Major General William Heath to George Washington, 30 March 1781
From Major General William Heath
Westpoint, March 30. 1781.
Dear General,
The enclosed from Captain Selden, who commands at Stoney-point, came to hand the last evening.1 Just before the receipt of it, Mr Pine, one of our guides came to my quarters with a Mr Swain of Morrisania. Swain left that place on monday last, about ten o’clock A.M.2 he informs me that all intercourse between New York and Morrisania is stopped—no refugee allowed to go in or come out—or any flag to pass—that there was a general review on monday, both on York and Long Islands, and much firing. It is said an embarkation is taking place. Mr Swain, just as he came away, saw a gentleman, who, it is said, is remarkable for his integrity and caution in believing or reporting news; he told Mr Swain, that if he saw any persons of character, in whom he could confide, he might tell them from him, that he had some reason to conjecture that an evacuation of New York was in contemplation.
It is beyond a doubt something is in agitation; either a secret expedition, or some other capital movement. I think the complection of the whole rather gives us grounds to conclude, that the French have worsted the English fleet.3 I expect further intelligence—If I receive any, it shall be transmitted immediately. If your Excellency has received any that may be communicated, I request the honor of a hint of it.4 I have the honor to be with the highest respect, Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant
W. Heath
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys docketed the LS: “No Ansr.”
1. The enclosure from Capt. Ezra Selden to Heath, written at Stony Point, N.Y., on 29 March, relates that on the previous day a courier for Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., passed the post while traveling from Philadelphia with news that “the British & French Fleets” had fought “all Day” on 21 March off “the Capes of Virgina. the event is not known” (DLC:GW; see also n.3 below).
2. The previous Monday was 26 March.
3. The erroneous conclusion of a French victory at the Battle of Cape Henry on 16 March likely stemmed from mistaken intelligence that British major Frederick Mackenzie recorded in his diary entry for 26 March: “Two vessels arrived late last night express from General Arnold, but with information that it was The French fleet at anchor in Lynnhaven bay. This mistake was occasioned by The Admiral’s [Arbuthnot] having directed the whole fleet to hoist French colours, in order to decoy a Rebel vessel that came down the bay in expectation of meeting The French fleet. The Admiral succeeded, and the vessel was taken” (, 2:494–95). William Smith, royal chief justice of New York, wrote in his memoirs for 26 March: “This Morning we hear from the Admiral that the British fell in with the French and beat them 16, and then went to the Chesapeak whence they were to sail again 22 Inst.” (Sabine, Smith’s Historical Memoirs [1971], 393–94). For the Battle of Cape Henry, see Destouches to GW, 19 March, source note; see also Elias Dayton to GW, this date, n.3.
4. GW visited Heath at West Point on 4 April (see Heath to GW, 5 April, source note).
5. See Dayton to GW, 26 March, and n.2 to that document.
6. Heath wrote “James Swain” for this name in an undated document, which he docketed: “Intelligence given by mr Swain—March 29th 1781” (MHi: Heath Papers).