1From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 8 January 1783 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Recet of your letter of the 6 of this Mo—The matter rispecting the Servants of the Officers of Cavalry shall be Represented to the Secretary at War and until his directions are taken the Pay Master shall be ordered to Pay Subsistence to the number of Servants allowed by the Order of Jany last. Lt Colonel Jameson has the leave you Request. I am Sir. DLC : Papers of...
2From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 25 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
On friday next you will move from your Quarters (wherever they may be) with your whole Corps, at such time & manner, as to be at the White Plains positively between sunset & dark—your Men will require provisions for saturday & may be perfectly light. I send you the Paroles & Cr Signs untill the 29th inclusive—you will keep them sacredly to yourself, except when they are to be delivered to the...
3George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 24 July 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
Ramapo [ New Jersey ] July 24, 1777. Orders Sheldon to Headquarters. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Sheldon was a colonel of the Second Continental Dragoons.
4From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 6 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
In answer to your Letter of the 2nd Inst. I can only repeat the instruction I gave in mine of the 31st Ulto for you to draw on your own Return from the Public Stores such Articles as were indispensably necessary to equip your Corps, previous to its marching. I was in hopes that the Assembly of Connecticut, if they gave Orders for the purchase of the Horses, would also make provision for...
5From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 17 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have your favr of the 13th accompanied by one from Governor Trumbull respecting the Cantonment of your Regt. As it is the request of the State and as you seem to think you will be benefitted by the exchange I have consented to your taking your Quarters in Massachusetts in the towns which you have pointed out. But I could not help remarking to the Governor that this repeated interference of...
6From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 10 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Covers of Most of the dispatches that have lately come from the Count de Rochambeau to me, by the Chain of Expresses, have been so broken, that it would have been an easy matter to have taken out the inclosures and discovered the contents—Had this been the case once or twice only—I should have attributed it to accident, but from the frequency of the thing, and no other packets being broken...
7From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 31 July 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will be pleased instantly upon the Receipt of this to send off an Officer with a sufficient number of Dragoons to post three at every fifteen Miles distance between New London upon the lower Road and the Head Quarters of the Army, which will be in West Chester County—The inclosed letter to Mr shaw of New London is to sollicit that Gentleman to continue the Chain by hired Expresses from...
8From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 3 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favor of the 29th ulto and am obliged by the intelligence which it contains. You will be pleased to put your two Companies of Infantry and fifteen of your dismounted Dragoons to be commanded by Lieut. Seymour under the orders of Major TallmadgeYou will readily perceive the reason of not entrusting the object of this detachment to paper as the Express has to pass thro’ an...
9From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 8 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 2d inst. You may call in the Dragoons who were stationed as Expresses on the Road to New London. You will be pleased to make to me as soon as possible an accurate return of the Number of Men and Horses in your Regiment—the quantity of Cloathing and number of Arms—Accoutrements and Furniture of every kind fit for service and what will be the deficiency estimating...
10From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 26 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will remain with your Legion on the Lines untill farther Orders. While you continue to do duty there, you need not keep a fixed position, but may remove your Corps from place to place, as you may think necessary for the purposes of obtaining forage, covery the Country, & securing yourself from surprize. It will be expedient to keep up a communication with Col. Webb who commands the Light...
11From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 25 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will move your Legion from their present Cantonment, by the directest route to Pines Bridge or the nearest convenient place for forage on this side the Croton—Calculating your distances, & making your stages in such a manner as that you will arrive at the point of destination; on Saturday the 31st Inst. without failure—You will send notice to me of your arrival, & receive farther...
12From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 24 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
When you were at this place some time since, you assured me, that I might expect to see you and your Regiment at Camp about a fortnight thence. I must confess I did not entertain the least Suspicion, after this assurance, that so long a space would have elapsed, and that at the end of it the event would be as remote for any thing I should know, as ever. I find myself utterly at a loss to...
13From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 3 February 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been favd with yours of the 21st ulto If the Men of your Regiment, to whom you refer, have been lately inlisted for any term but for the War expressly and contrary to your positive orders, the Officer guilty of a breach of them should be arrested, and tried for disobedience. As the form of the inlistments is ambiguous, you had best fill up new ones fixing the term for the War—This will...
14From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 7 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
I have just been favoured with your Letter of the 5th instant; and am happy to find your Regiment in so compact a State and so well prepared for the Duties of the Field. As your present Situation admits of great Attention being paid to the Discipline of the Corps, I have no Doubt but they will emulate the astonishing proficiency made by the rest of the Army. I must recommend great Caution to...
15From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 17 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
On receipt of this you will march your regt of Horse, arm’d or unarm’d, accoutred or not to join this Army, leaving one Troop with Genl Putnam at Peekskill. a large number of Horse in the present situation of our affairs is so indispensably necessary, that I cannot admit any excuse to justify your remaining any longer from Camp. I expect I shall see you as soon as possible. I am Sir Yrs &c....
16From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 27 November 1782 (Washington Papers)
I am extremely obliged by the information contained in your two favors of the 14th & 25th Inst. Your channel of Intelligence seems to be so direct & accurate, that I cannot but press you to avail yourself of it—I shall thank you still to make your enquiries respecting the Cantonment & State of the Enemy’s force; the embarkation of Troops; sailing of the Fleet &c. as minute, and at the same...
17From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 17 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
The Dragoon brought me your Letter of the 13 Yesterday. A Supply of Shirts Sufficient to give each Man two—will be sent here as fast as they can be transported from Philadelphia—Six thousand have already arrived and I only delayed the issue of them till there should be enough here to give each man one however if more do not arrive in a few days I shall order these to be issued by lot—so that...
18From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 18 April 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have recd your favr of the 13th—The low state of the military Chest will not allow of a further sum on account of recruiting just now, for which reason your Officers must suspend that Business for the present. The Bounty to the Officer is 20 dollars for each new recruit and 10 dollars for each reinlisted Man—You may offer Pardons to any of those who have deserted from you, who will return...
19From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 27 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
I have been informed that one of our Expresses has lately been taken at Pine’s Bridge and carried into New York—I shall be exceedingly anxious untill I hear whether he was charged with any public dispatches. To guard agt such an accident in future, I think it will be prudent to shift some of our Stages. Instead therefore of going to Stratford by the present Route—I would have you withdraw the...
20From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 24 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
As I have just received intelligence the enemy’s fleet have sailed from the Hook I have to desire that Immediately on receipt of this you will proceed with all your horse except one troop which is to be left with General Putnam, to join me. You will give orders concerning the cloaths you mentioned to me accordingly. I am Sir Your most Obedt servt. Df , in Alexander Hamilton’s writing, DLC:GW ;...
21George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 4 December 1779 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Morristown, New Jersey ] December 4, 1779 . States that $10,000 have been issued to Sheldon. Authorizes Sheldon to enlist infantrymen whose terms of service are near expiration. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Sheldon was a colonel of the Second Continental Dragoons.
22From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 10 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
It being now time for your Corps to retire into Winter quarters, I propose posting the two Companies of Infantry under the Orders of Major Tallmadge contiguous to the Sound; and should be very well satisfied with having the Cavalry cantoned in either of the Towns of Ridgefield, Danbury, Reading, or New Town (but, not farther eastward) if convenient quarters, & a supply of Forage can be...
23From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 18 February 1783 (Washington Papers)
B. General Hazen—represents to me, that Lt Kinney of your Regiment was some time since apprehended, below the Enemys lines, on suspicion of being concerned in illicit Trade and was sent up to the Cantonment at Pompton—where he was ordered by Gen. Hazen to remain—till the matter was examined into & decided or till he should be permitted to depart—notwithstanding which Orders, he left the...
24From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 12 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
You will please to furnish twelve Dragoons, who are well mounted to form a Chain of Communication from Hartford to Peekskill—Mr Mix who is the bearer of this, has Orders to post them & make provision for their accommodation & subsistence—The service is temporary, and if the Horses are well supplied with forage & taken proper care of, they may be kept in good condition for the future purposes...
25From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 4 December 1779 (Washington Papers)
I received this morning your letter of the 29th and in consequence, have given Mr [ ] your Qr Mr a warrant for ten thousand dollars, which is as much as the military Chest can at present spare —When this is expended you can apply for a further sum. I have no objection to your inlisting such men belonging to the infantry whose times of service are very near expiring and who will not reengage in...
26Orders to Lieutenant Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 16 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having thought fit to appoint you Lieutt Colo. Commandant of a Regiment of Horse to be raised and to empower me to appoint the officers under you, reposing especial trust & confidence in you & knowing how much your honor & reputation depends upon the proper choice, I am willing you should have the Nomination of all the Officers (reserving to myself a negative of any One and all...
27From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 29 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
An extent of Country between Gen. Gates and the enemy make it necessary to employ horse in that quarter. I therefore desire you may proceed immediately to the North River and put yourself under the command of Genl Gates with all of your cavalry that are in a condition to march. With such as remain you will leave proper officers. I am &c. Df , in James McHenry’s writing, DLC:GW .
28From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 17 December 1778 (Washington Papers)
I am glad to find by yours of the 8th that your Regiment is like to be so well accommodated at Durham. I have never had any representation against its being quartered near that place, neither can I conceive why you can interfere with the provision of Beef for the Army more there than any where else in the State. Should Congress see a probability that the operations of the next Campaign will...
29From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 7 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
If you have not already withdrawn the Chain of Dragoons from the upper Road you will be pleased to do it and establish a Chain from hence to Southington at the following places. two Dragoons at each—Bedford—Danbury—Woodbury Southington—The French Hussars will be upon the Route from Harford Eastward. You may take, for this purpose, such men as are not fully accoutered and equipped. I am Sir Yr...
30From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 10 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
On the receipt of this, you will have your Regt put in the most compleat state of preparation for Moving to join this Army, and hold yourself in readiness to march on the shortest notice. I am Sir Your Most Obedt Servt. DLC : Papers of George Washington.