Sandford Gadcomb Papers

The Sanford Gadcomb Papers are composed mainly of political sketches and observations on state and national affairs for the years 1811-1819. Gadcomb, a Republican, wrote pieces for Vermont newspapers vilifying the Federalist opponents of the War of 1812, as well as opinions supporting Vermont Republican candidates for election after the war. Included here are Gadcomb’s views on Governor Martin Chittenden’s Federalist opposition to the Republican war, the actions of such prominent national Federalists as Timothy Pickering, and the Vermont Congressional elections of 1818. In addition, there are three letters by Gadcomb as a soldier in the War of 1812, commenting on the shameful conduct of the Vermont militia and citizenry regarding the war, and speculating on the future prospects of meeting the British in battle. Finally, there is a manuscript expressing Gadcomb’s feelings about the proposed changes in the Vermont state constitution in 1814 and a draft for a constitution for the Chittenden County Agricultural Society. Reflecting the Republican positions on the War of 1812 and contemporary politics, the Papers are a small but important collection of manuscripts about Vermont in the second decade of the nineteenth century. The Papers are arranged chronologically.