To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 22 March 1779
From Major General Stirling
Middlebrook March 22d 1779
Dear Sir
I send your Excellency enclosed two Copies of the proposed Signals, and of the Alarm posts of the Militia of this State, with a letter I would Offer for your Excellency to write to Governor Livingston on the Subject. I have made an Addition to the Signals for the County of Monmouth which I think are absolutely Necessary. If your Excellency approves of the first part of the plan you will be pleased to direct the Adjutant General to give the Necessary orders to Carry the matters Mention’d in the papers No. 3. & No. 4. into excution.1 I have instructed Capt. Dunn to sh⟨ew⟩ the plases where the parties are to go to work whenever orders are given. I think they may begin on Wednesday Morning.2 I shall occasionally Visit the places to see them properly excecuted. I am your Excellency’s Most Humble Servant
Stirling.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The enclosures that Stirling sent with this letter have not been identified, but see GW to William Livingston, 23 March, for the letter that Stirling probably prompted.
2. For GW’s directions concerning the construction of signals, or beacons, on elevations in New Jersey, as well as the reason why the work could not begin on Wednesday, 24 March, see GW to Stirling, 23 March. For additional details on the design and location of these structures meant to be set afire when it was necessary to alert and assemble militia, see GW to Henry Knox, to Arthur St. Clair, and to William Smallwood, all 23 March. Captain Dunn likely was Isaac Budd Dunn, then in the 2d Pennsylvania Regiment.