21From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 30 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your lordships favour of the 28th with the enclosed letter from Governor Livingston on the subject of Lady Mary’s visit to her friends —The reference of this letter to me, I can consider in no other light than a renewal of the first application; and I beg leave to assure your lordship that the necessity in which I feel myself of not complying with your wishes, is to me as...
22From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 29 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
General Wayne the better to cover the country in the vicinity of Stoney point and to confine the enemy within their works, has my permission to take a post in that vicinity. Haverstraw Forge has been more particularly mentioned—As I think this position is not intirely without danger, I wish your lordship to advance a corps of troops to some intermediate point between Suffrans and the forge...
23From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 27th —Supposing the Continental Cloathing delivered to the Virginia line last Fall to be of equal quality with that delivered to the other part of the Army, they ought now to be in better condition than any other troops, as they had at the same time contrary to my judgment and express desire, a very considerable quantity of State Cloathing in addition to the...
24From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 25 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was yesterday favd with yours of the 23d inclosing Major Lees and Major Hays letters and a few days ago with that of the 20th —By information of a deserter the Enemy have sent three Regiments from Stoney and Verplanks points and have therefore contracted their works. All accounts from New York agree that a very considerable embarkation is in agitation, but they differ much as to numbers and...
25From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 19 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favored with your Lordships letter of the 18th and that of Col. Taylors. Very particular applications have been made to me of late, similar to that from your Lordship, which I have uniformly refered to the civil authority: Your Lordship will readily perceive the necessity for preserving the same conduct in all cases. In the present instance, however, I should find myself peculiarly...
26From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 14 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your removal from Ramapough to your present position was on account of the Arrival of the enemy’s reinforcement —but that having been found from its numbers, and their situation in respect to health, inadequate to an attempt upon these posts, I think you may with safety return to your old ground near Sufferans. This you will do immediately afte the Receipt of this. I have another Reason for...
27From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 13 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Some circumstances having made it necessary to station Major Lee’s corps at Monmouth, your Lordship will have his post at Paramus occupied by Lt Col. Washington—Inclosed is a letter directing him to take your orders on this occasion. I am my Lord Your Lordships Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . A purported LS was offered for sale by American Art...
28From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 1 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
I was last Night favd with yours of the 30th Ulto with Colo. Taylors intelligence, and Rivingtons paper inclosed. I am in hopes that we shall in a day or two receive more accurate accounts of the real strength of the Reinforcements —I shall desire Docr Cochran to give order respecting the sick of your division: and will have Lieut. Drummonds conduct enquired into; such proceedings must not be...
29From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 1 September 1779 (Washington Papers)
Genl Greene has represented to me the bad state of the road leading from new Windsor to Easton and the delays occasioned in consequence of it—to the transportation of our provisions —The number of men necessary to be employed immediately in this service is 100; one half to begin at Sussex court house, & repair to Easton—the other from New Windsor to the former place—As we obtain our supplies...
30From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28–29 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
The arrival of Arburthnot which comes to me, through different channels, makes it prudent to draw our force more together till we can ascertain the amount of the reinforcement by which we may form a better judgment what it will be practicable for the enemy to undertake —Your Lordship will therefore be pleased to march towards Junes leaving a regiment at Suffrans to give countenance to the...
31From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have successively received your two favours of the 23d and 26 with their respective inclosures. The transactions in the Virginia line in consequence of the enterprise against Powles Hook are to me as painful as they were unexpected. I shall make no remarks on those parts of the state of grievances which happened without my participation, as your Lordship has fully answerd them and in a...
32From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 23 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
An Officer of the Marichause Dragoons has charge of a large sum of the Money called out of circulation, which is to be sent forward to Philada. Be pleased therefore to direct a careful Officer of the Virginia line to proceed with it with an Escorte of six Men from Capt. Belkins troop. Your Lordship will be pleased to give this Officer the same instructions as you gave to Capt. Stith who took...
33From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 22 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to request your Lordship to order the boats from new-Ark to their former stations as I do not apprehend them altogther safe where they now are. I am, your Lordship’s ⟨ illegible ⟩ Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript , DLC:GW . These were the boats which GW had ordered Maj. Henry Lee to gather at Newark, N.J., to support the assault on the British fort at Paulus...
34From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 21 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been duly favored with your letter of the 19th written at 9 O’clock A.M. and that of the same date of one O’clock P.M. containing the agreeable information of Major Lees having succeeded against Powles Hook. I join my congratulations with your Lordships on this occasion and thank you for the effectual assistance afforded Major Lee in completing the enterprise. The increase of confidence...
35From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 16 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have to acknowlege the favor of your Lordships two letters of the 13th and 15th inst. Mr Erskine will receive his orders to-day, to mark out the road, which it has been proposed should be opened, and to make you the proper communication —when you will be pleased to enter upon the necessary measures to have it completed. I am & Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW ; Varick transcript ,...
36From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 12 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have had in contemplation an attempt to surprise the enemys post at Powlus Hook and have employed Major Lee to make the necessary previous inquiries. He will inform you of what has passed between us—The number first proposed for the enterprise was 600, but these appeared to me too many to hazard for an object of inferior importance. But by the inclosed letter of the 11th Major Lee proposes...
37From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 12 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I shall be much obliged by your informing me of the date of Colo. Smith’s resignation of the 2d State Virginia Regmt. Colo. Brent & Lt Col. Dabney can probably ascertain it. The promotion of the former was in consequence of it—& I wish to know whether he has received a Commission. I also must request your Lordship to inform me of the Christian name of Major Meriwether. The reasons of my...
38From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 3 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have received your favour of the 2d and shall be obliged to you to continue your examination of the roads ’till you have them all well ascertained —Though I can hardly flatter myself with such an event, it appears to me not impossible there may be a French fleet near the Coast; and I have other intelligence of some alarm among the enemy on this subject. If it is so; it will be a most...
39From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 28 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been deceived I beleive, in the information of a considerable Embarkation of Troops in the North River—no subsequent intellige⟨nce⟩ from deserters & others speak of such an event, but all agree that the present position of the enemy is from Phillips’s to East Chester—Tryon and his burning crew streching up the River towards Dob⟨bs’s⟩ Ferry. The foundation therefore of the March of your...
40From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 24 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having received intelligence (though not in so precise a manner as I could wish) of a pretty considerable imbarkation at Dobbs’s ferry, and that the Transports which received the Troops had fallen down the River, I think it advisable that your division should remove to Suffrans. By the time you reach that place some further information of the Enemys movements and designs may point to the...
41From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 8 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I just now received your Lordships letter requesting absence for one week —to this I shall not object, but beg leave to remind you that the present situation of affairs renders the presence of every Officer necessary—& that I wish you if possible to be back by the time mentioned—I wish you a pleasant journey & am &c. P.s. Yr letter of the 3d mentions the nomination of some Gentlemen to fill...
42From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 4 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received yesterday Your Letter of the 2d with an Extract from your Orders and the proceedings of a Committee of Officers for fixing the prices of provision. It is certainly much to be wished that expedients could be devised for appreciating the Money—and any reasonable measures that will contribute to this, will meet with my approbation. It is however evident that this can only be the effect...
43From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 21 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
I inclose you a Memorial from Mr Drew and request that you will direct a Board of Field Officers in the Virginia line to sit to morrow and enquire into the facts stated by him & to report their Opinions of the Arrangement that should be made of the Captains & Other inferior Officers in the three incorporated Regiments of Gist— Grayson & Thruston. I would wish it to be a full Board. Your...
44From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 3 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
The enemy have landed at Kings-ferry—are in such force—and seem to have such capitol objects in view, that I must move my whole strength towards the No. River. I shall therefore dispense with your Lordships coming down on the business we talked of respecting St——n I——d as I wish you to be with your division as soon as possible. I expect to leave this place to day myself if there is a...
45From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 2 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased to march immediately with the division under your command towards Pompton by way of Morris Town endeavouring to regulate your march so as to arrive at the latter place tomorrow Evening. You will open a correspondence with General St Clair who is on his route from Springfield to Pompton, and has my directions to act afterwards according to circumstances and the information...
46From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 1 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
For some time past my intelligence from the enemy pointed to a considerable movement. By My last accounts from General McDougall of the 30th May, the enemy had advanced from Kings Bridge in force, and was then near the White plains. It is not easy to fix a just opinion of his object. We however know what points we should secure. On last Saturday the Pennsylvania troops marched on the route to...
47From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 25 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of yesterday inclosing a plan of operations for the ensuing campaign came to my hands this Morning—Communications of this kind are always pleasing to me, because it is my earnest wish to avail myself of every useful hint, and to have my own opinions strengthned by the concurrance of others—but where circumstances are either not well known, or not duly ballanced, a plan may appear...
48From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 2 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
As there are some other disputes of relative Rank subsisting among the Feild Officers of the Pennsylvania line, besides that between Majors Mentges, Murray and Nicol, I have desired Genl St Clair to direct such of them as are in Camp to attend your Board and lay before you their claims, upon which be pleased to make a report to me. I am my Lord Yr most obt Servt. Df , in Tench Tilghman’s...
49From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 23 March 1779 (Washington Papers)
I should have issued orders for the fatigue parties intended to erect the Signals to assemble tomorrow but I was not certain that the Guides would be ready. Instead therefore of a general Order for the purpose, I would propose that you give directions to the parties from Woodfords and Scotts to erect the Signals at Steels Gap and the Hill upon Baskenridge Road. I will desire Genl Smallwood to...
50From George Washington to Major General Stirling, 26 January 1779 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 13th and 18th instt with the several letters and papers they inclosed. Mr McHenry has informed me of the failure of the Refugee expedition to the Coast of Monmouth; but he mentions an account from Genl Maxwell of a Body of New Levies and Refugees having been embarked, supposed for Georgia. I could wish if it be so, that the numbers might be ascertained with...