This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the Thirteen Colonies. Last week, as Washington and the Council of War debated the proper reaction to the British landing on Staten Island, British ships push up the Hudson, catching defenders off guard and killing multiple, while they themselves suffered no casualties and made it past the weak defenses. Washington scrambles to shore up the city’s defenses, as Admiral Richard Howe requests a meeting with the general in an effort to draw the conflict to a close.
On July 19, 1776, Washington pens a letter to the Secret Committee of the New York Convention, the six-man anti-British group formed by the state’s Provisional Congress a few days earlier to halt Loyalist activities and curb British interference. Washington notes his “unacquaintedness with the Hudson River,” and asks for guidance on stopping British ships from freely traveling on the river. The general recommends throwing obstructions into the river near Mount Washington, though he makes note of “so many difficulties and obstacles” that would stop such a measure.
Member of the committee, William Duer, would write to two other members in the coming days, John Jay and Robert R. Livingston. The members made mention of efforts to survey the river, making note of its width and depth. Duer wrote, “G.W. expresses himself extremely anxious about the obstruction of that channel, and means are daily used for executing that purpose.” He then focused on supplies needed to fulfil said river obstructions, “It is impossible to procure vessels enough at New York, so that the measure must be delayed till such time as more vessels can be brought thro’ the Long Island sound from Connecticut however I am not without apprehensions that this resource will be cut off.”
Also on July 19, Brigadier General Hugh Mercer wrote to Washington indicating a proposed night raid to attack British camps on Staten Island was called off as “The wind and tide being against them.”
On July 20, Washington meets with the British Lieutenant Colonel James Paterson who arrived following recent correspondence between Washington and Admiral Howe. What remains is a “Memorandum of an Interview,” where it is stated the representative said “Howe much regretted the difficulties which had arisen respecting the address of the letters to Genl W.” In describing Washington’s side, it notes, “The General declined the letter and said that a letter directed to a person in a public character should have some description or indication of it otherwise it would appear a mere private letter.” The letters had addressed the general as, “George Washington, Esq., etc., etc.,” though Washington states, “That it was true the etc., etc., etc., implied every thing and they also implied any thing,” highlighting a failure of proper address, and Washington’s assertion that he is a public official and should be addressed as such.
Washington also pushed back on Howe offering pardons, saying, “those who had committed no fault wanted no pardon: that we were only defending what we deemed our indisputable rights.”
On July 24, President of the Continental Congress John Hancock writes to Major General Philip Schuyler with an official scolding of the general’s performance. Hancock states there has been a failure to maintain “harmony to the officers and troops of different states under your command.” Schuyler maintains his position in Fort Ticonderoga, though the troops there are still reeling from defeats in Canada.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop