Semiquincentennial of the American Revolution

[Tidewater]

An interesting conversation with Burns about the Revolution.

 

[92tide]

An interesting conversation with Burns about the Revolution.

thanks, that was an interesting interview

 

[Tidewater]

thanks, that was an interesting interview

I like how he said he would tell the story and let the people draw their implications..

 

[Tidewater]

On the subject of democracy, here is what Fisher Ames said on the subject in 1788:

"Faction and enthusiasm are the instruments by which popular governments are destroyed. We need not talk of the power of an aristocracy. The people, when they lose their liberties, are cheated out of them. They nourish factions in their bosoms, which will subsist so long as abusing their honest credulity shall be the means of acquiring power. A democracy is a volcano, which conceals the fiery materials of its own destruction. These will produce an eruption, and carry desolation in their way. The people always mean right; and, if time is allowed for reflection and information, they will do right. I would not have the first wish, the momentary impulse of the public mind, become law; for it is not always the sense of the people, with whom I admit that all power resides. On great questions, we first hear the loud clamors of passion, artifice, and faction."

Think of Marc Anthony's "Friends, Romans, Countrymen" speech. Caesar's assssins speak to the crowd and they were ready to lynch Caesar's supporters. Then Marc Anthony speaks and the same crowd us ready to lynch Caesar's assassins. That was written almost two centuries before the Constitution.

 

[Tidewater]

I cannot believe I missed this, but November 7th was the semiquincentennial of Lord Dunmore's Proclamation:


By His Excellency the Right Honorable JOHN Earl of DUNMORE, His Majesty's Lieutenant and Governor General of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, and Vice Admiral of the same.

A PROCLAMATION.

As I have ever entertained Hopes that an Accommodation might have taken Place between Great-Britain and this colony, without being compelled by my Duty to this most disagreeable but now absolutely necessary Step, rendered so by a Body of armed Men unlawfully assembled, bring on His MAJESTY'S Tenders, and the formation of an Army, and that Army now on their March to attack His MAJESTY'S troops and destroy the well disposed Subjects of this Colony. To defeat such unreasonable Purposes, and that all such Traitors, and their Abetters, may be brought to Justice, and that the Peace, and good Order of this Colony may be again restored, which the ordinary Course of the Civil Law is unable to effect; I have thought fit to issue this my Proclamation, hereby declaring, that until the aforesaid good Purposes can be obtained, I do in Virtue of the Power and Authority to ME given, by His MAJESTY, determine to execute Martial Law, and cause the same to be executed throughout this Colony: and to the end that Peace and good Order may the sooner be restored, I do require every Person capable of bearing Arms, to resort to His MAJESTY'S STANDARD, or be looked upon as Traitors to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Government, and thereby become liable to the Penalty the Law inflicts upon such Offences; such as forfeiture of Life, confiscation of Lands, &c. &c. And I do hereby further declare all indentured Servants, Negroes, or others, (appertaining to Rebels,) free that are able and willing to bear Arms, they joining His MAJESTY'S Troops as soon as may be, for the more speedily reducing this Colony to a proper Sense of their Duty, to His MAJESTY'S Crown and Dignity. I do further order, and require, all His MAJESTY'S Leige Subjects, to retain their Quitrents, or any other Taxes due or that may become due, in their own Custody, till such Time as Peace may be again restored to this at present most unhappy Country, or demanded of them for their former salutary Purposes, by Officers properly authorised to receive the same.

GIVEN under my Hand on board the ship WILLIAM, off Norfolk the 7th Day of November, in the sixteenth Year of His MAJESTY'S Reign.

DUNMORE.

(GOD save the KING.)



When the 1619 Project declared that the Patriots in America were fighting to defend slavery, this is what the authors were referring to. One question stands out:
Considering all the events up to Nov. 7, 1775 , was the war well and truly begun before Dunmore's proclamation? (Can an event that occured after the start of the war be described as a cause of the war?)

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago, Congress makes provision for capturing ships used in "be employed in the present cruel and unjust war against the United Colonies." If captured in a harbor, the colony will have jurisdiction.

The same resolve allows private ship owners to outfit for "cruizing" (privateering), "when any vessel or vessels shall be fitted out at the expence of any private person or persons, then the captures made shall be to the use of the owner or owners of the said vessel or vessels; that where the vessels employed in the capture shall be fitted out at the expence of any of the United Colonies, then one-third of the prize taken shall be to the use of the captors, and the remaining two-thirds to the use of the said colony, and where the vessels so employed shall be fitted out at the continental charge, then one-third shall go to the captors, and the remaining two to the use of the United Colonies."

Privateers are required to secure "a commission from the Congress" or from one of the colonies.

Congress recommended that the colonies set up courts and give them jurisdiction over the cases.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, Congress resolved, "Whereas Lord Dunmore, by his proclamation lately published,* has declared his intention to execute martial law, thereby tearing up the foundations of civil authority and government within the said colony:
Resolved, Therefore, that if the convention of Virginia shall find it necessary to establish a form of government in that colony, it be recommended to that Convention to call a full and free representation of the people, and that the said representatives, if they think it necessary, establish such form of government as in their judgment will best produce the happiness of the people, and most effectually secure peace and good order in the colony, during the continuance of the present dispute between Great Britain and these colonies."

* Written November 7, 1775 and published November 15, 1775 declaring martial law and freedom, to any slave who fought for the Crown.

Civil authority and government was key to the colonists..

 

[Tidewater]

British Army and U.S. Army hold joint ceremony for soldiers killed at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina (1780). A number of American bodies at least one Brit (Scottish Highlander of the 71st Regiment of Foot).

 

[Tidewater]

Critiques of Ken Burns are starting to come in.
Burns tells viewers that the Iroquois Confederation invented the idea of a political union in America.
In fact, as the scholar Robert Natelson has noted, the Iroquois don’t show up as a model in the 34-volume “Journals of the Continental Congress”; the three-volume collection “The Records of the Federal Convention” (the Constitutional Convention); or the more than 40-volume “Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution.”

Instead of the American union being based upon the Iroquois Confederation, Benjamin Franklin wrote to James Parker on March 22, 1751: "It would be a very strange Thing, if six Nations of ignorant Savages should be capable of forming a Scheme for such an Union, and be able to execute it in such a Manner, as that it has subsisted Ages, and appears indissoluble; and yet that a like Union should be impracticable for ten or a Dozen English Colonies, to whom it is more necessary, and must be more advantageous; and who cannot be supposed to want an equal Understanding of their Interests."
What Franklin was saying was that even people as ignorant as the Indians can manage union then the colonies have no excuse not to unite. The "ignorant savages" comment did not make the Ken Burns documentary.

Burns reported a woman named Margaret Corbin was wounded in battle after her husband was killed. Later, Congress awarded her a pension, but at half the rate of a male combatant. This makes it seem like an anti-woman bigoted Congress slighted her because of her sex. The problem is that Congress pensioned all invalid soldiers at half pay (this was a tradition inherited from the British). Corbin had not been slighted, Congress had actually been remarkably progressive in pensioning a woman but Burns selectively edited the facts to make it seem the opposite. Not cool.

Burns is an amazing filmmaker. As an historian, he sometimes lets his agenda interfere with the facts.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago, two Frenchmen arrive in Washington's camp proposing furnishing arms and ammunition to the Americans.
Washington sends them to Congress to talk about their proposal.
This is the beginning of an important relationship between the colonies and the French.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago this month, the Continental Congress adopts the Continental Union Flag as their flag.

Obviously not (yet) ready for independence, they adopted the British Union Jack with thirteen red and white strips for the thirteen colonies.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago, Henry Knox (dispatched to Fort Ticonderoga to fetch the cannons and powder and briong them to Washington outside Boston), wrote to Washington that ha had gotten the cannon across Lake Champlain. and hired sleds and oxen. If the snow held out, he would present Washington a "noble train of artillery” within weeks.
Things are in motion...

 

[arthurdawg]

250 years ago, Henry Knox (dispatched to Fort Ticonderoga to fetch the cannons and powder and briong them to Washington outside Boston), wrote to Washington that ha had gotten the cannon across Lake Champlain. and hired sleds and oxen. If the snow held out, he would present Washington a "noble train of artillery” within weeks.
Things are in motion...

Knox and the cannons was a pretty amazing story!

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago this month, Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia, is living on a RN Ship in the Chesapeake Bay, unable to land safely anywhere in the Old Dominion except briefly to gather supplies.
Dunmore forwards to General Howe in Boston food and writes about his plans to "reduce the southern colonies to obedience."

"Pray spare us some troops if you can possibly do it, consistant with your Orders, even the Recruits of the 14th Regt would be of service to us; those ordered from St Augustine are not yet arrived, tho' hourly expected, was the whole Regt here I think we should be able to do some good. I have sent you a Sloop with some Indian Corn, Oats, & a few Irish potatoes, all of which he told me (I mean Major Connolly) were much wanted, I could have sent you any quantity of Oats (such as they are), if I could have got a larger vessel; I wish to God I had some of your Light Horse here, this is a fine Country for them to act in, and food of all kinds in great abundance for both men & Horses; a winter Campaign would reduce, without the smallest doubt the whole of this southern Continent to a perfect state of obedience, one essential service it would render you, which is that I could supply your Army & Navy with every necessary of life & that in the greatest abundance, which is more than any other Colony on the Continent could do. I ever am Dear General [&c.]
Dunmore

On board the Dunmore off Norfolk, December 2d 1775

The Colonists intercepted this letter aboard the sloop Betsey. It made its way to General Washington's hands. Washington read it, and forwarded the letter to Congress in Philadelphia.

 

[Tidewater]

Congress has figured out what defending the colonies has cost and is likely to cost in the coming year.
Congress the adopted the following resolutions:

Whereas an estimate hath lately been formed of the public expence already arisen, and which may accrue in the defence of America, to the 10 day of June next, in pursuance whereof this Congress, on the 29 day of November, resolved that a farther sum of three millions of dollars be emitted in bills of credit,
Resolved, Therefore that the thirteen United Colonies be pledged for the redemption of the bills of credit so directed to be emitted.
That each colony provide ways and means to sink its proportion of the said bills, in such manner as may be most effectual, and best adapted to the condition, circumstances, and equal mode of levying taxes in each colony.
That the proportion or quota of each respective colony be determined according to the number of inhabitants, of all ages, including negroes and mulattoes in each colony.
That it be recommended to the several assemblies, conventions, or councils, or committees of safety of the respective colonies, to ascertain, by the most impartial and effectual means in their power, the number of inhabitants in each respective colony, taking care that the lists be authenticated by the oaths of the several persons who shall be entrusted with this service; and that the said assemblies, conventions, councils, and committees of safety, do respectively lay before this Congress a return of the number of inhabitants of their respective colonies, as soon as the same shall be procured.
That each colony pay its respective quota in four equal payments; the first to be made on or before the last day of November, 1783; the second, on or before the last day of November, 1784; the third, on or before the last day of November, 1785; and the fourth or last, on or before the last day of November, 1786;

 

[Tidewater]

The lack of salt is having an adverse effect on the colonists. Congress tries to find a remedy.

Resolved, That the colonies of Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina, be permitted to export produce from their respective colonies, to any part of the world, except Great Britain, Ireland, the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, Alderney and Man, and the British West India islands, and in return to import so much salt from any part of the world, not prohibited by the Association, as the conventions or councils of safety of the two former colonies, and the provincial council of the other shall judge necessary, for the use of the inhabitants thereof, now suffering great distress by the scarcity of that necessary article, proper caution being taken to prevent any abuse of this indulgence.

Fortunately, France will soon warm to trade with the colonies, as long as the colonists "keep it down home, cuz."

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, enlistments expire (tomorrow).
Washington orders commissaries to issue to soldiers not re-enlisting food for the trip home.
Washington also authorizes recruiters to recruit free black men.

 

[Tidewater]

250 years ago today, American forces attempt to storm Quebec City in a blinding snowstorm. The British regular army forces are greatly outnumbered, so the British Royal Governor enlists all the able-bodied men in the city.
When the Patriot forces under Major General Richard Montgomery arrive, Montgomery is killed and 2nd in command, Benedict Arnold is wounded. The assault falls apart and the Patriots lose 50 killed 34 wounded and 431 captured out of a total force of around 1200.
This is the high water mark for the Americans' efforts to get Canada onside.

 

[Tidewater]

Congress considers the case of Americans who do not support the colonial cause as "honest and well-meaning, but uninformed people in these colonies, [who] have, by the art and address of ministerial agents, been deceived and drawn into erroneous opinions respecting the American cause, and the probable issue of the present contest" and urges colonies "to view their errors as proceeding rather from want of information than want of virtue or public spirit." Congress urges for the colonies "liberally to distribute among the people, the proceedings of this and the former Congress, the late speeches of the great patriots in both houses of parliament relative to American grievances, and such other pamphlets and papers as tend to elucidate the merits of the American cause, the Congress being fully persuaded that the more our right to the enjoyment of our ancient liberties and privileges is examined, the more just and necessary our present opposition to ministerial tyranny will appear." In other words, to engage in information warfare..
Finally, "with respect to all such unworthy Americans, as, ... have taken part with our oppressors, … [and] strive to recommend themselves … by misrepresenting and traducing the conduct and principles of the friends of American liberty, and opposing every measure formed for its preservation and security,
Resolved, That it be recommended to the different Assemblies … in the United Colonies, ... to frustrate the mischievous machinations, and restrain the wicked practices of these men.
And it is the opinion of this Congress, that they ought to be disarmed, and the more dangerous among them, either kept in safe custody, or bound with sufficient sureties to their good behaviour."