1To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 16 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to the liberty your Excellency has given me, I now send you some thoughts which have occured to me, Since I had the honor of seeing you. An operation I think should be Carried on thro’ New Jersey for the following reasons. 1st When the Grand Army is advanced as far as Dobbs’s ferry, a Communication may be Opened and preserved across Hudsons River (by Batteries on each side) so as to...
2To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 27 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Excellency’s public orders of this day, I have (with Colo. Swift, one of the field officers for tomorrow) viewed the approaches to this Camp, and think the following advanced pickets will be necessary, viz. Picket No. 1. a Sub., &c. and 24 privates, to be posted at the fork of the road, which leads to Crotons New Bridge, and the road leading to Kings ferry Picket No. 2. A...
3To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 6 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
‘Tis a very great mortification to me to find my Feet are in such a Condition this Morning as to make it improper for me to go abroad. I esteem the misfortune the greater at this moment as it deprives me of the Pleasure and Honor of paying my Respects to Count Rochambeau and the Officers of the army under his Command. I am with the highest Respect and Regard, your Excellency’s most Obedient...
4To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 8 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
The Guard Boats to rendezvous at Dobbs Ferry. They should not go down from thence untill about half Ebb and they may proceed as low as they judge safe. They may remain there on the look out untill three quarters of the Flood is spent unless they have made observations which ought to be immediately communicated—Their Report is to be received by the Commanding officer at Dobbs Ferry, who is...
5To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 9 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
the frequent use of Division and Brigade Courts Martial is distressing to the officers of the army. in our present Scituation we may have nine of those Courts at the same time, employing at least 126 Officers. I am Convinced the whole busyness might at present be done by two Generals Courts Martial at which the Judge advocate and his Deputy may attend. the busyness would be more regularly...
6To George Washington from William Heath, 2 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
At a board of general Officers of the american Army held at camp near Dobbs’ ferry August the 2. 1781 by order of his Excellency the Commander in chief to consider three plans for the succession of the Medical department and report thereon. Present Major General Heath Brigadier General Knox Major General Lord Stirling Brigadier General Glover Major General Lincoln Brigadier General Paterson...
7To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 20 November 1781 (Washington Papers)
I most sincerely congratulate your Excellency on the glorious victory you have obtain’d over the British Arms on the 19th of October at York and Gloucester in Virginia. An event important in the Affair of Europe as well as America; it will weigh heavy in the political Scale of Negociation; and I hope secure peace to America on the principles of Independency and honor, with permanent advantages...
8To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 13 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d with your Excellency letter of the 30th Ulto. am happy to find that the Military Operations to the Northward under my direction have your Excellency’s Approbation. I have Just received a letter from General Schuyler of which I send you an Extract, the Intelligence it Contains is such as I expected to receive. I should think it would be worth while to destroy the Armed Vessels, or...
9To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 14 January 1782 (Washington Papers)
Memorandums for immediate Consideration If it should be found to be true that the Enemy’s armed Vessels are detained in the Ice in Lake Champlain, would it not be very proper to send of a party to bring away their Cannon Riging &c. and to destroy the Vessels. If the Object of an Expedition is Confined to this; 800 or 1000 Men will be Sufficient and the Chief preparation will be in getting...
10To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 5 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 19th of February last I stated to General Heath by Letter, the Objections made by General McDougal to my siing as president of the Court Martial appointed for his Tryal, with my reasons for being of Opinion that there was no good cause of Challenge shewn either by the Martial Law known to us, or by any Common or Statute Law that we can have referrence to, of this Letter I suppose...
11To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 19 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
In order to answer the several Questions Stated by your Excellency on the 15th it will be necessary to fix some Certain Number to the strength of the Regiments that are to Compose the Northern Army this Campaign; at the time of its begining to operate; and I hope we shall be safe in Calling them. 12000. And that if the Enemy evacuate the Southern States we may expect from thence 2000 And...
12To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 20 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Storm yester d ay prevented my leaveing Rhynbeck ’till this morning; It however has been no loss of time to me, as I was employed in finishing my Answer to your Excellency’s Querries of the 15th which I now send enclosed. The marginal notes are added meerly to give your Excellency my Ideas of two CoOperating Armies; the one thro’ Jersey to Staten Island Bergen Neck and long Island; the...
13To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 24 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
The board of Officers Appointed to examine into the principles of the late Arrangement of the Subalterns in the Connecticut Line. Do Report it as their Opinion that the principles followed by the board of field Officers, in forming that Arrangement, are widely different from those pointed out as the Basis of such settlement by the Board of General Officers Convened near Dobbs’s ferry in August...
14To George Washington from Lewis Nicola, 15 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
In consequence of your Excellencies Orders of the 12th of June last we have arrang’d the relative rank of the Subalterns of the Connecticut Line, and enclosed a Roll of them in numerical order for your Inspection and further observation. In this business we look for our guide generally, the certifyed Returns given in to us which we regulated by the best establishd rules laid down for the...
15To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 23 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
After examining and Compareing all the different Caracters that have come into my mind as proper to fill the Office of Commissary of prisoners of war; none appear to me to be so well qualified for it, as Capt. Sill one of my Aids de Camp; he has had an exceeding good education, which he industriously improves on every occasion, his Stile is Strong Clear and polite, well Versed in figures,...
16To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 7 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
After experiencing a Variety of unnessesary delay’s from usual tricks in the Q.M.G.’s department, I found the only chance I had for a passage to this place, was to embark on board a pettiauger, which I accordingly did in the Afternoon of the 3d Inst. and arrived here yesterday Evening. I have this Morning given directions for the Return necessary fully to inform me, of the State and Scituation...
17To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 14 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writeing your Excly the 7th Instant by the post; since which nothing material has occur’d. the frontiers to the Northward as well as Westward as yet Continue in peace. Yesterday arrived here from Canada one man and 22 Weomen and Children taken about two years ago on the Ohio and frontiers of pensilvania and Virginia by the Indians among whom they remained till last Spring,...
18To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 18 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed letter from Colonel Willet and the resolve of Congress accompanying it your Excellency will find that Congress mean that the New York State Regiment (there is but one) shall be immediately Cloathed, how the Application came to be directed to me I know not, But I now send the Pay Master of that Regiment to receive your Commands. The dispute between Colonel Willet and Leiut....
19To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 21 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor to receive your Excellencys Letter of the 18th Instant—that part of my letter of the 11th Instant relative to the boundaries between Canada and The United States must have been misunderstood, for I had not the most distant idea of an attempt of that kind under our present circumstances, it was only meant to give my idea’s of some consequential points that should hereafter...
20To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 28 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency letter of the 25th. To find that the measures I have been pursueing in this quarter meet with your approbation, gives me very Sensible Satisfaction. The New Hamshire Troops will I expect on Monday be all at Saratoga and Johnstown, except the fatigue parties I was obliged to have in town to load the Sloops, they have been Idle Since Monday last, for want of two...
21To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 6 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
The last post came in so late in the day, that he was off again before I knew of his arrival; Indeed I had nothing more to inform your Excellency than that by all the accounts I had then received the frontiers were perfectly quiet. But by a letter of the 4th Instant from General Sulivan which I have Just received and of which the enclosed is Copy, we are not likely long to remain in our...
22To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 12 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d with your Excellencys letter of the 9th Instant. Since mine to your Excy of the 6th I have had abundance of examinations & information’s sent to me from different quarters, all amounting in Substance to, and originating from the same Scources, that General Sulivan’s letter is founded on; except in one Instance, and that is that one Dock Steder left Montreal on this parole on the...
23To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 23 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
Being on a Visit to the posts we occupy on the Mohawks River; and detained by a Severe Snow Storm two days longer than I expected, was the reason of my not writeing your Excellency by the last post, at Johnstown I found that by a little repair of some of the deserted houses a Regiment may be Comfortably quartered there dureing the Winter; If your Excellency would Chuse to have one remain...
24To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 26 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writeing to your Excellency on the 23d Instant by Major Popham Since which I have not received any Intelligence from any quarter, except the enclosed Extract of a letter from Leiut. Col. Dearborn. I belive the Enemy are so busyly employed in rendering their fortifications Tenable for the Winter, they have neither Men nor time to spare to Alarm us with their parties. with...
25To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 2 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d by the Rect of your Excellencys Letter of the 30th Ulto; and have given the necessary orders in compliance therewith that the New Hampshire Regiments may be in readiness to embark as soon as possible after the arrival of the Rhode Island Troops. I have directed Coll Willett to send a Company of State Troops from Fort Ranselaer to Johnstown without delay, and as soon as they reach...
26To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 8 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
Since my Letter to your Excellency of the 2nd Instant five Companies of the Rhode Island Regiment have arrived & marched for Saratoga, two others have come up to Town last evening and will March this day. Captain Sherwood who accompanied the Flag I mentioned to your Excellency to have sent to Canada the 21st Ulto informs me that he went as far as Ticonderoga, where he met a Flag from the Enemy...
27To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 12 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have now the satisfaction to inform your Excellency that the two Regiments of New hampshire troops are Compleatly embarked and sailed for Newburgh, notwithstanding they have had some disagreeable weather and contrary winds. The Rhode Island Regiment has marched and before this time is at Saratoga. All is quiet to the westward & Northward. A Party of Weissenfelts fell in with one of the...
28To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 23 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honor’d with your Excellencys letter of the 13th and you may depend on it that the Arms, Accoutrements and Quarter Master Stores shall, be delivered to the State troops enlisted for three years, and to none others. Col: Olney writes me that a party of the Enemy about 20, were lately discovered near the South end of Lake George, a party which he immediately sent out after them could find...
29To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 11 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have this day Recd a Letter from Governor Clinton informing me that the Levies rais’d by the State are by a Law put under the immediate Command of your Excellency, and that their discharge previous to the time to which they stand engag’d will depend entirely upon your pleasure. As this is the place from whence those Troops must receive their supplies I could wish to know your Excellencys...
30To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 18 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the 16th I was honord with the receipt of your Excellency’s letter of the 9th with the enclosures there in mentioned. after fully Considering the busyness; I concluded it would be best to Commit the Management of it to Lt Colonel Olney who is at Saratoga, and will best know which of his Officers are the most proper for the interprize; the enclosed letter which went off Yesterday contains...
31To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 19 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am honored with your Excellency letter of the 11th and have enquired of Mr Quackenbush the A.D.Q.M., about the bear Skins, he tells me that on the receipt of Col.. Pickering’s letter, he engaged the Skins and that they are now dressing at Saratoga. But as I know how little dependence is to be placed on that Quarter, I will endeavour to procure four of the very best from Skenecteda, where I...
32To George Washington from William Lord Stirling Alexander, 23 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s of the 17th inclosing one to Col. Willet came duely to hand, and the enclosure forwarded. Col: Olney on receipt of my letter of the 17th thought it necessary to see me before Carryg it into execution, he Came down on friday and returned the same fully satisfied as to the points he was doubtfull of; I made some addition to his Instructions, and wrote a letter to the Officer...