This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the Thirteen Colonies. Last week, the independent State of Delaware was established just a few days before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was established nearby. The Continental Congress passed the Tory Resolution, which sought to protect British-sympathizers from retribution, likely in an attempt to garner their favor. Work on a unified declaration of independence is ongoing in Philadelphia, as it is written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by the other members of the Committee of Five. All the while, the British armada under General William Howe approach their next target.
On June 21, 1776, the Secret Committee, a not-publicly-known group of members of the New York Provisional Congress, write to General George Washington with urgent news. They accuse David Matthews, Mayor of New York and staunch loyalist, of “dangerous designs and treasonable conspiracies against the rights and liberties of the united colonies of America.” They recommend the mayor be immediately “apprehended and secured.” Washington forwards this warrant for arrest to his confidant Brigadier General Nathaniel Greene, instructing Greene to initiate the planned arrest “exactly by one o’clock the ensuing morning.” At the same time, the Secret Committee also incriminates the Mayor’s brother James, though in the panic, calls on the arrest of an innocent Fletcher Matthews, which they later retract.
To the south in Philadelphia, on June 22, President of the Continental Congress John Hancock issues a long-awaited review of the military campaign in Canada. To Washington, he writes, “The Congress having the greatest reason to believe there has been very gross misconduct in the management of our affairs in Canada.” He seeks punishment and the discipline of some officers involved and tasked the general with carrying out these measures. A few days later, Congress would begin its own investigation into the war in the north which would be ongoing until autumn.
That same day, the Secret Committee helmed by John Jay is in a frenzy over a suspected plot involving Washington’s own personal guards known as “Life Guards.” The committee call for the arrest of various suspected collaborators in an effort to unearth the Loyalist conspiracy.
Washington responds to the Canada reports the next day, saying, “In Canada the situation of our affairs is truly alarming.” American Brigadier General William Thompson has been captured following a defeat at Trois-Rivières. He goes on to say, “It is greatly to be feared that the next advices from Canada will be, that our shattered, divided and broken army, as you will see by the return, have been obliged to abandon the country and retreat.”
On June 25, a Massachusetts congressional representative uses what is possibly the first instance of a representative using an important national name. In writing to General Horatio Gates, Congressman Elbridge Gerry of Marblehead referred to the colonies as the “United States of America.”
On June 26, one of Washington’s Life Guards, Thomas Hickey was found guilty of the plot unearthed by the Secret Committee to capture and assassinate Washington. In the days that followed, Hickey was publicly hanged in New York City in front of thousands of onlookers.
On June 27, General William Howe, the British armada, and 10,000 troops are only a couple days away from New York.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop