1. The enclosure has not been found, but see Heath to GW, this date (first letter), and n.5 to that document.

Col. Christopher Greene began a letter to Heath from the “Rhode-Island Hutts” on this date: “I have the Honor to Inclose (for your consideration) the proceedings of a Court Martial held here yesterday by my Order, I wish to have your Honors Orders in Regard to the Sentence” (MHi: Heath Papers).

Heath replied to Greene on this date: “Your favor of this date is Just come to hand, in Cases where the Sentences is Capital or an Officer is Cashiered I always Submit the Proceedings to the Commander in Chief if he is Present, I have accordingly forwarded those you Sent.

“By a Deserter from the Enemy this moment come here I learn, that three or four Hundred of the Enemy (as he Sais) are out on a foraging party, that they have upwards of 100 waggons with them, many of which they have brought from Long Island, after they have made their Forage they may possibly, attempt, to Surprise Some of the Troops on the Lines, caution Major Morrill therefore to be greatly on his Guard, the Forageing Party is Composed of Troops from differant Corps, Some Horse and Some Foot—develop their motions and designs if Possible, and let me know them, a reinforcement shall be Sent if the Enemy should appear to be advancing to attack you, please give Major Morrill instant notice of this” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath’s third letter to GW, this date).

Greene began his reply to Heath from the “Rhode-Island Huts” on 16 April: “Your letter of the 14th Instant I received yesterday Morning and went Immediately to the Lines, to make Enquiry About the Enemy’s being out. Majr Morril had recei⟨ved⟩ no Such Intelligence, excepting a Small party that were out as far as West Chester Moving Some Families, This he had from a Deserter, He Supposes the Same that gave you the Acct of the large Forageing party, I was on the Lines till near night, We had no Acct of them when I left there and I am very Sure there has been none Since, as I directed the Majr to give me the earliest Notice of any of their movements.

“I reinforced the Lines yesterday with Sixty men” (MHi: Heath Papers).

2. John Gunning (1731–1797), born in Ireland, became a captain in the 43d Regiment of Foot in September 1768. He rose to lieutenant colonel in January 1775 and joined the 82d Regiment of Foot in December 1777, ascending to colonel in June 1781. He became a general after the war and gained notoriety as an adulterer. See John Gunning, An Apology for the Life of Major General G—— (London, 1792).

3. Gen. Henry Clinton did not accompany the next British embarkation from New York City (see Heath to GW, 1 May, n.1).

4. Heath, in an undated document, described Charles Simpson as “born in Yorke in old England” (MHi: Heath Papers, filed under 29 April 1781). Heath wrote in his memoirs for this date that Simpson “deserted from his master with a very good saddle-horse, which he sold for 100 dollars in specie” (Wilson, Heath’s Memoirs description begins Rufus Rockwell Wilson, ed. Heath’s Memoirs of the American War. 1798. Reprint. New York, 1904. description ends , 296).

5. See Heath to GW, 23 March (second letter), and n.5.