Letter 13:
REVOLUTIONARY INTELLIGENCE:
PLANS REVEALED
Col. Henry Babcock: The former commander for the Rhode Island regiment in 1776 was
relieved by the Rhode Island Assembly due to health issues.
Maj. Gen. William Heath: The chief of American forces in Rhode Island.
Westerly 24th July 1780
Henry Babcock to William Heath, July 24, 1780
Gentlemen,
This moment I have received an
account from a person who left Long
Island last night - who saw a Friend of
his, a man of undoubted character any information
says that left New York last Friday
who assured him that General Clinton was
embarking ten thousand Troops for Rhode
Island & that the English Admiral had detached
from his Squadron two Frigates to convoy
the British Troops thro the Sound -
The Person who brought the above
intelligence from Long Island is a young
Gentleman of undoubted veracity and Son
to a member of the Assembly of New York
State who fled from Long Island & resided a year
with his Family in my house at Stonington
and he may be relied upon - he says the person
who informed him is a man of Character -
Signed,
Henry Babcock
A letter from the former commander of a Rhode Island regiment, Col. Henry Babcock, to
Maj. Gen. William Heath, chief of American forces in Rhode Island, July 24, 1780.
Many “patriots” — those supporting the American Revolution — unofficially provided
valuable intelligence. This is one of three letters that came from three separate
subsources, conveying the same information to Washington’s Army.
A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE LETTER
