"All this did not pass unnoticed. And, thanks to the pioneering research of military historian Todd Braisted we may finally dispense with legend and appreciate the facts of history. Todd has found evidence that American guards were placed at Bergen (Jersey City), Hoboken, Bull’s Ferry, Hackensack and, most critically, on or near Clinton Point, about three miles above Fort Lee and directly opposite Spuyten Duyvil. It was this latter outpost of American sentinels who spied British transports on the river and fired warning shots to alert the garrison. Its officer commandeered a horse and headed south to warn Fort Lee and its breakfasting garrison. Given the distance, it would have taken at least an hour for this officer to reach the fort and appraise its commander of the developing situation. Most importantly, Braisted has identified Lieutenant John Clifford, of Heard’s Brigade of New Jersey State Troops, as the “officer” whom eyewitness Tom Paine described in The American Crisis as arriving “with information that the enemy with 200 boats had landed about seven miles above.”"
The Decathlon is a tremendous test of athletic ability; and every event is related to warfare. Discus, javelin and the shot put are obviously weapons, but, imagine you are holding the shield wall and some crazy dude pole vaults over the wall and starts hacking at your legs from behind.
Those that went to grade school in The Commonwealth know about Jouett's ride. FBFS!
As an aside when I was running my IT company in a major southern coastal city my Ops Manager was a dyed in the wool descendant of Tarleton. I actually had to inform her of her bloodthirsty ancestor's deeds across the south.
Legends like this, important to one state, are part of what makes our people great. Well done, Captain.
Thanks for sharing a piece of history of the state I adopted in retirement.
Nice palette cleanser after reading about the featured Major on the Army’s website.
Fine fellow......needed a Longfellow.
Sometimes, history is the result of good PR
And history is ALWAYS written by the winners
Lots of exciting horse rides in the Revolution. Each of which could have used a Longfellow memorialization.
Caesar Rodney - Swing vote of the Declaration
https://www.founderoftheday.com/founder-of-the-day/rodney
... and in the interest of DEI.
Sybil Ludington - Summoning militia men in response to the Danbury attack.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sybil-Ludington
Charity Crabtree - Forwarding a message to Gen. Washington.
https://books.google.com/books?id=294TAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA307&ots=Fb3aL1zsDQ&dq=The+Sunday+School+Advocate+bees+saved+america&pg=PA307
New York has Sybil Ludington who rode all night to warn the NY and CT militias about the British attacks on Danbury.
NJ has the unnamed Closter horsman who warned Washington that Cornwallis had crossed the Hudson and to leave Fort Lee while there was still time.
I suspect that there were many other heroes whose stories were never told.
Speculation is that the individual was Lt. John Clifford. https://www.bergencountyhistory.org/newbridge-revwar
"All this did not pass unnoticed. And, thanks to the pioneering research of military historian Todd Braisted we may finally dispense with legend and appreciate the facts of history. Todd has found evidence that American guards were placed at Bergen (Jersey City), Hoboken, Bull’s Ferry, Hackensack and, most critically, on or near Clinton Point, about three miles above Fort Lee and directly opposite Spuyten Duyvil. It was this latter outpost of American sentinels who spied British transports on the river and fired warning shots to alert the garrison. Its officer commandeered a horse and headed south to warn Fort Lee and its breakfasting garrison. Given the distance, it would have taken at least an hour for this officer to reach the fort and appraise its commander of the developing situation. Most importantly, Braisted has identified Lieutenant John Clifford, of Heard’s Brigade of New Jersey State Troops, as the “officer” whom eyewitness Tom Paine described in The American Crisis as arriving “with information that the enemy with 200 boats had landed about seven miles above.”"
What remarkable men we grew. I wonder if we have such, today and then Sal tells us about one, every friday.
On a related note our Olympic modern decathlon is designed to test the skills of a Napoleonic dispatch rider or Aide-de-Camp.
- riding
- shooting Pistol
- Swimming
- Fencing
- Running
PS: Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton was the source for the villain in Mel Gibson's "Patriot".
What? The decathlon remains the most warlike track event, but, Greek warriors, not French.
whoops
pentathlon
The Decathlon is a tremendous test of athletic ability; and every event is related to warfare. Discus, javelin and the shot put are obviously weapons, but, imagine you are holding the shield wall and some crazy dude pole vaults over the wall and starts hacking at your legs from behind.
Hurry and see it before it's all gone.
Those that went to grade school in The Commonwealth know about Jouett's ride. FBFS!
As an aside when I was running my IT company in a major southern coastal city my Ops Manager was a dyed in the wool descendant of Tarleton. I actually had to inform her of her bloodthirsty ancestor's deeds across the south.
Twenty leagues? 70 frickin' miles on horse, on little rest and planning on fighting?
Fullbore indeed because it appears the British were rather fullbore themselves.
And most of that three hour rest was likely spent taking care of the horses
The Cavalry Officer's Creed:
- Mission!
- Horses
- Men
- Self
Every officer's creed: Mission, personnel, self.
with PMCS on the ride and weapons before men
Garry Owen!
https://youtu.be/Uun8qD1DQpk
Very enlightening about Jefferson.