On this day 250 years ago, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Christian Febiger, an immigrant from Denmark, enlists as a private in the Massachusetts militia. Febiger serves heroically throughout the Revolution including at Bunker Hill, Quebec (where he was captured and imprisoned for eight months), Brandywine, Stony Point and in Virginia ending his service as a Brevet Brigadier General in the Continental Army. “Old Denmark” Febiger is one of the heroes of the Revolution who deserves better recognition for his contributions to American liberty.

Sources: https://allthingsliberty.com/2017/01/hans-christian-febiger-old-denmark/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Febiger

On this day 250 years ago, news of Lexington and Concord reaches Hanover Court House, Virginia, where Patrick Henry is ready to ride north to attend the Continental Congress. On that same day, a report of the battles reaches Williamsburg, Virginia, and is published in William Pinkney’s Virginia Gazette.

Sources: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/events/virginias-response-to-the-powder-incident/; https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/pf/declaring/lexVsConBattles.cfm

On this day 250 years ago in Montreal, Canada, four men write a response on behalf of the British “Inhabitants of Montreal” to the Massachusetts Committee of Safety’s invitation to send representatives to the Continental Congress:

We have received your letter of the 21st of February, by Mr Brown, and see clearly the great injustice that has been done you. We deeply feel the sorrows and afflictions of our suffering brethren ; and sincerely wish it was in our power to afford you effectual relief; but alas! we are more the objects of pity and compassion than yourselves, who are now suffering under the heavy hand of power; deprived, as we are, of the common right of the miserable, to complain. You have numbers, strength, and a common cause to support you in your opposition : we are still more divided here, by our interests, than by our religion, language, and manners. The apprehension of evils to come upon us, in a short time, from the unlimited power of the governor, strikes all opposition dead : indeed, few in this colony dare vent their griefs ; but groan in silence, and dream of lettres de cachet, confiscations, and imprisonments; offering up their fervent prayers to the throne of grace, to prosper your righteous cause, which alone will free us from those jealous fears and apprehensions tliat rob us of our peace.

In a word, were the British inhabitants of this widely extended province, united in their sentiments, we have neither numbers nor wealth sufficient to do you any essential service. We must, therefore, cast ourselves into the arms of our sister colonies, relying upon the wisdom, vigor, and firnmess of the general Continental Congress for our protection, hoping they will entertain no animosity or resentment against us because we cannot join them in the ensuing general Congress, which, were we to attempt, the Canadians would join with the government to frustrate.

Source: Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts at 751 accessed at https://archive.org/details/journalsofeachprma00mass/page/750/mode/2up?view=theater

On this day 250 years ago, thousands of militia under the nominal command of General Artemas Ward, but in practice acting as independent companies, surrounded Boston. More militiamen were on the march to join them. Most of the men were Massachusetts Militia, but militia from New Hampshire commanded by Col. John Stark had also joined the Siege of Boston.

Source: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/american-revolutionary-war-timeline-1775-january-june/

In New Haven, Connecticut, Benedict Arnold, commander of the Second Company, Governor’s Foot Guard, had assembled his 60 men to go to Boston but needed gunpowder. General David Wooster of the Connecticut Militia initially refused Arnold’s demand for the keys to the Powder House because the Connecticut Governor and Legislature had not given their authorization. After Arnold threatened to break in, Wooster relented, and Arnold took the powder he needed and he and his men began their three-day march to Boston. Wooster was more cautious than Arnold but he was not a Loyalist; two years later Wooster and Arnold would fight together to defend against a British raid into Connecticut, and Wooster would be mortally wounded fighting for American Independence.

Every year the State of Connecticut celebrates Arnold’s seizure of the gunpowder as Powder House Day. This year the 250th commemoration of Powder House Day will be held on May 10.

Sources:

http://www.footguard.org/sched.html

And on this day 250 years ago in western Massachusetts, the Stockbridge Militia Company under the command of Captain William Goodrich with David Pixley as first lieutenant and Jehoiakim Mtohksin as second lieutenant, began their march to Boston. In addition to Jehoiakim Mtohksin, at least fifteen other members of the Stockbridge Mohicans would participate in the Siege of Boston including Abraham Naunauphtaunk, William Notonksion, Sr., Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut, Jacob Naunauphtaunk with his sons Abraham and Jehoiakim, Daniel Nimham, and both William Ntonksion, Sr., and Jr.

http://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org; https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/american-revolutionary-war-timeline-1775-january-june/