From George Washington to Major General William Heath, 20 November 1779
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters West Point 20th Novemr 1779
Dear Sir
I was last night favored with yours of yesterday. The two Connecticut Brigades are to Encamp on the west side of the river, as it may be a day or two before they march. All detachments from those Brigades should be called in, upon giving the Adjutant General notice that he may relieve them by others, except the party under the command of Major Throop, at work upon the redoubts, which cannot conveniently be relieved till one of the Massachusetts Brigades moves up to West Point.1
The Officers going home upon furlough cannot be allowed to draw rations during their absence, it is unprecedented and would lead in the end to very great drafts upon our magazines at a distance.
I have at length the pleasure of transmitting the Commissions for Nixons & Glovers Brigades. The Secretary of the Board of War apologises for the long delay which was occasioned by want of Parchment & by the change of Presidents, which latter circumstance obliged a number of the Commissions to have Mr Jays name erased after it was inserted.2 I am Dear Sir Yr Most Obet servant
Go: Washington
The Officers are ordered by the General orders of the day: to take their places in the Regt to which they are appointed.
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Only the LS includes the postscript, which is in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman.
1. GW wrote Maj. Benjamin Throop on this date: “Capt. Rochefontain informs me that the principal Works upon the Redoubts being finished, you are going home on furlough, he wishes that when you leave the Works that Capt. Parsons may be requested to superintend both Redoubts for the small time that the Connecticut troops will probably remain there—Capt. parsons will oblige me if he will undertake this Duty” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW). Capt. David Parsons served in the 2d Connecticut Regiment.
2. See Benjamin Stoddert to GW, 12 Nov.; see also GW to John Nixon, 25 Oct., and to the Board of War, 2 November.