Tweets from 1776! The American Revolution and War of Independence and the world in which they happened, 250 years ago.
The Thirteen Colonies
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11 OCTOBER 1776, VALCOUR ISLAND, LAKE CHAMPLAIN: “At half-past twelve, the engagement became general, and very warm”: The British and American lake fleets begin exchanging general broadsides.
ALT The Battle of Valcour Island
1 NOVEMBER 1776, WILLIAMSBURG: A petition from the Dissenters (non-Anglican Protestants) of Albemarle and Amherst Counties is presented, probably by Thomas Jefferson, in the Virginia legislature. It calls for the disestablishment of the Church of England in Virginia:
“Your Memorialists have never been on an equal footing with the other good People of this Colony, in respect of religious Priviledge, having been obliged, by Law to contribute to the support of the established Church,
“while at the same Time they were moved from a Principle of Conscience to support that Church of which they called themselves Members.” founders.archives.gov/docume…
1 NOVEMBER 1776, LONDON: The Dowager Lady Howe, the German mother of the Howe brothers, writes to her extended family in Hanover of her pride in the praise her sons are receiving for their leadership in America, and of her recent audience with George III and Queen Charlotte.
ALT The Dowager Lady Howe as Viscountess Howe in 1719; attributed to Enoch Seeman
“Genl Amherst has spoken publicly of the great qualities of Sir Wm Howe, your nephew,” she writes to an unknown Kielmansegg (presumably her brother Georg), quoting Jeffery Amherst’s praise of the “magnanimity and Judgement [of] the brave Howes” at the Battle of Long Island.
1 NOVEMBER 1776, EXETER, DEVON: The ports on the southwest coast are frequently the places where word of developments in the American war first reaches England. Massachusetts Loyalist Samuel Curwen hears that “a Messenger from General How had this day passed through the city
ALT Samuel Curwen
“If this news should prove true I ardently wish it may not puff the British General with pride and fill his head with false ideas of the unequalled prowess and invincibility of the british Troops, nor indispose him to offer moderate terms.
1 NOVEMBER 1776, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK: In the latest move in Washington and William Howe’s jockeying maneuvers, the redcoats wake to find the Continental Army have crossed the Bronx River, withdrawing five miles to the more defensible site of North Castle:
“The Rebels quit their Works upon White Plains; our Troops took possession of them at Nine in the Morning.
31 OCTOBER 1776, ANNAPOLIS: The Maryland council of safety declare the cordwainer John Baldwin an “Enemy to country” and order him “committed to gaol, there to remain without bail” until they allow his release, for refusing to accept Continental paper money as payment.
31 OCTOBER 1776, WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK: Washington approves a sentence of death for Peter Buise, for “Desertion from this Camp, and found near the Enemy’s Sentinels.” Buise admits trying to desert, but says he was only trying to get to his wife, left behind in New York City.
31 OCTOBER 1776, FISHKILL, NEW YORK: On behalf of the New York committee for detecting and defeating conspiracies, John Jay writes to the New Hampshire state legislature for permission to transfer arrested New York Tories into their custody. founders.archives.gov/docume…