From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 21 October 1780
XIX
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters Prackness Octr 21st 1780
Dr Sir
Lt Colo. Varick and Major Franks late of General Arnolds family having requested of me a Court of inquiry to ascertain the part they acted relative to the transactions of General Arnold;1 you will be pleased to appoint a Court of Inquiry, to examine into the conduct of the Gentlemen in their connection with the late Major General Arnold, during his command at West-point, and relative to the circumstances of his desertion to the enemy.2
I have directed General Knox to apply to you for permission for Mr Garanger to make some experiments in Artillery, which you will please to grant.3 I am With very great esteem & Regard Dear Sir Your most Obedt humle servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Documents XV and XVI.
2. Heath acknowledged this request when he wrote GW on 24 October.
Heath issued orders for the court of inquiry from West Point on Tuesday, 31 Oct.: “Lieutenant-Colonel Varick and Major Franks, late of General Arnold’s family, having requested of his Excellency General Washington, a Court of Inquiry, to ascertain the part they acted relative to the transactions of General Arnold, and his Excellency having been pleased to signify his pleasure that an Inquiry be made accordingly, a Court of Inquiry is to sit on Thursday next at nine o’clock in the morning, at the Court Martial Room at West Point to examine into the conduct of those gentlemen in their connection with the late Major-General Arnold during his command at West Point, and relative to his desertion to the enemy.
“Colonel Van Schaick, President, Lieutenant-Colonels Cobb and Dearborn, Major Reid and Captain Dunscomb, members. All evidences and persons concerned to attend” (, 52–53). Heath issued an order from West Point on 1 Nov. that “Captain Cox, of the Jersey Line” replace “Captain Dunscomb, absent” (, 53). For the court’s proceedings, see Document XXI, n.1.
Lt. Col. Richard Varick had written Heath from Beverly Robinson’s house on 25 Oct.: “Some In[a]bility has hitherto prevented my receiving some Papers & Depositions, which I wrote for on the 10th to Genl Schuyler at Albany, & Others from Genl Parsons at reading, both of which, will be of the first Importance in the Course of the Inquiry, into my Conduct.
“I have written & this Day sent to Colo. Hughes a Letter inclosing one to each of those Gentlemen. I have requested Colo. Hughes, if those Letters and One to Genl Greene have not reached his Office … that he will dispatch an Express to Albany & anoth⟨er⟩ to readg that I may be relieved from the unhappy Suspence I have laboured under for 32 long Days. I informed Colo. Hughes, that if the public, which I had been serv[in]g this whole Campaign without reward, would not compensate the Expense of the Expresses, I would hold myself accountable therefor to him.
“I am therefore to express my wishes to You that the Court may not be ordered to proceed, till I receive every Information, expected from those Gentn which I do momently expect” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Document XV, n.3).
3. See GW to Henry Knox, this date, found at Knox to GW, 19 Oct., n.2.