Posts Tagged ‘Revolutionary War’
On This Day, December 25, 1776
Washington crosses the Delaware During the American Revolution, Patriot General George Washington crosses the Delaware River with 5,400 troops, hoping to surprise a Hessian force celebrating Christmas at their winter quarters in Trenton, New Jersey. The unconventional attack came after several months of substantial defeats for Washington's army that had resulted in the loss of New York City and other strategic points in the region. At about 11 p.m. on Christmas, Washington's army commenced its ... Full Story
On This Day, December 22, 1775
Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy On Friday, December 22, 1775, the Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy, naming Esek Hopkins, Esq., as commander in chief of the fleet. Congress also named four captains to the new service: Dudley Saltonstall, Abraham Whipple, Nicholas Biddle and John Burrows Hopkins. Their respective vessels, the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria and Cabot, became the first ships of the Navy's fleet. Five first lieutenants, including future American ... Full Story
On This Day: December 13, 1776
General Charles Lee leaves his troops for Widow White's tavern On this day in 1776, American General Charles Lee leaves his army, riding in search of female sociability at Widow White's Tavern in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. General George Washington had repeatedly urged General Lee to expedite his movements across New Jersey in order to reinforce Washington's position on the Delaware River. Lee, who took a commission in the British army upon finishing military school at age 12 and served in ... Full Story
On This Day, November 10, 1775
Birth of the U.S. Marine Corps During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress passes a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines be raised" for service as landing forces for the recently formed Continental Navy. The resolution, drafted by future U.S. president John Adams and adopted in Philadelphia, created the Continental Marines and is now observed as the birth date of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land and at sea, the original U.S. Marines ... Full Story
On this day: October 19, 1781
Victory at Yorktown Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution. Lord Cornwallis was one of the most capable British generals of the American Revolution. In 1776, he drove General George Washington's Patriots forces out of New Jersey, and in 1780 he won a stunning victory over General Horatio Gates' Patriot ... Full Story
Photo Detective Unearths Photos of Revolutionary War
By Claudia Todd-Young Maureen Taylor describes herself as a photo detective. Those of us who have read her book, “The Last Muster,” think of her as a modern-day dream weaver. In “The Last Muster,” Taylor has accomplished something that most of us hadn’t thought possible — a record of photographs and personal accounts of those who actually participated in the Revolutionary War. Readers may be forgiven for being somewhat skeptical upon first hearing of a collection of Revolutionary ... Full Story
