Heath in the Highlands

First Patriot

I often use the term "First Patriot" to describe those who served in the American War for Independence or who played a role in the political thought and action leading up to it. Many of my Yankee Doodle Spies Blogs discuss these men and women. As I researched the first few books in the series, a name kept appearing: Heath. More precisely, the name "Heath" was often printed across maps showing activity around New York, primarily in the lower Hudson Valley, western Connecticut, and the area now known as the Bronx (Kings Bridge). William Heath was one of those serious men, a New Englander like many others, who stayed committed to the cause from start to finish and served it in whatever way was needed. Certainly, many American officers were self-serving and easily offended by slights or secondary tasks. Not Heath, who I believe served professionally and effectively throughout the war.

Citizen Soldier

William Heath

William Heath was born in 1737. He made his home at his farm in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Like many of his generation, he became active in the militia as a young man, and by 1770, he was a colonel and leader of the Suffolk County militia. At the beginning of the war, Massachusetts named him a brigadier general, and he commanded Massachusetts forces during the final stage of the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. As the siege of Boston started, Heath focused on training the militia involved in the siege. In June of that year, Massachusetts appointed him a major general in the state troops, and the Continental Congress made him a brigadier general in the new national army, the Continental Army.

Solid Service

Charles Lee

In 1776, Heath took part in defending New York City, where he fought at Long Island and was among those who urged General Washington not to abandon the city. Heath's role involved overseeing the defense of the northern approaches to Manhattan. He did a reliable job monitoring potential British landings, dispatching intelligence missions, and gathering supplies. Heath served under Washington at Harlem Heights and White Plains, where he commanded the left flank of the Continental Army. In November, he was put in charge of forces in the Hudson River Highlands. When Washington conducted a frantic rearguard action across New Jersey to avoid destruction in the final months of 1776, he left Major General Charles Lee and Heath to guard critical communication lines between the mid-Atlantic and New England. When Lee finally responded to Washington's call to join him in the Jerseys, William Heath remained steadfast in defending the Hudson Valley. It was a command that demanded duty, not glory. After the British took control of New York City in 1776, the defenses just north of there became highly important. The ongoing presence of British land and naval forces in New York underscored the significance of the Hudson River, and both sides recognized the need to control this vital waterway. The Americans built fortifications, including West Point with its chain across the river. Washington assigned Continental troops under General Heath to the Highlands on November 12, 1776, and a Continental Army garrison remained there until the end of the war. Heath's assignment effectively created a military department. The British aimed to gain control during the Saratoga campaign in 1777 and frequently raided the southern parts of the department to disrupt military logistics and movement. One of the most notable incidents in this department's history was Benedict Arnold's defection in September 1780.

Hessians Advance at White Plains

The Dog House?

Robert Rogers

Heath faces scrutiny during this period. In January 1777, Washington directed Heath to attack Fort Independence in the Bronx, New York, to support the American operations at Trenton and Princeton. Over ten days amid a harsh winter, Heath commanded 6,000 men in three attack columns heading south to seize the fort that guarded access from Spuyten Duyvil to the Kings Bridge crossing into Manhattan. Initially, the attack went well as British outposts were quickly taken. However, when they reached the fort, they encountered 2,000 disciplined Hessians. Unfazed, the Hessians responded to Heath's plea to surrender with heavy artillery fire. Heath attempted to flank the enemy, but a sudden thaw made crossing the creek impossible. After several days of skirmishes, a surprise movement by British troops on the American flank and rear forced Heath to consider retreat. The weather worsened, and Heath and his commanders decided to withdraw, which Washington criticized. Nonetheless, Washington understood the importance of avoiding a defeat—his own retreat across New Jersey proved that retreat can be a strategic choice. Had Heath's forces been defeated or captured, it could have cut off New England from the Middle Colonies and destabilized the overall strategic situation.

But Heath was never again assigned command of troops in action. Still, he remained in important posts, which was common at that time. Heath was a dependable commander of this American army of observation (my words) patrolling the no man's land north of Manhattan. His presence maintained the vital link between the colonies, protected the Hudson River, and helped keep the British in check. Heath's forces assisted in gathering and relaying intelligence to Washington. Reading his dispatches, one realizes he had a good eye for terrain, people, and the enemy situation. Heath worked diligently on logistics and overall helped sustain the Patriot presence in a crucial region. His handling of the Daniel Strang Court Martial for espionage shows the wide range of his duties as a commander and administrator. He approved the death sentence, which was duly carried out. Strang was found guilty of spying and recruiting for the notorious Loyalist Colonel Robert Rogers. Later, Heath was put in charge of the Convention Army of John Burgoyne's surrendered troops after the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. However, in 1780, he returned to command the Highland Department following Benedict Arnold's treason. And in July 1783, he was given command of the Lower Hudson District while George Washington was with the Main Army in Yorktown—again standing watch over the powerful British forces in New York.

Post-War Patriot

After the war, Heath was a member of the Massachusetts Convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. He served in the state Senate from 1791 to 1792 and as a probate court judge. In 1806, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts but declined the office. Heath was listed as an original member of the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. Our first patriot died at home in Roxbury on January 24, 1814, and was buried nearby in Forest Hills Cemetery. The town of Heath, Massachusetts, is named in his honor.

Heath's Monument at
Forest Hills Cemetery