On this day 250 years ago, New York City burned. Although it still debated whether General Washington or the Continental Congress secretly ordered the burning of New York, a recently published book presents compelling evidence that the fires were started by arsonists at multiple locations in the City. At least two and maybe as many as eight alleged incendiaries were summarily executed by the British on that day. A London newspaper published that
The first incendiary who fell into the hands of the troops was a woman, provided with matches and combustibles, but … her sex availed her little, for without ceremony, she was tossed into the flames by the soldiers.
When the fires were finally extinguished almost 1000 buildings – one quarter of the city — had burned to the ground, but no one died in the fire except for the arsonists executed by the British. 200 people would end up arrested by the British on suspicion of starting the fires, but none were convicted.
Sources: https://yalebooks.yale.edu/2024/01/16/the-mystery-of-the-great-fire-of-1776/; https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/did-george-washington-order-rebels-to-burn-new-york-city-in-1776-180982153; Schecter at 204-08
Also on this day 250 years ago on Long Island in present-day Queens, Capt. Nathan Hale of Connecticut was arrested as he was out of uniform poorly disguised as a school teacher while attempting to gather intelligence for the Continental Army.
Sources: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/nathan-hale; https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/nathan-hale-doomed-patriot-spy-probably-never-said-i-only-regret-that-i-have-but-one-life-to-lose-for-my-country-before-his-execution-180987353/; https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/nathan-hale-american-patriot-army-ranger-spy/
On this day 250 years ago in New Castle, Delaware the new Constitution of the State of Delaware adopted several days earlier was publicly proclaimed.
On This Day In The Revolution 