250 and Counting

Peyton Randolph is another one of those Founding Fathers who goes largely unknown to most people, probably because he died relatively young (age 54) and early in the whole Independence movement. But Randolph was a true Patriot and while he wasn’t around to sign the Declaration of Independence, it’s said that his spirit was at […]

The post RIP Peyton Randolph–October 23, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

After the Pyrrhic victory at Bunker Hill, the fact that General Gage was about to be replaced probably came as a surprise to nobody. That he was replaced by William Howe…well, that also probably wasn’t a surprise. Howe had experienced success in the Seven Years’ War. And while he was known to have shown some […]

The post William Howe Makes An Odd Decision–October 22, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

The Second Continental Congress was having a busy week, with the worries about the trade embargo going on, and whether ships from other nations could get in/out safely. And John Adams was worried, too–worried that he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand for gunpowder for the soldiers. One of the components of […]

The post Saltpeter, John–October 21, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

In the immediate aftermath of the destruction of Falmouth (then Massachusetts, now Maine), naturally there was a great deal of concern when it came to defending our shores from the British Navy. After all, the Brits had the most powerful navy in the the world, and the Americans…well, they’d barely gotten started putting theirs together. […]

The post James Warren Likes Privateers–October 20, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

There were two events marked today. One of them involves the continuation of a ban on exports of weapons to America. This was something that had to be formally declared every few months. Meanwhile down in South Carolina, a brief fight between two ships in the Charleston Harbor got local leaders thinking about the best […]

The post Keeping The British At Bay–October 19, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

George Washington was a pretty smart guy. He knew exactly what his army needed, in all aspects. He had a handle on discipline, on supplies, on tactics and any number of other things. Washington surrounded himself with people who were smart, too. This went a long way toward ensuring his success. So when his army […]

The post Washington Gets Some Relief–October 18, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Okay, first off, it’s only appropriate that I apologize for the stupid title. I really shouldn’t write when I’m low on sleep. Manley’s beginnings were murky (e.g. his year of birth is approximate) but he was a quick study and it’s no wonder that George Washington selected him as one of his first captains in […]

The post Manley About The House–October 17, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

To be clear, the actual burning of Falmouth took place on October 18, but the events that led directly to it happened on this day. Captain Henry Mowat had been captured by patriots in Falmouth some time earlier. When he returned, he brought five gunships with him. When he demanded that the locals swear allegiance […]

The post The Burning of Falmouth–October 16, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Fort St. Jean was a relatively soft target compared to Boston. Plus, it wasn’t as well fortified because the British weren’t holed up there. Sooner or later something would come along to break up the stalemate. On this day, a couple of somethings arrived, from Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The big guns that Montgomery […]

The post Reinforcements Arrive in Quebec–October 15, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.

Programming Note: Mike came down with a case of electronic laryngitis, so you’re getting me again for today’s episode. But Mike wrote it, so there’s that. John Dabney Terrell Sr. was…not one of our best and brightest Americans, but the work he did will lead us to a bigger story some time down the road. […]

The post John Dabney Terrell Sr.–October 14, 1775 appeared first on 250 and Counting.