The American Revolutionary Episodic; Or, The Fort Stanwix Blog

About This Blog

A blog for those wanting to learn more about the 18th Century, Fort Stanwix/Schuyler, the American Revolution, and those who lived through the happenings.

A Loyal Life, or the Story of Polly Johnson

March 10, 2023 Posted by: Ranger Bill S.

Civil wars like the American Revolution can divide families in ways none of them would ever imagine, and lead those who would not normally be considered soldiers to fight battles not for grand causes, but simply to keep their families together. Such is Mary Watts Johnson’s story.

 

From Bondage to Freedom, or Fighting For Their Independence in a Different Way

February 24, 2023 Posted by: Ranger Bill S.

It is certainly easy to understand why so many enslaved African Americans eagerly fought for the British. In 1775, Lord Dunmore, the last Royal Governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation that promised freedom to the enslaved in Virginia who ran away from their rebel American owners and joined the British forces. This proclamation of course inspired the enslaved in the other southern Colonies to run away as well.

 

"...that the Garrison may not be without vegetables in their Season."

February 23, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

Food insecurity, food scarcity, and healthy meals are hot topics during even the most prosperous of times. In times of COVID, "supply chain issues" that affects our grocery bills.

During the American Revolution, many soldiers and their families went without regular meals while fighting for their freedom. If an army runs on it's stomach, would you fight knowing that hunger is a bigger threat than the enemy?

 

Love In a Time of War

February 13, 2023 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

One of the greatest love stories ever told happened right here, at Fort Schuyler/Stanwix! Learn more about the love between Peter and Catherine Gansevoort in the following article.

 

Love In a Time of War

February 09, 2023 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

One of the greatest love stories ever told happened right here at Fort Schuyler/Stanwix! Throughout the American Revolution, Colonel Peter Gansevoort (commander of the 3rd NY Regiment at the fort) courted Catherine "Caty" Van Schaick of Albany, NY.

 

Not Quite Home for the Holidays

November 18, 2022 Posted by: Rangers Bill & Kelly

Life at Fort Stanwix/Schuyler was always difficult and demanding of sacrifice. However, the winter brought conditions and hardships to the men, women, and children garrisoned here that were sometimes worse than an enemy attack. After several years of war, sometimes the holidays that should have brought reasons to celebrate only reminded people of their unbearable living conditions and their separation from loved ones.

 

For Want of Clean Water

September 27, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

National Park Service

Toilets were not a humorous topic in the 18th Century. In fact, access to clean water and proper sanitation meant that disease would not spread. An idea that was not always taken seriously in the British or Continental armies.

 

The Confused Intelligencer, OR Rumor Has it That's What We're Attacking Them For

November 13, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill & Ranger Kelly

People in the 18th C were no different than us, and the proverbial "rumor mill" has been in existence for centuries. In the following article, two different rumors with two very different outcomes that affected the fort's garrison are explored in depth.

 

“did you ever see where I was scalped?...” or the Unfortunate Tale of Captain Gregg

October 11, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Eric O.

Captain James Gregg was stationed at Fort Schuyler [present-day Rome, N.Y.] in the summer of 1777. Accompanied by his faithful dog, and Corporal Samuel Madison, Gregg went out of the fort to go hunting on the morning of June 25, 1777. This decision, against standing orders, would prove infinitely fateful.

 

Siege 1777: The British Allied Forces

August 04, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill S.

As the Revolution came to the Mohawk Valley, New York was shattered as families and communities fought on opposite sides of the conflict. The following article describes the forces that fought on the British side of things and how they became involved.

 

Siege 1777: The Garrison of Fort Schuyler

August 04, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill S.

The American Revolution in New York became complicated as families and communities turned against each other and fighting spilled into the Mohawk Valley. Learn who fought for the American cause during the Siege of 1777 in this article.

 

Weight of a War, or The "Big Men" of the Continental Army

March 26, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Eric O.

On a tense afternoon in 1783, as Washington and his officers walked through a West Point storehouse, someone lightheartedly suggested that they all weigh themselves on a large scale normally used to weigh sacks of grain. Washington, looking to change his mood, agreed. As a result, we have the following figures...

 

Dateline: Connecticut, May 1780 OR Mutiny With No Bounty, Part 2

July 28, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Eric O.

Did you know that towards the end of the American Revolution, Mutiny is an act that most people don’t associate with George Washington’s army. But in fact, soldiers from just about every state mutinied sometime during the American Revolution. Morristown, New Jersey has the dubious distinction of being the site of two different mutinies. Two Connecticut Regiments mutinied on May 25, 1780, and the entire Pennsylvania Line mutinied on January 1, 1781, in one of the largest mutin

 

Dateline: Connecticut, May 1780 OR Mutiny With No Bounty, Part 1

May 11, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Eric O.

Mutiny is an act that most people don’t associate with George Washington’s army. But in fact, soldiers from just about every state mutinied sometime during the American Revolution. Morristown, New Jersey has the dubious distinction of being the site of two different mutinies. Two Connecticut Regiments mutinied on May 25, 1780, and the entire Pennsylvania Line mutinied on January 1, 1781, in one of the largest mutinies of the war.

 

World on Fire, or the Mystery of the Fall of Fort Schuyler 1781

April 30, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Eric O.

Fort Schuyler, or as most people call it Fort Stanwix, is famous for the Patriots successful 21-day defense of the fort against a combined force of British, Hessian, Tories and Indians. But, almost no one knows about the fall of the fort 1781. What happened in 1781 to cause the fall of the fort? Read the story, hear the evidence, and you decide who or what was responsible.

 

A Letter That is More Than What it Seems, or The Small Piquet Fort at Oneida

April 14, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill

At one point in history, there were plans for more forts to be built in the vicinity of the Oneida Carry and its inhabitants. This includes one promised by the Marquis de La Fayette to the Oneida Nation.

 

Did a Bear Visit the Fort Last Night?, or Historic Wildlife on the Oneida Carry

April 07, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

What types of animal species were found in the historic location of Fort Stanwix National Monument, and what can be scene today? Read the following article to find out!

 

Working with Complicated Allies or The Indians and French on the Oneida Carry, 1756

March 20, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill

While the goals of Indians and whites working as allies were compatible overall, there was often a point where they would diverge, sometimes only marginally, sometimes quite radically. This was particularly true when larger combined operations took place.

 

Spotlight: Women of the Army

February 25, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

A great many women took part in the Revolutionary War. The two main reasons women usually followed their husbands into the army was the occupation and/or destruction of their home areas by the British, or they simply would not be able to provide for themselves and their families with their husband gone. Learn more about their trials, tribulations, and victories in the following post.

 

"Troops Not Paid..."

February 23, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

Have you ever had to pinch pennies to survive? Have you ever done it while fighting? Soldiers in the Continental Army nearly always went short or without supplies. On top of that, they often had to go without real pay as well. What would you do if you were in their shoes?

 

Freedom Denied? Enslaved Soldiers During the Revolution

February 01, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill

African Americans had an extensive role in the American Revolution, which until more recent times has tended to be glossed over, or intentionally forgotten. This is particularly true concerning those African Americans who chose to fight for the British. For the United States Army, it would be the first and last time it was fully integrated until the 1950’s.

 

"...many men froze to death..."

February 05, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill

Late in the war effort George Washington had hoped a winter attack on the enemy would push the Continental Army to victory. In February of 1783, Marinus Willett of Fort Stanwix/Schuyler fame led this ill-fated attack against the British garrison at Oswego, NY.

 

There are only two things I can't stand in this world: People who are intolerant of other people's cultures, and party poopers

January 05, 2022 Posted by: Ranger Bill

Warren Johnson was the brother of prominent Mohawk Valley resident Sir John Johnson. In 1760, Warren traveled through the valley for the first time to visit with his brother. It was a trip that he didn't seem to enjoy much; his random musings mainly directed at the Dutch. There are many obvious personal biases which Johnson flavors his observations with we must strip away. Once we do, however, we are still left with some unique insights into the 18th century Dutch culture.

 

Recommendations for Christmas & New Year's Boxes

December 09, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Bill

Just what is a "Christmas Box" and where can you get yours? Read below to learn more about where the tradition of winter gift giving came from.

 

“...and half naked...”

August 07, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

How were the soldiers at Fort Schuyler dressed during the American Revolution? Read the following article to learn more!

 

The Northern Campaign of 1777

August 04, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Bill

From the beginning of the American Revolution, the British had understood the importance of gaining control of the Lake Champlain-Lake George-Hudson River water route to effectively cut off the colonies north of New York from those to the south. Almost all the troubles leading to the war had originated from New England, and the British hoped that if they could put down the rebellion there, the rest of the colonies might consider abandoning the war.

 

The Samuel Geake Conspiracy

July 22, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Bill

Throughout the Revolution, the British attempted to destroy Continental forces by sending British agents or disaffected American prisoners amongst them urging them to desert or mutiny. Most of these plots failed because the British did not understand that just because the troops were upset with their lot as soldiers, it didn’t necessarily mean they had given up on the cause of Independence.

 

The Declaration of Independence: What Were They Thinking?

June 30, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Val & Ranger Bill

What is a "grievance" and what did the 27 of them listed in the Declaration of Independence mean to those in the 13 Colonies supporting separation from Great Britain? Explore this in this month's Fort Stanwix Blog.

 

My Father, The Hero

June 20, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Kelly

Is your father your hero? Many men of the Revolution were considered heroes in their old age. But to their sons and daughters they were just “dad.”

 

The Early Rebellion in New York

June 14, 2021 Posted by: Ranger Bill

Among early historians researching New York during the American Revolution, the lack of numerous large scale public radical acts against British authority helped forge the reputation of it having been a largely Loyalist colony. If one looks closer however, this reputation is undeserved. It was in fact a very radical public act that brought about a change in how pre-war opposition to England would be handled by “rebel” leaders in New York.

 
 

Last updated: April 26, 2022

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