An Army for the War: 1777 Most Continental enlistments expired on 31 December 1776. Congress and Washington hoped to avoid a recurrence of the problems of the previous winter by beginning their preparations for reorganizing the Continental Army during the early fall of 1776. Profiting from that earlier experience, they not only started sooner but…
All posts tagged September 26
Washington and His Comrades: Chapter V
The Loss of Philadelphia Though the outlook for Washington was brightened by his success in New Jersey, it was still depressing enough. The British had taken New York, they could probably take Philadelphia when they liked, and no place near the seacoast was safe. According to the votes in Parliament, by the spring of 1777…
Daniel Boone and the Founding of Kentucky
. . . Boone lived hunting up to ninety; And, what’s still stranger, left behind a name For which men vainly decimate the throng, Not only famous, but of that GOOD fame, Without which glory’s but a tavern song,– Simple, serene, the antipodes of shame, Which hate nor envy e’er could tinge with wrong; ‘T…
Prince William Henry at New York
From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol II. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859. September 29.—Last Wednesday [September 26] afternoon his royal highness, Prince William Henry, arrived at New York, accompanied by the honorable Admiral Digby; he was received at landing by his Excellency the commander-in-chief, accompanied by the governor, the admiral, generals,…
The Sufferings of the Refugees
From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol II. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859. September 26.—The unavoidable calamities and distresses of a civil war, that attend even the innocent and inoffensive, are so great, that, unnecessarily and wantonly to add to them, denotes a most malignant and diabolical temper. These reflections are occasioned…