THE BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN CAVALRY

THE BIRTH OF THE AMERICAN CAVALRY
Great grouping of three handwritten documents referring to Lieutenant Col. THOMAS SEYMOUR (1735-1829), commander of one of the first American cavalry units during the Revolutionary War. The documents include: Manuscript D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], June 28, 1785, from Capt. Phineas Brainer, Lieutenant of the 11th Company in the 7th Regiment for the Colony of Connecticut, promising to pay Seymour Six Pounds in six months. Seymour adds his initials on the verso, confirming the payment was completed in full. SOLD WITH: Manuscript D.S., 1p. 8vo., Dec. 3, 1773, stating that Seymour provided a list of debts and costs for six individuals, signed at the conclusion by an unidentified official. This document was penned in the same year Seymour was commissioned as a Captain of Militia during the American Revolution. SOLD WITH: Manuscript D.S., 1p. 8vo., New York, May 3, 1785, from Charles N. Evers, confirming receipt of Seymour's payment of 103 pounds. Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull and the State Assembly created three 'Light Horse' regiments under Seymour's command, ordering them to proceed to the main army and place themselves under the command of George Washington. This 400 to 500 member Cavalry detachment arrived at Washington's headquarters on July 11th, 1776. Unfortunately, they had left Connecticut in such haste that they failed to bring with them proper encampment equipment. Washington, already having troubles securing forage for his draft and artillery animals, recommended that the troop send its horses back to Connecticut and serve as dismounted troops. The troopers offered to pay for the upkeep of their horses themselves, which Washington accepted.