51To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s letter of the 19th. with my letter of the 21st, I sent your Excellency the best account I then had of the troops in the different Embarkations & those remaining at New York and its dependencies, I was in hopes of receiveg before this time a very Accurate account of every Corps remaining, but I find I can not have it till tomorrow or Next day, and tho’ I have little...
52To 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.”
53To 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...
54To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I had prepared the enclosed paper for the police of the Division under my Command and was going to Issue it [in] division Orders; But on Considering that it might be more pleasing to your Excellency to have the police of the Whole Army Uniform in every Scituation; I have enclosed it for your Excellency’s perusal and determination. I am &c. AL , NHi : Stirling Papers. The enclosure has not been...
55To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 31 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last went Yesterday afternoon by Colonel Cox. The Ships at the Hook and those at the Narrows were this Morning in the same possition as Yesterday, not haveing been Able to Move on account of the Weather; the Reports [from] both Amboy and the Hook agree that the 23 Sail at the Hook are frigates and other Armed Vessels vizt Eleven Ships five Brigs, three Schoners and four Sloops probably...
56To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I seize this Oppertunity to enclose your Excellency the last New york paper, Not the least Movement of the Enemy Ships Since my last, Nor have I been Able to learn any thing out of New york these two or three days. I had a boat yesterday at the Warf but they would [not] Suffer any person to land who was to return, the Only Observation they made was that they observed heavy Cannon going Board...
57To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency two letters from Kakiyate, I came here the day before yesterday, my time Since has been Cheifly employed in Veiwing the Country and getting intelligence of the Enemy: two deserters from the 15th yesterday say their Regiment and Eleven others are in a few days to Embark for the West Indies, that they were Officers Servants and over heard this, which is the Cause of their...
58To 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.”
59To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 14 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I was last night honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 13th; in consequence of which it is determined to pass upon the Island by day Break in the morning. On inquiry, I find, the men have no axes with them, and we ought at least to have an hundred. We shall endeavour to procure as many as we can here; but it is not probable we shall get a sufficient number. I therefore request your...
60To 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...
61To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 16 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The last letter I wrote your Excellency was from Hackensack the 14th. I have since received your letter of the 12th. as soon as I could be sure that the Enemy were evacuating the County of Bergen, I ordered the troops under my Command to Move down this way. I informed you how I intended to Station them, they are I belive all at their posts, and we have some Militia at detached posts, which I...
62To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday evening the Legislature of this State finished the Bill for Setling the depreciation of the pay of their Brigade, and Leiut. Col. DeHart Major Cummins and Doctr Hunter the Committee sent from the Brigade at the request of the Assembly now take an authenticated Copy with them to the Brigade[.] this busyness I thought of so much Consequence at this Critical Juncture that I did not Care...
63To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 20 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the feild Officers of the Militia of the Counties of Somerset and Middlesex with me Yesterday & this day and have Setled with them their posts to Assemble at in Case of Alarm as in paper No. l. enclosed, and propose to write to the Officers of the Other Counties If your Excely approves of it. I have also Consulted them on the Most proper Method & places for Signals and have agreed...
64To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday afternoon by a Messenger from General Maxwell. I found Genl Woodford with his Brigade at the Courthouse about two Miles East of this place they are now on their March towards Paramis. the best account of the Scituation [of] the Enemy & of Col: Baylor & the Wounded of his Corps is Contained in the enclosed Letter from Dr Griffith to Genl Woodford. I think at least two...
65To 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...
66To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 24 Oct. 1778. In his letter to Stirling of 25 Oct. , GW refers to “The intelligence communicated in yours of yesterday.”
67To 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.”
68To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 20 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The foregoing is Copy [of] a letter I wrote your Excellency yesterday Afternoon from Amboy, I have Since received the two enclosed letters from Major Howell, he is Certainly Mistaken as to the Number of Ships which Sailed yesterday as they were Counted while at Anchor by several persons at Amboy who all Agreed they were between 120 & 130 15 Sail of the Line and 10 or 12 frigates, there Came...
69To George Washington from Stirling, 24 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Stirling, 24 Dec. 1778. On 1 Jan. 1779, GW wrote to Stirling that his letter “of the 24th came to hand on Wednesday night,” 30 December.
70To 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...
71To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 14 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency’s letter of the 12th yesterday Evening, I deferred writeing ’till the Motions of the Enemy was reduced to a Certainty. I have two parties of horse following their Rear, who send me word they had been at fort Lee where the Enemy had been Embarking all Night, the light Infantry, Granadiers, & horse are gone to Powles hook, their Rear was near Bergen about two hours...
72To George Washington from Stirling, 9 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Stirling, 9 Jan. 1779. On 14 Jan., GW wrote Stirling : “I have your favr of the 9th.”
73To 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...
74To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 8 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency Yesterday by Colonel Craig, General Maxwell now sends you the Intelligence he has Just received from Major Howell I hope to have something more explicit from thence tomorrow as two Messengers besides an Officer have been sent for every particular that has lately happened with regard to the Sailing of Ships. I am afraid the Major has not kept a good look out as he...
75To 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...
76To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 13 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency the Evening before last; and have been impatiently watching the motions of the Enemy Since, they will not let me get any thing from Staten Island. But I have this Instant received the enclosed report from Amboy by which it appears their third Embarkation is begining to move, the thirty Eight Sail which fell down to the hook yesterday Afternoon I make no doubt will be...
77To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have to Acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency’s two letters of the 24th and one of the 25th. I would have wrote yesterday but was every Moment in expectation of hearing of some Movement of the Enemy, They Yesterday Afternoon began, In the Afternoon two Men of War and fourteen Transports Came to an Anchor at the Hook from New York, at the Same time two large Ships appeared in the Offing....
78To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
I Was in hopes that my busyness before the Legislature of New Jersey would before this time have been in such a State as would have enabled [me] to return to Camp but I have had Sufficient experience to teach me that Whoever is to be attendant on their motions, need be possessed of a good Stock of patient phylosophy. however I have got my Bill ordered to be engrossed & hope to Morrow to get it...
79To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 10 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
As my busyness with the Legislature of New Jersey will require my being at Trentown on Wednesday Next, A Vissit to Camp this Week which I intended, would be inconvenient as it would keep me Constantly on the Roads, with horses not in the best order. My being at Trentown last week I belive was favourable to the Affairs of the Jersey Brigade, The Officers under orders of March sent up a very...
80To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency at three oClock this day, I have Since received the enclosed letters and Intelligence from Colonel Dayton whom I on the 9th desired to go to Elizabeth Town for the purpose of getting Intelligence. Ad: Keppel Certainly makes the best of it, he does not pretend to say a Word of the loss of the french, it is Clear he had no Choice left but to return to Port [.] The Letter...
81To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday Evening that the fleet which had been so long between the Hook & the Watering place were at lenght gone to Sea. Capt. Burrow’s from the Highlands of Navesinks since informs me that at Sun set Yesterday they were twenty Miles from Sandy hook Standing South a little Easterly which was the only Course they Could Steer as the Wind hung, unless they were going to...
82To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
On Considering the Several Questions Stated by your Excellency Yesterday to your General Officers I am of Opinion, That any Attempt on the troops on New York Island must be futile and extremly dangerous . Futile because, if we could drive the troops from that Island, and they should retire either to their Ships or to Long Island, our acquisition would be Useless; especially while the Enemy...
83To 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...
84To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 4 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the Honor of writing to you Yesterday by Express, I have since received a Letter from Captn Burrowes by which he informs me of the sailing of a Fleet on the 29th consisting he says of 27 Ships 13 Brigs and Snows, and 13 Sloops and Schooners, in all 53 Sail, but the Messenger who brought me that Letter says that after the writing that Letter, more Vessels of various Siezes came down so as...
85To 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...
86To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellencys letter and Instructions of the 21st which you may be Assured will have my Strict Attention. Dr McHenry will forward to your Excellency a letter he received for you from Major General Reidesel. I have sent Capt. Tilton of the 9th Pensilvania Regiment to Accompany the General to the place of his destination in Virginia. and have ordered a Guard to Escort him from...
87Enclosure: 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...
88To 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...
89To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 20–21 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the 16th I received the Night before last, and immediately sent orders for Colonel Spencers Regiment to March to Coles fort and there Join General Count Pulaski. at the same time I sent orders to Colonel Morgan to send a Regiment to replace Colonel Spencers at Hackinsack as it is Absolutely Necesary to keep a good look out towards Bergen Neck & the Banks of the...
90To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 2 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 2 July 1779. GW wrote to Stirling on 4 July: “I received yesterday Your Letter of the 2d with an Extract from your Orders and the proceedings of a Committee of Officers for fixing the prices of provision.”
91To 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...
92To 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).
93To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Since Writeing the letter which accompany’s this, I have had an Oppertunity of gaining some Articles of Intelligence. vizt that more transport Ships are prepareing and fitting for Sea. that a good deal of Hessian Baggage was Embarked. a frigate of 36 Guns Came in Yesterday, every Mast gone by the board. they are forming a line Across New York Island from Bloomendale to Turtle Bay to be Guarded...
94To 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 &...
95To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 16 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have the honor to inform your Excellency that early on yesterday morning the corps under my command crossed the sound at DeHarts point and proceeded towards the Watering place. The enemy having received previous intellegence of our movements a surprise was out of the question; and as their works were well situated and appeared otherwise strong an assault was deemed unadviseable, as it would...
96To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
The Sixteen Sail of Ships I mentioned to be at the hook in my letter of Yesterday, were afterwards Joined by Seven Sloops & Schooners, and towards evening of the 28th went to Sea; Yesterday Morning the Wind Comeing in from the South East, this fleet returned to the hook where they lay at Sun Rise this Morning. Yesterday and the day before about Eighty Sail of Ships Cheifly transports with...
97To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 13 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honour of receiveing your Excellency’s letter of the 8th Inst. I had before the receipt of it directed the Clothier to make out a Return of every article he has on hand which I expect in a day or two. I had also directed Returns to be made out of the defeciencies of every Corps that the whole wants may be seen at one Veiw, these last I have got all excepting one Regiment in...
98To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 7–8 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this Day have seen a Person from New-York who has had an Opportunity of being in a Variety of Company there lately, who “says: that the Embarkations of Troops and Stores are still going on the Day before Yesterday. that they talk there is a Garrison to be left for the Protection of Privatiering, of which there is now fifty Sail belonging to that Port. that there is a great Scarcity of...
99To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I receved your orders This Moment and shall set out early in the Morning on the busyness you have appointed me for. I thank your Excellency for the Command and you may be Assured I will use my best endeavours to Carry Your Instructions into excecution. I am your Excellencys Most Humble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Stirling wrote and signed the following note on the addressed cover: “A few lig<ht...
100To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 15 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday from Hackensack, the parties of horse which followed the Enemy returned last Night they got to powles hook about one oClock, about one hundred Sail of transports lay off that place. This forrageing Jaunt has Cost the Enemy at least Seventy deserters a great proportion of them fine fellows Granadiers & light Infantry, we lost one a foreigner. The troops are...