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On this day 250 years ago near Philadelphia, a national flag of the United States was flown for the first time. The Grand Union Flag was hoisted on the USS Alfred by Senior Lieutenant John Paul Jones while the ship sailed down the Delaware River on its first cruise. John Paul Jones of course went on to greater…
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On this day 250 years ago at Pointe-aux-Trembles (now Neuville) on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec Province of Canada, the Gaspee and Maria unloaded three hundred American soldiers, four cannons and six mortars commanded by General Richard Montgomery. There they met the larger force commanded by Colonel Benedict Arnold. Two hundred Canadian soldiers commanded…
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On this day 250 years ago at Pointe-Aux-Trembles (now Neuville) west of the City of Quebec, Canada, the snow was falling on Col. Benedict Arnold and the tattered, tired and hungry men of his command while they awaited the arrival of General Richard Montgomery’s forces to advance on Quebec. Source: https://www.thenmusa.org/army-trail/founding-the-nation/the-canadian-campaign-the-siege-of-quebec-december-1775-may-1776/montgomery-joins-forces-with-arnold/; Beck at 254-56.
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On this day 250 years ago at Golden Grove Creek in what is now Greenville County, South Carolina Militia led by Captain Thomas Sumter captured about 95 Tory fighters who had been part of the force that had attacked the Patriot fort at Ninety-Six earlier in the month. Sumter would rise to the rank of…
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On this day 250 years ago off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, the 74-ton, 6-gun schooner commissioned by General Washington as the Lee captured the 250-ton British cargo ship Nancy. The Lee was commanded by Captain John Manley (an immigrant from England) and manned by soldiers from Colonel John Glover’s regiment from Marblehead, Massachusetts. The capture of…
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On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress adopted “rules for the regulation of the Navy of the United Colonies.” The Congress had already authorized ships to conduct raids to seize gunpowder, but this action effectively established the United States Navy. Also on this day in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress accepted two…
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On this day 250 years ago in Watertown, Massachusetts, the Boston Gazette published a song written by Benjamin Franklin satirizing “The King’s own REGULARS; And their Triumphs over the Irregulars.” The song begins: Since you all will have singing, and won’t be said, nay, I cannot refuse where you so beg and pray; So I’ll sing you…
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On this day 250 years from Chelsea on the American front lines besieging Boston, Lt. Col. Loammi Baldwin reported intelligence to General Washington about a Brigg from England Laden with all sorts of Ordinance Stores who were Informed that She was taken & caried in to Plimouth at which news the Admiral Said if so…
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On this day 250 years ago in Providence, Nicholas Cooke, the Governor of Rhode Island, wrote to General Washington that the Rhode Island Assembly took into Possession the Estates of several of the most active Tories, and also passed an Act making it Death and Confiscation of Estate to supply the Enemy’s Navy, or Army,…
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On this day 250 years ago, Reverend Ezra Stiles of Newport, Rhode Island recorded in his diary that he had met in Wrentham, Massachusetts with William Goddard, the Printer & now Surveyor General of the Post office in America, & very much acquainted with . . . the Characters in the Continental Congress . ..…
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On This Day In The Revolution 