In an October 6 letter to Lord Stirling, he set forth the principle that would guide his increasingly sophisticated intelligence-gathering efforts. As we are often obliged to reason the designs of the enemy from the appearances which come under our own observation and the information of our spies, Washington wrote, we cannot be too attentive to these things which may afford us new light. Every minutia should have a place in our collection. For things of a seemingly trifling nature when conjoined with others of a more serious cast may lead to very valuable conclusions.But as Washington was to learn to his great regret, sometimes what were to become the designs of the enemy were developing in plain sight.