Tag: history

On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — December 18, 1775

December 18th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in the second-floor library of Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay of the Committee of Secret Correspondence of the Continental Congress met with Julien Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir, an envoy from French Foreign Minister Comte de Vergennes on a secret mission to assess America’s determination to fight Britain. Francis Daymon, an immigrant from France who was employed as the librarian of Franklin’s Library Company housed in Carpenters’ Hall and as Franklin’s personal French tutor, served as the translator for the meeting as Bonvouloir spoke no English.

Sources: https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/10/the-three-documents-that-brought-france-into-the-war/; https://www.carpentershall.org/pages/year-of-the-spy-2025; https://globalphiladelphia.org/news/carpenters-hall-philadelphia-crossroads-early-american-history; https://npplan.com/parks-by-state/pennsylvania-national-parks/independence-national-historical-park-park-at-a-glance/independence-national-historical-park-historic-sites/independence-national-historical-park-carpenters-hall/; https://www.phillyvoice.com/ben-franklin-french-spy-american-revolution-philly-carpenters-hall/

On this day 250 years ago in Providence, Rhode Island, Pierre Penet and Emmanuel de Pliarne, French merchants from Cape Francais in Haiti, who also spoke no English and were on their way to Philadelphia to propose supplying arms and ammunition to the Continental Congress, wrote to thank General Washington for his assistance when they landed in Providence. As translated by Washington’s aide Stephen Moylan, an immigrant to America from Ireland, the letter read:

to return our thanks for the gracious reception, which we have received from your Excellency—will you Sir, Accept the gratefull Sentiments of our acknowledgements, and be persuaded, that dureing the Continuance of our Lives—we shall pray to the great God for the preservation of Liberty to the people of this Country & for the safety of him who at present Commands their Army.

Deign Sir we pray you, to prevail on Madam Your Lady, to accept of Some of the Fruits of our Colonies, to which we have added, one bottle of Martinique Liquers—two bottles of Ratifia three [ ] of fruit preserved in brandy—one dozen of Oranges, and fifty Small Loaves of Sugar.

We hope these Little Articles will reach your hands Safe—and that they will be regarded as testimonies of the respect—with which we have the honour to be Sir Your most H. & Obt St

Source: “Pierre Penet and Emmanuel de Pliarne to George Washington, 18 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0530. [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. 577–578.]

And on this day 250 years ago in Watertown, Massachusetts, Joseph Hawley of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress wrote to John Adams with advice on the formation of American governments:

An American Parliament with legislative Authority over All the colonies already or that Shall be united Must be established. Until that Shall be done we Shall be liable to be divided and broken by the Arts of our intestine enemies and cunning Menoeuvers of Administration. Undoubtedly the plan Must be when formed laid before each Several Assembly or provincial Congress on the Continent and be consented to by all. The Numbers of Members each colony Shall send to that great Council Must be Settled. The Same time of election Must be fixed for All, and the term or period for which the Members Must be chosen must be determined. May God prevent Septennial Parliaments. Nay I hope they will be Annual.

All the Colonies I hope will as soon as possible assume Popular forms of Government and indeed become several little republicks. I freely own Myself a republican and I wish to See all Government on this Earth republican. No other form is a Security for right and virtue.

Although little remembered today, Joseph Hawley was one of the most prominent Patriots in Massachusetts before the Revolution and an early advocate for American Independence. He had been elected to represent Massachusetts in the First Continental Congress but due to illness was unable to make the trip to Philadelphia. John Adams was then elected to replace Hawley.

As a side note, there is some irony that the two most well-known members of the Continental Congress today, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, were each elected to replace more prominent Patriots who were unable to serve. We should not forget that Joseph Hawley was also one of our Founding Fathers.

Sources: “Joseph Hawley to John Adams, 18 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-03-02-0191. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 3, May 1775 – January 1776, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979, pp. 368–370.]; http://www.historic-northampton.org/highlights/hawley.html
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — December 14, 1775

December 14th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in New York City, after a debate between its conservative members and more radical members, the New York Provincial Congress adopted the language proposed by radical leaders John Morin Scott and Alexander McDougall that resolved

That though this Colony in conjuncture with the other United Colonies has had recourse to the appointment of Congresses and committees for the more orderly and effectual redress of their numerous and heavy grievances, yet it is by no means the desire or design of its inhabitants to disuse, much less to oppose or obstruct the ordinary course of legislation, but that they highly esteem their right of being represented in General Assembly.

Therefore Resolved, nevertheless, That it is the opinion of this Congress, that nothing of a salutary nature can be expected from a separate declaration of the sense of this Colony on the resolution of the House of Commons of the 20th February last, and that as the motion whereon the same was grounded, was confessedly framed to disunite the Colonies, it would be highly dangerous to, and totally inconsistent with the glorious plan of American union, should this Colony express their separate sense on the above mentioned supposed conciliatory proposal on the part of Great Britain.

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Congress that this Colony is fully and effectually represented in the Continental Congress for the purpose of expressing the sense of its inhabitants on any overtures for a reconciliation, and that the Continental Congress has fully and dispassionately expressed the sense of the inhabitants of this Colony on the above mentioned resolution of the 20th February last.

John Morin Scott would later become a brigadier general in the Continental Army. Colonel Alexander McDougall, who came to America as a penniless teenage immigrant from Scotland, was already an officer in the Continental Army and would go on to serve throughout the War rising to major general.

Source: Journals of the Provincial Congress, Provincial Convention, Committee of Safety and Council of Safety of the state of New-York at pp. 218-19 accessed at https://archive.org/details/journalsofprovin01newy/page/218/mode/2up
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — December 10, 1775

December 10th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in Rhode Island, the Reverend Ezra Stiles recorded in his diary a raid by at least 200 (Stiles thought more) British Marines on Conanicut Island and the burning of the village of Jamestown:

This Morning we were awaked with the Conflagration of Jamestown on Conanicott. An awful Sight! The Bomb Brigg & several Tenders full of Marines went over last Night, & about o’clock or a little before day landed and set fire to the Houses. The men continued ravaging & firing till about Noon & returned.

The next day, Stiles wrote:

About 1 o’clock yesterday morning a Bomb Brig, 1 schooner & 2 or 3 armed sloops went to Conanicott & landed upwards of Two hundred Marines Sailors & Negroes at the East Ferry; and marched in 3 Divisions over to the West Ferry, & set the several houses on fire there, then retreated back setting fire to almost every house on each side of the road, & several Houses & Barns some distance on the North & South side of the Rode, driving out Women & Children &c.

A Company of Minute Men had left Conanicut the Afternoon before so that there were but 40 or 50 soldiers on the Island, of 22 were well equipped. At the Cross Rodes there was a Skirmish our people killed one Officer of Marines & wounded 7 or 8.

Not one Colonist was killed or hurt in the Skirmish. The Kings forces fired on Mr. John Martin, 80 standing unarmed at his Door & wounded him badly. Mr. Fowler had above 30 Head Cattle: these the Regulars carried off & perhaps a dozen Head more, about 30 Sheep & as many Turkeys, & some Hogs, Beds Furniture & other plunder. They returned on board at X & XI o’Clock & came to this Harbor about Noon.

The Alarm spread, & I am told there are this day Three hundred Men on Conanicutt, & Eight hundred upon this Island. The Town in great Consternation.

The elderly bystander John Martin would die of his wounds.

Sources: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/narragansett-bay-operations-1775/; http://smallstatebighistory.com/major-general-charles-lee-imposes-oaths-of-allegiance-on-newport-tories-in-1775/

On this day 250 years ago in Braintree, Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote a long letter to her husband John serving in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in which she provided her assessment of the characters of officers in the Continental Army who she had recently met in Cambridge, a advice to pass along to Congress on trade with the West Indies and on curbing inflation, and a shopping list:

I am very loth to trouble you about articles of conveniancy for myself, especially as they are so much out of your way of Buisness. I will only mention two or three which if you can direct Bass to get for me will much oblige me one black Barcelona hankerchief, two or 3 yd. of black Caliminco for shooes and binding for the same he knows how much will be proper and 3 or 4 common manchester check hankerchiefs for the pocket. Not a hankerchief of any kind can be purchased here, but out of the Store for the Army, and they are allowd only to those who inlist.

Source: “Abigail Adams to John Adams, 10 December 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0221. [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. 335–338.]
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — December 9, 1775

December 9th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago the Patriots of Virginia defeated the British at the Battle of Great Bridge. As the Virginia commander Colonel William Woodford accurately described it in a letter a few days afterwards, the battle was a “second Bunker’s Hill affair, in miniature, with this difference: that we kept our post and had only one man wounded in the hand.” The British forces totalled about 670 men and were opposed by approximately 900 Patriots, but less than 300 men were involved in the actual fighting (about 150 British and somewhat fewer Patriots), which lasted lasted less than thirty minutes. As at Bunker Hill the British charged Americans behind a barricade and suffered appalling losses. In contrast to the one Patriot wounded (Lieutenant Thomas Nash of the Norfolk County Militia), the British 14th Regiment lost a captain, two lieutenants, and 14 privates killed, a lieutenant and 15 privates wounded and captured, and 33 privates wounded. There were conflicting reports of how many casualties there were in the sailors and Black and White Loyalists who were part of the British forces, but the British casualties may have totalled 102 men in all. Following the battle Lord Dunmore abandoned Norfolk and his forces withdrew to ships in the Chesapeake Bay leaving Virginia in full control by the Patriots, except for British raids, until 1781. The British lost half of their professional fighting force and were forced out of the largest colony in North America as a result of the Battle of Great Bridge, making this small battle one of the most strategic American victories of the War. The most renowned Patriot hero of the battle was a free Black man named William Flora who would go on to serve in the Continental Army for the remainder of the War fighting at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth and Yorktown.

Today, December 9, 2025 starting at 7:00 am, the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation will commemorate the Battle of Great Bridge with a full day of activities.

Sources: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/other/great-bridge-battlefield-commemorates-250th-anniversary-of-patriot-victory/ar-AA1RpyYQ; https://www.jyfmuseums.org/learn/research-and-collections/essays/what-was-the-battle-of-great-bridge; https://www.discoverconcordma.com/articles/699-the-battle-of-great-bridge; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Flora
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — December 7, 1775

December 7th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago, “a Convention of Delegates, chosen by the several counties of the province of Maryland at the city of Annapolis” convened. Their first order of business was to elect Matthew Tilghman as the President of the Convention. Tilghman would serve as one of Maryland’s delegates to the Continental Congress and in the Maryland Convention and Maryland Legislature for the duration of the War. The Maryland Convention, also called the Annapolis Convention, was effectively the government of Maryland even though Royal Governor Eden remained in office.

Source: Proceedings of the Conventions of the province of Maryland, held at the city of Annapolis, in 1774, 1775, & 1776 , Baltimore: James Lewis & E.K. Deaver, 1836 at p.39, accessed at https://archive.org/details/proceedingsofcon00mary/page/38/mode/2up

That same day, 1100 Americans and a few hundred Canadians commanded by General Richard Montgomery and Colonel Benedict Arnold were besieging the City of Quebec from encampments to the west and north of the City’s walls. The 1800 British soldiers, sailors and untrained Canadians drafted into a militia defending Quebec outnumbered the besiegers.

Sources: https://www.americanheritage.com/siege-quebec-1775-1776; https://www.americanrevolution.org/arnolds-expedition-the-investment/

On that same day in Virginia 400 men commanded by Colonel William Woodford including 100 riflemen from Culpeper County, 200 militia from Fauquier and Orange Counties, local militia from Norfolk County and a company from North Carolina were encamped in the village of Great Bridge south of Norfolk (within the City of Chesapeake today). Woodford’s men were defending a barricade they had erected across the south side of the Great Bridge over the Elizabeth River and outposts along the south side of the river. A small detachment of 27 British Regulars with two four-pounder cannon and several small swivel guns occupied a hastily constructed fort guarding the north end of the Great Bridge. The British regulars were supported by a company of former slaves who had enlisted in Dunmore’s “Ethiopian Regiment” in return for his promise of freedom and who were guarding the north bank of the river. The British side numbered about 100 in total. The Great Bridge provided the only road access to the City of Norfolk. The British and Americans had been sniping and raiding each other across the Elizabeth River in a stalemate that had lasted for more than a week but on this day Woodford received reinforcements bringing his total force to 900. The stalemate was about to be broken.

Today, December 7, 2025, the City of Chesapeake is hosting a 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Great Bridge Reenactment, and there are several other related events on December 9.

Sources: https://va250.org/event-detail/?id=2305; https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/other/great-bridge-battlefield-commemorates-250th-anniversary-of-patriot-victory/ar-AA1RpyYQ;; https://www.cityofchesapeake.net/810/Battle-of-Great-Bridge; https://www.jyfmuseums.org/learn/research-and-collections/essays/what-was-the-battle-of-great-bridge; Selby at 70-72
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — December 6, 1775

December 6th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress responded to the Proclamation of Rebellion that King George III had issued in August 1775. They asserted:

We know of no laws binding upon us, but such as have been transmitted to us by our ancestors, and such as have been consented to by ourselves, or our representatives elected for that purpose. What laws, stamped with these characters, have we withstood? We have indeed defended them; and we will risk everything, do everything, and suffer everything in their defense. To support our laws, and our liberties established by our laws, we have prepared, ordered, and levied war: But is this traitorously, or against the King? We view him as the Constitution represents him. . . .

perhaps the principles of reason and justice, and the constitution will not prevail: Experience suggests to us the doubt: If they should not, we must resort to arguments drawn from very different source. We, therefore, in the name of the people of these United Colonies, and by authority, according to the purest maxims of representation, derived from them, declare, that whatever punishment shall be inflicted upon any persons in the power of our enemies for favoring, aiding, or abetting the cause of American liberty, shall be retaliated in the same kind, and the same degree upon those in our power, who have favored, aided, or abetted, or shall favor, aid, or abet the system of ministerial oppression. The essential difference between our cause, and that of our enemies, might justify a severer punishment: The law of retaliation will unquestionably warrant one equally severe.

The Congress provided its justification for taking up arms to defend “our liberties established by our laws” and for retaliating against the British when they punished people “for favoring, aiding, or abetting the cause of American liberty.”

Sources: https://digitalcollections.statelibrary.pa.gov/Documents/Detail/in-congress-december-6-1775/1365959; https://250andcounting.com/2025/12/06/congress-responds-to-king-george-december-6-1775/; https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-december-6-1775/
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — November 27, 1775

November 27th, 2025

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 a song-as a body may say.

’Tis of the King’s Regulars, who ne’er run way.

O the old Soldiers of the King, and the King’s own Regulars.

Through several stanzas, Franklin cataloged battles in the Jacobite and French and Indian Wars in which British regulars were routed by irregular fighters. Then he turned to the Revolution:

Grown proud at reviews, great George had no rest,

Each grandsire, he had heard a rebellion supprest.

He wish’d a rebellion, look’d round and saw none,

So resolv’d a rebellion to make of his own-

With the old soldiers, &c.

The Yankees he bravely pitch’d on, because he thought they would not fight,

And so he sent us over to take away their right,

But least they should spoil our review clothes, he cried braver and louder,

“For God’s sake, brother kings, don’t sell the cowards any powder.”

O the old soldiers &c.

Our General with his council of war did advise,

How at Lexington we might the Yankees surprise.

We march’d-and we march’d-all surpriz’d at being beat;

And so our wise General’s plan of surprise was complete.

O the old soldiers &c.

For fifteen miles they follow’d and pelted us, we scarce had time to pull a trigger;

But did you ever know a retreat perform’d with more vigour?

For we did it in two hours, which sav’d us from perdition,

’Twas not in going out but in returning consisted our expedition.

O the old soldiers, &c.

Says our General, we were forced to take to our arms in our own defence:

(For arms read legs, and it will be both truth and sense.

Lord Percy (says He) I must say something of him in civility,

And that is, I can never enough praise him for his great-agility.

O the old soldiers, &c.

Of their firing from behind fences, he makes a great pother,

Ev’ry fence has two sides; they made use of one, and we only forgot to use the other.

That we turn’d our backs and ran away so fast, don’t let that disgrace us;

’Twas only to make good what Sandwich said, “that the Yankees would not face us.”

O the old soldiers, &c.

As they could not get before us, how could they look us in the face?

We took care they should not, by scampering away apace;

That they had not much to brag of, is a very plain case.

For if they beat us in the fight, we beat them in the race.

O the old soldiers of the King, and the King’s own Regulars.

Source: “Song: ‘The King’s Own Regulars,’ 27 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-22-02-0163. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 22, March 23, 1775, through October 27, 1776, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London:: Yale University Press, 1982, pp. 274–277.]

On this day 250 years ago in Braintree, Massachusetts, Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John with her thoughts and fears for the future government of America:

I wish I knew what mighty things were fabricating. If a form of Goverment is to be established here what one will be assumed? Will it be left to our assemblies to chuse one? and will not many men have many minds? and shall we not run into Dissentions among ourselves?

I am more and more convinced that Man is a dangerous creature, and that power whether vested in many or a few is ever grasping, and like the grave cries give, give. The great fish swallow up the small, and he who is most strenuous for the Rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the perogatives of Goverment. You tell me of degrees of perfection to which Humane Nature is capable of arriving, and I believe it, but at the same time lament that our admiration should arise from the scarcity of the instances.

The Building up a Great Empire, which was only hinted at by my correspondent may now I suppose be realized even by the unbelievers. Yet will not ten thousand Difficulties arise in the formation of it? The Reigns of Goverment have been so long slakned, that I fear the people will not quietly submit to those restraints which are necessary for the peace, and security, of the community; if we seperate from Brittain, what Code of Laws will be established. How shall we be governd so as to retain our Liberties? Can any goverment be free which is not adminstred by general stated Laws? Who shall frame these Laws? Who will give them force and energy? Tis true your Resolutions as a Body have heithertoo had the force of Laws. But will they continue to have?

When I consider these things and the prejudices of people in favour of Ancient customs and Regulations, I feel anxious for the fate of our Monarchy or Democracy or what ever is to take place. I soon get lost in a Labyrinth of perplexities, but whatever occurs, may justice and righteousness be the Stability of our times, and order arise out of confusion. Great difficulties may be surmounted, by patience and perseverance.

Source: “Abigail Adams to John Adams, 27 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0218. [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. 328–331.]

On this day 250 years ago, Americans were not celebrating Thanksgiving. Despite the origin stories for Thanksgiving more than a hundred years earlier in Plymouth, Massachusetts and at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia, the American colonists did not celebrate Thanksgiving as an annual event prior to the Revolution and in 1775. Thanksgiving celebrations were held on an occasional basis for various reasons. For example, Massachusetts held a Day of Thanksgiving on November 20, 1778 and a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer on November 8, 1783 at the conclusion of the War. The Continental Congress called for a National Day of Thanksgiving on December 18, 1777, and President Washington called for a Day of Thanksgiving on November 26, 1789. After the Revolution, several states began holding annual Thanksgiving celebrations during October or November, but there was no standard date or national holiday until after the Civil War.

[note — I have to amend the paragraph above. I just discovered that on November 4, 1775 the Massachusetts General Court had issued a proclamation designating November 23 a day of public thanksgiving

to offer up our praises, and prayers, to Almighty God, the Source and Benevolent Bestower of all good; That he would be pleased graciously to continue, to smile upon our Endeavours, to restore peace, preserve our Rights, and Privileges, to the latest posterity; prosper the American Arms, preserve and strengthen the Harmony of the United Colonies, and avert the Calamities of a civil war.

On November 18, General Washington ordered the Continental Army to observe the day “with all the Solemnity directed by the Legislative Proclamation.” In contrast to the solemn religious service envisioned by the Massachusetts Legislature and General Washington, Corporal Moses Sleeper recorded in his diary a celebration much like our modern Thanksgiving:

Thirsday Novr 23 Pleasant Weather to work In the forenoon Dind upon turkey to day It being thanksgiving last night had a verry Grand Supper upon turkeys & geese

Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/revolutionary-war-diary-of-moses-sleeper.htm
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — November 23, 1775

November 23rd, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress approved trade with the Iroquois Confederacy in an effort to prevent the Iroquois from allying with the British. Specifically the Congress resolved:

that the Indians be assured that this Congress are pleased with their desire, that the trade should be opened as formerly at Albany and Schenectady, that the Congress will exert their strenuous endeavors to procure the goods the Indians may want, and put the trade under such wise regulations, as that mutual justice may be affected, and that they hope those endeavors will be successful.

That General Schuyler be desired to furnish the Commissioners at Albany with some powder, if he can spare it, to be distributed among the Indians, who in the present circumstances, are much distressed by the want of that article.

That the Commissioners for transacting Indian Affairs in the northern department, be desired to obtain from the Mohawk Indians, and the corporation of Albany, a state of the controversy between them, concerning the land desired by the former in the late treaty at Albany, to be restored to them, and report the matter as it shall appear to them, to the Congress.

That the said Commissioners be desired, at the expence of the United Colonies, to provide for and entertain the Sachems or warriors of the Six Nations, and other Indians friendly to these colonies, their attendants and messengers, with the accustomed hospitality when they come to Albany or Schenectady, to treat, or give intelligence of public affairs, or upon a visit, and for this purpose that 750 dollars be lodged in the hands of the said Commissioners.

That the said Commissioners be directed to employ two blacksmiths for reasonable salaries, to reside among and work for the Indians of the Six Nations.

That the said commissioners be empowered to employ an interpreter and James Deane, if they judge him well qualified, is recommended to execute this office.

Resolved, That three members be added to the previous committee to become a larger committee to devise a plan for carrying on a trade with the Indians, and ways and means for procuring goods proper for that trade. The members added: James Wilson, Silas Deane, and Francis Lewis.

Unfortunately for both the Americans and the Iroquois, the steps promised by Congress would not succeed in keeping the Iroquois neutral in the War.

Source: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-november-23-1775/
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — November 20, 1775

November 20th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago from Point aux Trembles, Quebec, Col. Benedict Arnold reported to General Washington that on November 14 he and his men had crossed

the St Lawrance without Obstruction, except from a Barge, on which we fired & killed three Men, but as the Enemy were apprised of our coming, and the Garrison augmented to near seven hundred Men, besides the Inhabitants, it was not thought proper to attempt carrying the Town by Storm, but cut off their Communication with the Country till the Arrival of General Montgomery—We accordingly invested the Town with about 550 effective Men, took possession of a Nunnery & Major Caldwell’s House about half a League from Town —We marched up several Times near the Walls, in Hopes of drawing them out, but to no effect, tho’ they kept a constant Cannonading & killed us one Man.

On the 18th having Intelligence that Capt. Napier in an armed Snow with near 200 Men, having made his escape from Montreal, was very near, & that the Garrison, furnished with a Number of good Field Pieces intended attacking us the next Day, I ordered a strickt Examination to be made into our Arms & Ammunition, when to my great Surprize I found many of our Cartridges unfit for Use (which to Appearance were good) and that we had no more than five Rounds to each Man, it was judged prudent in our Situation not to hazard a Battle but retire to this Place, eight Leagues from Quebec, which we did yesterday, & are waiting here with Impatience the Arrival of Genl Montgomery, which we expect in a few Days. I have been obliged to send to Montreal for Cloathing for my People about 650 in the Whole, who are almost naked & in want of every Necessary— . . . . Had I been ten Days sooner, Quebec must inevitably have fallen into Our Hands, as there was not a Man there to oppose us—however I make no Doubt Genl Montgomery will reduce it this Winter if properly supported with Men which in my Opinion, cannot in the whole be less than two Thousand, five Hundred, tho’ it may possibly be effected with a less Number—The Fatigue will be very severe at this Season, and in this inclement Climate.

Arnold’s prediction would turn out to be spot on. At the end of the year the Continental Army attacked Quebec with half the number of troops Arnold reported would be needed, and the insufficient numbers of the fatigued Americans attacking in the inclement climate of a snowstorm resulted in total defeat of the American forces.

Source: “Colonel Benedict Arnold to George Washington, 20 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0370. [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. 403–404.]

Also on this day 250 years ago in Quebec Province of Canada, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery authorized Colonel James Livingston to form the 1st Canadian Regiment of the Continental Army. Livingston was able to recruit 200 or so Canadiens to join the regiment, and they would serve in the Continental Army fighting for American Liberty until 1781 when the regiment was disbanded in New York.

Sources: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/canadian-regiment-first; https://250andcounting.com/?powerpress_pinw=1190-podcast
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — November 16, 1775

November 16th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago at his headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, General George Washington ordered Henry Knox

immediately to examine into the state of the Artillery of this army & take an account of the Cannon, Mortars, Shels, Lead & ammunition that are wanting; When you have done that, you are to proceed in the most expeditious manner to New York; There apply to the president of the provincial Congress, and learn of him . . . respecting these things, & Get him to procure such of them as can possibly be had there.The president if he can, will have them immediately sent hither; If he cannot, you must put them in a proper Channel for being Transported to this Camp with dispatch before you leave New York. After you have procured as many of these Necessaries as you can there, you must go to Major General Schuyler & Get the remainder from Ticonderoga, Crown point, or St Johns— . . . the want of them is so great, that no trouble or expence must be spared to obtain them—I have wrote to General Schuyler, he will give every necessary assistance, that they may be had & forwarded to this place with the utmost dispatch.

At this time Knox was serving as a volunteer aide to General Washington without a commission although Washington had requested that the Congress commission him as a Colonel in the Continental Army in charge of artillery. Washington’s Order to Knox set in motion Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery that would end up driving the British Army out of Boston.

Sources: https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw4.034_0862_0863/?st=gallery; “Instructions to Colonel Henry Knox, 16 November 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-02-02-0351. [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. 384–385.]; https://allthingsliberty.com/2019/02/henry-knoxs-noble-train-of-artillery-no-ox-for-knox/

On this day 250 years ago in Williamsburg, the Treasurer of Virginia Robert Carter Nicholas issued a notice

It being judged necessary that a GENERAL CONVENTION should be speedily held, I have thought fit, pursuant to the directions of the last Convention, to appoint Friday the first day of December for that purpose, when a full meeting of the delegates, at the town of Richmond

Source:

https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/todayIn1770s/index.cfm?SelectedMonth=11&SelectedDay=16