On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress a “memorial from Samson Occum was read, and referred to the committee on Indian affairs.”
I have searched for a copy of this “memorial” written by Rev. Samson Occom (as he usually spelled his name) of East Hampton, Long Island and have not found it, although many of his writings are available online. If any researchers who happen to read this blog can find it, I would appreciate receiving a link. I have blogged about Rev. Occom before (see my post for April 11, 1774), but he should be better remembered in American history. He was a member of the Mohegan tribe and was born in Connecticut, but became an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church, was involved in the founding of Dartmouth College and was one of the first Native Americans to have published writings (and he had many). From my research it appears Occom advocated peace and advised Native American tribes to stay neutral in the war between the Americans and the British, but he was loyal to the Americans and his son-in-law Joseph Johnson delivered a message from General Washington to the Iroquois urging their neutrality later in 1776. I will post about Joseph Johnson’s mission for Washington to the Iroquois later this month.
After the War Occom was instrumental in founding a new tribe of Christian Indians in New York comprising Mohegans, Montauks, Pequots, Narragansetts, Tunxis, and Niantics who moved from Long Island, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Brothertown Indians later moved west to Wisconsin where they live today. Unfortunately the Brothertown tribe lost federal recognition and their petitions to restore their status as a federally recognized tribe have all failed to date.
On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington wrote to Col. Timothy Bedel of New Hampshire:
The Continental Congress, haveing Calld upon the Government of New Hampshire to raise a Regiment for the Service of the United Colonies—which they have accordingly Complied with—and appointed you to the Command—I have to desire, that you will use all the deligence & dispatch possible, to raise the Said Regiment & march it into Canada takeing your Rout by Number four, and Onion River, where a Suply of provisions will be Laid up, by order of Major General Schuyler.
. . . the necessity of Reinforceing our troops, posted before & forming the Blockade of Quebec—is too apparent, to need being dwelt on—I woud therefore have you order each Company to March, as fast as they are raised, and on their arrival put themselves under the Command of the General or Commanding officer in Canada.
Your Colony will provide you with Such necessarys, as are indispensably wanting for the use of your Regiment . . .
You will take under your Care the Coghnawaga Indians, who are now here and Conduct them in the Safest, & most Agreeable manner to themselves, into Canada—You are to bear their expences, for which purpose I now give you a warrant on the paymaster General for the Sum of £100
Col. Bedel served honorably in the Continental Army and New Hampshire Militia for the remainder of the War, and unlike many Patriots dealt honorably with the Native American tribes who allied with the United States during and after the Revolutionary War.
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Continental Congress Delegate Robert R. Livingston of New York wrote to his fellow Delegate Thomas Lynch, Sr. of South Carolina:
When the expedition against Canada was first projected I opposed it for reasons which have been too often reiterated to make any mention of them necessary & our success has not changed my sentiments but whether the loss which I have sustained by the death of my very worthy friend, a relation, may not have confirmed me in (what is possible) an error I will not pretend to determine. However, it is indisputable that the possession of Canada will drain us of our specie, dissipate without adding to our strength, for it is most evident that the Canadians are not to be relied on & that they will always side with the stronger power.
On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington met with Chief “Jean Baptist or Ogaghsagighte”” and “Sundry Sachems & Warriors” of the Caughnawaga Nation. Washington’s aide Lt. Col. Robert Hanson Harrison recorded these words of Chief Ogaghsagighte:
We were sent by the Five tribes of Canada Indians, consisting of the Coghnawaga &c. to see General Schuyler at Albany & then to come to you, to Inquire into the cause of the Quarrel between the people of England & Our Brothers in this Country.
This is a treaty of peace entered into between General Schuyler &c. & our people and we shall be very glad If you will put your name to It, and certify that you like It & the promises mentioned In It—This being done.
We are very glad that a firm peace is now made between us & our Brothers—we now look upon ourselves to be free & like our brothers of New England—The rest of our people stayed at Home to take care of our Castle & public concerns & sent us to do this Work, which they will abide by and hold as strong, as If they had been All here.
I am now in my own Country where I was born (being a New Englander & taken prisoner in his Infancy) and want liberty to raise men to fight for Its defence—We wish that you would give us a Letter to General Schuyler & Inform him that If he wants men, to call upon us & we will join him.
A representative of the St. Johns Indians and two members of the Passamaquoddy Indians also spoke:
We are very glad to see you & that we have met our Coghnawaga Friends here.
The English people are mad & very cross & want us to fight against the New England people.
God is on the side of our Brothers and they will beat them.
There is a providence in our meeting our Cognawaga Friends at this Time, who have come so far from Canada.
We want to go Home quick to tell our Friends what we have seen & done here, & next Spring many of our Nation will come & help the New England People.
We are in much want of Powder to Hunt with—the Old English people will not let us have any, Unless we will fight against our Brothers & Countrymen.
Source: “Speeches of the Caughnawaga, St. Johns, and Passamaquoddy Indians, 31 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0161. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 223–224.]
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Congressman Thomas McKean wrote to Major General Philip Schuyler at his home and headquarters in Saratoga, New York about a force Scottish Highland soldierssss organized by Sir John Johnson in New York:
A certain Duncan Campbell, Captain in the Royal Scotch Emigrants and now a Prisoner here, in a conversation yesterday with Captain Wade of the Militia of this City, who is a relation of Sir John Johnson, so far forgot himself, as to mention to him that there were two hundred of that regiment in the neighborhood of Sir John.
These Soldiers are supposed to be the McDonalds & Highlanders settled on the lands of Sir John.
I am desired by the Congress, to communicate this information to you, that those Soldiers and their Officers may be apprehended & detained as prisoners of war and not considered so much as Tories. If they are soldiers and can be secured, they may possibly be exchanged for the like number of our friends in Quebec.
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, Continental Congress Delegates Henry Wisner and William Floyd of New York wrote to Major General Philip Schuyler:
It has given us much Concern to hear of the unsuccessful attempt of General Montgomery on Quebec. But Congress is Determined to get possession of Canada this winter if possible, and for that purpose they have ordered Seven Battalions from the Colonies and two in Canada; the troops are Daily marching in Companies from this place, and we hope they will be Soon on their march from the other Colonies.
On that same day Wisner was appointed to a committee to direct a newly recruited battalion of Pennsylvania soldiers to reinforce the Continental Army in Canada.
At this same time while he was serving in the Continental Congress Henry Wisner was also establishing gunpowder mills in Orange County, New York to supply the Continental Army and he continued to supply munitions to the Continental Army throughout the War. Wisner was a dedicated Patriot and would vote for Independence a few months later but was away from Congress obtaining flints for the Army when the Declaration was signed. As he was not a Signer, Wisner is not often remembered for his commitment and contributions to American Independence and Liberty but he should be.
On this day 250 years ago, from his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Gen. George Washington wrote to Captain John Manley (an immigrant to America from England):
I received your agreeable Letter of the 26th instant giveing an account of your haveing taken & Carried into Plymouth two of the Enemys transports. Your Conduct in engageing the eight Gun Schooner, with So few hands as you went out with, your attention in Secureing Your prizes, & your general good behavior since you first engaged in the Service, merits mine & your Countrys thanks.
You may be assured that every attention will be paid to any reasonable request of yours, & that you shall have the Comand of a Stronger vessell of War, but as it will take up Some time before Such a one Can be fitted out . . . I wish you Coud inspire the Captains of the other Armed schooners under your Command with Some of your activity & Industry—Cannot You appoint Such Stations for them—where they may have the best Chance of intercepting Supplies Going to the enemy they dare not disobey your orders, as it is mentioned in the instructions I have given to each of them, that they are to be under your Comand, as Comodore
Three days earlier, Captain Manley and the Hancock had captured the British transport ships Happy Return and Norfolk after a spirited battle with an armed British schooner that outgunned the Hancock.
On this day 250 years ago in North Carolina, Royal Governor Josiah Martin of North Carolina ordered HMS Cruizer to sail up the Cape Fear River past the ruins of Fort Johnston to capture Wilmington. The ship and its landing parties were driven back by fire from New Hanover County militia commanded by Irish immigrant Col. William Purviance on both sides of the river.
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution, at Eltham plantation, Virginia Delegate Burwell Bassett wrote to his brother-in-law George Washington to report on the status of the War in Virginia:
Lord Dunmore is at last stopt in his carreer the particulars of which you must have seen in the papers3 he is still confind on board his ship whare he suffers much for fresh provision and other necessarys I am just released from the Convention which set seven weaks they have agreed to raise six new Regiments & a Battallion of five hundred men for the Eastern shoore
Source: “Burwell Bassett to George Washington, 27 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0143. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 198–199.]
On this day 250 years ago in Montreal, Canada, Father Louis Eustace Chartier de Lotbiniere was appointed as chaplain to the 1st Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army. Father Lotbiniere was the first Roman Catholic chaplain in the Armed Forces of the United States. He would serve as a chaplain in the Continental Army for the remainder of the War and would not return to his native Canada.
On this day 250 years ago at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, founder and president of Dartmouth wrote to General Washington:
The Bearer Mr Joseph Johnson, an Indian of the Mohegan Tribe was educated in my School when in Connecticut, and Since he left it has been employed in keeping School Among the Six Nations, till he is become considerably Master of their Language and has Served as interpreter for a Missionary Which I have Sent to these Nations—The August before last he was examined by a Voluntary Convention of Ministers Who Met here at Commencement, and was approved, & licenced as a Preacher of the Gospel to the Indians—and has Since preached among the Six Nations—and designes in Complyance With their Invitation, to remove With a large party of the new England christianized Indians, and Settle a Town or Towns in their Country—He has been Well acquainted with the Intreagues of Mr Guy Johnson & Colo. Buttler against the Colonies; & has been efficious & Successful in Endeavors to counteract them.
I believe him to be high in the Esteem of the Six nations—and has Obtained and, for Several Years So far as I know, well Supported, the Character of a Steady, prudent, judicious, virtuous, & pious Young Man, among English & Indians. He is incorporated With the Six Nations who have also made him one of their Council—and was a principal Instrument in Convening the Indians to the Congress at Albany last August, & was not a little instrumental to the peaceful and happy Issue of that Treaty.
Source: “Eleazar Wheelock to George Washington, 26 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0139. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 193–194.]
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress agreed to erect a monument to honor General Richard Montgomery, who was killed in the unsuccessful assault on Quebec. This was the first public monument authorized by the United States. In 1818, the State of New York would reinter Montgomery’s remains to St. Paul’s Chapel in Manhattan beside the monument authorized by the Continental Congress.
On this day 250 years ago in Bristol, Rhode Island, Capt. Billings Throope died of wounds he had received in the Battle on Prudence Island on January 13.
And on this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Evening Post published a report from an officer on an expedition ordered by the Continental Congress and of 900 soldiers from New Jersey to Long Island to suppress a threatened Loyalist uprising:
On Friday morning we crossed, with all our troops, at Horn’s Hook, near Hell Gate, and met with no opposition; we then proceeded on our way towards Jamaica, took in custody some of the principal persons proscribed; sent out parties, and brought in many of those who voted against sending delegates; disarmed them and required them to sign an obligation we had drawn up, in which we enjoin them not to oppose either tlie Continental or Provincial Congresses, but to be subject to them, and not to aid or assist the ministerial troops in the present contest.
From Jamaica, we went to Hampstead town, where we expected the warmest opposition, but were disappointed, as the inhabitants came in and brought their arms voluntarily, for two days, as fast as we could receive them. We have about three hundred stand of arms and a considerable quantity of powder and lead. We are now on our way to Oyster Bay, and shall scour the country as we go, and exert ourselves to discharge the trust enjoined on us.
. . .
Those that have come in and surrendered their arms, are much irritated with those who have led them to make opposition, and have deserted them in the day of difficulty. I conceive they will be as safe if not safer in our custody, than at present among their neighbors, of whom some of them seem very apprehensive, and complain that they have met with insults already.
The Patriots and Continental Army certainly did not believe in 1776 that people had a right to bear arms except as part of the official militia.
On this day 250 years ago, Col. Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery arrived at the Continental Army’s headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Or at least part of the train of 44 cannon and 16 mortars arrived in Cambridge. There are many accounts indicating that the artillery arrived in Cambridge on this day, but Knox himself apparently rode ahead and reported to Gen. Washington on January 18, and some accounts say the artillery arrived in Cambridge that day too.
I first read of Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery as a boy and I have ever since until recently imagined a long line of cannons pulled by oxen rolling (or sledding) down rough roads that were little more than trails, with the whole train stopping when one cannon broke down and all camping together each night. The image is similar to the wagon trains from the movies I watched as a kid. Knox’s “train”, however, clearly did not all travel together each day and there are multiple accounts of the artillery being in different locations each day particularly in connection with river crossings. Knox leased sleds, carriages, oxen and horses to move the train at various points along the route and on some days there were probably insufficient numbers to move all tbe artillery simultaneously
From what I can piece together from the various accounts I have read in writing this blog, the first artillery arrived in Framingham, 20 miles west of Cambridge on January 18 but some of the artillery were strung out on the road behind and would catch up later. Knox established an artillery encampment in Framingham to gather together all 60 pieces of artillery in his train. And by January 24, Knox had assembled the entire train and moved some of the artillery to present them to Gen. Washington and the Continental Army in Cambridge. But most of the artillery were still in Framingham because John Adams recorded in his diary visiting the artillery encampment there on January 25 on his way to Philadelphia to resume his seat in the Continental Congress.
Also on this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, John Adams dined
with G. Washington, and Gates and their Ladies, and half a Dozen Sachems and Warriours of the french Cocknowaga Tribe, with their Wives and Children. Williams is one, who was captivated in his Infancy, and adopted. There is a Mixture of White Blood french or English in most of them. Louis, their Principal, speaks English and french as well as Indian.
Sources: “1776. January 24. Wednesday.,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-02-02-0006-0001-0002. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, vol. 2, 1771–1781, ed. L. H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1961, pp. 226–227.]; “George Washington to John Hancock, 24 January 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0127. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 3, 1 January 1776 – 31 March 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1988, pp. 178–182.]
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress approved a letter to the inhabitants of Canada contending that “your liberty, your honor and your happiness are essentially and necessarily connected with the unhappy contest” and that the Americans were fighting on behalf of “the sacred fire of liberty.” Congress urged the Canadians to
establish associations in your different parishes of the same nature with those, which have proved so salutary to the United Colonies; to elect deputies to form a provincial Assembly, and that said assembly be instructed to appoint delegates to represent them in this Congress. Source: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-january-24-1776/
On This Day In The Revolution 