Before I received yours recommending Mr. Huntington, I had appointed him to a majority in a regiment to be commanded by Colonel Webb, my late aide-de camp. I beg you will keep me constantly advised of your own situation, and the movements of the enemy on your quarter, that I may regulate my conduct on this side accordingly. I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, TO GENERAL HEATH. GO WASHINGTON. HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, 17th Jan., 1777. DEAR SIR, Captain Bell, of Philadelphia, a very intelligent and credible person, made his escape from New York about ten days ago. He informs that there were no troops upon Long Island but Delancey's brigade, and not more than one thousand men upon York Island, all the rest having joined the army now in Jersey; and that transports were gone up the Sound to bring back the troops from Rhode Island, in order to make a junction of their whole army, to endeavour to give us a total defeat. This I think by no means improbable. Now, if you could get any certain information of their strength within the Island (which I think may be done by sending in persons who have taken protections), and should not find it to exceed what Captain Bell reports, a stroke might be struck before they are reinforced from Rhode Island, that would ruin them. This is a matter of such consequence, that I would have you spare neither pains nor expense to gain intelligence. We have heard that they were building sleds in New York, which I suppose are for drawing wood this winter; but it would be well for your spies to learn what use they are really intended for. I have directed Generals Spencer and Arnold to follow the enemy if they leave Rhode Island and fall down the Sound again. I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, TO MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH. GO WASHINGTON. HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, DEAR SIR, I have not been favored with a line from you since the 24th ult. Anxious for the success of the troops with you, I wish to hear from you frequently. An express may meet with a ready passage across the North River. While you are lying in that quarter, I would by all means have the forage and provisions removed to some interior parts of the country, entirely out of the enemy's reach; for although the removing it will be attended with greater expense than the same quantity could be laid in for nearer to the grand magazines, yet the loss of it to the enemy will vastly more than counterbalance that consideration. I do not mean that this business should obstruct or retard your military operations; a sufficient number of waggons can do it in security when covered by your troops, though engaged. 'Tis more than probable that the enemy have laid in their magazines on Long Island. I would therefore have you omit no chance of destroying them, but rather that you would industriously court an opportunity of detaching a party for that special purpose. Blows of this sort, frequently repeated now, will effectually prevent their pushing on with vigor the ensuing campaign. Wishing you success, I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, GO WASHINGTON. TO MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH. HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, SIR, I have received your several favors of the 5th, 6th, and 7th inst. What I mentioned to you in a former letter about a second attempt on Fort Independence was intended merely as a hint, on which you might improve, if circumstances should favor. I did not desire that it might interfere with the order to march some of your division this way, unless it should be found highly practicable. When you arrive at home, you will order such of the Massachusetts Continental troops as are ready to march immediately to Ticonderoga, sending with them all the brigadiers in Continental service residing in that State. Should their quota of the 88 battalions not be complete, and I fear they are not, you will nevertheless forward all such as are recruited, under proper officers, permitting as many to remain as are necessary for the recruiting service. Proper places are pointed out already to Mr. Hughes, at Peekskill, for the public magazines. To them all stores of every kind must be removed. The forage and provisions taken by any of your parties, in the vicinity of the enemy, should be carried to them. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, To GENERAL HEATH. GO WASHINGTON. HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, 13th March, 1777. DEAR SIR,By my former directions, the fifteen regiments belonging to your State were all ordered to march to Ticonderoga, as soon as they were raised, armed, and equipped. But upon a reconsideration of the matter, founded upon several pieces, of intelligence, there is a probability that the enemy will draw part of their force from Canada by water, as soon as the St. Lawrence is navigable, in order to enable them to make a formidable push towards Philadelphia. I have therefore thought it best that only seven of your regiments should march to Ticonderoga, and that the remaining eight should rendezvous at Peekskill with all expedition. I have given my reasons, very much at large, to General Schuyler, for this alteration: the principal ones are, that a respectable force at Peekskill secures the passage of the North River, obliges the enemy to leave a considerable garrison in New York, and keeps a body of men in our centre, ready to move north or south, as there may be occasion. Another reason for lessening the number of regiments from your State to Ticonderoga is that two regiments have already marched for that post from the State of New York. Such of your troops as are intended for Peekskill, and are ready, may proceed immediately, and undergo inoculation there, and in the neighborhood, where you know the barracks are very commodious. Such as are not ready, for want of arms, accoutrements, and clothing, should be immediately inoculated, that they may go through the disorder while these things are preparing. But I would wish, on many accounts, that a force should be collected as quick as possible at Peekskill. The principal one is, that I am confident the appearance of a regular body there would embarrass the enemy, oblige them to return part of the troops which they have lately withdrawn from New York to Jersey, and thereby create that diversion which I have all along wanted to keep up. As your force that is to go to the northward is lessened, your number of brigadiers will lessen accordingly: you will therefore send two to Peekskill, and the remainder to Ticonderoga. As Brigadier Poor, of New Hampshire (with the troops of that State), will go to the last-men tioned place, the hastening the march of them is also to become an object of your attention. I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, GO WASHINGTON. To the Hon. MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH, at Boston. HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, 23d March, 1777. DEAR SIR,-I wrote to you the 13th, directing you to order eight of the regiments of your State to march with the greatest expedition to Peekskill. I then gave you my reasons for this alteration of my former orders. Although I called upon you, in the most pressing manner, to hurry the troops on, I cannot help again repeating my distress for the want of men. The general backwardness of the recruiting service, to which must be added the necessary delay of inoculation, makes me very fearful that the enemy will be enabled to take the field, before we can collect a force any ways adequate to making a proper opposition. I therefore again conjure you to leave no means untried to send those immediately forward who have had the small-pox, and those who have undergone inoculation, as soon as they can with safety undergo the fatigue of the march. I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant, To GENERAL HEATH. GO WASHINGTON. HEADQUARTERS, MORRISTOWN, 29th March, 1777. DEAR SIR,The situation of our affairs again compels me to call upon you in express and positive terms to hasten the troops of your State (those enlisted for the Continent, I mean) to Peekskill and Ticonderoga, in such |