Admiral D’Estaing leaves for the West Indies

On this day in history, November 4, 1778, French Admiral Charles Hector, Count D’Estaing, left Boston for the West Indies. This was a great blow to the Americans who were counting on French involvement to help them win the war against Great Britain. France had joined the Americans earlier in the year and D’Estaing’s arrival in July with sixteen ships had brought great hope to the Americans.

D’Estaing’s first mission was to blockade the British fleet in the Delaware River, but the British had evacuated Philadelphia and the fleet returned to New York before D’Estaing’s arrival. D’Estaing then sailed for New York, but was not able to cross the shallow sandbars into New York Harbor. With the consultation of American generals, D’Estaing then sailed for British occupied Newport, Rhode Island, where he was to assist the Americans in ousting the British from the city.

Admiral D’Estaing began to unload his 4,000 soldiers to help the Americans in the Battle of Rhode Island, but took them back on board when another British fleet arrived. He then attempted to engage the British fleet, but a storm arose that lasted for two days, heavily damaging and scattering both fleets. The British fleet returned to New York for repairs. D’Estaing regathered and returned to Newport to tell the generals that his fleet was too damaged to be of any help. He sailed for Boston for repairs, much to the consternation of the Americans. In Boston, D’Estaing was assailed as a "deserter."

On November 4, the Americans were even more distressed when D’Estaing sailed for the West Indies to help in the war against Britain there instead. He returned briefly to America to help with an attack against British occupied Savannah, Georgia in September, but this mission failed also and D’Estaing returned to France. The Americans were bereft of French naval help until the arrival of Admiral Charles-Henri-Louis d’Arsac de Ternay at Newport in May, 1780.

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

Jack Manning

President General

2019 – 2021

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org

“The wise and the good never form the majority of any large society and it seldom happens that their measures are uniformly adopted…. [All that wise and good men can do is] to persevere in doing their duty to their country and leave the consequences to him who made men only; neither elated by success, however great, nor discouraged by disappointments however frequent or mortifying.”
John Jay

Vermont ratifies the Bill of Rights

On this day in history, November 3, 1791, the state of Vermont ratified all twelve amendments to the Bill of Rights that were suggested by Congress. Ten of them would be agreed upon by 2/3rds of the states and would become the Bill of Rights.

Vermont was the 10th state to ratify the Bill of Rights, which would not become law until Virginia ratified them on December 15, 1791, just one month later. With Virginia’s ratification, the required 2/3rd’s majority of the states was met and the 10 amendments became law. Congress originally proposed 12 amendments, but only 10 of them were ratified by enough states.

Vermont ruled itself as a sovereign country for 14 years after it declared independence from Great Britain on January 15, 1777. Note that it was not one of the original thirteen colonies, but was in an area called the "New Hampshire Grants." When Vermont first declared independence from England, it was called the Republic of New Connecticut.

At the time Vermont ratified the Bill of Rights, it was the newest state in the union and the first to become a state after the original thirteen. She was formally welcomed into the United States on March 4, 1791 and adopted the Bill of Rights 9 months later.

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

Jack Manning

President General

2019 – 2021

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org

“I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance.”
John Adams

George Washington issues Farewell Orders to the Continental Army

On this day in history, November 2, 1783, George Washington issued his Farewell Orders to the Continental Army as he officially retired from the service. He concludes the orders with, "May ample justice be done them (the soldiers who fought) here, and may the choicest of Heaven’s favors both here and hereafter attend those, who under the divine auspices have secured innumerable blessings for others: With these Wishes, and this benediction, the Commander in Chief is about to retire from service–The Curtain of separation will soon be drawn–and the Military Scene to him will be closed for ever."

In these orders, Washington thanks the soldiers for their service and sacrifice. He talks about how astonished he is that they actually won. He mentions God’s intervention on their behalf. He also commends the soldiers for coming together from different backgrounds and cultures and working together to form a cohesive unit.

Washington assures the troops they will be paid by the Congress as the states pony up their share of the debt incurred during the war. He tells them the same virtues of bravery, economy and prudence they exhibited in the war will assist them in being successful in private life as they return home. Lastly, Washington says there is nothing he would not do if it was in his power to assist these men to be successes in life.

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

Jack Manning

President General

2019 – 2021

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org

“I was summoned by my country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love.”
George Washington

Stamp Act officially takes effect

On this day in history, November 1, 1765, the Stamp Act of 1765 was to take effect. The protests, rioting, boycotts and threats of the colonists against stamp distributors and customs officials had already taken their toll though. When November 1st arrived, there was not a single stamp distributor left in the colonies who had not resigned his position, with the exception of Georgia’s because he did not arrive until January, and he resigned… after one day on the job!

The Stamp Act was issued in order to raise funds to help administer the colonies and to pay down the high debt incurred by Britain during the French and Indian War. It was the creation of Prime Minister George Grenville who was not particularly favorable to the colonists, who burned up any stamps they could find, boarding ships and storming government buildings to find them.

Officials in numerous towns were threatened with their lives if they attempted to enforce the acts. Some were driven from town or into hiding. Others were attacked at home or held at gunpoint until they made an oath that they would not enforce the hated Act.

All this pressure, along with an economic boycott of British goods eventually caused Parliament to capitulate. The Act was repealed in March, 1766.

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

Jack Manning

President General

2019 – 2021

National Society Sons of the American Revolution

www.sar.org

"Our unalterable resolution would be to be free. They have attempted to subdue us by force, but God be praised! in vain. Their arts may be more dangerous than their arms. Let us then renounce all treaty with them upon any score but that of total separation, and under God trust our cause to our swords."
Samuel Adams (1776)