Veteran’s Day 11/11/17

Funny how things work out.  It’s Veteran’s Day and we’re only a few minutes from a National Military Park.  It’s also pretty sad how there’s so much American History that people don’t know about – including us.  Maybe if we did, people would care more.  Maybe if we did, there’d be a greater sense of gratitude to our ancestors.

What do you know of the Revolutionary War?  Is your knowledge limited to The Boston Tea Party?  Paul Revere? Patrick Henry’s quote? Bunker Hill?  The Redcoats?  Anything beyond that?  Do you know when it ended?  Are you thinking 1776?

You’d be wrong.  It actually started April 19, 1775 when the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. (“The shot heard ’round the world”)

July 4, 1776 is when delegates from each of the 13 colonies (The First Continental Congress-formed on September 5, 1774) declared our independence from Great Britain.  The war lasted 8 years and 4 months, finally coming to a close on September 3, 1783 when the British General, Charles Cornwallis, surrendered to American General, George Washington.  We were still just colonies then, and British colonies at that.  It took 2 years after their surrender for the British to leave our shores.

Did you know that we didn’t have a President until April 30,1789, and he remained a reluctant president until March 4, 1797?

Did you know that the war came as far south as South Carolina and even Georgia?  We sure didn’t.  We thought it was all fought in New England.

Did you know that one of the turning points was the Battle of Kings Mountain on the border of North and South Carolina?

Did you know that the reason “we” won was because the British commander, Patrick Ferguson insulted and threatened the Scotts living ‘over the mountain’ and up to that point, these men had stayed out of the fight for freedom?  Word went out to them and they rode 200 miles over the Blue Ridge Mountains to join the patriots against Great Britain and the Loyalists (Americans who were loyal to Britain).

Did you know the reason “we” won was because the British only knew how to fight one way – straight lines, with inferior muskets and bayonets, while these Americans fought with superior guns and their wiles?  They didn’t follow a commander’s plan once the fighting began.  They were told, ‘every man is his own officer’.  They were excellent marksmen from years of hunting, and they’d learned a few things from the Indians – like yelling so they sounded more menacing.

Did you know that up until this battle, the Americans had never decisively beaten the British?  Once the word got out, Americans fought differently and the British were less confident.

The battle started at 3pm on October 7, 1780, catching the British by surprise as the Patriots had snuck up and surrounded them,  and lasted just over an hour.  It began with 900 Patriots and 1,000 Loyalists fighting alongside 100 Redcoats (so 900 to 1,100).  Sixty-five minutes later, the Loyalists had 280 dead, 163 wounded and 668 prisoners (I don’t know what happened to the other 11.  These are the facts I have.  Maybe they escaped? 😊)  The Patriots suffered much less with 28 dead and 60 wounded.

This National Park is free all the time.  They didn’t have anything particularly ‘Veteran’ related today, but they did have a Revolutionary-time gun demonstration,

and there was a campfire event planned for tonight that we didn’t attend.  We watched a 30 minute movie which was soooo informative and well done (turns out it was made by The History Channel), walked around the museum (which was laid out wonderfully with giant ‘trees’ you walked around and some of the information was in the ‘hollowed out trees’, and we did the 1.5 mile history walk.

I took lots of pictures – because it’s easier than trying to remember it all – and included them here for you to read . . . or skim . . . or ignore.  😊  There are sign pics, but also some ‘real’ ones mixed in.

And don’t give up here if you don’t like history, because there was a bit more to our day.  😊

Let’s take a tour of the museum first!

The two key players/leaders in the Kings Mountain War were:

and

 

Major Ferguson had been injured at some point previously and spent a good deal of time convalescing.  He used his time to invent a better gun – one you could shoot from any position, including prone, but the British never really used them.  Only 100-200 were made.

 

The next few pictures were from a drama-thing they had in the museum.  I liked the information “she” gave, and I was too lazy to type it up.  : )

 

Let’s take a walk outside . . . .

 

Some of the engravings aren’t very clear because of the sunlight.

 

Back to our walk and heading toward the next monument.

On to the Visitor Center . . .

 

 

Whew!  That was quite a walk, wasn’t it?

Don’t forget to go past the timeline if you want to see how we started our day. . . .

Here’s a timeline I found at ushistory.org which I found VERY interesting!  It won’t let me copy and paste as well as the original, so it’s pretty lengthy.  If you’re interested in looking at a better version, check out

ushistory.org/declaration/revwartimeline

 

Timeline of the Revolutionary War

1754-1763

The French and Indian War

1754

June 19-July 11: The Albany Congress

1763

Oct. 7: Proclamation of 1763

1764

April 5: The Sugar Act
September 1: The Currency Act

1765

March 22: The Stamp Act
March 24: The Quartering Act of 1765
May 29: Patrick Henry‘s “If this be treason, make the most of it!” speech
May 30: The Virginia Stamp Act Resolutions
Oct. 7-25: The Stamp Act Congress

1766

March 18: The Declaratory Act

1767

June 29: The Townshend Revenue Act

1768

August 1: Boston Non-Importation Agreement

1770

March 5: The Boston Massacre

1772

June 9: The Gaspee Affair

1773

May 10: The Tea Act Dec. 16: The Boston Tea Party

1774

March 31: Boston Port Act, one of the “Intolerable Acts”
May 20: Administration of Justice Act, one of the “Intolerable Acts”
May 20: Massachusetts Government Act, one of the “Intolerable Acts”
June 2: Quartering Act of 1774, one of the “Intolerable Acts”
June 22: Quebec Act, one of the “Intolerable Acts”
Sept. 5-Oct. 26: The First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia and issues Declaration and Resolves
Oct. 10: Battle of Point Pleasant, Virginia (disputed as to whether it was a battle of the American Revolution or the culmination of Lord Dunmore’s War)
Oct. 20: The Association (prohibition of trade with Great Britain)
Oct. 24: Galloway’s Plan rejected

1775

March 23: Patrick Henry‘s “Give me liberty or give me death” speech
Apr. 18: The Rides of Paul Revere and William Dawes
Apr. 19: Minutemen and redcoats clash at Lexington and Concord “The shot heard ’round the world.”
May 10: Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys seize Fort Ticonderoga
May 10: The Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
June 15: George Washington named Commander in Chief
June 17: Battle of Bunker Hill: The British drive the Americans from Breed’s Hill
July 3: Washington assumes command of the Continental Army
Nov. 10-21: Ninety Six, SC, Patriots sieged
Nov. 13: The patriots under Montgomery occupy Montreal in Canada
Dec. 11: Virginia and NC patriots rout Loyalist troops and burn Norfolk
Dec. 22: Col. Thomson with 1,500 rangers and militia capture Loyalists at Great Canebrake, SC
Dec. 23-30: Snow Campaign, in SC, so-called because patriots are impeded by 15″ of snow
Dec. 30-31: American forces under Benedict Arnold fail to seize Quebec

1776

Jan. 1: Daniel Morgan taken prisoner in attempt to take Quebec City
Jan. 15: Paine’s “Common Sense” published
Feb. 27: The patriots drive the Loyalists from Moore’s Creek Bridge, North Carolina
March 3: The Continental fleet captures New Providence Island in the Bahamas
March 17: The British evacuate Boston; British Navy moves to Halifax, Canada
June 8: Patriots fail to take Three Rivers, Quebec
June 12: The Virginia Declaration of Rights
June 28: Sullivan’s Island, SC, failed British naval attack
June 29: The First Virginia Constitution
June 28: Patriots decisively defeat the British Navy at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina
July 1: At the instigation of British agents, the Cherokee attack along the entire southern frontier
July 1-4: Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence. See Chronology of the Declaration
July 4: Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence; it’s sent to the printer
July 8: The Declaration of Independence is read publicly
July 15: Lyndley’s Fort, SC, Patriots fend off attack by Indians and Tories dressed as Indians
Aug. 1: Ambushed by Cherokees, Patriots are saved by a mounted charge at Seneca, SC
Aug. 2: Delegates begin to sign The Declaration of Independence
Aug. 10: Tugaloo River, SC, Andrew Pickens defeats Cherokees
Aug. 12: Andrew Pickens’ detachment surrounded by 185 Cherokee Indians, forms a ring and fires outward. It is known as the “Ring Fight.”
Aug. 12: Col. Williamson and Andrew Pickens defeat Cherokee Indians and burn Tamassy, an Indian town
Aug. 27: Redcoats defeat George Washington’s army in the Battle of Long Island. Washington’s army escapes at night.
Sept. 15: The British occupy New York City
Sept. 16: Generals George Washington, Nathanael Greene, and Israel Putnam triumphantly hold their ground at the Battle of Harlem Heights
Sept. 19: Col. Williamson’s patriots attacked by Cherokees at Coweecho River, NC
Oct. 11: Benedict Arnold defeated at the Battle of Valcour Island (Lake Champlain), but delayed British advance
Oct. 28: The Americans retreat from White Plains, New York. British casualties (~300) higher than American (~200).
Nov. 16: The Hessians capture Fort Washington, NY
Nov. 20: Lord Cornwallis captures Fort Lee from Nathanael Greene
Dec. 26: Washington crosses the Delaware and captures Trenton from Hessians

1777

Jan. 3: Washington victorious at Princeton
Jan. 6-May 28: Washington winters in Morristown, NJ
Apr. 27: Benedict Arnold‘s troops force a British retreat at Ridgefield, Connecticut.
May 20: Treaty of DeWitt’s Corner, SC: Cherokees lose most of their land east of the mountains
June 14: Flag Resolution
July 5: St. Clair surrenders Fort Ticonderoga to the British
July 27: Lafayette arrives in Philadelphia
Aug. 6: The Redcoats, with Iroquois support, force the patriots back at Oriskany, NY, but then have to evacuate
Aug. 16: American Militia under General Stark victorious at the Battle of Bennington, VT (actually fought in Walloomsac, New York, several miles to the west)
Aug. 23: British withdraw from Fort Stanwix, NY, upon hearing of Benedict Arnold’s approach
Aug. 25: British General Howe lands at Head of Elk, Maryland
Sept. 11: The British win the Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania
Sept. 16: Rain-out at the Battle of the Clouds, Pennsylvania
Sept. 19: Burgoyne checked by Americans under Gates at Freeman’s Farm, NY. This is part of the “Battles of Saratoga.”
Sept. 21: Paoli Massacre, PA
Sept. 26: British under Howe occupy Philadelphia
Oct. 4: Americans driven off at the Battle of Germantown
Oct. 7: Burgoyne loses second battle of Freeman’s Farm, NY (at Bemis Heights). This is part of the “Battles of Saratoga.”
Oct. 17: Burgoyne surrenders to American General Gates at Saratoga, NY
Oct. 22: Hessian attack on Fort Mercer, NJ repulsed
Nov. 16: British capture Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania
Dec. 5-7: Americans repulse British at Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania
Dec. 19: Washington’s army retires to winter quarters at Valley Forge

1778

Feb. 6: The United States and France sign the French Alliance
March 7: British General William Howe replaced by Henry Clinton
May 20: Battle of Barren Hill, Pennsylvania. Lafayette with 500 men and about 50 Oneida Indians successfully evade British onslaught
June 18: British abandon Philadelphia and return to New York
June 19: Washington’s army leaves Valley Forge
June 28: The Battle of Monmouth Court House ends in a draw
July 4: George Rogers Clark captures Kaskaskia, a French village south of St. Louis
Aug. 8: French and American forces besiege Newport, RI
Dec. 29: The redcoats occupy Savannah

1779

Feb. 3: Maj. Gen. Moultrie defeats British detachment at Port Royal Island, SC
Feb. 14: Patriots Andrew Pickens and Elijah Clarke beat Loyalists at Kettle Creek, GA
Feb. 23-24: American George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes (in what is now Indiana) on the Wabash in the Western campaign
March 3: British Lt. Col. Jacques Marcus Prevost defeats Americans under Gen. John Ashe at Brier Creek, GA
May 11-13: Maj. General Augustin Prévost (brother of Jacques, see above) breaks his siege when American forces under Maj. Gen. Lincoln approaches
June 20: Stono River, SC, Maj. Gen. Lincoln inflicts extensive British casualties in indecisive battle
June 21: Spain declares war on Great Britain July 8: Fairfield, CT, burned by British July 11: Norwalk, CT, burned by British July 15-16: American “Mad” Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, NY
Aug. 19: “Light Horse” Harry Lee attacks Paulus Hook, NJ
Aug. 29: Newtown, NY, after two massacres, American forces burn Indian villages
Sept. 23: John Paul Jones, aboard the Bonhomme Richard, captures British man-of-war Serapis near English coast Sept. 28: The Tappan Massacre (“No Flint” Grey kills 30 Americans by bayonet)
Oct. 9American attempt to recapture Savannah, GA fails
Nov.-June 23, 1780Washington’s 2nd winter at Morristown, NJ (the harshest winter of the 18th century)

1780

May 12: British capture Charleston, SC
May 29: British crush Americans at Waxhaw Creek, SC
June 20: Patriots rout Tories at Ramseur’s Mill, NC
July 11: French troops arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American cause
Aug. 6: Patriots defeat Tories at Hanging Rock, SC
Aug. 16: British rout Americans at Camden, SC
Sept. 23: John André arrested, leading to the exposure of Benedict Arnold’s plans to cede West Point to the British
Oct. 7: King’s Mountain, SC: battle lasts 65 minutes. American troops led by Isaac Shelby and John Sevier defeat Maj. Patrick Ferguson and one-third of General Cornwallis’s army
Oct. 14: Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army

1781

Jan. 1: Mutiny of unpaid Pennsylvania soldiers
Jan. 17: Patriot Morgan overwhelmingly defeats British Col. Tarleton at Cowpens, SC
Feb. 1: The Battle of Cowan’s Ford, Huntersville, NC
March 2: Articles of Confederation adopted
March 15: British win costly victory at Guilford Courthouse, NC
April 25: Greene defeated at Hobkirk’s Hill, SC
May 15: British Major Andrew Maxwell cedes Fort Granby, SC to patriot Lieutenant Colonel Henry Lee
June 6: Americans recapture Augusta, GA
June 18: British hold off Americans at Ninety Six, SC
July 6: “Mad” Anthony Wayne repulsed at Green Springs Farm, VA
Sept. 8: Greene defeated at Eutaw Springs, SC
Sept. 15: French fleet drives British naval force from Chesapeake Bay
Oct. 19: Cornwallis surrounded on land and sea by Americans and French and surrenders at Yorktown, VA

1782

March 20: Lord North resigns as British prime minister
July 11: British evacuate Savannah, GA
Nov. 30: British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
Dec. 14: British leave Charleston, SC

1783

April 19: Congress ratifies preliminary peace treaty
Sept. 3: The United States and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Paris
Nov. 25: British troops leave New York City
Dec. 23: Washington resigns as Commander

1787

Sept. 17: U.S. Constitution signed

1788

June 21: U.S. Constitution adopted, when New Hampshire ratifies it

 

 

 

We started our day at the Heritage Farm here on the State Park grounds.  That was interesting as well, even though we’ve seen a number of them over the years.  Today they had an ‘event’.  There were some people there to answer questions in period garb and a couple of artists selling their wares – a lady with ‘knitted/woven’ things like gloves, scarves and potholders, a man working a forge and the things he was selling, and someone with leather products and wood carvings.

 

But the best part was when we walked into a house and a little girl offered us invisible pie to sample.  We struck up a conversation with her about the kind we were eating, then she showed us how she mixed it up, took us to the pantry to get canned fruit to bake another one (apple and peach mixed together – – doesn’t that sound yummy??).  I asked her if she put in cinnamon and sugar, and she dumped it in saying, “I forgot the cinnamon last time.”  And then proceeded to tell me she had to wash the cinnamon powder off her face and we went to the pitcher and bowl where she explained how that was done.  She never missed a beat, no matter what we threw at her in our conversation.  Sooo adorable!  As we were leaving, Blaine heard her grandma say, “We need to get you some clothes (she wasn’t wearing period costume).”, and she replied, “Mom said when I behave.”  Needless to say, we left with giant smiles on our faces!  (and bellies full of scrumptious pie!)

 

It was a wonderful, albeit a cold day!  It was only 41 degrees when we set out about 10:30am, and only 47 by the time we got home at 3:30.  Bright sun and being bundled up helped!  It was really quite nice – once we got used to it.  😊

 

I’m really missing the November Birthday Party! ☹

I miss everything about it!  The planning, the monumental food prep, the fellowship, the opportunity to show my family – ALL my family (except those out of state) – how much I love them. . .