VII. From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 8 June 1780
VII
To Major General Stirling
June 8th [1780]
My Lord.
I am just making a detachment of three batalions under General Hand—which are to be employed to day as actively as the situation of the enemy will permit in conjunction with the Militia.1 While the enemy remain in their present position, Maxwell’s brigade will preserve the post it held last evening—reposing to day and acting as a covering party. I shall send it a field piece for this purpose. The troops and Militia near the enemy must act chiefly in the woods as this mode will not only be best to harass the enemy; but will be best adapted to security especially against horse of which the enemy are said to have a considerable body.
I wish your Lordship to have the Militia put into some form and endeavour to ascertain their number—after this, you will permit them to act in their own way—having places of rendezvous to assemble occasionally—& receive orders.2 I am Yr Lordships Most obedt servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, NjMoHP: Park Collection. The letter is docketed “1780” and its contents conform with GW’s letters of this date.
1. See Document VI.
2. GW wrote the previous three words.
On this date, Stirling wrote the commanding officers of the militia south of Springfield: “You will with all the force you can muster be as active as possible in annoying the Enemy this Day, upon their Left Flank, endeavoring to put your parties as much covered by Woods as the situation of the Country will admit as you will thereby be the better defended from the attempts of their Horse, altho you are required to harass the Enemy as much as in your Power, at the same time you are requested to be careful not to expend ammunition unnecessarily, only when the object is sure—Please to send by the Bearer your Number as near as can be ascertained” (, 60:178).