George Washington to Captain Bartholomew von Heer, 1 June 1781
To Captain Bartholomew von Heer
Head Quarters New Windsor June 1st 1781
Sir
I have been favored with your Letter of the 25 Inst. together with the several Enclosures, by your Dragoon the day before yesterday1—prior business prevented my dispatching him, untill this time.
It gives me great pleasure to find by the Papers transmitted in your Letter,2 that no part of the embarrassment and distresses of your Troop is owing to want of attention or care in you—but on the contrary that you have made use of every proper application & exertion to put your Corps, on a respectable footing for taking the field with reputation to themselves, and a prospect of advantage to the Public. We have only to lament, that the circumstances have been such, as to prevent your efforts from being attended with the desired success.
I must confess, I can see no reason why the Men of your Troop, if they are considered and credited as part of the quota of Pennsylvania, should not be entitled to the same pay, depreciation of pay, and all other emoluments, which have been granted to the other Troops raised in that State. As it is certainly reasonable, and highly expedient, I cannot but hope the State, or Congress, upon farther representation, will take up the matter again, and do something effectual to relieve the present wants of the Corps,3 as well as make a more permanent provision for the Officers & men of it.4
With respect to remounting your dismounted Dragoons, with tolerably good Horses, I fear there will be almost insuperable obstacles in the way—It is true the Quarter Master General has been order⟨e⟩d long since to purchas⟨e⟩ Horses to mount the several Corps of Cavalry, but the misfortune is, Money has been, and still is wanting. All that can be done at present is to direct him to supply the best Horses in his possession, for this service, untill better can be obtained for you; which I sincerely wish may be soon effected, as I consider your Troop of essential utility to the Army—having had ample experience of their fidelity and promptness in executing their duty on every occasion.5
I will rely upon your zeal & activity to do, every thing that can be done,6 to put your Corps immediately in as good Order as possible for taking the field, the moment you sh⟨a⟩ll receive Orders to March. I am Sir Your Most Obedient Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in David Humphreys’s writing, PHi: S. L. Fallon scrapbook; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. See Heer to GW, 25 May, and the notes to that document. Humphreys, who also penned the draft, mistakenly wrote “Inst.” on that document and the LS.
2. The previous six words replaced “indubitable evidence of the Enclosures,” which Humphreys wrote and struck out on the draft.
3. After this word on the draft, Humphreys struck out: “and to induce the Men, whose time of service is near expiring, still to continue in the Troop.”
4. A report from the Board of War dated 14 June prompted Congress on 18 June to order the board to “draw a warrant on the paymaster general for three months’ pay for the officers and men of Captain Van Herr’s troop of Marechaussee;
“Resolved, That depreciation of pay and subsistance be settled in behalf of the officers and men of Captain Van Herr’s troop of Marechaussee, in the same manner and on the same principles as is provided for Colonel Hazen’s regiment” (, 20:660; see also Board of War to GW, 26 June, and n.1 to that document).
5. GW’s aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman had written Q.M. Gen. Timothy Pickering from headquarters at New Windsor on 31 May: “When Capt. Von Heer went into Quarters last Winter he delivered up thirty Horses to the Dy Qr Mr Genl which were worn down, in hopes of being able to draw better in the Spring—But I imagine he will find himself mistaken—As the Corps is a most useful one for Camp duty, His Excellency wishes to know whether you have any hopes or expectation of getting proper Horses for it, if you have not, be pleased to give the Bearer an order to the Qr Mr at Reading Lancaster and that neighbourhood to let Capt. Von Heer have thirty of the best Horses in their possession—I dont know what else can be done.
“The Inspectors and Adjutants are greatly distressed for want of orderly and Company Books. By the last General Return of Military Stores there appears to be 386 Rheams Writing paper at Philada. His Excellency wishes you to make enquiry if it be of the proper kind, and if it is, endeavour to have part of it made up into Books and some brought forward to the Army” (DNA: RG 93, manuscript file no. 26048; see also GW to Timothy Pickering, 5 Feb., and to Charles Pettit, 1 June).
6. On the draft, Humphreys struck out “in your embarrassed situation” following this word.