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Mr. Philip D. Burden
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A broadside written, and published by Benjamin Franklin dated 26 April 1755. Increasing interest in the English colonies in the Ohio region grew in the late 1740s with the formation of the Ohio Company and the Loyal Company of Virginia. The French response was greater military presence in the region and the construction especially of Fort Duquesne at a strategic location on the Ohio River. Attempts to restrict this encroachment came from Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia who sent a 21-year-old George Washington in 1753 to Fort Le Boeuf. Unsuccessful attempts ensued against Fort Duquesne which ultimately led to the Braddock Campaign of 1755.
THE BRADDOCK CAMPAIGN
General Edward Braddock was sent to Virginia to lead the British army in its objective to capture Fort Duquesne. He landed at Hampton on 20 February 1755 and on 17 April Braddock left Alexandria for Wills Creek (Fort Cumberland) enroute.
‘The governors of Virginia and Maryland had assured that sufficient wagons, pack horses, and forage would be available for the overland march. But these promises proved hollow: instead of two hundred fifty wagons, Braddock received twenty; instead of twenty-five hundred horses, he was furnished with two hundred. Braddock condemned the colonists as dishonest and dishonorable and threatened to seize what he had not been given. At this precarious juncture, Benjamin Franklin arrived at Braddock’s headquarters, ostensibly on post office business. The Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly had, in fact, directed Franklin to allay the ‘violent Prejudices’ Braddock was said to harbor against the colony. On learning of Braddock’s difficulties, Franklin opined that ‘it was a pity they had not been landed rather in Pennsylvania, as in that Country almost every Farmer had his Waggon” (Houston, pp. 235–236).
General Braddock and George Washington met with Benjamin Franklin at a Tavern in Frederick, Maryland on 23 April 1755. Having organised postal communications for the campaign, Franklin entered into a contract with Braddock whereby he would secure sufficient wagons and pack horses. The sum of £800 was made in advance payment.
THE BROADSIDE
Within three days Franklin had drafted and had William Dunlap print this broadside in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, appealing for supplies. The first printing press in Lancaster was James Coulter’s founded in 1747. The second was Benjamin Franklin’s set up in 1751 and run by James Chattin. John Dunlap took over the operation in 1754.
There are in fact two separate communications. The first an explanation of the recompense for the hire of wagons and horses in six terms.
‘Whereas 150 Waggons, with 4 Horses to each Waggon, and 1500 Saddle or Pack-Horses are wanted for the Service of his Majesty’s Forces now about to rendezvous at Wills’s Creek [Fort Cumberland]; and his Excellency General Braddock hath been pleased to impower me to contract for the Hire of the same; I hereby give Notice, that I shall attend for that Purpose at Lancaster from this Time till next Wednesday Evening; and at York from next Thursday Morning ’till Friday Evening; where I shall be ready to agree for Waggons and Teams, or single Horses, on the following Terms viz. … Note. My Son William Franklin, is impowered to enter into like Contracts with any Person in Cumberland County. B. Franklin.’
The second part states that the army had planned to commandeer what they needed as they advanced but Franklin’s intervention led to this agreement. He appealed to the people of the region to take up the agreement on offer, and the risks if they did not.
‘To the Inhabitants of the Counties of Lancaster, York, and Cumberland. Friends and Countrymen, Being occasionally at the Camp at Frederic a few Days since, I found the General and Officers of the Army extreamly [sic] exasperated, on Account of their not being supply’d with Horses and Carriages, which had been expected from this Province as most able to furnish them; but thro’ the Dissensions between our Governor and Assembly, Money had not been provided nor any Steps taken for that Purpose. It was proposed to send an armed Force immediately into these Counties, to seize as many of the best Carriages and Horses as should be wanted, and compel as many Persons into the Service as would be necessary to drive and take care of them.’
Franklin recognised that ‘the Progress of a Body of Soldiers thro’ these Counties on such an Occasion, especially considering the Temper they are in, and their Resentment against us, would be attended with many and great Inconveniencies to the Inhabitants; and therefore more willingly undertook the Trouble of trying first what might be done by fair and equitable Means.’
Franklin goes on to point out that whilst they have felt poorly served in these ‘back Counties’ by the Assembly, they now can gain financially for their support. He goes on to warn that failure to participate might be construed as disloyalty to the King. He concludes with, ‘I have no particular Interest in this Affair; as (except the Satisfaction of endeavouring to do Good and prevent Mischief) I shall have only my Labour for my Pains. If this Method of obtaining the Waggons and Horses is not like to succeed, I am oblig’d to send Word to the General in fourteen Days; and I suppose Sir John St. Clair the Hussar, with a Body of Soldiers, will immediately enter the Province, for the Purpose aforesaid, of which I shall be sorry to hear, because I am, very sincerely and truly your Friend and Well-wisher, B. Franklin.’
This broadside is an excellent example of Benjamin’s Franklin’s influence and diplomatic skills. The colonists rallied to the cause, and more than enough equipment was supplied for the march. Franklin was also influential in providing an advance copy of a map of the frontier then being made by Lewis Evans. Despite not being published until the 23 June 1755, Franklin arranged for an early pull from the plate which Evans signed and dated 8 May 1755. ‘That Evans was anxious that the map would render some aid in the campaign is also indicated by the fact that he sent a draft of it to William Shirley, Jr., secretary of General Braddock and son of Governor Shirley, in a packet forward by Richard Peters on May 12’ (Gipson). That very proof map we had the pleasure of discovering and acquiring. Gipson goes on to record ‘That Evans was anxious that the map would render some aid in the campaign is also indicated by the fact that he sent a draft of it to William Shirley, Jr., secretary of General Braddock and son of Governor Shirley, in a packet forward by Richard Peters on May 12’. Entitled the ‘General Map of the Middle British Colonies in America’, it would become was one of the most significant and influential maps published in Colonial America.
CONCLUSION
Braddock had arrived at Fort Cumberland on 10 May where he was to name Washington as his aide-de-camp. On the 12 May Richard Peters, a Pennsylvania official, sent a packet including the map to Braddock along with the wagons of supplies that Benjamin Franklin has helped organise. They arrived at Fort Cumberland on the 21 May. On 29 May the army departs for Fort Duquesne. On their approach to Fort Duquesne, they were routed and 60% suffered casualty. This despite Braddock being warned by Franklin to avoid using European field formations. Braddock himself was mortally wounded.
Labaree and Bell describe this broadside as ‘the central piece of an episode which demonstrated Franklin’s political mastery of the Pennsylvania back-country and which, second only to his published Experiments and Observations on Electricity, established his reputation among the English’. It cements this document as a highly significant item of Frankliniana.
As with any broadside it is exceedingly rare. This Snider example is one of perhaps five that survive. The English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) cites only three examples in institutions: the American Antiquarian Society, the American Philosophical Society, and the Boston Public Library. Only one other example could be traced at auction, from the Forest G. Sweet collection, sold at Parke-Bernet, New York, 7 May 1957, as lot 127.
Provenance: Christie’s New York, 19 December 2002, lot 172; Jay T. Snider; Sotheby’s New York, 24 June 2026, Jay T. Snider sale lot 70. ESTC W34633; Evans 7346 (ascribed to Franklin and Hall); Gipson (1939) pp. 67-8; Hildeburn (1968) 1394; Houston, Alan (2009) ‘Benjamin Franklin and the ‘Wagon Affair’ of 1755,’ in ‘The William and Mary Quarterly’, 66, no. 2, pp. 235–86; Labaree & Bell (ed.). (1959-); Lemay (2009) III, pp. 425–430.
THE BRADDOCK CAMPAIGN
General Edward Braddock was sent to Virginia to lead the British army in its objective to capture Fort Duquesne. He landed at Hampton on 20 February 1755 and on 17 April Braddock left Alexandria for Wills Creek (Fort Cumberland) enroute.
‘The governors of Virginia and Maryland had assured that sufficient wagons, pack horses, and forage would be available for the overland march. But these promises proved hollow: instead of two hundred fifty wagons, Braddock received twenty; instead of twenty-five hundred horses, he was furnished with two hundred. Braddock condemned the colonists as dishonest and dishonorable and threatened to seize what he had not been given. At this precarious juncture, Benjamin Franklin arrived at Braddock’s headquarters, ostensibly on post office business. The Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly had, in fact, directed Franklin to allay the ‘violent Prejudices’ Braddock was said to harbor against the colony. On learning of Braddock’s difficulties, Franklin opined that ‘it was a pity they had not been landed rather in Pennsylvania, as in that Country almost every Farmer had his Waggon” (Houston, pp. 235–236).
General Braddock and George Washington met with Benjamin Franklin at a Tavern in Frederick, Maryland on 23 April 1755. Having organised postal communications for the campaign, Franklin entered into a contract with Braddock whereby he would secure sufficient wagons and pack horses. The sum of £800 was made in advance payment.
THE BROADSIDE
Within three days Franklin had drafted and had William Dunlap print this broadside in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, appealing for supplies. The first printing press in Lancaster was James Coulter’s founded in 1747. The second was Benjamin Franklin’s set up in 1751 and run by James Chattin. John Dunlap took over the operation in 1754.
There are in fact two separate communications. The first an explanation of the recompense for the hire of wagons and horses in six terms.
‘Whereas 150 Waggons, with 4 Horses to each Waggon, and 1500 Saddle or Pack-Horses are wanted for the Service of his Majesty’s Forces now about to rendezvous at Wills’s Creek [Fort Cumberland]; and his Excellency General Braddock hath been pleased to impower me to contract for the Hire of the same; I hereby give Notice, that I shall attend for that Purpose at Lancaster from this Time till next Wednesday Evening; and at York from next Thursday Morning ’till Friday Evening; where I shall be ready to agree for Waggons and Teams, or single Horses, on the following Terms viz. … Note. My Son William Franklin, is impowered to enter into like Contracts with any Person in Cumberland County. B. Franklin.’
The second part states that the army had planned to commandeer what they needed as they advanced but Franklin’s intervention led to this agreement. He appealed to the people of the region to take up the agreement on offer, and the risks if they did not.
‘To the Inhabitants of the Counties of Lancaster, York, and Cumberland. Friends and Countrymen, Being occasionally at the Camp at Frederic a few Days since, I found the General and Officers of the Army extreamly [sic] exasperated, on Account of their not being supply’d with Horses and Carriages, which had been expected from this Province as most able to furnish them; but thro’ the Dissensions between our Governor and Assembly, Money had not been provided nor any Steps taken for that Purpose. It was proposed to send an armed Force immediately into these Counties, to seize as many of the best Carriages and Horses as should be wanted, and compel as many Persons into the Service as would be necessary to drive and take care of them.’
Franklin recognised that ‘the Progress of a Body of Soldiers thro’ these Counties on such an Occasion, especially considering the Temper they are in, and their Resentment against us, would be attended with many and great Inconveniencies to the Inhabitants; and therefore more willingly undertook the Trouble of trying first what might be done by fair and equitable Means.’
Franklin goes on to point out that whilst they have felt poorly served in these ‘back Counties’ by the Assembly, they now can gain financially for their support. He goes on to warn that failure to participate might be construed as disloyalty to the King. He concludes with, ‘I have no particular Interest in this Affair; as (except the Satisfaction of endeavouring to do Good and prevent Mischief) I shall have only my Labour for my Pains. If this Method of obtaining the Waggons and Horses is not like to succeed, I am oblig’d to send Word to the General in fourteen Days; and I suppose Sir John St. Clair the Hussar, with a Body of Soldiers, will immediately enter the Province, for the Purpose aforesaid, of which I shall be sorry to hear, because I am, very sincerely and truly your Friend and Well-wisher, B. Franklin.’
This broadside is an excellent example of Benjamin’s Franklin’s influence and diplomatic skills. The colonists rallied to the cause, and more than enough equipment was supplied for the march. Franklin was also influential in providing an advance copy of a map of the frontier then being made by Lewis Evans. Despite not being published until the 23 June 1755, Franklin arranged for an early pull from the plate which Evans signed and dated 8 May 1755. ‘That Evans was anxious that the map would render some aid in the campaign is also indicated by the fact that he sent a draft of it to William Shirley, Jr., secretary of General Braddock and son of Governor Shirley, in a packet forward by Richard Peters on May 12’ (Gipson). That very proof map we had the pleasure of discovering and acquiring. Gipson goes on to record ‘That Evans was anxious that the map would render some aid in the campaign is also indicated by the fact that he sent a draft of it to William Shirley, Jr., secretary of General Braddock and son of Governor Shirley, in a packet forward by Richard Peters on May 12’. Entitled the ‘General Map of the Middle British Colonies in America’, it would become was one of the most significant and influential maps published in Colonial America.
CONCLUSION
Braddock had arrived at Fort Cumberland on 10 May where he was to name Washington as his aide-de-camp. On the 12 May Richard Peters, a Pennsylvania official, sent a packet including the map to Braddock along with the wagons of supplies that Benjamin Franklin has helped organise. They arrived at Fort Cumberland on the 21 May. On 29 May the army departs for Fort Duquesne. On their approach to Fort Duquesne, they were routed and 60% suffered casualty. This despite Braddock being warned by Franklin to avoid using European field formations. Braddock himself was mortally wounded.
Labaree and Bell describe this broadside as ‘the central piece of an episode which demonstrated Franklin’s political mastery of the Pennsylvania back-country and which, second only to his published Experiments and Observations on Electricity, established his reputation among the English’. It cements this document as a highly significant item of Frankliniana.
As with any broadside it is exceedingly rare. This Snider example is one of perhaps five that survive. The English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) cites only three examples in institutions: the American Antiquarian Society, the American Philosophical Society, and the Boston Public Library. Only one other example could be traced at auction, from the Forest G. Sweet collection, sold at Parke-Bernet, New York, 7 May 1957, as lot 127.
Provenance: Christie’s New York, 19 December 2002, lot 172; Jay T. Snider; Sotheby’s New York, 24 June 2026, Jay T. Snider sale lot 70. ESTC W34633; Evans 7346 (ascribed to Franklin and Hall); Gipson (1939) pp. 67-8; Hildeburn (1968) 1394; Houston, Alan (2009) ‘Benjamin Franklin and the ‘Wagon Affair’ of 1755,’ in ‘The William and Mary Quarterly’, 66, no. 2, pp. 235–86; Labaree & Bell (ed.). (1959-); Lemay (2009) III, pp. 425–430.
FRANKLIN, Benjamin
Advertisement
B. Franklin, Lancaster, PA, 26 April 1755
Letterpress broadside (338 x 206 mm.), preserving deckle at fore- and lower edges and otherwise irregular) on a half-sheet of laid paper; chipped at top right corner with loss of one letter and portion of another, wear and repair at folds touching several letters, moderate sized stain at middle right, held within a brown morocco matte as part of a portfolio book, opposing portrait of Franklin, gilt ruled, upper board with gilt titles and date, in good condition.
Stock number: 11862
SOLD