[1] In 1845, Governor Thomas Pratt appointed Bradford the Clerk of the Baltimore County Court, a post he occupied until 1851.

In February 1861, Governor Thomas H. Hicks appointed Bradford one of Maryland's delegates to the Washington Peace Conference, where he made a speech supporting the Union.

During the last of these, Bradley T. Johnson’s raiders visited Bradford's home in July 1864, and during his absence, burned it to the ground together with all his furniture, library, and papers.

"[1] During his four years in office, Augustus Bradford released Samuel Green (freedman) from jail on the condition he leave the state.

The Constitution of 1864 which abolished slavery in the State and disenfranchised those who fought for or aided the Confederacy was only ratified by the vote of the soldiers in spite of Bradford's efforts to secure its adoption.

[1] After Bradford's retirement from office, President Andrew Johnson appointed him the Surveyor of the Port of Baltimore, which he served as until April 1869.