THE HEATH
HEATH PAPERS.

JOHN ADAMS TO WILLIAM HEATH.

To William Heath, Esq", Brigadier General in the American Army. Cambridge. Per favour of Mr Lynch.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 5th, 1775.

SIR, I never had the pleasure of a correspondence or any particular acquaintance with you which can justify the freedom I have taken of giving you this trouble. But as the good of our country, which I know is your first consideration, is my motive, I presume you will think it a sufficient apology.

In the present state of America, which is so novel and unexpected, and indeed unthought of by numbers of persons in every Colony, it is natural to expect misapprehensions, jealousies, and misrepresentations in abundance; and it must be our care to attend to them, and if possible explain what is misunderstood and state truly what is misrepresented.

It is represented in this city by some persons, and it makes an unfriendly impression upon some minds, that in the Massachusetts Regiments, there are great numbers of boys, old men, and negroes, such as are unsuitable for the service, and therefore that the Continent is paying for a much greater number of men than are fit for active

or any service. I have endeavoured to the utmost of my power to rectify these mistakes, as I take them to be, and I hope with some success, but still the impression is not quite removed.

I would beg the favour of you therefore, Sir, to inform me whether there is any truth at all in this report, or not. It is natural to suppose there are some young men and some old ones and some negroes in the service, but I should be glad to know if there are more of these in proportion in the Massachusetts Regiments, than in those of Connecticutt, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, or even among the Riflemen.

You may depend, Sir, upon my using the most prudent caution, in the use of your letter, and especially of your name, but I could certainly make a good use of a letter from you upon the subject. Great fault is likewise found in several parts of the Continent of the Massachusetts officers, whom I believe, taken on an average, and in proportion to numbers, to be equal at least if not superiour to any other Colony.

I must confess I had another view in giving you this trouble which was to introduce to your attention, Dr Franklin, Mr Lynch, and Coll. Harrison, a Committee from this Congress to consult with the General and with the New England Colonies concerning a plan for future armies. Mr Lynch is from S. Carolina, Coll. Harrison from Virginia, both gent" of great fortune, and respectable characters, men of abilities and very staunch Americans. D' Franklyn needs no words of mine. I am, Sir, with great respect,

Your very hum' servant.

JOHN ADAMS.

WILLIAM HEATH TO WILLIAM PRESCOTT.*

CAMP AT CAMBRIDGE, Oct 8th, 1775.

SIR, - Complaint is just made to me, that great destruction is made of the timber and wood on Sewall's Farm to the great injury of the young lady whose property I am informed it is, as well as to the publick. As private property should ever be held most sacred, and inasmuch as his Excellency General Washington has repeatedly most strictly forbid all violations thereof, I do expect that you do speedily and effectually prevent any further destruction of the timber or wood trees on Sewall's Farm, (without special orders therefor), and you will immediately take the proper steps for its preservation.

I am yours, &c.

W. HEATH, B.G.

P: S: The complainant acquaints me that upon complaint to Quartermaster Gen' Mifflen, he told the complainant, that if the proprietor would sell the wood he would buy it, but that otherwise it should not be touched. W. H.

Colo PRESCOTT, Commanding Officer at Sewall's Point.

*Col. William Prescott was born in Groton Feb. 20, 1726, and died in Pepperell Oct. 13, 1795. In 1774 he was appointed to the command of a militia regiment, with which he marched to Cambridge on the alarm of the battle of Lexington, and joined the American army. In the following June he was sent to Charlestown, and had the immediate command of the intrenchments in the battle of Bunker Hill. He afterward served with distinction for a short time under Washington, but he was early obliged by broken health to retire from military life. Subsequently he was a member of the Legislature of Massachusetts for several years. - EDS.

SAMUEL ADAMS TO WILLIAM HEATH.

S. A. To Brigadier General Heath at the Camp in Cambridge. Favord by Cap. Hart & Cap. Folwell.

PHILADELPHIA, Octob. 20, 1775.

MY DEAR SIR,- Should I acknowledge to you that I can give no good reason why I have not written to you before this time, I am apt to believe you would be as much at a loss on your part to apologize to me for your omissions. Believe me, my Friend, my friendship for you, which has always been sincere, is not in the least abated; your letters to me will meet with the most grateful reception, I beg you therefore to improve every opportunity of writing.

I wish I could inform you of some things which I believe it would be for the common good that some individuals should know, but I am bound by the ties of honor to keep them secret, and such an obligation I am sure you will allow me to hold sacred.

If

The affairs of our country are at this moment in the most critical scituation. I wait with the utmost impatience to hear from Gen' Schuyler and Coll. Arnold. I was going to say that all depends upon their success. they do all that is in their power, it will be as much as their country can in reason expect from them. Mortals cannot command success. I wish, if it be practicable, that our army would make some bold push upon the Rebels, but I trust to the wisdom of our Generals. While I am writing (in the Lobby) I am informd that a ship is just arrivd from London. If I shall hear any important news before I shall be obligd to close this letter I will insert it.

The bearer of this letter, Mr Josiah Hart, and his companion, Mr John Folwell, are the sons of wealthy farmers in this Colony, and friends to our cause. They command

1776.]

SUPPOSED PLAN OF GENERAL HOWE.

7

military companies in the county in which they live, and are going to visit the camp for improvement. They are not dressd like fops, but as they are recommended to me as young men of merit I dare say, you will show them due respect. The father of Mr Hart is reputed to be a singular friend to our Colony. I am now in haste, and can add no more than that I am

Your affectionate friend,

SAMUEL ADAMS.

SUPPOSED PLAN OF GENERAL HOWE.*

General How's extraordinary manoeuvre, in puting his heavy ordnance, stores, &, on board ship, together with his declaration of soon leaving the town of Boston with the troops under his command, has engaged my attention, and upon deliberation, I am of opinion, that this manœuvre discovers as great intention to risk a general action as it does to leave the town.

As the enemy are now in possession of many important posts, each of which must be defended by considerable detachments, or the whole endangered through any that may be neglected, The detachments for these several posts so considerable as to reduce the army so much as to incapacitate it to strike any capital blow with sufficient numbers, or if such a blow should be attempted while the army remains in such a detached state, their able officers must be scattered throughout their extensive posts, and each filled with anxiety for the fate of the other, and what would be called the main body of the army, who must make the sally, perplext and distracted when marching to battle, least from our scituation and superior numbers, we should avail our selves of such an opper

*There is no indorsement on this paper to show for what purpose it was drawn up, but it was probably designed for presentation to a Council of War or to the Commander in Chief after the American forces had occupied Dorchester Heights. — EDS.