101To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 2 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
In Considering the Several Matters laid before the Council of General Officers by Your Excellency Yesterday the following are the thoughts that have Occurred to me thereon, vizt. That Although the Enemy at N. York have Since the 6th of September last made a detachment estimated at about 3000 men which is Supposed to be destined to the Southward to Cooperate with Lord Cornwallis; Yet it is...
102To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 21 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday that the whole of Second fleet of about 30 Sail as well the first of near 130 Sail were Sailed, the Wind has been at West, a lively breese, ever Since, and they must have made a great Offing by this time. it is Said that the preparations for another embarkation are going on at N. York, but I have not been able to get any particulars from thence the last two or...
103To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 2 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed I recived yesterday evening and took the liberty of opening them least they might require some immediate arrangement. the Rear of the Army is up, in much better order than I could have expected. I am this moment going to the Court Martial after a little retardment as your Excellency will see by the enclosed Note & Answer. I have sent Col: Bur to Elizabeth Town to make some...
104IX. From Major General Stirling to George Washington, 5 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Excellency’ letter of Yesterdays date, I have no doubt the Count de Estainge is Comeing this way; & from the reports of this day (but I have none well Vouched) I am inclined to belive he is already at Sandy hook. Your Excellency may depend that I will take every measure in my power to Intercept the troops of Stoney & Verplanks point should they attempt to Move by land...
105To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
There is nothing new Since I wrote your Excellency Yesterday Evening; every intelligence I have had Confirm the Sailing of the fleet and of the Commissioners tho’ not in Company; and that preparations for further imbarkations makeing; the Ships which have taken the Iron Ordinance on board are Still in the harbour; with the Ardent, and the Ships of War refitting & Scarce any others (I mean men...
106VI. To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 23 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
Just as I was Setting out this Morning to Join your Excellency I had Intellignce that the Enemy were out and Advanceing to Springfeild. I immediately wrote to the Commdg Officers of the Militia from Burlington to near Easton (and dispatched Messengers with the letters open), desired them to push down to Turkey for further orders, wrote Genl Greene what I had done, that he might in Case the...
107To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 4 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Several points which your Excellency laid before the Council of General Officers the 6th of June last I think may now be reduced to one General Question, vizt “how shall the Army under your Excellencys Command be imployed dureing the present Campaign.” In our present Scituation we can do no more than to observe the Enemy, and endeavour to prevent them from Strikeing any Stroke of...
108To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you yesterday by a return Express going to Genl Greene—I have Since received the N. York News papers down to the 24th which I now enclose with this, also a London paper of the 5th October, this paper Shews how the pulse beats in that kingdom, and it is Certain to me that they are in high Rumpas, Confusion & distraction. I send your Excellency herewith Genl Maxwell’s Letters, by which...
109To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 9 September 1780 (Washington Papers)
In Obedience to your Excellency’s request in Council the 6th Instant, I now give you my Opinion on the Several Questions then Stated. vizt. That Since there is Still a very high probability of the Second Division Arriveing from France and of our soon haveing a Superiority of Naval Force in these Seas; we Ought to adhere to our Original plan for this Campaign, of Cooperating with our Allies,...
110To 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).
111To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 7 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Excellency’s letter of the 5th. As to the report “of the Brittish fleet of Men of war having Sailed in quest of the french fleet,” I belive there [is] Nothing in it, for I saw a Certain person Yesterday who must have known it, had it been so, and would have Mentioned it; as he was desireous of telling me every Circumstance that has lately happend Among the rest he informed...
112To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 7 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to write your Excellency by Lt Col. Dehart who went of[f] this Morning to the Jersey Brigade with an Authentic Copy of the Law for Setling the depreciation of the pay of that Line, and with some printed Copies of the Law for recruiting the two Regimts that are to remain. Since that a very fortunate Circumstance has occurd that will I hope give an opening for Setling the Matter...
113To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Questions which your Excellency has been pleased to State to the Council of war, are of the Utmost importance; so very great as to involve the Event of this War, and the fate of North America, and therefore demand our most Serious Attention and fullest Consideration. The Enemy very early in this Controversy saw that while we could keep up an Army in the Middle Colonies we should Command...
114To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
About Eight oClock this Morning we were Alarmed with Accounts of the Enemy’s Advanceg, thro’ugh Hackensack. soon after that about 300 of them were on the heights behind Arent Schuylers house. both Accounts prove true. that Body which Come thro’ Hackensack halted on the heights near the head of the polyfly about one Mile S.W. from Hackensack and about four miles N.E. from hence, and there...
115To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 15 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
The fleet which droped down to the Hook on the 12th remained there yesterday Evening; the winds have been either ahead or too high for any thing to put to Sea. they have on Board the whole of the 71st Two Battalions of Hessian Granadiers, two Battalions of Delanceys, two of Skinners, three Companies of the 64th & two Comps. of the 33d. They are Convoyed by the Vigilant and three Gallies,...
116To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 27 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you about an hour ago by an Express going from Congress. I have this Moment received a Report from my friend at Amboy, dated at Noon this day who informs me that 45 Sail of Ships Came down from New York to Sandy hook and have Stood out to Sea. the Wind is now at S.W. and seems to be Comeing round to South and I therefore expect to hear of their being returned to the hook—tomorrow. I am...
117To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Two more deserters from the 15th Regt they tell the Same Story of the twelve Regts going to the West Indies and that the Embarkation is to take place on Tuesday Next. General Woodford has received your Excellency’s letter of the 30th. a drago[o]n of the 16th Came in Also yesterday Evening, several other deserters are Come in at Clarks Town. I am your Excellency’s most Obt Humble Servt ALS ,...
118To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I should before this time have attempted to Answer your Excellency’s letters of the 14th and 15th Inst. but was waiting in hopes of reduceing the Motions of the Enemy to some degree of Certainty; I belive it may be depended on that the present Embarkation will amount to at least 10000 Men, so large a detachment from their Army will render it impossible for them to keep above 5000 Men at New...
119To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 7 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
About a month ago I deposited with Colonel Hamilton some papers for your Excellency’s perusal relative to One James O Hara, taken up at Easton for passing Counterfeit Continental Money, both in this State & Pensilvania, a large quantity of which he brought out of New york. as I was fearfull the Magistrates would enlarge him on Bail, I desired Colonel Hooper to retain him as a Military...
120To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had the honor of receiveing your Excellency’s of the 1st Instant. the very great Change in the weather has so rotted the Ice that I must give up all thoughts of proposed enterprize for the present. Yesterday Afternoon arrived here Mr Noble Aid de Camp to General Phillips with a letter to your Excellency which Doctor McHenry will now enclose, he was very desireous of either going on to...
121IX. To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 8 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
You may be assured that the Enemy have not altered their Situation since we attacked them in the Morning, I do not think we are ripe for an attack upon them yet, I believe it would be best for the Army to halt two or three Miles short of this, for the present, I will give your Excellency the earliest Intelligence of any thing that should happen. I am your Excellencys Most Humble Servant LS ,...
122To 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...
123A 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...
124To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 22 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Inclosed your Excellency will receive what Intelligence I have been able to Collect Since Yesterday when I wrote by Major Monro. there is undoubtedly another large embarkation soon to take place, and many Circumstances makes me think Still it will become a general Evacuation of New-York; when Rivington come’s to be furnished with all the particulars of Major Ferguson Enterprize he will have...
125To 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...
126To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 27 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I am Just returned from Visiting the Lower & Upper Closter Landings, I find there will be no manner of Occasion for the Regiment to remain at the lower one, If a Capt. & 40 go every other day to each of them, I belive they will be quite Secure, the Militia in their Vicinity will be a good Support to them in such ruff Craggy ground, but I would not trust them as a Constant Vigilant Guard. No...
127To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
My last Dispatches to you were Yesterday Evening. I now inclose you what have come to me since. Other Intelligence which I have received from N. York Staten Island and Eliz. Town in general agree that about a Fortnight ago a Fleet began to assemble at the Watering Place off Staten Island. What the Intention of this Fleet was, I have not yet been able to learn with Accuracy. Some of my Accounts...
128To 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...
129To 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...
130To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I omitted writeing to your Excellency yesterday as I was in hourly expectation of receiveing Intelligence from Sandy Hook, Capt. Burrows whom I sent for that purpose is Just returned and brought the two enclosd letters from Major Howell, and on further examining he says that yesterday Morning at Nine oClock there were Six Capital Ships at Anchor on the out side the Hook, two more Ships of war...
131To 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.”
132To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 27 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been so bad of the Rhuematism, that I have not been Able to work for some days. every thing worthy your Excellency’s Notice has been Communicated thro’ McHenry. Yesterday evening about Sun Set I received intelligence thro’ several respectable hands that the Enemy on Staten Island were prepareing to put themselves in Motion, and intended to pay us a Vissit this Morning; however...
133To 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.”
134To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 9 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your Excellency’s favour of this date on the Subject of the Movement of the Virginia Troops, I should have been very happy to have Continued the Command of them as they are an excellent body of Men, and Among the Officers Many Valuable Men for whom I have the greatest Esteem; but in all Arrangements of the Army I have always been Content with the Commands that have been Alloted to me,...
135To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 6 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
A small Touch of the Rheumatism in my right Hand and Shoulder prevents my writing to your Excellency myself. Some Circumstances in Major Howells last journal induces me to send you the inclosed Original. they have become very strict within these few last Days at New-York about permitting any Persons to pass or repass. I have therefore found it difficult to get Intelligence from thence. they...