A Busy Week During the Revolutionary War

A Busy Week During the Revolutionary War
Today the author relates a series of events in May 1776.
No big events occurred during the week of May 24 – 31, however a potpourri of smaller, consequential events took place that would have important results later on.
This an excerpt from my book, 1776.
The book is now finished and is available on Amazon in softbound, ebook and audio book formats.
It is part of the
Time Line of United States History Series
You can enjoy the preceding book 1775, which is available on the website,

Transcript:

Greetings, today I will relate a series of events in May 1776.
No big events occurred during the week of May 24 – 31, however a potpourri of smaller, consequential events took place that would have important results later on.
This an excerpt from my book, 1776.
The book is now finished and is available on Amazon in softbound, ebook and audio book formats.
It is part of the
Time Line of United States History Series
You can enjoy the preceding book 1775, which is available on the website, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. Just click the “Timeline of United States History” on the lower left hand side of the home page.
A box set that includes all six volumes of the series is available at that link at an economical price.

The struggle between the Pennsylvania Assembly and the radicals that wanted independence intensified when the Pennsylvania Committee of Inspection and Observation passed a resolution calling for the convening of a congress to draft a constitution for the colony of Pennsylvania on May 24, 1776.
The Committee presented this resolution to the Continental Congress the next day.

The success of the German sharpshooters and the recommendation from General George Washington to raise a company of German troops led Congress to act. On May 25, 1776, the Congress adopted a measure that authorized the raising of a battalion of German troops that would consist of 8 companies. 4 of the companies would originate from Pennsylvania and 4 from Maryland.

The members of the Council of Indian Affairs wished to discourage the tribes of the Iroquois League from allying with Britain during their war of independence from Britain. They extended an invitation to the League to meet with them in Philadelphia. A delegation of chiefs traveled to New York, arriving there by May 16. They continued to Philadelphia, arriving there on May 25, 1776, and requested to meet with the Congress. The Congress voted to meet with them on May 27 at 11:00 AM.

Parker’s scouting expeditions had revealed a potential weakness in Continental defenses. He discovered that a key outpost in Charleston’s harbor, Fort Sullivan on Sullivan’s Island, was unfinished and undermanned. Clinton had been planning to occupy several positions in the Chesapeake Bay. The positions he had in mind were easily defended and could serve as bases from which to launch attacks into the interior. General Sir William Howe was planning an offensive against New York. Clinton had planned to launch his offensive against the southern colonies and then join with General Howe on his offensive in New York. The delay in British ships had made this plan impossible. He felt he could accomplish establishing beach heads from which to operate on the Chesapeake, then join Howe on the New York operation. After Parker’s assessment of Fort Sullivan, he convinced Clinton that it would be best to capture Fort Sullivan, in South Carolina, finish the fort and use it to launch future operations against Charleston and the south. Parker managed to convince Clinton to attack Fort Sullivan on May 26, 1776.

Indian deputies of the Six Nations hold an audience with Congress on May 27, 1776. The delegates stage a military parade with 2000 Continental troops from the local Association. George Washington, Generals Gates and Miflin, as well as many other officers attended the conference. 21 of the Iroquois attendees staged a war dance for the delegates.

In Canada British Captain George Forster had moved his troops to a position closer to Montreal and left the prisoners he had taken at the Cedars in a stockade there. He learned that General Benedict Arnold was gathering forces at Lachine, which is near Montreal, to rescue the captives. Forster’s force had dwindled in size, so he negotiated a trade of American with British prisoners with Arnold, to take place at Quinze-Chênes, which is also near Montreal. The two forces agreed to exchange prisoners at the village. The exchange parties met, exchanged a brief volley of cannon fire, then exchanged the prisoners on May 27, 1776.
After deleting all insulting references to the King of England, the London Post began publishing portions of Thomas Paine’s inflammatory pamphlet, Common Sense on May 28, 1776.

The leaders of the American force in Canada met at Fort Chambly on May 30, 1776.
General Benedict Arnold wanted to lead an attack on the British forces across the Ottawa River, however Moses Hazen noted that the American force would not surprise the Indian force allied with the British and would kill the American prisoners held there. After deciding not to attack, the officers decided to keep the main body of American forces at Fort Chambly and to reinforce the troops at St. Anne.

By May 30, Commodore Parker had convinced General Henry Clinton to implement his plan of capturing Fort Sullivan. The British fleet slipped out of Chesapeake Bay and sailed south for Charleston.

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