From George Washington to Major Benjamin Tallmadge, 10 March 1778
To Major Benjamin Tallmadge
Head Quarters [Valley Forge] 10th March 1778.
Sir
Annexed is a Copy of my last Letter,1 which from the tenor of yours of the 7th inst. I am inclined to think you have not received—it was sent by the return of the Dragoon, who brought me your Letter of the 9th February—The Legislature of New Jersey certainly never meant that the Law regulating the Prices of Necessaries should have a retrospective view and invalidate anterior Contracts2—you will therefore settle with Mr Estey according to Colonel Sheldons agreement with him.
As Congress has called upon those States in which there is the best breed of Horses, to furnish a Supply for the Cavalry3—I cannot take upon me to put money into Colonel Sheldons hands for the purchase of remounts for his Regiment in particular, which will be provided for among the rest, at the same time if he can engage some good horses at reasonable prices on credit, I will promise that they shall be paid for hereafter. I have no doubt that Colonel Sheldon will be able to enlist a number of men for the established Continental bounty,4 as the Service of the Cavalry is sought by many who will not engage in the Infantry.
The Debts which accrue from your Contracts must as I said before, be paid from the Fund which is established for this purpose in the Quarter Master Generals hands. ⟨I am Sr⟩ Your ⟨most⟩ obed. Sert
Go: Washington
LS, in John Laurens’s writing, NNFTM; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
2. Regarding the New Jersey act of 11 Dec. regulating prices, see William Livingston to GW, 1 Dec., and note 6.
3. For the congressional camp committee’s decision to call upon Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia to supply horses for the cavalry, see GW’s Instructions to George Baylor, 4 Mar., and note 1 to that document.
4. In September 1776 Congress had offered a Continental bounty of $20 and one hundred acres of land to men enlisting for the duration of the war (see John Hancock, to GW, 24 Sept. 1776).