From George Washington to Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Temple, 27 December 1778
To Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Temple
Philada 27th Decemr 1778
Sir
I recd your favor of the 12th at this place, where I shall remain a few days upon Business and then return to Middle Brook.1 I hope you have by your own exertions and the Assistance of the Quarter Master got your Men and Horses well accommodated by this time.
The Resolve of Congress being very express and extending only to the reinlistment of the old Men of the Regiment,2 I would have you countermand your former orders, and direct the recruiting officers to attend to the reenlistment of them only. should Congress think proper to alter their Resolution hereafter, I make no doubt but Men may be got for the service of the Cavalry, especially as they are put upon the same footing in respect to the high state Bounties with the Infantry. I am &.
Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Temple’s letter of 12 Dec. has not been found; for a discussion of GW’s stay in Philadelphia, which lasted much more than “a few days,” see GW to Stirling, 21 Dec., n.1.
2. GW is referring to a resolution of 23 Nov. “That the sum of ten thousand dollars be advanced to Lieutenant Colonel Temple, of the First regiment of light dragoons, to discharge the arrears of pay due to the said regiment, and to reinlist such of the men whose times are about expiring” (, 12:1152).