To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 14 January 1780
From Major General Stirling
Cranes Mills [N.J.] Janry 14: 1780
Sir,
I was last night honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 13th;1 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 Excellency to give instant orders for a supply to arrive if possible at this place by twelve oClock this night. They had better come directly to General Irvins Quarters—Lest there should be delay, it were to be wished some very trusty person should be charged with them.
There is at the short Hills, an Eighteen pounder which we intend to make use of.2 she probably is without ammunition. Will your Excellency have the goodness to order a supply as expeditiously as possible? If there are no Eighteen pound shot, twelves will be better than none. I am your Excellency’s Most Humble Servt
Stirling,
LS, DLC:GW. The letter is in the writing of GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton. The dateline and the closing are in Stirling’s writing.
1. Stirling is referring to GW’s second letter to him of that date.
2. The hill country immediately northwest of Springfield, N.J., in the Hobart, or Millburn, Gap of the Watchung Mountains, was known as the Short Hills. The line of hills running south from Westfield, N.J., to Bonhamtown, N.J., also was known as the Short Hills. Stirling probably is referring to the Short Hills northwest of Springfield, which was on the direct road from Morristown to Elizabeth, N.J. (see Map 2).
