In February!
In new England!
February – – 1776
Location: Somewhere in central Massachusetts
Local Militia Encampment Not Too Far From Boston …
“CAPTAIN!” asks a shivering Private in his command.
“Do you think we can order some of those SKI PARKAS we saw online?”
“They’re in stock, and they can be here by Tuesday! Before 7:00 PM!
Sooner, if you have a “primo” account!
Between the scowl, and the probable, “suck it up, Private!” from his commander, there wasn’t much anyone could do about getting express shipping, let alone the requested Ski Parkas.
And what was this … ONLINE?
In 1776 not every soldier had a stylish looking uniform like this fine fellow —
Many Continental “soldiers” came to the war dressed in their everyday clothes like these men.
Farmers, merchants, young men with absolutely no idea how to fight a war. Attitudes ranged from “this will be over soon” to “if I don’t like it, I’ll take my very ineffective musket and go home!”
On the other side were the well trained, and well-dressed troops of the British army and Navy. And, to General Washington’s disdain … they were paid! This phenomenon had been going on for quite some time. In the colonies though, the Continental Congress was still trying to figure out how to raise money for this “little uprising” as the British were fond of calling it.
And don’t forget, the Colonists soldiers had farms to tend, crops to plant, stores and taverns to watch over along with other everyday tasks to perform. This was their land! They weren’t going anywhere.
The British soldiers? Most would have been happy getting back on the boats and heading back to England. They didn’t really want to be there anymore than the Colonists wanted them there. It wasn’t their problem that the King almost went bankrupt with the French and Indian War!
But, we are getting paid for this! was a strong motivator, the “carrot” that the British government dangled over their heads.
It would be sometime before the French began to dole out the cash to the colonies. Weapons? Supplies? We can do that surreptitiously. It would be their little secret that future battles would be successful due to French weapons and ammunition.
Much of that help came following a secret meeting in Philadelphia between Benjamin Franklin and French emissary, Julien-Alexandre de Bonvouloir (see previous blog – Benjamin Franklin’s Secret December of 1775).
So, why would a farmer, a merchant, and a young man with no military training accept the call to defy the most powerful, well-trained army in the world?
OUTRAGE! EXASPERATION! Taxes! Why are we paying for your failed wars?
PATRIOTISM! PRIDE! I plowed that land. I am serving my customers. “This land is my land” …
Whatever their personal trigger, each colonist had their reason/s to pick up a rifle, experienced in the art of war, or not.
Unfortunately, this was also a Civil War! An estimated 30%+ of the colonists in 1775-1776 DID NOT agree with the other 70%. The King was … well KING! It was his land to do with what he wished. If he commanded “everyone should walk backwards” … he must know what he is doing!
WE WILL WALK BACKWARDS!
Later this month we will delve into what happens when the Patriots and Loyalists disagree … violently!
February 27th THE BATTLE OF MOORE’S CREEK BRIDGE North Carolina
Benjamin Franklin didn’t have time to worry about his choice of uniform! He had much bigger problems. Not only was he, “not in Kansas anymore”, he was not even in the 18th century!
Something, or someone had sent him on a trip. And this was not the contest for a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia you wanted to win!
Not only was he in the 21st century, he found himself in an alternate universe. In this Williamsburg, Virginia, there was no question …
The British Won The American Revolution!
