Description:

MATHEW CLARKSON
(1758 - 1825) Continental Army officer, served under Benedict Arnold and was at Saratoga and, later, on the staff of Benjamin Lincoln. Present at the surrender of Burgoyne, at the defense of Charleston, and the surrender of Cornwallis. Superb content A.L.S. while on parole as a prisoner of the British, 1p. legal folio, Philadelphia, July 28, 1780 to General Sir Henry Clinton, British Commander-in-Chief in which Clarkson pleads with his captor to allow him to return to the side of Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in Massachusetts. In full: "Sir, As the Commissioner of Prisoners informs me that no exchange will soon take place I am to intreat of your Excellency the enlargement of my Parole which at present confines me to Pensilvania [sic]. General Lincoln to whom I was an aid is in New England. It is his wish & mine that I may be with him, and as no ill consequence can follow to the arms of His Britannic Majesty I have a confidence in your Excellecies Indulgence that the general Parole usually given to Prisoners in my situation may be extended to me. [Stricken is the line: "and if this should appear inexpedient, that at least the limits of my confinement may be the same as my General's"] ...I shall trespass no longer on your Excellency's patience except to assure you that I should not have taken the liberty to make this request had I supposed it would be in the least disagreeable to you And that I am with all possible respect Your Excellency's most obed't & humble serv't M. Clarkson Major". Some losses at folds and more so at blank top margin which have been professionally restored, and only a few scattered letters lost. On Apr. 1, 1780 Henry Clinton commenced a siege of Charleston with 14,000 men and 90 ships. On May 12, 1780, after a final fierce bombardment, Charleston capitulated and Lincoln, Clarkson and the American forces became prisoners of the British in the largest American surrender until the battle of Antietam in 1862. The officers were allowed to retain their side arms and their baggage was unmolested. The terms of Clarkson's parole obliged him to remain within the confines of the colony of Pennsylvania - he would remain trapped there, despite his appeal to Clinton - for eight months. But Clarkson and Lincoln would eventually have their revenge - both would be present at the reduction of the British stronghold at Yorktown and would witness their adversary's surrender.

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July 8, 2015 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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