George Washington Papers

From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 21 October 1778

To Major General Stirling

Head Quarters Fredericksburgh October 21. 1778

My Lord,

I inclose you the extract of a letter from Governor Livingston to Congress, which they have referred to me.1 I think it not impossible, some instances of a commerce between the inhabitants and the enemy may have been tolerated for the purpose of gaining intelligence, and that this may have given rise to the whole suspicion. But lest there should be any thing more serious in it, that may require a remedy, I am to request your lordship will have the matter inquired into, in the manner you judge most effectual; and if you discover any improper connivance or concurrence on the part of the officers at Shrewsbury—that you will take proper measures not only to prevent it in future, but to punish the past. I am with great regard Your Lordships Most Obedient servt

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LS, in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, CSmH; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

1. Neither the extract of William Livingston’s letter to Henry Laurens of 2 Oct. that was enclosed in Laurens’s letter to GW of 13 Oct., nor any other copy of it, has been identified. As GW’s remarks in this letter indicate, the extract concerned illegal trade with the enemy in the vicinity of Shrewsbury, N.J. (see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 12:1005, and Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 11:54, n.4).

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 21 October 1778
    Author
    Washington, George
    Recipient
    Stirling, Lord (né William Alexander)
    Date
    21 October 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 21 October 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-17-02-0527. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 17, 15 September–31 October 1778, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008, pp. 514–515.]

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