Major General William Heath to George Washington, 5 April 1781
From Major General William Heath
West point, April 5. 1781.
Dear General,
I take the liberty to inclose the protest of a number of officers of Colonel Hazen’s regiment against the conduct of Major Reid, in his defence before a general Court-martial some time since—it was presented to me during your Excellency’s absence.1 As Major Reid has been and still is absent, nothing has been done respecting it.2
While your Excellency was absent, a Capt. Simmons of Colo. Delancy’s corps left his corps, and was conducted to me—he pretended to have been for some time friendly disposed to our cause—and that he had given some marks of it in his treatment of certain persons, who were sent to Frogs-neck as spies—that he had finally taken the resolution to change sides, &c. I said but little to him, having no opinion of such sort of people, but sent him to Governor Clinton. Simmons having been an inhabitant of the state of New York before his appearing in arms against his country—and as he pretended, wishing again to return to his allegiance—he soon returned from Albany, by permission of Governor Clinton, and has even since been on or about the lines—has been endeavouring to raise a party of men to harrass the enemy—and has intimated that he has expectations, that part of his officers and company would probably come off. The staunch friends to our cause, who reside near the lines, express much uneasiness at his being there, and cannot put any confidence in him. Indeed, I think, unless there is the most perfect assurance that he is attached to our cause, it is a place by no means proper to trust him. I should instantly order him away myself, was it not for the permission he has from the Governor; which induces me to submit the matter to your Excellency’s consideration.3
An officer from the water guard the last night informed me that Capt. Blanch of the Jersey militia, was on saturday last two miles below Bergen town—and from the most critical observation he could make, could discover but four square rigged vessels in the harbor of New York.4 I received no other intelligence or papers—expect some to day or to morrow. I have sent orders for the gun boat to come up and take station agreeable to your direction off Fort Montgomery.5
Nine men belonging to a company of artillery stationed at the redoubts on the east side of the river, deserted the last night—they belong to Pennsylvania, as do the rest of the company. Whether they are gone to the enemy, or towards Philadelphia is uncertain—it is thought the latter. Steps are taken to apprehend them if possible. I have the honor to be With the greatest respect Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant,
W. Heath
P.S. The enclosed from Capt. Fogg, was sent the last evening by Major Morrel. If the public allow a reward for apprehending deserters, probably the persons mentioned by Capt. Fogg deserve it as much as any persons whatever: and encouraging the militia below to detect deserters, may tend much to deter them from desertion.6
W.H.
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. For an extract of this letter that has not been found, see GW to George Clinton, 7 April, and the source note to that document.
GW had come to West Point on 4 April (see , 294). Capt. Henry Sewall wrote in his diary entry for that date: “His Excellency paid us a visit but did not tarry to dinner. Received my appointment of aid to Gen. Heath’s family from the 5th of February last” (Maine Farmer [Augusta], 12 Oct. 1872).
GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys had written Heath from headquarters on 1 April: “His Excellency will be at West Point, before 10. OClock to morrow Morng, (Nothing extraordinary happening to prevent it) and wishes if practicable that Horses might be provided for him to visit the outer Works. … P.S. The General will not go if the Weather proves rainy” (MHi: Heath Papers). Col. Israel Angell recorded in his diary entries for 1, 2, and 3 April: “[1st] Clear and Spring like weather this morning but Soon Clowded over and the wind blew up at South very raw and Cold … 2d. A violint Storm Set in last night and Continued this Day the Storm begun with Snow but before the middle of the Day turn’d to rain and by night had carried off the Greatest part of the Snow. 3d. It Still Continued Storming and had Snowed the Greatest part of the night and was a Considerable of Snow on the Ground but there being so much water made it Shocking Traveling” (, 141). Sgt. Ebenezer Parkman, Jr., who served with the artificers at Fishkill, N.Y., wrote in his diary entries for 2–3 April: “A Storm of Snow, & Rain—Wind N.E. Very Rainy, and Uncomfortable Weather.” Parkman then wrote “Pleasant Spring Weather” in his entry for 4 April (all entries from Parkman’s diary in MWA: Parkman Family Papers).
1. Heath refers to GW’s recent visit to the French forces at Rhode Island (see GW to Alexander Hamilton, 7 March, source note).
2. Heath enclosed Lt. Col. Edward Antill’s letter to him written at Coldenham, N.Y., on 7 March: “I receivd a day or two ago a Letter of which the inclos’d is a Copy. I have enclosd another to Col. Hazen and shall Transmitt one to Major Reid by the first oppertunity of which I request your Honor to inform me.
“The decisive oppinion of the Subscribers must be new to You, tho the Subject matter on which they have taken it could not have escaped You—It is not for me as matters stand, to Determine, on the propriety, of the steps or dictate measures: that rests with your superior Knowledge, & Understanding. I am sorry to say, that Major Reid has so far departed from his millitary Character [as] to have endeavoured by his inflamatory Expressions to destroy that Confidence the Commanding Officer of every Corps ought to possess” (DLC:GW).
Maj. Joseph Torrey, seven captains, five lieutenants, and three ensigns of the 2d Canadian Regiment signed the enclosed petition at Fishkill on 3 March: “Having Perused with regret, and concern, a Late Performance, before a General Court Martial held at West Point, whereof Colo. John Greaton ws President, signed by Major James R. Reid of our Regiment, called his Defence, in a Prosecution, at the Instance of Colo. Hazen, on Charges then Exhibited against him.
“Shocked at the Indecent reflections, Illiberal Sentiments, and pointed Impeachments, contained in Major Reids performance, foreign to the Charges, on which he was Prosecuted, Criminating a greater number of the Officers of the Regiment, In which he holds a Commission, and in Consequence, finding Ourselves Sensibly affected, we are necessarily obliged, In Justice to Ourselves, to our Country, and to the service in Which we are employed, to Declare most Solemnly, that we Are, and ever have been, totally Ignorant, of the Aspertions, In his Defence Contained, and that they are in General, so far from the Line of truth, that we find ourselves, obliged, to Decline doing any kind of Military Duty, with, or under Major James R. Reid, unless, he shall support his assertions, at a public hearing: These our sentiments, we beg you will Communicate, to his Excellency; or in his Absence, to the Next Commanding Officer, to Colo. Hazen, and to Major Reid” (DLC:GW). For Reid’s court-martial, see his letter to GW on 7 Dec. 1780.
Heath’s reply to Antill, written at West Point on 17 March 1781, concludes: “I am exceedingly Sorry that there has been so much Court martial business in your Regt already, and that from the Complexion of the Paper Signed by so many of the officers—tranquility is not yet established, as Major Reid is absent at a distance, and as his Excellency will probably return ere long, he will probably take proper notice of the affair on his return” (MHi: Heath Papers).
3. Heath had written Maj. Hugh Maxwell from West Point on 1 March with news that Capt. Robert Simmons had left British service and “brought off a number of Pistols Swords &c. however plausable this may appear on the one hand it is possible altho it may not be probable that the whole is design, be that as it may, Certain precautions in all cases are necessary, I would have you therefore by all means keep a watchfull eye over him, and forward him on immediately” (MHi: Heath Papers). Maxwell wrote Heath from Crom Pond, N.Y., on the same date about “a Verball Order” from a civil official “to Send Capt. Simons to west point” (MHi: Heath Papers). Heath’s reply to Maxwell, written at West Point on 3 March, begins: “Your favor of the 1st came to hand this Day with Capt. Simmons” (MHi: Heath Papers).
Heath also wrote New York governor George Clinton from West Point on 3 March: “This Day a Captain (as he is Said to be) Robert Simmons of Colo. Delancys Corps was Conducted to my Quarters, it is reported that he received Some disgust in the Corps, has resigned his Commission and left them privately, His Excellency the Commander in Chief is gone to the Eastward, I have therefore thought it expedient to forward Simmons to your Excellency to be disposed of as you may think proper” (MHi: Heath Papers). On the same date, Heath wrote Hugh Hughes, deputy quartermaster general for New York, with directions to forward Simmons “to his Excellency Governor Clinton, he is to be this afternoon forwarded to Fish kill where I request you will See him properly taken care of this night, and to morrow sent with a trusty person to the Governor, it is possible he may have honest intentions, but in all cases of the kind proper precautions are indispensibly necessary” (MHi: Heath Papers). Hughes replied to Heath from Fishkill on 4 March: “Your Commands shall be attended to [with] punctuality, but I wish the S——l [likely “Scoundrel”] had cut his Throat before he came out. I suspect he wants to be employd on our Lines that he may play a double Game, and there are enough ready to encourage … that call themselves Friends” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath to Clinton, 17 March, in , 6:704–5, and , 261–62).
Heath wrote Lt. William Colfax, commander of GW’s guards, from West Point on 4 March that he had sent Simmons “to Governor Clinton, under proper precautions” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also GW’s first letter to Heath, 12 April).
4. The previous Saturday was 31 March.
5. Heath struck out an incomplete sentence at this point on his draft: “Capt. Pray had ordered her to take Station near Tellers point to prevent Intercourse between our” (see Heath’s first letter to GW, 26 March, n.1).
6. Heath enclosed a letter from Capt. Jeremiah Fogg, Jr., to Maj. Amos Morrill, written at Bedford, N.Y., on 2 April, that described how two deserters “were taken very early this Morning in a swamp by the Militia guard.” Fogg added: “That panic which commonly attends desertion and other acts of Perjury seized them at the approach of two Militia men and one of them without arms: they resigned without Opposition—The Address of the Captors viz. James King and Moses Crissy—I think deserves the Generals [Heath’s] Notice—They claim a right to the Arms and Accoutrements[.] The Claimants want the Arms and would doubtless make good use of them; but a quantum would satisfy them which I tell them is the most they can expect—The Bedford Militia are brave and firm, and deserve all the protection our Army can give them” (DLC:GW).