To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 23 January 1780
From Major General William Heath
Highlands [N.Y.] January 23d 1780.
Dear General
The enclosed is paragraph of a letter which I received the last Evening from Colonel Mead at Horse neck1—From what I can learn this would have been a very pretty affair, had not folly & imprudence Stain’d the retreat. The men loitering behind on their return as is commonly the case with this Sort of troops were pursued and overtaken by about 20 Horse who cut and Slashed many of them in a Shocking manner and I suppose took between thirty and forty prisoners.
Mr Read the Deputy pay master has not yet come from Albany. I am just informed that a Gentleman who left Albany the day before yesterday Saw Mr Reed, who informed him that he had receiv’d no orders to repair to this post but was in expectation of them. Whether orders have been Sent, or are detain’d on the road I cannot tell.2 The Troops are exceedingly uneasy on account of their pay, being So much in arrear. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Your Excellencys Most obedt Servt
W. Heath
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.
1. The enclosed extract copy of Lt. Col. Matthew Mead’s letter to Heath, dated at Horseneck, Conn., on 21 Jan., reads: “I suppose before this comes to hand your honor will hear of an expedition formed from this Town, by a number of my regiment, and a party of Volunteers from Greenwich; the whole consisting of about 80—40 from each, Commanded by Captain [Samuel] Keeler of my regiment, and Captain [Samuel] Lockwood of Greenwich—The scheme was to route Colonel [Isaac] Hatfield at Morrissania. They set out at 3 oClock in the afternoon arrived there at about one in the morning, attacked the Pickett, Killed 3 and drove them to the Quarters of Colonel Hatfield, where they stood out with great spirit, but our men made no stand, forced the house, part of his men made their escape, the rest with Colonel Hatfield took to the chambers of the house where they had prepared a number of Casks of salt, of Flour & other lumber which he had prepared for that purpose. They kept up a constant fire down stairs & out the windows, which made impossible for them to get up stairs. They demanded to surrender, but they refused. They told them if they did not they would fire the house, which they were obliged to do, which quick drove them out of the chamber windows. They took Colo. Hatfield 1 Capt. 1 Lieut. 1 Q. Master 11 Privates and returned back as fast as possible. But as the troops being much fatigued, as they had marched 30 miles out, a number of them gave out & unfortunately fell into the Enemies hands as they was pursued by about 40 horse. This unfortunate affair happened by reason of the expedition being performed at least two hours sooner than was expected” (DLC:GW).
2. The Board of Treasury had ordered assistant paymaster Thomas Reed to West Point to pay the troops (see GW to Heath, 14–15 Jan.; see also Heath to GW, 17–18 Jan.).