Sunday, February 28, 2010

John Wesley

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1784, John Wesley charters the first Methodist Church in the United States. Despite the fact that he was an Anglican, Wesley saw the need to provide church structure for his followers after the Anglican Church abandoned its American believers during the American Revolution.
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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge

On this day in 1777,

Col. James Moore and the 1st Regiment of N. Carolina defeat a superior numbered force at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.
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Friday, February 26, 2010

On this day in 1779

On this day in 1779,

Gov. William Tryon of New York, leads a raiding mission to a town located west of Greenwich, CT. There, Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam fails at attempts to make a stand with a few cannon and 150 militia.

And in 1780,

Several American naval vessels bombard Ft. Johnson, SC and continue shelling it for the next five days.
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Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Battle of Vincennes

On this day in 1779,

Vincennes exchanges hands for a third time with the return of Col. George Rogers Clark. Clark Captures Lt. Governor Henry (hair buyer) Hamilton. Hamilton, is rumored to have offered bounties to Indians for the scalps of frontier men and women, and 23 prisoners are sent to Williamsburg after The Battle of Vincennes.
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Battle of Big Savannah, SC

On this day in 1781,

Gen. Thomas Sumter gathers up the spoils after his attack on a supply train headed from Charleston to build a new fort (Ft. Motte). British Maj. David McIntosh loses all of his men and the supply train at The Battle of Big Savannah, SC.
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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben

On this day in 1778,

Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge as a volunteer aid to Washington. He begins teaching the Continental Army the essentials of military drill and discipline, helping to guide it to victory.
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Monday, February 22, 2010

George Washington

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1732, George Washington is born in Pope's Creek Estate near present-day Colonial Beach, VA.
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Sunday, February 21, 2010

George Weedon

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, George Weedon is promoted to the rank of Brig. Gen. of the Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army.
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Friday, February 19, 2010

Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1777, the Continental Congress votes to promote Thomas Mifflin; Arthur St. Clair; William Alexander, Lord Stirling; Adam Stephen; and Benjamin Lincoln to the rank of Mag. Gen. Although the promotions were intended in part to balance the number of generals from each state, Brig. Gen. Benedict Arnold feels slighted that five junior officers received promotions ahead of him. It is but another of many personal disappointments that change him.
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Thursday, February 18, 2010

Battle of Herbert's Store

On this day in 1779,

A Patriot force attacks a British garrison at a store located on the Savannah River. The Patriots succeed in killing or capturing most of the British force and 200 horses at The Battle of Herbert's Store.
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The French navy

On this day in 1782,
The French navy begins a 14-month-long series of five battles with the British navy. Adm. Pierre Andre de Suffren de Saint-Tropez and V. Adm. Sir Edward Hughes, commander in chief in the East Indies, engage in four major Battles on the Indian Ocean.
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010

John Adams

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1778, John Adams and his son, 10-year-old John Quincy Adams, sit in Marblehead Harbor, off the coast of Massachusetts, on board the frigate, Boston, which is to take them to France. Adams will replace Silas Deane to negotiate a treaty of alliance.
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Monday, February 15, 2010

Nova Scotia

No major battles occurred on this date.

But on this day in 1776, Gov. Francis Legge reports to British headquarters in London that traitorous elements in Nova Scotia have contacted Gen. Washington, in which they expressed their sympathy for the American cause and invited him to invade Nova Scotia at his earliest possible convenience.
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Sunday, February 14, 2010

Battle of Cherokee Ford, SC

On this day in 1779,

Before leaving Carr's Fort for South Carolina, Cols. Pickens and Dooly call for reinforcements under Capt. Anderson to patrol the Savannah. Col. Boyd, surprised by the rebel force, rallies his men who fight on for over an hour before finally being defeated. Boyd would die that evening from wounds after The Battle of Cherokee Ford, SC.
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Saturday, February 13, 2010

Patrick Henry

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1776, Patrick Henry becomes colonel of the First Virginia battalion in defense of the state’s supply of gunpowder.
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Friday, February 12, 2010

Ethan Allen

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1789, Ethan Allen dies of a stroke at age 52 on his Winooski River homestead.
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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sir James Wright

On this day in 1776,

Georgia’s royal governor, Sir James Wright, escapes from his residence in Savannah to the safety of a waiting British warship, the HMS Scarborough, anchored at the mouth of the Savannah River, and returns to London.
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Battle of Kettle Creek, GA

On this day 1779,

And for the next four days, Col. John Pickens and his militia from Georgia and South Carolina attack Tories at Carr's Fort at The Battle of Kettle Creek, GA.
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Battle of Wilkes County

On this day in 1779,

British Col. Hamilton captures Carr's Fort in Wilkes County, GA. Comprised of a few militiamen and their families, Col. Andrew Pickens allows the British to take possession of the fort. The American patriots hasten across the Savannah to meet Col. John Boyd after The Battle of Wilkes County.
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Monday, February 8, 2010

Battle of Blue Licks, KY

On this day in 1778,

Chief Blue Jacket of the Shawnee tribe, with 102 warriors, captures a salt-making party of 27 people. Among the captives is Daniel Boone at the Battle of Blue Licks, KY.
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Sunday, February 7, 2010

“An Imaginary Speech”

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in London on this day in 1775, Benjamin Franklin publishes “An Imaginary Speech” in defense of American courage. It was intended to counter comments to Parliament that the British need not fear the colonial rebels, because “Americans are unequal to the People of [Britain] in Devotion to Women, and in Courage, and…worse than all, they are religious.”
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Saturday, February 6, 2010

Battle of Kiokee Creek

On this day in 1779,

Col. John Dooly and 100 Georgia Patriots cross the Savannah River. British Capt. John Hamilton learns of the approach and sets up an ambush near Kiokee Creek, about 30 miles north of Augusta. As the Patriots began to cross the river, they're ambushed by the British. They Patriots were driven back to the South Carolina side of the river after The Battle of Kiokee Creek.
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Friday, February 5, 2010

John Witherspoon

No major battles occurred on this date.

But in 1723, John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence is born in Gifford, Scotland.
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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Battle of Fort Macintosh

On this day in 1777,

Capt. Richard Winn, commander of the small fort which straddles the Georgia-Florida border is forced to surrender at The Battle of Fort Macintosh.
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Battle of Beaufort, SC

On this day in 1779,

Brig. Gen. William Moultrie's militia forces successfully defend Port Royal Island against the British at The Battle of Beaufort, SC.
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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Battle of Fort McIntosh

On this day in 1777,

Tory refugees expelled from Georgia are organized by Florida Governor Tonyn. They begin a two day siege of a fort which sits on the Florida-Georgia border which begins The Battle of Fort McIntosh.
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Monday, February 1, 2010

Battle for South Carolina

On this day in 1781,

Gens. Greene and Morgan withdraw from South Carolina, and march for two weeks, destroying everything in their path to deny Cornwallis, through North Carolina into Virginia, during The Battle for South Carolina.
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