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Unpublished letters from the American War of Independence

Sunday, October 4th 2020

The letter announcing the victory of Saratoga and the privateer missives

THE LETTER OF THE BATTLE OF SARATOGA, 1777

Extremely rare autograph letter signed by Richard BACHE (1737-1811), Second Postmaster General of the United States of America and son-in-law of Benjamin Franklin:

Quarters at Mr B. Fullers, near the 26 mile Stone on the North Wales road, and about ¾ mile from head quarters, Wednesday morning 15th October 1777.
My dear girl Here we have been since monday noon; how much longer we shall continue here, depends upon Mr Mease, who talk of going this afternoon. The army certainly more downwards this day, how far, I know not ; thirteen cannon are going to be fired, on account of the good news from the Northward, afterwhich I am informed, the army will immediately march ; Burgoyne is put to flight and we are pursuing of him ; after a service engagement on the 7th of this month, when we drove him from his lines, took upwards of 200 prisoners, besides 300 and add sick in the hospitals, 330 tents, and as many camp ketles boiling corn, a large quantity of baggage, nine pieces of brass cannon from six to twelve pounders, and found within the lines a greater number slain than were taking. General Gates dispatched two parties in the flanks of the enemy and two brigades in the near, which we hope will finish the great general Burgoyne army, and put an end to the campaign in that quarter. Our army here is in the highest spirits, and wish for another engagement, they will be gratified in a few days, and I hope their ardour will carry them into Philadelphia. Nothing less is expected here (...) The generals Arnold and Lincoln were both wounded in the leg. Mr John Mease is perfectly well, it was not till yesterday that we had any certain account of him... "


Richard Bache, the "postmaster" of the continental army of the United States

Born in 1737 in Yorkshire, England, Richard Bache joined his older brother Theophylact in New York City in 1760 as a partner in a business that sold non-perishable goods and marine insurance, primarily to the people of Newfoundland and the West Indies. In 1762, Richard moved to Philadelphia and worked for the Mount Regale Fishing Company until he opened his own store in 1766. The following year, he experienced financial problems due to debts he incurred that were repudiated by his London associate, Edward Green. That same year, he proposed to Sarah Franklin (1743-1808), known as Sally, Benjamin Franklin's only daughter. Franklin initially opposes this alliance, given the precarious finances of his future son-in-law and rumours that Bache is considered a fortune hunter. The marriage is finally celebrated on October 3, 1767 and the couple will have eight children.
A member of the Committee on Non-Importation Agreements in 1769, Bache opened his own grocery store in 1773. In 1775, he joined the Philadelphia Correspondence Committee and, thanks to his father-in-law, who became the senior postal official of the thirteen rebellious colonies (The First Postmaster General), became his right-hand man as secretary and controller (The Second Postmaster General).

Portrait de Richard Blache, huile sur toile, par John Hoppner (1758-1810),
(Christie’s, New-York, 8 juin 2011).


On November 7, 1776, Richard Bache replaced Benjamin Franklin, who had been sent to France as ambassador to the European royal courts, as The First Postmaster. He held this position until January 1782. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania War Council and President of the Republican Society. Richard Bache then became a director of the Robert Morris' Bank of North America, became involved in Benjamin Franklin's Society for Political Inquiries and handled many of the Franklin family's affairs after his father-in-law's death in 1790. He died in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on July 29, 1811, at the age of 74.

The Philadelphia Campaign (1777-1778)

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved the declaration of independence of the thirteen American colonies from King George III of Great Britain. This was the birth of the United States of America. However, the war started one year earlier in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775 in Lexington. It will end on September 3, 1783 with the Treaty of Paris.

The military campaign in Philadelphia began in late August 1777, when English General Howe landed 15,000 men at the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, about 20 miles southwest of Philadelphia, the seat of the Second Continental Congress. General Washington positioned eleven thousand men between Howe and Philadelphia but his army was very quickly overwhelmed and pushed back during the battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Philadelphia being threatened to be captured by the English, the Second Continental Congress abandoned the city, moving first to Lancaster and then to York in Pennsylvania. On September 26, General Howe bypassed Washington and entered Philadelphia unopposed. The capture of the rebel capital did not end the rebellion as the British thought. In the 18th century war, it was normal that the camp that had captured the capital of the opposing force would win the war. But this war was to continue for another six years (until 1783) because of the unconventional war tactics of the insurgents.

After taking the city, the British set up a garrison of about nine thousand men in Germantown, five miles north of Philadelphia. Washington unsuccessfully attacks Germantown on October 4, then withdraws to watch and wait for the British to counterattack. A military campaign punctuated by skirmishes and positioning warfare began.

The Philadelphia campaign marked a turning point in the War of Independence despite the setbacks of the American insurgents. This key but neglected campaign, taking place at the heart of the war and the colonies, eclipses all others in terms of the number of combatants involved, the battles fought and the losses suffered. For the first time, the British and American armies were engaged in broad daylight under relatively equal conditions. Although the British had won all the major battles, they failed to crush the rebellion. Washington established itself as the commander of the colonial forces and proved to be a shrewd military strategist. Continuing to fight, although suffering heavy losses, the Americans took a heavy toll on the British army, helping to convince France to enter the war and put the "redcoats" on the defensive.

The Continental Army Headquarters in Towamencin (Pennsylvania), October 8-16, 1777

Four days after the defeat of Germantown, George Washington ordered to set up his headquarters in Towamencin, a few miles from Philadelphia, to care for the wounded and take some rest.

Richard Bache took part in this military campaign, holding the position of Second Postmaster General in the Continental Army, led by General George Washington. In the absence of Benjamin Franklin, who was sent on a mission to Europe, Bache was in charge of the communication of dispatches between the different army corps of the American insurgents.
On the morning of Wednesday, October 15, 1777, Bache wrote his letter, set up in Benjamin Fuller's farm, located in Towamencin, along the North Wales road, three-quarters of a mile from George Washington's headquarters based in Frederick Wampole's farm. Bache had been resting on this farm for three days and was awaiting orders from General John Mease (1746-1826), Intendant of the Continental Army, to return to the road.

A military dispatch that arrived that morning brought major news, heralding a turning point in the military campaign.

The victory of Saratoga (Sept. 19-Oct. 17, 1777)

Reddition du général Burgoyne, le 17 octobre 1777, par John Trumbull (1756-1843),
huile sur toile disposée dans la rotonde du Capitole des Etats-Unis à Washington


During the U.S. War of Independence, two closely related battles took place at Saratoga on September 19 and October 7, 1777, which are often regarded as the turning point of the war in favor of the Americans.
A few months earlier, in the summer of 1777, English General John Burgoyne led a troop of eight thousand men southward to join General Howe's British army from the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Burgoyne crossed the Hudson River and set up camp near Saratoga, New York. Six kilometers away is the camp of the Continental Army commanded by the American General Horatio Gates, numbering twelve thousand men.
On September 19, Burgoyne marches south and engages in what is known as the First Battle of Saratoga. He fails to break through General Gates' lines.

On 7 October, he led 1,500 of his men in reconnaissance, but had to face a fierce American counter-attack led by General Benedict Arnold, a confrontation known as the Second Battle of Saratoga. Burgoyne's army was then reduced to 5,000 men and lacked food supplies. On 8 October, Burgoyne wants to retreat, but Gates, who now has 20,000 men, surrounds him. On October 17, Burgoyne capitulates by accepting the terms of the Saratoga Convention, which provides for his men to return to Britain on the condition that they never return to serve in North America during the war.

AMERICAN" MARKETS AND PRIVATEERS IN THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, 1775-1784

- Three autograph letters handwritten and signed by Daniel Roberdeau (1727-1795), privateer merchant, first brigadier-general in the Continental Army and member of Congress, co-owner of the sloop Congress and Chance, the first privateer ship rented by the American Congress to fight against the British fleet.

Amboy August 1st 1776
Gentlemen
Last evening captain Mr Elroy arrived here with the enclosed papers, this morning colonels Bayard and Dean were consulted and the result is that I should forward the papers to you, and desire that you would with hold from captain Adams any part or lot of prize money in any of the prize taken by Privateers Congress and Chance. As soon as government is established in our state, I hope it will be in our power to bring captain Adams to a strict account in the mean time I suppose he must be left to the remorse of a guilty consciousness. Captain Mr. Elroy had thoughts of proceeding to Philadelphia but we thought it an unnecessary needless expence..."


At the beginning of the War of Independence, the settlers had no navy and turned to privateers to continue the war at sea. Among the first private warships equipped by the colonies, the sloop Congress and Chance captured three British ships in the Florida Strait in May 1776.

Born on the island of Saint Christopher in the West Indies in 1727, Daniel Roberdeau received an education in England before immigrating to America and settling with part of his family in Philadelphia where he completed his studies. At a very young age, he started trading and trading mainly with the West Indies by importing rum, wine and products from the islands of Jamaica, Barbados and Saint Christopher. Prosperous merchant, he gradually climbed the ladder within the colonial community: he joined the Masonic Philadelphia Lodge, where he rubbed shoulders with Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton and many other prominent figures of the pre-revolutionary period in the United States; he held the charitable position of director of the hospital in Pennsylvania from 1756 to 1758. He was first elected to the Pennsylvania State Assembly from 1756 to 1761 and again from 1766 to 1776. In May 1776, the State of Pennsylvania hesitated to enter the American Revolution and to support a probable declaration of independence. Roberdeau, a brilliant orator and supporter of the unification of the colonies, used his influence to have delegates elected to the Continental Congress who supported the Revolution.

Daniel Roberdeau

On July 4, 1776, Daniel Roberdeau was designated as General of the Troops of Pennsylvania, the First Brigadier-General of Associators of Pennsylvania, forerunner of the present National Guard. With his brigade he joined General Mercer at Amboy (New Jersey) to defend New York, threatened by British troops. During the summer of 1776, the famous journalist Thomas Paine became General Roberdeau's private secretary. Having suffered the defeats of Long Island on August 27 and New York on September 15, 1776, Roberdeau was evacuated from the front during the fall having fallen ill. On February 5, 1777, he was elected a member of the Second Continental Congress until 1779 and was one of the co-signatories of the Articles of Confederation in 1778. In the aftermath of independence, he left Philadelphia for good to spend the rest of his life in Winchester, Virginia with his daughter. He died on January 5, 1795.

- Fifteen signed autograph letters and handwritten documents from the Caldwell family, Irish corsair merchants emigrated or independentists in the service of the rebellious American colonies.

At the beginning of the 18th century, the rate of emigration of the Irish to America was high, especially among the dissident Protestants of the region: as early as 1718, James Caldwell's great uncles emigrated from Ballymoney to New Hampshire, as did William and Andrew Caldwell.

William Caldwell, in the late 1740s, was a prosperous merchant in the town of Londonderry, a partner in the firm of Gregg, Vance & Caldwell. Between 1748 and 1768, he was co-owner of at least sixteen ships that transported Irish textiles, provisions and emigrants to Philadelphia in exchange for flaxseed, flour and wood.

Between 1749 and 1764, Andrew Caldwell (1734-1808) captained at least three of William Caldwell's ships. In the late 1750s, Andrew was a permanent resident of Philadelphia as a merchant seaman. By 1767, Andrew Caldwell was prosperous enough to buy shares in William Caldwell's ships. Until 1775, he became either co-owner or, increasingly, sole owner of at least fourteen ships. He developed his smuggling business, colonial land speculation, and trade in provisions and wine with the West Indies and southern Europe. By 1769, he was clearly one of the most prosperous members of this growing group of relatively young Anglican and Presbyterian merchants who were affiliated with the Owners' Party and who, in the 1760s and early 1770s, aggressively challenged the British "Friends" for economic and political dominance. Andrew Caldwell's social and political network consisted mainly of merchants of English origin or descent, such as Robert Morris and Thomas Willing.
However, it also included many Irish merchants such as Samuel Caldwell and John Mitchell (Andrew Caldwell's cousin and son-in-law, respectively), James Mease (Samuel Caldwell's business partner), and his brother John Mease.

Portrait d’Andrew Caldwell, huile sur toile, par CharlesWillson Peale
(Doyle Auction, New York, 18 novembre 2010)


The Caldwells and their allies, united by shared Irish resentment, all played an important role in the Philadelphia protests against British colonial policies. For example, in 1765 and 1769, Andrew and Samuel Caldwell signed non-importation agreements to protest the Stamp Act and the Townshend Acts.

James Caldwell was born around 1745, probably in the parish of Ballymoney in Ireland, the youngest son of Florence Ball (died 1768), daughter of the Presbyterian minister of Ballymoney, and John Caldwell (died 1755), a successful laundryman, miller and principal tenant in County Antrim. He is a nephew of Andrew Caldwell.

Following the death of their mother in 1769, James Caldwell's older brother John (1742-1803) inherited the family estate, while James emigrated to Philadelphia to join relatives who had been well established in the Ulster-US trade for nearly two decades.

Arriving in the capital of Pennsylvania in 1769, no doubt at the invitation of his uncle Andrew, James Caldwell quickly became part of this network of Irish elites. He became his uncle's business partner and co-owner in 1771-1773 of at least two of Andrew Caldwell's ships. In 1769-1770, he helped orchestrate a brutal demonstration by sailors and dockworkers against customs agents who tried to restrict the Caldwell Activities' wine smuggling. In the early 1770s, James Caldwell joined the Hibernia Fire Company and the Gloucester Fox Hunt and became a member of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. Finally, on September 21, 1772, he married Sarah (Sally) Mitchell, John Mitchell's sister and his uncle's daughter-in-law.

The names of Andrew's privateer ships reflect his political aspiration for independence: The Liberty, The Independent Whig, The Pennsylvania Farmer. In November 1774, Andrew Caldwell organized the first Philadelphia Light Cavalry Troop and in August 1775, he was elected a member of the Second Philadelphia Observation Committee to enforce the ban on trade with the United Kingdom.

On January 13, 1776, Andrew Caldwell was appointed Commodore of the Navy of the State of Pennsylvania. On May 6, 1776, he engaged in the battle of two British warships in the Delaware River. Later, he joined the staff of General George Washington. In December 1776 and January 1777 during the American campaigns at Trenton and Princeton, James Caldwell served in the First City Troop; on December 30, he and five other volunteers (including Samuel Caldwell) captured 12 British soldiers.

However, the Caldwell's main activity remains smuggling and trade. Through their close relationship with Congressional Finance Assistant Robert Morris, James and Andrew Caldwell built considerable fortunes - as did other Irish merchants - through privateering, speculation in commodities and bonds, purchases of confiscated Loyalist property and, most importantly, through contracts for the sale of food, clothing and military supplies to the American and Pennsylvania governments.
On September 6, 1783, James Caldwell died six days before the birth of his fourth child.

Source: Irish Immigrants in the Land of Canaan: Letters and Memoirs from Colonial and Revolutionary America, 1675-1815, édité en 2002.

« Pil 20 august 1775
Dear sir I left London the 13 and I suppose Mr Cay got there the same day, am now waiting a fair wind for Cork, but fear I must leave this tomorrow in quest of a passage someother way, the vessel I entend going by has been detaind these three weeks wind bound and it now looks for standing as much as ever. I must be at Cork the 31 at farthest which makes it rather more uncomfortable to meet this delay. I have desired J: Mitchell to look out for a purchase for the ship, if her value cannot be obtained, and no good employ can be had for her from London. I think of taking in what goods may offer for Derry and proceed from Thence to Dominica where I hope and expect to meet a letter from you giving your sentiments about the propriaty of sending her to the Bay to load Mehoganey and Logwood [logwood and mahogany]. I could let her on charter to load there for London at 55? but its a place (the bay) I would not wish to send her to if any other employ can possibly be obtained for her, I think you would do well to write me immediately to Dominica what you would have me to do, in case I shall be oblidged to go there. I have desired Jack Mitchell to enquire of Mr Alexander and Fletcher has accepted your draft on them and if he find they have refused it, to accept it himself payment at Mr Smills and get so much of the ships freight as will discharge it, he will write you himself about it from London. Jack wrote you about the freight offerd forboth ships, to be put immediatey intopay at 10 and month, the voyage is to stade to take in in Hanoverian troops and carrey them to Minorca and Majorca to releive the Garrisons there and bring the English troops to some part of England or Ireland, and the ship to be discharged at Deptford. The broker offerd to enter into army engagement not to employ the ships on army american service, birt on thinking ot the matter and consulting some of our friends we thought it not prudent to accept of it, for the we might reconsile it to ourselves as being on no American service direct yet it is certainly an indirect service and might be construd much to our disadvantage on your side the water we therefore hope to meet your approbation in this matter, will knowing your sentiments about the present dispute with great britain. I hope soon to have the pleasure of hearing from you again I shall take every oppertunity of advising you how I go on. I am much surprized to find the ship dont carrey more wheat if you had not been at New York at the time she saild I could not think she was fully loaded, but I suppose you in that matter was in it should be… »

« Bedford 15 november 1777
Dear Sir I wrote you from Hartford on my way here which I hope you received, I got here on thursday morning ansd a msierable place it is after keeping my horse at a fence two thirds of the day and seaching the town allow for a place to put him, was oblidged to send him nine miles out of town with some ohters that was in the same situation. I found captain Parkison in bed not being will for some days past, almost all his hands discharged. I have been ever since endeavouring to get her hawled in to the wharf but as yet without effect, Its will great difficulty a man can be got to do a days work, but am inhopes a few days will make them more plenty as there is severall prize vessells now almost out and I expect to get the hands employed at them. Am greatly at a loss what to do will the brig when discharged. I fear she dont sail fast enough for a privateer and there is no sort of a cargo to be procured here, if it is any way possible to procure sailors I think it would be best to send her tound to Virginia however I dont think I shall determine on any thing for her until I see you of you and Mr Mc Clenachar determine on any thing before. I return write Mr Jervis and give him the orders. from some matters I have heard dont think Parkison will do very will to go in the brig again, however he says his health wont permit his going soon to sea at any tate. I shall return as soon as possible as extravegantly dear that there can be nothing done to advantage that way. Tell sally I shall see her soon as possible and am very well. Suppose you have heard of the Syren frigate getting on shore at Point Judah, all the crew are brought prisoners to Providence the guns and materials will be all saved, there was a transport ship and shomer ran a shore at sametime. I send this to Boston by Mr Moore to be put in the post office… »

The Siren (or Syren) was a 28-gun frigate of the Enterprise-6th class of the Royal Navy. She participated in the Battle of the Rice Ships on March 2-3, 1776 on the border between the Province of Georgia and the Province of South Carolina and in the Battle of Sullivan Island on June 28, 1776 in Charleston, South Carolina. The Siren, escorting a convoy in poor visibility, ran aground at about 6 a.m. on November 6, 1777 near Point Judith, along with two other ships. Efforts were made to bring her back to sea, but U.S. forces ashore brought up field artillery and prevented rescue operations. The Siren was abandoned to American insurgents.
« Bedford 17 november 1777
Dear sir this day we made a beginning in the discharge of the brig but it snowes very hard and fear we can get but little done, I will get the goods that is sold, off my hands as specialy as possible and hope soon to tell you they are all delivred. I believe I could get a cargo of flawseed picked up here in some time but at the least it would be two dollars and bushell and I really think the value of such a cargo when arrived in France would be so trifeling it would not be work tesquing such a vessell will it. I think it would therefore be best to run her round to synapuxon or North carolina to procure a cargo of tobacco, and am in some thought of leaving her in the hands of Mr Jarvis to get filled out and sent round there, perhaps I may be able to pick up a man soon, thats fil to go master of her.

Parkison dont seem to think of going again nor do I like him if he even should. We have this day an alarm by express from Boston that the enemy have a design of makeing a stroke at this place from Rhode Island and that some troops ware actually embarked for that purpose, this is really a very defencely place and cannot see any thing to prevent them if they design it but if it should be the care it is impossible to move any thing out of the way or even get the brig of. The colonel Alum Topperass shall be put into store as they come to hand. Tell sally I am well ; my love to her and all the test of the good family. Suppose you have heard of the grand expedition under general Spencer who will upwards of ten thousand men paraded on the shore opposite Rhode Island near three weeks and after haveing every thing ready for going on the Island thad some of the men actually embarked dismissed the whole army without attempting any thing farther… »

« London 5th feb. 1777
they have not as yet been to discover anything conserning his business if its for the interet of the cause he is undoubtedly will received by the nobiless of paris in france and spain they continue their preparations for war and at this time have a very powerfull fleet. Portugal is likewise busty augmenting her army putting he frontier garnisons in a portier of defense as the she feard an attack by land. The press continues here very brick and the ministry seem prepairing for the worster and the people in general here seem much enrayed at the declaration of independency and the loss of so many of the North India fleet the loss of which has effuted several capital west india houses one ... Singord and Jackson has hoped for the moderate seem of 800 000 pounds this has hurt many others among which is Sir G. Colbrook once more and it is said many more must stop in lory. Mr Mease is in france what doing cant say as I have not heard from him why did you not lookout for the R. Penn when going to Halifax he would have been valuable. The Hibernia was disposed of for 1650 pounds and the bill sale given by J. Tidle would do nothing but thro it and nor could I help it as held the necessary papers. He made a 1000 pounds freights of which little will be left after paying J. T. and the insurance some as captain M. C. charges against ship and owners is 550 pounds freights I cant inform you of the particulars as I have seen him for theen two months part the I have sent note after vote for im to come to me. As I could not employ the money as you wished when I am you... »

« Ballymoney 6th march 1783
I embrace this conveyance from Belfast of again addressing you and to repeat again the pleasure I have in the uninterrupted opportunily of doing it. Seeing then that the direful obstructions which prevented for so long a time our espitolary as well as commercial intercourses are now no more ; let us my Dear brother who are the only active living remains of a numerous family, communicate with one another as frequently as we can by letter, since it is our lot to be seperated and at such distance from each other as to prevent our personal exchange of good offices and wholesome advice. The virtuous associations of my bretheren volunteers of Ireland has been productive of the most happy consequences, not only in protecting this kingdom from foreign invasion (which but for that, there was every reason to apprehend) and preserveing internal peace, but it has had the happiest tendency to being about the political salvation of it. To their glorious effort, it is to be chaffy attributed that we have retreived our original right of legislation ; subjected nor to no controul nor arrogance of supremacy of any other legislative body, our king of Ireland with the lords and commons of it, are the only competant body under which our law can derive or exist. Hence it is that we have same freedom of trade to all the world as great britain and of consequence various new manufactures have been set on foot in the cotton and hardware way. Our linens have the same bounties on export as they receive in england, our fishiries if under proper regulation and property attended to are a very great source of wealth ; agriculture is improven, and I hope will still be more encourged by granting longer tenures. In short Ireland will in a little time wear a new face if proper measures are taken to attach her sons to stay at home and exert their industry in their native soil, but with all these inducing prospects, I fear America will in a little tima have too many inducements to attract our people. (the riches of a manufacturing country) ; to remove to it from the desciription I have given of my own situation you will be apt not to say, why dont you remove among the first. In reply I will not say that my inclination is quite so strong for removing thother as some time ago. Why so. Have we not you say obtained by the articles of peace every thing we fought for. I say so too, and more ; witness Canada? And I rejoice at it... But I think I see Ireland's rising greatness also. I see I cannot get some part of my property disposed of as I could wish, and I cannot with honnour or credit to myself get it effected, and have any thing wherewithat to make any sort of eligeible settlement in a foreign country surrounded by so numerous a family... Beside I think the opening intercourse of trade between america and ireland, will give you an opportunity of puting something my may, and of giving me an opportunity in return of serving you in these parts.

The want of means, and of an established credit in London may obstruct both our operations, but as I said before, time, that worketh wonders, may remove this difficulty, and I shall wait its effects in Ireland unless something unexpectedly favorable comes my way on something as unexpectedly desastrous, induce me to a contrary determination. My son John is the greatest object of my care at present, to get him property fixed ; and I cannot determine what to do with him until I hear from you. He is present in Derry delivering a small cargo of herrings I sold there for exportation. I know not if it might answer any of your vessells that possibly might come this way with flaxseed (if that trade returns on the old channel to your parts) early in the winter, to take in a load of herrings for the west indies and thence load homewards to you. Possibly you might digest some plan of this sort that might be mutualy serviceible. Vessells under one hundred tons burthen are intitled to twenty shillings a ton bounty if they get on the fishing ground provided the vessels be Irish property. And this also may be evaded by another register. All irish vessells no matter how large are intitled to this bounty tho none can draw above one hundred pounds. If you thought the pursueing of the scheme of this sort eligeible and that a vessell could be here early next winter. I could have barrels and every thing ready to give her dispatcher loading… »
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