Letter George Washington to William Heath, December 27, 1776
The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 06
Dear Sir: Your favor of the 21st instant has come duly to hand, in which you have mentioned the receipt of my Letters of the 16th and 18th of this month, I now inclose you a duplicate of the one dated the 21st. least that should have miscarried.
I have the pleasure of Congratulating you, upon the success of an enterprise which I had form'd against a detachment of the Enemy, lying in Trenton, (97) I some time ago mentioned to you, the importance of attacking the Enemy's detached posts when it can be done with a good prospect of success, the best of consequences must result from their being harrassed on every occasion on that Quarter.
[Note 97: The omitted portion is a verbatim repetition of the account sent to Congress of the Battle of Trenton.]With respect to the Stores you have taken, you must use your own discretion; you can certainly judge with greater propriety what is to be done, than I can who am so far distant. I am &c.
P.S. I must request you will forward the Militia, with all possible expedition. The prisoners we have taken amount in number to 918. of which thirty are Officers, we have also got about one thousand stand of Arms and four Standards and Six brass pieces of Artillery.(98)
[Note 98: The letter sent, dated Dec. 28, 1776, is in the writing of William Grayson, and is in the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society. The draft is in the writing of Caleb Gibbs.]
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