Day 132, June 7

Did you know that George Washington, one of our Founding Fathers, was not loved, or even liked by everyone?  While he was in office, Washington was one of the most unpopular presidents ever to serve. 

He was criticized, defiled in public print, a leading newspaper editor calling him an embezzler, a tryant.  Another editor accused him of murder.  Patriots, who'd served with him, demanded that he resign,  calling him power mad.  His secretary of state, Thomas Jefferson, resigned in disagreement over his foreign policies. 

Jefferson went so far as to form a political party to fight Washington.  Another Cabinet member, Alexander Hamilton, did the same.  The fledgling nation was split in two parts by the French Revolution.  One element wanted to come to the aid of the French, as the French had helped secure America's independence.  Washington opposed becoming involved in foreign affairs.

One of his steadfast friends of the Revoluntionary War, Thomas Paine, wrote of Washington:  "You are treacherous in private friendship and a hyppocrite in public life ... the world will be puzzled to decide whether you have abandoned good principles, or whether you ever had any."

Day 131, June 6

Did you know that many important events of the Revolutionary War took place in taverns?  I didn't.

Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence while sitting in the Queen's Tavern in Philadelphia.  George Washington centered his headquarters in a tavern while he was in New York.  John Adams managed his own tavern from 1783 to 1789.  The first official recruiting office of the United States Marine Corps was held in Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.  It was in a New York tavern where George Washington bid his troops farewell.

Paul Revere recorded this in his diary:

"In the fall of 1774, I was one of upwards of 30 men who formed ourselves into a committee for the watching of movements of British soldiers and the Tories in our midst.  We met at the Green Dragon Tavern in Boston."

Tavern keeping was a respectable business in those days, the tavern keeper an important man in town.  He was in many cases the political leader of the community.  He was also the town banker, the town gosspi.  His wife was, in many cases, the community's social and cultural leader.

Day 130, June 5

The soldiers at Valley Forge lived in 900 small huts  ashioned from logs and clay.  A dozen soldiers jammed into each 14 by 16 foot hut.

Because of lack of blankets and warm clothing, many soldiers were forced to sit up all night by the fires.  There was a near-famine in the camp.  Weeks went by with the men having no meat and little else to eat.

A few men deserted; however, most of them remained at their posts, despite the horrible conditions.  Washington maintained discipline, insisting his men conduct themselves like soldiers.  Eventually supplies began to trickle through.  Raiding parties captured supplies from the British and supplemented their meager food and clothing.

By the time spring arrived, those who survived knew the worst was over.  In June, the American troops marched from Valley Forge and defeated the British at Monmouth, New Jersey, taking them by surprise. 

It was a turning point in the war, emotionally and strategically.

Day 129, June 4

Until I did some research, I had believed a battle to be fought at Valley Forge.  And perhaps there was one, though it was not between the Americans and the British.  It was a battle against cold, hunger, and despair.  The defeated American army, under General George Washington, retreated to the plains of Valley Forge, Pennsylvannia. 

The Continental Army had just lost two important battles to the British.  the enemy now occupied Philadelphia, forcing the Americans to the frigid plains.  It (1777)  was one of the worst winters in history.  Winds blew in hurrrican force gales across the plains.  The temperature dropped below zero.  The ill-equipped American Army was without shoes, winter clothing, and food.

More than 3000 American soldiers died that winter in Valley Forge.  They lay in unmarked graves. On December 23, 1777, Washington wrote, "There are 2,898 men in camp unfit for duty because they are barefooted and otherwise naked ..."

Day 128, June 3

What happened to Dawses, Prescott, and Revere?

William Dawes enlisted in the Continental Army and fought through the Revolutionary War.  He ended up owning a grocery store in Boston.

Dr. Prescott served at Ticonderoga, where he was taken prisoner by the British, and died in a Halifax prison.

As for Paul Revere, he started manufacturing gunpowder for the Continental Army and helped cast bronze cannons.  He was given the rank of Colonel in the Army and commanded the garrison at Castle William in Boston Harbor.  After the war, Revere returned to his work as a silversmith in Boston.

Day 127, June 2

Another man figures prominently in the ride to warn Americans of the British invasion.  The day after Revere's aborted ride, 23 year old Israel Bisell was tasked with warning the citizens that the English soldiers had landed at Cambridge and were marching toward Lexington. 

Bisell rode so hard on his first day that his horse dropped dead beneath him.  He took another horse and raced across Massachusetts, into Connecticut, and on into New York.  He rode for four days without rest, covering more than 300 miles before arriving in Philadelphia.

Why did Longfellow immortalize Revere in his epic poem rather than Bisell or Dawes?  It is speculated by some that the poet couldn't think anything to rhyme with Bisell or Dawes!

Day 126, June 1

Longfellow's poem "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" is well known and often quoted.  However, Revere didn't finish the famous ride.

Paul Revere was captured by the British halfway to the village of Concord to warn the citizens that the British were coming.  The ride was finished by Dr. Samuel Prescott, who just happened to be along. 

On the night of April 18,1775, William Dawes was dispatched from Boston to warn the countryside of the British invasion.  Paul Revere followed along as a second.  Along the way, they picked up another man, Dr. Prescott, who was coming home from a date with the young lady he was courting.

A British patrol ambushed the three men.  Revere was captured.  Dawes turned around and rode for home.  Prescott jumped his horse over a fence and continued on his way to alert the Minutemen.