3rd New York Regiment, Captain Lewis Dubois Company

Breeches are an essential piece of clothing for all soldiers.

Metropotamia?

We love this 1785 map from the Richard H. Brown Revolutionary War Map Collection at Mount Vernon, for it is the first known published map to show Thomas Jefferson's proposed state names in the Northwest: Sylvania, Michigania, Cheronesus, Assenisippis, Metropotamia, and more. You can read the report on Founders Online at https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-06-02-0420-0004.

The digital copy of the map is part of the ARGO project, supported by the NHPRC. And you can take a close-up look at https://www.argomaps.org/maps/commonwealth:z603vt312/

ARGO: American Revolutionary Geographies Online is a new project led by the Leventhal Map and Education Center at the Boston Public Library and the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Leveraging new technology and the recent drive by many museums, libraries, and archives to digitize their collections, the portal collates digitized maps of North America made between 1750 and 1800 into a single user-friendly portal. In addition to providing users from many backgrounds with easy, intuitive access to beautiful high-resolution images, ARGO seeks to give users of all kinds the tools they need to learn and understand through interpretive essays, curated collections, classroom materials, and more.

ARGO is at https://www.argomaps.org/

Dinner time!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/yupFTqK5XWmurJJW/?mibextid=WC7FN

Soldier’s rations authorized by the third Provincial Congress on June 10, 1775:

- One pound of bread
- Half a pound of beef and half a pound of pork; and if pork cannot be had, one pound and a quarter of beef; and one day in seven they shall have one pound and one quarter of salt fish, instead of one day’s allowance of meat
- One pint of milk, or, if milk cannot be had, one gill of rice
- One quart of good spruce or malt beer
- One gill of peas or beans, or other sauce equivalent
- Six ounces of good butter per week
- Half a pint of vinegar per week per man, if it can be had

In reality, the Continental Army’s rations were rarely issued in these quantities. Supplies were never consistent. Ultimately the rations for the soldiers typically consisted of: around one pound of beef or pork (normally preserved) per day, one pound of bread (hard bread) per day, and three pints of a vegetable per week.

🎇Happy 4th of July to all!🎆

On this day in 1775, George Washington ordered Philip Schuyler to take command of the New York Department Troops of the Continental Line:

"New York 25 June 1775.

Sir

You are to take upon you the Command of all the Forces destined for the New York Department; and see that the Orders of the Continental Congress are carried into Ex*****on with as much precision and Exactness as possible.
For your better Government therein you are herewith furnished with a Copy of the Instructions given to me by that Honorable Body.

Such parts thereof as fall within the Line of your Duty, you will please to pay particular Attention to.
Delay no Time in occupying the several posts recommended by the provincial Congress of this Colony, and putting them in a fit posture to answer the End designed—neither delay any Time in securing the Stores which are or ought to have been removed from this City by Order of the Continental Congress.

Keep a watchful Eye upon Governor Tryon; and if you find him attempting directly or indirectly any Measures inimical to the common Cause use every Means in your power to frustrate his Designs—It is not in my power at this Time, to point out the Mode, by which this End is to be accomplished; but if forceable Measures are adjudged necessary respecting the person of the Governor, I should have no Difficulty in ordering of it, if the Continental Congress were not sitting: but as this is the Case and seizing of Governors quite a new Thing and of exceeding great Importance, I must refer you to that Body for Direction, in Case his Excellency the Governor should make any Move towards encreasing the Strength of the Tory party or in arming them against the Cause we are embarked in.

In like Manner watch the Movements of the Indian agent (Colonel Guy Johnson) and prevent as far as you can the Effect of his Influence to our Pr⟨ej⟩udice with the Indians—Obtain the best Information you can of the Temper and Disposition of these people; and also of the Canadians, that a proper Line may be mark’d out to conciliate their good Opinions and facilitate any future Operation.

The posts on Lake Champlain &c. you will please to have properly supplied with provision and ammunition, and this I am persuaded you will aim at doing upon the best Terms, to prevent our good and just Cause from sinking under a heavy Load of Expence.

You will be pleased also to make regular Returns once a Month to me and to the Continental Congress (and oftner as Occurrences may require) of the Forces under your Command—Of your provisions, Stores &c. and give me the earliest Advises of every piece of Intelligence, which you shall judge of Importance to be speedily known.

Your own good Sense must govern in all Matters not particularly pointed out, as I do not wish to circumscribe you within too narrow Limits. I remain with great Regard Sir Your most obedt Servt
Go. Washington"

I’m proud of being a Wisconsinite and soldiers of the time period were proud of their home states too as shown by this New York powder horn!

Powder horn of Lexington militiaman Edmund Munro.

This horn dates to the French and Indian War and is inscribed "Edmvnd MVNRO 1758." It also contains period maps and images of various New York locations. Overall, it measures 10 1/2 inches.

Munro served as an ensign in Roger's Rangers during the French and Indian War. He was present at the Battle of Lexington and served as the commanding officer of a company in the 15th Massachusetts Regiment, Glover's Brigade.

He was killed at the Battle of Monmouth when his company took a direct artillery hit.

June 17 is Bunker Hill Day.

Bunker HIll Day:

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill & the burning of Charlestown, June 17, 1775. Casualties were high on both sides.
Following the battle, Charlestown was burned.
Library of Congress engraving by Lodge; drawing by Millar

Boston National Historical Park

Flag Day!

Time for another !

June 14th is Flag Day in the United States, but many flags flew over the historic Fort Schuyler/Stanwix. On March 26, 1758, the British flag was unfurled for the first time above the walls.

𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 78𝙩𝙝 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙩:

“...Parole: KING GEORGE AND THE BRITISH FLAGG –
… No Man to be Out of the Garrison After Twelve of the Clock that they may be Ready to Go to their Alarm Posts when the Flag is hoisted.

…This day the british Flagg was Hoisted for the first, for which Major Clephane Ordered Nine guns to be fired.”
Today, the modern American flag is the standard. Check out the article in the comments to learn the history of the flags that may (or may not have) flown over the walls during the American Revolution.

An important activity for all soldiers was the proper cleaning and maintenance of muskets. Soldiers in the 3rd New York carried Brown Bess flintlocks. These weapons needed to be cleaned regularly so they could operate when needed. A soldier could easily carry cleaning materials including patches and metal 'worm' tool in his pack. Hot water was the only other item needed. Pictured is Private Sutton cleaning his musket at a recent encampment.

The Northwest Territory Alliance, our parent organization, debuted new collectors cards to facilitate conversations with our visitors and in celebration of the organization’s 50th birthday this year. Interested parties are given a question sheet, and when they locate the regiment and hear the answer to the question, they are awarded a collectible card. We’re proud of ours and really enjoy the way this new program has generated interest in what we do!

If you happen to be in New York…

Great photos of the members of the regiment present at the Menomonee Falls, WI event, courtesy Ruth Schneck.

9:15 a.m. April 19, 1775: A moment of decision...

With smoke seen rising above Concord and not realizing the British soldiers were actually putting it out, some of the men on the Muster Field were agitating for action. One warm-tempered Concord officer, Lt. Joseph Hosmer, exclaimed to his superiors "Will you let them burn the town down???" At some point the colonial soldiers began to change the flints in their muskets to make sure they had good, sharp flints that would produce a sufficient spark to ignite the powder charge. These flints were found by an archaeologist in 1934, laying exactly as they were dropped on April 19, 1775. Captured in the soil was THE moment they knew they were actually going into battle. (Photo by Joel Bohy)









Image description: An assortment of well-worn musket flints from the Muster Field, now in the collection of Concord Museum.

1 November 1775: Livingston: "Another express arriv'd from Col'o Warner intimating that He was in fear of another attack from Carleton - sent him Lt. E. V. Bunschoten with 40 men - But the Colonel was mistaken in his surmises - Carleton never appeared, & our Lt. Returned."

In the meantime, the Colonial battery northwest of Fort St. John is completed and opens fire at the British held fort. The fort, which is already significantly damaged, suffers even more serve damage due to this cannon fire. At sundown, General Montgomery sends forward a flag of truce to convince the British commander Preston to surrender. After several exchanges of terms, the British accept of the Colonial surrender terms. Fort St. John has fallen.

2 November 1775: Livingston: "In evening we had the agreable newes brought us that St. Johns surrendered this day, after a most tedious siege of 45 days."

3 November 1775: British forces vacate Fort St. John. They board bateaux for the journey south to the American Colonies. Colonial forces at the fort begin to move towards Laprairie to push the attack on towards Montreal. The weather has turned colder and snowy, hampering the Colonial forces marching to La Prairie. Livingston: "The Town crowded all day with carts on their way to St. Johns to convey the Baggage of our army to this place."