1To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 16 January 1780 (Washington Papers)
...works were well situated and appeared otherwise strong an assault was deemed unadviseable, as it would probably have cost us more than we could have gained by success—We found too contrary to our expectation that the communication between the Island and New York was open. ...; and in the evening several vessels came down from thence to the Island. As from this circumstance there was no...
2To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
...many think it is to take, others say a Garrison is to be left, it is Certain Sir Henry Clinton has rejected the Scheme of the Refugees, and I fancy the report of their embodying the Militia on Long Island Arose from their endeavours to get [the] Association of the Refugees signed, but it meets with very little Success.“L,” who was an American spy on Staten Island, says in his letter to Ogden...
3To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 20–21 November 1778 (Washington Papers)
Came into this harbour the Bedford a Seventy four Gun Ship and a frigate dismasted belonging to Admiral Byron’s Squadron, they say the fleet is much damaged in the late Storm and are put into Rhode Island to refit; two Battalions of Hessians Crossed at Hell Gate this day to Long Island with their Baggage. They are takeing all the Cannon from different parts of the Town, Fort & Batteries and...
4To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
...in the mouth of Delaware. and as soon as possible should proceed to Newyork and take their Station within the Narrows, and some of the smaller ones in Kill Van Kull so as to Cut off All Communication between Staten Isle Newyork & Long Island; The troops in Jersey should at that Instant be ready to land on Staten Island, and our Eastern Army should at the same time begin their Operations...
5To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 11 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Col. Elias Dayton says in the enclosed letter that he wrote to Stirling from Elizabeth, N.J., on 10 Oct. that “enclosed is a letter I have just receiv’d from a person on Staten Island, who has promised to serve us in giving intelligence by ev’ry opportunity, hoping that in consequence of these services he may hereafter be permitted to return to his friends who are inhabitants of this state.
6IX. From Major General Stirling to George Washington, 5 October 1779 (Washington Papers)
The undated enclosure, described in the docket of this letter as “Hints for attackg Staten Island,” reads: “the Enemy will undoubtly endeavour to fortify Staten Island in such Maner As to give the Count de Estaing every Obstru[c]tion in their power to enter the Narrows. that Island at all rates we must Carriy. In order to do it the Troops the Count has with him can land at Princes Bay (and no...
7To 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...
8To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 13 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
Stirling enclosed a letter from Capt. Lewis J. Costigin to Col. Matthias Ogden, dated 28 Dec. 1778 at Staten Island, N.Y.: “The uncommon hard weather has prevented my geting to New York, and no boat has come from there so cannot say any thing regarding the Packet....at the Narrows on this Island, not more than four or five will be got off—The English fleet sail’d yesterday—No Appearance...
9To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
I send your Excellency four letters I have this day received from General Maxwell, I have taken every means in my power to Obtain Intelligence from Staten Island and of the Enemy’s Motions, but from any thing I have yet learnt it is uncertain wether any part of their Army is yet embarked, this Morning their Encampm’t on the North Side of Staten Island, was very large, at noon this day it was...
10To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 27 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
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 improbable, I thought it my duty to take every proper Step for their resception here & to Obtain further Intelligence of... the Enemy, this Morning I again sent off five different Messengers towards Staten Island for Intelligence, but have heard...