Revolutionary War 250
@revwar250.bsky.social
Posts from 1775! The American Revolution and War of Independence and the world in which they happened, 250 years ago.
29 NOVEMBER 1775, PHILADELPHIA: Samuel Chase moves in the Continental Congress to send an ambassador to France, seconded by John Adams. This is too close to independence for most of Congress, and eventually, a compromise is reached: the committee of secret correspondence.
November 29, 2025 at 8:43 PM
29 NOVEMBER 1775, PHILADELPHIA: Samuel Chase moves in the Continental Congress to send an ambassador to France, seconded by John Adams. This is too close to independence for most of Congress, and eventually, a compromise is reached: the committee of secret correspondence.
29 NOVEMBER 1775, BOSTON: James Grant writes to Edward Harvey of the dreariness of the redcoats’ circumstances: “We must get through a disagreeable winter the best way we can. I do all in my power to keep the ball up—
November 29, 2025 at 5:58 PM
29 NOVEMBER 1775, BOSTON: James Grant writes to Edward Harvey of the dreariness of the redcoats’ circumstances: “We must get through a disagreeable winter the best way we can. I do all in my power to keep the ball up—
The assembly also echoes that of Pennsylvania by sending instructions to its Continental Congress delegation not to support any measures that would lead towards independence or “change the Form of Government” in the colonies. Main source: Sheila L. Skemp, WILLIAM FRANKLIN
November 28, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The assembly also echoes that of Pennsylvania by sending instructions to its Continental Congress delegation not to support any measures that would lead towards independence or “change the Form of Government” in the colonies. Main source: Sheila L. Skemp, WILLIAM FRANKLIN
It’s Royal Governor William Franklin’s greatest victory yet. New Jersey isn’t rejecting the Patriot cause in any way, but what it IS doing is breaking colonial unanimity, by conducting its own relations with the imperial government rather than speaking through the Continental Congress.
November 28, 2025 at 5:58 PM
It’s Royal Governor William Franklin’s greatest victory yet. New Jersey isn’t rejecting the Patriot cause in any way, but what it IS doing is breaking colonial unanimity, by conducting its own relations with the imperial government rather than speaking through the Continental Congress.
28 NOVEMBER 1775, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: In separate letters to John Hancock, Philip Schuyler and Joseph Reed, George Washington vents his frustration at the “egregious want of publick Spirit” among New Englanders causing the Continental Army’s continuing reenlistment crisis:
November 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
28 NOVEMBER 1775, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS: In separate letters to John Hancock, Philip Schuyler and Joseph Reed, George Washington vents his frustration at the “egregious want of publick Spirit” among New Englanders causing the Continental Army’s continuing reenlistment crisis:
28 NOVEMBER 1775, PHILADELPHIA: Samuel Nicholas is commissioned a captain, the first member of the Continental Marines, in anticipation of Congress’s decision on November 30 to raise the Marines from new recruits rather than the existing Continental Army.
November 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
28 NOVEMBER 1775, PHILADELPHIA: Samuel Nicholas is commissioned a captain, the first member of the Continental Marines, in anticipation of Congress’s decision on November 30 to raise the Marines from new recruits rather than the existing Continental Army.
27 NOVEMBER 1775, BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS: “I am more and more convinced that Man is a dangerous creature, and that power whether vested in many or a few is ever grasping, and like the grave cries give, give,” Abigail Adams writes to husband John.
November 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
27 NOVEMBER 1775, BRAINTREE, MASSACHUSETTS: “I am more and more convinced that Man is a dangerous creature, and that power whether vested in many or a few is ever grasping, and like the grave cries give, give,” Abigail Adams writes to husband John.
27 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Rev. Jonathan Boucher, former schoolmaster of George Washington’s stepson John Parke Custis, writes to Lord George Germain with a strategy suggestion: the British army should take control of the Hudson River, from New York to the Canadian border.
November 27, 2025 at 1:58 PM
27 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Rev. Jonathan Boucher, former schoolmaster of George Washington’s stepson John Parke Custis, writes to Lord George Germain with a strategy suggestion: the British army should take control of the Hudson River, from New York to the Canadian border.
Main sources: Nathaniel Philbrick, BUNKER HILL; Alexander Rose, WASHINGTON’S SPIES
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Main sources: Nathaniel Philbrick, BUNKER HILL; Alexander Rose, WASHINGTON’S SPIES
He does have a piece of good news: he’s received an offer from the New England military hero Robert Rogers, a legend of the French and Indian War, to fight for the Crown, despite the fact that the Continental Army has “made considerable overtures to him.”
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
He does have a piece of good news: he’s received an offer from the New England military hero Robert Rogers, a legend of the French and Indian War, to fight for the Crown, despite the fact that the Continental Army has “made considerable overtures to him.”
26 NOVEMBER 1775, BOSTON: William Howe has received orders to evacuate the redcoat army from Boston, but he writes to the American Department in London to tell them he doesn’t have enough ships, and so must hold the town through the winter.
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
26 NOVEMBER 1775, BOSTON: William Howe has received orders to evacuate the redcoat army from Boston, but he writes to the American Department in London to tell them he doesn’t have enough ships, and so must hold the town through the winter.
26 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Lord North is overjoyed to find an aristocrat who doesn’t resign his commission rather than go to America (Lord Effingham) or publicly announce he’s only fighting because he’s ordered to (the Howe brothers), but rather offers to serve: Lord Cornwallis.
November 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
26 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Lord North is overjoyed to find an aristocrat who doesn’t resign his commission rather than go to America (Lord Effingham) or publicly announce he’s only fighting because he’s ordered to (the Howe brothers), but rather offers to serve: Lord Cornwallis.
Washington “order’d Provision to them till they can be remov’d, but” he is “under dreadful apprehension’s of their communicating the small Pox as it is Rief in Boston,” so he bans them from camp. Main sources: Thomas B. Allen, TORIES; David McCullough, 1776
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Washington “order’d Provision to them till they can be remov’d, but” he is “under dreadful apprehension’s of their communicating the small Pox as it is Rief in Boston,” so he bans them from camp. Main sources: Thomas B. Allen, TORIES; David McCullough, 1776
Main source: Orville T. Murphy, CHARLES GRAVIER, COMTE DE VERGENNES
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Main source: Orville T. Murphy, CHARLES GRAVIER, COMTE DE VERGENNES
25 NOVEMBER 1775, PARIS: Foreign minister Vergennes must be diplomatic in his letter to the Count of Aranda, the Spanish ambassador to France, but must nevertheless make it clear that France does not find Spain’s proposal to go to war against Portugal compelling.
November 25, 2025 at 1:58 PM
25 NOVEMBER 1775, PARIS: Foreign minister Vergennes must be diplomatic in his letter to the Count of Aranda, the Spanish ambassador to France, but must nevertheless make it clear that France does not find Spain’s proposal to go to war against Portugal compelling.
Ben’s son William, the royal governor, sees this as further proof that his efforts to reconcile the colony to the Crown are working; a new colonial agent must mean the assembly do not intend to pursue independence from Great Britain. Main source: Sheila L. Skemp, WILLIAM FRANKLIN
November 24, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Ben’s son William, the royal governor, sees this as further proof that his efforts to reconcile the colony to the Crown are working; a new colonial agent must mean the assembly do not intend to pursue independence from Great Britain. Main source: Sheila L. Skemp, WILLIAM FRANKLIN
Before departing, Sears leaves behind a bill indicating Rivington should charge the cost of the destroyed printing press to Lord Dunmore, known to have confiscated a Patriot press in Norfolk, Virginia, two months ago. Main source: Paul R. Misencik, THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN SPIES
November 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Before departing, Sears leaves behind a bill indicating Rivington should charge the cost of the destroyed printing press to Lord Dunmore, known to have confiscated a Patriot press in Norfolk, Virginia, two months ago. Main source: Paul R. Misencik, THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN SPIES
22 NOVEMBER 1775, NEW YORK: Patriots arrest Anglican clergyman Samuel Seabury for Loyalism and deport him to be held in New Haven, Connecticut.
November 22, 2025 at 6:31 PM
22 NOVEMBER 1775, NEW YORK: Patriots arrest Anglican clergyman Samuel Seabury for Loyalism and deport him to be held in New Haven, Connecticut.
But their agreement to take up the question of government support means that they are still open to the possibility of reconciliation with the imperial government—and, not unimportantly, that Franklin can expect to be paid this year. Main source: Sheila L. Skemp, WILLIAM FRANKLIN
November 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
But their agreement to take up the question of government support means that they are still open to the possibility of reconciliation with the imperial government—and, not unimportantly, that Franklin can expect to be paid this year. Main source: Sheila L. Skemp, WILLIAM FRANKLIN
21 NOVEMBER 1775, BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY: The provincial assembly agrees to take up the matter of salaries for royal officials for the year, a significant victory for Governor William Franklin (Ben Franklin’s son) in his mission to uphold royal authority in New Jersey.
November 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
21 NOVEMBER 1775, BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY: The provincial assembly agrees to take up the matter of salaries for royal officials for the year, a significant victory for Governor William Franklin (Ben Franklin’s son) in his mission to uphold royal authority in New Jersey.
20 NOVEMBER 1775, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS BAY: Washington orders the confiscation of the firearms of any soldier upon his discharge from the Continental Army, including weapons that are the soldier’s private property.
November 20, 2025 at 5:58 PM
20 NOVEMBER 1775, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS BAY: Washington orders the confiscation of the firearms of any soldier upon his discharge from the Continental Army, including weapons that are the soldier’s private property.
His older brother George, the previous Lord Howe, has a memorial in Westminster Abbey, paid for by the Massachusetts General Court after George was killed at the head of any army containing many Massachusetts regiments during the French and Indian War.
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
His older brother George, the previous Lord Howe, has a memorial in Westminster Abbey, paid for by the Massachusetts General Court after George was killed at the head of any army containing many Massachusetts regiments during the French and Indian War.
20 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Richard, Lord Howe, tells the House of Commons that he will accept command of the Royal Navy in America only if ordered to do so: “If commanded his duty was to serve,” but otherwise he’s caught between “his duty as an officer, and his duty as a man.”
November 20, 2025 at 3:52 PM
20 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Richard, Lord Howe, tells the House of Commons that he will accept command of the Royal Navy in America only if ordered to do so: “If commanded his duty was to serve,” but otherwise he’s caught between “his duty as an officer, and his duty as a man.”
18 NOVEMBER 1775, BOSTON: “The Firewards, known by Red painted Staffs, with Heads of Brass are to have the Management & Conduct of the Engines & People Assembled to Extinguish a Fire”: William Howe issues regulations on how the army should react “Upon the Discovery of a Fire.”
November 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
18 NOVEMBER 1775, BOSTON: “The Firewards, known by Red painted Staffs, with Heads of Brass are to have the Management & Conduct of the Engines & People Assembled to Extinguish a Fire”: William Howe issues regulations on how the army should react “Upon the Discovery of a Fire.”
18 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Thomas Hutchinson pays a call on Lord George Germain to congratulate him on his appointment as American secretary and hears of the measures the government are planning to implement: “As I have seen Ld. Geo Germaine this morning,
November 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
18 NOVEMBER 1775, LONDON: Thomas Hutchinson pays a call on Lord George Germain to congratulate him on his appointment as American secretary and hears of the measures the government are planning to implement: “As I have seen Ld. Geo Germaine this morning,