Major General William Heath to George Washington, 17 April 1781
From Major General William Heath
Westpoint, April 17. 1781.
Dear General,
A number of soldiers have returned from the light infantry—One or two of them, I am informed, produced certificates from the Governor of Maryland, that they were left sick—Others have nothing to shew, and are undoubtedly deserters.1 I have ordered the latter to be confined in the main guard. What shall be done with them? Shall they be brought to tryal here, or sent back? If brought to tryal, unless they plead guilty, we cannot produce any evidence against them. And unless such desertions are immediately checked, it may be productive of fatal consequences.
No relief of provisions has arrived. We are fast consuming the Irish beef—The whole of that will be exhausted in a few days—and the most distressing want will attack us, if relief does not arrive in the course of this week. The Commissary has just informed me that he has but about fifteen barrels of flour in the magazine, and one third of that must be sent this evening to the troops on the lines.2 Our numbers are every day increasing3—Your Excellency can well form a judgment what our situation is, and what it would be should the enemy make a sudden move towards us, while in such a destitute condition. This has not happened through any inattention, or want of precaution of mine. I foresaw its advance, and, weeks since, gave the alarm to the Commissary’s and Quartermaster’s departments, and that repeatedly—requesting that not a moments should be lost in pushing on the provisions. Upwards of 500 barrels of flour have remained at Ringwood for some time past.4 I feel anxious under such a situation; for notwithstanding my consciousness of having done my duty, in this respect, yet should any accident happen, I am well aware that I should be the scapegoat, and my character would be loaded with obloquy.5 I have the honor to be With the highest regard, Your Excellency’s Most obedt servant,
W. Heath
LS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers.
GW’s aide-de-camp David Humphreys wrote Heath from headquarters at New Windsor on this date: “His Excellency wishes the distribution of the State Cloathing of Massachusetts may not be made, until the arrival of the Officer sen[t] by the Marquis to procure Cloathing for the Detachment of the Massachusetts line under his Command—As a part of that Cloathing may be necessary for these Troops— Capt. Heart, the bearer, informs the Officer may be expected every Moment” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also n.1 below).
Heath replied to Humphreys from West Point on 19 April: “Your favor of the 17th expressive of his Excellencys pleasure respecting the Clothing Sent for the Massachusetts Line, came to hand the last evening The clothing was before delivered to the Several Regimental Clothiers, and partly Issued, I have directed, that the proportion which falls to the Detachment with the Marquiss de la Fayettee, be reserved Untill the officer arrives and it is known how much of it will be wanted, it is Said Some Clothing was drawn for the detachment after they left this place” (MHi: Heath Papers).
1. A Light Infantry detachment had gone to Virginia under Major General Lafayette’s command (see GW’s second letter to Lafayette, 20 Feb., source note).
2. A “Return of Provisions and Stores on hand & the Number of Rations issued daily on an Average for the preceding Week at West Point Posts & Brigades in its Vicinity,” dated 15 April, lists 52 barrels of flour with John R. Stafford, assistant commissary of issues at West Point. The return also reports 1 hogshead, 138 tierces (casks), and 90 barrels of beef (MHi: Heath Papers).
A “Return of Provisions and Stores on hand and the Number of Rations Issued daily on an Average for the preceeding Week at West Point, Posts and Brigades in its Vicinity,” dated 8 April, reports 2 hogsheads, 138 tierces, and 289 barrels of beef (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath to GW, 12 April, notes 4 and 5, and 21 April, n.9).
3. For the arrival of recruits at West Point, see Heath’s first letter to GW, 14 April, n.7.
4. George Knox, writing for David Pye, assistant commissary of issues, had begun a letter to Heath from King’s Ferry, N.Y., on 16 April: “We have Sent on a number of teams to Ringwood With Directions to have them loaded With beef & flour—they have returnd this day all loaded with flour which induces me to trouble the Genl for Some beef, as tomorrow is Issueing day at this post, & have not one pound of that article in Store, nor any substitute for it, please order on fifteen or twenty Barrels” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also GW’s second letter to Heath, 12 April, and Nathaniel Stevens to GW, 21 April, source note and n.4).
5. GW replied to Heath on 20 April (first letter).