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On this day 250 years ago at the Continental Army headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Brig. Gen. Horatio Gates, who had himself immigrated to America from England, wrote to Benjamin Franklin recommending an officer who claimed to have fled the Tyrannical treatment he has received from The King Prussia: may he enjoy in This Land of…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress debated a letter from General Washington requesting that Congress authorize a bounty for soldiers who would enlist for the duration of the War. Congressman James Duane of New York noted that the Congress was concerned that it was “Dangerous to have standing army”. He…
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On this day 250 years ago at their home in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John representing Massachusetts in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia: No event of any importance upon either side excepting the burning of some houses by the Enemy upon Dorchester Neck has taken place since you left…
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On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington wrote this letter to Joseph Johnson, a Mohegan missionary who was traveling to New York to live among the Iroquois: I am very much pleased to find by the Strong recommendations you produce, that we have amongst our Brothers of the Six Nations a…
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On this day 250 years ago, 300 militiamen from Essex County, New Jersey under the command of Capt. John Blanchard raided Staten Island, New York to stop raids by British ships. Source: https://www.westjerseyhistory.org/books/battlesmunn/partfive.shtml; In the early hours of this day 250 years ago, according to one source, British General Donald MacDonald led the 1600 men…
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[editorial note — I erroneously posted today’s blog on February 16, 2026, but I have deleted it from that day to repost today. ] On this day 250 years ago, British General Donald MacDonald led his Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment of 1600 men out of the town of Cross Creek (now Fayetteville), North Carolina. MacDonald…
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On this day 250 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts General Washington issued the following Order: The Congress have been pleased to appoint Joseph Fry Esqr. a Brigadier General in the Continental Army; he is to be obeyed as such and his Excellency the General orders that he shall take the command of the vacant Brigade…
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On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General Washington held a Council of War with the generals under his command to determine whether the Continental Army should launch an assault to take Boston. The Council of War: Resolved that an Assault on the Town of Boston in the present circumstances…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress resolved That a committee of three . . . (two of whom to be members of Congress) be appointed to proceed to Canada there to pursue such instructions as shall be given them by Congress. The members chosen, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Mr. S Chase,…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the third publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was released with a new appendix. The words of the appendix include the most-remembered lines of Common Sense: We ought to reflect, that there are three different ways by which an independancy may hereafter be effected; and that one of those three, will,…
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On This Day In The Revolution 