This week in Revolutionary War History, let’s discuss what was going on 250 years ago in and around the colonial Province of Massachusetts Bay. Last week, supply issues still plagued the Continental Army with no real end in sight, all while an offensive campaign north into Quebec began and King George III signed the “Proclamation of Rebellion,” officially signaling the British Empire is in an active state of war.

            On August 27, 1775, Major General Philip Schuyler writes to Washington from Albany, New York, different from his usual post at Fort Ticonderoga. Schuyler states he was in the area and had an impromptu meeting with the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy, or the Haudenosaunee. At one point, this confederacy of different tribes encompassed a colossal landmass, from what would become Montreal, down the Saint Lawrence to Ohio and south to areas of Kentucky and Virginia. At the time of the meeting, they are further being driven into present day Upstate New York. The general tells Washington that the committee he met with was open and accepting to their neutrality in the conflict but had no interest in their own involvement on the American side. Schuyler writes, “they explicitly declared that as it was a family quarrel, they would not interfere, but remain [neutral] and hoped we would not desire more of them.”

            Unfortunately, this agreement was not to last. With hindsight, we know the confederation would suffer its first major splinter with some tribes supporting the British, and others the Americans. This would primarily be due to a lack of trade and immense pressure from both sides. The conflict would spell the doom of the Haudenosaunee, a peaceful network and confederation of tribes and peoples that had lasted roughly half a millennium.

            For now, the tribes are neutral. On August 29 in his General Orders, Washington reminds his men to adhere to his previously implemented food (bread) standards, as “complaints are continually making of the badness of the bread.” The same day, he writes to the Massachusetts Council, primarily working out of Cambridge, Concord, or Watertown due to Boston’s continued occupation, pushing for price controls on exorbitant fees for firewood, oats, and hay. He feels he is being extorted due to the army’s need. He writes, “I have great Reason to believe that this is an artificial scarcity partly created by some persons who are monopolizing those articles in order to advance the price.” Should prices not come down, Washington warns “the great Law of Self Preservation must authorize us to compel them.” Basically, coercion or forced acquisition.

            The following day, Washington’s General Orders are to mobilize about 600 men from two different brigades and march to the recently recaptured “Plough’d Hill” just outside Boston, present day Mount Benedict in Somerville. Surgeons and medics, he mentions, must also follow suit. Action is predicted as the army holding the hill is underequipped and being assaulted from the British.

            On August 31, Washington addresses confusion over pay, and a lack of pay, in his General Orders. Some regiments pay by lunar month and others by calendar month. Washington commands all regiments of Massachusetts Forces to pay their men immediately, at the same time, by calendar month. The same day, Washington is made aware that Messr Clarke & Nightingale of Providence have imported a substantial quantity of gunpowder, lead, and arms. He dispatches his Aide-de-Camp, Captain George Baylor, to strike a deal and acquire this material. He tells them to send the material and the bill, and whatever is asked will be “honored on the shortest notice.”

            On September 1, Philip Schuyler is joining up with General Montgomery in Quebec at Isle-au-noix. He is under the belief that both natives and Canadians will be friendly with the Continental Army, eventually helping them in driving out British forces. The same day, Washington hears from Lieutenant Colonel Loammi Baldwin in Chelsea that the Select Men (the Tri-Town still carrying on a long history of local governance) of the town have stated their worry and opposition to the 80-or-so men stationed in the town. He states the town is “vastly destressed and impoverished by repeated difficulties” and barracks should be built with great haste.

            Finally on September 2, Washington lays the groundwork for the Continental Navy, assigning Nicholson Broughton as Captain of recently acquired 4-gun schooner Hannah, eventually to have the name USS Hannah awarded after its service.

This Week in Revolutionary History…

By Sam Bishop

There was a surge in Covid infections this summer, and most predictions are for another in the coming winter. We are also facing flu and RSV outbreaks as surely as the sun rises.

            The best defense against respiratory viruses is immunization.

            While nothing is guaranteed 100% safe, vaccines offer the best combination of effectiveness and safety of any medical procedure offered.

            Upsetting all our plans for combatting the viruses is the chaos sown by RFK Jr, our conspiracy-theorist Secretary of HHS.

            Unless you have decided to ignore all available news media, you must be aware that Kennedy summarily fired the entire expert committee that was meant to advise Americans on which immunizations to receive and more recently arranged to fire the head of the CDC (Communicable Disease Center) because she refused to endorse his unsupported anti-vax ideas.

            While Kennedy has zero medical or scientific training on which to base his opinions, he has made millions of dollars in recent years peddling his conspiracy theories, both as salary from the Children’s Health Defense group he founded and from generous “referral fees” paid to him by law firms when he sent plaintiffs to them claiming injury from vaccines.

            The upshot is that while in past years, Covid boosters were recommended for all, Kennedy’s hand-picked FDA staff recently approved them only for people over 65 or those with medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe outcomes from Covid.

            What does that mean in practical terms?

            If you are over 65, you can get the shot just as in past years: from your doctor, at a community clinic or at your local pharmacy.

            There is a long list of qualifying conditions that put you at high risk. Some are obvious, such as HIV, blood cancer, diabetes and immunodeficiency, which affect only a small number.

            However, the list includes many other less obvious conditions that are common: obesity, current or past smoking, physical inactivity and current or recent pregnancy.

            In many states, the chain pharmacies have dropped their “come on in, it is free” approach of prior years, fearing they will not be reimbursed under the new guidelines. If you fit one of the broad groups that I listed, you may have to get your shot at a medical office or ask your doctor’s office to send you a prescription outlining your eligibility to take to the pharmacy.

            It is worth the extra effort. While most of us by now have been vaccinated and/or been ill with Covid, you CAN catch it again (and again) as it mutates, and vaccination is the best way to ensure it is a nuisance rather than a serious illness.

            Edward Hoffer MD is Associate Professor of Medicine, part-time, at Harvard.

What Does The Doctor Say?

By Dr. Edward Hoffer

On a recent sunny Wednesday morning, the members of the Town Coffee Committee, charged with solving all the world’s problems, gathered at the town wharf. The meeting was called to order citing all members present (save one who absconded across the pond to the UK); a quorum was declared.

            First order of business (again) was a discussion of the five-member Select Board matter which has been discussed ad nauseum before the Committee. It was announced that the matter whizzed though the State House and the Senate in record time. The Governor signed it into law on August 22, a mere three months since it was voted upon.

            It seems that a cage fight is brewing. Not the one the current occupant of the Peoples’ House plans for the south lawn of the White House on the Fourth of July 2026 to celebrate the America’ 250th Anniversary. No, the one about the origin, process and possible result of this change.

            Following the lead of famous Sergeant Joe Friday, the “just the facts” detective of the old TV show Dragnet, this intrepid reporter has decided to get the facts concerning this bruhaha. I promise, dear reader, to leave no stone unturned.

            The issue began when a group of citizens concerned about the efficiency of the current three-person configuration filed a petition to place an article on the Town Meeting warrant urging the change to five members. They suggested that an increase would offer more qualified people the opportunity to run and serve. Notwithstanding the fact that historically past elections have had numerous uncontested races, including the last one where there were 10, was of no concern. Darn facts.

            With the required 10 voter signatures acquired and certified by the Town Clerk, the question was moved to the Town Meeting floor where it was voted upon by voice vote and passed.

            The Select Board in their wisdom first decided to table the urgent matter (typically a death knell for an issue), prompting some proponents to suggest that the “will of the people” was being ignored. The Board promptly sent the result onto the State House for approval, thus washing their hands of the issue.

            In the meantime, a second petition circulated for a Special Town Meeting to rescind the first vote, leaving the Board at the current three members. That one collected 283 signatures, 83 more than required. Both petitions followed the law. A Special Town Meeting is now required at a cost to the town even though the issue is moot. The Special Town Meeting will be merely an opinion poll. That’s all. There you go. Those are the facts. Darn those facts.

            Hackles are still being raised. One side has suggested that the first article was not voted on correctly. The other side proclaims the second petition was a “misuse of the process” and a “taxpayer-funded stunt.”

            Whoa, wait a minute, a stunt? When did our little hamlet become the harbinger of the Washington-style circus? The Town Coffee Committee has a rule… no politics. No name calling allowed. Just the facts. The issue was tabled before coffee was spilled or breakfast sandwiches were thrown.

            The agenda for the next Town Coffee Committee meeting has yet to be decided and that’s a fact.

            Mattapoisett resident Dick Morgado is an artist and happily retired writer. His newspaper columns appeared for many years in daily newspapers around Boston.

Thoughts on…

By Dick Morgado