Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News

Reporting the Revolutionary War: Before It Was History, It Was News
Todd Andrlik (Author)
(43)

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Propaganda & Political Psychology

"This is 'you are there' history at its best...[Reporting the Revolutionary War] lets us see and feel how events unfolded for the people who lived them."—American History

For the colonists of the new world, the years of the American Revolution were a time of upheaval and rebellion. History boils it down to a few key events and has embodied it with a handful of legendary personalities. But the reality of the time was that everyday people witnessed thousands of little moments blaze into an epic conflict-for more than twenty years. Now, for the first time, experience the sparks of revolution the way the colonists did—in their very own town newspapers and broadsheets. Reporting the Revolutionary War is a stunning collection of primary sources, sprinkled with modern analysis from 37 historians. Featuring Patriot and Loyalist eyewitness accounts from newspapers printed on both sides of the Atlantic, readers will experience the revolution as it happened with the same immediacy and uncertainty of the colonists.

The American newspapers of the eighteenth century fanned the flames of rebellion, igniting the ideas of patriotism and liberty among average citizens who had never before been so strongly united. Within the papers, you'll also read the private correspondence and battlefield letters of the rebels and patriots who grabbed the attention of each and every colonist and pushed them to fight for freedom and change. From one of America's leading Revolutionary War newspaper archivists, Todd Andrlik, and guided by scores of historians and experts, Reporting the Revolutionary War brings you into the homes of Americans and lets you see through their eyes the tinderbox of war as it explodes.

"The story of the battle for independence unlike any version that has been told." —Military Review

• Rank: #24405 in Books
• Published on: 2012-11-01
• Released on: 2012-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 10.43" h x 9.96" w x 1.30" l, .0 pounds
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Description #1 by Barnes & Noble:

Categories: Current Events magazines, Women's Interest magazines, Current Events magazines. Contributors: US News and World Report - Author. Format: NOOK Book

Description #2 by LangtonInfo.com:

Presents a collection of primary source newspaper articles and correspondence reporting the events of the Revolution, containing both American and British eyewitness accounts and commentary and analysis from thirty-seven historians.

Description #3 by Etsy - HeirloomGiftPens:

UNIQUE AND RARE This pen was made from the limb of a Sycamore tree growing along the banks of the Assunpink Creek in Trenton NJ, which served as the front line and Washington's defense in the Second Battle of Trenton. Nature gives each of these a unique design which I have the pleasure to reveal. Because of the source I can only make so many, so they will remain inherently rare. This tree saw the loss of many brave men - - but the birth of a new nation. This pens exclusive registered number is F/AMC2743. This will be a piece history in your hand to show and share with friends and family. THE HISTORIC SITE AND PEOPLE The Declaration of Independence was less than 6 months old and in that time Washington's soldiers left their position in Boston, tried and failed to hold New York city and were chased across New Jersey with great loss of men and supplies. Washington and his men had retreated across the Delaware river taking every boat they could find with them and used this body of water and the winter weather to shield them from the well trained and well supplied British and Hessian forces. Not only was the morale among his men desperately low , but also among those that might supply them. Indeed, everyone in the American camp felt the situation to be desperate. Col. Joseph Reed wrote Washington that something must be attempted to revive our expiring credit, give our cause some degree of reputation, and prevent a total depreciation of the Continental money, which is coming in very fast- that even a failure cannot be more total than to remain in our present situation. Washington admitted in a letter that the game was about up. At the end of the year, more enlistments would run out and reduce his force to under 1500 men. Winter was coming fast and the British would be able to continue their pursuit once the Delaware River froze over. It was looking like a lost cause. The British certainly thought so as they settled into their winter encampments throughout New Jersey. Though safe for the moment, with out a miracle, the end still seemed at hand for the revolutionary cause. Washington and his war counsel had to come up with a daring if desperate plan. Another defeat would most likely end all chance of success of independence, a battle won might however rekindle the spark of hope. The plan they devised was to surprise and attack a small British outpost of Hessian solders garrisoned at Trenton. They believed that if three separate forces secretly crossed the river above and below the outpost that the enemy could be caught unprepared in a pincer movement and defeated, allowing the Americans to capture much needed supplies and rekindle some faith in the cause. The attack had to happen soon for Washington was about to loose the better part of his troops at the end of their enlistment on January 1st. Christmas night was decided upon for the crossing. The troops were readied to move to the shores after dark and make the crossing by cover of night. The ice in the river was treacherous that night and it delayed Washington's crossing seriously, but unbeknownst to him, his was the only force that was able to make the crossing at all. The advance on Trenton was difficult and delayed, but advance they did, and though they arrived at Trenton much later than Washington had hoped they still found the Hessians unprepared. And though unsupported by the arrival of the other two expected forces, Washington's men were not only victorious but won the victory with out the loss of life of a single American solder in the battle. The Hessians did not fair so well and most were captured along with their supplies. However fearing an attack by the Main British army Washington moved his men and much needed captured supplies back over the river to Pennsylvania. On December 27th General Cadwalader, who had been unable to land on the Jersey shore on the 26th due to the ice on that shore, reported that he was crossing near Burlington, as he was being reinforced by militia who had been encouraged by news of the victory at Trenton. He thought that Washington's troops were still in Trenton. He moved through the now empty Burlington and then to Bordentown, reporting that the citizens were hastily removing the red rags nailed to their doors as symbols of loyalty to the crown. Washington, at the Pennsylvania camp, received word that General Cadwalader had crossed the Delaware and was in Trenton. He entreated Washington to join him in advancing on the British who were in a panic. Washington realized that ordering Cadwalader to retreat from Trenton would deflate the recent victory, but his men at the moment were in no condition to advance again. By the 30th his men were rested enough to re-crossed the river and join Cadwalader in Trenton. By this time the British under Cornwallis had arrived at Princeton with 8000 troops. Washington knew he could expect an attack by Cornwallis very shortly and was determined to make a fight of it. But instead of fortifying Trenton he put his lines just south of the town on the south bank of the Assunpink Creek. A $10.00 bonus was offered to anyone who would reenlist, and here General Washington made an impassioned plea to a regiment whose enlistments were about to expire. No one stepped forward to stay. As a sergeant in Washington's camp wrote the soldiers worn down from fatigue and privations, had their hearts fixed on home and comforts of the domestic circle, and it is hard to forego the anticipated pleasures of the society of our dearest friends. Once again Washington spoke My brave fellows, you have done all I asked you to do and more than could reasonably be expected. But your country is at stake, your wives, your houses, and all that you hold dear. You have worn yourselves out with fatigues and hardships, but we know not how to spare you. If you will consent to stay only one month longer, you will render that service to the cause of liberty and to your country which you probably never can do under any other circumstances. The present is emphatically the crisis which is to decide our destiny. Again the drums rolled, calling for men to step forwarded, and finally about half of the men stepped out to reenlist. Other officers spoke to other regiments with the same success. If Washington could maintain the initiative, he might save the Revolution, but a loss would end the fight. Washington had troops place an outer defensive line halfway between Trenton and Princeton, with the goal of delaying the British advance. On January 2nd Cornwallis marches toward Trenton with about 6000 men. Out in front of his army, he placed a skirmish line of Hessian jagers and British light infantry. As the British came within range, the American riflemen opened fire under the command of Colonel Edward Hand. The American riflemen took cover in the woods, ravines and even in bends in the road, and each time the British would line up in a battle line, the riflemen would fall back and fire from cover. After Hand was forced to abandon the American position along Five Mile Run, he took up a new position, a heavily wooded area on the south bank of Shabbakonk Creek. Hand deployed his men in the trees where they were so well protected from view that the British could not see them as they crossed the bridge over the stream. The riflemen fired at them from point-blank range. The intense fire confused the British into thinking that the entire American army was there and they formed into battle lines, bringing up their cannon. The British searched the woods for a half an hour looking for the Americans, but Hand had already withdrawn to a new position. By three in the afternoon, the first British had reached a ravine known as Stockton Hollow, about a half a mile (0.8 km) from Trenton where the Americans were forming another line of defense. Washington wanted to hold the British off until nightfall, when darkness would prevent the British from attacking his defenses on the south side of Assunpink Creek. The British, with artillery in position, attacked Hand's new position, and he gave way, slowly falling back into Trenton. Along the way, Hand had his troops fire from behind houses. As Hand's troops came to the creek, the Hessians charged at them with bayonets fixed, causing chaos among the Americans. Washington, seeing the chaos, rode out through the crowd of men crossing the bridge, and shouted that Hand's rear guard pull back and regroup under the cover of the American artillery. As the British prepared to attack the American defenses, cannon and musket fire was exchanged between the opposing sides. The British moved across the bridge, advancing in solid columns, and the Americans all fired together. The British fell back, but only for a moment. The British charged the bridge again, but were driven back by cannon fire. The British charged one final time, but the Americans fired canister shot this time, and the British lines were raked with fire. One soldier said, "The bridge looked red as blood, with their killed and wounded and their red coats. When Cornwallis arrived in Trenton with the main army, he called a council of war as to whether or not he should continue to attack. Cornwallis' quartermaster general, William Erskine, urged Cornwallis to strike right away, saying "If Washington is the General I take him to be, his army will not be found there in the morning." But James Grant disagreed, and argued that there was no way for the Americans to retreat, and that the British troops were worn out, that it would be better for them to attack in the morning after they had rested. Cornwallis did not want to wait until morning, but he decided that it would be better than sending his troops out to attack in the dark. Cornwallis said, "We've got the old fox safe now. We'll go over and bag him in the morning." Cornwallis then moved his army to a hill north of Trenton for the night. During the night, the American artillery, under the command of Henry Knox, occasionally fired shells into Trenton to keep the British on edge. Washington also called for a council of war. His men knew that there was a back road that would lead to Princeton, and his council of war agreed to make an attempt against the British garrison at Princeton. By 2am with wagon wheels covered in rags for silence, the army was on its way to Princeton. Washington left behind 500 men and two cannons to keep the fires burning and to make noise with picks and shovels to make the British think they were digging in. By morning, these men too had evacuated, and when the British came to attack, all of the American troops were gone,and about to engage in the third victory in a row, at the Battle of Princeton. The strategy was a success. These three victories not only convinced the British commanders to abandon most of New Jersey but greatly revived faith in the cause, and saved the War for Independence. THIS PEN ENJOYED BY Students, teachers, and enthusiasts of American and English history. Descendants of men serving in this battle, especially DAR and SAR members. Members of the military. Anyone who appreciates the unique, or just simple beauty. To help you find pens from specific historic sites I have put together these links. Summerseat - - Home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution and the Financier of the Revolution - and Washington's Headquarters, December 1776. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Summerseat&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens Christ Church Burial Ground -- Final resting place of 5 signers of the Declaration of Independence, including Benjamin Franklin. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Christ+Church+BG&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens George Clymer -- One of only 6 men who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=George+Clymer&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens Battle of Trenton (1st) - - The amazing first battle of the Ten Crucial Days that turned the revolutionary war back from certain defeat. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Battle+of+Trenton&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens 2nd Battle of Trenton - - The surprising second battle of the Ten Crucial Days that turned the revolutionary war back from certain defeat. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=2bt&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search Battle of Princeton -- The third battle of the Ten Crucial Days that turned the revolutionary war back from certain defeat. The first recorded land battle of the US Marines. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Battle+of+Princeton&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens Mercer Oak -- The famous 300 year old witness tree of the Battle of Princeton. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Mercer+Oak&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens Thomas Paine -- Known as the Father of the Revolution for his writings leading to and during the American Revolution. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Thomas+Paine&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens Valley Forge -- George Washington's famous winter encampment where his troops became an Army, capable of standing against the best Europe had to offer. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=Valley+Forge&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens William Penn -- Founded the first colony to guarantee the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion - Pennsylvania. Founder and Planer of Philadelphia. http://www.etsy.com/shop/HeirloomGiftPens/search?search_query=William+Penn&search_submit=&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6104937&shopname=HeirloomGiftPens THIS PEN Light brown with a subtle streak of center heart and a dark slash. It is a twist action Ball Point pen that uses a Cross refill available at any stationary in broad, medium and fine points and three colors, and can even be converted in to a mechanical pencil. The metal finish is a sealed 24kt gold. COMES WITH THE PEN Each pen comes suspended in a box suitable for gift giving (gold with a clear top) and a parchment paper pamphlet giving a history of the Second Battle of Trenton. MADE TO BE COLLECTABLE AND PASSED ON These pens are meant to be used, but they are also meant to be collectible and passed on to succeeding generations or among friends. Therefore each is given a unique, recorded collectors number. Along with the number I keep 4 high resolution photos for future authentication identification if needed. These pictures are also sent along with the pen on the accompanying authentication and continuing provenance card. The continuing provenance card is there for each successive owner to sign and give this pen a family history of its own over the years. So if you are giving this pen as a gift you should sign the first slot to start its history trail. Sites I now have available are: Princeton Battlefield The Mercer Oak ( a witness tree in the Battle of Princeton) Battle of Trenton (1st) Valley Forge Summerseat Christ Church Burial Ground The Benjamin Rush Oak George Clymer Thomas Paine William Pen The Second Battle of Trenton I will continue to add more. In the works are: Washington's Crossing Richard Stockton Morven) The Benjamin Franklin Holly Monmouth Battlefield The Tennent Oak ( a witness tree in the Battle of Monmouth) # 78