Fought between May 27 and 28, 1775, on the islands off northeastern Boston, it is also known as the Battle of Noodle’s Island or Battle of Hog Island. It was the American Revolution’s second military action of open warfare within the region; the Battle of Lexington and Concord being the first on April 19th. It …
James Reed was a tailor as well as innkeeper by trade. Of ordinary height, well-built and very active, he was a veteran officer of two wars, having never failed to answer the call to arms. At the Battle of Bunker Hill, his regiment faced the hottest fire, throwing back the attacking British twice before the …
Generations of Americans have recalled with pride these words that were supposedly spoken during the American Revolution. They conger stouthearted citizen soldiers standing firm before the power of oppression. Farmers and merchants answering the call to arms and grabbing their family muskets to defy what they believed to be an authoritarian government in a David …
Colonial America’s social positions were not so rigidly fixed as they were in England. It is not to say the wealthy land owners and rich merchants of the new world did not take on aristocratic airs. In many respects, then as now, they expected to be treated like royalty, if not more so than in …
Peter Salem, a slave who was freed to fight in his master’s militia, is credited for stepping forward at a critical point in the Battle of Bunker Hill outside Boston in 1775; he fired the shot that killed British Royal Marine Major John Pitcairn. At the time of the battle, Salem was already a veteran …
Each, axe in hand, attacked the honored tree, Sweating eternal war with Liberty. But e’er it fell, not mindless of its wrong, Avenged it took one destined head along. A Tory soldier on its topmost limb, The genius of the shade looked stern at him, And marked him out that self-same hour to dine, Where unsnuffed lamps burn low at Pluto’s shrine. …
Jacob Duche (1738 – 1798) was appointed Chaplain of Congress on July 6, 1776. Every day thereafter, by 9 AM, he was present to officiate the start of Congress’ proceedings. He was so dedicated to the American cause that the congressional delegates had called his “uniform and zealous attachment to the rights of America,” outstanding …
African Americans who Fought in the Revolutionary War From Plymouth County, Massachusetts Taken from recruiting documents in the collection of the Pilgrim Society. Compiled by Jeremy D. Bangs in 1996, visiting curator of Manuscripts, Pilgrim Hall Museum. Silas Accro, age 29, from Plymouth, Col. Theo. Cotton’s regimentPero Blakely, age 28, from Bridgewater, Maj. Cary’s regimentWilliam …
Prior to Battle General Washington called a council of war on October 16th, 1776, one month after the Battle of Harlem. American troops had stood in line of battle on an open field and driven back the renowned Scotsmen of the 42nd, the legendary Black Watch. Since that time, inactivity was undermining the morale that …