George Washington to Major General William Heath, 20 June 1781
To Major General William Heath
Head Quarters New Windsor 20th June 1781
Dear Sir
By the Resolutions of Congress of 13th June the Corps of Invalids is ordered to compose a Part of the Garrison of West Point1—and I have now given Direction for the whole of it to repair thither accordingly.
The Order for the three Companies at Boston, I have tho’t proper to enclose to you, that you may facilitate & hasten their Movement—& see that all of the Men who are capable of marching are sent on under their Officers, as soon as the necessary Preparations can be made.2
I have further to request, that you will take the trouble to enquire into the State of these Companies respecting Cloathing &ca—& give an Order on the public Store for such Articles as are actually wanting to make them comfortable & decent—which the Clothiers are to furnish so far as can be done, without breakg in upon the Cloathing lately imported from Spain.3 You will be pleased to take such other Measures, as you shall judge expedient for the Transportation of the Baggage and marching of the Men, in such Manner as that the greatest possible Number of them may be bro’t without Injury, & as speedily as possible, to the Point of Destination.
In the Arrangement of the Troops for the Campaign, which is just published in Orders, The Right Wing of the Army is reserved for your Command.4 With great Regard & Esteem I am Dear Sir Your most humble servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.’s writing, MHi: Heath Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The LS is addressed to Heath at Boston.
1. For the congressional resolution adopted on 13 June regarding the Corps of Invalids, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 15 June, n.3.
2. GW presumably enclosed the recipient’s copy of his letter from New Windsor on this date to the officer commanding the invalid detachment at Boston: “You will as soon as possible; after the receipt of this Letter march the Detachment of the Corps of Invalids now at Boston, to the Garrison of West Point, where the whole Corps is to be assembled by the Resolution of Congress of the 13th Inst.
“You will consult Major General Heath & receive his Orders respecting the Movement; he will also give you such assistance in procuring the Articles of Cloathing & Transportation as he shall judge necessary.
“I have only to add, but that you will please to move this body of Veterans, by easy Marches, in such a Manner as to bring the greatest number possible of them to the Garrison of West Point—You will advise me of the time when you march from Boston, and when you may be expected at the Army, and also the Number of Men, which may actually be depended upon to reinforce the Garrison” (Df, in David Humphreys’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also GW to Lewis Nicola, 21 June, and Nicola to GW, 26 June). For the handling of the recipient’s copy, which has not been found, see Heath’s reply to GW, 27 June.
Capt. Moses McFarland replied to GW from Boston on 18 July: “In Compliance with your Excellency’s Directions, communicated in a Letter of the 20th Ulto, I have made every Preparation to march those of the Corps of Invalids on this Station, to West Point; they will commence their March on the 19th Instant, & I hope will accomplish it in fifteen Days.
“It has given me much uneasiness, to be unable to forward this Detachment sooner, but the want of Money, & the impossibility of obtaining any from the Treasury of this State for the Soldiery, untill this Time, will I hope, apologize for my not complying with your Excellencys Orders at an earlier Period.
“The Detachment, consisting of four Commissioned Officers 4 Serjeants & 65 Rank & File is perhaps smaller than your Excellency’s Expectations, but it is as large as I could possibly make it, those which remain being totally unable to perform the March: they however can be employ’d to very good Advantage at this Post” (DLC:GW).
3. See GW to Heath, 8 June, and n.6.
4. A diagram with the order of battle accompanied the general orders for 18 June. Heath’s assignment satisfied a concern (see Heath to GW, 29 May).