From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 8 December 1780
To Colonel Elisha Sheldon
Head Quarters New Windsor 8th Decr 1780
Sir
I have recd your favr of the 2d inst.1 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 the Strength your Corps at the new establishment—You will also make a return of the Articles of Cloathing and Accoutrements drawn by the Regt since the 1st Sepr 1779—The foregoing are called for by the Board of War, for their government, as they are directed by Congress to make provision for the Cavalry.2
You will also make out and transmit to His Excellency Governor Trumbull a Return of such of your Men as belong to the State of Connecticut and who are inlisted for the War specifying their names and the Towns and districts to which they belong.3 I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
GW also wrote Col. Stephen Moylan from New Windsor on this date: “You will be pleased to make to the Board of War (and send duplicates to me) as soon as possible, an accurate return of the 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 the strength of your Corps at the new Establishment—You will also make a return of the Articles of Cloathing and Accoutrements drawn by the Regt since the 1st Septemr 1779. The foregoing are called for by the Board of War, for their government, as they are directed by Congress to make provision for the Cavalry.
“Should you have any Men in your Regiment belonging to the State of Connecticut and who are inlisted for the War, be pleased to make me a return of their Names and the towns to which they belong in the State” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW; see also notes 2 and 3 below).
1. See Sheldon to GW, 2 Dec., found at GW to Sheldon, 27 Nov., n.3.