Full Bore and Happy Birthday America! Sal- don't forget Arthur Middleton from Charleston as a SC signer!! # from the Palmetto State.
Brave men then, brave men needed now that will defy the odds and rise to save The Republic.
As an aside I dated a Charleston Middleton in college. I knew the name but little else on the family.
When I went to her 10,000 sq ft "house" I was ushered into the parlor where her father awaited. He immediately started with "tell me about your family history", and then reviewed their history. Needless to say my lineage did not satisfy him. But had a great time at Isle of Palms with her.
Currently it looks like we will have to relearn the lesson:
When the situation was manageable it was neglected, and now that it is thoroughly out of hand we apply too late the remedies which then might have effected a cure. There is nothing new in the story. It is as old as the Sibylline books. It falls into that long, dismal catalogue of the fruitlessness of experience and the confirmed unteachability of mankind. Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong—these are the features which constitute the endless repetition of history.”
I love it. Unfortunately this country is quickly becoming more and more like a banana republic than the leading nation of the world. I enjoy reading the blog. Keep up the good work.
Just finished reading Rick Atkinson's first book (of a planned trilogy) on the American Revolution. Covers events from both sides up to the Battle of Trenton. As Wellington said of Waterloo, it WAS a near run thing.
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Three documents written in a space of 15 years, with an intervening war. Yet, second only to the Bible, America with these documents has brought hope to mankind unparalleled in history.
We look in retrospect at the 75 years of peace that NATO brought to the European continent. Utterly unprecedented in the last two millennia. We look at what history will show in Ukraine as a near run thing, we look at the ambitions of China as an ascendent world power and ask is this sort of ascendency what we want for mankind? If not us, than who?
The original Brexit, in a steamy room in Philadelphia in 1776, would be the seed of all of this. Might I suggest the hand of Divine Providence.
You incorporated a picture of 'Washington Crossing the Delaware' painted in 1851 by Emanuel Leutze. Are you aware that his son, Eugene Leutze, was an Admiral in the U.S. Navy? While Emanuel was working in the U.S. around 1860, he wrangled an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy for his son. RADM Leutze served as Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard in the early 1900's.
General Washington is my first cousin (8 times removed, because I’m not THAT old). That is on Dad’s side of the family. On Mom’s side, there is Henry Farnsworth (5ggf) who served in the Virginia Militia. Like many men, a farmer, he left his wife and children to fight in the war. Because that is what honorable men have always done. A salute to all of them!
1776. A year into a decades long smallpox epidemic with a mortality rate between 10-30% in colonists and 50%+ in native populations. The entire population of the colonies was about that of Houston TX today. Imagine finding all of these amazing, talented merchants, lawyers, tradesmen, and diplomats (https://www.businessinsider.com/who-signed-the-declaration-of-independence-2017-6) in a population of just over two million.
As I understand it, the painting misrepresents the events. Apparently George crossed early, ahead of the main force and "staked out the shore of the river"
In Navy speak, he led the Force Recon unit to secure the beach. Our first Riverine Commander
AMERICA! HUZZAH!
Full Bore and Happy Birthday America! Sal- don't forget Arthur Middleton from Charleston as a SC signer!! # from the Palmetto State.
Brave men then, brave men needed now that will defy the odds and rise to save The Republic.
As an aside I dated a Charleston Middleton in college. I knew the name but little else on the family.
When I went to her 10,000 sq ft "house" I was ushered into the parlor where her father awaited. He immediately started with "tell me about your family history", and then reviewed their history. Needless to say my lineage did not satisfy him. But had a great time at Isle of Palms with her.
Currently it looks like we will have to relearn the lesson:
When the situation was manageable it was neglected, and now that it is thoroughly out of hand we apply too late the remedies which then might have effected a cure. There is nothing new in the story. It is as old as the Sibylline books. It falls into that long, dismal catalogue of the fruitlessness of experience and the confirmed unteachability of mankind. Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong—these are the features which constitute the endless repetition of history.”
By the Greatest Statesman Who Ever Lived
I love it. Unfortunately this country is quickly becoming more and more like a banana republic than the leading nation of the world. I enjoy reading the blog. Keep up the good work.
And not a one renounced what he did. “Our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.”
Just finished reading Rick Atkinson's first book (of a planned trilogy) on the American Revolution. Covers events from both sides up to the Battle of Trenton. As Wellington said of Waterloo, it WAS a near run thing.
https://www.amazon.com/British-Are-Coming-Lexington-Revolution-ebook/dp/B07HF349XK/ref=sr_1_23?crid=3VVSL805TLTPN&keywords=american+revolution+books+for+adults&qid=1688131565&refinements=p_n_feature_twenty_browse-bin%3A13054657011&rnid=13054642011&s=books&sprefix=american+revolution+books%2Caps%2C166&sr=1-23
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Three documents written in a space of 15 years, with an intervening war. Yet, second only to the Bible, America with these documents has brought hope to mankind unparalleled in history.
We look in retrospect at the 75 years of peace that NATO brought to the European continent. Utterly unprecedented in the last two millennia. We look at what history will show in Ukraine as a near run thing, we look at the ambitions of China as an ascendent world power and ask is this sort of ascendency what we want for mankind? If not us, than who?
The original Brexit, in a steamy room in Philadelphia in 1776, would be the seed of all of this. Might I suggest the hand of Divine Providence.
You incorporated a picture of 'Washington Crossing the Delaware' painted in 1851 by Emanuel Leutze. Are you aware that his son, Eugene Leutze, was an Admiral in the U.S. Navy? While Emanuel was working in the U.S. around 1860, he wrangled an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy for his son. RADM Leutze served as Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard in the early 1900's.
General Washington is my first cousin (8 times removed, because I’m not THAT old). That is on Dad’s side of the family. On Mom’s side, there is Henry Farnsworth (5ggf) who served in the Virginia Militia. Like many men, a farmer, he left his wife and children to fight in the war. Because that is what honorable men have always done. A salute to all of them!
1776. A year into a decades long smallpox epidemic with a mortality rate between 10-30% in colonists and 50%+ in native populations. The entire population of the colonies was about that of Houston TX today. Imagine finding all of these amazing, talented merchants, lawyers, tradesmen, and diplomats (https://www.businessinsider.com/who-signed-the-declaration-of-independence-2017-6) in a population of just over two million.
As I understand it, the painting misrepresents the events. Apparently George crossed early, ahead of the main force and "staked out the shore of the river"
In Navy speak, he led the Force Recon unit to secure the beach. Our first Riverine Commander
"Young men deeds, middle-aged men plans, old.men farts", indeed! Also makes me feel grateful they had greater ambition than me!
Fun Fact: George Washington fired the first shots in the REAL 2nd World War.
Not happy 4th!
Happy Independence Day! In the 247th year of our freedom - long may it last.
A Happy Holiday indeed. Once again, thank you for another excellent post. Truly these men (And their families.) were Fullbore.
I love that poster.
We could have used this picture and caption well to keep our frame of mind there about Tet in 68.