George Washington to Major General William Heath, 13 June 1781
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters New Windsor June 13th 1781.
Dear Sir
I wrote to You on the 8th instant urging the Necessity of having the Supplies of Provision, Rum, and Clothing immediately forwarded from the States.1 These Things are of such immense Importance to all our Plans, that they cannot be repeated too often, or pressed with too much Importunity. And I know there is Nothing so likely to succeed as incessant representations on the Spot.
In Addition to the Task already imposed upon You, by your former Commission,2 I must now entreat You, to turn a Share of your Attention to the recruits of the several States. Let them be called upon again and again3 in the most earnest Manner to fill their Battalions, & that instantly. Surely, if the States had a proper Idea of our Circumstances for Want of Men, our Prospects if we had them, and our fixed Designs of carrying on offensive Operations at all Events, they would exert themselves beyond any thing they have formerly done. They can, they must compleat their Battalions if it is only for the Campaign.4
The Recruits & Drafts must be hurried on as fast as possible. The Militia which have been requested of the Eastern States must also be held in readiness to march when called for, as formerly ordered.5
In my last I mentioned forwarding the Clothing which had lately arrived from Spain, I request You will attend to & expedite this Business, that it may not be stopped a Day on the Road from its leaving Boston to its Arrival in Camp, And that You will advise me when it may be expected.6 With great Regard I am, Dear Sir Your Obedt & very Humble Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Varick’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; copy, MHi: Heath Papers; copy, Nh-Ar: Weare Papers; copy, R-Ar; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Heath received the LS on 20 June (see his letter to GW, 24 June, n.10).
1. See GW to Heath, 8 June.
2. GW had directed Heath to carry to New England governments an urgent appeal for provisions (see Circular to the New England States, 10 May; see also GW to Heath, 8 and 9 May, especially n.9 to the latter document).
3. GW wrote the preceding two words above the line on the draft, which his aide-de-camp David Humphreys penned.
4. For intended allied operations, see The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note. For state recruitment obligations, see General Orders, 1 Nov. 1780.
5. See Document IV with The Wethersfield Conference and Aftermath, 14 May–16 June, editorial note.
Heath later recalled in his memoirs for 9 June: “Orders came on from Gen. Washington to forward with all possible dispatch all the cannon, mortars, powder, shot, shells, and other military stores belonging to the United States, which were then in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and also requesting the loan of some heavy artillery, powder, &c. of the State. The most spirited measures were taken for completing the Continental battalions, and raising a body of militia to be in readiness to march when called for” (, 306; see also GW to William Greene and to John Hancock, both 2 June).
6. Heath replied to GW on 24 June (see also GW to Heath, 8 June, and n.6).