sion of it, which has induced them to keep their fleet and army as much as possible together, and with all this collected force they have discovered a diffidence (fortifyed as our camp has been) of attacking us. The city being now about to be put into their hands, gives them almost (not to ennumerate) every advantage which they can wish to have, and leads to my 2nd Objt. Because it gives the enemy an unspeakable advantage, to attack differant States with great ease and advantage, 1st Because having got possession of the city well fortified a small garrison will be sufficient to defend it, which will enable them to employ almost their whole force against the neighbouring States, where they will ravage the country, disarm the inhabitants, and derive to themselves many advantages, and compel us unavoidably to detach our army, which is a manoeuvre often times very dangerous, and in the present case will serve only to fatigue and harrass our troops. 3rdly Because it will give the enemy an oppertunity to infest our sea coast, with nearly the whole of their ships of war, as they will be no longer necessary here to cover the landing of troops or guarding the transports and storeships in the harbour, which will now ride in safety at the wharves. 4thly Because from its centrical situation as a safe rendezvous for the enemies' ships and troops both winter and summer, the giveing them the city entire will afford them a great advantage, by winter as well as summer campaigns, to annoy and distress the United States, both northward and southward. 5thly Because I think it will greatly dispirit both the army and country, partly at this time and much more so when they come to see and hear that the enemy are making excursions, both eastward and southward, which I think a man need neither be a prophet or son of a prophet to foresee. 6thly Because I think our situation, (having so many works thrown up) and numbers if properly disposed of as would have enabled us to have kept the enemy at bay untill the campaign was spun out. As the enemy have all along discovered no great fondness for attacking our lines, I think that if the army had been posted immediately after, agreable to the determination of the preceeding board of gen' officers, the enemy would not have dar'd to attack us, and if they had would have met with a rebuff. The foregoing with several others are the reasons for my being against a reconsideration of a former determination. If your Excellency should desire any further explination of the last objection, as to our being in ability to keep the enemy at bay, I am ready to do it. I am unhappy when I differ from others in sentiment, especially those who I revere for their wisdom and knowledge, and more so if it be on matters of vast importance. But I must act agreable to the dictates of my own reason, and cannot give up my own opinion untill I am convinced by better reasons than my own, that I am mistaken. I have the honor to be, with great respect, His Excellency General WASHINGton. W. HEATH. WILLIAM HEATH TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.* KINGSBRIDGE, Oct 8th, 1776. DEAR GENERAL,- Being posted at some distance from the other general officers of the State of Massachusetts Bay, I have found it very difficult to obtain their opinion of the field officers proper to be recommended to that * Washington's answer to this letter is printed in 5 Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. iv. pp. 18, 19.- EDS. State to serve in the army in future. General Nixon was at my quarters on yesterday, General Fellows was on duty and could not attend, I did with General Nixon arrainge the officers for 12 regiments whose names are in the inclos'd list. I shew the list this morning to General Lincoln, who joyns with us in sentiment, and desired that Lieut. Col° Seth Read of Col° Paterson's Regiment might be added for a regiment. I think he is worthy of one. We have put Col° Prescott on the list; our motive was his past heroic conduct. I think he will not serve after the present campaign, and I submit it to your Excellency's better judgment, whether it be best to put him on the list or not, Parks, Fuller, Hamblin, Peters, and Thompson are at present Captains. I wish to know your Excellency's opinion of this list, and whether it be your pleasure that we should proceed to communicate it to such of the field officers as we can, and obtain from them a recommendation of capts and subalterns most proper to serve in the new army. We also beg leave to propose an alteration in the list (if it should appear to be for the interest of the service) this day or tomorrow, as a more particular enquiry is makeing with respect to several of the officers, whose conduct since in the army is better known to some other general officers. I also take the liberty to inclose to your Excellency the sentence of a general court martial, upon two subaltern officers and beg leave to suggest to your Excellency (in case your Excellency should approve the sentences) if it might not be as well to remitt the mulcts, especially in the case of Smedes. I have the honor to be. &c His Excellency General WASHINGTON. W. HEATH. CHARLES LEE* TO WILLIAM HEATH. CAMP PHILIPSBURG, Nov" ye 21st, [1776]. DR. GENERAL, -I yesterday receiv'd your note for which I thank you, but had before receiv'd the intelligence of the enemy's having landed in the Jersey. Colonel Read has written me a short billet that I do not well understand. I shall be obligd to you for some account of the condition and progress of your barracks, and what number of men they are or will be capable of lodging, and what is the state of your defences should you be attack'd, as of likewise your numbers, and how they are station'd. If you [have] any sketch of the country, be so kind as to favour me with it, and am, dr. General, Yours most sincerely, General HEATH, Peeks Kill. CHARLES LEE. JEDIDIAH HUNTINGTON† TO WILLIAM HEATH. CAMP RAMAPOUGH, Nov 25, 1776. HOND SIR,- Every man, and I was going to say every woman, within a large circle of this place who stand for Whigs, and for ought I know are really such, are constantly distressing me with their fears and apprehensions from the enemy and Tories; they are confident the latter * Charles Lee was born in Dernhall, Cheshire, England, in 1731, and at an early age entered the English army. In 1754 the regiment to which he was attached was ordered to America, and he served here in several campaigns. Subsequently he had a chequered career in various parts of Europe. In 1773 he returned to America, and in June, 1775, he was made a Major-General in the American army. But he proved unworthy of confidence, intriguing to supersede Washington and disobeying the commands of his superior. In August, 1778, he was found guilty on three charges by a court martial, and suspended from command in the army for one year. He died in Philadelphia Oct. 2, 1782, while on a visit to that place. In our own time it has been abundantly proved that while a prisoner of the British he was in treasonable correspondence with Sir William Howe. See Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, vol. iii. pp. 657-661; Dictionary of National Biography, vol. xxxii. pp. 343-347; George H. Moore's "Treason of Charles Lee.". EDS. † For a notice of Colonel, afterward General, Huntington, see 7 Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. ii. p. 3 n. Eds. have so much knowledge of the country as to guide a body of troops any where among the mountains. Their anxiety has gone far towards intimidating some of my own troops; a considerable part of the inhabitants between this and the enemy have been conversant with the enemy since they came to Hackinsack and have had meetings. among themselves. I communicate what intelligence I get, for your information and not because it all appears important to Your Honour's most obed. hble. servt. JED. HUNTINGTON. 26th. Your order of yesterday came to hand last night at 2 o'clock. Col. Tyler marched at daybreak for Toppon. I hear a large numbers of waggons are on the road loaded with flour from Toppon coming this way. It is said Bergen County is to raise a reg. to join the British army and that one Buscart or some such hard name is appointed Colonel, and that they have given a specimen of their valour by shooting a Whig, one Zabriskie., General HEATH. WILLIAM HEATH TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.* PEEKS-KILL, Nov. 26th, 1776. DEAR GENERAL, I have to acknowledge the honor of the receipt of yours of the 24th inst. I do not recollect to have sent any letters by the Friday's post, who lost his mail in an infamous manner. I have also received from Col, Harrison the Resolves of the Honble Continental Congress, of the 19th instant, with a signification of your Excellency's pleasure that they should be published in Orders, which shall be done tomorrow. * Washington's answer to this letter is printed in 5 Mass. Hist. Coll., vol. iv. pp. 24, 25.- Eds. |