George Washington to Major General William Heath, 30 March 1781
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters New Windsor March 30th 1781
Dear Sir
I have received your Letters of the 29th.
The situation of the New York Troops, I am sensible, is indeed distressing—but I am in hopes their distresses will be in some measure alleviated, by an Order which the Dep. Pay Master has just received on the Treasury of this State for money to pay the Troops of its Line1—Should this not be productive of releif; I will make representations to Congress, and use every Means in my power, to have them placed in as favorable circumstances as the Troops of other States.2
I will urge the forwarding of Provisions, on the Officers concerned, in the most pressing Manner.
While on Your Journey from Rhode Island to the Army, I conceive, you are entitled to your Rations as well as at any other Period. As to the extra expences incurred by the Commanding Officer of the Garrison of West Point, I am not informed what has been the practice on former occasions; Nor did General Greene ever converse with me on the subject. It seems but reasonable that there should be an allowance for the unavoidable expences of keeping a Table at such a Post—Altho I do not think myself authorised to establish a precedent of this kind; Yet I think it probable that Congress, upon a proper representation, would do what was equitable; by establishing a rule to operate generally in such Cases.3
Before the arrival of some of the General Officers now absent from the Army, it will be impossible that Your presence should be dispensed with—And even then, it will be with reluctance, that I can consent to the absence of a Gentleman, of such rank, whose services are so necessary, and from whom I have derived such essential aid and assistance.4 I am Dear Sir With great esteem Your Most Obed. Serv.
Go: Washington
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. GW signed the cover of the LS, which was addressed to Heath at West Point.
1. Heath had presented the issue of pay for the New York regiment in his first letter to GW on 29 March. For the financial difficulties in that state, see New York Legislature to GW, 30 March.
3. See Heath to GW, 26 March (second letter), and GW to Huntington, 1 May, and n.6.
4. Heath replied to GW from West Point on this date: “I am honored with yours of this date—shall communicate to the officers of the New York regiment the care your Excellency has been pleased to take for the relief of the regiment; which I hope will be effectual.
“I thank your Excellency for your opinion respecting my expences on my journey to this place the last fall. Am sorry that a remedy in the case of expences here does not rest with you: and must request, that as the common Guardian of the army, you will be pleased to make such representations to the honorable the Congress, as you may think the case deserves; and that what may be done should have a retrospect to the winter past, which on many accounts, has been attended with peculiar circumstances. It is a post of sufficient burden for any officer, without the addition of extra expence.
“The very favorable manner in which your Excellency is pleased to rate my services, I feel most sensibly—it will animate me to strive to merit your future approbation.
“I can only wish for abilities equal to my desire of rendering more essential services. But it is a painful consideration to me, that the present situation of affairs are such as forbid me that short relaxation from business, which local circumstances, and a winter’s close attention of mind, seem to point out as indispensibly necessary for health, as well as to prepare to pass the approaching campaign with decency of appearance, comfort and convenience to myself, and to afford some advice to those, whose tender years require it, and on whose prosperity my future happiness in life much depends. I ever reprobate the very idea of long furloughs or absence from duty. Six years steady devotedness to the service of my country in arms, and under many discouragements, I trust, have sufficiently evidenced my attachment to her cause; but if her service requires her votaries to relinquish every attention to, or concern for dearest connections, it is a trial too severe for my breast; for I am ready to confess that my patriotism cannot, and because I think it ought not erase from my bosom, affection, and some attention to my friends, between whom, and my country, I have, as their right, divided the warmest corner of my heart. I shall, however, endeavor to exercise that philosophy which is in part, the characteristic of an officer” (LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers).