employed upon this detachment. No better disposition, therefore, occurs to me than the following:

Major Reed, of Hazen's regiment, to take charge of the company of his own regiment and those of New Hampshire; Colonel Sherman, if in camp, and Major Galvan, to take charge of the battalion in which the Connecticut troops are; but, if he should not be in camp (as is doubtfully expressed by the Adjutant-General), then Colonel Gimat and Major Wyllis to have the command of it. In the last case, Colonel Jackson or Vose and Major Galvan are to be appointed to the battalion composed altogether of Massachusetts troops; but, in the former, Junat and a good major is to command it.

The appointment of these officers is temporary. The general arrangement of the light infantry for the campaign will not be affected by it. When you have made the final arrangement of them, let me know it, that I may issue a general order respecting them; but you are not to delay ordering them to join for this.

I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,

GO WASHINGTON.

To MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW WINDSOR, 18th Feb., 1781.

DEAR SIR,I have received your favor of yesterday. As the detachment, now in formation, may be absent five or six weeks, or more (which I mention in confidence), the security of West Point will become our principal object; and you will, for that purpose, as soon as the detachment marches, order the remaining troops on the east side into the garrison, and such part of Hazen's regiment as is not absolutely necessary to guard the stores and prisoners at Fishkill. You will lessen the detachment upon the lines, and call in every small guard and party that you possibly can. In short, every thing must give

way to the security of West Point, during the absence of the large detachment.

As Captain Welles is the officer who properly commands Webb's light company, you will order him to join the light corps with such men as belong to the regiment; and you will be pleased to relieve him with an officer well acquainted with boat service, as, after the river is clear of ice, vigilance on the water will be more than ever necessary.

I

am,

dear sir, your most obedient servant,

GO WASHINGTON.

P. S. You will leave very small guards, of the most indifferent men, at the huts on the east side, to prevent their being injured.

To MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW WINDSOR, 19th Feb., 1781.

DEAR SIR, I have received your favors of the 17th and 18th. Major Reed's sentence was published in the orders of yesterday.

The reason of my not including Colonel Sprout or Major John Porter was that the first was up here himself, and mentioned the obligation he was under of going immediately to the eastward. The last, I understood, was employed in executing the duty of deputy adjutant-general to the garrison..

General Parsons's proposition of sending the seven recruits immediately back to the Assembly, now sitting at Hartford, I think a very good one, because it will serve to point out to the Legislature the impositions that will inevitably be put upon the public, if any but military men are to be judges of the sufficiency of recruits. But to avoid the expense and trouble of bringing such trash to the army, and sending them back, I think it highly neces

sary that a field officer should attend each place of rendezvous, whose business it shall be to inspect each recruit, and, should there be any defect in him, return him immediately to the town from whence he came. General Parsons will know who of the field officers, now in Connecticut, are convenient to the places of rendezvous, and he may appoint them accordingly; and, as our situation will require immediate reinforcement, let directions be given to the superintending officers to send forward the recruits as they come to the rendezvous. We shall have clothing (if the State does not provide it) to make them comfortable, if not uniform; and, if the State should make provision, it may follow.

The general order is sufficient authority for you to order the execution of Taylor.

With great regard, I am, dear sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

TO MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH.

GO WASHINGTON.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW WINDSOR, 22d Feb., 1781.

DEAR SIR,—I have received your favor of the 20th. Enclosed, you have Captain Smart's discharge, bearing date the 1st instant.

I am satisfied with the arrangements you have made below, as you have, I doubt not, taken care that there are men enough appointed to each work to secure it against a coup de main, which is the only matter we have to apprehend at this season.

I have written to General Lincoln, to Colonel Shepherd at Springfield, and to Lieutenant-Colonel Olney at Providence, to forward the recruits of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I have also mentioned the matter generally to Governor Trumbull. You, I imagine, have given particular instructions of a similar nature to the officers in Con

necticut. If you have not done it, and in the most pointed terms, be pleased to repeat them.

I am, with great esteem,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

GO WASHINGTON.

HEADQUARTERS, NEW WINDSOR, 27th Feb., 1781.

DEAR SIR,I last evening received your favor of the 24th. By a return of the 15th instant, there were then at West Point, Fishkill, and Ringwood, one hundred and fifty-one tierces and four hundred and fifty-four barrels of salt meat, and four hundred barrels on the communication from Delaware, which will be coming forward. I have directed the meat from the nearest deposits of Connecticut and Massachusetts to be brought to the river. A very considerable quantity of flour is at the landings, waiting for the opening of the navigation. By a letter from Mr. Phelps, purchasing agent for Massachusetts, we may expect about half a supply of fresh meat weekly, from that State.

The logs for the chain are in tolerable forwardness. Captain Nevin informs me that, with the addition of six carpenters and twelve fatigue men to his present number, they will be ready in good season. All the carpenters of the regiment of artificers being already employed upon that and other jobs, you will be pleased to endeavor to procure six from the troops, the fatigue men also to be sent. The logs are at a landing about two miles above Newburgh, on this side of the river.

The orders given to the officer who first took possession of the post at Dobbs's Ferry were to defend himself to the last extremity, should he be suddenly surrounded; but if he discovered appearances of a serious attack in force, and with artillery, [and had] time enough to withdraw his

men, he was to do it, spiking up his cannon and setting fire to the works. These orders may have been handed over to the present officer, as they were directed to be. Should they not, you will give similar ones.

I am, dear sir, with great esteem and regard,

Your most obedient and most humble servant.

P. S. I have received your favor of this date. I will inquire of General Knox whether the arms can be repaired here, and will see if it be in the power of the Quartermaster to supply paper.

TO MAJOR-GENERAL HEATH.

HEADQUARTERS, 1st March, 1781. DEAR SIR, -I have received your favor of the 28th ult. From the circumstances which you mention, the command on the lines may be continued at one hundred men, with strict orders to the officers to fall back upon the posts, on the first serious move up the river.

I shall set out for Newport to-morrow morning. My notice is so short that I am obliged to deprive myself of the pleasure of seeing you before I go, which I intended. I have nothing to add to the several instructions lately given to you, but a desire to urge the Quartermaster and Commissary to get down all the provisions, upon the river to West Point, the moment the navigation opens. I have written to them on the subject.

General Knox informs me that no quantity of arms can be repaired here. You will therefore direct those which are at the Point to be ready, sorted, and packed up, that they may be sent to Albany as soon as the ice will permit. I am, with very great esteem, dear sir,

Your most obedient servant,

GO WASHINGTON