1To 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...
2To 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...
3To 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...
4Council of War, 10 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
At a Council of War held at Head Quarters Middle Brook April 10th 1779. Present The Commander in Chief[,] Major Genls Sullivan[,] Greene[,] Ld Stirling[,] St Clair[,] D’Kalb, [Brigadier Generals] Smallwood[,] Knox[,] Woodford. The Commander in Chief states to the Council, that since the last meeting of Commissioners on the subject of an exchange of Prisoners, the result of which is contained...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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, &...
8To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 February 1779 (Washington Papers)
Haveing Carefully perused the two plans for the disipline of the Army which your Excellency was pleased to refer to me I am of opinion that they are Materially the Same, both founded on the most approved Systems now in Use in Europe, and will I think well Answer the purposes of the American Army, the Gentlemen have both had brevity and Simplicity in Veiw. The Baron Stuben in some Instances has...
9To 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.”
10To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 13 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
After a full consultation with General Irvine Col. Hazen and Colonel Stewart, and hearing the result of their intelligence and observations—I am of opinion that an attempt to surprise the enemy on Staten Island would have very little probability of success. They are as much upon their guard as they can be—They have patroles at every accessible place; and for this purpose make use of all the...
11To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 19 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
I Yesterday received your Excellency’s letters of the 5th & 13th. I can Assure your Excellency upon my Honor that I had no Sinister or disguised Veiw in sending to you the Orders I had framed for the Police of my division; Collecting in a short Veiw, what was dispersed in different places and adding a very few articles peculiarly Necessary in the Hutted State of the Army, I thought would be of...
12To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I was this Morning favoured with your Excellency’s letter of the 1st. The fleet at the hook was yesterday encreased to 108 Sail. this morning at Seven they weighed Anchor and Stood out to Sea at Eight they were out of Sight from Amboy, among them were five or Six two Deckers, but as to the Size & Number of Men of War & frigates I expect this afternoon to be more particularly Informed. My...
13To 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...
14To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 2 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Extract of a Letter from Lord Stirling dated 2d August 1779. [“]I had a Letter from Major Lee this Morning in which he says ‘Sir H. Clinton has decamp’d from Philips’s, the army lays collected near the heights of Harlem, Genl Tryon is return’d, several Genl Officers arriv’d with the Earl Cornwallis, The Ships of War have all stood out at Sea, a report prevails in the city that a French Fleet...
15To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency Yesterday Morn’g from Paramis, and Came here in the Afternoon. I find here General Winds with about 600 Militia General Heard with about 1000, & General Maxwell with the first & Second Regiments of his Brigade[.] Colonel Dayton with the other two & Col. Neilson with about militia are at Elizabeth Town. the Militia are all home Sick and are every hour apply[ing] for...
16To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 17 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Excellency’s letter of the 14th. the important Questions it Suggests well deserve full Consideration and I must beg leave to take twenty four hours Consideration before I answer it. this is the more Necessary as in that time we shall be better able to Judge of the Intentions of the Enemy; I sent your Excellency yesterday evening the Intelligence I had from Capt. Clun,...
17To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 6 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 4th Instant. I am Surprized you should be so long without receiveing a letter from me, as I have daily wrote at least once. The Enemy after forageing all day on the West Side of Hackensack River within four Miles of this place, retired in the Evening to their former Station at & beyond the New Bridge, they had about Six thousand foot & 200 horse...
18To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 11 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The last letter I have had the honor to receive from your Excellency is dated the 7th Inst. The day before yesterday in examining two deserters from Bartons Regiment I happened to ask them where Sir Henry Clinton was, they both Answerd that “he was gone with the last fleet”; this made me recollect an Alteration within a few days in the Stile of B. Genl Skinners letters, instead of saying “Sir...
19To George Washington from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 3 July 1779 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Maj. Gen. Stirling, 3 July 1779. GW wrote Stirling on 8 July: “Yr letter of the 3d mentions the nomination of some Gentlemen to fill ensigncys in the Virginia line.”
20To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 19 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
In order the better to Satisfy my self with regard to the Strenght and number of the Enemy’s fleet I came here about an hour ago, I find from a very Intelligent person formerly <a> Captain <of> a merchant Ship, that the Number of Ships at the Hook this morning was about 130. fifteen of their Capital Ships 10 or 12 frigates, they began to Weigh Anchor about nine oClock this morning. when I came...
21To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 18 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your Excellency’s letter of the 14th Yesterday Morning: I went over to your Quarters and had Capt. Bibby to dine with me there; after dinner I dispatched him in very good humour with the enclosed letter to General Phillips; he left with me the two enclosed letters for your Excellency No. 1 & No. 2. one of which he says encloses a letter to the president of Congress....
22To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 9 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday by one of the fixed Expresses returning to Camp from Philadelphia. soon after which I received yours of the 6th and in order to answer it more fully I rode down to Second River to Converse with Colonel Dayton and the Gentlemen who have more particularly watched the Enemy’s forage boats in their way thro’ New Ark Bay. As to the Sort of forage, they have taken...
23To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have this Moment seen a Man from Staten Island, he Assures me the Ships have for Several days been Watering at every well & spring along the Shore of the Island, and that they are begining to drop down thro’ the Narrows, that this embarkation does Consist of Ten thousand Men, and that they only wait for Wind; that they are now prepareing for the embarkation of 6000 Men more, which is the...
24To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 22 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
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...
25To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 11 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I left Camp yesterday Morning and am thus far on my way, a little detained by the Rain. I have Just procured the enclosed two papers from Lt Col: Wm Livingston, Rivingstons Account of the Southern Affairs I think is in our favour. Intelligence from Staten Island is that Genl Grant with his detachment is returning to New York. a Sixty Gun Ship and another of their Convoy Already arrived at New...
26To 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...
27To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 22 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 22 Oct. 1779 . GW wrote Stirling on 26 Oct. : “I have been favored with your letter of the 22d.”
28To 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...
29To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
By the enclosed letters your Excellency will find that the Enemy are in Motion notwithstanding the Badness of the weather; that to the amount of 50 or 60 Sail of Ships fell down to the hook yesterday is Confirmed from Amboy, with this addition that more are Continually falling down, this last Circumstance is also Confirmed from Staten Island. I have Just seen Six persons from New York, they...
30To 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...