On this day 250 years ago in York, Pennsylvania, the “Officers of Minutemen in York County” wrote to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety

Five companies are already raised and most of the officers chosen. Several of the companies are large, about 100 each, partly in order to be at full strength even if all the men cannot appear, and partly to permit removing whatever “improper Persons may push themselves in,” as well as those who have no settled residence.

The men are in the prime of life and for the most part good marksmen. 

The letter was signed by Richard McCalister, Thomas Hartley, and David Grier. Hartley had been the First Lieutenant and Grier the Second Lieutenant of the York County Associators that had formed before Lexington and Concord. McCalister, Hartley and Grier would all end up having distinguished service as officers in the Continental Army, and Hartley would serve in the United States House of Representatives.

Sources: “The Officers of Minutemen in York County to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, 31 August 1775: résumé,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0117. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 188–189.]; https://allthingsliberty.com/2025/06/a-curious-agreement-among-friends-pennsylvanias-york-county-militia-1775/

On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, George Washington wrote Congressman Richard Henry Lee of Virginia that

we have only 184. Barls of Powder in all (including the late supply from Philadelphia) wch is not sufficient to give 25. Musket Cartridges to each man, and scarcely to serve the Artillery in any brisk Action one single d⟨ay⟩—under these Circumstances I daresay you will agree with me, that it would not be ver⟨y⟩ eligable to take a post 30 Miles distant (by Land) from this place, when we have already a line of Circumvalation round Boston of at leas⟨t⟩ 10 Miles in extant to defend any part of which ma⟨y⟩ be attacked without our having (if the Enemy will keep their own Council) an hours previous notice of it; and that, it would not be prudent in me, to attempt a measure which would necessarily bring on a consumption of all the Ammunition we have, thereby leaving the Army at the Mercy of the Enemy, or to disperse; and the Country to be ravaged and lai⟨d⟩ waste at discretion—to you Sir I may acct for my conduct, but I cannot declare the motives of it to every one, notwithstanding I know by not doing of it, that I shall stand in a very unfavourable light in the opinion of those who expect much, & will find little done, without understanding, or perhaps giving themselves the trouble of enquiring into the caus⟨e⟩—such however is the fate of all those who are obliged to act the part I do, I must therefore submit to it, under a consciousness of having done my duty to the best of my Abilitie⟨s.⟩

. . .

There has been so many great, and capital errors, & abuses to rectify—so many examples to make—& so little Inclination in the Officers of inferior Rank to contribute their aid to accomplish this work, that my life has been nothing else (since I ⟨came here) b⟩ut one continued round of a⟨nnoyance⟩ & f⟨at⟩igue; in short no pecuniary r⟨ecompense⟩ could induce me to undergo what I ha⟨ve espe⟩cially as I expect, by shewing so little Co⟨unte⟩nance to irregularities & publick abus⟨es to⟩ render myself very obnoxious to a gre⟨ater⟩ part of these People. But as I have alrea⟨dy⟩ greatly exceeded the bounds of a Letter I will not trouble you with matters relative to my own feelings.

Source: “George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 29 August 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0270. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 372–376.]

And on that day in Annapolis, the Maryland Council of Safety established by the Maryland Convention began meeting. The Maryland Council of Safety took over the functions of government that had been exercised by the Royal Governor. Maryland was effectively independent of Great Britain.

Source: https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc2900/sc2908/000001/000011/html/index.html

On this day 250 years ago on Ploughed Hill, the Continental Army troops besieging Boston were again bombarded by British artillery. First Lieutenant Paul Lunt of his cousin Captain Ezra Lunt’s Company from Newburyport of Colonel Moses Little’s 17th Regiment of Massachusetts recorded in his diary that

some cannon fired in the afternoon; killed one of the Rhode Island men with a cannon shot, and wounded Robert Martial of Captain Lunt’s company in the thigh with a small shot

I cannot identify the Rhode Island soldier who gave his life for American Liberty that day but another soldier from Col. Little’s Massachusetts regiment recorded that

We had one man killed at Ploughed Hill and one of our company wounded by a musket at the lower sentry.

Perhaps there were two Americans killed that day 250 years ago — one from Rhode Island and one from Massachusetts. At any event the unnamed soldier[s] killed on Ploughed Hill 250 years ago should be honored for their sacrifice for American Liberty.

Sources: https://archive.org/details/paulluntsdiaryma1775lunt/page/10/mode/2up; https://boston1775.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-move-onto-ploughed-hill-and-poor.html

Also on this day 250 years ago, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery led 1200 men on boats from Fort Ticonderoga to attack the British fort at St. John’s, Canada at the northern end of Lake Champlainin the beginning of the American invasion of Canada.

Source: https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/american-invasion-of-quebec-begins.html

On this day 250 years ago on Ploughed Hill in Charlestown (now called Mount Ursuline in Somerset), Massachusetts, Continental Army troops commanded by Brigadier General John Sullivan were bombarded by British cannon in fortifications they had erected the day before. The British fired cannon from their nearby fortifications on Bunker Hill and from two floating batteries in the Mystic River, but were unable to drive the Americans from these advanced fortifications built to tighten the noose around Boston. Because of the shortage of gunpowder, the Americans fired only one shot from their cannon, but it was well aimed and sank one of the floating batteries. Two companies of Pennsylvania riflemen aided by Indians who I presume were from the Stockbridge company of Mohegans advanced close to the British lines and “killed and wounded a number of the enemy.” However, four Americans were killed that day on Ploughed Hill, and three were wounded, one mortally. The dead were Adjutant Augustus Mumford, the first soldier from Rhode Island killed in the Revolution, a “soldier,” an “Indian” and one other not identified by name that I can find in my research. The mortally wounded soldier was Private William Simpson, who would be the first soldier from Pennsylvania to die from combat in the Revolution.

Sources: https://guides.bpl.org/c.php?g=800717&p=10424693; https://www.golocalprov.com/lifestyle/gerald-carbone-the-rhode-islanders-on-ploughed-hill; https://archive.org/details/paulluntsdiaryma1775lunt/page/10/mode/2up; https://boston1775.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-move-onto-ploughed-hill-and-poor.html; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=243062; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ6cYOQzsNw

On this day 250 years ago in Richmond, the Third Virginia Convention adjourned. As its final act the Convention adopted a Declaration that recited multiple actions by the Royal Governor that were

irrefragable proof of his fixed determination to do this unhappy country every iujury in his power

Accordingly, the Convention resolved that:

In the present untoward and distressful situation of our affairs and the better to preserve the peace and good order of the community, we are farther driven to the very disagreeable necessity of supplying the present want of government, by appointing proper guardians of the rights and liberties of our country.

. . .

we are determined to defend our lives and properties, and maintain our just rights and privileges, at every, even the extremest hazard, . . . it is our fixed and unalterable resolution to disband such forces as may be raised in this colony whenever our dangers are removed, and America is restored to that former state of tranquility and happiness, the interruption of which is so much deplored by us and any friend to either country.

Source: https://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/ProceedingsOfTheConventionOfDelegates17July1775.pdf

On this day 250 years ago at the Dutch Church in Albany, New York, representatives of the Six Nations of the Iroquois met with representatives of the Continental Congress and the Albany Committee of Safety to negotiate a treaty of peace. Although the Iroquois representatives pledged

we shant take Notice of any hostile propositions that may be made to us, for we bear an equal proportion of Love to you and the others over the great Waters in the present dispute, and we shall remain at Peace, and smoke our Pipes, and the Six Nations will always keep lhe Path open, and we call God to Witness to the truth of what we now say, and it proceeds from our Hearts.

four of the Six Nations would end up at war with the Americans as allies of the British, and the Oneida and Tuscarora would join the fight for American Independence.

Source: https://archive.org/details/MinutesOfTheAlbanyCommitteeOfCorrespondence1775-1778Vol1/page/n235/mode/2up;

And on this day 250 years ago in Richmond, the Third Virginia Convention

Resolved unanimously, that the thanks of the Convention are justly due to the several volunteer companies of this colony for their zeal and attachment to the cause of American liberty manifested by their attention to the resolutions of the last Convention in arming and disciplining themselves, and the readiness they have shewn, upon all occasions, to defend their country against the dangers with which it was threatened, and that they be desired to exert themselves in promoting enlistments into the regular and minute service adopted by this Convention; and it is recommended to the several district committees to pay proper attention to the merit of the said volunteers, in their choice of officers.

The Convention also adopted

An ordinance for regulating the election of delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of committee-men in the several counties and corporations within this colony

This Ordinance established that the state and local governments of Virginia would be elected by the people of Virginia.

Source: https://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/ProceedingsOfTheConventionOfDelegates17July1775.pdf

On this day 250 years ago in New York City, Captain John Lamb led his newly formed artillery company and the Hearts of Oak Militia company (composed mostly of students at Kings College, now Columbia University) to seize 20 cannons and carriages from the Battery on the southern tip of Manhattan. Besides Lamb, several other participants in this raid would serve throughout the Revolutionary War and in our early Republic in prominent positions including Alexander Hamilton, Robert Troup, Nicholas Fish, and Irish immigrant Hercules Mulligan. While they were removing the cannon to locations safe from seizure by the British, Lamb’s company fired one of the cannon at an approaching barge from the HMS Asia sent to investigate, killing one man. In retaliation, the Asia fired on the Battery and on the city damaging several houses and causing many inhabitants to flee. You can visit the Battery, and one of the buildings struck in the bombardment — Fraunces Tavern, in New York City today.

Sources: https://substack.com/@jillkershaw/note/c-148169166; https://250andcounting.com/2025/08/24/august-24-1775-no-liquor-was-lost-we-hope/; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=29319

On this day 250 years ago in Richmond, the Third Virginia Convention appointed

a Committee of Safety, for the more effectual carrying into execution the several rules and regulations established by this Convention for the protection of this colony

The Committee of Safety would serve as the governing body of Virginia after the Third Virginia Convention adjourned and until the Fourth Convention convened.

Source: https://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/ProceedingsOfTheConventionOfDelegates17July1775.pdf

On this day 250 years ago in New York City, the Provincial Congress of New York adopted a Militia Bill for “well ordering and regulating the militia” that

Resolved, That every county, city, manor, town, precinct and district within this Colony, (where the same is not already done,) be divided into districts or beats, by their respective committees, in such manner that out of each may be formed one military company, ordinarily to consist of about eighty-three able bodied and effective men, officers included, between sixteen and sixty years of age, (the battalion commanded by Col. [John] Lasher, the companies of artillery, light-horse and hussars, in the city and county of NewYork, and the troops of horse, companies of grenadiers, and associated companies already formed in the several cities and counties within this Colony, excepted.)

Col. John Lasher (also spelled Lesjer /Lasher/ Löscher) was a New York merchant and political leader of German origin who commanded the First Battalion of Independent Companies of New York until 1776 when it became part of the Continental Army. Lasher would remain on duty with the Continental Army until the end of the War in 1783.

Sources: https://archive.org/details/journalsofprovin01newy/page/114/mode/2up; https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lasher-826

On this day 250 years ago in London, King George III issued a Proclamation of Rebellion that declared the Colonies in North America in rebellion and commanded

all Our Officers as well Civil as Military, and all other Our obedient and loyal Subjects, to use their utmost Endeavours to withstand and suppress such Rebellion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_Rebellion; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/documents/proclamation-of-rebellion-king-george-iii-text/; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/olive-branch-petition-facts/

Also on that day in New Hampshire, Royal governor John Wentworth boarded the HMS Scarborough and would never return. New Hampshire was completely independent of British rule

Click to access DC9-09-00-02_N.H.-Chronology.pdf

On this day 250 years ago in New York, perhaps at Fort Ticonderoga or maybe at his home near Saratoga, Major General Philip Schuyler wrote to Benjamin Franklin about the plans for invasion of Canada:

The powder which the Respectable Committee of your city has sent is already arrived here. You, and they, Sir, are Equally Intitled to my best thanks for this mark of attention. . . .

it is with pleasure I can inform you 100 [boats] are now able to move about 1300 [men] with Twenty Days Provision, and that we shall very soon make an attempt on St. Johns, weak as we are in Artillery, which I suppose will not Exceed six nine pounders. I have two Flatt Bottomed Vessels amongst those we have Built. They are sixty Feet long and capable of carrying Five Twelve pounders Each, but I can unfortunately mount only one, as I have no Carriages.

Source: “Philip Schuyler to Benjamin Franklin, 23 August 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0108. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, p. 180.]

And on this day 250 years ago in Richmond, the Third Virginia Convention adopted an

ordinance for regulating the election of delegates and ascertaining their allowances, and also for regulating the election of committee-men in the several counties and corporations within this colony, and for other purposes therein mentioned

Source: https://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/ProceedingsOfTheConventionOfDelegates17July1775.pdf