Major General William Heath to George Washington, 11 April 1781
From Major General William Heath
West point, April 11. 1781.
Dear General,
Since yesterday morning I have obtained a New York paper of the 4. inst. which I have the honor to enclose to your Excellency.1
Yesterday we began laying the chain across the river—it was fastened on one side, but night came on before we could secure the other end—It will be effected to day, if the wind is not too fresh.2
The small pox patients are in a pretty good way, but want exceedingly some hospital stores, such as sugar or molasses, and indian meal—This Colo. Scammell represented to me yesterday in a most pressing manner.3 If I am not mistaken, a considerable quantity of hospital stores were removed from Danbury about the time your Excellency returned from the eastward4—I wish as many of them (if others cannot be obtained) as can possibly be spared may be ordered for the relief of inoculated patients.5
Nothing new from below. I have the honor to be With the highest regard Your Excellency’s Most obedient servant
W. Heath
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.
1. Heath presumably enclosed The Royal Gazette (New York) for 4 April.
2. Heath wrote in his memoirs for 10 and 11 April: “The great chain was hauled from off the beach … and towed down to the blocks, in order to its being laid across the river—about 280 men were ordered on this duty.
“11th.—The chain was properly fixed with great dexterity, and fortunately without any accident” (, 295; see also General Orders, 30 March, and n.1 to that document). The logs floating the chain across the Hudson River had been replaced during the winter (see GW to Daniel Niven, 12 Dec. 1780).
3. Col. Alexander Scammell had written Heath from the winter encampment of the New Hampshire troops on 10 April 1781 to request coffee and sugar for “about 120” Massachusetts soldiers “under innoculation at this post” for smallpox, adding: “We have’nt receiv’d an Ounce of Indian Meal. And fear we shall receive but a Trifling quantity at all—We have been out of fresh Beef several days, and are inform’d there is no certainty of receiving any more. . . . the Surgeons have forbid their eating any salt Beef on any Account whatever—The soldiers therefore have nothing at all but flour to subsist upon” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath to GW, 25 March).
Heath replied to Scammell from West Point on the same date that a new legislative resolution in Massachusetts prevented him from “giving any order in the case, I am Surprised that no hospital Stores have Yet been furnished, I will write the Commander in Chief again on the Subject, a Small drove of Beef Cattle arrived at Fishkill Yesterday the greater part of them are designed for the inoculated patients, another drove is expected the latter end of this or begining of Next week, I hope Some Indian meal will Soon be obtained for you” (MHi: Heath Papers).
4. For GW’s return to headquarters at New Windsor after visiting Rhode Island, see his letter to Rochambeau, 16 March, and n.1 to that document.
Lt. Col. Edward Antill had written Heath from Fishkill, N.Y., on 18 March that supplies had been brought from Danbury, Conn., “with great Difficulty & Trouble. . . . they will be here stor’d and wait your Orders or those of the Director Genl of the Hospital” (MHi: Heath Papers). In his reply to Antill from West Point on 20 March, Heath explained that “I have had no previous knowledge of the removal of the Stores mentioned in your Letter nor whether they are Hospital Stores or not, I can only observe that if there is any uncertainty about them, they Should be carefully Stored, untill the matter is ascertained, but if the orders of His Excellency the Commander in Chief, or of the Director General has determined the matter of deposit there can be no difficulty about them” (MHi: Heath Papers).
5. For GW’s reply, see his first letter to Heath, 12 April, postscript and n.6.