1To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 2 October 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lord Stirling, 2 Oct. 1775. On this date Stirling informed GW: “I wrote you this Morning by Mr Scott.”
2To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 2 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you this Morning by Mr Scott Since which Mr John Stevens my Nephew informs me he intends to pay your Camp a Visit, he is a Young Gentleman who has taken a Warm part in the Cause of American Liberty, his Jaunt into the Eastern Colonies is to get a knowledge of that part of his Country, But principaly to get some improvement in Military knowledge in that best and only School which is to...
3To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 11 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
General Lee left this place on thursday Evening last for Philadelphia, in his Way for Virginia where he is to Command. this has thrown a heavy load on my Shoulders and very unexepectedly; but I am like soon to be relived from it, as I hear Brigadier General Thompson is to be here in a day or Two. The Sudden departure of the post prevents my saying any thing at present relative to the...
4To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 15–17 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
On wednesday last I received Mr Moylans letter of the 9th and Immediatly sent forward to Philadelphia the Express who brought it. I communicated the Intelligence to the provincial Convention then Sitting; we have ever since been taking every measure in our power to Secure this place and Long Island in Such a manner as will prevent the enemy from making any Lodgement in either of them. The...
5To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 20 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
I received your letter by express of the 14th And your letter of the same date to General Lee which I opened and forwarded agreeable to the directions he left me. I am happy to find that the Aid called in from New Jersey and Connecticut exactly concords your Sentiments. The two Regiments of Connecticut now here consisting of About 500 Rank and file each, they are Impatient to go home as many...
6To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 27 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
When your letter of the 19th arrived at this place I was viewing some Grounds on Staten Island and the most exposed parts of New Jersey It of Course went into the hands of Brigadier General Thompson who writes to your Excellency by this Conveyance. I sincerely Congratulate you on the Sudden Change of the Scenee at your late Station The evacuation of Boston is an Event that must Surprize all...
7To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 1 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your Letter of the 24. Brigadier General Heath arrived here on Saturday Last with the five Regiments that marched from Camp with him; the Rifle men Came in a day or two before. the Connecticut Militia detached by Govr Trumbull are also Cheifly Arrived; these with what are Constantly Comeing in from the Westward will put us on such a footing as to Numbers, that I think we...
8To George Washington from Brigadier Generals John Sullivan, Nathanael Greene, and Lord Stirling, 27 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
In obedience to the orders given us we have met & deliberated upon the several matters referred to us by your Excellency & beg leave to report, That the following signals be given upon the approach of any number of Ships toward this Port Viz. Upon the appearance of any number of Ships by day from one to six a large flag is to be hoisted on the Highlands of Never sink, upon the appearance of...
9To George Washington from Brigadier Generals Nathanael Greene and Lord Stirling, 18 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
New York, 18 May 1776 . Have investigated the claims of two officers to fill “the Vacant post of a Captain in Colonel Wyllys’s Regiment. Wee find they are both Gentlemen of undoubted Merrit But as to Rank in the Continental Army we can have no doubt remaining that it belongs to Leiutenant Huntington, he having been appointed a first Leiutenant in the Service some months before Leiutenant...
10To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 1 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Agreeable to your Request, I left New York on Sunday last, in order to view the Fortifications on Hudson’s River, in the Highlands. I took with me Colo. Putnam, Chief Engineer & Captain Sergeant of the Artillery, The Winds were so adverse that we did not reach Fort Montgom[e]ry untill Wednesday Evening; but with the help of our Boat, we employed our time in visiting several other parts of the...
11To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 9 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Untill your Excellency has Leisure to determine on a further plan for the Security of the pass thro’ the Highlands, I would Advise, in order to give Fort Constitution some degree of Security against a Surprize to which it at present is liable in almost every part, that the Battery on the high Clift Marked B, in the plan No. 3 be Compleated so as to mount three Guns in front and one on Each...
12To George Washington from Brigadier Generals William Heath, Joseph Spencer, Nathanael Greene, and Lord Stirling, 27 June … (Washington Papers)
In Considering the Several Matters which your Excellency has been pleased to referr to us; we do with regard to Long Island and Staten Island think it absolutely Necessary for the Safety & defence of this Colony that all the Stock of Cattle and Sheep (Except such as may be requisite for the present Subsistance of the Inhabitants) be removed to a distance from the Sea Coast and that this be...
13A Plan for Attacking Staten Island, 12 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
First. A party to Attack, the South East part of the Island, at a Landing Called pullion’s about two Miles Westward from the Narrows, where are several Scattered farm houses where it is said troops are Quartered, this party to Consist of 400, and to go from Long Island. Second. A party to Embark at piscattaway Landing on Raratan River about Six Miles above Amboy, to Make their descent on the...
14To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 26 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
New York, 26 July 1776 . Asks GW to decide on Capt. Joseph Butler’s request to resign his commission and Lt. Col. John Parke’s request for a “leave of Absence for About a fortnight.” Stirling adds: “I have been obliged to take a little Medicine which obliges me to stay at Home or I should have been at Head Quarters this Morning.” ALS , DLC:GW . Parke wrote Stirling earlier on this date...
15To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 29 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have now an Oppertunity of informing you of what has happened to me Since I had last the pleasure of Seeing you; about 3 oClock in the morning of 27th I was Called up and Informed by General Putnam that the Enemy were advanceing by the Road from flat Bush to the Red Lyon, and ordered me to March with the two Regiments nearest at hand to Meet them; these happend to be Haslets & Smallwoods,...
16To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 10 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I got to the landing place yesterday Afternoon with Haslets, Miles’s, & part of Wiedens with our Artillery, the remainder arrived in the Night and are now landing; the landing place is very inconvenient as at half-tide the Vessels are obliged to lay at the distance of 5 or 600 yards from the Shore which makes tedious work, with the few boats that are here; besides it is open to any Insult the...
17To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 7 December 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lord Stirling, 7 Dec. 1776. Nathanael Green wrote GW on this date : “Lord Sterling will write by the same express that this come by and inclose to your Excellency several peices of intelligence obtaind of different People Yesterday.”
18To George Washington from Lord Stirling, 12 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Intelligence which the two Granadiers [brought] is in many things Confirmed, first by the Extensive fires of their Incampment which appeared last Night to be about Penny Town, and other Intelligence from the other side, particularly by one person who has [passed] thro’ all their Incampments and Came out of Trentown about Eleven oClock Yesterday—who says that the flying Army is in and About...
19To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 February 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 24 Feb. 1777. GW wrote Stirling on 25 Feb . that “I was last night favoured with your Letter of the 24th Instt.”
20To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honour of receiveing your Excellencys letter of Yesterday’s date with the Several Inclosures. on Communicating the Contents of the Letter to Capt. Thruston he was perfectly Satisfyed with the propriety of reasons which determined your Excellency’s Conduct with regard to his Commission, the rest of the Gentlemen will feel great Satisfaction in receiveing their Certificates. I now send...
21Enclosure: Arrangement of British Forces, 26 February 1777 (Washington Papers)
Light Infantry. Each Battalion Consisting of 8 Companies of 100 Men Each 1st Battalion 2d Ditto 3d Ditto Came from Rhode Island except one Company Reserve Granadiers. Strength of Battalions as above. 1st Battalion 2d Ditto 3d Ditto Came from Rhode Island except one Company 4th Ditto In Jersey. 33d Redgment 42d Ditto Brigades. Regiments. 1st 4th 15th 27th 45th Some in New York the Rest...
22To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 March 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just now received your Excellencys letter of Yesterdays Date, almost every Matter Mentioned in it Necessary to guard our out posts from any surprize; at the same time to Harrass them, were Contain’d in a set of Instructions which I gave to Colo. Hollinsworth, on his first going to Quibble Town. I shall again urge the same Matters to Colo. Rumsey, who now Commands there with about 300...
23To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 9 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 9 April 1777. In a letter to Stirling of 10 April, Tench Tilghman acknowledges on behalf of GW “the Rect of your agreeable favr of last Night” (NN: U.S. Army, 1775–89).
24To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 10 April 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 10 April 1777. Stirling wrote Alexander Hamilton on 12 April: “I wrote to his Excellency on Thursday last about the Appointment of Wilcocks” ( DLC : Hamilton Papers).
25To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 6 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am extremly unhappy to find by your Excellency’s letter of this date that any of my private Affairs should have taken up so much of your Attention; I could wish your Excellency had beleived the whole matter had been Misrepresented to you, Mrs Livingston was informed Six Weeks ago that I was in want of that part of the house which she possesses. she had then no less than four other houses...
26To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I was in the General Orders of Yesterday Nominated Major General of the Day, I thought it my Duty to Attend at head Quarters this Morning for orders & to be in the way to see them executed, but I found your Excellency & the Cheif of the Army moved off, on the Road I received the Order of March wt. Colonel Pickerings explanation of them; as my I find it was your Excellency’s Intentions I...
27To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of 22d I received yesterday Afternoon, and Instantly put my Division in readyness to March at a moments Warning. The Intelligence given by —— Atwood which Genl Putnam tells me he sent to you on Tuesday Evening, Corroborates the Account your Excellency had received of the Enemy’s fleet haveing fallen down from the Narrows towards the Hook; and I have but little doubt in...
28To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 July 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 26 July 1777. GW wrote Stirling on 27 July that “I was this morning favoured with yours of the 26th.”
29To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 July 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 28 July 1777. GW’s letter to Stirling of 30 July says: “Yours of the 28th from Elizabeth Town, did not reach me untill this morning.”
30To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I thank you kindly for your letter of the 27th. My Bruises are so much better, that I can move Gently without much pain, & hope tomorrow or Next day to be able to Join the Army in a Chair or Sulky, at least I will make the Experiment. I have hitherto been obliged to lay Cheifly on my back. Considering the Abundance of Militia which are now turning out to Join the Army and the Unformed State...
31To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 31 August–30 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
It grieves me exceedingly that I am [under] the Necessity of bringing any disagreable Matter before your Excellency, especially at this Time; But the late behaviour of General Conway renders it unavoidable. Since the Complaint entered against him in June last at Middle Brook Camp, of behavior unbecomeing a Gentleman and an Officer he has frequently behaved in a Manner very inconsistent with an...
32To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 25 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Stirling later on this date : “I have your favor of 8 Oclock now before me.”
33To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
After leaveing Potsgrove, I could not meet with any place where I could Conveniently put up ’till I came to this place, and I find myself so much better for the Rest I had here that I intend to set out for Camp again as soon I find the Roads are passable with a Carriage; On Saturday last I sent off to Camp an Officer with 64 Men fit for Duty, there remain in this place 244 Wounded, 63 Sick &...
34To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the first Instant, I received yesterday, and am happy to find that any part of my thoughts on the measures necessary to be taken Coincided so nearly with those you had already pursued: and I am in hopes they will be amply Sufficient to render abortive any measures the Enemy may attempt on the side of Red Bank. The objection to the other Measure is indeed a very...
35To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Compliance with your Excellency’s request that each of the General Officers met in Council Yesterday Evening, should give you their Sentiments in Writeing on what Measure’s had best be pursued in the present Exegency of our Affairs; I must now beg leave to give it as my opinion That as all the reinforcements we had any reason to expect, have now Joined the Main Army, and as a Considerable...
36To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Agitating the General Question which your Excellency put to the Council of General Officers Yesterday, there Arose three propositions as to the Stationing of this Army for the Winter, all attended with very great Inconveniencies. That of placeing it at Wilmington does not answer the purpose of Quartering the Army, as the buildings in & about that place are not Capable of receiveing above...
37To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of this date requesting my Sentiments on “the Adviseability of a Winters Campaign; and the practicability of an Attack upon Philadelphia with the Aid of a Considerable Body of Militia to be Assembled at an appointed Time and Place.” I have duely Considered, and in Answer to the first Question am of Opinion—that in order to Undertake a Winters Campaign the Troops should...
38To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 23 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here with my division about an hour ago, I find Colonel Morgan went out Early this Morning (with his own Corps, the fifteen parties detached last Night & part of Genl Potters Militia) towards the Enemy; there is as yet no Intelligence from them; some few Cannon have been heard this Afternoon; But I belive nothing of Consequence has happened, or Intelligence would have been here of...
39To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I gave your Excellency an Account of our Arrival here yesterday Evening. Yesterday Afternoon a party of the Enemy’s light horse (abt 18 of them) took two of Capt. Lee’s light horse, one of whom made his Escape, between Darby & Chester; this one gave Intelligence of this party to Col. Butler who was out with a party in that Quarter, on which he proceeded towards the White Horse on that Road, &...
40To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you this Morning Nothing very Material has happened; I found Col: Morgan with His Corps & Six Companies of the 15, detached parties and the Militia have posted themselves in the front and on the left-flank of the Enemy, in Sight of them I therefore sent off Colonel Malcolm with the Lt Cols. Barber & Harmer with 300 Men to the Vicinity of Marshalls Mill, which will Cover our...
41To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote you earlier this Morning had we not about Eight oClock heard the report of Several Cannon, yet I cannot learn the Occasion of their fireing. The Enemy keep the Same possition and their Waggons Constantly at work Night & day in geting the forrage from the Islands &c. I have 57 Waggons of my own division at work in Carrying off forrage & Grain from the Neighbourhood of Merrion...
42To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday at Noon, the light horse Man whom I sent with it, is not yet returned. As most of our troops are Constantly out on Duty and two of Colonel Proctor’s men deserted to the Enemy the Night before last, and Cannon of no Use here, I thought it most prudent last night to send the four peices of my Division back to the Artillery park. I have this morning seen a...
43To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Excellencys letter of this date by Lt Col. Davidson, I have sent the three feild down to Col: Morgan to take Command of the three divisions of the 15 detachments according to An Arangement I made of them this Morning & according to their Several States. In answer to your Excellency’s Querie, I do not see, that any Attempt can be made with a proba[bi]lity of Success...
44To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency letter of Yesterday’s date. the inclosed note I received about an hour ago from Colonel Barber the same Intelligence is Confirmed by another Come in to another Quarter, I have sent out what light [Horse] were here for further Confirmation of it, and have ordered the Troops in Case it be true immediately to Search every house within their late lines for Straglers of...
45To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received yours of Yesterday evening about an hour ago. have Orderd in all the parties that are out both of my division and of the fifteen detached parties; I expect they will be ready to march for Camp by Noon. There is now a fine oppertunity for the Q.M.G. & Commissary Genl of provisions to employ their Waggons, at one place within Six miles of this place there is above 100 Tun of Bar...
46To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 21 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 21 Mar. 1778. In GW’s letter to Stirling of 21 Mar. , he refers to “your favor of this date.”
47To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 23 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your request, I have paid the highest attention to the several Matters referred by your Excellency to the General Officers of this Army on the 20th Inst. I have endeavoured fully to Consider the three different plans of Operation proposed for the ensueing Campaign, and If I was to Chuse either of them Separate from the others, I must Say that I should prefer the first; But I do not...
48To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to lay the enclosed account before your Excellency, which only Contains, some of the principal losses I have met with in the Service of the United States, the Smaller ones I have kept no Account of. These losses would amount to more than any pay I have yet received in the Service, and I cannot Suppose it will be thought reasonable that I should be the Sufferer. If your Excellency...
49To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 10 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Major General Stirling, 10 May 1778. On 11 May , GW wrote Stirling: “I have received your Letter of yesterdays date.”
50To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
In answer to the Several Questions Submitted by your Excellency Yesterday to a Council of General Officers, I beg leave to give it as my Oppinion. That no Enterprize can be undertaken to advantage against the Enemy in Philadelphia, as they Can Move off on the first Notice of our Approach, or if they Chuse to fight us wt. their Whole force they Can in a few hours bring it over from Jersey. That...