This series consists of 26 volumes of correspondence from prominent political and military figures of the time, including over 300 pieces of correspondence from George Washington. Subjects include recruitment, troop movements, appointment of officers, pay, courts-martial, morale, discipline, desertion, and British prisoners of war. There are numerous warrants, petitions, guard reports, and returns. Many letters concern provisions, arms, and ammunition. The letters relate primarily to the details of military life and the conduct of the war.

This series consists of two orderly books containing resolves sent by the Continental Congress and the War Office, general orders and appointments from George Washington, and William Heath's orders to his commanding officers in the field. The orderly books are general and procedural in nature. Subjects covered include: army and camp regulations for officers and soldiers, behavior, morale, desertion, discipline, punishment, courts-martial, the abuse of private and public properties (plunder and pillage of fields, gardens, and fences), prisoner-of-war care, health, and sanitation. There are detailed instructions for alarms and the use of arms and ammunition.

There are gaps in the orderly books. There are no orders from July 1778-February 1779, March 1780-January 1781, and December 1782-March 1783. Entries are not in strict chronological order, particularly from 23 June 1779-July 1781 during Heath's command of the Lower Hudson district. Some sections were microfilmed out of order.

Miscellaneous papers consist of non-military materials, including receipts for Heath's funeral in 1814 and a receipt to Samuel Heath dated 1744.

Diary entries written by William Heath during the Revolutionary War discuss daily military life, location and possible movements of the enemy, main and Northern Army locations, marches, brigade distribution, prisoner escapes, courts-martial, executions, work details, the reenlistment of troops, his personal health (including his smallpox inoculation on 21 April 1776 and its effects), and the movements of the French fleet and army. Some battles and skirmishes are also described. Friendly and enemy casualty figures are often listed.

After the war, diary entries refer to global events, including politics and wars, in particular French politics and conflicts between 1789 and 1793, as well as natural catastrophes. Included are daily weather reports and family milestones, i.e., births, marriages, and deaths.

Multiple diaries were bound into larger volumes (Vol. 30 and 31), but are listed separately below. There are gaps in entries from December 1798-July 1801 and 22 August 1802-February 1803.

Oversize papers in this collection have been removed to oversize boxes, but are microfilmed and digitized at their original locations.