On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia while attending the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote William Tudor, the Judge Advocate of the Continental Army, and his former associate:
Virtue, my young Friend, Virtue alone, is and can be the Foundation of our new Governments
Source: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-november-14-1775/
On this day 250 years ago, Continental Army troops,
New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts militia, Green Mountain Boys from Vermont and Canadian volunteers under the command of Irish immigrant, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery occupied Montreal, Canada without firing a shot. British soldiers under Governor Carleton abandoned the city on the approach of the American army. General Montgomery promised the people of Montreal “liberty and security” and the leading citizens of Montreal in turn assured Montgomery
Our chains are broken, blissful liberty restores us to ourselves. … We accept union as we accepted it in our hearts from the moment we learned of the address of
the First Continental Congress in 1774 inviting Canada to send representatives to the next Continental Congress.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/history/EPCONTENTSE1EP5CH3PA3LE.html
On this day 250 years ago in Charlestown harbor, South Carolina, at 4:00 a.m., the HMS Tamar and HMS Cherokee drifted close to the USS Defense. Both British ships commenced to fire broadside shots at the Defense for three hours. The Defense managed to sink the last hulk and then withdrew from the area. The Tamar sent an armed boat to the hulk and set it on fire. It then towed the hulk away from the channel.
The HMS Tamar shot over 100 rounds at the Defense but only struck her three times. Fort Johnson fired three shots at the two British vessels, striking the sails of the British ships.
The Charles Town District Regiment of Militia was called out during the naval battle and remained on station for several hours in anticipation of a land assault that never came.
Sources: Lipscomb at 17; Parker at 93-94; https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1775/ [note I am quoting directly from these sources]
On this day 250 years ago, the HMS Adamant sailed from Quebec to England carrying Guy Johnson, Joseph Brant and Ethan Allen and 33 other American prisoners.
Source: Nash at 175.
And on that day in Charlestown Harbor, off modern day Mount Pleasant, Charleston, South Carolina, the South Carolina Navy’s Defense, commanded by Capt. Simon Tufts, towed four ship hulks in order to sink them in one of the channels provided British ships access to Charlestown. At 4:30 PM, the HMS Tamar spotted the Defense and fired six shots, and the Defense dropped anchor and fired back. After the Tamar ceased its firing, Capt. Tufts was able to sink three of the hulks in the Hog Island Channel.
Sources: Lipscomb at 17; Parker at 93-94; https://revolutionarywar.us/year-1775/
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress created the Marine Corps. The Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines and Nicholas then went to the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia and appointed Robert Mullan, the tavern owner, as the first U.S. Marine recruiter. Before the end of the Revolution the Tun Tavern burned down but today, a commemorative marker stands on the street where Tun Tavern once stood, denoting the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps.
Source: https://www.29palms.marines.mil/Articles/Article/499540/tun-tavern-birthplace-of-the-marine-corps/
On this day 250 years ago in Charlestown harbor, South Carolina, the British sloop HMS Tamar, captured a sloop that was headed to Georgia with a load of apples and cider bound. Gunner George Walker was given command of the newly-captured sloop and was supplied with two trunks of pistols and cutlasses, two chests of arms, and one other sailor from the HMS Tamar. His orders from Royal Governor Lord William Campbell were to sail to St. Augustine and bring back 20 soldiers to retake Fort Johnson from the South Carolinians. Rather foolishly, the British navy did not remove the crew from the captured sloop but expected them to follow Gunner Walker’s commands.
As soon as the HMS Tamar was out of sight, Capt. John Wanton and his men seized Gunner George Walker and his mate and placed them in the hold. Capt. Wanton sailed to Savannah and turned over the two men to the Committee and collected £200 for the boxes of arms.
Also on that day, two newly commissioned pilot boats of the South Carolina Navy, the Hawke under Capt. Joseph Vessey and the Hibernia under Capt. Thomas Smith, patrolling in the Atlantic chased the British boat Shark back to the safety of protective guns of larger British ships anchored in Charlestown harbor. This was the first offensive action taken by the South Carolina Navy.
And on this day in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts, a British foraging party of 9 infantry companies and 100 grenadiers landed at Lechmere’s Point to seize cattle needed for the British garrison. Col. William Thompson and his Pennsylvania riflemen, supported by Col. Benjamin Woodbridge and part of his and Col. John Patterson’s regiment drove off the British foragers, who were able to capture only 10 head of cattle. The Americans suffered 2 wounded.
On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress dispatched a delegation to meet with General Montgomery’s Army in Canada with authorizations for supplies and instructions for dealing with the people of Canada:
The Congress desire you to exert your utmost endeavors to induce the Canadians to accede to a union with these colonies, and that they form from their several parishes, a provincial Convention, and send Delegates to this Congress. And as, in the present unsettled state of that country, a regular election can hardly be expected, the Congress will acquiesce in the choice of such parishes and districts, as are induced ∥willing∥ to join us.
You may, and are hereby empowered to assure them, that we shall hold their rights as dear as our own, and on their union with us, exert our utmost endeavors to obtain for them, and their posterity, the blessings of a free government, and that security to their persons and property, which is derived from the British Constitution.
And you may, and are hereby empowered further to declare, that we hold sacred the rights of conscience, and shall never molest them in the free enjoyment of their religion.
Separately, the Congress
Resolved, That all letters to and from the delegates of the United Colonies, during the sessions of Congress, pass, and be carried free of postage, the members having engaged upon their honor not to frank or enclose any letters but their own.
Members of Congress continue to exercise this “franking privilege” today.
Sources: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-november-8-1775/; https://legalclarity.org/what-is-the-franking-privilege/
On this day 250 years ago, the Rhode Island legislature declared that Governor Joseph Wanton had
continued to demonstrate that he is inimical to the rights and liberties of America, and is thereby rendered totally unfit to sustain the said office.
And whereas, the calamities of the present times, make it necessary for this General Assembly to avail themselves of the advantages given them by charter, and the fundamental principles of the constitution ; —
This General Assembly do therefore resolve and declare, and by the authority thereof, it is resolved and declared, that the said Joseph Wanton hath justly forfeited the office of Governor of this colony
Wanton was succeeded as Governor by Lieutenant Governor Nicholas Cooke.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Cooke
On this day 250 years ago “on board the ship William, off Norfolk, Virginia, Royal Governor Lord Dunmore issued a Proclamation declaring
all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining His Majesty’s Troops as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this Colony to a proper Sense of their Duty, to His Majesty’s Crown and Dignity.
Although Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation inspired many slaves to run away to join the protection of the British Army, it outraged many white slaveholders and firmly attached them to the Patriot side. The Proclamation has also been cited by many historians to argue that the British were fighting to free slaves and the Americans were fighting to keep them enslaved, it must be stressed that Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation was not motivated by altruism or intended as a step towards abolitionism; it was a tactical step to weaken the Patriots and strengthen his own command. Dunmore proclaimed “free” only the slaves owned “the Rebels” and then only if they were “able and willing to bear arms” and join “His Majesty’s Troops.” As readers of this blog have seen, several of the American colonies had also promised freedom to slaves who would enlist in the Continental Army or militia fighting the British, but it must be acknowledged that the British did better at keeping their promises to the slaves who joined their fight and there are many examples of states that did not free slaves who fought for American Independence.
Sources: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/lord-dunmores-proclamation-1775
On this day 250 years ago in Spanish Town, Jamaica, the Royal Governor reported to the British ministry in London that
the North Americans are amply supplied with Gun powder and other Military Stores by the French in Hispanola; which is sold at an advanc’d price by the Inhabitants who I find import great quantitys from Old France, finding it such an advantageous article of Commerce; But I do not learn that they get any out of the Royal Stores or Magazines.
Source: https://www.texassar.org/Arlington/docs/thisMonthInRev/11-Nov_in_AmRev.pdf
Also on this day 250 years ago in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Captain Ephraim Bowen, Jr. wrote General Washington
of the Return of Capt. Coit into this Harbour, with two Prizes, a Sloop & Schooner, from Nova Scotia Bound to Boston Laden chiefly with Wood & Hay, with Some Cattle, Sheep, Potatoes &c. The People that were on Board with the Papers will be Sent to Head Qrs Immediately.
Mr Watson has taken charge of the Prises, & Will Inform you of the Particulars of the Cargoes, which to our Enemies would have been very Valuable, but to us are not of much consequence . . .
It is thought by the People here that the Schooner will make a very convenient Vessell for a Cruiser, as She Sails Very Well & has two Topsails & might be fitted at very little Expence
Source: “Captain Ephraim Bowen, Jr., to George Washington, 6 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0286. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 2, 16 September 1775 – 31 December 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1987, pp. 310–311.]
On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington issued this order:
As the Commander in Chief has been apprized of a design form’d for the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning the Effigy of the pope He cannot help expressing his surprise that there should be Officers and Soldiers in this army so void of common sense, as not to see the impropriety of such a step at this Juncture; at a Time when we are solliciting, and have really obtain’d, the friendship and alliance of the people of Canada, whom we ought to consider as Brethren embarked in the same Cause. The defence of the general Liberty of America: At such a juncture, and in such Circumstances, to be insulting their Religion, is so monstrous, as not to be suffered or excused; indeed instead of offering the most remote insult, it is our duty to address public thanks to these our Brethren, as to them we are so much indebted for every late happy Success over the common Enemy in Canada.
Sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2007/11/george-washington-and-guy-fawkes-day/223915/; https://founders.archives.gov/?q=%225%20November%201775%22%20&s=1111311111&sa=&r=6&sr=
And on this day 250 years ago in Braintree, Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote to Mercy Otis Warren that
Is it possible that he whom no moral obligations bind, can have any real Good Will towards Man, can he be a patriot who by an openly vicious conduct is undermineing the very bonds of Society, corrupting the Morals of Youth, and by his bad example injuring that very Country he professess to patrionize more than he can possibly compensate by his intrepidity.
Source: “Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, 5 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0213. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Adams Family Correspondence, vol. 1, December 1761 – May 1776, ed. Lyman H. Butterfield. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1963, pp. 322–324.]
On This Day In The Revolution 