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Wind River Chapter of the WYSSAR takes 3rd place for Color Guard in 2024 Lander Pioneer Days Parade. This is the entry description:
Karl Falken, President of the Wind River Chapter of the Wyoming Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is carrying a reproduction of the 1777 Betsy Ross Flag used early in the American Revolution. He is in impression as his 5x great grandfather, Pvt George Orwig, a member of the Pennsylvania Militia, Old's Rifle Brigade.
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is the world's oldest and largest male heritage society. Its membership is composed of men whose ancestors served in the patriot cause of the American Revolution. "The Sons of the American Revolution honors our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities, and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of our country."
The prize was $25, which will go to the general fund of the WRC.
Karl Falken, President of the Wind River Chapter of the Wyoming Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is carrying a reproduction of the 1777 Betsy Ross Flag used early in the American Revolution. He is in impression as his 5x great grandfather, Pvt George Orwig, a member of the Pennsylvania Militia, Old's Rifle Brigade.
The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is the world's oldest and largest male heritage society. Its membership is composed of men whose ancestors served in the patriot cause of the American Revolution. "The Sons of the American Revolution honors our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities, and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of our country."
The prize was $25, which will go to the general fund of the WRC.
French fleet arrives at the Chesapeake Bay
On this day in history, August 30, 1781, the French fleet arrives at the Chesapeake Bay to assist the Americans in their assault on British General Charles Cornwallis and his 9,000 troops at Yorktown, Virginia. The arrival of the fleet under Admiral Francois-Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse, played a decisive role in the British defeat at Yorktown.
In the summer of 1781, George Washington sat outside New York City, planning his next move against the British. He could either attack the main British headquarters at New York City, or he could attack Cornwallis' army in Virginia. French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, sat at Newport, Rhode Island with 6,000 troops. The Marquis de Lafayette shadowed Cornwallis in Virginia with another 4,500 troops. Admiral de Grasse was in the West Indies with 28 ships and 3,000 soldiers.
Washington and Rochambeau met in Wethersfield, Connecticut on May 22 to examine the options. Washington favored an attack on New York, while Rochambeau favored an attack on Cornwallis in Virginia. Both wrote letters to de Grasse, asking him to come and assist them. De Grasse received orders from France to sail for America, but he chose to go to Virginia, which was closer. When Washington and Rochambeau found out de Grasse's plans, they immediately began marching their combined armies to Yorktown, while leaving some troops around New York to pretend they were preparing an attack on the city in order to fool the British about their real destination, a ruse which worked.
De Grasse arrived at the Chesapeake Bay on August 30, 1781, five days after a smaller British fleet arrived there looking for him. When the British fleet, under Admiral Samuel Hood, did not find de Grasse there, it sailed on to New York. De Grasse began unloading his troops, but on September 5th, a British fleet of 19 ships appeared off the capes. This fleet, under Admiral, Sir Thomas Graves, was expecting to find a much smaller French fleet that had left Newport, Rhode Island and had been instructed to rescue Lord Cornwallis and his army if necessary.
The presence of the French fleet blockading the bay made the rescue of Cornwallis impossible. The two fleets engaged in the Battle of the Chesapeake on the 5th, which was a decisive French victory. As the two sides maneuvered for the next two days, French Admiral Jacques-Melchior Saint-Laurent, Comte de Barras, arrived from Newport and slipped into the bay with 8 ships bearing heavy artillery and siege equipment. The heavily damaged British fleet was forced to flee back to New York for repairs.
Later in September, Washington and Rochambeau arrived with a combined 10,000 soldiers. Washington met with Admiral de Grasse on his 104 gun flagship, the Ville de Paris, on September 14 and expressed his warmest thanks for his assistance. The Siege of Yorktown lasted for about 3 weeks before General Cornwallis surrendered his 7,000-man army to the Americans. From New York, British Commander-in-Chief, General, Sir Henry Clinton, sent another small fleet with reinforcements for Cornwallis, but the fleet did not arrive at Yorktown until October 24th, 5 days after Cornwallis surrendered.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”
George Washington (1789)
On this day in history, August 30, 1781, the French fleet arrives at the Chesapeake Bay to assist the Americans in their assault on British General Charles Cornwallis and his 9,000 troops at Yorktown, Virginia. The arrival of the fleet under Admiral Francois-Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse, played a decisive role in the British defeat at Yorktown.
In the summer of 1781, George Washington sat outside New York City, planning his next move against the British. He could either attack the main British headquarters at New York City, or he could attack Cornwallis' army in Virginia. French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, sat at Newport, Rhode Island with 6,000 troops. The Marquis de Lafayette shadowed Cornwallis in Virginia with another 4,500 troops. Admiral de Grasse was in the West Indies with 28 ships and 3,000 soldiers.
Washington and Rochambeau met in Wethersfield, Connecticut on May 22 to examine the options. Washington favored an attack on New York, while Rochambeau favored an attack on Cornwallis in Virginia. Both wrote letters to de Grasse, asking him to come and assist them. De Grasse received orders from France to sail for America, but he chose to go to Virginia, which was closer. When Washington and Rochambeau found out de Grasse's plans, they immediately began marching their combined armies to Yorktown, while leaving some troops around New York to pretend they were preparing an attack on the city in order to fool the British about their real destination, a ruse which worked.
De Grasse arrived at the Chesapeake Bay on August 30, 1781, five days after a smaller British fleet arrived there looking for him. When the British fleet, under Admiral Samuel Hood, did not find de Grasse there, it sailed on to New York. De Grasse began unloading his troops, but on September 5th, a British fleet of 19 ships appeared off the capes. This fleet, under Admiral, Sir Thomas Graves, was expecting to find a much smaller French fleet that had left Newport, Rhode Island and had been instructed to rescue Lord Cornwallis and his army if necessary.
The presence of the French fleet blockading the bay made the rescue of Cornwallis impossible. The two fleets engaged in the Battle of the Chesapeake on the 5th, which was a decisive French victory. As the two sides maneuvered for the next two days, French Admiral Jacques-Melchior Saint-Laurent, Comte de Barras, arrived from Newport and slipped into the bay with 8 ships bearing heavy artillery and siege equipment. The heavily damaged British fleet was forced to flee back to New York for repairs.
Later in September, Washington and Rochambeau arrived with a combined 10,000 soldiers. Washington met with Admiral de Grasse on his 104 gun flagship, the Ville de Paris, on September 14 and expressed his warmest thanks for his assistance. The Siege of Yorktown lasted for about 3 weeks before General Cornwallis surrendered his 7,000-man army to the Americans. From New York, British Commander-in-Chief, General, Sir Henry Clinton, sent another small fleet with reinforcements for Cornwallis, but the fleet did not arrive at Yorktown until October 24th, 5 days after Cornwallis surrendered.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”
George Washington (1789)
The Battle of Rhode Island is lost
On this day in history, August 29, 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island is lost. Newport, Rhode Island was one of America's most important ports prior to and during the American Revolution. After capturing New York City in September of 1776, the British captured Newport in December, recognizing that its harbor would be an ideal staging ground for an assault on New York. Newport would be in British hands for the next three years.
Rhode Island's rebel government immediately sought to raise troops and supplies to retake Newport. In early 1778, Major General John Sullivan was given charge of the Rhode Island troops and ordered to assault the city in July. Meanwhile, France declared war on the British and allied with the Americans. The first French soldiers arrived in America with Admiral Charles Hector, the Comte d'Estaing. Unable to cross the bar into New York's harbor, D'Estaing sailed for Newport to assist Sullivan.
After news of the French involvement, Sullivan had great success in raising militia members to assist in the fight. The Marquis de Lafayette and General Nathanael Greene arrived to assist in the battle. The American generals had over 10,000 troops at their disposal.
D'Estaing's fleet arrived at Newport on August 8th and began unloading 4,000 troops on Conanicut Island the next day after consulting with the generals. Sullivan successfully ferried his 10,000 troops onto Aquidneck Island on the 9th. British General, Sir Robert Pigot, began fortifying Newport from within.
The tide changed when British Admiral Richard Howe arrived with reinforcements. On the 10th, Admiral D'Estaing quickly reloaded his troops and sailed out to do battle with Howe's fleet. As the two forces maneuvered, a great storm arose that tossed the fleets around for two days. Separated and damaged, both fleets had to regroup and sail to harbor for repairs. Howe's fleet sailed back to New York, while D'Estaing abandoned his mission to help in the attack on Newport and sailed for Boston.
The departure of D'Estaing greatly angered the Americans. Many in Sullivan's army deserted, thinking it impossible to capture the city without French help. By late August, and already surrounding Newport, Sullivan decided to abandon the attack, his force greatly depleted by desertion. On the 29th, General Pigot began pursuing and caught up to the Americans who were dug in on the northern tip of the island.
The Battle of Rhode Island began as the Americans shot at their pursuers. On the island's main east road, Brigadier General John Glover stopped the British advance. On the main western road, Colonel Christopher Greene's 1st Rhode Island Regiment, the Continental Army's only regiment made up entirely of African Americans and Indians, repelled several Hessian attacks, inflicting so much destruction that the nearby creek was called Bloody Run Creek because it ran red with Hessian blood.
The next day, the entire American force was successfully ferried across to Tiverton and Bristol, bringing the Battle of Rhode Island to a close. The battle was the largest engagement of the war in New England in terms of men involved with nearly 17,000 fighting. It was a tactical tie, but Britain continued to hold Newport for another year, until it abandoned the city to focus its efforts on New York and a new campaign to take the southern colonies.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
“I am commonly opposed to those who modestly assume the rank of champions of liberty and make a very patriotic noise about the people. It is the stale artifice which has duped the world a thousand times, and yet, though detected, it is still successful.”
Fisher Ames (1789)
On this day in history, August 29, 1778, the Battle of Rhode Island is lost. Newport, Rhode Island was one of America's most important ports prior to and during the American Revolution. After capturing New York City in September of 1776, the British captured Newport in December, recognizing that its harbor would be an ideal staging ground for an assault on New York. Newport would be in British hands for the next three years.
Rhode Island's rebel government immediately sought to raise troops and supplies to retake Newport. In early 1778, Major General John Sullivan was given charge of the Rhode Island troops and ordered to assault the city in July. Meanwhile, France declared war on the British and allied with the Americans. The first French soldiers arrived in America with Admiral Charles Hector, the Comte d'Estaing. Unable to cross the bar into New York's harbor, D'Estaing sailed for Newport to assist Sullivan.
After news of the French involvement, Sullivan had great success in raising militia members to assist in the fight. The Marquis de Lafayette and General Nathanael Greene arrived to assist in the battle. The American generals had over 10,000 troops at their disposal.
D'Estaing's fleet arrived at Newport on August 8th and began unloading 4,000 troops on Conanicut Island the next day after consulting with the generals. Sullivan successfully ferried his 10,000 troops onto Aquidneck Island on the 9th. British General, Sir Robert Pigot, began fortifying Newport from within.
The tide changed when British Admiral Richard Howe arrived with reinforcements. On the 10th, Admiral D'Estaing quickly reloaded his troops and sailed out to do battle with Howe's fleet. As the two forces maneuvered, a great storm arose that tossed the fleets around for two days. Separated and damaged, both fleets had to regroup and sail to harbor for repairs. Howe's fleet sailed back to New York, while D'Estaing abandoned his mission to help in the attack on Newport and sailed for Boston.
The departure of D'Estaing greatly angered the Americans. Many in Sullivan's army deserted, thinking it impossible to capture the city without French help. By late August, and already surrounding Newport, Sullivan decided to abandon the attack, his force greatly depleted by desertion. On the 29th, General Pigot began pursuing and caught up to the Americans who were dug in on the northern tip of the island.
The Battle of Rhode Island began as the Americans shot at their pursuers. On the island's main east road, Brigadier General John Glover stopped the British advance. On the main western road, Colonel Christopher Greene's 1st Rhode Island Regiment, the Continental Army's only regiment made up entirely of African Americans and Indians, repelled several Hessian attacks, inflicting so much destruction that the nearby creek was called Bloody Run Creek because it ran red with Hessian blood.
The next day, the entire American force was successfully ferried across to Tiverton and Bristol, bringing the Battle of Rhode Island to a close. The battle was the largest engagement of the war in New England in terms of men involved with nearly 17,000 fighting. It was a tactical tie, but Britain continued to hold Newport for another year, until it abandoned the city to focus its efforts on New York and a new campaign to take the southern colonies.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
“I am commonly opposed to those who modestly assume the rank of champions of liberty and make a very patriotic noise about the people. It is the stale artifice which has duped the world a thousand times, and yet, though detected, it is still successful.”
Fisher Ames (1789)
The American invasion of Quebec begins
On this day in history, August 28, 1775, the American invasion of Quebec begins, part of the American attempt to secure the French-speaking Quebec in an alliance with the lower 13 colonies during the American Revolution. Quebec had been founded as a French colony but was given over to the British after the French and Indian War.
When the American Revolution began, the Continental Congress sent letters to Quebec encouraging its citizens to join them in their rebellion against Great Britain. The citizens of Quebec, however, were mostly happy with the benefits Britain gave to French speaking Catholics after Quebec became a British territory.
When the Continental Congress learned that Quebec's British governor, Guy Carleton, was making war preparations, reinforcing Fort St. John's and allying with local Indians, they decided to invade the territory and drive the British out.
General Philip Schuyler was placed in charge of the invasion. He began assembling troops at Fort Ticonderoga, which had recently been captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, on the south end of Lake Champlain. Arnold, upset at being passed over to head the mission, approached George Washington at Boston with a plan to take another force from the east to Quebec City. Washington approved the plan and Colonel Arnold set off with 1100 soldiers across the rough wilderness of Maine.
In August, as General Schuyler met with Indian allies at Albany, his second in command, General Richard Montgomery learned that Governor Carleton was building ships at Fort St. John's, on the northern tip of Lake Champlain. Without waiting for further orders, Montgomery set out with 1200 soldiers on August 28 for Fort St. John's. This marked the beginning of the American invasion of Quebec.
Montgomery took over the entire campaign when Schuyler fell ill. He captured Fort St. John's on November 3 and marched into Montreal unopposed on November 13. Governor Carleton fled to Quebec City where Benedict Arnold soon arrived and laid siege to the city. General Montgomery arrived at Quebec City on December 2 and the two made plans to attack the city.
On December 31, in a blinding snowstorm, the Battle of Quebec began and it was a disaster for the Americans. General Montgomery was killed. Colonel Arnold was severely wounded in the leg and taken out of action. The attack was a complete failure. As the winter dragged on, Arnold continued the siege, but in the spring, he was replaced by General David Wooster and then by General John Thomas, who ordered a retreat when British reinforcements arrived. The Americans were forced to abandon Montreal and Fort St. John's, retreating all the way to Fort Ticonderoga.
Carleton would attempt an invasion down the lake in the fall, but the ingenious Arnold constructed a fleet of ships on the lake which delayed the invasion. Carleton ended up retreating to Quebec. Another British invasion would occur the next year under General John Burgoyne, and that invasion would be a British disaster when Burgoyne was forced to surrender his entire army to American General Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
“To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.”
Alexander Hamilton (1788)
On this day in history, August 28, 1775, the American invasion of Quebec begins, part of the American attempt to secure the French-speaking Quebec in an alliance with the lower 13 colonies during the American Revolution. Quebec had been founded as a French colony but was given over to the British after the French and Indian War.
When the American Revolution began, the Continental Congress sent letters to Quebec encouraging its citizens to join them in their rebellion against Great Britain. The citizens of Quebec, however, were mostly happy with the benefits Britain gave to French speaking Catholics after Quebec became a British territory.
When the Continental Congress learned that Quebec's British governor, Guy Carleton, was making war preparations, reinforcing Fort St. John's and allying with local Indians, they decided to invade the territory and drive the British out.
General Philip Schuyler was placed in charge of the invasion. He began assembling troops at Fort Ticonderoga, which had recently been captured by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold, on the south end of Lake Champlain. Arnold, upset at being passed over to head the mission, approached George Washington at Boston with a plan to take another force from the east to Quebec City. Washington approved the plan and Colonel Arnold set off with 1100 soldiers across the rough wilderness of Maine.
In August, as General Schuyler met with Indian allies at Albany, his second in command, General Richard Montgomery learned that Governor Carleton was building ships at Fort St. John's, on the northern tip of Lake Champlain. Without waiting for further orders, Montgomery set out with 1200 soldiers on August 28 for Fort St. John's. This marked the beginning of the American invasion of Quebec.
Montgomery took over the entire campaign when Schuyler fell ill. He captured Fort St. John's on November 3 and marched into Montreal unopposed on November 13. Governor Carleton fled to Quebec City where Benedict Arnold soon arrived and laid siege to the city. General Montgomery arrived at Quebec City on December 2 and the two made plans to attack the city.
On December 31, in a blinding snowstorm, the Battle of Quebec began and it was a disaster for the Americans. General Montgomery was killed. Colonel Arnold was severely wounded in the leg and taken out of action. The attack was a complete failure. As the winter dragged on, Arnold continued the siege, but in the spring, he was replaced by General David Wooster and then by General John Thomas, who ordered a retreat when British reinforcements arrived. The Americans were forced to abandon Montreal and Fort St. John's, retreating all the way to Fort Ticonderoga.
Carleton would attempt an invasion down the lake in the fall, but the ingenious Arnold constructed a fleet of ships on the lake which delayed the invasion. Carleton ended up retreating to Quebec. Another British invasion would occur the next year under General John Burgoyne, and that invasion would be a British disaster when Burgoyne was forced to surrender his entire army to American General Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
“To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.”
Alexander Hamilton (1788)
George Washington loses the Battle of Long Island
On this day in history, August 27, 1776, George Washington loses the Battle of Long Island, one of the most important battles of the American Revolution and the largest in terms of the numbers of men involved. After losing Boston to the Americans, British General William Howe set his sights on New York City. He began landing troops on Staten Island in July of 1776, just as the Americans were declaring their independence. By the end of the month, over 30,000 troops were landed.
George Washington had generals Charles Lee and William Alexander begin building defenses around New York City earlier in the year. The defenses consisted of a string of forts and redoubts on the western edge of Long Island, batteries on the islands at the opening of the Hudson River and forts on Manhattan's northern end.
Washington was faced with a dilemma. Would Howe attack Manhattan first or Long Island? Many of his officers thought Howe would attack Long Island first. Washington disagreed, thinking Howe would make a small attack on Long Island as a feint, with a larger assault to come on Manhattan. Consequently, Washington put most of his 19,000 troops in New York City with only about 4,500 on Long Island.
On August 22, British generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis began landing 20,000 troops on Long Island. Three main passes led to the American positions, and they were guarded well, but a fourth pass, furthest to the east, was guarded by only 5 men. Locals informed General Clinton of the Jamaica Pass and he moved 10,000 men during the night through the pass, unbeknownst to the Americans.
On the morning of August 27th, British and Hessian soldiers began attacking the Americans from the front, while Clinton's much larger force snuck up from behind. There are numerous heroic stories to be told of the Battle of Long Island. Perhaps the most famous is that of the Maryland 400. When the last American position outside of the fortifications at Brooklyn Heights was about to be overtaken, General William Alexander began evacuating his troops to the heights.
Two hundred seventy Maryland troops stayed behind to keep the British at bay. Once the rest of the troops evacuated, the only way of escape was through Brouwer's Mill pond. Many were shot or drowned as they crossed the pond. Less than a dozen survived. Washington, who had come to the battle with thousands of reinforcements, observed from a nearby hill and is said to have exclaimed, "Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose!"
With all the American troops now safe behind the defenses of Brooklyn Heights, General Clinton inexplicably stopped the assault, perhaps afraid to have another massacre of his own soldiers like what happened at Bunker Hill. Clinton began preparing for a long-term siege. George Washington, however, wanted to get his troops out to fight another day. On the evening of August 29th, he began evacuating his troops across the East River to Manhattan in the middle of the night.
In the morning, the evacuation still not complete, a fog descended on the area that hid the longboats ferrying the remaining soldiers across the river. The Continental Army survived to fight another day, but eventually Manhattan was taken as well, and the Americans were forced to retreat across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. The war would drag on for another six years.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
"No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly."
George Washington (1788)
On this day in history, August 27, 1776, George Washington loses the Battle of Long Island, one of the most important battles of the American Revolution and the largest in terms of the numbers of men involved. After losing Boston to the Americans, British General William Howe set his sights on New York City. He began landing troops on Staten Island in July of 1776, just as the Americans were declaring their independence. By the end of the month, over 30,000 troops were landed.
George Washington had generals Charles Lee and William Alexander begin building defenses around New York City earlier in the year. The defenses consisted of a string of forts and redoubts on the western edge of Long Island, batteries on the islands at the opening of the Hudson River and forts on Manhattan's northern end.
Washington was faced with a dilemma. Would Howe attack Manhattan first or Long Island? Many of his officers thought Howe would attack Long Island first. Washington disagreed, thinking Howe would make a small attack on Long Island as a feint, with a larger assault to come on Manhattan. Consequently, Washington put most of his 19,000 troops in New York City with only about 4,500 on Long Island.
On August 22, British generals Henry Clinton and Charles Cornwallis began landing 20,000 troops on Long Island. Three main passes led to the American positions, and they were guarded well, but a fourth pass, furthest to the east, was guarded by only 5 men. Locals informed General Clinton of the Jamaica Pass and he moved 10,000 men during the night through the pass, unbeknownst to the Americans.
On the morning of August 27th, British and Hessian soldiers began attacking the Americans from the front, while Clinton's much larger force snuck up from behind. There are numerous heroic stories to be told of the Battle of Long Island. Perhaps the most famous is that of the Maryland 400. When the last American position outside of the fortifications at Brooklyn Heights was about to be overtaken, General William Alexander began evacuating his troops to the heights.
Two hundred seventy Maryland troops stayed behind to keep the British at bay. Once the rest of the troops evacuated, the only way of escape was through Brouwer's Mill pond. Many were shot or drowned as they crossed the pond. Less than a dozen survived. Washington, who had come to the battle with thousands of reinforcements, observed from a nearby hill and is said to have exclaimed, "Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose!"
With all the American troops now safe behind the defenses of Brooklyn Heights, General Clinton inexplicably stopped the assault, perhaps afraid to have another massacre of his own soldiers like what happened at Bunker Hill. Clinton began preparing for a long-term siege. George Washington, however, wanted to get his troops out to fight another day. On the evening of August 29th, he began evacuating his troops across the East River to Manhattan in the middle of the night.
In the morning, the evacuation still not complete, a fog descended on the area that hid the longboats ferrying the remaining soldiers across the river. The Continental Army survived to fight another day, but eventually Manhattan was taken as well, and the Americans were forced to retreat across New Jersey and into Pennsylvania. The war would drag on for another six years.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
"No country upon earth ever had it more in its power to attain these blessings than United America. Wondrously strange, then, and much to be regretted indeed would it be, were we to neglect the means and to depart from the road which Providence has pointed us to so plainly."
George Washington (1788)
A Boston mob destroys the home of Thomas Hutchinson
On this day in history, August 26, 1765, a Boston mob destroys the home of Thomas Hutchinson, the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, for his support of the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament on March 22, 1765 to raise revenue for the British treasury. The act required that all paper transactions and goods be made on "stamped" or embossed paper. Common everyday items such as contracts, marriage certificates, newspapers, legal documents, and many others were subject to the tax.
Many colonists in America rejected the tax for several reasons. First, they believed it was illegal for Parliament to tax them at all since they had no representatives in Parliament. Second, Parliament had never taxed activities within the colonies themselves. Its previous taxes had only been related to trade on items coming in and out of the colonies.
Many cities, colonial legislatures and civic groups lodged complaints with Parliament about the Stamp Act, but Parliament refused their complaints. This caused a spate of physical violence to break out against stamp distributors and other officials across the colonies. The first act of violence occurred in Boston on August 14 when a mob burned an effigy of Andrew Oliver, the Massachusetts stamp distributor, and then destroyed his office and ransacked his house. Oliver resigned the next day.
Two weeks later, after a fiery sermon from the Reverend Jonathan Mayhew of Boston's West Church, another mob was riled up to attack the homes of more officials. On the 26th, a mob attacked the home of Lieutenant Governor Thomas Hutchinson for his public support of the Stamp Act. Hutchinson was personally against the tax, but he felt it was his job to enforce it as a public official. Hutchinson had been involved in Massachusetts politics for 30 years as a member of the Governor's Council, as Lieutenant Governor and as Chief Justice of the Superior Court.
As the mob approached Hutchinson's house, his daughter begged him and persuaded him to leave the house, fearing for his life, even though he had intended to stay and fight. When the crowd reached the house, they broke the doors down and looted everything. Every stick of furniture was destroyed, pictures were torn from the walls, windows were broken, walls were torn down and everything of worth burned, including Hutchinson's priceless book collection and a trove of historical papers about the early history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Violence spread across the colonies and all the stamp distributors were eventually forced to resign. Many merchants refused to sell British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. Even London merchants began to request that Parliament repeal the Act because they were losing so much business from America. Parliament finally conceded and repealed the hated Stamp Act on March 18, 1766. Of course, the violence of the Stamp Act riots was only a sign of things to come. The American Revolution would break out almost exactly ten years later over the same issues that Parliament refused to resolve.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
"The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government, a real despotism."
George Washington (1796)
On this day in history, August 26, 1765, a Boston mob destroys the home of Thomas Hutchinson, the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, for his support of the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was passed by Parliament on March 22, 1765 to raise revenue for the British treasury. The act required that all paper transactions and goods be made on "stamped" or embossed paper. Common everyday items such as contracts, marriage certificates, newspapers, legal documents, and many others were subject to the tax.
Many colonists in America rejected the tax for several reasons. First, they believed it was illegal for Parliament to tax them at all since they had no representatives in Parliament. Second, Parliament had never taxed activities within the colonies themselves. Its previous taxes had only been related to trade on items coming in and out of the colonies.
Many cities, colonial legislatures and civic groups lodged complaints with Parliament about the Stamp Act, but Parliament refused their complaints. This caused a spate of physical violence to break out against stamp distributors and other officials across the colonies. The first act of violence occurred in Boston on August 14 when a mob burned an effigy of Andrew Oliver, the Massachusetts stamp distributor, and then destroyed his office and ransacked his house. Oliver resigned the next day.
Two weeks later, after a fiery sermon from the Reverend Jonathan Mayhew of Boston's West Church, another mob was riled up to attack the homes of more officials. On the 26th, a mob attacked the home of Lieutenant Governor Thomas Hutchinson for his public support of the Stamp Act. Hutchinson was personally against the tax, but he felt it was his job to enforce it as a public official. Hutchinson had been involved in Massachusetts politics for 30 years as a member of the Governor's Council, as Lieutenant Governor and as Chief Justice of the Superior Court.
As the mob approached Hutchinson's house, his daughter begged him and persuaded him to leave the house, fearing for his life, even though he had intended to stay and fight. When the crowd reached the house, they broke the doors down and looted everything. Every stick of furniture was destroyed, pictures were torn from the walls, windows were broken, walls were torn down and everything of worth burned, including Hutchinson's priceless book collection and a trove of historical papers about the early history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Violence spread across the colonies and all the stamp distributors were eventually forced to resign. Many merchants refused to sell British goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. Even London merchants began to request that Parliament repeal the Act because they were losing so much business from America. Parliament finally conceded and repealed the hated Stamp Act on March 18, 1766. Of course, the violence of the Stamp Act riots was only a sign of things to come. The American Revolution would break out almost exactly ten years later over the same issues that Parliament refused to resolve.
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com
Jack Manning
President General
2019 - 2021
National Society Sons of the American Revolution
www.sar.org
"The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create whatever the form of government, a real despotism."
George Washington (1796)
