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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1h

Oct. 14, 1775: From Fort Ticonderoga, Gen. Philip Schuyler warns Congress not enough is being done to impede British warships. “Should a Body of Forces be sent up Hudsons River and a Chain of Vessels stationed in all its Extent, It will undoubtedly greatly distress, if not totally ruin our Cause.”

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1h

well, yes, that was his son

250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 2h

(From the National Park Service’s “Bicentennial Daybook,” 1975)

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 2h

“It was said the Play House open'd that night in Boson & the Batteries were design'd to Interupt their Sport but unfortunately ... one of the Cannon Bursting dangerously Wounded ten Men.” 2/2

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 2h

Oct. 14, 1775: “We are but remarkably peaceable here now," writes Otho Williams of the Virginia Rifleman outside Roxbury, Mass. “The Enemy have not bestow'd us a ball since Friday the 6th of this month, provoked a few nights ago by two of our floating batteries which fired upon the town. 1/2

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 3h

Oct. 14, 1775: British Secretary of State Lord Suffolk receives intelligence that Pennsylvania is preparing an armed fleet and floating batteries to obstruct ships from passing through the Delaware. He recommends that the Admiralty dispatch vessels to destroy the batteries.

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 4h

Oct. 14, 1775: Delegates from Connecticut tell the Continental Congress they have been unable to come to an agreement with Pennsylvania on “the disputes between the people of the two colonies on the waters of the Susquehannah.” They seek that a congressional committee take on the matter.

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 5h

Oct. 14, 1775: Virginia patriot George Mason writes to George Washington with his concerns about Continental Congress and provincial paper money. "I have great Apprehensions that the large Sums in Bills of Credit now issueing all over the Continent may have fatal Effects in depreciating the Value.”

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 5h

Oct. 14, 1775: Whitehead Hicks takes the oath for another two-year term as mayor of New York City. The brief ceremony takes place at the home of royal Gov. William Tryon, who plans to relocate to a warship because he fears for his safety.

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 6h

Oct. 14, 1775: Capt. James Montague of the HMS Kingfisher drags a civilian from Norfolk, Va., onto his ship "for some trivial offence" and stages a court martial that sentences him to 39 lashes. Gov. Lord Dunmore voids the punishment, frees the man and "severely reprimanded the tyrant Montague."

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: “It is now reported, that tho' Government is taking every measure to oblige the Americans to submit, there are many who persuade themselves that a certain General Assembly will offer their mediation” and “restore peace and harmony on a solid foundation.”

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: The people of Falmouth, Mass. (now Portland, Maine) are alarmed by a glimpse of a British flotilla five days before the town will be targeted for destruction.

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: “We hear that lord Dunmore has just received a reinforcement of soldiers from St. Augustine, to complete his corps of banditti to the number of 500,” reports Purdie’s Virginia Gazette of Williamsburg. The royal governor tries to exercise authority from a ship anchored off Norfolk.

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: After a difficult passage through lakes and bogs, Col. Benedict Arnold’s 950 men reach the head of the Dead River in Maine. Arnold praises his men’s spirit in overcoming fatigue and hardships in a letter to Washington. He predicts he’ll reach his objective, Quebec City, in two weeks.

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: Lettter writer “Nauticus” submits a proposal to the Pennsylvania Safety Committee to build fire ships on the Delaware River filled with a substance that would make “furious instantaneous flame.” The members will adopt this plan a day later.

British fire ships attacking France’s Regulus in 1809

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

The New York City Committee insists no such order for arrests exists, and “it was their earnest wish that he [Tryon] will continue to reside among us." 3/3

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Tryon says he has reports that the Continental Congress has ordered the arresra of all royal officers, and if anyone attempts to hinder his removal he will order ships to “enforce the demand with their whole power.” 2/3

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: New York Gov. William Tryon says he will relocate from his house in New York City to the man-of-war Asia in the harbor. The royal official, whose authority is still respected by city officials despite the outbreak of war, tells Mayor Whitehead Hicks he acts for his safety. 1/3

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

A committee of three members—Silas Deane, John Langdon and Christopher Gadsden—is chosen to administer the creation of the sea force. They work swiftly, as the first Continental Navy ships, the Wasp and Hornet, set sail from Baltimore in January 1776. 5/5

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

The need for an American naval force has become clear as Britain intends to bolster its force in Boston and wage a more aggressive war on the colonists. Gen. Washington has outfitted privateers to pursue British shipping but he has enough to handle commanding a ground force. 4/5

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

The commanders will “be instructed to cruise eastward, for intercepting such transports as may be laden with warlike stores and other supplies for our enemies, and for such other purposes as the Congress shall direct.” 3/5

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Each ship should be “a swift sailing vessel, to carry ten carriage guns, and a proportionable number of swivels, with eighty men, be fitted, with all possible despatch, for a cruise of three months.” 2/5

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 1d

Oct. 13, 1775: Congress authorizes the purchase and outfitting of two armed vessels to constitute a Continental Navy. This has been recognized as the birthday of the U.S. Navy. 1/5

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 2d

(From the National Park Service's "Bicentennial Daybook," 1975)

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250 Years Ago News @250yearsagonews.bsky.social · 2d

Oct. 12, 1775: The Pennsylvania Assembly orders a battalion raised to defend the colony. Each man will be provided a hunting shirt and a blanket "If one could be found.”

Daniel Morgan wearing a hunting shirt at the Saratoga surrender ceremony, 1777

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