Monthly Archives: July 2017

Rachel Fletcher confirms the Betsy Ross Flag story

Rachel Fletcher confirms the Betsy Ross Flag story

 

On this day in history, July 31, 1871, Rachel Fletcher confirms the Betsy Ross Flag story. Rachel was the third daughter of Betsy Ross. Her affidavit is important to the question of whether or not Betsy Ross actually created the first American flag, an idea that some historians doubt.

 

Today, most Americans are taught that Betsy Ross created the first American flag. This was not the case, however, until after the 1870s. The Betsy Ross flag story was first told publicly by her grandson, William Canby, in a speech to the Historical Society of Philadelphia. Canby, who was only 11 years old when his grandmother died, told that he heard his grandmother say from her own mouth that she had created the first flag, along with other details of the event.

 

Canby told that a secret committee, consisting of George Ross, Robert Morris and George Washington, approached Betsy shortly before the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The men showed Betsy, a seamstress, a flag design and asked her if she could make it. Betsy said she would try and offered several suggestions to change their design, including the use of 5-pointed stars, instead of 6-pointed stars. George Washington then redrew the design himself, incorporating Betsy’s suggestions.

 

Betsy completed the flag and it was approved by Congress. Betsy then embarked on a lifelong career of flag making for the government. The Betsy Ross flag story was first told to a national audience in the July, 1873 issue of Harper’s New Monthly magazine. From there, it entered into American folklore.

 

The problem with Canby’s story is that there is absolutely no other evidence corroborating his story. Extensive searches have been made in the National Archives, the Pennsylvania Archives and Betsy’s own papers and no such evidence has been found. This makes the affidavit of Rachel Fletcher, signed on July 31, 1871, all the more important.

 

Rachel stated that she heard her mother tell the story of George Washington asking her to make the flag on numerous occasions. In addition to Rachel’s testimony, a niece and a granddaughter of Betsy’s signed written affidavits affirming the same.

 

There is circumstantial evidence indicating Betsy’s story may be true, such as the fact that she and George Washington sat next to one another at church, George Ross was her husband’s uncle and some paintings place the 13 star flag in battles that would corroborate her story.

 

Some historians claim that since the story cannot be proven with outside evidence, the story must not be true. A more accurate assessment would be that since the story cannot be proved with outside evidence, that it may not be true. On the other hand, it may be true, just unverifiable. We will most likely never know for certain if Betsy Ross created the first American flag, but one thing is for sure, she will remain a part of American folklore for many years to come.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

"It is a happy circumstance in human affairs that evils which are not cured in one way will cure themselves in some other." —Thomas Jefferson (1791)

George Clinton becomes 1st governor of New York

George Clinton becomes 1st governor of New York

 

On this day in history, July 30, 1777, George Clinton becomes 1st governor of New York. Clinton would be the longest serving governor in American history, including throughout the time period of the American Revolution and the adoption of the US Constitution. Clinton also served as a general in the Continental Army and became vice-president under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

 

George Clinton was born in 1739 to a father who was a member of the New York colonial assembly. He fought in the French and Indian War as a teenager and later studied law. In 1759, Clinton began a life in politics when he became the County Clerk for Ulster County, New York. He served in this position for the next 52 years! Clinton began serving as a representative from Ulster County in the Provincial Assembly in 1768 and continued in this position until New York declared its independence in 1776.

 

When the American Revolution began, Clinton was squarely on the side of the patriots. He became a brigadier general in the Continental Army in 1777, but shortly afterwards was elected governor of the fledgling New York government. Clinton took office on July 30, 1777 and would be re-elected 5 times until 1792. He would serve again as governor from 1801-1804, making him the longest serving governor in American history.

 

In his role as governor of New York, Clinton played a central role in many aspects of the Revolution, from the detaining of Loyalists and confiscating their property, to negotiating the British evacuation of New York with George Washington and British General, Sir Guy Carleton.

 

Clinton was a strong opponent of the US Constitution at first, believing it did not adequately protect individual rights. He withdrew his opposition, however, when Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights to the document. When George Washington took office as the first president, Clinton welcomed him to the city of New York (then the capital), accompanied Washington to his inauguration and later put on the first inaugural celebration.

 

Clinton was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1800. He was then re-elected governor in 1801, but stepped down when he was chosen to replace the disgraced Aaron Burr as Thomas Jefferson’s running mate in 1804. Clinton served through Jefferson’s second term and then was elected as vice-president again under James Madison, where he served until his death in 1812.

 

George Clinton is a little known Founding Father to modern Americans, but he played a pivotal role in shepherding one of the largest states through the American Revolution. Clinton was the first elected official to die in the White House and was one of only two people to serve as vice-president under two different presidents, the second being John C. Calhoun. Clinton died of a heart attack on April 20, 1812 and was buried in Washington DC. His body was reinterred in Kingston, New York in 1908.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

"It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution."
Thomas Jefferson (1781)

Loyalists win the Battle of the House in the Horseshoe

Loyalists win the Battle of the House in the Horseshoe

 

On this day in history, July 29, 1781, Loyalists win the Battle of the House in the Horseshoe, a battle that took place at the home of North Carolina militia colonel, Philip Alston. Alston and his men had just returned to Alston’s home after a failed mission to capture Loyalist militia commander Colonel David Fanning.

 

David Fanning was notorious for rallying Loyalists together and staging raids on patriot forces throughout North and South Carolina. In the summer of 1781, with British General Charles Cornwallis having taken his army north into Virginia from North Carolina, Fanning was left leading the Loyalists against the Revolution.

 

Colonel Alston lived in a large two-story house in a horseshoe bend of the Deep River near present day Sanford, North Carolina, hence the name, House in the Horseshoe. During the evening of July 28th, Alston’s men camped at his home, many of them sleeping on the large porch. Alston’s children and wife slept in the house and sentries watched in case Fanning tried to retaliate.

 

Colonel Fanning meanwhile, learned that two of his friends and supporters had been killed by Alston’s men. On the morning of the 29th, Fanning,  with a much larger force, approached the house and took two sleeping sentries hostage. Other sentries, however, noticed the approaching force and raised the alarm.

 

Alston’s militia quickly took up positions inside and outside the house and a battle began that lasted a few hours. Alston protected his children by making them stand inside the brick chimney on a small table. At one point, Fanning sent a slave with a torch to burn the house, but he was shot down by the defenders. Fanning was close to giving up the battle after suffering several casualties when his men came up with a plan to burn the house down by rolling a cart full of flaming hay into it.

 

As the cart was being prepared and the hay set alight, Alston realized that his group would not survive if the house was set on fire. He decided to surrender, but knew that if he stepped onto the porch he would instantly be shot. Alston’s wife volunteered to go out and negotiate the terms of surrender. She came out bearing a white flag and met with Colonel Fanning. All the defenders in the House in the Horseshoe were allowed to surrender peacefully and then paroled.

 

Alston was considered a war hero, but later his reputation was tarnished with a "murder" investigation which was later judged to be an act of war, and with his alleged role in the murder of a political opponent. Colonel Fanning left North Carolina after the war and ended up an exile in Canada where he built a shipping business. The House in the Horseshoe is still standing today and is the site of an annual reenactment of the Battle of the House in the Horseshoe.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

“Charity is no part of the Legislative Duty of the Government.”

James Madison

The Battle of Fort Freeland

The Battle of Fort Freeland

 

On this day in history, July 28, 1779, the Battle of Fort Freeland clears out the Wyoming Valley for a second time in two years. The Wyoming Valley is part of northeastern and north central Pennsylvania containing the Susquehanna River. At the time of the American Revolution, this was the frontier, containing the furthest western settlements of Pennsylvania.

 

In the summer of 1778, a joint Iroquois and British campaign terrorized the valley, culminating in the Wyoming Massacre of July 3. The area was targeted because of its rich farmland produce and to discourage settlers from joining the Revolution. After hundreds were killed at the Wyoming Massacre, most settlers fled as the Iroquois burned buildings and crops throughout the valley.

 

After some time passed, the settlers began to gradually return. Settler Jacob Freeland decided to fortify his home and mills with a fence for protection from future Indian raids. Fort Freeland, as it became known, sat on Warrior Run Creek in Northumberland County, four miles east of present day Watsontown.

 

In the spring of 1779, the Indian raids began again and several families moved into Fort Freeland. The vast majority of fighting age men, however, had gone off to fight in the Continental Army. On the evening of July 28th, a large force consisting of 300 Seneca under Chief Hiokatoo and 100 British soldiers arrived. Approximately 80 people were in the fort, mostly women, children and old men. Only about 20 were capable of using a gun. On the morning of July 29th, a battle began. The settlers fought valiantly until their ammunition ran out, the women even contributing by melting down all the pewter in the fort for musket balls.

 

Eventually the inhabitants had to surrender. Non-combatants were allowed to go peacefully, but those of fighting age were taken captive. Chief Hiokatoo, known for his bloodlust, killed all the wounded. Fort Freeland was plundered and the victors settled down along the creek to enjoy a meal.

 

Just then, Captain Hawkins Boone (possibly a cousin of Daniel Boone) arrived with 30 militiamen. Boone had set off to relieve Fort Freeland after hearing of the arrival of the Indians, but he was too late. Boone, upon realizing that a number of settlers had been killed, was furious and ordered his men to fire directly into the resting enemy troops. Several dozen were shot and killed. The Indians and British immediately fired back and Boone and half his company were killed, while the rest fled.

 

After the Battle of Fort Freeland, the Indians continued to terrorize the area and most of the remaining settlers left again, not to return until the end of the war. The Battle of Fort Freeland was a small engagement, but it was significant in one respect. The ultimate goal of the British and Indians was Fort Augusta in Sunbury to the south. The fort was lightly guarded, but it contained a large amount of supplies and food for the upcoming Sullivan Expedition, which George Washington organized to retaliate against the Iroquois campaign. For whatever reason, the Indians and British did not go much further south than Fort Freeland and called off an attack on Fort Augusta. Their losses at Fort Freeland may have been the reason, sparing the supplies for the Sullivan Expedition which devastated Iroquois territory permanently.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

"There must be a positive passion for the public good, the public interest, honour, power and glory, established in the minds of the people, or there can be no republican government, nor any real liberty: and this public passion must be superiour to all private passions." —John Adams (1776)

The Battle of Ushant

The Battle of Ushant

 

On this day in history, July 27, 1778, the Battle of Ushant pits a British fleet and a French fleet off the French coast during the American Revolution. 30 British ships and 29 French ships met 100 hundred miles west of Ushant, the northwestern most tip of France on the 23rd.

 

The French admiral, the Comte d’Orvilliers, had orders to avoid confrontation and was able to stay far enough off from the British fleet to prevent battle for several days. British admiral, Augustus Keppel, however, kept up the chase. After a storm and wind change on the morning of the 27th, Keppel was close enough to begin an attack.

 

A full scale battle began and lasted several hours. 133 British sailors were killed and over 700 were wounded. 161 French were killed with 513 wounded. Many of the ships were severely damaged and rendered not sailable.

 

After the main battle ended, Admiral d’Orvilliers regrouped. He ordered an attack on the British ships before they could regroup, but communication difficulties between the French ships delayed the action and d’Orvilliers chose to withdraw to a distance.

 

After regrouping, Admiral Keppel also ordered another attack. Read Admiral, Sir Hugh Palliser, however, failed to obey the orders. In the morning, Keppel found that the French fleet had withdrawn and the operation came to an end.

 

The Battle of Ushant caused upheaval in Britain and in France. In England, two courts-martial took place and Admiral Keppel was forced to resign. The Royal Navy endured harsh criticism for its failures in the attack. In France, the battle was turned into a spectacle when Louis Philippe II, the Duke of Chartres, tried to use the battle for his own glory. The Duke was the highest ranking member of the French aristocracy apart from the family of King Louis XVI and was in line for the French throne should the Bourbon family die out.

 

Philippe fought in the battle and was the first to arrive back in Paris with word of the battle. He mischaracterized the battle as a great French victory and received all the glory to himself. Later, when the truth became known, Philippe received great criticism to the point that mocking songs were written about his role in the affair and he was forced to resign from the navy.

 

The battle of July 27, 1778 is often called the First Battle of Ushant because another naval battle, also during the American Revolution, occurred in the same place in 1781. This was another battle between French and British fleets that is often called the Second Battle of Ushant. This time, the British won a decisive victory and captured numerous French ships and sailors.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

"Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice?"

George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

Ben Franklin becomes the first Postmaster General

Ben Franklin becomes the first Postmaster General

 

On this day in history, July 26, 1774, Ben Franklin becomes the first Postmaster General of the United States. As tensions with Great Britain came to the breaking point, British authorities began using the colonial postal service as a weapon by monitoring mail and even shutting down routes between certain cities.

 

William Goddard was a newspaper publisher whose sister, Mary Katherine, later was the first person to print the Declaration of Independence with the signatures of the signers on it. In 1773, the Goddards’ papers were starting to feel the effects of the censorship and their Pennsylvania Chronicle was forced to shut down. Instead of giving up, William decided to start his own postal service apart from the Royal postal service.

 

William traveled across the country and, with the advice of Ben Franklin, set up a series of 30 post offices from New Hampshire to Virginia. Ben Franklin had long been involved in the colonial postal service, having first been appointed as postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737. He later rose through the ranks and became joint postmaster general for all the colonies. In this position, Franklin streamlined everything about the postal service, cut delivery times in half, established regular delivery schedules and posted the first profit for the service in its existence.

 

When the Continental Congress met for the first time in October of 1774, one of the first issues the representatives discussed was the postal system. Conveying messages between the colonies reliably was obviously of utmost importance. Goddard presented his entire plan to Congress, but action was not taken on it until violence broke out at Lexington and Concord in April of 1775. Ben Franklin was appointed to research the possibilities and he recommended that Goddard’s plan should be adopted and absorbed by the Continental Congress.

 

On July 26, 1775, Congress agreed to adopt the new postal system and appointed Ben Franklin its first Postmaster General. Goddard felt snubbed at Franklin’s appointment, but he was appointed the postal system’s Surveyor instead. Franklin’s son-in-law, Richard Bache, became the Comptroller, and Franklin’s second in command.

 

When Ben Franklin was appointed Ambassador to France in 1776, he stepped down from the post office and leadership transferred to Bache. The American postal system today was built on the foundation of Goddard’s and Franklin’s leadership and remains to a large degree in the form which they built during the American Revolution.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

"Idleness and pride Tax with a heavier Hand than Kings and Parliaments. If we can get rid of the former, we may easily bear the Latter."

Benjamin Franklin (1765)

General Henry Knox is born

General Henry Knox is born

 

On this day in history, July 25, 1750, General Henry Knox is born. Knox was one of George Washington’s key leaders over the Continental Army and one of his most trusted advisers. Henry Knox was born in Massachusetts and was a member of the militia from the age of 18. Knox apprenticed in a bookstore and eventually opened his own bookstore, the "London Bookstore," in Boston. He used his proximity to books to train himself in the art of war, especially artillery and engineering.

 

Knox observed the Boston Massacre and tried to encourage the soldiers involved to go back to their barracks before any violence occurred. He also testified in the trial of the soldiers. He became involved in the Sons of Liberty in Boston and was a sentry guarding the tea ships from unloading during the Boston Tea Party crisis.

 

When the first shots of the Revolution were fired, Knox joined the Siege of Boston and oversaw cannon fire at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Knox’s artillery and engineering skills brought him to the attention of George Washington who tasked him with bringing the captured cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. When placed on Dorchester Heights above the city, the British were forced to flee Boston once and for all.

 

Knox was made a Major General and took part in most of the major battles in the north, including the Battles of Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. During the war, Knox started the army’s artillery and officer training school, the precursor of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Knox also participated in the Battle of Yorktown, personally overseeing the placement of artillery on the field.

 

After the war, Knox was promoted to Brigadier General and helped oversee the downsizing of the army. He became Secretary of War under the Articles of Confederation government. When the new US Constitution took effect, Knox became the United States’ first Secretary of War under George Washington. In this position, he oversaw the organization and expansion of the army and navy. He was also the government’s chief representative to the Indian nations. Knox generally treated the Indians fairly and as sovereign nations, but in later years he was partly responsible for a series of Indian wars in the Northwest Territory to protect American settlers, which tarnished his reputation.

 

Knox finally retired in 1795 and moved to Thomaston, Maine (then part of Massachusetts). There Knox assembled a vast real estate empire and dabbled in numerous industries, such as shipbuilding, brickmaking and farming. Poor business decisions, however, led to large amounts of debt. Knox was forced to sell off much of his landholdings and he again hurt his reputation by kicking out tenants who could not pay their rent.

 

On October 22, 1806, Knox was visiting with a friend when a chicken bone got stuck in his throat. The injury became infected and he passed away at home on the 25th, debt-ridden.  Knox is the founder of the Society of the Cincinnati, a society for Revolutionary War officers and their descendants. He is also the namesake for Fort Knox, the location of the United States Bullion Depository.

 

http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com

 

Jack Manning

Treasurer General

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org  

 

"The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal judiciary; an irresponsible body, (for impeachment is scarcely a scare-crow) working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped from the States, and the government of all be consolidated into one."

Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Charles Hammond, 1821