Letter from Lord Stirling to the President of Congress

v4:764

Elizabethtown, January 18, 1776.

SIR: On Saturday evening Colonel Heard communicated to me the orders of Congress of the 10th instant, relative to my furnishing him with three companies to join the Minute-Men on the expedition into Queen' s County. The next morning I went over to Woodbridge, to concert with Colonel Heard the necessary manoeuvres, and agreed to furnish the companies strong, as his party was rather deficient. He has now with him near three hundred of my regiment, completely armed, accoutred, and provisioned for four days. As the men of my regiment went partly from Brunswick and Amboy, as well as this place, I thought it best, yesterday morning, after regulating the embarkation from the Point, to go to Staten-Island to regulate the like there, and to assist Colonel Heard in whatever might be necessary. I had sent off a party of thirty-six men the evening before to guard the mouth of the Kills. About eleven, yesterday, the first division, notwithstanding the most boisterous wind, crossed over to Bergen Point; Colonel Heard followed about noon; Major De Hart, with the first division of my regiment, followed soon after; and the whole, who had passed, marched for Bergen town. The wind continued extremely violent; night coming on, and the men much fatigued, I ordered the remainder to halt, and be quartered in the several parts of the Island they then were. At daybreak this morning, those on Staten-Island began to pass over. I remained there till about noon, when the chief of the whole had passed over to Bergen Point, and then came to this place. I am this moment informed, that the first division landed safely in the City of New-York yesterday evening from Paulus Hook; that Major De Hart, with about two hundred of my regiment, landed there about eleven this evening; and that the rest were following them, without the least movement about the men-of-war, or any of their boats. I have high confidence in Colonel Hoard' s management of this affair, yet I cannot but regret that I have not the command of it. However, I shall always most implicitly obey the order of Congress, and endeavour to serve the cause by every exertion in my power.

I have the honour to be your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Honourable John Hancock.