WILLIAM HEATH TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.* KINGSBRIDGE, Augst 23, 1776, half past one o'clock, P.M. DEAR GENERAL, -I am so unhappy as not to receive your letter until this moment, having been all this forenoon with the engineers viewing the ground, and laying out the works, but upon sight of your letter I have ordered the detachment here to parade and march for Mount Washington as soon as possible, and the detachment at that place, which consists of near eight hundred, to march forward agreeable to your Excellency's direction. I hope soon to hear good news from Long Island. I have never been afraid of the force of the enemy, I am more so of their arts; they must be well watched. They, like the Frenchman, look one way and row the other. However, I trust that they will not find Americans deficient either in fortitude or policy. A floating bridge or number of boats seems to be highly necessary for a communication on Harlem River. I submit to your Excellency's consideration, whether some of the fire rafts (as they are called) might not be employ'd to advantage for this purpose. I have the honor to be, with great respect, His Excellency Gen' WASHINGTON. W. HEATH. WILLIAM HEATH TO GEORGE WASHINGTON. KINGSBRIDGE, Augst 24th, 1776. DEAR GENERAL,In order to ease Head Quarters as much as possable, and on account of our distance from *Washington's answer to Heath's letters of August 23 and August 24 is printed in 5 Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. iv. pp. 10, 11.—Evs. thence, general or garrison court martials have been appointed at this post for the tryal of offenders. Brigadier General Mifflen has sent me the enclos'd this day. But I pause until I know your Excellency's pleasure (which I desire you would be pleased to signify as soon as convenient) whether the before mentioned offender and all others, except in very extraordinary cases indeed, are to be tryed by courts martial appointed here or refered to those appointed from Head Quarters. A very considerable quantity of sails and rigging striped off the vessells lately sunk near Mount Washington at present remains there. I submit to your Excellency's consideration, if it would not be well to send these further up the river where they might be safely stored, as it cannot be done here, the store houses being wanted for other uses. On the 21st instant the body of a man was taken up at Burditt's Ferry. The commanding officer there not being able to find any civil authority appointed a court of enquiry to consider the cause of his death, who reported the enclosed. The body was afterwards buried, and the money and effects are in the hands of Col° Ward. It since appears that Hardenbrook, for that was his name, was by occupation a carpenter, belonging to the City of New York, who had been heretofore employd by Dunmore or Tryon, and for whom he retained an affection, that upon the day of the ships falling down the river he attempted to get on board of them, but found a watery grave the reward of such unrighteousness. I am told that he has a brother in the city who is a staunch friend to American liberty, and who, I suppose, is as yet unacquainted with the fate of his brother. The detachment from the two brigades amounting to ten or eleven hundred men with surprising alertness almost instantly turnd out on yesterday and marched some miles towards the city, and this day upon the flood tide гл formed upon their parades. The officers and men ap peared greatly disapointed on yesterday when they were told that the enemy were not moving and that they might return to their quarters. I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's most humble servt. JOSEPH REED* TO WILLIAM HEATH. To Major Gen. Heath. SIR, The General desires you will detain the powder you have received till farther order at Kingsbridge, except 1 ton to be sent down; the remainder to be procured occasionally. The report of the evacuation of Long Island last night is true; it was a measure founded in the fullest necessity after the surprize of our troops last Tuesday, by which the flower of our army and some of our best officers were lost. Add to this that the constant rains upon troops without cover had so spoil'd the ammunition and enfeebled the men that had the enemy attempted to force our lines they must have done it with great ease. The ships have also been trying to get up the whole week, which if they could effect our communication would have been cut off, and the whole army must have surrendered at discretion. Under these circumstances the remaining general officers were unanimously of opinion that it was absolutely necessary to retreat, which was done so as to bring off all our ammunition and * Joseph Reed was born in Trenton, N. J., Aug. 27, 1741, and died in Philadelphia March 5, 1785. He was educated at Princeton, where he graduat‹ d in 1757, and studied law both on this side of the Atlantic and in London. At the breaking out of the war he was engaged in the successful practice of his profession in Philadelphia. On the organization of the army he became military secretary to Washington; and in June, 1776, he was made Adjutant-General. He subsequently filled important places both in the military and civil service. See William B. Reed's "Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed." - Eds. artillery, except the heavy pieces, and most of our provisions. Our situation is in all respects critical. La Stirling and Gen. Sullivan are both prisoners; the latter was permitted to come out this morning on his parole with a message from La Howe. This is the substance of what has passed in this important week. I am, Sir, your most obed. hbbl. serv. NEW YORK, August 30th, 1776. Jos. REED. WILLIAM HEATH TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.* KINGSBRIDGE, Augst 31st, 1776. DEAR GENERAL, - What fatality attends the sinking of the chevaux de frise I cannot tell, I was extremely uneasy yesterday at the delay. I went to the place, called Capt Cooke on shore, told him every moment was precious, and that if any benifit was ever to be reaped from them it would probably be soon. He told me that they met with many and great dificulties, that the night before last one of the vessells which was fitted for sinking, drove with her anchors nearly down to the glass house. I have just this moment received the inclosed from Col Hutchinson. How the rapidity of the current should be but just now discovered I cannot tell. I wish Col° Putnam† if he can be spared may still superintend this business, or such other order be taken as your Excellency shall think proper. Judge Morris this moment informs me that troops have been seen at New Town. I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your Excellency's most humble servt. W. HEATH. His Excellency Gen' WASHINGTON. * General Washington's answer to this letter is printed in 5 Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. iv. WILLIAM HEATH TO GEORGE WASHINGTON. KINGSBRIDGE, Sept 13th, 1776. MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY, - Being so unhappy as to differ in sentiment from a majority of the Honble Board of General Officers of the army of the United States of America, in the important question whether a former determination of the Board should be reconsidered, and the City of New York now be evacuated, and some of the general officers desiring that the reasons of the gentlemen differing in sentiment from the majority might be stated, I do most freely and heartily state mine, which I am ready to avow and declare to the world. 1st Objtn to the evacuating the City. Because it gives such unspeakable advantage to the enemy. In all invasions of a country, a wise and politick general will, if possible, early avail himself of some place of importance, free and easy of access to navigation, and if possible at the conflux of the most considerable rivers, where he can with ease form his magazines, fortify and secure the place for a safe retreat in case of necessity, for an asylum for his sick and wounded, and for the advantage of winter quarters, all of which are capital objects in the views of a commander; and clear it is that the City of New York has from the very first landing of the enemy at Staten Island been the object of their commanders. Their manoeuvre from Staten Island to Long Island, together with the whole of their present manoeuvres, are but so many clear and striking evidences of it. The city and its environs being surrounded with a great variety of works, has much pusselled the enemy. The city being their object, as I have before observed, their whole attention has been centering to obtain the posses |