The Life of William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, Major General for the Army of the United States During the Revolution: With Selections from His CorrespondenceWiley for New Jersey Historical Society, 1847 - 272 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
acquaintance affairs afterwards Albany Alexander Amboy American army appointed arrived attack Baskenridge Brigadier Brigadier General Stark British army Canada Captain circumstances Colonel Colonies command Commander-in-Chief Conway correspondence Council DEAR detachment Duer duty Earl of Stirling East Jersey Elizabethtown enemy enemy's England favour fleet following letter force Ford Franklin French Gates give Governor hear Henry honour hope House House of Lords hundred informed intelligence Jersey Lady Lake George late Livingston Long Island Lord Cornwallis Lord Stirling Lord Stirling's Lordship M. G. the Earl Major McWilliams ment miles military militia morning Morris New-York obliged officers Ogden opinion orders party person Philadelphia pleasure possession Province quarters received regiment retreat river road Sandy Hook Saratoga Scotland sent ship soon Staten Island thousand tion took town troops Washington whole Wilkinson William William Duer wish
Popular passages
Page 14 - DEAR SIR, — I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of the 23d of February, soon after the date of it.
Page 27 - A scorn of wrangling, yet a zeal for truth; A generous faith, from superstition free; A love to peace, and hate of tyranny; Such this man was; who now, from earth remov'd, At length enjoys that liberty he lov'd.
Page 165 - About 3 o'clock of the morning of the 27th, I was called up and informed by General Putnam, that the enemy were advancing by the road from Flatbush to the Red Lion ; and he ordered me to march with the two regiments nearest at hand, to meet them. These * Marshall's Life of Washington, Vol. II. p. 445. Sparks
Page 167 - Smallwood's regiment, first ordering all the other troops to make the best of their way through the creek. We continued the attack a considerable time, the men having been rallied, and the attack renewed five or six several times, and we were on the point of driving Lord Cornwallis from his station, but large reinforcements rendered it impossible to do more than provide for safety. I endeavoured to get in between that house and Fort Box, but on attempting it I found a considerable body of troops...
Page 167 - I saw that the only chance of escaping being all made prisoners, was to pass the creek near the Yellow Mills; and, in order to render this the more practicable, I found it absolutely necessary to attack a body of troops, commanded by Lord Cornwallis, posted at the house near the Upper Mills.
Page 76 - ... persuading them out of it, unless by examples and premiums ; and these it would be well for Government to try — a few thousand pounds expended in that way might have a good effect. " The making of wine, also, is worth the attention of Government. Without its aid, the cultivation of the vine will be very slow ; for of all the variety of vines in Europe, we do not yet know which of them will suit this climate ; and until that is ascertained by experiment, our people will not plant vineyards ;...
Page 72 - ... which he was a proficient. Lord Shelburne seems to have been of a reserved and somewhat astute disposition: deep and adroit, he was however brave and firm. His knowledge was extensive and even profound. He was a great linguist; he pursued both literary and scientific investigations ; his house was frequented by men of letters, especially those distinguished by their political abilities or economical attainments. He maintained the most extensive private correspondence of any public man of his...
Page 190 - tenderness" of General Gates seems to have evaporated ; for the Secretary complains that his reception " by the President of the Board did not correspond with his recent professions ; and that although at a loss to account for his coldness," he " had no suspicion of his sincerity." After remaining a few days at his post he set off on his errand to Valley-Forge, where, after lingering a fortnight at Lancaster, under the influence of a passion more " tender" than the mutual affection between himself...
Page 174 - Brandywine above the fork, and gained the heights within two miles of Sullivan's right flank ; that General advanced to meet him, with the three divisions under his command, viz., his own, Lord Stirling's, and General Stephen's ; but before he could form his troops for action, Cornwallis attacked him with so much impetuosity, that, after a short resistance, the right of the American line was broken, the residue thrown in confusion, and the whole compelled to a precipitate retreat.* A portion, * The...
Page 68 - ... doing one single thing that might put a stop to this shameful affair. I make no doubt but the people of New Jersey will make some remonstrance upon this indignity put upon them. You are full as well acquainted with the character and principles of this person as myself, and are as able to judge of the impropriety of such an appointment. What a...