Historical Tidbits — Signing of the Declaration of Independence

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. August 2, 1776 – Fifty-five members of the second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to formally sign the Declaration of Independence.  Benjamin Franklin is oft quoted as having said …

US Marines in the American Revolution — Assault on Penobscot

28 July 1779 In spring of 1779 the British commander-in-chief in North America, General Sir Henry Clinton, directed that a strong outpost be established on the tip of the Bagaduce Peninsula in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Brigadier General Francis McLean, military commander of Nova Scotia, led 700 troops of the 74th Foot (Argyle Highlanders) and 82d …

Historical Tidbits

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. July 28, 1779                       Americans defeated at Penobscot The British sent about 700 men aboard three small warships to land in Penobscot Bay. They intended to establish the province of …

Congress establishes the State Department, July 27, 1789

The Constitution of the United States, drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 and ratified by the states the following year, gave the President responsibility for the conduct of the nation’s foreign relations. It soon became clear, however, that additional resources and formal structures were necessary to support President Washington in the conduct of …

Birth of the US Post Office

On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress declared “…that a Postmaster General be appointed for the United States, who shall hold his office at Philadelphia, and shall be allowed a salary of 1,000 dollars per annum…”  Benjamin Franklin was not, however, the first Postmaster in America nor was this the first time he would …

“Rules by which a GREAT EMPIRE may be reduced to a SMALL ONE”

Franklin wrote this satirical piece while serving in London as the colonial agent for several colonies. His numerous letters to London newspapers presenting the colonists’ point of view were often reprinted in colonial newspapers. “Rules by which a GREAT EMPIRE may be reduced to a SMALL ONE” —The Public Advertiser, London, 11 September 1773(as printed …

Historical Tidbits — Riot Act

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. July 15, 1715 – The Riot Act took effect in Britain.  Assemblies of more than a dozen people could be forcibly dispersed in order to maintain the peace.  The …

Historical Tidbits — Stony Point taken by General Wayne

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. July 15, 1779       Stony Point taken by General Wayne In a well planned and executed nighttime attack, a highly trained select group of Continental Army troops under the command …

Historical Tidbits — BASTILE DAY

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. July 14, 1789 – BASTILE DAY:  The crowd gathered outside the Bastille, a medieval armory, fortress, and political prison near the center of Paris, calling for the surrender of …