Memoirs of Major-General William Heath by Himself; To which is added The Account of the Battle of Bunker Hill by Generals Dearborn, Lee and Wilkinson
New York: William Abbatt, 1901. New Edition, Limited Edition of 500 copies. This is number 153. Hardcover. [6], X, 401, [5] pages. Frontis illustration. Footnotes. Illustration. Index. Errata and Addendum. Name of previous owner an date on title page. Cover worn. Some newspaper discoloration at page X/1. Top edge gilt. Hinges have some spring/weakness. The substance of the notes which are added to the text is derived from the Revolutionary records published by the various States, the chief histories of the Revolution, Mr. F. B. Heitman's List of Continental Officers, Balch's Our French Allies, and some few other authorities. William Abbatt (1851-1935) was an author, magazine publisher, and editor based in New York during the first half of the 20th century. His work concentrated on the American Revolution, and included several publications on John André and Benedict Arnold. First published in 1798, this Revolutionary War memoir is one of the few ever written by a senior Continental Army commander. It provides a unique glimpse into the administrative operations and inner workings of the army during the American Revolution. Major General William Heath offers rare insights on the war's major military personalities on both the American and British sides. Of particular interest are his wartime interactions with British generals John Burgoyne and William Phillips, as well as Continental Army generals such as George Washington and Charles Lee. Heath's memoir also gives readers a detailed look at the constant struggles faced by the army, including food, supply, personnel and funding shortages, and presents an almost daily chronicle of the tribulations and successes experienced by patriot forces during the war. William Heath (March 2, 1737 – January 24, 1814) was an American farmer, soldier, and political leader from Massachusetts who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Heath became active in the militia, and was a captain of the Roxbury Company of the Suffolk County militia regiment in 1760. By 1770 he was the regiment's colonel and its commanding officer. In 1765 he was elected as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts and was elected as the Company's lieutenant in 1768 and as its captain in 1770. In December 1774 the revolutionary government in Massachusetts commissioned him as a brigadier general. He commanded Massachusetts forces during the last stage of the Battle of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. As the siege of Boston began, Heath devoted himself to training the militia involved in the siege. In June of that year, Massachusetts named him a major general in the state troops, and the Continental Congress commissioned him a brigadier general in the newly formed Continental Army. In 1776 Heath participated in the defense of New York City, and was one of those who urged General Washington not to abandon the city. He saw action at Long Island, Harlem Heights, and White Plains. In August 1776 he was promoted to major general in the Continental Army. In November he was placed in command of forces in the Hudson River Highlands. In January 1777, Washington instructed Heath to attack Fort Independence in New York in support of Washington's actions at Trenton and Princeton, but Heath's attack was botched and his troops were routed. He was censured by Washington. General Heath was placed in charge of the Convention Army of John Burgoyne’s surrendered troops after the Battle of Saratoga. In 1780 he returned to command the Highland Department after Benedict Arnold’s treason. He was admitted as an original member of The Society of the Cincinnati in the state of Massachusetts when it was established in 1783. After the war, Heath was a member of the Massachusetts Convention that ratified the United States Constitution in 1788. He served in the Massachusetts Senate from 1791 to 1792. Condition: Good.
Keywords: American Revolution, Bunker Hill, Continental Army, Battle of Lexington, Battle of Concord, John Burgoyne, Highland Department, Fort Independence, Siege of Boston, William Phillips, Charles Lee
[Book #81967]
Price: $500.00