Happy Washington’s Birthday!

On By Mark MaloyIn Uncategorized3 Comments

Today we celebrate George Washington’s Birthday.  You read that correctly.  While most people refer to this Monday holiday as ‘Presidents Day’, the federal holiday (and many state holidays) only celebrates one President of the United States: George Washington.

Washington’s birthday celebrations go back to the time when Washington was living.  Washington was born on February 11, 1731, but with the changing from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, it was shifted to February 22, 1732 in 1752.  (Check out a video of us visiting the site of Washington’s birth!) While there are no records of how he and his family celebrated the day privately, the first real public celebration of his birthday occurred at Valley Forge in 1778.  A fife and drum corps serenaded the commanding general outside his headquarters building at the Potts House during that dreadful winter.  Historically, the colonists had celebrated annually the birthday of the King, so it was symbolic for the Continentals to celebrate Washington’s birthday instead during the war.

After becoming President of the United States, large public celebrations of Washington’s birthday occurred across the country including large ones in Philadelphia and New York.  These celebrations included the ringing of church bells, feasts, toasts, artillery firings, and fireworks.

Continue reading “Happy Washington’s Birthday!” →

Rev War Revelry: The Tory War of 1781 with Historian and Author Patrick O’Kelley

On By Rob OrrisonIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Join ERW at 7pm on February 18, 2024 as we chat with historian and author Patrick O’Kelley about the brutal civil war that broke out in North Carolina in 1781. Whigs (commonly known as Patriots, supporting American Independence) and Tories (supporting loyalty to Great Britain) fought a brutal and bloody war against each other in eastern/central North Carolina called “The Tory War.” Maj. Gen. Nathanael Green, wrote that the war in the Carolinas ‘Nothing but blood and slaughter has prevailed among the Whigs and Tories, and their inveteracy against each other must, if it continues, depopulate this part of the country.’

Patrick O’Kelley has authored numerous books on the American Revolution, including his four volume all encompassing series on South Carolina in the American Revolution titled “Nothing But Blood and Slaughter: The Revolutionary War in the Carolinas” and ““Be Cool and Do Mischief: Francis Marion’s Orderly Book.” His extensive research on the war in the South is a go too for many interested in the events in the Carolinas. Grab a drink and join us live on our Facebook page to discuss this often overlooked brutal part of the American Revolution. We will also discuss other topics that Patrick is researching and working on. See everyone this Sunday at 7pm!

On This Date in 1778: A Treaty with France

On By erwpostIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

On this date in 1778, the fledgling American states officially found their great ally in France. The signings of the Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce gave new life to the cause of independence from Britain as Louis XVI pledged his support to the Americans.

An economic and military alliance with Britain’s age-old adversary had been long in the making.  Early in the conflict, the French were hesitant to openly support the rebellion, instead opting to provide covert aid in the form of ammunition, weapons, and clothing. Following the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Silas Deane of Connecticut, and Arthur Lee of Virginia, were dispatched overseas to Versailles to engage in diplomatic talks with the French foreign minister, Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes. The success of these discussions would hinge on the battlefield performances of the American armies.

The following year was full of ups and downs for the Northern Army and Main Army. Although George Washington, commanding the latter force, had lost yet another major city when Philadelphia fell to the British in September 1777, his earlier victories at Trenton and Princeton had already impressed those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, in October, an audacious offensive by Washington against the British at Germantown, though ultimately a defeat, demonstrated promise to the French that the Americans could sustain the conflict. In the end, however, it was the Northern Army’s victory over General John Burgoyne at Saratoga and the subsequent surrender of over 6,000 British and German soldiers on October 17 that secured the alliance.

The Signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and of Alliance between France and the United States. Photograph of a painting by Charles E. Mills. c[between 1900 and 1920], Library of Congress

When news arrived of the American triumph at Saratoga, Vergennes worked feverishly to persuade King Louis XVI that the time had come to openly support the fight against Britain. On February 6, 1778, the Treaties of Alliance and of Amity and Commerce were officially signed. At its conclusion, Deane and Franklin hastily penned a letter to President Henry Laurens of the Continental Congress to inform the governing body of the world-changing news:

Passy, near Paris, Feby. 8th. 1778.

Honourable Sir,                    

We have now the great Satisfaction of acquainting you and the Congress, that the Treaties with France are at length compleated and signed. The first is a Treaty of Amity and Commerce, much on the Plan of that projected in Congress; the other is a Treaty of Alliance, in which it is stipulated that in Case England declares War against France, or occasions War by attempts to hinder her Commerce with us, we should then make common Cause of it, and join our Forces and Councils, &c. &c. The great Aim of this Treaty is declared to be, to “establish the Liberty, Sovereignty, and Independency absolute and unlimited of the United States as well in Matters of Government as Commerce.” And this is guaranteed to us by France together with all the Countries we possess, or shall possess at the Conclusion of the War; In return for which the States guarantee to France all its Possessions in America. We do not now add more particulars, as you will soon have the whole by a safer Conveyance; a Frigate being appointed to carry our Dispatches. We only observe to you and with Pleasure; that we have found throughout this Business the greatest Cordiality in this Court; and that no Advantage has been taken or attempted to be taken of our present Difficulties, to obtain hard Terms from us; but such has been the King’s Magnanimity and Goodness, that he has proposed none which we might not readily have agreed to in a State of full Prosperity and established Power. The Principle laid down as the Basis of the Treaty being as declared in the Preamble “the most perfect Equality and Reciprocity,” the Privileges in Trade &c. are mutual and none are given to France, but what we are at Liberty to grant to any other Nation. On the whole we have abundant Reason to be satisfied with the Good Will of this Court and the Nation in general, which we therefore hope will be cultivated by the Congress, by every means that may establish the Union, and render it permanent. Spain being slow, there is a separate and secret Clause by which she is to be received into the Alliance upon Requisition; and there is no doubt of the Event. When we mention the Good Will of this Nation to our Cause we may add that of all Europe, which having been offended by the Pride and Insolence of Britain, wishes to see its Power diminished. And all who have received Injuries from her are by one of the Articles to be invited into our Alliance. With our hearty Congratulations, and our Duty to the Congress, we have the honour to be, very respectfully, Sir Your most obedient humble Servants

B Franklin

Silas Deane[1]

When news of the treaties finally reached the American army encamped at Valley Forge, Gen. Washington designated May 6, 1778 as a day for “rejoicing throughout the whole Army.”

[1] “Franklin and Silas Deane to the President of Congress, 8 February 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-25-02-0487. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 25, October 1, 1777, through February 28, 1778, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1986, pp. 634–635.]

Transcribe Revolutionary War Veteran Pensions

On By Kevin PawlakIn National Park ServiceLeave a comment

The National Archives and the National Park Service recently announced a collaborative project that allows members of the public to transcribe Revolutionary War Pension Files. This initiative has been launched in celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of America’s independence.

During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress offered pensions to American soldiers for their service. Later, they extended the pensions to the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers. Each pension file contains a wealth of information about the common Continental or militia soldier who fought for American independence.

As you might expect, the public transcription project is a large undertaking. The National Archives reports that they have 2,322,134 objects digitally scanned and ready for transcription.

If you want to help keep the story of a Revolutionary War Patriot alive and accessible, consider joining the National Archives’ Citizen Archivist program to get started today. For more information and to sign up, visit https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist/missions/revolutionary-war-pension-files.

Rev War Revelry: “Their Immortal Honour Made a Brave Defense” Maryland Continental Line

On By erwpostIn Battles, Common Soldier, Emerging Revolutionary War, Memory, Revolutionary War, Uncategorized2 Comments

“Given the order to defend the American withdrawal from Long Island, the Maryland Line saved the Continental Army from annihilation in the first major battle of the war.” wrote historian Ryan Polk.

Tench Tilghman, staff officer to George Washington and a native Marylander wrote about his fellow soldiers, “bore the palm…by behaving with as much Regularity as possible.”

Furthermore, if you Google “Battle of Guilford Court House” the image used by Wikipedia depicts an artist’s rendition of the 1st Maryland defending Nathanael Greene’s last line during the March 1781 engagement. The particular image is below.

The Continental Maryland Line was one of the preeminent stalwarts of the American army, both in the northern and southern theaters of the war. Join Emerging Revolutionary War historians in a discussion about the men from the Old Line State and their military acumen during the American Revolutionary War. The discussion will also highlight their memory and memorialization. We hope you can join us Sunday at 7 p.m. EST on the Facebook page of Emerging Revolutionary War.

“Rev War Revelry” Battle of Bunker Hill and Memory with Dr. Paul Lockhart

On By Phill GreenwaltIn British Leadership, Emerging Revolutionary War, Memory, Militia (Patriot) Leadership, Northern Theater, Revolutionary War1 Comment

The Battle of Bunker Hill is routinely mentioned in the pantheon of memorable American military victories. Although myths of the engagement have obscured some of the history, much like the smoke of battle, the patriot victory on June 17, 1775, was another pivotal moment in the early stages of what became the American Revolutionary War.

To discuss the engagement, ramifications, and interpretation of the battle, Emerging Revolutionary War welcomes historian Dr. Paul Douglas Lockhart, Professor of History at Wright State and author of “The Whites of Their Eyes, Bunker Hill, the First American Army, and the Emergence of George Washington.” A full biography of Dr. Lockhart, including his other works, is at the bottom of this post.

As a teaser, this may be the first time in “Rev War Revelry” history that we mention Artemas Ward, who according to Dr. Lockhart is the “unsung hero of the battle (and indeed of 1775).” Come hear why! And full disclosure, I agree.

We hope you can join us on Sunday, January 21 at 7 p.m. EDT on Emerging Revolutionary War’s Facebook page for the next installment of the popular “Rev War Revelry.” Be ready to ask questions as you sip your favorite beverage during this historian happy hour.

Biography of Dr. Lockhart

“Paul Douglas Lockhart is Professor of History at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, where he has taught since earning his PhD in 1989. A native of Poughkeepsie, New York, Lockhart completed the PhD at Purdue University, where he studied military history with the late Gunther Rothenberg, the renowned Napoleonic scholar, and early modern European history with Charles Ingrao. He has seven single-author books to his credit. Four of them deal with the history of Scandinavia during the “Age of Greatness,” including Denmark, 1513-1660: The Rise and Decline of a Renaissance Monarchy, published by Oxford University Press in 2007. He is probably better known for his books on military history: The Drillmaster of Valley Forge: The Baron de Steuben and the Making of the American Army (2008), The Whites of Their Eyes: Bunker Hill, The First American Army, and the Emergence of George Washington (2011), and most recently his study of the parallel evolution of warfare and firearms: Firepower: How Weapons Shaped Warfare (2021). Wright State has awarded him the Brage Golding Distinguished Professorship and the Trustees’ Award for Faculty Excellence, the University’s highest academic honor. The Ohio Academy of History named him Distinguished Historian for 2020-21, and in 2021 he was elected to membership in The Royal Society for Danish History for his contributions to the history of Denmark, an honor rarely accorded to foreigners. He lives in Centerville, Ohio, with his family.”

Share your history with Emerging Revolutionary War!

On By erwpostIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Emerging Revolutionary War is open to submissions from our readership. Guest submissions can also lead to membership. Articles of varied length and photo essays are welcome. Please be advised that we do not pay for any article submissions. Emerging Revolutionary War is 100% non-profit. We do offer to promote you and your work to the best of our ability, while offering an outlet to explore new ideas and improve as a writer/historian.

We are looking to establish long-term relationships with writers who conduct excellent research and provide a fresh look at an old subject. Any articles that the author submits should offer a new interpretation of or newly discovered information on significant events.

Guest submissions are subjected to a blind peer review process. Members of our editorial board, whose identities are kept anonymous, read and comment on posts. However, they do not necessarily offer a simple up-or-down judgment. In keeping with our mission to provide a platform for emerging voices, our board sees its role as a developmental entity. The board’s general approach is to try and find a way their way to “yes.” This often involves several rounds of revisions based on feedback provided by the board. While there is no guarantee of publication, if an author is willing to put in the time and make a good-faith effort at incorporating feedback, the board is willing to continue helping authors develop pieces.

Word count should be in the 800-1500 range for consideration. Please submit guest posts as Word Document attachments by email to emergingrevolutionarywar@gmail.com with “Guest Post Submission” in the subject line.

Authors will receive an e-mail acknowledgment when their submission has been received. The review process may take up to two/three weeks. Once the process is complete, an editor will contact the author to report the outcome. Just because you submit an article does not mean we will post the article. If your writing is accepted for publication, you will be asked to sign a form stating that the article is your own work and allowing Emerging Revolutionary War to retain first digital rights.

To be considered for authorship, please keep in mind the following guidelines:

  • Any and all topics on the broadly-defined Revolutionary War era are welcomed (French and Indian War, colonial era, American Revolution, War of 1812).
  • If submitting a proposal, be specific about what your article will focus on. Include an outline of the story idea and a professional biography.
  • Any first-time article should be no more than 1,500 words.
  • All works must contain footnotes or endnotes in either Chicago or MLA format or a section citing works referenced.
  • All work must be original by the submitting author.
  • Articles should not be of a general nature but should be written to be enjoyed by a general audience.
  • Articles should have strong leads. The first few paragraphs must capture readers, hold on to them, and then propel them into a story.
  • Article submissions must contain an author’s brief professional biography.
  • Submissions are subject to modification and editorial board review, with the editors having final approval.
  • Previously published work may be considered as long as the author owns the copyright. Previously published submissions must be identified as such at the time of submission.
  • We request authors send at least one image for use in the article, whether taken themselves, within public domain, or from elsewhere with clear publication permission. Any photos or photo essays should set the scene, showing specific items of interest as they relate to your narrative. They must come with captions and photo credits.
  • Please submit all articles in a titled Word or Google Docs document (not PDF). Be sure to put the author’s name at the beginning of the piece.

If you have a passion and love for early American history and an interest in research and writing, we love the opportunity for ERW to help you share that passion!

Book Review: “A Republic of Scoundrels” edited by David Head & Timothy C. Hemmis

On By Phill GreenwaltIn Book Review, Emerging Revolutionary War, Memory, Uncategorized1 Comment

In an age where the names of Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington are household, the names of Wilkinson, Kemper, and Bowles seem to be consigned to the fringes of histories of the early American republic. With the formation of the fledgling United States of America, both the honorable and not-so-honorable helped shape the direction of expansion, and diplomacy, and reinforce societal values of the 18th and early 19th centuries. This collection of essays is akin to watching a true crime television documentary.

With a collection of essays, editors David Head and Timothy C. Hemmis, historians, and biographers provide snippets into the lives of these scoundrels of the early Republic. A few of the names are well known, including Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr, a few will conjure up memories from the fringes of other histories, such as James Wilkinson, whereas others have escaped the main avenues of historical exploration. Throughout the various essays, “this collection seeks to reexamine the Founding generation” to “replace the hagiography of the Founding Fathers with something more realistic” (pg. xx).

First, an examination of the word “scoundrel” is needed. According to usage at the time and the 1755 dictionary of Samuel Johnson’s authoring, that word meant “a mean rascal; a low petty villain” (pg. xiii). Through 12 individuals, the various authors explain how each earned the moniker “scoundrel” and how that affected the development of the United States. Especially interesting was the role of various individuals in Western expansion and the domino effect on international diplomacy. Individuals such as Aaron Burr and James Wilkinson are better known but Philip Nolan and Thomas Green are not so much.

Others, such as Benedict Arnold and Charles Lee get a fresh look from two great Revolutionary-era historians, James Kirby Martin and Mark Edward Lender. Included in those discussed, William Augustus Bowles and Diego de Gardeoqui show how international actors played prominent roles in providing heartburn to the national government. One theme, the west and south of the original thirteen states provided the arena for scheming, opportunity, and risk.

In conclusion, the editors examine three main reasons a study like this is important, that the “unintended result of the American Revolution” was “many men decided they had their own ideas about what was important” (pg. 266). Secondly, the “vital importance of the American West as a zone of territorial expansion, economic opportunity, and foreign intrigue” and lastly simply “early America was…a time and place for scoundrels…” (pgs. 267-268).

Overall this essay-comprised book is a fun, fresh read that looks at those scoundrels that sought an opportunity to change the landscape of the early American republic and potentially change the course of United States history. Who does not like to read about plots, scheming, and resultant escapades?  

Publisher: Pegasus Books, December 2023

368 pages, including images

“Rev War Revelry” American Triumph with Tom Hand

On By erwpostIn Continental Leadership, Emerging Revolutionary War, Memory, Personalities, Revolutionary WarLeave a comment

Welcome to the first “Rev War Revelry” of 2024! To kick off the new year, Emerging Revolutionary War is joined by Tom Hand, author, historian, and founder of Americana Corner. However, in the later stages of 20234, Tom added published book author to his lengthy list of accomplishments. His book, American Triumph is now available via his website.

The book, “masterly blends the personal experiences and historic milestones” of three luminaries of the early Republic, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and John Adams. The book, with a plethora of graphics, sidebars, and informational tidbits aims to provide a “captivating collection of stories” for the “everyday American.”

We look forward to a lively and friendly discussion with Tom. Hope you can tune in, to Emerging Revolutionary War’s Facebook page at 7 p.m. EDT this Sunday, January 7th.

History along the Appalachian Mid Atlantic Frontier

On By Bert DunkerlyIn Emerging Revolutionary War2 Comments

Located in rural south-central Pennsylvania, the Conococheague Institute is preserving regional history of the colonial and early national periods. Their website describes themselves as a “hands on regional learning center.” The historic site features year-round special events such as weapons demonstrations, brewing, spinning, cooking, sewing, medicine and more.  

Continue reading “History along the Appalachian Mid Atlantic Frontier” →