touche, who made a visit to Penobscot, and took a near view of the British fort at Baggaduce. The Nautillus and Albany, under the command of the infamous Mowatt [Henry Mowat], who burnt Falmouth, were at anchor without the fort, but upon the approach of the Hermoine, immediately retired behind it. The Hermoine first appeared under British colours, which they did not chuse to trust, and afterwards fired a gun of defiance, which they did not dare to acept. The presence of this frigate, under so brave and active a commander, is no inconsiderable addition to the security of our trade.”

11. In a letter to James Wadsworth, written on 30 May at Roxbury, Heath requested “frequent and authentic Intelligence … of the Force and Situation of the Enemy at Hallifax and Ponobscot. If at any time it should be in your power to obtain Intelligence from either of those places of the Enemys Forces naval or Land, or both, the nature and condition of their works any movements or News which carries a probability of Authenticity, you will oblige me and Serve the Public cause by the earliest Communication, and I request that upon receipt hereof you will favor me with the last accots you have received from either or both the before mentioned places, and plan to repeat it as oppertunity offers” (MHi: Heath Papers). For Heath’s recent correspondence with Col. John Allan, see Heath to GW, 28 May, and n.2 to that document.

12. Col. Michael Jackson wrote Heath from West Point on 18 May: “I am sorey to inform you that this place Seames more like fast Days … one Quarter of a pound is Taken from our Beef & wee have but half a pound of Flower pr Day and no Rum for Ten Days past” (MHi: Heath Papers).

13. See Heath to GW, 27 March and 30 April.

14. Brig. Gen. John Paterson had written Heath from West Point on 31 March that “credible persons” reported the Massachusetts General Court “so lost to every sentiment of humanity as to stop Even the small pittance given by the Town⟨s⟩ and private Gentlemen to the poor Soldiery” (MHi: Heath Papers). On 7 April, Heath warned the Massachusetts legislature that “Recruiting is now entirely at an end” (MHi: Heath Papers). Jackson reported to Heath on 18 May that soldiers still had not received their bounties (MHi: Heath Papers).

15. For the passage of this legislation, see Justin Ely to GW, 9 June, and n.1 to that document.

16. No reply from GW has been found.

17. A quintal historically equalled a “one hundredweight, originally 100 … later 112” pounds. In the metric system, a quintal equals approximately 220 pounds (OED description begins James A. H. Murray et al., eds. The Oxford English Dictionary: Being a Corrected Re-Issue with an Introduction, Supplement, and Bibliography of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles. 12 vols. 1933. Reprint. Oxford, England, 1970. description ends ).

18. The Pennsylvania Evening Post (Philadelphia) for 9 June printed a report dated 1 June: “By the Eastern post, we learn that news had reached Hartford and New Haven, as he passed through, that the ship Trumbull, in company with a French ship of twenty guns, had taken, after a smart engagement, the ship Iris, formerly the Hancock, and sent her into an Eastern port.” This intelligence was erroneous, as the Iris continued to operate at sea (see La Touche-Tréville to GW, 10 June, and the notes to that document). The Continental frigate Trumbull captured the British privateer schooner Queen Charlotte near Bermuda and sent her to Philadelphia before engaging the British privateer Watt on 1 June (see Smith, Marines in the Revolution description begins Charles R. Smith. Marines in the Revolution: A History of the Continental Marines in the American Revolution 1775-1783. Washington, D.C., 1975. description ends , 250–51).