August 5, 2023
Pages 1671
Whole Number 87
COVER PAGE of the QUARTERLY,
Whole No. 87, September, 1974
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| 32.3 Richard Sparks |
| Born: ca. 1757 in New Jersey Died: 1815, in Mississippi |
| From Indian Captive to Army Colonel |
The portrait reproduced on the cover of this issue of the Quarterly is that of Colonel Richard Sparks, who is the subject of the article that follows. A photograph of this painting was given to the editor in 1955 by United States Senator Edward Martin of Pennsylvania. Senator Martin's wife was a descendant of Richard Sparks. According to the Senator writing in 1955: "...Mrs. Martin and I are not sure of the location of the painting of Colonel Richard Sparks. It is some place in Mississippi or Tennessee. Mr. Wall, a cousin of Mrs. Martin, had the first print of the painting made many years ago. Mr. Wall, who for many years was employed by the Department of Internal Affairs of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as head of the Drafting Bureau, is now dead and for that reason we cannot secure this information."
Perhaps a member of the Association with an interest in military history will be able to identify the uniform worn by Richard Sparks in this painting. Judging from his youthful face, the portrait must have been painted long before he achieved the rank of colonel.