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...
31To 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...
32To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 19 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Besides the 74. & 64. & three Lesser Ships I mentioned to be arrived at New york I have Information of a Very large Ship being at Anchor off Deal a few Miles below Black point on the Monmouth Coast by the description I think she must be Admiral Byrons flag Ship, her Bowsprit Mizen Mast and Main top Mast gone. I have this Moment received the two papers herewith enclosed & am your Excellencys...
33To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 17 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The fleet of Transports &c. which for some days past have been at the hook, Came up last Night to the Watering place within the Narrows and were at Anchor there this Morning. I cannot Account for this Manuver any other Way than Supposing the Grand fleet under Admiral Byron has Met with some disaster, and that they have received Accounts of Count de Estangs Sailg As some Evidence of the former,...
34To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
We are Just arrived here and as it is uncertain where Genl Woodford is, as some tell me he is at the Court house about two Miles from hence, others that he is advanced to Clarks town, others that he Marching further on, I shall therefore [remain] here ’till the Messengers I have sent to find him out return—I do not like any of those possitions for him. he [is] too Nigh [the] River and I think...
35To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of Writing to your Excellency the 25th. I sent the letter to McHenry to forward. there is Nothing New in this Quarter; the Severity of the Weather seems to have Stoped the Chanels of Intelligence. The distress of the Army for want of forrage had Come to the last Extremity, indeed the very existance of it depended on an immediate relief, and however disagreable the Measure,...
36To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 26 Oct. 1779 . GW wrote Stirling on 29 Oct. : “I have to acknowlege your Lordships favor of the 26th.”
37To 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.”
38To 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...
39To 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.”
40To 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...
41To 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...
42To 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...
43To 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...
44To 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...
45To 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.”
46To 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...
47To 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...
48To 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...
49To 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...
50To 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...