To George Washington from Major General William Heath, 15 January 1781
From Major General William Heath
West Point Janry 15th 1781 8 oClock P.M.
Dear General
I have Just received a Letter from Lt Colonel Hull, dated at Crompond yesterday, with a Postscript of this Day one oClock P.M. in which he expresses himself as follows,
“I have this moment received Intelligence from below, that Sir Henry Clinton has crossed to New Jersey with a Body of Troops.”1 how far this intelligence is to be depended on I cannot Say, I have written Colo. Hull if possible to Ascertain the truth of it.2 I have the honor to be with the greatest respect your Excellencys Most Obedient Servant
W. Heath
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. Lt. Col. William Hull’s letter to Heath of 14–15 Jan. is in MHi: Heath Papers. On 14 Jan., British general Henry Clinton was on Staten Island with the detachment he had stationed there after learning of the mutiny of the Pennsylvania line. He left the island the next day and returned to New York City (see Arthur St. Clair to GW, 7 Jan., n.4, and the entries for 13 and 14 Jan. in , 2:452).
2. Heath’s letter to Hull has not been identified.