Can't spell "Washington" without "W"
This Week in 1776, #12
“This Week in 1776” is an ongoing almanac of events from the American Revolution, mostly political and military in nature. I drew on these very loosely for my Engines of Liberty series of YA novels.
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BOSTONIAN BEATDOWN (Sorta)
For the last several weeks, George Washington and the Continental Army have been fortifying the siege of Boston so that they can ensure a British retreat. On Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17th, it finally happened.
The Brits tried to leave earlier on the 15th, but their vessels were stymied by a change in the winds, and they had to wait. The British Armada consisted of over 100 ships (I saw 120 pop up in a few readings) and over 11,000 people. Most of these (over 9,000) were soldiers. About 1,000 were Loyalist men, and the rest were women and children. It was no small logistical feat to get them out, but the Americans would have Boston, and they preferred to do so bloodlessly.
(Remigration: it gets the job done.)
The Brits left whatever they couldn’t take—ammo, powder, and cannons, but much of it was ruined so that the Continentals wouldn’t later use it against them. This whole operation was Washington’s first major success, and though he would unfortunately stack some losses in the coming months, the memory of this victory (which only cost money, not blood) would provide a bulwark against the erosion of his support in Congress.
In 1776, March 17th was a Sunday. This probably also played a role in the Continentals’ reluctance to engage in combat, although I doubt it really mattered; like I said, the Brits tried to leave on Friday, they just couldn’t sail against the wind out of Boston Harbor. Over the next few days, the Americans worked their way back into Boston and occupied it fully, taking stock of its condition and preparing for what was to come next.
Spring had arrived, and with it, more kinetic action.
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