Exploring Mind, Culture, History, and Technology—with Curiosity.
Today in Revolutionary War History — September 11, 1776
On September 11, 1776, three of the most prominent representatives of the newly independent United States crossed into British-held territory on Staten Island.
Their mission was an extraordinary one.
Could the American Revolution still be stopped by negotiation?
Continue reading “The Day Diplomacy Had One Last Chance”
In 1838, the forced relocation of 859 Potawatomi people from their homeland near South Bend resulted in a tragic journey known as the Trail of Death, during which at least 42 individuals, primarily children, lost their lives. This historical event highlights the suffering and displacement experienced by Native American communities during this period.
To learn more about this profound and heartbreaking chapter in South Bend area history, we encourage you to read the original article They Called It The Trail of Death. They Weren’t Exaggerating.
There are dates we remember, and then there are dates that remember us.
September 11, 2001, is one of those dates. Even now, twenty-five years later, people who lived through that morning can tell you where they were when the first images appeared, what the sky looked like, who called, and how the ordinary world seemed to disappear before lunch. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. Thousands of families were altered forever. A generation grew up in the shadow of a day it cannot personally remember but has nonetheless inherited.
Anniversaries invite remembrance. The twenty-fifth demands something more difficult: an accounting. What did we actually learn from 9/11? And what did we lose while trying to make sure it could never happen again?
Continue reading “9/11 at 25: What We Learned—and What We Lost”
In March 1783, George Washington faced what may have been the most dangerous moment of his public life.
The Revolutionary War was essentially won, but the American experiment was anything but secure. Officers of the Continental Army were furious. Congress had failed to pay them what they were owed. Some were openly discussing whether the army should use its power to force Congress to act.
Washington walked into a meeting of those officers at Newburgh, New York.
He argued against military intervention. Then, near the end of his remarks, he pulled out a letter and struggled to read it. Washington reached into his pocket for a pair of spectacles.
“Gentlemen,” he told them, “you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.”
Men who had endured years of war with him reportedly wept.
The conspiracy collapsed.
There are few moments that better illustrate George Washington’s conception of leadership. He possessed enormous power at that moment. His officers revered him. The national government was weak. History offered plenty of examples of victorious generals who had converted military glory into political power.
Washington chose restraint.
Nearly two and a half centuries later, Donald Trump offers Americans an extraordinarily different conception of strength.
And whatever one thinks of Trump politically, that contrast is worth examining.
Because this isn’t really a story about whether George Washington was a good man and Donald Trump is a bad one.
It is a story about what Americans believe character has to do with power.
THE BATTLE
On September 8, 1781, two exhausted armies collided at Eutaw Springs, South Carolina, in one of the fiercest—and most revealing—battles of the American Revolution’s Southern Campaign.
Major General Nathanael Greene marched roughly 2,200 American troops toward a British camp commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Stewart. Greene had spent months refusing to let battlefield setbacks become strategic defeats. Again and again, he forced the British to spend men and supplies they could not easily replace.
The Americans struck early. Their militia gave way to Continental regulars, who drove much of the British line backward. For a moment, the Patriot attack seemed ready to sweep the field. Then the advance lost momentum. Some American soldiers stopped to plunder the British camp, while determined defenders rallied around a brick house and nearby garden. A British counterattack helped turn the tide.
By day’s end, Greene had withdrawn. The British held the field, so by the usual rules of eighteenth-century warfare they could claim victory. Yet their losses were punishing, and Stewart soon pulled his force closer to Charleston. The British had won the battle while losing more of their ability to control the South Carolina interior.
Continue reading “The Meaning of A Battle Is Not Always Visible at Sunset”
If there’s ever a boring anniversary, I’ll skip it but that day is not this day!
Tonight marks an especially good 250th anniversary. On the night of September 6–7, 1776, Sergeant Ezra Lee climbed into David Bushnell’s tiny hand-powered Turtle and set out into New York Harbor to attack HMS Eagle, Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship. Lee was unable to attach the explosive charge to the ship, but the attempt became the first known use of a submarine in combat. The U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command dates Turtle’s departure to the evening of September 6, and the Smithsonian published a substantial new article on the experiment just three days ago for its 250th anniversary. Naval History and Heritage Command
There’s a neat commemorative connection today, too: Warrenton, Georgia, where Bushnell lived late in life under the name David Bush, is holding a 250th-anniversary Turtle commemoration and wreath-laying today, September 6, 2026. Explore Georgia
Then, September 6, 1781, brought one of the Revolution’s darkest final battles. Benedict Arnold, now fighting for Britain, led roughly 1,600 British troops against his native Connecticut. New London was burned, while across the Thames River British troops stormed Fort Griswold at Groton Heights. After the fort fell, many American defenders were killed after surrendering; their commander, Lt. Col. William Ledyard, was among the dead. The attack came only about six weeks before Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. Fort Griswold
And that battle is being remembered today as well: Fort Griswold is holding its 245th-anniversary commemoration this evening, extinguishing candles one by one as the names of the fallen are read. Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
So September 6 gives us an extraordinary Revolutionary pairing: 1776 — Americans experiment with the future of warfare beneath New York Harbor. 1781 — Benedict Arnold returns home at the head of a British invasion force.
250 years ago today, September 4, 1776, George Washington was trying to rebuild discipline in an army still reeling from the Battle of Brooklyn. With the British poised to strike again, Washington was alarmed that soldiers were wandering away from their units. He ordered commanders to keep their men close, conduct roll calls three times daily, punish unauthorized absences, and stop the plundering of homes, orchards and gardens. In a remarkable letter to Colonel Fisher Gay, Washington warned that “the safety of the Army, & the good of the Cause” depended on vigilance and discipline. (Founders Online)
At the same time, Washington was quietly preparing for the possibility that Manhattan might have to be abandoned. He informed John Hancock that unnecessary military stores were being moved north of King’s Bridge so they would not be lost if the Continental Army had to retreat. Mount Vernon is highlighting this exact episode today as part of its “On This Day 250 Years Ago” series. (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association)
September 4, 1778 also marked the opening movement of Grey’s Raid. Major General Charles Grey’s British expedition sailed into Buzzards Bay and landed near New Bedford that evening. During the ensuing raid, British troops devastated American shipping, warehouses and supplies—a reminder that the Revolution was also an economic war fought against ports supporting privateers and the Continental cause. (Revolutionary War) A recent New Bedford historical investigation notes that the raid remains surprisingly little commemorated locally, though plans are already developing for its 250th anniversary in 2028. (The New Bedford Light)
The thread connecting today’s events: in September 1776, Washington was learning that preserving his army mattered more than holding ground. Two years later, Britain was increasingly trying to damage the American war effort by striking the communities and commerce that sustained it.
Today gives us two excellent anniversaries—one exactly 250 years ago, and one that ultimately finished the Revolution.
September 3, 1776 — Washington tries to restore his battered army. Just a week after the Battle of Brooklyn, Washington’s army around New York was in rough shape. General William Heath reported that soldiers who had suffered most on Long Island were “much Dispirited” after losing officers, blankets and other possessions. Some lacked money, and sickness was becoming a problem. (founders.archives.gov)
Washington’s general orders that day reveal his concern about something even more dangerous: the army’s discipline was beginning to crack. He condemned recent incidents of cowardice, plundering and rioting and warned that stealing abandoned property could bring about the “ruin of any Army.” (founders.archives.gov)
Meanwhile, engineer Rufus Putnam gave Washington a grim assessment of Manhattan’s defenses: the British had so many possible landing places—and such good intelligence about American movements—that preventing another British landing was essentially impossible. Washington was already strengthening the New Jersey side of the Hudson opposite Fort Washington, ordering work on defenses that would eventually become Fort Lee. (founders.archives.gov)
And Congress answered the extraordinary question Washington had raised the previous day: Should New York City be destroyed rather than surrendered to the British? John Hancock informed Washington on September 3 that Congress had decided “that no Damage should be done to the City of New York.” (founders.archives.gov)
I’m going to just keep going with this #semiquincentennial thing for awhile…
250 years ago today, September 2, 1776, George Washington was confronting the possibility that New York was lost—and considering an extraordinary response.
Only days after escaping the catastrophe on Long Island, Washington wrote the Continental Congress asking what should happen if his army were forced to abandon New York City. Among the possibilities: should the city be burned rather than allow the British to use it as winter quarters? Congress ultimately rejected the idea. (Smithsonian Magazine)
Continue reading “To Burn or Not to Burn”
The legend says British dragoons named Dragoon Trail. The dates say that’s impossible. Here’s the older, stranger truth about the road’s real name.
The article explores the origins of the name “Dragoon Trail,” debunking the popular legend that links it to British dragoons. Instead, it presents an intriguing narrative that reveals the road’s true and older name, offering readers a glimpse into the region’s history that’s often overlooked.
For a deeper understanding and to uncover the full story behind Dragoon Trail, be sure to read the original article here: Why Is It Called Dragoon Trail?
Joseph Plumb Martin’s Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier is an extraordinary glimpse into the life of a soldier during one of America’s most pivotal eras. From the very first pages, Martin draws readers into his world with a vivid and engaging writing style that makes the harsh realities of war feel immediate and relatable.
What truly shines through in Martin’s narrative is his unwavering sense of duty and patriotism. His accounts of daily life in the Continental Army are filled with both humor and hardship, illustrating the resilience and camaraderie of the soldiers who fought for their beliefs. Each chapter offers a unique perspective on the American Revolutionary War, complete with personal anecdotes that give the reader a true sense of the trials and tribulations faced by those who served.
Continue reading “Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier”
Oh, yes. If what grabbed you about Joseph Plumb Martin was that wonderful “ordinary person actually living through the Revolution” quality—the hunger, marching, lousy officers, humor, fear, boredom, and sudden violence—there are some excellent places to go next. Martin is unusually special because enlisted-men’s memoirs from the Revolution are relatively rare.
Continue reading “Recommended Books after Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier”
Eighty-seven years ago this morning, the Second World War began.
At roughly 4:40 a.m. on September 1, 1939, German aircraft attacked the Polish town of Wieluń. Minutes later, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire on the Polish garrison at Westerplatte.
Most of Europe was still asleep.
There is something about that fact that has always bothered me—not simply the enormity of what followed, but the ordinariness of the morning on which it started.
People had gone to bed the night before. Alarm clocks were waiting to ring. Breakfasts would have been planned. Children were asleep. Somewhere, undoubtedly, someone had left something unfinished at work because it could wait until tomorrow.
Then tomorrow came.
And history divided itself into before and after.
Continue reading “Before Breakfast: September 1, 1939”
Today — August 31 — gives us a particularly good Washington story, especially coming right after the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn.
One day after completing his extraordinary evacuation from Brooklyn Heights, George Washington finally sat down and told Congress what had happened.
He was exhausted.
Washington wrote John Hancock that during the preceding days he had “hardly been off my Horse and never closed my Eyes.” (Founders Online)
After the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, Washington’s army had been trapped against the East River. Rather than risk another battle that could destroy the Continental Army, Washington secretly evacuated roughly 9,000 troops across the river to Manhattan during the night of August 29–30. Silence, darkness and finally a remarkably dense fog concealed the operation. (National Park Service)
On August 31, Washington reported the result to Congress:
Continue reading “August 31 in Revolutionary War History”“Our Retreat was made without any Loss of Men or Ammunition…”
There’s a joke I’ve always liked that Canada is the nice apartment above a really loud American biker bar.
It’s affectionate. Mostly.
We share the building. We hear a lot of noise through the floorboards. We occasionally wonder what on earth is going on down there. But we’re neighbours, we get along pretty well, and at the end of the day there’s a door between the two apartments.
Except there very nearly wasn’t.
In the winter of 1775, the Americans invaded what is now Canada.
And they came remarkably close to changing the history of the continent.
Continue reading “What If the Americans Had Conquered Canada?”
In the world of music, it’s fascinating how different tastes can create a beautiful harmony. My boo thing is a dedicated Taylor Swift fan, whose playlists often fill our home with catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics. I, on the other hand, have my heart set on the iconic sounds of Paul McCartney and The Beatles. This delightful musical dichotomy means our listening habits are a blend of pop perfection and classic rock magic.
Continue reading “Musical Love Across Generations”
250 years ago today in the predawn hours of August 30, 1776, George Washington completed the extraordinary evacuation of the Continental Army from Brooklyn Heights across the East River to Manhattan.
After the devastating Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, roughly 9,000 Americans had been cornered with the British in front of them and the East River behind them. Washington recognized that another major engagement could mean the destruction of his army. National Park Service
So during the night of August 29–30, Washington pulled off a remarkable escape.
Colonel John Glover’s 14th Massachusetts Regiment—the Marblehead Mariners— used their considerable seamanship to ferry soldiers across the river. Wagons were muffled, campfires were left burning, and the troops were ordered to remain silent so the British wouldn’t realize what was happening. National Park Service
And then Washington caught an extraordinary break.
Fog rolled in.
It concealed the final stages of the evacuation from British observation. By about 7:00 a.m. on August 30, the Continental Army had safely reached Manhattan. The troops on Governors Island were among the last removed. National Park Service
We even have an eyewitness diary entry from Massachusetts soldier Moses Sleeper for today:
“Last night Evacuated Long Island with verry Much Fatigue…”
Sleeper recorded reaching New York at about 1:00 a.m. National Park Service
This wasn’t a victory in the conventional sense. Washington had just lost the largest battle of the Revolution.
But he understood something fundamental that would become central to his strategy:
The British could capture territory. They could not be allowed to capture Washington’s army.
As long as the Continental Army remained intact, the Revolution remained alive.
And there’s something wonderfully cinematic about it: Howe wakes up expecting Washington’s battered army to still be sitting across from him at Brooklyn Heights—and discovers that the Americans have simply vanished.
250 years ago today and two days after the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn, Washington’s army was trapped in its fortifications at Brooklyn Heights. The British were close enough that one American soldier recorded on August 29 that they had thrown up a breastwork “within gun shot of our Lines.” National Park Service
Washington now faced the possibility that his army—and perhaps the Revolution itself—could be destroyed.
On August 29, he made the critical decision to evacuate Brooklyn secretly across the East River.
That evening, Colonel John Glover’s Marblehead Mariners, experienced Massachusetts seamen, began ferrying thousands of soldiers, horses, artillery and supplies across to Manhattan. The evacuation continued through the night of August 29–30, aided famously by fog that concealed the operation from the British. National Park Service
It’s hard to overstate this one: Washington didn’t win a battle on August 29, 1776. He saved his army. And by saving the army, he kept the Revolution alive.
On this night 250 years ago, the flame of American independence nearly flickered out. Against a backdrop of crushing defeat and overwhelming odds, Gen. George Washington executed a stealthy retreat across the East River that remains one of the greatest military escapes in history—a testament to leadership, expert seamanship, and a timely turn of theContinue reading “A nation’s narrowest escape: Washington’s ‘Midnight Miracle’ at Brooklyn”. Source: A nation’s narrowest escape: Washington’s ‘Midnight Miracle’ at Brooklyn – NJTODAY.NET
In a remarkable event marking the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn, Prospect Park recently hosted its first large-scale reenactment in 50 years. The event drew significant crowds, providing a vivid glimpse into history and honoring the legacy of those who fought in this pivotal battle. The reenactment featured actors, period costumes, and demonstrations, allowing attendees to experience a slice of 18th-century life.
For a more detailed account of this historic reenactment and its significance, be sure to read the original article: Battle of Brooklyn comes back to life in Prospect Park 250 years later
I’ve been tracking the anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn and pulled together recent news coverage and commentary about how this pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War is being remembered today.
“Today, August 27, 2026, is exactly the 250th anniversary and the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island got some noteworthy coverage.
Continue reading “Battle of Brooklyn Coverage Around the US”
Bright, Shiny Objects! 
You must be logged in to post a comment.