The Inebriated Ex Rolls Up
This Week in 1776, #31
“This Week in 1776” is an ongoing almanac of events from that year in the American Revolution. Be sure to check out my novel HEARTLANDERS.
It really sucks that Thomas Gage had to go back to England after losing at Bunker Hill, because this week’s almanac could have been “Gage Against Lt. Machine.” But now that’s lost to us forever. Ugh.
New York
We’re in a time of tension and transition in the Big Seed (it wasn’t the Big Apple yet). The Brits have landed and are amassing their forces for a ground war while Washington scrambles to play defense.
Washington is holding Manhattan and Long Island. General and Admiral Lord Howe (both Lobsterbacks) have Staten Island under control and they’re taking ownership of the harbor. They’re sending missives to the Americans saying “Hey, don’t make us do this,” and the Americans are either ignoring them or telling them to pound tea. Nevertheless Washington writes urgently to Congress to send more resources and men. This included figures like Lord Stirling, Col. James Clinton, and Lt. Thomas “The” Machine (nickname unverified, last name correct.)
These men handled missives and fulfilled orders to fortify strongholds under Patriot control. Washington also had to discipline men in the army who were breaking regulations, and he hated that they were doing all this while allegedly fighting for liberty with God on their side.
Neither side executed any major combat actions. This thing could pop off at any moment though.
Philadelphia
The victory lap of the Declaration is still going on and while there will still be formal legal actions in the coming weeks, the pending policy work will focus much more on logistical support for the war. They did take the formal step of ordering that the Declaration of Independence be “fairly engrossed on parchment” under the new title
“The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.”
This is the physical version we know and think of when we envision the Declaration itself—the one with Nic Cage’s treasure map on the back.
Overall Sentiment
The honeymoon phase of Independence is in the rearview and now it’s time for the colonies to really move in together and try to have babies. England, like the abusive drunken ex that it is, sits across the street with a pile of empties on the porch and the smell of gun cleaner in the air, crying to bad pub music about The One That Got Away and watching bleary-eyed as the shadows of the colonies giggle raucously against the illuminated curtains in the master bedroom window, getting after it like a couple of rabbits. This metaphor went in an unexpected but historically accurate direction. It stays.
Misc:
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