31To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I thank you kindly for your letter of the 27th. My Bruises are so much better, that I can move Gently without much pain, & hope tomorrow or Next day to be able to Join the Army in a Chair or Sulky, at least I will make the Experiment. I have hitherto been obliged to lay Cheifly on my back. Considering the Abundance of Militia which are now turning out to Join the Army and the Unformed State...
32To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 31 August–30 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
It grieves me exceedingly that I am [under] the Necessity of bringing any disagreable Matter before your Excellency, especially at this Time; But the late behaviour of General Conway renders it unavoidable. Since the Complaint entered against him in June last at Middle Brook Camp, of behavior unbecomeing a Gentleman and an Officer he has frequently behaved in a Manner very inconsistent with an...
33To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 September 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 25 Sept. 1777. GW wrote Stirling later on this date : “I have your favor of 8 Oclock now before me.”
34To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
After leaveing Potsgrove, I could not meet with any place where I could Conveniently put up ’till I came to this place, and I find myself so much better for the Rest I had here that I intend to set out for Camp again as soon I find the Roads are passable with a Carriage; On Saturday last I sent off to Camp an Officer with 64 Men fit for Duty, there remain in this place 244 Wounded, 63 Sick &...
35To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of the first Instant, I received yesterday, and am happy to find that any part of my thoughts on the measures necessary to be taken Coincided so nearly with those you had already pursued: and I am in hopes they will be amply Sufficient to render abortive any measures the Enemy may attempt on the side of Red Bank. The objection to the other Measure is indeed a very...
36To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Compliance with your Excellency’s request that each of the General Officers met in Council Yesterday Evening, should give you their Sentiments in Writeing on what Measure’s had best be pursued in the present Exegency of our Affairs; I must now beg leave to give it as my opinion That as all the reinforcements we had any reason to expect, have now Joined the Main Army, and as a Considerable...
37To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
In Agitating the General Question which your Excellency put to the Council of General Officers Yesterday, there Arose three propositions as to the Stationing of this Army for the Winter, all attended with very great Inconveniencies. That of placeing it at Wilmington does not answer the purpose of Quartering the Army, as the buildings in & about that place are not Capable of receiveing above...
38To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s letter of this date requesting my Sentiments on “the Adviseability of a Winters Campaign; and the practicability of an Attack upon Philadelphia with the Aid of a Considerable Body of Militia to be Assembled at an appointed Time and Place.” I have duely Considered, and in Answer to the first Question am of Opinion—that in order to Undertake a Winters Campaign the Troops should...
39To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 23 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here with my division about an hour ago, I find Colonel Morgan went out Early this Morning (with his own Corps, the fifteen parties detached last Night & part of Genl Potters Militia) towards the Enemy; there is as yet no Intelligence from them; some few Cannon have been heard this Afternoon; But I belive nothing of Consequence has happened, or Intelligence would have been here of...
40To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I gave your Excellency an Account of our Arrival here yesterday Evening. Yesterday Afternoon a party of the Enemy’s light horse (abt 18 of them) took two of Capt. Lee’s light horse, one of whom made his Escape, between Darby & Chester; this one gave Intelligence of this party to Col. Butler who was out with a party in that Quarter, on which he proceeded towards the White Horse on that Road, &...
41To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 24 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I wrote you this Morning Nothing very Material has happened; I found Col: Morgan with His Corps & Six Companies of the 15, detached parties and the Militia have posted themselves in the front and on the left-flank of the Enemy, in Sight of them I therefore sent off Colonel Malcolm with the Lt Cols. Barber & Harmer with 300 Men to the Vicinity of Marshalls Mill, which will Cover our...
42To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 25 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I would have wrote you earlier this Morning had we not about Eight oClock heard the report of Several Cannon, yet I cannot learn the Occasion of their fireing. The Enemy keep the Same possition and their Waggons Constantly at work Night & day in geting the forrage from the Islands &c. I have 57 Waggons of my own division at work in Carrying off forrage & Grain from the Neighbourhood of Merrion...
43To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency yesterday at Noon, the light horse Man whom I sent with it, is not yet returned. As most of our troops are Constantly out on Duty and two of Colonel Proctor’s men deserted to the Enemy the Night before last, and Cannon of no Use here, I thought it most prudent last night to send the four peices of my Division back to the Artillery park. I have this morning seen a...
44To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 26 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Just received your Excellencys letter of this date by Lt Col. Davidson, I have sent the three feild down to Col: Morgan to take Command of the three divisions of the 15 detachments according to An Arangement I made of them this Morning & according to their Several States. In answer to your Excellency’s Querie, I do not see, that any Attempt can be made with a proba[bi]lity of Success...
45To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I received your Excellency letter of Yesterday’s date. the inclosed note I received about an hour ago from Colonel Barber the same Intelligence is Confirmed by another Come in to another Quarter, I have sent out what light [Horse] were here for further Confirmation of it, and have ordered the Troops in Case it be true immediately to Search every house within their late lines for Straglers of...
46To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 29 December 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have received yours of Yesterday evening about an hour ago. have Orderd in all the parties that are out both of my division and of the fifteen detached parties; I expect they will be ready to march for Camp by Noon. There is now a fine oppertunity for the Q.M.G. & Commissary Genl of provisions to employ their Waggons, at one place within Six miles of this place there is above 100 Tun of Bar...
47To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 21 March 1778 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Major General Stirling, 21 Mar. 1778. In GW’s letter to Stirling of 21 Mar. , he refers to “your favor of this date.”
48To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 23 April 1778 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your request, I have paid the highest attention to the several Matters referred by your Excellency to the General Officers of this Army on the 20th Inst. I have endeavoured fully to Consider the three different plans of Operation proposed for the ensueing Campaign, and If I was to Chuse either of them Separate from the others, I must Say that I should prefer the first; But I do not...
49To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I beg leave to lay the enclosed account before your Excellency, which only Contains, some of the principal losses I have met with in the Service of the United States, the Smaller ones I have kept no Account of. These losses would amount to more than any pay I have yet received in the Service, and I cannot Suppose it will be thought reasonable that I should be the Sufferer. If your Excellency...
50To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 10 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from Major General Stirling, 10 May 1778. On 11 May , GW wrote Stirling: “I have received your Letter of yesterdays date.”
51To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 18 June 1778 (Washington Papers)
In answer to the Several Questions Submitted by your Excellency Yesterday to a Council of General Officers, I beg leave to give it as my Oppinion. That no Enterprize can be undertaken to advantage against the Enemy in Philadelphia, as they Can Move off on the first Notice of our Approach, or if they Chuse to fight us wt. their Whole force they Can in a few hours bring it over from Jersey. That...
52To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 2 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed I recived yesterday evening and took the liberty of opening them least they might require some immediate arrangement. the Rear of the Army is up, in much better order than I could have expected. I am this moment going to the Court Martial after a little retardment as your Excellency will see by the enclosed Note & Answer. I have sent Col: Bur to Elizabeth Town to make some...
53To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 2 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
On Considering the Several Questions Stated by your Excellency Yesterday to your General Officers I am of Opinion, That any Attempt on the troops on New York Island must be futile and extremly dangerous . Futile because, if we could drive the troops from that Island, and they should retire either to their Ships or to Long Island, our acquisition would be Useless; especially while the Enemy...
54To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 28 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
I receved your orders This Moment and shall set out early in the Morning on the busyness you have appointed me for. I thank your Excellency for the Command and you may be Assured I will use my best endeavours to Carry Your Instructions into excecution. I am your Excellencys Most Humble Servt ALS , DLC:GW . Stirling wrote and signed the following note on the addressed cover: “A few lig<ht...
55To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 30 September 1778 (Washington Papers)
We are Just arrived here and as it is uncertain where Genl Woodford is, as some tell me he is at the Court house about two Miles from hence, others that he is advanced to Clarks town, others that he Marching further on, I shall therefore [remain] here ’till the Messengers I have sent to find him out return—I do not like any of those possitions for him. he [is] too Nigh [the] River and I think...
56To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 1 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you Yesterday afternoon by a Messenger from General Maxwell. I found Genl Woodford with his Brigade at the Courthouse about two Miles East of this place they are now on their March towards Paramis. the best account of the Scituation [of] the Enemy & of Col: Baylor & the Wounded of his Corps is Contained in the enclosed Letter from Dr Griffith to Genl Woodford. I think at least two...
57To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency two letters from Kakiyate, I came here the day before yesterday, my time Since has been Cheifly employed in Veiwing the Country and getting intelligence of the Enemy: two deserters from the 15th yesterday say their Regiment and Eleven others are in a few days to Embark for the West Indies, that they were Officers Servants and over heard this, which is the Cause of their...
58To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 3 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
Two more deserters from the 15th Regt they tell the Same Story of the twelve Regts going to the West Indies and that the Embarkation is to take place on Tuesday Next. General Woodford has received your Excellency’s letter of the 30th. a drago[o]n of the 16th Came in Also yesterday Evening, several other deserters are Come in at Clarks Town. I am your Excellency’s most Obt Humble Servt ALS ,...
59To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 4 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
I wrote your Excellency Yesterday Morn’g from Paramis, and Came here in the Afternoon. I find here General Winds with about 600 Militia General Heard with about 1000, & General Maxwell with the first & Second Regiments of his Brigade[.] Colonel Dayton with the other two & Col. Neilson with about militia are at Elizabeth Town. the Militia are all home Sick and are every hour apply[ing] for...
60To George Washington from Major General Stirling, 5 October 1778 (Washington Papers)
About Eight oClock this Morning we were Alarmed with Accounts of the Enemy’s Advanceg, thro’ugh Hackensack. soon after that about 300 of them were on the heights behind Arent Schuylers house. both Accounts prove true. that Body which Come thro’ Hackensack halted on the heights near the head of the polyfly about one Mile S.W. from Hackensack and about four miles N.E. from hence, and there...