This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the early-United States. Last week, lower Manhattan was ablaze. Was it an accident, or sparked by revolutionaries? We’re still not sure. General George Washington and his men were still pushed to the northern tip of Manhattan, garrisoned at Harlem Heights, hoping for reinforcements and supplies as winter looms. Peace talks have fallen through, and many of those who participated in the peace talks are now on their way to France to petition for an alliance.
On September 27, 1776, in his General Orders for the day, Washington speaks out against soldiers firing off ammunition, likely due to boredom, in the midst of critical shortages. He writes, “The general is not more surprised than vexed, to find, that in spite of all his care to prevent unnecessary firing, and waste of ammunition, that every afternoon produces fresh instances of the shameful discharge of muskets.” He orders all but those soldiers stationed on the perimeter to not have their muskets loaded at all. That same day, he forwards President of the Continental Congress John Hancock a message he received from the Howe brothers, Admiral Richard Howe and General William Howe. The message, directed to disillusioned Americans, offers “His Majesty’s well-affected subjects” the opportunity to rejoin the British Empire, seeking to divide those within the still-new nation.
On September 28, Pennsylvania ratifies a new constitution after much debate. This new constitution, inspired largely by Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, will lay the groundwork for many other states’ constitutions going forward; it also likely played a role in the French Constitution of 1793.
That same day, the Massachusetts Council, based in Watertown, sends word that militia reinforcements are approved and are on the way.
On September 29, Washington and his officers are ever stressed over the depleted ammunition stockpiles. He states in his General Orders, “As there is the greatest appearance of bad weather, the general directs and begs, that the officers would have a special care of the arms and ammunition, wherever the[ir] is a convenient cover for either.” He ends his message with, “From some discoveries made yesterday, there is reason to think, the enemy meditate a speedy and general attack; it is therefore of great consequence, that we should be well prepared in all respects to meet it.”
Also on this day, interestingly, records from Washington indicate he sent a warrant to Captain Alexander Hamilton, meaning by this point the General was aware of the young New Yorker and in communication.
On September 30, Washington writes to his cousin Lund Washington, who is also managing his estate at Mount Vernon. His letters to his trusted confidant, one who is removed from his military conversations, make it easy to see some true feelings from the general, with him notably saying he is “wearied to death all day with a variety of perplexing circumstances.” He adds he is “disturbed at the conduct of the militia, whose behavior and want of discipline has done great injury to the other troops, who never had officers, except in a few instances, worth the bread they eat.” The general, whose “time is so much engrossed” as he says, feels great anxiety, not expressing much confidence in his writing to Lund.
On October 2, the Continental Congress votes not to accept General Philip Schuyler’s resignation. The general offered his resignation the following month, after consideration of the campaigns in Canada. In rejecting his resignation, Schuyler maintains his position as commander of the northern forces, based at Fort Ticonderoga.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop