Tag: military

On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 15, 1775

May 15th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in Phladelphia, the New York delegation to the Continental Congress requested instructions on how to respond to the expected arrival of additional British troops in New York City. In response the Congress

Resolved, That it be recommended for the present to the inhabitants of New York, that if the troops, which are expected should arrive, the said Colony act on the defensive so long as may be consistent with their safety and security: that the troops be permitted to remain in the barracks, so long as they behave themselves peaceably and quietly, but that they be not suffered to erect fortifications or take any steps for cutting off the communication between the town and country; and that if they commit hostilities or invade private property, the inhabitants should defend themselves aśsdsnd their property and repel force by force; that the warlike stores be removed from the town; that places of retreat in case of necessity be provided for the women and children of New York; and that a sufficient number of men be embodied and kept in constant readiness for protecting the inhabitants from insult and injury.

Resolved, that a committee be appointed to consider what posts are necessary to be occupied in the Colony of New York, and by what number of troops it will be necessary they should be occupied guarded.

Resolved, That George Washington, Thomas Lynch, Samuel Adams, and the delegates from New York, be the committee for the above service, and that they be desired to report as speedily as possible.

I have highlighted the most revolutionary portion of the instructions to the New Yorkers.

Source: https://americanfounding.org/entries/second-continental-congress-may-15-1775/

On this day at Fort Ticonderoga, Ethan Allen wrote to the Governor of Connecticut:

the Hazard of Takeing Ticondaroga was supposed to be such that the Comitee of war for the Expadition Imploy’d Mr. Jonas Fay of Bennington to Proceede with the Scout to said Premises in Character of Doctor . . . and as Doctor Fay Has with him on the Premises Consderable . . . Medecines &c. and is willing and well skilled to Continue the Campain… I would therefore Recommend him to be Continued by Your Honour’s Appointment… this recommendation… is founded on the Hypothesis that Government will send a Military force to Maintain the [control] of Lake Champlain in favour of the Colonies.

Source: https://fortticonderoga.org/news/whats-next-after-taking-ticonderoga-ethan-allen-plans-ahead/ (emphasis added)

On this day 250 years ago in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Mercy Otis Warren wrote to Abigail Adams that

I lament with you the infatuation of Britain, the Commotions of America and the Dangers to Which the Best of men and the truest Friends to Virtue, Liberty and the British Constitution are Exposed. And though I feel A painful Concern for their safty I acknowledge I feel some kind of pride in being so Closely Connected with persons who dare to act so Noble a part.

. . .

I do not Wonder you feel the Want of that Comfort and support under the tryals of the day which You might Receive from Your Worthy Companion would the service of the public Admit of his being Constently with you. But I have learned to think less of Absence then I used to do when I Can be Assured of the safety of my Friend, more Especially when I Consider the situation of the Country and the Interest of posterity Calls for the utmost Exertions of Every Man of Ability, Integrity or Virtue.

Source: “Mercy Otis Warren to Abigail Adams, 15 May 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0134. [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. 198–199.] (emphasis added)
On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 6, 1775

May 6th, 2025

On this day 250 years ago in Williamsburg, Virginia, Royal Governor Lord Dunmore issued a proclamation against “a certain Patrick Henry, of the County of Hanover, and a Number of his deluded Followers.”

Sources: https://www.varsitytutors.com/earlyamerica/early-america-review/volume-8/the-proclamation-against-patrick-henry; https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/dbva/items/show/314

On this day 250 years ago in Baltimore, Maryland, Col. George Washington and the other delegates reviewed four companies of the Town’s militia including the Baltimore Independent Cadets commanded by Capt. Mordecai Gist. Gist would go on to serve heroically in the Continental Army under Washington rising to the rank of Brigadier General in command of the Maryland Line.

Source: “[Diary entry: 6 May 1775],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0005-0010-0006. [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, pp. 327–328.]

On this day 250 years ago in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Assembly voted to add Benjamin Franklin, Scottish immigrant James Wilson and Thomas Willing to the Pennsylvania Delegation to the Continental Congress. Franklin and Wilson would end up signing the Declaration but Willing would refuse to sign. Willing was one of the richest men in America but lost public office because he opposed Independence. Nevertheless, he did not join the Loyalists and contributed 5000 pounds (which would be more than $1 million today) to the Patriot cause during the War, and after the War was appointed as the first President of the Bank of North America, the first bank chartered by Congress.

Source: “John Adams to Abigail Adams, 23 July 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/04-01-02-0164. [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. 252–254.]

And on this day 250 years ago in Watertown, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress voted

That Gen. John Whitcomb and Col. Benjamin Lincoln be, and hereby are appointed muster masters in the Massachusetts army, whose business it shall be to pass muster on every soldier that be enlisted into said army, and by no means to accept of any but such as are able bodied, effective men ; and also to examine if their arms and accoutrements are in proper order : and said muster masters are hereby directed and empowered to receive . . . twenty shillings, lawful money, for each and every non commissioned officer and private soldier thus mustered and sworn, who shall appear with their arms and accoutrements

Source: Journals of each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts at 199

General Whitcomb would serve as a General in the Massachusetts Militia for the rest of the year but was then forced to retire from service the next year due to old age (63 years old, which troubles me at age 62!). Col. Lincoln would go into Continental Service and advance to the rank of Major General as Washington’s second-in-command at Yorktown.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whitcomb_(general)

Tag: military

On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 15, 1775

On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — May 6, 1775