To George Washington from Captain Thomas Posey, 31 August 1778
From Captain Thomas Posey
Schoharry [N.Y.]
31st Augt 1778
May it Please your Excellency
I acnoledge the Rect of your Favr, bearing Date 5th Inst., incloseing a Warrent for 2500 Dollors, with a Letter for Jonathan Burrel Esqr. Assistant Paymaster Albaney.
as my time has been much taken up with Duty, have not had the opportunity to apply for the money, however the men has not sufferd, as Got money upon my Cr. & Distributed amongst them, for which I shall acct with the Paymaster of the Rifle Regt, he Arivd here 26th Inst. with 2 months Pay,1 If necessity Oblidges me to make use of the Warrent I Shall, If not I will Return it. I am with Respect Your Obedt Humle sert
Thomas Posey.
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The paymaster of the Rifle Regiment at this time was Lt. Benjamin Ashby. GW’s warrant book indicates that on 8 Aug., Ashby received the pay due to “Colo. Morgans Corps” for April and May, and he received additional funds for rations due the regiment on 13 Aug. (DLC:GW). Ashby was commissioned an ensign in the 11th Virginia Regiment in November 1776, appointed regimental quartermaster in January 1777, and promoted to lieutenant in June 1777. By August 1777 he was detached for duty with the Rifle Regiment, and by January 1778 he had become paymaster for that regiment. When the Rifle Regiment was broken up in the fall of 1778, Ashby returned to his regiment, now numbered the 7th Virginia, and he served until 1783, being promoted to first lieutenant in March 1779 and transferring to the 3d Virginia Regiment in January 1781.