Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, George Washington orders that picks and shovels and other supplies be assembled.
To John Hancock, President of Congress, Washington writes:
"We are making every necessary preparation for taking possession of Dorchester Heights as soon as possible with a view of drawing the enemy out. ... [We] will be ... attempting to fortifie these heights; as on that event's taking place, we shall be able to command a great part of the town, and almost the whole harbor, and to make them rather disagreeable" to the British.
Washington also receives intelligence indicating that the British, on their own, are making preparations to sail from Boston, perhaps for New York or Virginia.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

It's interesting when along the way it changed from "us," meaning Britain and we colonists and became "us" and "the British"...

 

[CrimsonNagus]

Ken Burns remains a very skilled filmmaker and I enjoy watching his films. You have to take what he is saying with a grain of salt.

I have not watched the series largely because of this quote. Maybe it is well done overall, but if I have to take things with a grain of salt, or constantly googling to make sure he isn't bending the truth, then why bother wasting my time?

I feel like this thread does a better job chronicling the revolution than Burns probably does. In fact, when or wherever this thread ends, you should turn all your posts into a book.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, Patriot forces met at the Battle of Moore's Creek near Wilmington. ~1000
Scottish Highlanders living in central NC were heading to Wilmington to link up with Royal forces and ran into ~1000 Ulster Scots at Moore's Creek (so it was not exactly the Somme or Stalingrad)
After a brief battle. one Patriot was killed, one wounded and ~59 killed and wounded and 850 captured on the other side. This seriously undermined Royal authority in North carolina for several years.
Somewhat surprisingly given how small the batle was, there is a National Park Service battlefield Park there.

Battle of Moores Creek Bridge February 27, 1776​

 

[Tidewater]

I have not watched the series largely because of this quote. Maybe it is well done overall, but if I have to take things with a grain of salt, or constantly googling to make sure he isn't bending the truth, then why bother wasting my time?

I feel like this thread does a better job chronicling the revolution than Burns probably does. In fact, when or wherever this thread ends, you should turn all your posts into a book.

The issue with the woman (who was not even in the Army) getting wounded and receiving a pension of half-pay (which in my view was amazingly liberal for that time), as an example of sexism, turned out to be false. I'm sure an historian fed this to Burns, but this was probably an historian of women, searching for grievance, not a military historian. A military historian would have told Burns, that all invalid soldiers were put on half-pay. Thus extending that privilege to a woman who was not even a soldier is an amazingly liberal act, not a shameful act of sexism.

Still, a film is a work of art, like Washington Crossing the Deleware.

This is probably not a perfect depiction of the event, but it is still a great work of art.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

IDK if this will work, since it goes through Facebook, but it's a time lapse map of the struggle. You can find it by going to "Brilliant Maps"...

Revolutionary War

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago two, George Washington writes to Phillis Wheatley, a black poet thanking for her "eleagant" verse praising the Patriot cause and inviting her to come visit the army.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, Washington writes to Joseph Reed:
"I hope in a few nights to be in readiness to take post on Dorchester [Heights], as we are using every means in our power to provide materials for this purpose ; the ground being so hard froze yet, that we cannot intrench, and therefore are obliged to depend entirely upon chandeliers, fascines, and screwed hay for our redoubts. It is expected that this work will bring on an action between the King's troops and ours."

 

[92tide]

250 years ago today, Washington writes to Joseph Reed:
"I hope in a few nights to be in readiness to take post on Dorchester [Heights], as we are using every means in our power to provide materials for this purpose ; the ground being so hard froze yet, that we cannot intrench, and therefore are obliged to depend entirely upon chandeliers, fascines, and screwed hay for our redoubts. It is expected that this work will bring on an action between the King's troops and ours."
View attachment 55918

that screwed hay would be hard to trust

 

[Tidewater]

that screwed hay would be hard to trust

I had to look that one up. I had never heard of that one before.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, Washington and his army begin an artillery bombardment of Boston (to provide cover noise). Around 7:00 pm under cover of darkness, Continental troops start climbing Dorchester Heights and fortifying (as best they can given the frozen ground). After a long night of arduous labor, they have emplaced fortifications with artillery on Dorchester by sunrise March 5th.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, the British wake up to find Dorchester Heights armed with American cannon and fortified. British commander, Gen. Howe says, ""My God, these fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in three months."
The commander of the British North America Squadron informs Howe that the Heights must be seized, or the fleet's ability to resupply the Army in Boston is at risk.
Howe makes plans to launch an assault on Dorchester Heights the next day...

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today:
Yesterday evening, the British Army was making preparations in Boston to assault American positions on Dorchester Heights. Then snow started to fall. During the night it turned to sleet and then to freezing rain. In the morning, General Howe decides to give up the attempt and starts making preparations to evacuate Boston instead.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago yesterday, Washinton writes to John Hancock, "Our taking possession of Dorchester Heights is only preparatory to taking post on Nook's Hill [a small hill even closer to Boston and the fleet), and the points opposite to the south end of Boston. It was absolutely necessary, that they should be previously fortified, in order to cover and command them. As soon as the works on the former are finished,measures will be immediately adopted for securing the latter, and making them as strong and defensible as we can. Their contiguity to the enemy will make them of much importance and of great service to us."

Washington receives a letter from prominent residents of Boston stating that Howe will not damage the town on his way out if the Continental Army does not molest them in their departing

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago troday, Congress resolves, "That no oath by way of test be imposed upon, exacted, or required of any of the inhabitants of these colonies, by any military officers."

This is in response to Continental General Charles Lee had imposed a loyalty test oath on people in Pennsylvania in order to ascertain their political principles. The Pennsylvania Gazette reported things this way:
"However salutary such a measure might be, when grounded on a legal and constitutional basis, we were much alarmed that it should owe its authority to any military officer, however distinguished for his zeal, his rank, his accomplishments, and services. We considered it as one of the most solemn and important acts of legislation, and a high encroachment upon your rights as the Representatives of a free people. We could not, therefore, be silent upon so momentous a point, though we were not favoured with your sentiments or instructions, nor informed of what, or whether anything had passed between you and the General respecting the disaffected inhabitants. We took up the subject on general principles." Pennsylvania Gazette, 13 March, 1776

 

[Tidewater]

259 years ago today, Washington replies to the letter from townsfolk.

"BOSTON, 8 March, 1776."
... His Excellency General Howe, ... has no intention of destroying the town, unless the troops under his command are molested during their embarkation or at their departure, by the armed force without; ... We beg we may have some assurance, that so dreadful a calamity may not be brought on by any measures without."
JOHN SCOLLAY,
TIMOTHY NEWELL,
THOMAS MARSHALl.,
SAMUEL AUSTIN."

I waited upon hls Excellency General Washington, and presented to him the paper handed to me by you, from the Selectmen of Boston. The answer I received from him was to this effect; That, as it was an unauthenticated paper, without an address, and not obligatory upon General Howe, he would take no notice of it.'
I am, with esteem and respect, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,"
EBENEZER LEARNED."


In the end, Washington's forces did not molest Howe's as they left Boston, so the town was not seriously damaged in the evacuation.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, Washington writes to John Hancock, President of Congress mentioning "intelligence I had received respecting the embarkation of the troops from Boston; and fully expected, before this, that the Town would have been entirely evacuuated. Although I have been deceived, and was rather premature in the opinion I had then formed, I have little reason to doubt but the event will take place in a very short time."
The British army is ransacking vacant dwellings, destroying furniture, getting drunk and destroying wagons and such that they cannot take with them, to leave nothing useful behind for the Patriot forces.

Washington continued,: "Holding it of the last importance in the present contest, that we should secure New York, ... I shall detach the rifle regiment to-morrow, under the command of Brigadier-General Sullivan, with orders to repair to New York with all possible expedition ; and which will be succeeded the day after by the other five in one brigade. ... I shall send forward Major-General Putnam, and follow myself with the remainder of the army, as soon as I have it in my power, leaving here such a number of men [in Boston], as circumstances may seem to require."

Washington has correctly assessed the British forces' next move.

 

[Tidewater]

I do not know if I have posted this before, but it is interesting.

The issue with the smoothbore musket, it was not the muzzle velocity or even the kinetic energy imparts on the target, but the fact that it was not rifled, so the musket ball flew like a knuckle ball does in baseball. It could curve in any direction or not at all. So being very accurate with a smoothbore was extremely difficult. Armies compensated for this by putting lots of men shoulder to shoulder and two ranks deep and having them fire simultaneously. That way you may not hit the guy you're aiming at, but the guy next to you might and you might hit the guy he's aiming at. Just lots of lead flying down range.

 

[Tidewater]

Washington continued his thoughts on Boston and New York.
"As New York is of such importance, prudence and policy require that every precaution, that can be devised, should be adopted to frustrate the designs, which the enemy have of possessing it. To this end, I have ordered vessels to be provided, and held ready at Norwich, for the embarkation and transportation of our troops thither. This I have done with a view not only of greatly expediting their arrival, as it will save several days' marching, but also that they maybe fresh and fit for intrenching and throwing up works of defence, as soon as they get there, if they do not meet the enemy to contend with; for neither of which would they be in a proper condition, after a long and fatiguing march in bad roads. ... It is the opinion of the general officers, if the enemy abandon the town [of Boston], that it will be unnecessary to employ or keep any part of this army for its defence; and that I have mentioned, on that event happening, I shall immediately repair to New York with the remainder of the army not now detached, leaving only such a number of men here as circumstances may seem to require."

And once the British do evacuate Boston, the main scene of the conflict will move on to New York.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, although the British have not yet evacuated Boston (the winds blowing the wrong way), Washington had ordered "riffle" (sic) regiments and some artillery to march to New York.
This morning Washington temporarily countermands that order:
"As the weather is so bad, and the roads so mirey, the Regiments and Companies of Artillery, ordered to march this morning, are to halt until tomorrow morning."--Orderly Book, 16 March, 1776.