Bradford, William, Jr.: [Valley Forge]:

$4,000 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

[AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM WILLIAM BRADFORD, JR., TO JOSEPH CLARK, LEAVING CLARK IN CHARGE WHILE BRADFORD IS AWAY]. William Bradford, Jr., Deputy Muster Master General for the Continental Army, writes to Joseph Clark of the New Jersey Militia from the brutal winter encampment of Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78. Bradford expresses concern at not having seen Clark personally and states he is leaving Clark in charge while he is away. William Bradford, Jr., son of the famous Revolutionary War printer of the same name, was a Philadelphia lawyer. He later served as Attorney General of Pennsylvania, on the state Supreme Court, and as the second Attorney General of the United States in 1794-95 (until he died at age forty). His service in the American Revolution included action at the Battle of Trenton and a term as Deputy Muster Master General, 1777-79. The recipient of this letter, Joseph Clark, was a soldier from New Jersey who attended Princeton and became a minister after the war. Bradford writes:"Sir, I was extremely disappointed by your going to Elizabethtown without seeing me. I have waited several days expecting your return; as I wanted you to superintend the department during my absence, & give you some instructions on that head. I have at length determined to set off for Philada. in confidence that your prudence will bring you to camp in a day or two, & that you will give such directions relative to the Department as the exigency of affairs may require. I hav

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