On October 15, 1777, John Graves Simcoe was appointed commander of the Queen's Rangers. He received this command with the provisional rank of major, and the appointment was made in Pennsylvania during the Philadelphia Campaign.
The First Continental Congress drafted the Declaration of Rights and Grievances in 1774 to express dissatisfaction with British statutes imposed on American colonists. Among other complaints, the Congress criticized the British Parliament’s unfair taxation, lack of representation, and the judicial abuses collectively known as the Intolerable or Coercive Acts. This series of punitive measures, prompted by the Boston Tea Party, further alienated the colonists from Great Britain. Additionally, the declaration announced that the colonies would boycott trade with Great Britain by entering “a nonimportation nonconsumption and nonexportation agreement.” The colonists asserted that their ancestors who had originally settled in North America did not forfeit the rights afforded them by the English constitution when they emigrated. Therefore, their descendants, the colonists, should be entitled to the same rights, including “life, liberty & property.” The sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Rights and Grievances foreshadowed those of the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
6 months later we would have the shot heard round the world on Lexington green and the Revolutionary War would begin.
“The disturbances in America give great trouble to all our Nations.”
Joseph Brant, March 14, 1776
In 1775, when the Revolutionary War began, more than 250,000 Native Americans lived east of the Mississippi River. They formed more than 80 nations and spoke dozens of languages and dialects. As fighting between British and Revolutionary forces increased in 1776, both sides called on American Indians for support. The stakes for Native Americans were high as they worried about how to best preserve their independence and land in the midst of a war. Various Native communities and nations chose different strategies. Some tried to remain neutral, others actively sided with the British, and a smaller number allied with the Revolutionaries. In doing so, they all hoped to protect their homelands and ways of life.
Choosing Sides
For most Native peoples, an independent United States dedicated to westward expansion seemed to pose a far greater threat than the British, who had placed some limits on colonial encroachment on Native American lands. The British had numerous advantages over the Americans in maintaining tribal allies. With much greater financial resources and control of the sea, British officials could supply the trade goods (like cloth, metal tools, firearms, and ammunition) that Native people had come to rely on. Many nations had come to see the British Crown as a protector and ally on whom they could rely. Most importantly, these nations knew that an American victory would expose their territories to encroachment by soldiers and settlers. However, some Native American nations chose to support the Revolutionaries, who they considered neighbors and friends. These groups of American Indians believed that if the Revolutionaries were victorious, they would allow them to maintain control over their homelands.
Image: Gayë́twahgeh (also known as Cornplanter, 1732/40–1836). F. Bartoli. 1796.
Information provided by: The Museum of the American Revolution and The New York Historical Museum
October 11, 1776 The Battle of Valcour island.
The battle is generally regarded as one of the first naval battles of the American Revolutionary War, and one of the first fought by the United States Navy.
Most of the ships in the American fleet under the command of Benedict Arnold were captured or destroyed by a British force under the overall direction of General Guy Carleton. Despite losing 11 ships and nearly 200 sailors to capture or casualty, the American defense of Lake Champlain stalled British plans to reach the upper Hudson River valley
TRY REENACTING!
Do you want to fire a musket, help crew a cannon, or just enjoy an evening around the fire?
Our Units are excited to host folks who want to try out the hobby.
They will supply the necessary gear and clothing for you (and your family) to join us for a weekend reenacting the American Revolution!
What are you in for? Read our “What Re-enacting with the NWTA Looks Like.”