Tag: George Washington

August 31 in Revolutionary War History

Antique map surrounded by a quill, compass, candle, books, and sealed letter

Today — August 31 — gives us a particularly good Washington story, especially coming right after the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Brooklyn.

🇺🇸 August 31, 1776 — Washington explains the Great Escape

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:

“Our Retreat was made without any Loss of Men or Ammunition…”

Continue reading “August 31 in Revolutionary War History” →
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Washington’s Army Disappears

Revolutionary-era soldiers rowing wooden boats through foggy water

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

Why August 30 matters

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.

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A story about George Washington…

1795 - 1823
1795 – 1823 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever heard this one?

About a dozen years before the Revolutionary War, tensions increased in America between the British and the French with their Indian allies, resulting in battles.
The most notable period of the French and Indian Wars lasted from 1754 to 1763. It is considered the first global war, as allies of the French and English fought all around the world.
On July 9, 1755, about 1,400 British troops marched over the Appalachian Mountains to seize French Fort Duquesne, near present day Pittsburgh. As they marched through a deep wooded ravine along the Monongahela River eight miles from the fort, they were ambushed by French regulars, Canadians, and Potawatomi and Ottawa Indians.
Not accustomed to fighting unless in an open field, over 900 British soldiers were annihilated.
It was known as the Battle of the Wilderness or Battle of Monongahela.
23-year-old Virginia Colonel George Washington rode back and forth during the battle delivering orders for General Edward Braddock, the Commander-in-Chief of British forces in America.
Eventually, Braddock was killed and every officer on horseback was shot, except Washington.
Washington carried Braddock from the field.
Braddock’s field desk was captured, revealing all of the British military plans, enabling the French to surprise and defeat British forces in succeeding battles at Fort Oswego, Fort William Henry, Fort Duquesne, and Carillon. The Iroquois tribes of Senecas and Cayugas decided to switch their allegiance to the French.
Before he died, Braddock gave Washington his battle uniform sash, which Washington reportedly carried with him while serving as Commander-in-Chief and as President.
Washington presided at the burial service for General Braddock, as the chaplain was wounded. Braddock’s body was buried in the middle of the road so as to prevent his body from being found and desecrated.
Shortly thereafter, writing from Fort Cumberland, George Washington described the Battle of Monongahela to his younger brother, John Augustine Washington, JULY 18, 1755:
“As I have heard, since my arrival at this place, a circumstantial account of my death and dying speech, I take this early opportunity of contradicting the first, and of assuring you, that I have not as yet composed the latter.
But by the All-Powerful Dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!”
An Indian warrior later declared:
“Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle and after all could not bring him to the ground!”

Source: William J Federer’s American Minute for January 1st

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American Minute for December 26th; the Battle of Trenton

Emanuel Leutze's depiction of Washington's att...

The first six months of the Revolution saw the Continental Army chased out of New York, across New Jersey, and into Pennsylvania.

Ranks dwindled from 20,000 to 2,000 exhausted soldiers- most leaving at year’s end when their six-month enlistment was up.

Expecting a British invasion, the Continental Congress fled Philadelphia and sent the word:

“Until Congress shall otherwise order, General Washington shall be possessed of full power to order and direct all things.”

In a military operation, with the password “Victory or Death,” Washington’s troops crossed the ice-filled Delaware River at midnight Christmas Day.

Trudging in a blinding blizzard, with one soldier freezing to death, they attacked the feared Hessian troops at Trenton, New Jersey, on daybreak DECEMBER 26, 1776, capturing nearly a thousand in just over an hour.

A few Americans were shot and wounded, including James Monroe, the future 5th President.

Washington wrote August 20, 1778:

“The Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this-the course of the war-that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more wicked that has not gratitude to acknowledge his obligations; but it will be time enough for me to turn Preacher when my present appointment ceases.”

via American Minute for December 26th.

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George Washington assigned to lead the Continental Army; This Day in History

On this day in 1775, George Washington, who would one day become the first American president, accepts an assignment to lead the Continental Army.

Washington had been managing his family’s plantation and serving in the Virginia House of Burgesses when the second Continental Congress unanimously voted to have him lead the revolutionary army. He had earlier distinguished himself, in the eyes of his contemporaries, as a commander for the British army in the French and Indian War of 1754.

Born a British citizen and a former Redcoat, Washington had, by the 1770s, joined the growing ranks of colonists who were dismayed by what they considered to be Britain’s exploitative policies in North America. In 1774, Washington joined the Continental Congress as a delegate from Virginia. The next year, the Congress offered Washington the role of commander in chief of the Continental Army.

After accepting the position, Washington sat down and wrote a letter to his wife, Martha, in which he revealed his concerns about his new role. He admitted to his “dear Patcy” that he had not sought the post but felt “it was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my Character to such censures as would have reflected dishonour upon myself, and given pain to my friends.” He expressed uneasiness at leaving her alone, told her he had updated his will and hoped that he would be home by the fall. He closed the letter with a postscript, saying he had found some of “the prettiest muslin” but did not indicate whether it was intended for her or for himself.

On July 3, 1775, Washington officially took command of the poorly trained and under-supplied Continental Army. After six years of struggle and despite frequent setbacks, Washington managed to lead the army to key victories and Great Britain eventually surrendered in 1781. Due largely to his military fame and humble personality, Americans overwhelmingly elected Washington their first president in 1789.

via George Washington assigned to lead the Continental Army — History.com This Day in History — 6/15/1775.

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Continental Congress chooses national flag; This Day in History

On this day in 1777, during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress adopts a resolution stating that “the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white” and that “the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

The national flag, which became known as the “stars and stripes,” was based on the “Grand Union” flag, a banner carried by the Continental Army in 1776 that also consisted of 13 red and white stripes. According to legend, Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross designed the new canton for the flag, which consisted of a circle of 13 stars and a blue background, at the request of General George Washington. Historians have been unable to conclusively prove or disprove this legend.

With the entrance of new states into the United States after independence, new stripes and stars were added to represent new additions to the Union. In 1818, however, Congress enacted a law stipulating that the 13 original stripes be restored and that only stars be added to represent new states.

On June 14, 1877, the first Flag Day observance was held on the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the American flag. As instructed by Congress, the U.S. flag was flown from all public buildings across the country. In the years after the first Flag Day, several states continued to observe the anniversary, and in 1949 Congress officially designated June 14 as Flag Day, a national day of observance.” via Continental Congress chooses national flag — History.com This Day in History — 6/14/1777.

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