Tag: american-history

Podcast - Stories of American History, Podcast - United States History Timeline, United States History Series

The Battle of Esseneca

Major Andrew Williamson mustered the Ninety-Six District Regiment of Militia in response to the Cherokee attack at Findlay’s Station. The force totaled nearly 1100 men and included some Georgia militia as well as some Catawba Indians, Rangers and South Carolina troops. Williamson planned a raid against the Cherokee Esseneca Town, located near current Clemson, South Carolina, in Pickens County. As the troops traveled, they burned the home of the British Deputy Superintendent Alexander Cameron. Cameron had been agitating troubles with the Cherokee for some time. As the troops continued to advance after burning the home they approached the Keowee River, they attempted to cross at Esseneca Ford. Continue reading The Battle of Esseneca

Podcast - Stories of American History, Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History, United States History Series

Council of War at Crown Point

On July 7, 1776, five generals met at Crown Point to hold a council of war. The danger to the fledgling rebel cause was serious. General Guy Carleton’s forces, arrayed in Canada, threatened to sweep south and join the British force led by General Howe now threatening to invade New York. If successful, the action would slice the New England colonies away from those to the south. The American generals at Crown Point desperately needed to slow the British advance. The four generals were:
Commanding Northern Department – Major General Philip Schuyler,
Commander of the Canadian army – General Horatio Gates
Major General John Sullivan
General Benedict Arnold
General Frederick William, Baron de Woedtke Continue reading Council of War at Crown Point

Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History, United States History Series

Clearing the Last Ships From Boston Harbor

The British had evacuated Boston in mid-March; however, the remnants of the fleet still lingered in Boston Harbor, keeping ships from leaving or entering the harbor. The British fleet in the harbor consisted of 8 ships, 2 brigs, one schooner and 2 of a type of three-masted ship called a snow. Continue reading Clearing the Last Ships From Boston Harbor

Podcast - Stories of American History, Podcast - United States History Timeline, United States History Series

Thomas Hickey Joins Conspiracy to Kill George Washington

Early June 1776 – Thomas Hickey Joins Conspiracy to Kill Washington
General Washington had arrived at New York on April 13, 1776, to take charge of the defenses of New York against the expected British invasion of the city. Washington occupied a mansion called Richmond Hill, in Manhattan, to use as his headquarters. The approximately 150-man Commander-in-Chief’s Guard made camp on the 26-acre estate. Three taverns in the vicinity served as gathering places for these soldiers, Lowrie’s Tavern, The Highlander, and Corbie’s Tavern. Continue reading Thomas Hickey Joins Conspiracy to Kill George Washington

Podcast - Stories of American History, Podcast - United States History Timeline, United States History Series

A Busy Week During the Revolutionary War

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. Continue reading A Busy Week During the Revolutionary War

Podcast - Stories of American History, Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History, United States History Series

Britain Hires German Mercenaries

To help buttress their Army the British imported large numbers of German mercenary troops to fight. Prince William of Hesse-Hanau had agreed to send troops to America in early February. On April 20, 1776, Prince Frederick Karl August, prince of the German principality of Waldeck, agreed to send 670 infantrymen to America. Continue reading Britain Hires German Mercenaries

Podcast - Stories of American History, Timeline of United States History

War Between the Colonies – The Yankee and Pennamite War

Greetings, in this episode I discuss a dispute over land erupted between the Yankees and Pennamites in 1775.
The Wyoming Valley in the Appalachian area of northeastern Pennsylvania became the focus of warring factions from Connecticut and Pennsylvanians after the French and Indian War ended in 1763. The colonists had driven the Delaware tribe out of the coveted valley after the death of Teedyuscung, King of the Delaware in 1763. Problems among the white colonists arose because of a mistake made one hundred years earlier by King Charles II. Continue reading War Between the Colonies – The Yankee and Pennamite War

Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History

British Evacuate Boston

The British evacuation began at four o’clock AM. By ten o’clock AM they had loaded 10,000 troops and about 1500 Loyalist citizens that wished to depart Boston on ships. Howe issued orders when the evacuation began to burn the city if the rebels interfered with the evacuation. The British had 120 ships on hand to use to transport the people and soldiers to a temporary sanctuary in Halifax, in Nova Scotia. They left a large quantity of supplies behind. A short time after the Union Jack had disappeared; soldiers of the Continental Army marched into Boston, flags flying and fifes playing “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
A wary General Washington, fearing British attack on New York, dispatched five regiments of his troops towards that city with General William Heath in command. Continue reading British Evacuate Boston

Podcast - United States History Timeline

British General Howe’s Unpleasant Surprise

March 2, 1776 – Americans Begin Shelling British Troops In Boston
At the beginning of 1776 the situation at Boston in the early stages of the American Revolution was an uneasy draw. British troops controlled the city and the harbor. American troops surrounded the city. The high hills of Dorchester Heights commanded the city, but neither side wanted to occupy them. The British commander, General William Howe, remembered the results of the earlier battle, the Battle of Bunker Hill. Though the British won that battle, the results were horrendous. British losses had been high as they suffered 226 killed, 828 wounded, these mostly officers. Howe decided another victory like that would ruin him.
General George Washington wanted to take the hills, but his army was under equipped, having little artillery. About 2000 of his 9000 man army had no muskets. The Continental Army was not ready for such a maneuver. Continue reading British General Howe’s Unpleasant Surprise

Podcast - United States History Timeline, Timeline of United States History

Congress Invites Canadians to Join the Struggle

One of Congress’ main goals of launching the Canada invasion in June 1775 was to bring the Canadians into their cause as the 14th colony. This effort had failed, but their efforts continued. On February 14 a messenger arrived from Canada, authorized by General Wooster, to carry a message to the members of Congress. The Committee of Correspondence conferred with the man on February 14 and relayed their report on the meeting. Continue reading Congress Invites Canadians to Join the Struggle

Podcast - Stories of American History, Timeline of United States History, United States History Series

1776 – The Events of January 18 – 24

On January 18, officials from the Georgia Provincial Congress arrested Georgia’s Royal Governor James Wright. Wright had been the governor of Georgia since 1760, having previously served as South Carolina’s representative to the Crown and as South Carolina’s attorney. His problems began with the Stamp Act, passed by Parliament in 1765. He managed to be the only royal official to successfully import and sell the stamps despite the efforts of the local Sons of Liberty to stop him. On January 12 a small British fleet had arrived in Savannah’s harbor. The fleet had intentions of purchasing a load of rice to take to Boston’s besieged troops. Delegates for the Georgia Provincial Congress had arrived and decided they did not want Wright to purchase the rice and had him arrested. Continue reading 1776 – The Events of January 18 – 24