What Were They Thinking? (part 6)

In Part 5, we looked at how General George Washington informed his troops about what they'd be hearing from the Continental Congress, in July 1776. It's a fine public statement: very matter-of-fact, and straightforward.

But what were his thoughts about the events leading up to the Revolution? Here are excerpts from several letters he wrote in 1774.

The [British] ministry may relay on it that Americans will never be taxed without their own consent; that the cause of Boston--the despotic measure in respect to it, I mean--now is and ever will be considered the cause of America...*

He replied to a correspondent who argued that "a humble and dutiful petition to the throne" would produce the desired results from the King:

Have we not tried this already? Have we not addressed the Lords and remonstrated to the Commons? And to what end? Did they deign to look at our petitions? Does it not appear, as clear as the sun in its meridian brightness, that there is a regular, systematic plan formed to fix the right and practice of taxation upon us? ... Ought we not, then, to put our virtue and fortitude to the severest test?**

He later told the same correspondent:

...the Parliament of Great Britain have no more right to put their hands into my pocket, without my consent, than I have to put my hands into yours for money ... As ... I observe that [the British] government is pursuing a regular plan at the expense of law and justice to overthrow our constitutional rights and liberties, how can I expect any redress from a measure which has been ineffectually tried already? ... Shall we, after this, whine and cry for relief when have already tried it in vain? ...
I am convinced, as much as I am of my existence, that there is no relief but in their [the British government's] distress; and I think, at least I hope, that there is public virtue enough left among us to deny ourselves everything but the bare necessaries of life to accomplish this end. This we have a right to do, and no power upon earth can compel us to do otherwise till they have first reduced us to the most abject state of slavery that ever was designed for mankind.***

And finally, in a letter to an old friend who had served under him in the French and Indian War:

It is not the wish or interest of that [Massachusetts] government or any other upon this continent, separately or collectively, to set up for independence. But this you may at the same time rely on, that none of them will ever submit to the loss of those valuable rights and privileges which are essential to the happiness of every free state, and without which life, liberty, and property are rendered totally insecure.
These, sir, being [the] certain consequences which must naturally result from the late acts of Parliament relative to America in general,and the government of Massachusetts Bay in particular, is to be wondered at ... that men who wish to avert the impending blow should attempt to oppose it in its progress, or prepare for their defense if it cannot be diverted?****

Most of the founders (excluding a few firebrands) were of the same mind; it's pretty clear that, while hoping desperately that a war could be avoided, Washington clearly saw no realistic alternatives by 1774.


*Ltr to George William Fairfax, 6/10/1774
**Ltr to Bryan Fairfax, 7/4/1774
***Ltr to Bryan Fairfax, 7/20/1774
****Ltr to Capt. Robert Mackenzie, 10/9/1774


Previous posts:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Great Moments in American History

I give you Sgt. Elijah Churchill:

The logo for Elijah Churchill's Public House is the original

"Badge of Military Merit",

also known as;

the Purple Heart of the American Revolution

On August 7, 1782, General George Washington issued the following general order:

"The General, ever desirous to cherish a virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings, over his left breast,.the figure of a heart in purple cloth, edged with a narrow lace or binding. Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with due reward.

"Before this favor can be conferred on any man, the particular fact, or facts, on which it is grounded must be set forth to the Commander-in-chief accompanied with certificates from the commanding officers of the regiment and brigade to which the candidate for reward belonged, or other incontestable proof, and upon granting it,.the name of the regiment of the person with the action so certified are to be enrolled in the book of merit which will be kept at the orderly office.

"Men who have merited this last distinction to be suffered to pass all guards and sentinels which officers are permitted to do. The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus opened to all -- this order is also to have retrospect to the earliest stages of the war."

As far as is known only three men were ever awarded this Badge of Military Merit. They were Sergeant Elijah Churchill of Enfield, CT, a member of the 2nd Continental Dragoons, Sergeant Daniel Brown of Stamford, CT a member of the 5th Connecticut Regiment Continental Line, and Sergeant Daniel Bissell of East Windsor, CT, a member of the 2nd Connecticut Regiment Continental Line.

The first Badge of Military Merit ("a heart of purple cloth with a narrow lace or binding") was awarded to 26 year old Sergeant Elijah Churchill of Enfield, Connecticut, a member of the Fourth Troop of the Second Continental Dragoons. They were led by Major Benjamin Tallmadge of Brookhaven, Long Island, a 1773 graduate of Yale College.

On the afternoon of November 21st, 1780, Sergeant Churchill accompanied Major Tallmadge with a party of 50 - 80 dismounted dragoons in a raid against a supply depot on Long Island. After crossing Long Island Sound at night in eight whaleboats they landed on a deserted shore but were held up by a storm. They marched to Fort St. George at Mastic, at dawn on the 23rd.

The fort was a triangular enclosure which held several acres. At two angles were fortified houses and at the third, a strong redoubt, 96 feet square with bastions, a deep moat, and an abatis. The fort was connected to the houses by 12-foot high stockades. Sergeant Churchill was in charge of one of the three attacking parties. At dawn the invaders rammed their way through the stockade. Shouting "Washington and Glory," they ran across the parade ground and stormed the redoubt from 3 sides. The fort was quickly taken, 300 prisoners were captured, and the fort was destroyed. Several heavily laden vessels at the wharf were burned and over three hundred tons of hay were burned at a depot in nearby Coram.

On October 2nd 1781 Churchill took part in a second raid, crossing the sound from Compo Point in Westport with a force of 100 men from his 2nd Continental Dragoons and from the 5th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. Their objective was the British outpost at Fort Slongo, near present day Northport. Fort Slongo was an embankment forming a hollow 50-foot square, constructed of trees set perpendicularly and filled with earth. It was a notorious rendezvous for Tories and Loyalists, with a usual compliment of 80 - 140 men who frequently raided neighboring farms, seizing stores of produce and cattle. The successful attack resulted in the destruction of a quantity of artillery, small arms and ammunition. Sergeant Churchill was the only one wounded in the raid which captured 21 prisoners.

The order conferring the Badge of Military Merit to Sergeant Churchill reads in part:

General Washington Esquire

General and Commander in Chief of the Forces

of the United States of America, etc., etc.

That Sergeant Elijah Churchill of the 2nd Regiment of Light Dragoons, in the several enterprises against Fort St. George and Fort Slongo on Long Island, acted in a very conspicuous and singularly meritorious part; that at the head of each body of attack he not only acquitted himself with great gallantry, firmness, and address; but that the surprise in one instance, and the success of the attack in the other, proceeded in a considerable degree from his conduct and management;..."

"Now therefore Know Ye, that the aforesaid Sergeant Elijah Churchill, hath fully and truly deserved, and has been properly invested with the Honorary Badge of Military Merit, and is authorized to pass and repass all guards and military posts as fully and amply as any Commissioned Officer whatever; and is hereby recommended to that favorable notice which a Brave and Faithful Soldier deserves from his countrymen.

The Fourth of July

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown , Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

Remember: freedom is never free! I hope you will show your support by telling or forwarding this to as many people as you can, please.

It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics, and baseball games.

h/t Diana H.