Tweets from 1776! The American Revolution and War of Independence and the world in which they happened, 250 years ago.
The Thirteen Colonies
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11 OCTOBER 1776, VALCOUR ISLAND, LAKE CHAMPLAIN: “At half-past twelve, the engagement became general, and very warm”: The British and American lake fleets begin exchanging general broadsides.
ALT The Battle of Valcour Island
14 NOVEMBER 1776, BALTIMORE: The planter James Trapnall beats militia captain James Bosely, perhaps attempting to kill him, when Bosely and his partner James Smith attempt to collect from Trapnall the fine owed by anyone refusing to enroll in the militia.
“to the Committee but would kill him before, throwing at Bosley stones and every thing that came in his way, as he was riding to leave him, and after he left Bosley and returned to me [Smith] and made an offer to strike me, and swore he had a great mind to give it to me.”
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14 NOVEMBER 1776, PHILADELPHIA: It’s known the British are assembling an invasion fleet in New York Harbor for an unknown destination, so when word arrives that one hundred ships sailed south through the Narrows this morning, Congress concludes they’re headed for Philadelphia.
The scare is short-lived, but lasts long enough for the Board of War to write to George Washington, instructing him to send General Thomas Mifflin to take command of the city, & the Pennsylvania council of safety to write to neighboring counties, summoning all available recruits.
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14 NOVEMBER 1776, FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY: “Application should be immediately made to such Powers as can & may be willing to supply them”: Washington writes to Congress recommending a substantial increase in the Continental Army’s artillery. founders.archives.gov/docume…
“that they have not carried their Arms by means of their Artillery to a much greater extent. When these difficulties cease, by changing the Scene of Action to a level champaign Country, the worst of consequences are justly to be apprehended. …
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14 NOVEMBER 1776, FORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK: Two Hessian captains and two of the “bravest jägers” conduct a reconnaissance of the last American outpost on Manhattan, making sure to conceal themselves so as not to alert the garrison that an attack is coming.
“where a single road winds. The terrain has been leveled for the distance of rifle or grapeshot range. The road runs up the hill through a wood which is cut through with rocks and deep ravines, and which has been made completely impassable by many abatis.
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14 NOVEMBER 1776, LONDON: The Jamaica houses (a major sector of the British economy, as Jamaica is the Empire’s major sugar producer) are thrown into crisis when a rumor circulates that half of a convoy of one hundred cargo ships from Jamaica have been captured by the Americans.
“One of the fleet arrived to-day, above 13 weeks out, and gives an account of many vessels taken by the American privateers. It is said that one half the fleet are missing. One Jamaica house had 3 ships taken, and have stop’d payment for 400,000£, as the report is.
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