Division Commander Major General William Alexander preferred to be called Lord Sterling. His headquarters during the Neshaminy Encampment was a short distance to the east of Moland on Bristol Road, on the farm later owned by Major George Jamison. Tradition holds that George Washington reproved the Major General for his convivial habits while at this encampment. This is not unlikely, as Stirling’s drinking habits were nearly legendary. Even the London gossips, who didn’t believe his claims to a title peerage in Scotland, said he drank like a Lord. It was said he had thirteen glasses of grog before breakfast, one for each of the colonies!
Lord Stirling was present during the Council of War on August 21, 1777. He was born on 1726 and died in 1793 of the gout, probably due to his love of food and drink.