Abraham Clark letter to Colonel Elias Dayton, 1776 July 4.

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Abraham Clark letter to Colonel Elias Dayton, 1776 July 4.

Clark writes to Colonel Dayton, stationed with the third battalion of New Jersey Forces, at Johns Town, Mohawk River, or Crown Point, concerning the retreat from Canada and the imminent attack on New York by General Howe. Even so "Congress resolved to declare the United Colonies Free & independent States. A declaration for this purpose I expect will this day pass Congress ... after which it will be proclaimed with all the State & Solemnity circumstances will admit. It is gone so far, that we must now be a a free independent State or a conquered country." Clark continues that he can guess Dayton's feelings at the news of Howe's advance and admits "I dont feel quite reconciled at being here, & the enemy at my door at home," but reports that New Jersey is ready "to meet the enemy ... or to assist N. York ..." He places his trust in the "indulgent Father who hath hiterto preserved us ..." In addition he assures Dayton that "our Congress is an august assembly, and can they support the declaration now on the anvil, they will be the greatest assembly on earth." He has no news of Dayton's family and wishes the contents of the letter to be conveyed to [the battalion's chaplain, James] Caldwell. Clark concludes "We are now ... embarked on a most tempestuous sea, life very uncertain, seeming dangers scattered thick around us ... Let us prepare for the worst. We can die here, but may all our business ... purposes & pursuits tend to fit us for that important event."

1 item.

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SNAC Resource ID: 6822351

University of Virginia. Library

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Clark, Abraham, 1726-1794

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rk59kr (person)

Abraham Clark (February 15, 1726 – September 15, 1794) was an American Founding Father, politician, slave owner, and Revolutionary War figure. He was a delegate for New Jersey to the Continental Congress where he signed the Declaration of Independence and later served in the United States House of Representatives in both the Second and Third United States Congress, from March 4, 1791, until his death in 1794. Clark was born in Elizabethtown in the Province of New Jersey. His father, Thomas Cl...

United States

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f874hn (corporateBody)

Idaho became a state on July 3, 1890 with post offices being established as early as 1876. From the guide to the Franklin County, Idaho Post Office Location Records, 1876-1945, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives) These photographs document Region 4, started in 1910, of the US Forest Service, covering Utah, Nevada, Southern Idaho, and Western Wyoming. From the guide to the US Forest Service Photograph Collection., 19...

Dayton, Elias, 1737-1807

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6610xr2 (person)

Revolutionary general. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Chatham [N.J.], to General Hand, 1782 Jan. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270517668 Revolutionary War Army officer. From the description of Papers, 1759-1783. (New Jersey Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 70954594 ...

Sprague, William B. (William Buell), 1795-1876

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pn9fxg (person)

Clergyman and autograph collector from Albany, N.Y. From the description of Papers, 1830-1843. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 33203510 American pastor, collector, and biographer. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Albany, N.Y., to [Andrew Preston Peabody?], 1866 Jan. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 751989045 William Buell Sprague (1795-1876) was an American Presbyterian clergyman and author. A graduate of Yale and of Pri...

Caldwell, James, 1734-1781

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p85177 (person)

Albert H. Small Declaration of Independence Collection (University of Virginia)

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Howe, William Howe, Viscount, 1729-1814

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6js9zfj (person)

Commander-in-chief of British forces in North America from 1775 to 1778. From the description of Appointment, 1778 Feb. 23, Philadelphia, of Charles Bowden. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122625975 Commander of British Army troops in North America during the American Revolution. From the description of Book of general orders: manuscript, 1777. (New York State Library). WorldCat record id: 80960793 Army officer, Great Britain. ...