Dressing for Success: Pennsylvania’s Officers Visit the Tailor
In March 1776, Pennsylvania’s newest army officers were preparing to dress for military success. Pennsylvania raised a total of six new battalions for service in 1776. One of these was Colonel Anthony Wayne’s 4th Pennsylvania Battalion. The battalion would spend its campaign season on Long Island, in Canada, and at Fort Ticonderoga. Before that, though, […]
Learning to Be an Officer: Nicholas Fish Studies for War
While today is Valentine’s Day, 250 years ago today—February 14, 1776—war, not love, was on Nicholas Fish’s mind. The 17-year-old Fish, son of a wealthy New York family, had planned on life as a lawyer, studying law at King’s College in New York City and befriending fellow young patriot Alexander Hamilton. War put a stop […]
Difficult Choices: Kahnawake in the American Revolution
When the American Revolution began, Indigenous communities throughout North America were drawn into the conflict. British and American politicians worked to convince Indigenous nations to either stay neutral or join their side, and they were willing to punish those who did not. Native communities were divided as people and families disagreed on the best path […]
“Without Farther Effusion of Blood”: William Howe, Complicated Commander-in-Chief
On January 27, 1776—250 years ago today—Sir William Howe was commanding a city under siege. He had arrived in Boston in May 1775 as second in command to General Thomas Gage, the commander of British forces in North America. When Gage was recalled to England in October, Howe was promoted to commander-in-chief. To him fell […]
“For Keeping & Taking Care of a Sick Soldier”: Sickness in Canada and at Ticonderoga
Serving in the army in 1775 carried physical dangers with it, including obvious threats like combat, but also the invisible threat of illness. More American soldiers died of disease than of battle wounds. Many officers valued sanitation and hygiene, but it was difficult to maintain these in army camps where large numbers of men lived […]
Ticonderoga’s British Garrison Imprisoned in Connecticut
In January 1776, Fort Ticonderoga had been in American hands for more than eight months. The days when it was staffed by a British garrison from the 26th Regiment of Foot led by Captain William Delaplace seemed far away, but Delaplace and his men had not disappeared. They were being held prisoner 200 miles away […]
“Such Pieces as Will Most Gratify His Customers”: Patriotism in a Massachusetts Newspaper
On January 19, 1776—250 years ago today—John Mycall of Newburyport, MA was going it alone. In 1775 he had partnered with Henry-Walter Tinges as a publisher of the Essex Journal and New-Hampshire Packet. Now Tinges was leaving and Mycall was the newspaper’s sole publisher. In the January 19 issue, Mycall urged subscribers to continue purchasing […]
Up the Kennebec River with Benedict Arnold and Oliver Hanchett
In December 1775 outside the walls of Quebec City, General Richard Montgomery’s American army was staging a siege. Included in the siege forces was a company of Connecticut volunteers commanded by Captain Oliver Hanchett. Hanchett had led a company in the 2nd Connecticut Regiment over the summer at the Siege of Boston, but in September he […]
The Noble Train of Artillery: Henry Knox Reports from Lake George
250 years ago today—December 17, 1775—Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery had completed the first step of its journey, traveling from Fort Ticonderoga to the southern edge of Lake George. The journey over the lake was challenging. The scow carrying the majority of the artillery got stuck on an underwater rock; several days later it […]
Over the Lake or Through the Woods: Colonel James Holmes Plans for Winter Prisoner Transport
In December 1775, American troops were besieging Quebec City, the capital of the British province of Quebec. The American forces had faced troubles since the start of their invasion, which multiplied as winter weather set in and soldiers’ enlistments expired. The invasion had seen successes, though, like the captures of Fort St. Jean and Montreal. […]