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
