From George Washington to Colonel Elisha Sheldon, 19 April 1777
To Colonel Elisha Sheldon
Headquarters. Morris Town. 19th April 1777
Sir,
Your favour of the 13th Inst. came safe to hand yesterday by Lt Beldin1—I shall be sorry to hear that Your disappointment in receiving Money from the Connecticut Treasury has retarded2 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 here3—I hope it is not necessary to recommend to you the utmost Oeconomy; with it, We shall incur a very heavy Expense in fitting a single Regiment4 for the Field, but without the strictest, it will be enormous. You can’t be more anxious to take the Field, than I shall be glad to see you at the head of a complete Regiment. I am Sir Yr Most Obd. Ser.
G.W.
Df, in George Johnston’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Significant changes in wording in the draft are given in notes 1, 2, and 4.
1. Ezekiel Porter Belden (1756–1824) of Wethersfield, Conn., graduated from Yale College in 1775 and served as a second lieutenant in Col. Philip Burr Bradley’s Connecticut state regiment from June to December 1776. Appointed a lieutenant in Sheldon’s light dragoon regiment in December 1776, Belden was promoted to captain about this time. He served in that regiment until April 1780 when the death of his only brother caused him to resign his commission in order to assist his father in managing his business (see Belden to GW, 20 April 1780, DLC:GW).
2. At this place in the draft, Johnston wrote “effected,” and then he struck that word and inserted “retarded” above the line.
3. GW signed a warrant for this amount on this date (warrant book no. 2, DLC:GW, ser. 5, vol. 18).
4. The words “of Cavalry” are struck at this place in the draft.