Washington George 1732 - 1799 Superb George Washington signed document: He discharges a Private in the 2nd Regiment Light Dragoons, known as "Sheldon's Horse," a mounted regiment - a Sheldon's trooper is depicted in the painting of Cornwallis' surrender

Partly Printed Document Signed "G:^o Washington" as General, 1 page, 9" x 11.75". Head-Quarters [Newburgh, New York], June 12, 1783. "By His Excellency's Command," countersigned "J Trumbull Ju^r S[ecretar]y"and "Registered in the Books of the Regiment" by "Fred. J. Whiting," Adjutant. Completed in manuscript. On watermarked laid paper. Professionally mended at folds in lower portion, one passing between the "g" and t" of Washington's bold signature. Fine condition and with unusually large margins, brighter and fresher than normally encountered

In full, "By His Excellency George Washington, Esq; General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. These are to Certify that the Bearer hereof Jarod Hummungson Private in the 2^d Reg[imen]t L[igh]t Drag[oons] Regiment, having faithfully served the United States Three Years and being inlisted for the War only, is hereby Discharged from the American Army."


Printed on verso: "Head-Quarters, June 12th 1783. The within Certificate shall not avail the Bearer as a Discharge, until the Ratification of the definitive Treaty of Peace; previous to which Time, and until Proclamation thereof shall be made, He is to be considered as being on Furlough. [in type] George Washington." Signed "Jerod Homiston." The Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris on January 14, 1784.

The regiments main patrol areas during the war were in Southern Connecticut and New York, where they intercepted British supplies and fought off bands of Loyalist partisans who preyed on local citizens. This duty earned them the nickname "Watchdogs of the Highlands". The regiment was furloughed in June 1783 at Newburgh, New York, and discharged on November 20, 1783, by proclamation of General Washington. The 2nd Light Dragoons are prominent in Col. John Trumbull's paintings of the American Revolution. The artist's brother Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. signed this discharge as Washington's Secretary and is pictured in his his painting of Cornwallis' surrender.

The Second Continental Light Dragoons, known as Sheldon's Horse, was commissioned by Congress under the command of Col. Elisha Sheldon on December 12, 1776, at the direct recommendation of General George Washington. Sheldon first came to the attention of the Commander in Chief earlier that year when Sheldon lead the 5th Regiment Connecticut Light Horse to Washington's New York headquarters to volunteer for army service. The offer was refused due to lack of sufficient forage for men and horses. However, after the October 1776 defeat at White Plains, New York, and the rear guard actions of the Connecticut 5th Light Horse across New Jersey, Gen. Washington came to recognize the value of a regular mounted establishment and the Second Continental Light Dragoons was born with Elisha Sheldon commissioned as Colonel-Commandant. From March 1777 until January 1781 the regiment consisted of six troops drawn mostly from Connecticut, but with men from Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York.

In January 1781, following the reorganization as a legion, there were 4 troops of mounted, 2 troops of dismounted and 2 companies of Light Infantry. The unit never served as a whole. The first action occurred when Capt. Epaphras Bull and Lt. Thomas Young Seymour led a portion of the Second Dragoons at the Battles at Trenton and Princeton, New Jersey. Elements of the regiment later saw combat at: Woodbridge, Brandywine, Germantown, Kingston, Monmouth, Morrisania, and Newtown of Sullivan's 1779 campaign in south Western New York. At the Battles of Saratoga, a portion of the regiment under Lt. Seymour not only fought as the sole Continental cavalry, but was assigned to escort Burgoyne to Boston after the British surrender. At Schoharie, at the Battle of The Flockey, where Sheldon's Horse performed the first cavalry charge on American soil. At the Battle of Yorktown, 20 Sheldon's Horse were detailed to accompany Washington and Rochambeau to the York peninsula. A Sheldon's trooper is depicted in the painting of Cornwallis' surrender.