Major General William Heath to George Washington, 24 June 1781
From Major General William Heath
Roxbury [Mass.] June 24th 1781
Dear General
I last addressed your Excellency on the 18th instant, I have since been honored with yours of the 13th and 15th.1
The Towns are now makeing the greatest exertions to Compleat their Quotas of men, for the Continental Battalions, the greater part of them will be raised, Some of them for the Campaign only, these however, will be of the best men, The militia will be detached conformable to your requisition, but I think will not be able to Join the Army by the 15th of July, altho in this, and all other instances, there appears to be a disposition in the States to exert themselves to the Utmost of their power.2
I hope the Supply of Fresh Beef, (that is the Quantity Specified in the Commissary-Generals Estimate which I received from Head Quarters) will be made certain, or at least nearly the whole,3 In Governor Greenes letter to me, (and I was informed he had written your Excellency) he Observes that the Assembly had ordered Sixty thousand weight of Beef to be purchased and Sent on to the Army, one half to be delivered by the last Day of June, the remainder by the last of July—For the month of June, the Quantity is agreable to the Estimate, for July is but the one half, on receiving the Letter, I immediately wrote Governor Greene, and desired the full quantity requested, might be granted, and for the time mentioned without the least deviation from the requisition, this I urged as Indispensibly necessary, I have not received an answer to that particular,4 I had a hint yesterday, that it was observed by Some of the Legislature at Rhode Island, that the Two Thousand Wt pr Day was more than the requisition of Congress of Novr. Upon having recourse to it, I find it So; while the present Estimate on the other States is much short of it, whether this occured to the Commissary Genl when he formed the Estimate; or whether he had reasons for it, I cannot Say,5 The Convention of Committees are to meet to morrow for the final arrangments.6 Governor Greene, also reports Six Hundred Barrels of Salted provisions, and Eleven thousand Gallons of Rum in Store, but apprehends that the Salted provisions, and Some part of the Rum, will be wanted for the militia ordered to Garrison Rhode Island.7
I some Days Since,8 again importuned the four States to forward a Quantity of Rum immediately, and continue a regular supply, Governor Greene wrote me by yesterdays post, that their Council of war had ordered five thousand Gallons of Rum to Hartford by water, but that it was not possible for the State to get it further, I shall write mr Pomroy to morrow, to forward the Rum if Possible but fear at this time, it will be very difficult, on account of the great number of Teams taken up by the French Army, and for the transportation of the military Stores &c.9 I submit to your Excellency whether it may not be well for the Q.M.G. to afford Some aid to Mr Pomroy, if in his power, The Rum from this State will go on to Clavarack, I hope a Quantity from Connecticut has before this time reached the army.
The Clothing in the Hands of Messrs Otis and Henley, is packing with the Utmost dispatch, and will go on in the course of this week, The Ordnance, and Military Stores are gone, and going on, In the course of the last week I repeated my Solicitations to all the States, respecting the men, Provisions, and Clothing, hope in the course of this week, to know the final determination of each of them,10 afterwards I know not what further can be done by me, and wish to know if it be Consistant with your pleasure that I return to the army,11 I think I may venture to assure your Excellency, that you may depend on much from all the States, altho, probably there will be Some deficiencies.
I most heartily congratulate your Excellency on the Success of the American Army at the Southward, those Successes are not only important in themselves, but will at this time, and in that part of the Continent be productive of the best Consequences, they animate here, No News in this Quarter.12 I have the honor to be with the highest respect your Excellencys most Obedient Servant
W. Heath
ALS, DLC:GW; ADfS, MHi: Heath Papers. GW replied to Heath on 8 July (MHi: Heath Papers; see also Heath to GW, 18 June, n.19).
1. See Heath to GW, 18 June; see also GW to Heath, 13 and 15 June.
2. Heath wrote and then struck out at this point on his draft: “with as much dispatch as possible but which as I observed before.”
3. For the fresh beef required from the New England states, see Charles Stewart to GW, 10 May.
4. Rhode Island governor William Greene had written Heath from Warwick, R.I., on 8 June: “Agreable to your request I now inform you that the Assembly have ordered sixty thousand weight of beef to be purchased and sent on to the grand Army, one half to be delivered there by the last Day of June next and the remainder by the last Day of July following. There is deposited in the Town of Providence six hundred barrels of salt beef; and the Commissary of purchases who is Charles Holden Esqr., has in his hands Eleven thousand Gallons of Rum, These are articles purchased by this State for the use of the Army, But as there are now five Hundred of the Militia ordered to take post on Rhode Island, and very likely will be relieved by others, and in that way continued throughout the present Campaign, that it is very probable those articles except the fresh beef will be wanted here” (MHi: Heath Papers; cover addressed to Heath at Boston; see also GW to Greene, 24 May, and Heath to GW, 7 June, n.1).
Heath replied to Greene from Roxbury on 10 June: “By the last post I was honored with yours of the 8th. I am exceedingly happy in the Spirited measures adopted by the State of Rhode Island for furnishing supplies for the army, in almost every particular, but am Sorry that the grant of Fresh Beef for the month of July is Short of the requisition One Thousand rations per Day which amounts to Thirty Thousand for the month was requested for the month of June, and doubt that Quantity for the month of July and the remainder of the Campaign, by your Excellencys Letter, the Same Quantity only is granted for July as for June, and no mention is made of the remaining part of the Campaign By the late requisition for Compleating the Battalions, and holding a Body of militia in readiness, it is very apparent, that a less quantity of provisions than was at first requested will [be] sufficient, and in case of any defficiency, those perplexing wants and embarrassments which for prevention of which The Commander in Chief of the Army has positively instructed me if Possible to have the Supplies certainly, and regularly forwarded that he may know on what fully to depend, without this your Excellency is Sensible, it will be impossible for him or form his plans of operation with certainty, for on the Supplies all must depend, I must therefore intreat that the Quantity of fresh Beef requested for the month of July, and the remainder of the Campaign vizts Two Thousand rations pr Day may be granted, as I fear any grant short of the requisition in one state will be drawn into precident by others, and cause Such deficiencies as may be productive of the most Injurious if not fatal consequences.
“with respect to the Rum the Quantity is considerable and does honor to the State. The militia who are to garrison Rhode Island will imediately Stand in need of a Supply of Rum, but supposing the whole Garrison of five Hundred men should receive One Gill pr Day for the whole Campaign and this cannot be Supposed constantly unless they are on Fatigue or hard Duty, it would not amount to much more than One Quarter of the Quantity on hand, and as the main army is at present Suffering for Rum, and their Suffering on this account will Soon increase unless releived as their Duty grows more hard and Severe I request that a part of your Stock may be Sent on and wish to be informed in what way the Transportation can be effected.
“I have boasted much of the Zeal discovered by your State, and rest assured that no exertions in their power will be wanting. … P.S. I would request that the Beef Cattle may be Sent on weekly” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also n.9 below).
5. Heath refers to congressional requisitions adopted on 4 Nov. 1780 (see Samuel Huntington to GW, 12 Nov., n.1).
6. This convention met to devise a plan to provide provisions on a regular schedule (see Heath to GW, 4 July 1781, and n.1 to that document; see also Heath to GW, 15 May, n.5, and 7 June, n.2).
Heath had written to the “Convention of Committees from the New England States” from Roxbury on 22 June: “The meeting of the Convention of Committees from the four New England States at Providence, on monday the 25th being in Consequence of my applications to the States for supplies for the army, and my applications bottomed on the Instructions of His Excellency General Washington, I take the Liberty to lay before you the Spirit of them as expressed by him in Several Letters.” Heath then related his instructions from GW, emphasizing “the Establishment of a regular Systematic effectual plan for feeding the army through the Campaign.” He stressed “how anxious our Illustrious General is to have these ensured, and I add inconceivable will be the advantages or disadvantages to the States eventually as the Supplies are furnished or withheld” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also 5:216–19, and GW to Heath, 9 May, and 8, 13, and 15 June).
7. See n.4 above.
8. Heath began this paragraph on his draft: “I observed in mine of the 18th that.” He struck out that phrase and replaced it with “I Some Days Since.”
9. Greene had written Heath from Newport on 15 June with this information about rum, explaining “that it will be difficult to get it transported from Hartford to the Army On Account of the March of the French Troops: Would wish you to point out a Person to receive at Hartford and forward it to the Army, as this State are not in Cash at Present to Pay the Expence of said transportation” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also n.4 above).
Heath replied to Greene from Roxbury on Monday, 25 June: “I was not honored with yours of the 15th untill Saturday last, I am happy to hear your Council of war have put a Quantity of Rum in motion, for the army but am Sorry the means of Transportation to the army is not in your power, in the present, embarrassed State of the public finances, the Q.M. General and his deputies have it in their power to do but very little, except by the assistance of their respective States.
“I have written to Ralph Pomeroy Esq D.Q.M.G. at Hartford to receive and forward the Rum if in his power, but fear he wants the means, and the army are Suffering decidedly for want of it” (MHi: Heath Papers). Heath’s letter to Ralph Pomeroy, deputy quartermaster general, also written at Roxbury on 25 June, reads: “Governor Greene in forms me that about five thousand Gallons of Rum will be Shipped at Rhode Island for Hartford for the use of the army, please receive and forward it as Soon as possible addressed to the Commissary General Issues if you cannot transport it immediately please have it Securely Stored, The army want the Rum exceedingly” (MHi: Heath Papers). Pomeroy replied to Heath from Hartford on 3 July: “Your Favours of the 25th & 28th Ultimo came to my hands one yesterday the other today.
“When the five Thousand Gallons of Rum Arrives from Rhode Island I will take good Care of it and forward it to the Army as soon as possible.
“I shall esteem myself happy to have it in my Power to comply with your Orders and wishes” (MHi: Heath Papers). Heath’s letter to Pomeroy dated 28 June has not been identified.
10. Heath had written Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., from Roxbury on 19 June: “I take the Liberty to enclose Coppy of a Letter which I have just received from His Excellency General Washington, from which it appears how much depends upon the Eastern States most pointedly and punctually complying with every part of the late requisitions for Supplies I hope the State of Connecticut have before this time made ample provisions for the Supply of Beef Cattle for the Campaign, this Commonwealth have done it and have had due consideration in their Tax (which is to be paid in Beef only) the Hides Tallow and wasteage in driving that their whole Quota may arrive constantly at the army.
“I am sorry to find by his Excellencys Letter that the Troops who were destitute of Rum when I left the army Several Weeks Since Still Continue so, and that numbers through hard fatigue and the want of refreshments are falling Sick, While our Country abounds with a variety and plenty of Liquors, I assure myself that those who are the Guardians of the army, as well as Country, will never leave their Troops to faint under fatigue and fall into the Hospitals through the want of ordinary refreshments, and I do most earnestly entreat that a Quantity of Rum may be immediately Sent on from the State of Connecticut, and their proportion of the necessary Supply may be regularly forwarded, in future.
“His Excellencys Letter also clearly marks how indispensibly necessary it is for the Summer Cloathing to be prepared and forwarded as Soon as possible.
“I am fully Sensible of the great exertions already made by the Eastern States and the very peculiar embarrassments under which they at present labor on account of their Finances, these Considerations give me pain, when Duty compels to Solicit further exertions, but when the aspect of public affairs afford a flattering omen, principles both of Policy and interest conspire to Urge them, as the most Speedy and Sure means to Obtain peace and Happiness. … P.S. June 21st. The last evening I received a Letter from His Excellency General Washington dated the 13th instant, I have the honor to enclose coppy thereof and most earnestly intreat that every of its Objects may have that instant attention which their importance requires” (MHi: Heath Papers). Heath wrote a similar letter to Greene from Roxbury on 21 June that began: “I take the Liberty to enclose Coppies of Two Letters from His Excellency General Washington, that of the 8th came to hand a Day or two Since that of the 13th the last evening and I am this moment honored with a third of the 15th which I have not time to Coppy, in the last His Excellency observes that he finds it necessary to commence his operations at an earlier period than was expected, and that he has called upon the States to have the Militia required of them raised and marched in Such time as that they may Join the army punctually by the 15th of July, General Washingtons letter has undoubtedly reached your Excellency before this time where his wishes are at large expressed, but as he has enjoyned on me every exertion in my power with the New England States to have, this and every other of his requisitions most punctually Complied with I do most earnest intreat that the State of Rhode Island will most Seasonably Comply, with every requisition which has been made upon them by his Excellency both for rum and provisions” (MHi: Heath Papers; see also GW to Heath, 8, 13, and 15 June; and Heath to GW, 29 May, n.6, and 18 June, n.3).
Heath also wrote Massachusetts governor John Hancock from Roxbury on 21 June: “I take the Liberty to enclose a Letter I had the honor to receive from his Excellency General Washington the last evening and most earnestly entreat that every of its Objects may have that instant attention which their importance, and the Interest of our Country require” (MHi: Heath Papers). Heath again wrote Hancock from Roxbury on 26 June: “It is now more than Six weeks Since the army have been experiancing the want of Rum, and encountering the hot faint season and hard fatigue Supported by water only, the repeated Injunctions of my General, backed by the feelings of humanity have compelled me more than Once to renew my Solicitations for relief It gives me pain to reiterate them, but Duty constrains me to do it, and I do once more most earnestly intreat that a Quantity of Rum may be immediately Sent for the relief of the Army and followed by a regular supply in future as the Comfort, the Health and Spirit of the Army, are essential to the public Interest, and the want of these the certain Source of disapointment and Expence, I persuad myself relief will not be longer procrastinated” (MHi: Heath Papers).
11. At this point on his draft, Heath wrote and struck out several lines: “The Beef Cattle that I have been Soliciting is the amount of the C. Generals Estimate vizt Fifteen thousand rations for June, and Twenty thousand for July and the remainder of the Campaign, I apprehend your Excellency took into view the militias intended to be drawn into the field when this Estimate was made if that was not the case the Quantity will be insufficient.”
12. Heath included a postscript on his draft: “I apprehend that when the C. General formed his Estimate, all the Force intended for the Field was taken into view, and that nothing extra is to be done on account of the militia but of this I wish to be informed.”