Document addressed to Cornet Brown, Lt. Dragoons and signed by Elisha Sheldon, Col. L.D. reading: "Agreeable to Order recevd. from General Poliski you are empowered to collect all the Horse proper for Cavalry that belong to Tories within fifteen miles of this place and give you receipt to the owners of sd. horses. You will take the name of the men that own the sd. horses with a particular description of sd. horses and return as soon as may be. Worcester Township, October 1st, 1777" Congress, on December 12, 1776, constituted a regiment of light dragoons and appointed Elisha Sheldon of Connecticut as its commander. Congress also authorized Washington to appoint the other officers of the regiment, but he delegated the duty to Sheldon, reserving for himself the right to refuse any officer so appointed if he thought him unfit for cavalry service. Washington indicated that he expected Sheldon to appoint only gentlemen of "true spirits and good character" and observed that gentlemen of fortune and of reputable families generally made the most useful officers.