Major General William Heath to George Washington, 3 May 1781
From Major General William Heath
West point, May 3. 1781.
Dear General,
The daily arrival of recruits from the eastward has so filled the barracks that more cannot be received into them without crowding them so close as to endanger their health.1 We have no expedient, but that of putting one regiment, or part of a regiment from each of the brigades in the garrison into tents—I fear it is too early to take the step; but do not see how it can be avoided. I have directed the Garrison Quartermaster to obtain straw if possible—If this can be done, the men may escape injury.
That part of the detachment under the command of Major-general the Marquis de la Fayette, who belong to the Massachusetts line, are undoubtedly in great want of money, and will wish to receive the same relief that the other troops of their line do here. I would therefore request that Colonel Tupper may take on with him four months pay from the Massachusetts money for the troops belonging to that line, to be paid them on account—the money to be paid and receipted for in such way and manner as the Paymaster-general shall think most eligible, with your approbation, for the future settlement of the Paymaster’s accounts.2 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 replied to Heath on 5 May.
1. Col. John Crane had written Heath from Boston on 12 April to expect “a party of Recruits” that left Boston on 10 April (MHi: Heath Papers). Crane again wrote Heath on the same date about “fifty two Recruits, marched on to Camp by Capt. Treadwell of the Artillery—The greater part of this party, are old Artillery Men, who expect to be indulged with the privilege of Joining the same Corps again, the others are Frenchmen, & Sailors, who are thought by some of the Infantry Officers, to be more suitable for the Artillery, than any other Corps” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath to GW, 9 April, n.4, and his first letter to GW, 14 April, n.7). Crane subsequently wrote Heath on 17 April to report a “party of thirty four Recruits” marching from Boston on that date. A letter from Crane to Heath on the same date reported the departure “of Seventy nine Recruits” (both MHi: Heath Papers). Crane again wrote Heath, from Boston on 24 April, to report that 109 recruits had marched from “this place” on 21 April (MHi: Heath Papers). Crane next wrote Heath from Boston on 28 April to report that 111 recruits had marched on 26 April: “With this party there is a prisoner by the name of Sam Appee a negro, who is an old deserter from Colo. Brook’s Regiment, enlisted as a Recruit for the town of salem, and delivered to me as such, I not knowing that he was a deserter at that time—He has Since deserted twice, from the Officers who had him in charge to march on to Camp—Captain Holden, and Lieut. Crowley from whom he has deserted, will I believe, be able to produce Sufficient evidence for his Conviction of the two last Crime” (MHi: Heath Papers). An undated document that begins “Strength of the New England lines, in the vicinity of West point—May 10. 1781” reports “about 1000 recruits have arrived from Massachusetts” (MHi: Heath Papers, filed under 10 May). For other recruits from Massachusetts, see William Shepard to GW, 24 April, and n.4.
2. GW’s warrant book indicates that Col. Benjamin Tupper received $20,000 on 6 May “for pay of the Lt Infantry—in New Emission,” as well as $200 “for his own pay on Acct in New Emission” (Revolutionary War Warrant Book 5, 1780–1783, DLC:GW, ser. 5; see also Heath’s second letter to GW, 25 April, and notes 1–3). For the type of money, see Philip Schuyler to GW, 12 March 1780, and notes 3 and 4. Tupper recently had been selected to join Major General Lafayette’s detachment to Virginia (see GW’s second letter to Lafayette, 20 Feb. 1781, source note, and Heath to GW, 29 April, n.3).