This week in Revolutionary War History, let’s discuss what was going on 250 years ago. As we know, this July 4 was the 249th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Though before the actual signing of the Declaration, there were plenty of pivotal events going on in the area at this time, 250 years ago.
Early July, Massachusetts, 1775, George Washington is stationed outside Boston in Cambridge. Massachusetts militias had been besieging the city just after the Battles of Concord and Lexington on April 19. Following this, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia established the Continental Army on June 14 and the next day, with John Adams’ recommendation, appointed Washington as Commander-in-Chief. Two days later, the British seized Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill north of the city. Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island militia companies would trickle in to bolster the newly formed army, with Washington reorganizing the command structure based on who performed well or poorly during the Battle of Bunker Hill.
As seen in Washington’s personal writings, each day, Washington’s General Orders were released to army officers and other prominent figures. On July 13, Washington reorganized his army into brigades and specialized regiments. On July 14, his orders proclaimed “As the Health of an Army principally depends upon cleanliness; it is recommended in the strongest manner, to the Commanding Officer of Corps, Posts and Detachments, to be strictly diligent, in ordering the necessarys to be filled up once a week, and new ones dug; the streets of the encampments and lines to be swept daily, and all offal and carrion, near the camp, to be immediately buried…” or in other words, be clean as to not contact any disease. He also told officers of varying ranks to wear differently colored ribbons, so as to easily differentiate who was in command. On July 17, Washington, seemingly irritated, demanded officers who received his daily General Orders pass them on to other officers and fellow soldiers, and any withholding of information could result in a court martial.
Throughout this week, Washington was in regular contact with John Trumbull, John Hancock, and the Continental Congress. This was primarily a time of organization and preparation for more fighting to come. The Siege of Boston would last until March of the following year and would claim the lives of nearly 1,500.
How does this directly relate to the Tri-Town and the South Coast? According to the official provincial census of 1776, the population of Rochester (then including the lands of Marion and Mattapoisett) was 2,449. News was not instantaneous and would take a few days to reach the people. Still reeling from news of Concord and Lexington, many would not have had time to digest that war was here when the local militias were joined into an army.
The Olive Branch Petition had been sent to George III on July 8 in a last-ditch attempt to halt hostilities. It and the goings on in Boston would directly lead to the Proclamation of Rebellion on August 23.
This Week In Revolutionary History…
By Sam Bishop