This week in Revolutionary War history, let’s check up on what was going on 250 years ago in the Thirteen Colonies. Last week, Washington condemned Continental Army troops for their poor treatment of local New Yorkers. Nathanael Greene also caught some New Yorkers trying to flee the draft across the Hudson River to the British camps on Staten Island. Delegate Samual Adams gave an impassioned speech to the Continental Congress, which then signed the Declaration of Independence.
On August 2, 1776, General George Washington writes to President of the Continental Congress John Hancock, stressing the British buildup on Staten Island. He writes, “the enemy mean to make their grand push in this quarter, and that the good of the service requires every aid here that can be obtained.” He requests that all regiments throughout New England and the surrounding region be force-marched to New York to defend the city.
He adds, “The enemy’s force is daily augmenting and becoming stronger by new arrivals – Yesterday General Greene reports that about forty sail, including tenders, came into the Hook. What they are, or what those have brought that have lately got in, I remain uninformed – However I think it probable they are part of Lord Howe’s fleet with the Hessian troops.” Washington sent this letter the same day that Hancock and the other congressional delegates signed the Declaration.
On August 3, in his General Orders, Washington addresses the troops directly, informing them they may attend Sunday public worship and “rest after the great fatigue they have gone through.” He excuses most troops from fatigue duty on Sundays going forward, except those at the shipyard or for “special occasions.”
Next, he does a bit of berating: “The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing [a vice heretofore little known in an American Army] is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of heaven on our arms.” Shucks.
That same day, Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tupper writes from Dobbs Ferry, north of Yonkers on the Hudson. He describes a naval skirmish between small Continental ships and the British HMS Phoenix and HMS Rose. He notes his ships were damaged and one sailor was killed, but adds, “we wish to give them another drubbing.”
On August 4, the Cherokee-American War of 1776 is heating up. Various skirmishes in the south culminated in Major Andrew Williamson ordering his men to raze the Cherokee settlements of Keowee, Soconee and Sugar Town in South Carolina. American raids had destroyed Cherokee farmland and other towns in the month prior, as the Carolina and Virginia militia companies sought to force the capitulation of the British-aligned tribes. By November, the Cherokee were forced to flee western South Carolina, giving up their land to American settlers.
On August 5, speaking of South Carolina, the Declaration is read aloud for the first time in the state in Charleston. Back in New York, around this time, General Nathanael Greene and Representative John Jay begin recommending to General Washington and the Continental Congress that New York be burned rather than let the vital port fall into British hands. Foreboding, as the Great Fire of New York is not far off…
On August 7, Lord John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, finally left Virginia and headed north to link with the Howes in New York. The British officer had served as Governor of Virginia until he fled to sea after the burning of Norfolk in January. The British evacuees finally left the area over half a year later.
On August 8, Tench Tilghman of Maryland is made aide-de-camp to Washington. Tilghman, fluent in French, was the general’s previous aide until Alexander Hamilton’s appointment in March 1777. Hamilton, at this point in August 1776, was about 21 years old and would soon rally men to a small local artillery company tasked with defending New York.
This Week in Revolutionary War History
By Sam Bishop