THE SERVICES OF LIEUT.-COLONEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 155 
and dismounted; weut out with General Howe reconnoitring; soon 
after their departure we heard several shots fired in a wood a mile 
from the town. They saw some rebel light horse. Sent a letter 
to Colonel James through Montresor. 
August 31st .—A strong detachment under General Cornwallis 
marched out this morning to destroy a small magazine. They met 
with some rebels, whom they drove off. The 23rd regiment had a 
man killed and four or five wounded, the light dragoons had a man 
killed and three wounded. Several of the inhabitants have come into 
the town. General Howe has issued a proclamation promising pardon 
and protection to all who will accept of it It is said by some deserters 
that Washinton with 7,000 men is at Iron Hill about four miles from 
us. Two soldiers of the 71st regiment were found a little way from 
the camp with their throats cut. It is supposed they were plundering 
and were set upon by some lurking rebels. Three grenadiers were 
taken also by the rebels, and four or five artillerymen are missing, sup¬ 
posed to be taken, or deserted. 
September 1st , 1777 .—Two men of the artillery went off last night. 
There has been some skirmishing this morning. Two rebel officers 
and three men taken and one killed, without any loss on our side. 
September 2nd .—This day, about 12 o'clock, the two heavy brigades 
of artillery struck tents and marched from the Head of Elk about a 
mile and a half, and then encamped with the Hessian grenadiers. We 
are informed that Lord Stirling 1 is at Iron Hill with a strong party of 
rebels. 
1 William Alexander known as Lord Stirling, was born at New York in 1726, the son of James 
Alexander, an engineer officer in the army of the Pretender. He served as private secretary on 
the staff of General Shirley in America and with him was present at the greater part of the war 
against the French. When Shirley was summoned to England in 1756, young Alexander 
accompanied him. During the five years he was in England he prosecuted his claim to the 
Earldom of Stirling, (as heir male to the 5th Earl, who died without issue) on grounds of descent 
from John Alexander uncle of the 1st Earl. His claim was admitted- by a jury in Scotland, 
but was disallowed by the House of Lords because he failed to show that heirs m the direct line 
were extinct. Before this decision was arrived at, he had returned to America and adopted the 
title which he retained to the end of his life. At the outbreak of the war of Independence, 
in 1776, he sided with the Colonists, served through the war and was made a Major-General. He 
was an excellent officer. Previous to his visit to England in 1756, he married Sarah Livingston, 
sister of Governor Livingston of New Jersey, and had two daughters. He died January 16th, 
1783. 
A few words may be added about the 1st Earl, the poet (1580-1640), the friend and pet of 
Kings James I., and Charles I. who created him, 
Lord Alexander of Tullibrodie. 
Viscount of Canada. 
Viscount and Earl of Stirling. 
Earl of Dovan. 
With these titles he received the following gifts, by charter cr letters patent, in the New 
World.— 
(1.) Nova Scotia. 
(2.) Canada including 60 leagues of bounds on both sides of the Sfc. Lawrence River, 
and the Great Lakes. 
(3.) A ‘Tract’ of Maine and the Island of Stirling (Long Island) and the Islands 
adjacent. 
The “ Tract of Maine ” embraced all oast of the Kennibec River to Nova Scotia and included 
Newfoundland. It was a prodigious gift. 
He had also given him the power to create one hundred and fifty “ Baronets of Nova Scotia,” 
nearly fifty of which titles exist to the present day. An interesting memoir of the Earl of Stirling, 
(from which these particulars are taken), has been published by Ludwig Schumacher. New York, 
