From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 27 December 1777
To Major General Stirling
Head Quarters [Valley Forge] 27th December 1777.
My Lord
Your Lordships Letter of yesterday arrived late last night1—with respect to the proposed Attack upon the detached body of the Enemy, it appears from Major Clarks account of their Situation whom I sent for to consult upon the Subject—that they can be so easily and readily reinforced from the main body as to render any attempt upon them abortive2—The business of your inclosed Letter has been in part obviated—by the orders which I had already given relative to it—what you advise respecting a Deputy Commissary to be stationed below shall be put in execution as soon as circumstances will permit3—at present neither the principal of the Department nor any of his Deputies make their appearance in camp. I am Your Lordships most obedt Servt
Go: Washington
LS, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW.
1. GW is referring to Stirling’s second letter of 26 December.
2. John Clark, Jr., made written reports to GW regarding British positions in Philadelphia on 25 and 26 December.
3. For a similar complaint, see John Jameson to GW, 31 Dec.; for an example of the regulations governing the issue of impressment certificates, see GW’s orders to Ephraim Blaine of 21 Nov. 1777.