250 and Counting

All of the men who were part of the Second Continental Congress were serious men who had businesses of their own back at home. So spending so much time in Philadelphia had to have been taxing on them, especially since the days were so long. Of course many of them were going to be homesick. […]

The post Homesickness Sets In–December 2, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

The events at Lexington and Concord were only about a month in the rear-view mirror when it occurred to both the Americans and the British that the Canadian provinces were colonies, too, and that they might have some kind of interest in the activities going on further south. Quebec, being perhaps the largest city close […]

The post Montgomery Arrives at Quebec–December 1, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Back on November 14 we told you about the Royal Ethiopian Regiment, which was assembled following Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation. The proclamation offered freedom to slaves belonging to Patriot owners who chose to fight on the British side in the Revolution. Dunmore was putting together another band of soldiers at the same time, called “The Queen’s […]

The post Dunmore Assembles Two Regiments–November 30, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Thomas Jefferson wasn’t as prolific with the letters as John Adams was with his own wife (over ten thousand letters between them during the course of the Revolution!), nor as much as George Washington, but he was still a deep thinker and he did write well and with purpose. In today’s example he has to […]

The post Thomas Jefferson Has Bad News–November 29, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

The capture of the British brigantine Nancy wasn’t Captain John Manley’s first (it was perhaps his third), but it was probably one of his most significant, considering the cargo. It was also probably the first British ship of any real consequence to be captured by any American. Overall, Manley’s effectiveness as a Navy captain was […]

The post The Capture of the Nancy–November 28, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Happy Thanksgiving! Many people celebrate the day by watching the parade, or some football, or some special episodes of television shows, or Thanksgiving-themed movies. Personally I like a combination: I’ll watch the parade, then play an episode or two of The West Wing (there are two Thanksgiving episodes), and then get in a little football. […]

The post Prelude To Battle–November 27, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

As we’ve mentioned a couple of times before, Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation offering freedom to Patriot-owned slaves who fought for the British created a stir that was felt in all thirteen colonies. Huge numbers of people showed up, not just men, but women and children as well. And of course, because most of them had escaped […]

The post Escape To The War–November 26, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

It’s hard to emphasize just how remote Point Shirley is compared to the Boston. Let me try anyway. On most maps of Boston, Point Shirley isn’t even on the map. It’s so far to the east that it’s nearly in the ocean. I’m not sure it’s even possible to see Boston from Point Shirley. And […]

The post The Fate of War and Some Refugees–November 25, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Two days ago, Mike had a case of the Martian Flu or something, so I needed to record in his place. today he sounds as good as ever. Since I could never bounce back from anything affecting my voice that quickly, I think it’s necessary to hurl invective his way. But I won’t ’cause I’m […]

The post Considering North Carolina–November 24, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

November 23, 1775 was at least the fifth time that a day of Thanksgiving was declared in North America. It might be the sixth, but the documentation for one of them is kind of thin, It might be the first Thanksgiving held on a Thursday, but again it’s tough to know for sure. It’s certainly […]

The post A Day of Thanksgiving–November 23, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.