1From David Humphreys to Elisha Sheldon, 26 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
Instead of being with your Corps at the White Plains between sunset & dark tomorrow Evening, as mentioned to you in the Commander in Chief’s Letter of yesterday’s date; it is his pleasure, that you should be with your Legion by 2 OClock P.M. tomorrow at the House where Lord Stirling quartered the last Campaign, (the name of the family I know not, but you will readily recollect it to have been...
2From Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. to Elisha Sheldon, 1 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
His Excellency directs me to reply to your Letter of the 30th ulto which was received Yesterday at this place. Your Arrangements for forage must be made with the Quartermaster Genl & forage Master, who will make the best Supplies in their power. As your Corps is cons i dered as part of the Main Army—your provisions must be furnished by the Contractors for the Moving Army—to whom you will apply...
3From 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...
4From 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...
5George 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.
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From 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...
9From 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...
10From 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...
11From 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...
12From 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...
13From 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...
14From 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...
15From 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...
16From 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...
17From 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....
18From 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...
19From 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...
20From 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...
21From 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...
22From 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 ;...
23George 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.
24From 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...
25From 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...
26From 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...
27From 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...
28Orders 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...
29From 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 .
30From 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...
31From 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...
32From 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.
33From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 3 December 1782 (Washington Papers)
I find it expedient to countermand the Order I gave this Morng for the march of the Mounted Men of your Regt & the State Troops of Connecticut & New York—You will therefore make no movement in consequence of that Letter, and either suppress the Order to Col. Canfield, or countermand it, if it has been already communicated. As I have an earnest desire that the Enterprize committed to Majr...
34From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 9 June 1783 (Washington Papers)
Your Regiment of Light Dragoons, being to be dissolved, in Consequence of the Resolution of Congress of the 26th of May—grantg furloughs to the Men for the War—and my particular furlough given to those for three Years—You will suffer the Men for the War, who will have their discharges, to take with them their Arms & Accoutrements, & Ammunition, agreeably to Genl Orders—The Arms, Ammunition &...
35From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 1 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to the memorandum given yesterday to Colo. Jameson directing the March of the Troops under your Comand, I presume you will be at Bedford by the Time given, which is Tomorrow (the 2d)—by 12 oClock at Noon—at Bedford you will expect to be joined by the Duke de Lauzun, with the Legion under his Comand, who is to be there at the Time mentioned for your arrival—but should the Duke, by any...
36From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 16 October 1782 (Washington Papers)
I inclose to you the Paroles & Countersigns from this Day—to . You will keep them sacredly to yourself untill they are delivered to your Corps—and when they are expired you will send to Head Quarters—& they will be continued for a further Time. I am &ca DLC : Papers of George Washington.
37From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 4 June 1780 (Washington Papers)
I recd your favr of the 26th ulto with the monthly returns inclosed. You have a letter to Mr Bull, who will deliver the Cloathing you ask for your Regt, upon it. I imagine Major Tallmadge had some directions from the Board of War relative to procuring the Cloathing you mention for the Officers, and I therefore do not look upon myself at liberty to give any orders about the disposal of it, or...
38From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your favour of the 13th Inst. came safe to hand yesterday by Lt Beldin —I shall be sorry to hear that Your disappointment in receiving Money from the Connecticut Treasury has retarded you; That no delay may arise from the want of Money, I have given an Order in your favour for the sum required, Fifteen thousand Dollars, Your Lieutt will receive it here —I hope it is not necessary to recommend...
39From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 7 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
Instantly upon the receipt of this Letter, you will put the whole of your Corps in motion to join the Army--leaving only such Officers and dismounted Dragoons, as are absolutely necessary to collect and bring on the Horses and Equipage which may be provided by the State. When you have commenced your march (which I should advise to be by the Route of Litchfield towards Peekskill) you will be...
40From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 31 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will immediately put your Corps under marching orders & make every possible provision for a movement. It is the intention of this order, that the whole of the Infantry and all of the Cavalry who have been, or can be prepared for the feild, should be held in the most perfect readiness to march on the shortest notice. Whatever articles there are in the Stores, which are absolutely necessary...
41From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 14 August 1779 (Washington Papers)
Major Talmadge in a letter of the 11th instant seems of opinion that Men sufficient to compleat your Regiment may be inlisted to serve during the War, and if I fully understand him upon the terms of serving on foot untill it shall be thought proper or convenient to mount them. If Men can be obtained upon the above terms I have no objection to as many being recruited as will compleat you to the...
42George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 2 September 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Bergen County [ New Jersey ] September 2, 1780 . Has ordered two Connecticut regiments to join Sheldon at North Castle. Instructs Sheldon to move to West Point if British should march. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
43From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 27 November 1780 (Washington Papers)
You will immediately march to Colchester in the State of Connecticut with your Regiment and enter into Winter Quarters. You will deliver over to the Qr Mr at Hartford all the horses that you are of opinion will not be fit for dragoon service the next campaign; the remainder you will do every thing in your power to put into the most perfect order during the Winter—You will particularly attend...
44George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 27 November 1780 (Hamilton Papers)
Preakness [ New Jersey ] November 27, 1780 . Orders Sheldon to march to Virginia and enter into winter quarters. Sends directions concerning the horses. Requests Sheldon to confer with the governor of Connecticut concerning the completion of his regiment. Df , in writing of H, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
45From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 20 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
I enclose you the Copy of a Complaint exhibited by a Mr Orser, respecting some outrages & abuses recd from a part of your Corps. I need not inform you, it always gives me pain to hear of any misunderstanding between the Inhabitants of the Country & the Army—how well or ill founded the Complaint is in the present instance I do not pretend to determine; should there by any ground for it, I hope...
46From George Washington to Elisha Sheldon, 28 July 1782 (Washington Papers)
You are to commence the March of your Regt as soon as may be after the receipt of this Order—you will proceed to New Town, Danbury, or some other convenient place in the State of Connecticut, on the route to the Army, where forage & accomodations may be best supplied &there you will halt until further orders; you must move by easy Marches, (as I expect the Regt will come into the field in...
47From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 31 May 1779 (Washington Papers)
Having received intelligence that the enemy are advancing to the white plains —& other appearances indicating a capital manœuvre in that Quarter you will put such part of your Regiment as are mounted immediately in motion for the Posts on the North River and obey such orders as you shall receive from Majr General McDougal or the Officer commanding there, (Majr Genl Putnam being designed for a...
48From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 30 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have received your Letter of the 24th Inst. —And shall write to the Board of War on the Subject of remounting the Regts of Dragoons. The necessity of a regular & rapid communication between this place & Rhode Island has induced me to reestablish the Chain of Expresses; The Count De Rochambeau, to whom I have written, will I presume, make the necessary arrangements for conveyance from Rhode...