Our History Matters

This column is for you, the readers of the New River Valley. I plan to share some interesting short history stories with you as we celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. History is about folks, just like you and me, and why they did the things they did. Not just what happened, but why it happened. I want to learn more myself and also share the stories about our rich and diverse history with as many people as I can. We all need to keep our history alive for future generations before it is lost. As I have gotten older, I realize how much of our history we have already lost.

It had been almost a year, April 1775, since the fighting between the colonists and the British in Lexington and Concord had started. The British had retreated to the city of Boston and were surrounded by the colonial militia. In June, General Washington was placed in overall command of the army.
It is now March 1776, and the Colonies are moving in the direction of independence. The pamphlet “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine had thousands of copies circulated by the end of March. He made an impassioned case for Independence.

Henry Knox, a captain and former bookstore owner, had been ordered to bring 60 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga, in upper New York, to Boston. The heavy guns were dragged on sleds through the snow and cold weather to reach the army. The cannons were placed around the city facing the British army. On March 4th, Washington placed men and cannons on Dorchester Heights, a hill overlooking the city and the British fleet. It was a powerful position for Washington’s army. Howe, the British Commander, wanted to attack, but many of his officers felt it would be another “Bunker Hill” with a great loss of life. They convinced Howe that it would be better to leave Boston. On March 17th, the British loaded over 11,000 soldiers and loyalists onto ships and evacuated the city. They sailed to Nova Scotia, Canada, where they began making plans to capture the city of New York. March 1776 ended with Washington’s army marching to New York City. The war had changed from a desire for better relations with England to a fight between two different peoples.

If you have read this to the bottom, thank you. I hope you will think about our history and share your stories with me. I need your help with this endeavor. What would you like to know more about, when it comes to our history? Please email me and let me know your ideas, and what you think about this column. Thank you.
TJ
tj.cox2023@outlook.com