Wachong Thor Section 2 was focused on how inexperience and unprepared Washington's army was. They repeatedly retreated and disappointed many of the people and tehy lost hope in the rebellion. My background knowledge doesn't recall Washington being a weak leader at any point of the war at all. That was something that really startled me in this section.
A thing that changed in this section was the rebellion sense. People gave up hope. The British were able to maintain there sense of duty and this surely helped them. This caused the Americans to discombobulate and fall apart. We know now to have confidence and be prideful and don't give up for out goals.
Some interesting Thoughts. Washington's experience was very limited during the French and Indian War, but it was vastly superior to most other American leaders. Thank you Wachong!
Ramsey Beilke- Well this section was kind of sad to read. Whenever I have thought of the Revolutionary War, I always saw the Continental Army as the underdogs, but who were never seriously defeated. This showed that, yes, they were defeated. The major oversight of Jamaica pass really surprised me, even with the limited experience of their officers, it seems something like that would have been a concern of sorts. Also, when they did fight, it was apparent that although many people did die, it wasn't a huge part of the army. I was expecting these battles to be losing maybe 2/3 of the troops before they route, but it turns out that almost any significant lose of troops can turn any army. This works to the Continental Armies advantage at the earlier battles of Brooklyn, but after they are outflanked, it really works against them, since all the British had to do was show up for the Continental Army to flee.
Another thing that caught my attention was the resolve that the Americans had. They put up with terrible conditions and lack of almost everything, but still managed to be an efficient army. Especially when it came to the retreat. I would assume most armies would have made much noise because all the troops would have wanted to get out of there. And the ease and silence of the Americans shows a serious dedication to their cause.
I once read in a paper about the Revolutionary war that if either army had used bows and arrows, that they would have been much more successful. I can see how this fits in now after a real battle. Because a bow can shoot two to three times as fast as a musket and with much greater accuracy. Also, in the abundant forest of the New England area, the ammunition would be very easy to make.
Responding to Wachong's post- I wouldn't agree so much that Washington is a weak general, I just think he was not experienced enough. Since he knew what needed to be done for his plan to work, and had it worked he would have been considered a very strong general for this battle. We can't know what Washington was thinking when he kept moving troops to Brooklyn, he might have had a greater plan that just didn't fill out as he wanted it to. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Washington's plan been completed how he wanted it.
Quite intersecting, section this way. I loved that confident that was showed before the major retreat made in New York. It was quite shocking to see how much the American troops suffer at New York. I'm not much a military strategist but i thought what Washington was going to defend the British troops. I was shocked to read that the American had to do a major retreat.
with the major loss of New York, it had a huge effect on the troops and General moral. In the Next section I believe the Washington Troops will suffer much loss.
Commenting on Ramsey Beilke Post- I would say that it was much to my amaze and shocking to read that the troops of the British were able to bring fear and knock the American troops to retreat. I thought that they American troops had a well layed out plan. I guess it just backfired.
Commenting on James Paul's post: I disagree with you on your opinion about the American retreat. I thought it was imminent, due to their massive outnumbering.
Questions: I’d come across this term several times in the last part and hadn’t remembered what it meant: Tory. After looking it up, I found out that it was a member of the conservative party in Britain (AKA Loyalist). Two other words in chapter four also confused me: Trull and bitchfoxly. Trull turned out to be slang for prostitute, meaning troll, and bitchfoxly was slang for it too. Was anyone else surprised at how vulgar the language was back then? I was always under the impression that profane language wasn’t as commonly used back then.
Differing Perspectives: Whose perspective is this? This is written in more of an American perspective, judging by the amount of information about the American side compared to the British side’s information. What other perspectives exist on this topic? The British perspective was the only other one, and that was that the king should be the ruler of the Americans, whereas the Americans wanted independence. Which perspective do you agree with? I obviously agree with the American perspective. Their independence helped shape the country today and if the outcome of the war had been different, there might not even be a United States.
Visualize: In the middle of chapter five when the British troops were sneaking through the pass, it made me picture a bunch of troops tiptoeing through the woods, shushing each other whenever someone made any sort of noise.
Through Their Eyes: How did people in the past view their world? As it said in chapter five, the British were shocked that the Americans would even dream of breaking off from their ‘divine ruler’, much less actually do it. King George III was the British people’s God chosen leader, and the Americans wouldn’t have it anymore. How did their worldview affect their choices and actions? The British view of the King contrasting with the Americans’ view made the British make the choice of declaring war upon the American colonies.
Connections: From what I know about military strategies it was a good idea for the the British army to wait till more reinforcement came and using navy force to take advantage of New York. As to Washington's retreat it was a good idea because as the saying goes live another day to fight.
Preview/Predict: At first I thought that if was a good idea to fortify the defense of New York, but then i forgot that even with a powerful defense and with no navy force, it would now be as powerful as it seems.
Turning Points: When Washington decided to divide his force to enforce more defense and be cautious of the British plan, it was a great idea because he could still order the army to retreat even though they have lost New York. By doing this he won't have to worry about diversions from the British army as much.
Cause and Effect: When Washington decide to split his force because of his worries it cause him to over think which made him to give up New York. By splitting the force it lessened the defense of New York.
Commenting on Karsyn Schirmer: I agree with Karsyn that it may have been to American perspective. If we look at the information carefully we know more about what the American army is doing then the British army. The American army have lots of letters and journals written and the letters and journals where kept as to the other sides information.
Change and Continuity: It was amazing to see that Washington's troops were finally in high spirits and were off to Boston to once again face the British. The change in scenary was apparent to the British, but not so much at first to the Americans. They had left the Jamaica pass unguarded and had their army setup for an all out attack on Boston. With this single track minded approach, the British didn't "follow" American plans, and had the advantage of the water over the Americans. They had put up a somewhat decent fight, but the choice to retreat was necessary, and in the manner that they had done, it was a feat of its own. The British were now victors of this battle, but the American army was not ready to face the British in battle, so how were the British ever to win?
Cause and Effect: There is no doubt that a lot of luck helped Washington. If not for the fog, the rest of his army still at Boston would have been exposed to possible fire from the British, thus lessening the force of the American army. If not for the winds and storms beforehand, the British could have charged their way up to the Americans and the outcome would have been much more brutal. These changes in conditions had favored the Americans time after time, but what will happen when they don't?
Preview/Predict: Now that the British army has had their boost of confidence, and the American army is still soaked, tired, hungry, and in need of great assistance to keep them healthy, I foresee the British pressing on to keep Washington on his toes. It will prove difficult to win a battle though, if the Americans now keep retreating. A victor will be hard to make out of this war if things keep going the same track they are.
Questions: What would have happened had the British not had stopped pushing forward with such force when they were making ground on the Americans at Boston? What if the winds and storms and fog not have happened? The outcome would have been much more tragic in nature.
Commenting on Chang's post: I too thought that fortifying the defense of New York was a good idea, but the true force of the British Navy was truly underestimated during the time of preparation. Had more thought been given to the situation, I think that Washington could have kept Boston.
Visualize: I easily visualized the huge ships trying discretely to pass through the canal even with the rebel guns turned on them. I cAn picture the aimless cannon balls splashing into the water far away from the ships and the anxiousness felt by the rebels as they passed by.
Questions: what exactly was George Washington feeling as his army retreated? Were they upset at the prospect of having to leave something New York after the so heavily fortified it with defense mechanisms? And were the British happy that they left? And why do the rebels keep thinking that Bunker hill will happen all ove again?
Turning point: once again, this section ended with a large turning point, however, this turning point was a negative point in the war for the rebels. This marks an incredibke defeat and gives even more power to the British.
Change and continuity: While rebel forces have, for the most part, stayed the same, British forces changed drastically. Improvements in their firepower as well as their numbers in men rendered their forces to be of a much higher standard than in previous battles with the rebels. Clearly this benefitted the British but not the rebels.
Commenting on Karsyn Schirmer's post about visualizing: I agree- I too saw the redcoats sneaking around in the dim moonlight and freezing everytime someone stepped on a stick.
Visualization: Compared to the first section, this one had much more to visualize; such as the Asia getting into the canal through rebel cannon fire going in every direction, and the rebels sneaking away from the British under the night and fog.
Cause and Effect: A thought that struck me while reading was how the British got through the Jamacia Pass without much resistance from the rebels, and if that flanking did not work, how would the battle have changed? In my opinion the most it would have done is delay the battle for a few more hours, but by that time the night would not have been long enough for them to escape, even with the fog.
Through Their Eyes: Through the eyes of George Washington, this would have been very traumatic to have such a crushing defeat unfold and know that there is almost nothing that can be done to fight back and hold the line at all. I wonder if Washington had any guilt about splitting his troops and keeping some at New York City when the attack did not happen there like he planed.
Importance: One idea that the book touched on that made me think was that you cannot win wars with withdraws, because it is a good point. The rebels needed to at some time regroup and face the British head on, otherwise it is not fighting and when it comes to running constantly you might as well have lost anyway.
Commenting on Zachary's Comment: I do not wish to sound rude, however I would like to make a correction. The rebels did not lose New York, they lost Brooklyn(page 219). However, I do agree that to build it up just to have to leave it behind in retreat, it must have been upsetting.
Visualizing: Before starting this section, once again I looked at all the pictures to help me visualize, and it occurred to me while looking at their uniforms, that it must be really heavy, and hot walking around with all that thick materialed uniforms. Then, looking through the maps I realized that these men must have had some great stamina to travel that far without cars, and hotels, and all the things we take for granted today. Visualizing is something I'm glad I took the time to do, because it helped a lot. This part of the book was very descriptive and it was easy to picture the scenes of the battles.
Predictions: Before reading, I predicted that this section would have many deaths, casualties, and hardships for the American army because of the title "fateful summer." Weather was such a big factor in this section. Bigger than i ever thought it could've been. The weather seemed to have a impact on what the American and British army’s would decide to do. I noticed that when the weather turned bad, so did the Americans luck. I knew that whenever McCullough talked about weather, I made many predictions on what would happen next. When McCullough was describing how many men the British had, I thought the Americans should retreat, which is exactly what happened, and that was the best possible solution that they could've done.
Cause and effect: Because Washington had some losses at Bunker Hill and other moves the British had previously made on the Army under his belt, Washington was able to predict what British would throw at him. While Washington was retreating, he had everyone ready for the strike from the British, because they've done that previously.
Questions: : How many American men were left behind because of sickness in their journeys? I wonder if anything would've been different if British would've stopped moving forward when they were advancing on the Americans at Boston. Was that rumor about the plot to kill Washington ever proved to be true? That reminds me of a connection. The mayhem that was going on about the plot to kill Washington and the cruel punishments (Tarring and feathered, burned with candles etc..) Reminded me of the Salem Witch trails I learned about last year in the 1690's.
Commenting on Jonathon's post, I was also wondering how British got through the Jamaica Pass without any resistance from the rebels. Apparently it was left unguarded, but I'm sure that the thick fogged helped a lot too.
Predict: Before reading this section, I skimmed through the title and the pictures of the generals and maps and so forth. I figured that with the name "fateful summer" there was going to be a lot of deaths and problems for both sides. Also, with a bunch of different maps I figured it was going to take place in many different locations as well.
Questions: The question still hasn't been answered about the Jamaica Pass and I also wondering the same thing. Also, it talked about Washington's men being drunk and how he and his army had been made a laughingstock. Was this an a rare occurrence or did the men drink often while on duty?
Cause and Effect: Washington's decisions to separate troops weakened his defenses, but luckily the weather was always in favor for the Americans at this point and helped them out more than once.
Turning points: The British have gained more power, but Washington's actions of enforcing a split allowed them to still be able to retreat from the British and avoid any of their fake schemes.
Responding to Cora's visualization: I would have to agree the endurance the men had was obviously great with the distances they had to travel.
Reading Thoughts Importance: Joseph Plumb Martin said, "I never spent a thought about numbers. The Americans were invincible in my opinion." I thought that this was very important because I believe it showed that even though the odds were stacked against them they still had high spirits; even as they're marching to battle with the British no one thought about how outnumbered they were- in favor of the British. I think this showed how America's perseverance and spirit were what helped them win the war.
Question: Is this considered a civil war or a war between two countries?- because America had yet to be established (or even think of independence) and was more of an extension of Great Britain, which would make it a civil war. I am a bit confused. For reference I used: Page 119 where the Rev. was talking about them being in the calamities of a civil war.
Reading like A Historian Differing Perspectives: (this stems from my question) In the question of civil war there are differing perspectives on each side as to what type of conflict arose. England would have said that it was a civil war because technically the colonies were still apart of England- but the Americans would have said that it was revolutionary because they wanted their freedom.
Turning Point: Pg. 135-136 When Congress decided to declare independence from Britain was a major turning point because that meant that if they win the war then they will be completely free from the King and would then have to come up with a system that would "rule" the new country but still keep it free. Or if they lost then they will all be considered traitors of the crown and probably hung or shot to death for treason. So this was a momentous declaration because of the outcome was not set and it could have gone either way.
Favorite Phrase: Pg. 136 "'We are in the midst of a revolution,' wrote John Adams, 'the most complete, unexpected and remarkable of any in the history of nations'" This was when Congress decided to call for independence from Britain.
Responding to Lauren's Cause and Effect: I agree with you that his decision to separate the troops would have lead to an earlier downfall but then again if he had put all of his major "key players" in one area and focused one one area then the British would have been able to surround the Americans and would have taken them down faster. They outnumbered us both physically and in wisdom of military knowledge. They were considered the best in the world.
preview/predict: After reading that the title of part two was Fateful Summer and looking through some of the pages and seeing pictures, I predicted that there would be a lot of casualties in this part.
Questions: Did the British continue to push forward as Washington's Army retreated?
Cause and Effect: I feel that if the troops would not have not been drinking on duty then they would have been more organized and prepared for battle.
change and continuity: By the end of this part the British have the upper hand because they have caused the American Army to retreat. But the Americans continue to have a willingness to fight for their freedom even though they have been forced back.
Responding to Kelli Hughes: The civil war in which Reverend John was talking about in my opinion was the war between the Tories and the Loyalists in New York itself. "In New York... the city remained divided and tense ... widespread and ranged from the militant to the disaffected to those hesitant about declaring themselves patriots for a variety of reasons, trade and commerce not being the least of them" (McCullough, 118). I found this to be a helpful and insightful phrase. It gives a picture of a divided New York, tense and unable to truly rise up and express a dire need to be themselves, a free people.
Vocabulary: Avowed: acknowledged, declared. (119) Conscientious: controlled or done according to conscience, meticulous (124) Quandary: a state of perplexity, as in what to do; dilemma (152) Indomitable: that cannot be subdued or overcome; unconquerable (176)
Preview/Predict: From glossing over the first part of the title and some of the chapter, I predicted that New York would give some troubles, and that this "Fateful Summer" could include many deaths, diseases, intense heat, and/or famine and food shortage.
Turning Points: With the British taking control over New York, the rebels spread out to both the vulnerable areas, their decisions had given them the ability to retreat, and also save valuable men. Outnumbered and seeming to have the lower hand while Washington thought of attacks by sea instead of land, it was a well thought out decision that kept their men alive, despite the three they had lost whom were captured an hung.
Using the Past: The decision to retreat and live another day may have been seen as odd, and more so after how hard the men fought for against the British for Dorchester, New York, the harbor, and many more crucial places. While the circumstances are much different, and I do not share my opinion on the matter, the past could be used and has already been in the war with Iraq and Afghanistan that we have fought for many years. Live to fight another day.
Preview/Predict: George Washington had been relying a huge amount on luck in the past battles with the British. He was certainly pushing his luck when he assumed that the British would march right up to their lines, and the rebels could take them down, just like Bunker Hill. It was pretty obvious to me that the British would not make that mistake again. With the Continental army's number dwindling and the British being reinforced by Hessians, I predicted that the British would achieve a victory, which they certainly did other than the rebels escaping into the night.
Questions: Why did General Howe decide to cease the attack on the Continental army when, if they had continued, they could have obliterated it? I know many people afterwards blamed Howe for the rebels' night escape, but it was still a British victory. However, despite what they thought, they had still not won the war because Howe decided to hold back.
Change and Continuity: The British had changed their battle strategy. They weren't marching up to the rebels and basically being killed in large masses. They surrounded the rebel army in Brooklyn and cut off almost every route of escape. Also, the Continental army lost a great deal of men: 1,000 captured and 300 killed is the estimate. Howe estimated that the British had lost less than 400: 59 killed, 267 wounded, and 31 missing. These numbers are quite different compared to Bunker Hill or even Boston.
Through Their Eyes: After the rebels retreated they must have been absolutely miserable. Although getting away without losing any more lives, they had still been defeated. They were tired, starving, sick, wounded, and the future probably looked very grim to most of the soldiers. They would have to rely on Washington's judgement to have any chance of fighting again.
Responding to Lydia Hunger: I agree with the concept of retreating before it's too late and fighting another day. It saved the rebel army from complete annihilation, and they could engage in battle with the British once they had regrouped and hopefully strengthened their army. I'm not exactly sure how that would work in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Change and Continuity: On the British side, there was great change. After their embarrassing defeat at Dorchester Heights, they were determined not to lose again. As a result, when they finally arrived in New York, they came with an overwhelming amount of troops and firepower. War ships like the “Asia” were so massive that they left awestricken looks on all the Americans in sight. They even had more troops (an estimated 32,000) than entire the population of the most populous city in America at the time (Philadelphia). Also, in New York, instead of the Rebels having the advantage of intelligence of the enemy, it was the British who had this advantage now, since New York had a Loyalist/Tory majority eager to help them. In New York, the British also had the advantage of a superior navy, which helped in the many nearby deep and navigable rivers.
Question: One inquiry that had during this section was, how well did the Hessian troops get along with the British troops? Was there ever any animosity between the two troops or did they get along relatively well? They seemed like they were fighting for different reasons—the British for their country and the crown, and the Hessians probably just for money as they were more or less mercenaries.
Cause and Effect: One thing that ended up affecting a great deal of the war was the weather. It took the help of a thick veil of fog for the 9,000 Rebel troops to make their sneaky and time-consuming escape from Brooklyn. Also, the wind that night aided their escape because had the wind allowed for the British to ships to sail up the East River, making their escape impossible. If either one of these conditions didn’t occur on that night, the outcome would’ve been very different because the British would’ve had a chance to attack the Rebels while they were evacuating and could’ve maybe even “finish[ed] them off and end the war in a stroke”.
Visualize: I was able to create a very good picture of the chaotic atmosphere of New York after the British fleet started rolling into the city. Over a hundred gigantic towering war vessels kept arriving on the scene striking awe into the citizens and soldiers alike. Citizens began fleeing house and home immediately and were met by large groups of Rebel soldiers flowing in from nearby areas to enter the city. Loyalists must have been thrilled, while Patriots were undoubtedly terrified.
Comment on Chang Lee’s Post: I was also puzzled as to why Washington decided to split his troops in half the way he did when faced with an enemy that outnumbered him so much. If the Rebels had had more troops defending Long island, they maybe would’ve had more people to guard the Jamaica Pass, which would have created a much different result, since the British were very vulnerable while on the narrow trial, but then again hindsight is always 20/20.
Preview/Predict: Upon viewing the title of the second section of David McCullough's book, "1776", I thought Fateful Summer would mean that something "great" was supposed to happen or the turning point of the war. Saying that it was fate, I was sure that the inevitable would happen and Washington's forces would gain the upper hand on British troops.
Evaluation: I thought that McCullough's generalization about both sides of the war was pretty accurate and fair. Although he did kind of hype up the British military, he also focused on their weaknesses. This also applies to the Continental Army, because he talks about how inexperienced they were and sort of their "savage" ways.
Reading Like a Historian
Through Their Eyes: People back then must have been very brave and noble to fight for their country. Even though they knew that British troops were more well equipped and trained. The men are truly honorable for their actions even through illness and bloodshed, and even women who would help by cooking/cleaning for them.
Using The Past: The American Revolution reminds me a lot about the revolution happening in Libya and what happened in Egypt as well. The rebel forces over there represent the Continental Army, inexperienced soldiers who will fight to the death for their freedom. Gaddafi and his military represent the English Monarch, an oppressive group that enslaves its' followers. It goes to show that when people are unhappy with their circumstances, they are willing to fight for a change.
@Karsyn Shirmer Of course profanity was used back then, if not more then it is today. Andrew Jackson was known for being a "jackass" for the amount of profanity he used in every sentence. I believe that people weren't as civilized back then as today since society had not been fully developed.
Visualize: One thing I found to be absolutley amazing and particularly hard to visualize was the rebels retreat from Long Island to Manhattan. It is ineffable how an army of nearly 9,000 men was capable of surviving retreat with only 3 fatalities in one night without British speculations. I found it interesting how they covered wheels with rags etc. to prevent noise at all cost. Private Martin wrote "We are strictly enjoined not to speak,or even cough.""All orders were given from officer to officer and communicated to men in whispers."(p.188) It was to the British armys disbelief that Major Stephan Kemble recorded in his diary that it was "one of utter astonishment". Once again like Dorchester Heights the British underestimated Washington and his army and were caught off guard in the pitch black night.
Through their eyes: When both armies came into contact and war broke rampant there was obviously stong animosity in the air. War is often provoked as a mechanism to anniahlate an oppositional force,however I believe that Howes intentions were more than beating the rebels into the dirt. Possibly the first intentions of the Brits were to scare the rebel army onto their hands and knees asking for mercy. This is evident in Howe himself ordering a halt. McCullough said, "By noon or shortly thereafter the rout was over, the day lost for the Americans. British troops, having advanced so far so rapidly wanted to keep going and carry the attack straight to the Brooklyn works. Numbers of British officers,too,felt it was no time to stop. But Howe ordered a halt"(p.178)
Connections: I had to point out that the British unarguably had control of the waterways and this reminded me of aphug and the Rimland theory that states he who controls the sea controls Eurasia (the world). To a certain extent The Brtis control of the waterways is like a mini Rimland and can also be seen as the "highground" in warfare (the ideal position), not to surpass the fact the British navy is notorious for its grandeur and mastery at sea.
Question: Does anyone know what became of Sterling and Sullivan? I know Nathaniel Woodhull died. I only read that both generals were treated fairly by Howe including dining at the Eagle.
Lindi- I agree with you that McCullough did a fine job representing both armies to his best capabilities. I like how he was able to still find information on the American army that told of their bravery in such a horrid and embarrising defeat. It would have been easy to just elaborate on all the mistakes and vices of Washington and his army.
Cause and Effect- In the Fateful Summer it became obvious that the rebel army was commanded poorly. The British, despite being to careful and not taking the opportunities to advance and completely destroy the rebels, dominated this section of the war. Washington was showing that despite being a great leader, he did not have the experience and skill of Howe. Because of his lack of ability to lead an army wisely, as well as his fellow commanding officers, Washington’s army began to quickly fall behind to the much powerful British army.
Visualize- I can only imagine what it would be like to look out across the water and see so many ships. The view from the rebel side must have been very discouraging knowing that the entire fleet was out to fight you. This must have been one of the most intimidating sights a new volunteer coming to fight could possibly see.
Questions- Why did the rebel army not make more of an effort to make the Hudson River impassible? If the British had such a powerful navy and America had pretty much none it seems that making it impossible to pass would have limited a lot of the regular’s power. Every time I can remember Washington giving orders to try this it was at the last minute.
Corinna Martell- I don’t know what happened to Sterling, but Sullivan was given back to Washington in a prisoner exchange and went on to fight later in the war.
Danielle Obermeier Predictions..The second section of the book is called Fateful Summer so I predicted that Washington's Army was going to lose some of his upcoming battles. I predicted this contrary to having something great happen because in many situations Washington knew his weaknesses in his Army and battles so I thought Washington would kno the outcome and it wouldn't so much be "fate."
Visualize..I visualized when the fog sat in right after the American Army escaped from across the river, leaving their enemy behind. I could see the men running right into the fog and then they slowly just disappeared.
Cause and Effect..I do believe that the weather had role in battles. Depending of which way the wind was blowing would help or destroy plans on either side. And like in my visualization, the fog helped immensly for the escape of the American Army.
Change and Continuity..Because the rebels changed their battle strategy, I felt like that was a change that both sides felt.
Bryce-I enjoyed reading your visualization. I never thought of how they felt seeing that, but your right it must have been pretty intimidating.
One thing that I observed about this section particularly prior to the battle was General Washington’s lack of certainty. In the Battle of Dorchester Heights he seemed much more confident in what he was going to do, however he seemed much less aware of the British “plan” in this section. Washington is a very this is the way it has to be kind of person so not knowing what is going on must be very hard on him. Another thing that I noticed was the difference in the way the “press” portrayed the events, In London they focused on the British dominating the Americans in battle. However, in America the focused on Washington’s swift escape. It almost seemed that the Americans wanted to make the defeat seem less bitter than it was.
Reading like a Historian:
Cause and Effect, When the Americans left only three men to patrol the Jamaica pass they were asking for problems. They had both the other roads well protected but the British made them pay for it. When the British were marching to battle that is the road that they took and in doing so the really exploited the American forces. So, due to the mistake that the Americans made, the effect was the British really hitting us with a hard blow.
Differing Perspectives, The whole book switches back and forth from the perspective of the Americans and the British, however it focuses more on the prospective of the executives and their decisions. This made me think what were the Soldiers thinking about all this when it was going on? When we get to the battle Washington is watching from a distance not in the thick of the fight, some decisions might have been different if the perspective of the leader was different.
Dani, I agree with your statement on the weather being a factor in the battles that took place. Depending on the wind a Ship couldn’t move or, like in your visualization, people would disappear into the fog.
Preview/Predict: Since the title of the part is "Fateful Summer," I could have guessed that there would be a major turning point in the war. I predicted that it would be the point where the tables started to turn toward the Americans, since the army had high morale and momentum from taking control of Boston. I knew there would be a conflict at New York and thought that the Americans would have a good advantage due to the fact that they would arrive there first and have time to build up their defenses and strategize. I also did not think that the British would bring as big of a force as they did.
Visualize: It's amazing to think of all of the British ships docked in New York. It was undoubtedly a reality check for the Americans that this battle would not be as easy as in Boston. With even more ships arriving every day, I don't know how they didn't completely abandon all hope to win.
Cause and Effect: Washington dividing the army into two was a fatal mistake on his part. It left him with less people to defend Jamaica pass, which was a huge oversight. They needed better forms of communication, because even if someone had spotted the British army heading through Jamaica pass, it would probably be too late anyway. The British took a huge chance by gambling on the locals to lead them to the pass, because they were very vulnerable to an attack while they were sneaking around.
Turning Points: A huge turning point for the Americans was their escape. If they had stayed, they would have been killed by the overpowering British firepower from their ships. They were very lucky that they had fog cover the next morning. If they had taken heavy losses, they would have less troops to fight in the war and it could have ended differently.
Bryce: I agree that the rebels should have taken more effort in defending the river. A big reason why the British won was because of their ships' firepower.
Visualize: One part that I could picture super clearly in my head was when David McCullough was describing the house fronted on Bowling Green. I could just imagine the grand stairway leading into a huge grand banquet hall along with the garden leading down to the Hudson River. The other thing that was vividly described was Lieutenant Isaac Bangs’s account of the huge statue of King George III in front of Washington’s headquarters. I can just see the huge gold statue sitting on top of a huge 15 foot high piece of white marble.
Importance: I feel it was very important that people weren’t just fighting for their selves and their family, but that they were fighting for the rights of their whole entire country. Henry Knox explains to his brother “The city in an uproar, the alarm guns firing, the troops repairing to their post, and everything in the [heights] of bustle. I not at liberty to attend her, as my country cries loudest”. Knox again showed the importance of this again when he was writing to his wife, “We are fighting for our country, for posterity perhaps. On the success of this compaign the happiness of misery of millions may depend”. If soldiers weren’t fighting for their country, they may not have tried as hard, may not have been willing to go through all the pain and suffering for the country to have what America deserved.
Through Their Eyes: To the British, all the Americans were suffering and barely holding on, but in all actually, it wasn’t all like that. Their troops were shocked to see many American’s with huge farms and nice houses. Lieutenant von Bardeleben wrote, “… The houses, in part, are made only of wood and the furnishing in them are excellent. Comfort, beauty, and cleanliness are readily apparent”. I could see why the Hessian and British troops would think this, because King George III had been providing everything to the Americans, they hadn’t been on their own before as a whole. So to see a country be as independent as the war would let them be, was a shock.
Differing Perspectives: Both the attitudes and opinions of the escape from Brooklyn and the loss at the Battle of Brooklyn between the soldiers and the citizens varied. For the soldiers, losing the Battle of Brooklyn had more importance than escaping. Once they were out of Brooklyn they we’re all tired, hungry, and wet so they all basically felt like failures and they just wanted everything to be over. On the other hand, a lot of the citizens, that weren’t loyalist, felt that the battle was a great loss but that the escape overcame that loss and we gave them hope in winning this war.
Comment on Jonathan Butler’s post: I completely agree with your cause and effect. I feel that the outcome at the Jamaican Pass would have been different if the American army wasn’t split in two and if there was more people than what they had defending the pass.
Preview/Predict: Before reading this section, I skimmed through the illustrations and tried to analyze what “Fateful Summer” could potentially mean for the troops. It got me thinking along the lines of death, extreme heat, diseases spreading, etc. on top of the hardships of war for both sides. Also, the maps showed various locations I assumed important events took place at.
Questions: Why didn’t Washington protect the Hudson River better so it wasn’t as easy to pass through ahead of time? The capabilities of the British navy is stronger than the rebel army so I feel like it’d make more sense try and block it better so it’s nearly impossible to cross the British couldn’t see it as an easier route of travel.
Change and Continuity: I noticed that the Continental Army was still much unorganized. In New York, Washington still didn’t have an ideal number of men and the ones he had ranged in all sorts of ages and still lacked skills fit for a successful battle. They continued struggling to define their officials from their soldiers. Meanwhile the British increased their standards and changed their ways of war. They improved their weapons and firing mechanisms which gave them an advantage over the rebels and resulted in a victory.
Through Their Eyes: When the British and Hessian troops first reached Long Island at the start of chapter 5, I can imagine they were flabbergasted by the abundant luxuries there. Readily available were the finest fruits and houses which showed off their wealth and higher standards of living. At the time, this was above average and not what most others were used to. Walking into such a fortified place would be shocking to see because their original thoughts were the rebels were suffering and barely holding on.
Johanna: I can relate to what stood out to you for your visualization as well. Throughout that particular chapter it seemed McCullough mentioned a few times how grand and exquisite houses in New York were. The Kennedy Mansion, which is the famous New York landmark you’re referring to, was also described as being at “the height of elegance”. For it to have stood out amongst the rest I reckon it was pretty impressive.
IAN HILL Turning Point: when the British received around 300 ships of backup to defeat an army that was way overestimated. This was when the Continental Army started losing ground and that seemed to be a major theme of the chapter.
Questions: WHY IN THE WORLD DID WASHINGTON NOT FOCUS ON AT LEAST A SMALL NAVY INSTEAD OF SINKING HIS SHIPS TO HINDER THE BRITISH? If the British were able to bring in so many foreign troops why didn't Washington attempt the same?
Preview and Predict: From what i already understand about the united states independence I would predict that Washington gets the upper hand and starts beating the British, but from the last section I honestly could predict that the Continental Army will start falling apart and the British will take over.
Change and Continuity: Washington's army began to run out of luck which I think played a huge role in the first section. The Continental army was stuck trying to defend a seaport with no navy, no spies, a disadvantage in numbers, and a multitude of diseases. In Boston the sickness was still high, but the water reliance for Navy was much lower.
AHSLEy KROLl: I thought your "through their eyes" was very nice. I would have immediately skipped that section and would begin describing what the Continental Army must have been feeling and seeing when 300 more red ships came into the small bay of New York, so it was nice to see your perspective
Connections: From what I know about military strategies it was a good idea for the the British army to wait till more reinforcement came and using navy force to take advantage of New York. As to Washington's retreat it was a good idea because as the saying goes live another day to fight and wait it out to see what fyou can do tomorrow.
Visualise: In the first section of the book it was a lot harder for me to picture in my head was going on. I thought that I could vission it like a movie beeter in this second section. For example, the view from the rebel side must have been very discouraging knowing that the entire fleet was out to fight you. This must have been one of the most intimidating sights a new volunteer coming to fight for the first time.
Turning point: Once again, this section ended with a large turning point, however, this turning point was a negative point in the war for the rebels. This marks an incredibke defeat and gives even more power to the British.
Through Their Eyes: Through the eyes of George Washington, this would have been very traumatic to have such a crushing defeat unfold and know that there is almost nothing that can be done to fight back and hold the line at all.
Hill: I have to aggree with Ian that at the end of this section it seams that the battle could go either way and the British might be able to pull it out.
Making Predictions: As I was reading, I found myself anticipating, before the battle at Brooklyn, that it would mean a brutal defeat for the Continental Army. On just the numbers alone, the outcome of upwards of thirty-thousand, well-trained British and Hessian soldiers against 9,000 unruly Continental Soldiers is easily predictable. Because of these circumstances, one would also predict that Washington would have to retreat and go back to New York.
Questions: Why was the size of the Continental Army so overestimated by the British? Although it may be a good strategy to overestimate your opponent to over prepare yourself, I have no idea how what was about 15,000 turned into an estimated 70,000.
Through Their Eyes: I felt that McCullough did a great job in describing what the citizens of New York saw and felt when the distressed soldiers came back after their escape from Brooklyn. They saw that all of the energy and enthusiasm that the soldiers had when they left was now replaced with sickness and defeat. They were, “filthy, bedraggled, numb with fatigue, still soaked to the skin, many of them sick and emaciated.” Such a sorry sight must’ve brought a very cynical view to those who saw it, not only of the strength in their army, but in the outcome of the war itself.
Change and Continuity: The major thing that has changed in Part 2 is that Britain, with the help of the Hessians, have gained a clear upper hand, whereas at the end of Part 1 the Continental Army had the was leading. There are many things that have been continuous through the entire book, such as Washington’s great ability to lead, or the Army’s ability to accomplish when underestimated. However the true continuous idea in the story is the amazing amount of luck the Continental Army had, particularly with the weather, which in helped them escape in the end.
Commenting on One of Ian’s Questions: To be honest, I don’t think the Revolutionary Cause had any foreign alliances. They wouldn’t be able to recruit the Native Americans or the French (French and Indian war), and any other foreign nation would be too afraid to go up against such a strong country as Britain was at the time.
Predict- The title of this section is the fateful summer. When I read this title I could predict that the Colonial army would have a loss in our fight agains the British forces. However, it never appeared to me that this loss was due to the weakness of George Washington, which turned out to be the case.
Visualize- In this section I decided to look at the pictures that were shown before I started to read. This had helped me understand what was going to happen. The pictures demonstrated to me what many of the Generals were like and how far the armys actually traveled by foot throughout the war.
Through their eyes- While reading this section I generally stopped and thought about how different it was for the forces. Compared to how i see it, the Colonial army only saw it as a battle between their country and the british. However, many more ethnics were involved. Cause and Effect- In this chapter the wheather had the potential to have a great effect on the outcome of the war. The fog played a great role on the escape of the American Army.
Ausin, your visualization was along the lines of how I also pictured it. However, you went into more detail which helped me understand it more.
Visualize: McCullough makes so many good visualizations. One, I remember very well from part two of this book was the night when the huge "hurricane" storm occurred. Here, he uses evidences from soldier's views and horrid examples of what happened to help create the scene for readers. For example he wrote, "In New York, a soldier hurrying through the streets was struck deaf, blind, and mute." Reading this, I can tell the storm really effected things.
Preview & Predict: Reading the name of part two to this book, "Fateful Summer", I sensed it was going to be about a battle the Americans would lose to. Sure enough, the British was able to drive the American Army out of New York.
Cause & Effect: There were no concerns for a sufficient amount of troops to defend the Jamaica Pass, for it was narrower than the other roads and the Americans thought it would be easy to defend. Due to this thought, Washington sent only five of his officers to defend the pass. This made it easy for the British. Going around to that pass, they eventually captured the five men, a main play into helping them win over New York.
Turning Point: The establishment of the Declaration of Independence was a turning point because it gave the American soldiers a stronger reason to fight and further pushed the Continental Army to work harder.
Comment: I agree with Corrina Martell. When it was brought up in the book that if the British were able to take over New York, it "could mean "control of the Hudson River and thus the whole Hudson--Lake Champlain corridor north to Canada", it reminded me of APHug and the Rimland Theory.
Connections From the little I know about military strategies, I believe it was good military action on both sides. First, the British Army decided to wait for more troops and artillery to take advantage of New York, which paid off because they did. And on the Rebels side, Washington's retreat was smart because they were obviously outnumbered. They could retreat, gather there thoughts, and men and strategies for the next attack. Also, it did save many lives.
Visualize When I read any novel, I try to visualize as much as possible and put myself into the characters shoes and put myself in their conflict. In this novel, During chapter 5, the description made it almost simple to put myself into the armies shoes. This part of the book, the British troops were trying to tip toe through the pass to get a better position to attack the Rebels from. Trying to be as quiet as possible, with many men, is tough for anyone to do. But for an army with pounds of supplies on their backs and trying to make no noise what-so-ever, it was easy to picture in my mind.
Change and Continuity While not much change happened on the Rebel side, the British side change drastically. After getting defeated by a landslide at Dorchester Heights, they were motivated not to lose again. The result of that motivation was New York, as they bulldozed the American troops with more men and firepower.
Turning Points A major turning point for the Rebels was their sneaky escape. If they would have hung around and waited for the British, they would have been slaughtered. It was a miracle, in a way, that the fog came the next morning. With that fog, it was basically impossible to see the troops escape. If this critical decision was not made, the war could have and probably would have ended differently.
Comment to KaoZee Xiong I agree with you that the Americans had a renewed sense of patriotism due to the establishment of the Declaration of Independence. They needed something to motivate them and this was one of those keys to winning the war. Also, McCullough helped me understand as well what some of the soldiers emotions and some of the tragedies involved.
Reading like a Historian Change and Continuity: Since the last section, while the American forces have generally stayed the same, the British have changed significantly (and to their advantage, too!) With constant changes like growing numbers in their ranks of men and developments in their military tactics, these dynamic changes furthered the British forces while the American improvements (if any) were static.
Cause and Effect: Because the Continential Army didn't have a Navy or weapons or troops to fight the British off they basically just took it over and occupied it with little force. This was caused by Washington dividing his forces when he shouldn't have. They weren't able to fight off the superior forces of General Howe, therefore the loss of New York occurred.
Reading Thoughts Preview/Predict: Beginning this section off with the title, "The Fateful Summer," automatically forced me to believe that things would not go so great for America, unlike they had planned. I expected reading chapters full of loss of hopelessness, loss of drive, and ultimately loss of something very important to what is now the United States. I expected problems inside the Continental Army that would later have a huge impact. I couldn't imagine a whole lot happening since it would occur over a couple months, but then again, a lot can happen in so little time.
Comment to Zachary Finnegan: I like what you said under your "Visualize" entry. It helps to "get into character" when you really want to know what someone is feeling, why they are feeling that way, and what their point of view is. A very good tool!
Visualize: I once again thought that McCullough did a wonderful job with descriptions and detail. When he was describing the Americans first seeing the entire British fleet consisting of some 32,000, well tained troops, it was almost as though you were feeling the intimidation and discouragement that they felt yourself. They really had no advantages and at this point, were in a place of desperation and hopelessness.
Question: Were the sickly ever seperated from the rest? To at least attempt to stop the illnesses from spreasding so quickly to the healthy men? Yet, even if there was some attempt at seperation, there were so many that it must have been a near impossible task...
Differing Perspectives: In this section, loyalists and deserters seemed to greatly overestimate the Rebels strength while they were in New York, thinking that they had anywhere from 30,000-35,000 troops. Also, many of the higher ranked officials and officers thought that the Americans may not even want to fight. Yet Washington and his American officers felt that they needed many more troops and they did in fact want to fight. They wanted their independence from the British and if they didn't fight, all of their other efforts would be wasted.
Through Their Eyes: Most of the American soldiers believed that the British army was full of "hardened, battle scarred veterans, the sweepings of Londons Liverpool slums, debators, drunks, common criminals and the like, who'd been bullied and beaten into mindless obedience." (p.166) Yet the British were in reality much better trained and equipped. They had more disapline and were in much better health overall, partially due to their strictly enforced sanitaion laws amongst the troops.
Comment: Austin, I enjoyed reading your visualization because it was one that I too, could picture vividly. All that chaos, terror, and commotion must have been horrifying to those trying to flee.
Change & Continuity: This is somewhat of a turning point as well, but the great success of the Continental Army from the first part has been violently reversed. They don't have nearly as many men as the enemy, many generals have fallen ill and are absent, thus they have limited knowledge about the land and how to defend it. Also, I found the difference in the size of both armies astonishing. The British, having called in the Hessians, had near 30,000 men (at least twice as many as the rebel force). One general on the American side had felt it was suicide.
Visualization: I'm actually enjoying McCullough's writing and description of the land layouts, soldiers, and battles. This section was particularly dark with the continued sickness, the low amount of food, and overall a very dismal situation. Some elements that helped me to really feel this section was the storm, the mud and muck, the sneaking around (both armies did so), the dreary conditions of captured soldiers, marching in the night, hard biscuits and raw pork, and the stench of the bodies waiting for burial on the battlegrounds. The grime of this section is so real and colorfully described. I think this section was also symbolic of how the Americans were doing in the war, although, it wasn't intentional (this is nonfiction). The plot and literary techniques displayed in this book seem so skillfully woven, it feels like it could be a fiction story.
Vocab: Specters- Something that haunts or perturbs the mind Assailing- To attack violently with blows or words Hemmed- to surround in a restrictive manner: confine Rout- a crowd of people: rabble
Using the Past: I'm not sure which section this belongs under but this far into the book, I still feel there are a lot of differences from the Revolutionary War and today's warfare. The battles from the book seem like a big deal in that time period, but wars today are a lot more massive. I think they're also less civilized, with surprise bombings and frequent random terrorist attacks, not just in our country but around the world. It seems during the Revolutionary War, they would have a battle, there would be an obvious victor, then pack up and march to another battle where they would do it again. It was metered and simple, where today, it's a bit more complex.
Karsyn Schirmer: I also liked your "Through Their Eyes" section. We get a small taste of what the British thought of the rebels, and they seemed perplexed as to why the rebels ever had reason to rebel. They thought that the American land was beautiful, and that the colonists should be satisfied. The British wondered why the Americans would want to ruin it with a war.
Question: In the second section when the British are moving along the Jamaica Pass they intercept five soldiers patrolling the Pass. When brought back for questioning the author made it seem like they just gave up information. Is it historically accurate that the British were able to receive information from the soldiers so easily? And if so why didn’t the soldiers realize what was taken place and lie to the British and tell them the Pass was completely guarded and it was a trap? That possibly would have slowed the British down enough to prolong or abolish the Jamaica Pass battle plan.
Visualize: In my opinion David McCullough as done a wonderful job of painting a clear image of what actually happened, especially in the end of the chapter when the rebels were escaping across the river. What really stood out to me was when Major Alexander Scammell miss interpreted Washington’s orders and had General Mifflin clear out the remaining troops that were acting as somewhat of a diversion as to everything was still normal down in the rebels camp. Even though McCullough said it was too dark to see his face I could clearly see the anger and confusion on General Washington’s face and the tone in his voice when he realized the mistake that could have affected the outcome of the retreat.
Turning Points: Rebels’ successfully crossing the river and escaping New York without any casualties was a major turning point of the war. The rebels had very few options with the immediate threat of wind change occurring allowing the British ships to sail up the east river creating a trap in Brooklyn, action needed to occur. With the Rebels escaping it has relieved pressure of attack and has given more flexibility to the rebels in the next battle.
Through Their Eyes: This is a really difficult part of the story to try and interpret what people at this time were seeing. After being defeated and outsmarted in their first battle it would be easy to assume that most Americans took the defeat hard and had little faith in the rebels. Though the Rebels were able to escape Brooklyn with no deaths I believe that the small victory they received escaping no where matches the large Victory the British accomplished. The British now had control of all the Rebels defenses and forts in New York and it would be hard to imagine that any Americans would believe they would win the war at this time.
Comment: Bridget I totally agree with your change and continuity comment and I feel it is also placed in the correct category. This battle really was out of their hands. They could have never prepared for such illness to occur except for enforcing good hygiene which they did not. The lay of the land was also a huge change though they surveyed the land and mapped out all of New York it was evident their lack of knowledge when it came to New York when The British came right through the Jamaica Pass with no trouble at all.
Reading the title of section two, Fateful Summer, I predicted that there was going to be a battle in New York due to the British departure of Boston in section one and that fate would play in the effects and the aftermath of the battle. I was rather close with this prediction although it was fought in the fields near Brooklyn. But fate did play a huge role in this battle. It was inevitable that Washington's lack of experience would cause problems for the New England army. The failure of figuring out where the British would attack was the largest problem and the inexperience the Americans had of war compounded on the problem.
The overall idea of the section was said before the inexperience the New England army had in the Battle of Long Island. First off Washington had no idea where the British were attacking, therefore he had to separate his army inorder to have a defense present where ever the British were to move. This lead to vast confusion amoungst the regiments. Secondly the idea of covering Jamaica Pass was a good idea due to the fact that it was easy to defend. But only sending five horsemen to the pass was foolish. If he were to send a regiment they could have probably out lasted the British quite well due to the fact it was quite defendable. And thirdly the idea of retreating was a great idea but some of the commanders specifically General Mifflin did not fully understand Washingtons orders. This caused even more confusion and fortunately they were not caught by the British. Overall the British took great advantage of the confusion and inexperience of the New England army.
I noticed a few connections from section one and two the most noticable was the element of suprise. Washington used it in Dorchester heights by attacking the British with the newly found artillery. This ended successful for the rebels and left the British disfuctionable and offset. The same thing happened in the Battle of Long Island where Washington ordered a retreat from Brooklyn. The fact the British were on the verge of outflanked and would have them eventually cornered them once the wind changed direction put Washington in a tough situation. And the reality that they escaped suprised the British.
Change and Continuity: This battle changed the face of the war. The rebels were fleeing from the British and losing there moral from the battle at Dorchester Heights as the British build confidence from the well executed attack. Both sides also changed their strategies. The Americans really changed how they fought from a all out offensive to a fleeing resistence. Where as the British changed by now marching through the land leaving a path of destruction. Obviously some factors stayed the same such as the Americans are still vastly outnumbered and still have very little experience in war. Clearly the British benefited the most from these changes. First of all they destroyed farmlands which reduces the amount of food the Americans will have. It also lowered the Americans moral of the war. The Americans are also making it easier for the British to attack them by fleeing from battle every time they are outnumbered. They lose too many men and the British will eventually find a way to position the Americans so the war can be over.
I have to agree with Stephanie and Jared about visualization. David McCullough does a great job explaining things in a way that people can envision it so that the reader can have a better understanding of it.
Visualize: Throughout this section, I felt that it was getting more and more easy to put myself in the shoes (or boots) of a Rebel. Through McCullough's descriptive text, I could picture myself as a discouraged and intimidated soldier, not knowing what the future had in store for me or for the rest of the men.
Big idea and generalizations During section two I learned a lot about how the Americans felt. They were devoted to the American cause. Although there were some that couldn’t care less about the cause, there were many who had dropped everything in order to achieve freedom. Joseph Plumb Martin thought that the Americans were invincible. I think that this is incredible because he knew that the rabble in arms was raging war against the most powerful nation in the world. It also says that there was scarcely a militia man who did not think himself equal to two or three of the British.All throughout this section it frequently refers to the devotion and courage of the American Army. Although this is event is not significant to me. I think the greatest army in the world couldn’t win a battle if they had the right mindset in their heads. I think that being confident like the Americans is a good thing but if you are over confident then that’s when it gets bad. Visual One thing that I pictured time and time again throughout this part of the novel was the long, winding marches. For instance, at the start of Chapter Four it begins with a story of a march through the countryside of Massachusetts to Connecticut. I can just imagine a bunch of men marching through wilderness that is still winter but on the verge of spring, and the people lining the roads of towns just to watch the soldiers march by. I can imagine what their thoughts were as this has been the largest army ever seen in the colonies. As I continue to read I can just imagine how both sides are going to feel about the events at New York and the surrounding area. I feel that the British will feel proud especially the ones back at the parliament in England. And I predict that although the Americans didn’t win they didn’t lose as they learned many lessons on trust and how to wage a land vs. water war. They will also try harder to see from all angles as this time they forgot to include the fact that they can get attacked on land as well.
Response to Jared: I too find it hard to understand what people are thinking with being defeated with little to no faith. They would feel overwhelmed and unsure of their actions causing them to have no hope for their country.
Brandon Dively Wachong, you bring up a valid point. I don't recall ever hearing of Washington being a weak leader. I feel as though the struggles faced by the colonists were due to a lack of experience as opposed to a lack of leadership.
In this section I felt that loss of patriotism by the colonists. By losing hope in the rebellion, the colonial army lost morale. This was very different than the first section, but the troops managed to work up enough pride to keep on pushing forward to achieve the freedom they were fighting for.
Visualize I thought that there were many times in this section that I was clearly able to visualize, but one that stuck with me was the way McCullough described the American army seeing the British for the first time. It allows you to really tap in to their emotions at that point and imagine them looking already completely defeated as this 32,000 person army comes toward them. The way they carry themselves with complete hopelessness and defeat really helps you create that image.
Questions
It seemed to me that the British really overestimated the size of the American army. Granted, that probably did prepare them better for battle, but going from 15,000 to over 35,000 is a pretty big difference in size...
Through Their Eyes
The Americans had it in their heads that the British were "Hardened, battle-scarred veterans.... who've been bullied and beaten into mindless obedience." (p.166) When in fact the British were very orderly and disciplined. In a harsh way, definitely the better army of the two.
Cause and Effect
Because the Continental Army didn't have the supplies like weapons or a Navy to effectively fight off the British General Washington made the decision to divide his forces which resulted in the loss at New York.
Comment to Alyssa Scott I agree with the way you said that you don't think the americans could have won any battle without the right mindset. I definitely think that the right attitude definitely helped the Americans with battle.
Preview and Predict: Before reading the section, I skimmed through and saw the maps of Long Island, NY and Trenton, NJ and assumed that these places were where the section would take place. Also, after reading the title, I predicted that many people would meet their fates and both armies would face challenges.
Cause and Effect: Since the Rebels retreated from battle, they were able to live to fight another day. Had they stayed while the British were receiving reinforcements and ammunition, they would have been slaughtered and the British would have certainly won the war.
Change and Continuity: Two major things that in this section were the quantity of men and ammunition the British possessed and the morales of the Rebels which had lowered significantly along with their confidence in Washington. These changes made it seem as if the British would win the war hands down. The only thing that really stayed the same was the British soldiers' confidence which had risen if anything.
Visualize: I was able to paint a vivid picture in my head of the rebels retreating to Manhattan overnight without lights or a single sound. Private Martin wrote, "'We were strictly enjoined not to speak, or even cough. All orders were given... in whispers'" (188). I also visualized rags muffling anything that could make noise and foil their retreat.
Comment: Jared, I agree with your thought on the turning point of the section; had the Rebels not retreated when they did, the war would have had a completely different outcome.
Visualize: I had a very potent image of the American prisoners being held. Many of them wounded, with rag-tag bandages wrapped around their heads and arms. Also I imagined makeshift shelters, even some dug into the ground.
Importance: The strategic position of Long Island is again one of importance in releveance to New York. However, I also believe that the British will change their perspectives a little, such as General Clinton. The war now fought is not one of land, but one of vehement annihilation.
Cause and Effect: I think one of the more underrated views on the battle is the absence of the best possible commander, General Greene. While the text points out that even if Greene had been present, that the eventual retreat of the rebels was inevitable, I still think that perhaps the circumstances the rebels found themselves in would have been different.
Turning Points: The turning point was obviously the well planned flank of the Americans by the British. The inconsistent patrols and neglected fortifications of their flank allowed the Americans to collapse easily.
Comment: I agree with Clara, the preconception of the British that the American's force was larger than it really was is ridiculous. With mindful logic and proper intelligence it could have allowed the British to win quicker.
Preview/Predict: I started off by reading the chapter titles. i predicted that this section would deal with a turning point in the war. specifically with the British winning a major battle. I also found out what battles would be covered in this section from the maps in the book.
Turning Point: The British victory in New York was a huge defeat for the rebels. It gave the British an upper-hand against the Americans and also destroyed their morale.
Visualize: I felt that the McCullough did a good job detailing the immense scale of the two armies. From the Britsh ships docking in New York and the American soldiers constantly marching in formation.
cause and Effect: The decision to split the army was a big mistake from General Washington. It gave the British and advantage as the army was now seemed a bit disorganized. The good thing about Washingtons however, was that it made it easier to retreat.
Comment: Ramsey I liked your comment about using bows instead of muskets. It really shows how much of a gamble each battle was if you weren't two steps ahead of the enemy. I also agree that the Americans are often portrayed as being a sweeping force against the British in America when it was actually very close.
Zackry Wiese Predict: In section of 1776, Fateful summer, I predict that the major pivotal point in the war will happen. I think a major battle will occur that will spell the fate of either the British or the Rebels. It’s more likely that it will be in favor of the rebels on account of the fact that The United States exists at this point. Visualization: In section 2 of 1776, Fateful Summer, it was easy to see the situations that occurred. Like the roaring thunder of the storm on August 21st. You could hear the deafening thunder in your head as you read about the crash after crash and how soldiers were killed in a single flash of lightening. I could see the giant storm breaking on the shore the head being as large are mountains. Turning Points: Washington’s headquarters was moved to New York. In New York, the troops had no idea when or where they would be attacked. Washington was realistic about the fact that ships could appear but it wasn’t a very large fear. This feeling alone could change the war if he prepared for a naval attack along with a land based attack then Washington will be prepared either way but if he ignores that small fear and doesn’t prepare and a naval attack does come he could be easily defeated. Different Perspectives: The different perspectives of the differentiating peoples fuel this novel and the war. The rebels wanted a choice one man for one vote, an equal republic. On the other hand the British want a Monarchy one ruler that was consulted by a parliament an unequal ruling My opinions on this is that while the Monarchy has it’s perks the equal republic is what is usually desired by citizens of a country. It makes them feel like they are useful to the country. In response to: Nathan, The loss at New York was indeed a very large loss it seems to the rebels at this point that the British are wiping the colonies with them.
Rebecca Rieckhoff Reading Thoughts- Question-As I was reading 1776, the subject of Loyalists and Tories came up on multiple occasions. When they were mentioned in the book, while both viewed negatively, they seemed to be two separate groups. Upon looking into this, I learned that while they were both pro-British groups, the title Loyalist could be given to really anyone who supported a reconciliation or compromise with Britain. Tories, on the other hand, did not want any sort of compromise between the colonies and Britain, and they believed that anyone who believed in independence for the colonies should be eliminated.
Generalization-As shown by the fallout of the Battle of Brooklyn, when every officer in the army seemed to have someone else to blame for the failure, it can be observed that it is a common occurrence that when things go wrong in life, it is always easier to lay blame to anyone but yourself than to accept that everyone played a hand in the mistake. It is easier to focus the blame for something centrally on one person, that way you have that one target who you can direct all of your anger and disappointment at. This is an unfortunate trait of human nature, because in most cases, there are typically many people who have helped chaos ensue.
Reading like a Historian- Through Their Eyes- It must have been really difficult to be a continental soldier. They were members of a young, inexperienced army fighting older, more seasoned soldiers from a more established and well-off country. Many of their fellow soldiers were falling ill, and no one was receiving regular pay. I would imagine it was quite hard to keep the patriotic spirit up when surrounded by so much negativity, and so far from home.
Turning Point- I believe that a key turning point in Fateful Summer was when the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. While the King's speech had inspired outrage and disagreement among soldiers, and even potentially inspiring a desire for independence among some people, the Declaration of Independence really made the Revolutionary War about independence from the mother country. Now every soldier knew that they were fighting for more than just their defense, they were fighting for their betterment, their liberty, their independence from a country that had succeeded in nothing recently but keeping the colonists down.
In response to Mark's comment about the importance of General Greene's absence, I agree that, while it is speculated that the outcome would have been the same either way, his presence could have effected the behavior of the rebels in a positive way, potentially helping to ward off a British success.
Michaela Baumann, I became more engaged as I continued reading "1776". Before I started reading section 2, "the fateful summer", I had a feeling that because of the section's title the summer was going to be a rough one for the Americans.After looking at the pictures for this section, I continued to believe it was fore sure a hard summer for them. The private letter from Washington to Reed asking for his return for help is a big clue that the battles get more serious and there is more conflict coming up between the enemies. I thought the maps were interesting pictures to look. It was cool to see the location of the Americans compared to the British in all different places were the battles took place. Once I finished looking at the pictures; their captions also, I predicted that section two would contain much more conflict and fighting than there was in the first section. When I was reading, "Field of Battle", the first part o chapter five,I was certain there was going to be a major battle because of all the preparation going on for both sides. It turned out being the battle of Long island, just as pictures showed. I enjoyed how the author used words and descriptions that allowed his readers to visualize exactly what was happening during that time. During starting of chapter four, I could picture the troops marching though the towns in rows. When this was happening it reminded me somewhat of what we learned about during the holocaust in seminar, Kristallnacht or "The Night of Terror", where the troop march through and towns people of the side would shout and cheer for them as they passed through, kind of like a parade. Another spot I could visualize was on page 134 when it talked about the 45 British ships inside the lower Bay of Sandy Hook looking like a forrest of trimmed pine trees, much like a christmas tree farm. When the readers are able to visualize pictures of the authors text, the reading becomes more interesting and a lot easier to understand.
Brandon Dively Clara, I also realized your point about the Colonial idea of British forces! I completely forgot to add that. I knew I was missing something! From their eyes I can tell that there had to be a great fear or concern in the hearts of troops like Washington's. They were up against a world super-power. They had a lot to fight for and the stakes were high. They did not know what to expect if they were to be defeated. Only the worst could be imagined. At the same time they were probably very motivated to defeat the British, not only to gain freedom, but also to have something to be proud of. It was a true under-dog story. The British often times overlooked the strength of Colonial troops.
Reading Thoughts: Preview/Predict- When I saw the title of the first chapter, 'Sovereign Duty', I initially thought that it would be about George Washington and how he assumed his duty as commander of the colonial army. I made this prediction because I know that many colonists looked up to Washington as a great authority figure and many treated him like royalty. Also, for some reason, I assumed that this book would be entirely about the war effort in America, which is why I did not anticipate that chapter one could be about George III. Once I read the poem about the King at the beginning of the chapter however, I realized that it would be about King George and how he and Parliament decided to handle the rebellion in America.
Turning Points- Many of the previous people that posted said that they believed that the victory at Dorchester Heights was the biggest turning point. I believe that the biggest turning point was when Henry Knox returned with the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga. That was the biggest turning point, not only because it boosted morale but it also was the key event that set the American army up for victory at Dorchester Heights. If that event had not occurred, then the American army may not have driven the British out of Boston. Also, this event proved Henry Knox's worth to the army and I think he will play an important role in the battles to come. Another turning point was when General Howe decided to stay for the winter. This was also a turning point because the British soldiers were not at all accustomed to winter in the colonies and consequently they suffered. Not only were the British suffering from the cold but they were also lacking supplies because their supply ships were getting lost in winter storms. These together became an advantage to the American army. And of course, the victory at Dorchester Heights was a major turning point because after many months and a hard winter, the Americans finally drove the British from Boston. Not only did this boost morale, but it also proved that the American army had potential in overcoming the British in the colonies.
Reading like a Historian: Visualize- The part of this section that I was most able to visualize was Reverend William Emerson's account of the American encampments on pages 28-29. Before reading this passage I already knew that the American army was unorganized but reading Emerson's journal entry really gave me a sense of how unorganized it really was. Emerson's description made me feel like I was actually following him around the camp and seeing all the misshapen tents. I like the fact that each soldier's tent reflected his own personality and also his origins. The diversity of the camps demonstrated the diversity of the American colonies and how so many different people were working together for one cause. Nathanael Green's regiment also showed how well read he was in the ways of war and also how seriously he was committed to an honorable war effort.
Cause/Effect- To many, the fact that the American army was not nearly as organized as the British army may seem a shortcoming. However, their disorder as an army did prove to give some benefits. One benefit is that soldiers like Henry Knox, who were merely bookstore owners before the war, were given the chance to prove their worth to the army and offer ideas. Washington was so desperate for guns since the army was short on money that he was willing to entrust $1,000 to a soldier who had no experience, and who was trying to accomplish a mission that many had deemed impossible. In the British army, all of the generals and other authority figures were already appointed so there would have been little chance that they would have trusted a commoner with such a responsibility. Another benefit that the American army gained with being less organized than the British was that at times the British undAnderestimated them. "According to the diary of one British officer, a few of the British did find out as early as February 29, from deserters and a spy referred to only as 'Junius,' that the rebels intended to 'bombard the town from Dorchester' (p. 90). This passage shows that the British knew five days in advance that there was a possibility of an attack on Boston, yet they did not take it seriously. The only reason that they would not take the information from one of their own spies would be because they did not believe the attack to be possible and because they did not believe that the Americans could pull off the attack. Of course there were downsides to the disorganization of the American army like the lack of resources and lack of command at times, but at times the benefits outweighed the obstacles.
Comment: Michaela, hat is a very good point, that the technology of the day made it very hard for the soldiers to communicate with their families. I can't imagine how inefficient it would be to send a letter from Boston to Maine or Virginia. And all that time the letter was on its way, the soldiers family might think that he was dead.
After reading section 2, I saw more of Washington's flaws. Yes, he was an inexperienced leader but he did his best with the knowledge and materials he was given.
A large set back, I think, was that his troops (once they got to New York) seemed to "stop caring" about the war at hand. They were 'hypnotized' by the aray of people and places that were established in New York. The men had a hard time containing themselves it seemed. Washington not only had to contain his men from the "luxurys" of a big city but he also had to think of how he was going to be able to protect such a large space with such a little army.
Even though the British army had the upper hand in this battle, I think Washington learned a great deal from it. Yes he won the battle of Dorchester Heights, and maybe he even got cocky because of it, but because of the overwhelming number the British had Washington didnt even stand a chance. And he knew this from the beginning too! What I dont understand is, if he knew that defending New York would be so hard, why did he try to anyways? He had ticked the British army by winning the last battle and any super-power would feel that as a great blow to their pride so they already were determined to win the next battle. So why did Washington still try to defend New York when from the beginning he knew he would lose?
Commentary on Becca Rieckoff's post: I like how you defined what a loyalist was. That reminded me of how the loyalists started killing soldiers of the Continential army. I found that part extremely intriguing because at the beginning of the book, King George III didnt want to spill and british blood because the rebels are of british blood but these loyalist are killing those of british blood. So that gets me thinking that if they are so loyal to britain as they say they are then why are they killing soldiers of the continential army when George III still sees them as of british blood?
Predict/Preview In the second section of this book, Fateful Summer, I predicted that the direction of the war would be shifted towards one side winning it. I assumed that the side that would be gaining ground would be the United States, based on prior knowledge that the United States eventually wins the Revolution War. I was wrong in my predictions, for much of the section focused on the victory for the British at New York.
Visualize I felt that David McCullough did a good job describing the conditions of war faced by the rebels. It was possible to feel how depleted the Continental Army must have felt when going up against a massive, well trained British Army. I was able to see an image of intimated Rebel soldiers with improvised bandages covering their wounds, in poor living condition camps.
Turning Points A major turning point was when British reinforcements, numbering over 300 ships, came to help the cause as they thought they were facing a much larger army. The large military was able to push back the Continental Army forces and begin to gain ground. This lowered the morale of the Continental Army, who were now not only out-trained by the superior British soldiers, but greatly outnumbered.
Through Their Eyes The Soldiers of the Continental Army following the defeat at New York must have been completely depleted. They now knew that a large British force was gathering, the British were superior troops to them, and it must have felt like the luck they had experienced through the early stages of the war, was beginning to wear out.
Comment (Zack Wiese): Zack going off your differing perspectives paragraph, I agree that the main difference between the two sides was who they thought should be governing the people. One thing I wondered though, is what were the ideas for governing the Colonies that were made by people that wanted a peaceful compromise to the conflict?
Preview/Predict: I predicted that this section would be more about the colonsits and how the war has turned slightly to their favor. The end is in sight, and they could win to become a few nation.
Visualize: I can see these two massive forces, being the Americans and British, meeting on the battlefield in a huge battle. Also, in this section the author did a great job describing the storms on August 21st, and how huge they were.
Cause and Effect: When General Washington split his army into two units, he may have had a harder time winning battles, but it made it easier to retreat. If the soldiers hadn't retreated, they would have been killing, and the British could have won the war much more quickly. When they did retreat, they could still fight in later battles.
Using the Past: If General Washington hadn't split his army in the first place, maybe they would not have had to retreat. Then, they could have won more battles more quickly.
Comment: I would have to agree with you on this issue Alexis. It is quite ironic that King George III was against spilling British blood, when by killing the rebels, he is still doing this.
Reading like a Historian: Change/Continuity- In part two, 'Fateful Summer', the American army completely shifted locations and with the new locations came many changes. In Boston, the British were at the American's mercy as they were trapped, in New York however, the situation was reversed. Also, in Boston, the sides were very defined. The American army was outside the city and the British were inside, it would have been difficult for there to have been spies. In New York, since a lot of its population was still loyal to the King, and loyalists and revolutionists were in the same city, it was hard to define sides and there was no way of knowing who was on who's side. Also, the British now know what the American army is capable of after the American Victory at Dorchester Heights. In many ways, the advantages were completely reversed in New York. All that really stayed the same was George Washington as the commander and the cause that all the colonists were fighting for.
Through their Eyes- When the Americans moved to New York it was a dangerous time not only for the soldiers but also for the loyalists in the city. I am surprised that more loyalists didn't leave the city, with all the abuse that loyalists had to take I certainly would have left. The soldiers were so cruel to the loyalists, tarring and feathering them and parading them through the streets, or making them 'ride the rail'. It must have been absolutely terrifying for a loyalist to even leave their house and I have to give them credit for staying. However, times were frightening for the American soldiers too. For the first few months after arriving in New York, they lived their lives in a paranoia, always checking the harbor for English ships and every day waking up thinking, 'this could be the day we get attacked.' Washington even made them sleep with their arms in case of a nighttime attack. They also practiced drills, moving from camp to trenches and also were required to practice handling their weapons. For everyone in New York at the time, it would have been alarming.
Reading Thoughts: Preview/Predict- At the beginning of this section, I knew that the Continental Army would be moving to New York, but from the pictures there was only a map of Boston and a map of New Jersey. From this I predicted that Washington and his troops would have to return to Boston for some reason and then have to abandon New York and move on to New Jersey. Well of course, I was wrong on both my predictions, and I am still wondering why there was a map of Boston in this section. I also predicted that there would be a battle in one of these chapters because of the illustration right below the title 'Fateful Summer', which is of a battle scene in New York city I think. The titles of the chapters also helped me predict their content. 'Fateful Summer' suggested hard times and probably a battle, 'The Lines are Drawn' conveyed the message that the Americans and British would have to stay in New York and prepare for a battle, and lastly, 'Field of Battle' told me that there would obviously be a battle. Connections- On page 131, David MuCullough describes the provisions that Washington had his men take in order for them to be prepared in case of an attack. "To practice the use of their arms, they were each to fire at least two rounds, and practice moving rapidly from their camps into the trenches and fortifications..." This passage reminds me of WWII era England when people would have drills where they would go hide in their bomb shelters, much like fire drills. This also reminds me of how people would do similar drills (to the WWII ones) during the Cold War, in case of a nuclear attack. It is somewhat ironic how less than 200 years after this occurrence in Boston, the British would be the ones seeking shelter from attacks, attacks from a country that was their ally during the Revolutionary War.
Comment: Chris, I agree that it would have been smarter for Washington to have kept his army as one unit if he was confident that he would win the battle but I think that Washington knew that with his army split it would make it easier to retreat which he probably knew would have to happen
Wachong Thor
ReplyDeleteSection 2 was focused on how inexperience and unprepared Washington's army was. They repeatedly retreated and disappointed many of the people and tehy lost hope in the rebellion. My background knowledge doesn't recall Washington being a weak leader at any point of the war at all. That was something that really startled me in this section.
A thing that changed in this section was the rebellion sense. People gave up hope. The British were able to maintain there sense of duty and this surely helped them. This caused the Americans to discombobulate and fall apart. We know now to have confidence and be prideful and don't give up for out goals.
Some interesting Thoughts. Washington's experience was very limited during the French and Indian War, but it was vastly superior to most other American leaders. Thank you Wachong!
ReplyDeleteRamsey Beilke-
ReplyDeleteWell this section was kind of sad to read. Whenever I have thought of the Revolutionary War, I always saw the Continental Army as the underdogs, but who were never seriously defeated. This showed that, yes, they were defeated. The major oversight of Jamaica pass really surprised me, even with the limited experience of their officers, it seems something like that would have been a concern of sorts. Also, when they did fight, it was apparent that although many people did die, it wasn't a huge part of the army. I was expecting these battles to be losing maybe 2/3 of the troops before they route, but it turns out that almost any significant lose of troops can turn any army. This works to the Continental Armies advantage at the earlier battles of Brooklyn, but after they are outflanked, it really works against them, since all the British had to do was show up for the Continental Army to flee.
Another thing that caught my attention was the resolve that the Americans had. They put up with terrible conditions and lack of almost everything, but still managed to be an efficient army. Especially when it came to the retreat. I would assume most armies would have made much noise because all the troops would have wanted to get out of there. And the ease and silence of the Americans shows a serious dedication to their cause.
I once read in a paper about the Revolutionary war that if either army had used bows and arrows, that they would have been much more successful. I can see how this fits in now after a real battle. Because a bow can shoot two to three times as fast as a musket and with much greater accuracy. Also, in the abundant forest of the New England area, the ammunition would be very easy to make.
Responding to Wachong's post-
I wouldn't agree so much that Washington is a weak general, I just think he was not experienced enough. Since he knew what needed to be done for his plan to work, and had it worked he would have been considered a very strong general for this battle. We can't know what Washington was thinking when he kept moving troops to Brooklyn, he might have had a greater plan that just didn't fill out as he wanted it to. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened had Washington's plan been completed how he wanted it.
-James-Paul Vang-
ReplyDeleteQuite intersecting, section this way. I loved that confident that was showed before the major retreat made in New York. It was quite shocking to see how much the American troops suffer at New York. I'm not much a military strategist but i thought what Washington was going to defend the British troops. I was shocked to read that the American had to do a major retreat.
with the major loss of New York, it had a huge effect on the troops and General moral. In the Next section I believe the Washington Troops will suffer much loss.
Commenting on Ramsey Beilke Post-
I would say that it was much to my amaze and shocking to read that the troops of the British were able to bring fear and knock the American troops to retreat. I thought that they American troops had a well layed out plan. I guess it just backfired.
-Karsyn Schirmer-
ReplyDeleteCommenting on James Paul's post:
I disagree with you on your opinion about the American retreat. I thought it was imminent, due to their massive outnumbering.
Questions: I’d come across this term several times in the last part and hadn’t remembered what it meant: Tory. After looking it up, I found out that it was a member of the conservative party in Britain (AKA Loyalist). Two other words in chapter four also confused me: Trull and bitchfoxly. Trull turned out to be slang for prostitute, meaning troll, and bitchfoxly was slang for it too. Was anyone else surprised at how vulgar the language was back then? I was always under the impression that profane language wasn’t as commonly used back then.
Differing Perspectives: Whose perspective is this? This is written in more of an American perspective, judging by the amount of information about the American side compared to the British side’s information. What other perspectives exist on this topic? The British perspective was the only other one, and that was that the king should be the ruler of the Americans, whereas the Americans wanted independence. Which perspective do you agree with? I obviously agree with the American perspective. Their independence helped shape the country today and if the outcome of the war had been different, there might not even be a United States.
Visualize: In the middle of chapter five when the British troops were sneaking through the pass, it made me picture a bunch of troops tiptoeing through the woods, shushing each other whenever someone made any sort of noise.
Through Their Eyes: How did people in the past view their world? As it said in chapter five, the British were shocked that the Americans would even dream of breaking off from their ‘divine ruler’, much less actually do it. King George III was the British people’s God chosen leader, and the Americans wouldn’t have it anymore. How did their worldview affect their choices and actions? The British view of the King contrasting with the Americans’ view made the British make the choice of declaring war upon the American colonies.
Chang Lee
ReplyDeleteConnections: From what I know about military strategies it was a good idea for the the British army to wait till more reinforcement came and using navy force to take advantage of New York. As to Washington's retreat it was a good idea because as the saying goes live another day to fight.
Preview/Predict: At first I thought that if was a good idea to fortify the defense of New York, but then i forgot that even with a powerful defense and with no navy force, it would now be as powerful as it seems.
Turning Points: When Washington decided to divide his force to enforce more defense and be cautious of the British plan, it was a great idea because he could still order the army to retreat even though they have lost New York. By doing this he won't have to worry about diversions from the British army as much.
Cause and Effect: When Washington decide to split his force because of his worries it cause him to over think which made him to give up New York. By splitting the force it lessened the defense of New York.
Commenting on Karsyn Schirmer: I agree with Karsyn that it may have been to American perspective. If we look at the information carefully we know more about what the American army is doing then the British army. The American army have lots of letters and journals written and the letters and journals where kept as to the other sides information.
Dustin Johnson
ReplyDeleteChange and Continuity: It was amazing to see that Washington's troops were finally in high spirits and were off to Boston to once again face the British. The change in scenary was apparent to the British, but not so much at first to the Americans. They had left the Jamaica pass unguarded and had their army setup for an all out attack on Boston. With this single track minded approach, the British didn't "follow" American plans, and had the advantage of the water over the Americans. They had put up a somewhat decent fight, but the choice to retreat was necessary, and in the manner that they had done, it was a feat of its own. The British were now victors of this battle, but the American army was not ready to face the British in battle, so how were the British ever to win?
Cause and Effect: There is no doubt that a lot of luck helped Washington. If not for the fog, the rest of his army still at Boston would have been exposed to possible fire from the British, thus lessening the force of the American army. If not for the winds and storms beforehand, the British could have charged their way up to the Americans and the outcome would have been much more brutal. These changes in conditions had favored the Americans time after time, but what will happen when they don't?
Preview/Predict: Now that the British army has had their boost of confidence, and the American army is still soaked, tired, hungry, and in need of great assistance to keep them healthy, I foresee the British pressing on to keep Washington on his toes. It will prove difficult to win a battle though, if the Americans now keep retreating. A victor will be hard to make out of this war if things keep going the same track they are.
Questions: What would have happened had the British not had stopped pushing forward with such force when they were making ground on the Americans at Boston? What if the winds and storms and fog not have happened? The outcome would have been much more tragic in nature.
Commenting on Chang's post: I too thought that fortifying the defense of New York was a good idea, but the true force of the British Navy was truly underestimated during the time of preparation. Had more thought been given to the situation, I think that Washington could have kept Boston.
Zachary Bluestein
ReplyDeleteVisualize: I easily visualized the huge ships trying discretely to pass through the canal even with the rebel guns turned on them. I cAn picture the aimless cannon balls splashing into the water far away from the ships and the anxiousness felt by the rebels as they passed by.
Questions: what exactly was George Washington feeling as his army retreated? Were they upset at the prospect of having to leave something New York after the so heavily fortified it with defense mechanisms? And were the British happy that they left? And why do the rebels keep thinking that Bunker hill will happen all ove again?
Turning point: once again, this section ended with a large turning point, however, this turning point was a negative point in the war for the rebels. This marks an incredibke defeat and gives even more power to the British.
Change and continuity: While rebel forces have, for the most part, stayed the same, British forces changed drastically. Improvements in their firepower as well as their numbers in men rendered their forces to be of a much higher standard than in previous battles with the rebels. Clearly this benefitted the British but not the rebels.
Commenting on Karsyn Schirmer's post about visualizing: I agree- I too saw the redcoats sneaking around in the dim moonlight and freezing everytime someone stepped on a stick.
Jonathon Wenzel
ReplyDeleteVisualization: Compared to the first section, this one had much more to visualize; such as the Asia getting into the canal through rebel cannon fire going in every direction, and the rebels sneaking away from the British under the night and fog.
Cause and Effect: A thought that struck me while reading was how the British got through the Jamacia Pass without much resistance from the rebels, and if that flanking did not work, how would the battle have changed? In my opinion the most it would have done is delay the battle for a few more hours, but by that time the night would not have been long enough for them to escape, even with the fog.
Through Their Eyes: Through the eyes of George Washington, this would have been very traumatic to have such a crushing defeat unfold and know that there is almost nothing that can be done to fight back and hold the line at all. I wonder if Washington had any guilt about splitting his troops and keeping some at New York City when the attack did not happen there like he planed.
Importance: One idea that the book touched on that made me think was that you cannot win wars with withdraws, because it is a good point. The rebels needed to at some time regroup and face the British head on, otherwise it is not fighting and when it comes to running constantly you might as well have lost anyway.
Commenting on Zachary's Comment: I do not wish to sound rude, however I would like to make a correction. The rebels did not lose New York, they lost Brooklyn(page 219). However, I do agree that to build it up just to have to leave it behind in retreat, it must have been upsetting.
Cora Gennerman
ReplyDeleteVisualizing: Before starting this section, once again I looked at all the pictures to help me visualize, and it occurred to me while looking at their uniforms, that it must be really heavy, and hot walking around with all that thick materialed uniforms. Then, looking through the maps I realized that these men must have had some great stamina to travel that far without cars, and hotels, and all the things we take for granted today. Visualizing is something I'm glad I took the time to do, because it helped a lot. This part of the book was very descriptive and it was easy to picture the scenes of the battles.
Predictions: Before reading, I predicted that this section would have many deaths, casualties, and hardships for the American army because of the title "fateful summer." Weather was such a big factor in this section. Bigger than i ever thought it could've been. The weather seemed to have a impact on what the American and British army’s would decide to do. I noticed that when the weather turned bad, so did the Americans luck. I knew that whenever McCullough talked about weather, I made many predictions on what would happen next. When McCullough was describing how many men the British had, I thought the Americans should retreat, which is exactly what happened, and that was the best possible solution that they could've done.
Cause and effect: Because Washington had some losses at Bunker Hill and other moves the British had previously made on the Army under his belt, Washington was able to predict what British would throw at him. While Washington was retreating, he had everyone ready for the strike from the British, because they've done that previously.
Questions: : How many American men were left behind because of sickness in their journeys? I wonder if anything would've been different if British would've stopped moving forward when they were advancing on the Americans at Boston. Was that rumor about the plot to kill Washington ever proved to be true? That reminds me of a connection. The mayhem that was going on about the plot to kill Washington and the cruel punishments (Tarring and feathered, burned with candles etc..) Reminded me of the Salem Witch trails I learned about last year in the 1690's.
Commenting on Jonathon's post, I was also wondering how British got through the Jamaica Pass without any resistance from the rebels. Apparently it was left unguarded, but I'm sure that the thick fogged helped a lot too.
Lauren Anklam
ReplyDeletePredict: Before reading this section, I skimmed through the title and the pictures of the generals and maps and so forth. I figured that with the name "fateful summer" there was going to be a lot of deaths and problems for both sides. Also, with a bunch of different maps I figured it was going to take place in many different locations as well.
Questions: The question still hasn't been answered about the Jamaica Pass and I also wondering the same thing. Also, it talked about Washington's men being drunk and how he and his army had been made a laughingstock. Was this an a rare occurrence or did the men drink often while on duty?
Cause and Effect: Washington's decisions to separate troops weakened his defenses, but luckily the weather was always in favor for the Americans at this point and helped them out more than once.
Turning points: The British have gained more power, but Washington's actions of enforcing a split allowed them to still be able to retreat from the British and avoid any of their fake schemes.
Responding to Cora's visualization: I would have to agree the endurance the men had was obviously great with the distances they had to travel.
Kelli Hughes
ReplyDeleteReading Thoughts
Importance: Joseph Plumb Martin said, "I never spent a thought about numbers. The Americans were invincible in my opinion." I thought that this was very important because I believe it showed that even though the odds were stacked against them they still had high spirits; even as they're marching to battle with the British no one thought about how outnumbered they were- in favor of the British. I think this showed how America's perseverance and spirit were what helped them win the war.
Question: Is this considered a civil war or a war between two countries?- because America had yet to be established (or even think of independence) and was more of an extension of Great Britain, which would make it a civil war. I am a bit confused. For reference I used: Page 119 where the Rev. was talking about them being in the calamities of a civil war.
Reading like A Historian
Differing Perspectives: (this stems from my question) In the question of civil war there are differing perspectives on each side as to what type of conflict arose. England would have said that it was a civil war because technically the colonies were still apart of England- but the Americans would have said that it was revolutionary because they wanted their freedom.
Turning Point: Pg. 135-136 When Congress decided to declare independence from Britain was a major turning point because that meant that if they win the war then they will be completely free from the King and would then have to come up with a system that would "rule" the new country but still keep it free. Or if they lost then they will all be considered traitors of the crown and probably hung or shot to death for treason. So this was a momentous declaration because of the outcome was not set and it could have gone either way.
Favorite Phrase: Pg. 136 "'We are in the midst of a revolution,' wrote John Adams, 'the most complete, unexpected and remarkable of any in the history of nations'" This was when Congress decided to call for independence from Britain.
Responding to Lauren's Cause and Effect: I agree with you that his decision to separate the troops would have lead to an earlier downfall but then again if he had put all of his major "key players" in one area and focused one one area then the British would have been able to surround the Americans and would have taken them down faster. They outnumbered us both physically and in wisdom of military knowledge. They were considered the best in the world.
Nate Kitchell
ReplyDeletepreview/predict: After reading that the title of part two was Fateful Summer and looking through some of the pages and seeing pictures, I predicted that there would be a lot of casualties in this part.
Questions: Did the British continue to push forward as Washington's Army retreated?
Cause and Effect: I feel that if the troops would not have not been drinking on duty then they would have been more organized and prepared for battle.
change and continuity: By the end of this part the British have the upper hand because they have caused the American Army to retreat. But the Americans continue to have a willingness to fight for their freedom even though they have been forced back.
~Lydia Hunger~
ReplyDeleteResponding to Kelli Hughes: The civil war in which Reverend John was talking about in my opinion was the war between the Tories and the Loyalists in New York itself. "In New York... the city remained divided and tense ... widespread and ranged from the militant to the disaffected to those hesitant about declaring themselves patriots for a variety of reasons, trade and commerce not being the least of them" (McCullough, 118). I found this to be a helpful and insightful phrase. It gives a picture of a divided New York, tense and unable to truly rise up and express a dire need to be themselves, a free people.
Vocabulary: Avowed: acknowledged, declared. (119)
Conscientious: controlled or done according to conscience, meticulous (124)
Quandary: a state of perplexity, as in what to do; dilemma (152)
Indomitable: that cannot be subdued or overcome; unconquerable (176)
Preview/Predict: From glossing over the first part of the title and some of the chapter, I predicted that New York would give some troubles, and that this "Fateful Summer" could include many deaths, diseases, intense heat, and/or famine and food shortage.
Turning Points: With the British taking control over New York, the rebels spread out to both the vulnerable areas, their decisions had given them the ability to retreat, and also save valuable men. Outnumbered and seeming to have the lower hand while Washington thought of attacks by sea instead of land, it was a well thought out decision that kept their men alive, despite the three they had lost whom were captured an hung.
Using the Past: The decision to retreat and live another day may have been seen as odd, and more so after how hard the men fought for against the British for Dorchester, New York, the harbor, and many more crucial places. While the circumstances are much different, and I do not share my opinion on the matter, the past could be used and has already been in the war with Iraq and Afghanistan that we have fought for many years. Live to fight another day.
Taylor Apfelbeck
ReplyDeletePreview/Predict: George Washington had been relying a huge amount on luck in the past battles with the British. He was certainly pushing his luck when he assumed that the British would march right up to their lines, and the rebels could take them down, just like Bunker Hill. It was pretty obvious to me that the British would not make that mistake again. With the Continental army's number dwindling and the British being reinforced by Hessians, I predicted that the British would achieve a victory, which they certainly did other than the rebels escaping into the night.
Questions: Why did General Howe decide to cease the attack on the Continental army when, if they had continued, they could have obliterated it? I know many people afterwards blamed Howe for the rebels' night escape, but it was still a British victory. However, despite what they thought, they had still not won the war because Howe decided to hold back.
Change and Continuity: The British had changed their battle strategy. They weren't marching up to the rebels and basically being killed in large masses. They surrounded the rebel army in Brooklyn and cut off almost every route of escape. Also, the Continental army lost a great deal of men: 1,000 captured and 300 killed is the estimate. Howe estimated that the British had lost less than 400: 59 killed, 267 wounded, and 31 missing. These numbers are quite different compared to Bunker Hill or even Boston.
Through Their Eyes: After the rebels retreated they must have been absolutely miserable. Although getting away without losing any more lives, they had still been defeated. They were tired, starving, sick, wounded, and the future probably looked very grim to most of the soldiers. They would have to rely on Washington's judgement to have any chance of fighting again.
Responding to Lydia Hunger: I agree with the concept of retreating before it's too late and fighting another day. It saved the rebel army from complete annihilation, and they could engage in battle with the British once they had regrouped and hopefully strengthened their army. I'm not exactly sure how that would work in Iraq and Afghanistan.
--Austin Stolze—
ReplyDeleteChange and Continuity: On the British side, there was great change. After their embarrassing defeat at Dorchester Heights, they were determined not to lose again. As a result, when they finally arrived in New York, they came with an overwhelming amount of troops and firepower. War ships like the “Asia” were so massive that they left awestricken looks on all the Americans in sight. They even had more troops (an estimated 32,000) than entire the population of the most populous city in America at the time (Philadelphia). Also, in New York, instead of the Rebels having the advantage of intelligence of the enemy, it was the British who had this advantage now, since New York had a Loyalist/Tory majority eager to help them. In New York, the British also had the advantage of a superior navy, which helped in the many nearby deep and navigable rivers.
Question: One inquiry that had during this section was, how well did the Hessian troops get along with the British troops? Was there ever any animosity between the two troops or did they get along relatively well? They seemed like they were fighting for different reasons—the British for their country and the crown, and the Hessians probably just for money as they were more or less mercenaries.
Cause and Effect: One thing that ended up affecting a great deal of the war was the weather. It took the help of a thick veil of fog for the 9,000 Rebel troops to make their sneaky and time-consuming escape from Brooklyn. Also, the wind that night aided their escape because had the wind allowed for the British to ships to sail up the East River, making their escape impossible. If either one of these conditions didn’t occur on that night, the outcome would’ve been very different because the British would’ve had a chance to attack the Rebels while they were evacuating and could’ve maybe even “finish[ed] them off and end the war in a stroke”.
Visualize: I was able to create a very good picture of the chaotic atmosphere of New York after the British fleet started rolling into the city. Over a hundred gigantic towering war vessels kept arriving on the scene striking awe into the citizens and soldiers alike. Citizens began fleeing house and home immediately and were met by large groups of Rebel soldiers flowing in from nearby areas to enter the city. Loyalists must have been thrilled, while Patriots were undoubtedly terrified.
Comment on Chang Lee’s Post: I was also puzzled as to why Washington decided to split his troops in half the way he did when faced with an enemy that outnumbered him so much. If the Rebels had had more troops defending Long island, they maybe would’ve had more people to guard the Jamaica Pass, which would have created a much different result, since the British were very vulnerable while on the narrow trial, but then again hindsight is always 20/20.
Herolind Jusufi
ReplyDeleteReading Thoughts
Preview/Predict:
Upon viewing the title of the second section of David McCullough's book, "1776", I thought Fateful Summer would mean that something "great" was supposed to happen or the turning point of the war. Saying that it was fate, I was sure that the inevitable would happen and Washington's forces would gain the upper hand on British troops.
Evaluation:
I thought that McCullough's generalization about both sides of the war was pretty accurate and fair. Although he did kind of hype up the British military, he also focused on their weaknesses. This also applies to the Continental Army, because he talks about how inexperienced they were and sort of their "savage" ways.
Reading Like a Historian
Through Their Eyes:
People back then must have been very brave and noble to fight for their country. Even though they knew that British troops were more well equipped and trained. The men are truly honorable for their actions even through illness and bloodshed, and even women who would help by cooking/cleaning for them.
Using The Past:
The American Revolution reminds me a lot about the revolution happening in Libya and what happened in Egypt as well. The rebel forces over there represent the Continental Army, inexperienced soldiers who will fight to the death for their freedom. Gaddafi and his military represent the English Monarch, an oppressive group that enslaves its' followers. It goes to show that when people are unhappy with their circumstances, they are willing to fight for a change.
@Karsyn Shirmer
Of course profanity was used back then, if not more then it is today. Andrew Jackson was known for being a "jackass" for the amount of profanity he used in every sentence. I believe that people weren't as civilized back then as today since society had not been fully developed.
Corinna Martell
ReplyDeleteVisualize: One thing I found to be absolutley amazing and particularly hard to visualize was the rebels retreat from Long Island to Manhattan. It is ineffable how an army of nearly 9,000 men was capable of surviving retreat with only 3 fatalities in one night without British speculations. I found it interesting how they covered wheels with rags etc. to prevent noise at all cost. Private Martin wrote "We are strictly enjoined not to speak,or even cough.""All orders were given from officer to officer and communicated to men in whispers."(p.188) It was to the British armys disbelief that Major Stephan Kemble recorded in his diary that it was "one of utter astonishment". Once again like Dorchester Heights the British underestimated Washington and his army and were caught off guard in the pitch black night.
Through their eyes: When both armies came into contact and war broke rampant there was obviously stong animosity in the air. War is often provoked as a mechanism to anniahlate an oppositional force,however I believe that Howes intentions were more than beating the rebels into the dirt. Possibly the first intentions of the Brits were to scare the rebel army onto their hands and knees asking for mercy. This is evident in Howe himself ordering a halt. McCullough said, "By noon or shortly thereafter the rout was over, the day lost for the Americans. British troops, having advanced so far so rapidly wanted to keep going and carry the attack straight to the Brooklyn works. Numbers of British officers,too,felt it was no time to stop. But Howe ordered a halt"(p.178)
Connections: I had to point out that the British unarguably had control of the waterways and this reminded me of aphug and the Rimland theory that states he who controls the sea controls Eurasia (the world). To a certain extent The Brtis control of the waterways is like a mini Rimland and can also be seen as the "highground" in warfare (the ideal position), not to surpass the fact the British navy is notorious for its grandeur and mastery at sea.
Question: Does anyone know what became of Sterling and Sullivan? I know Nathaniel Woodhull died. I only read that both generals were treated fairly by Howe including dining at the Eagle.
Lindi- I agree with you that McCullough did a fine job representing both armies to his best capabilities. I like how he was able to still find information on the American army that told of their bravery in such a horrid and embarrising defeat. It would have been easy to just elaborate on all the mistakes and vices of Washington and his army.
Bryce Mathson
ReplyDeleteCause and Effect- In the Fateful Summer it became obvious that the rebel army was commanded poorly. The British, despite being to careful and not taking the opportunities to advance and completely destroy the rebels, dominated this section of the war. Washington was showing that despite being a great leader, he did not have the experience and skill of Howe. Because of his lack of ability to lead an army wisely, as well as his fellow commanding officers, Washington’s army began to quickly fall behind to the much powerful British army.
Visualize- I can only imagine what it would be like to look out across the water and see so many ships. The view from the rebel side must have been very discouraging knowing that the entire fleet was out to fight you. This must have been one of the most intimidating sights a new volunteer coming to fight could possibly see.
Questions- Why did the rebel army not make more of an effort to make the Hudson River impassible? If the British had such a powerful navy and America had pretty much none it seems that making it impossible to pass would have limited a lot of the regular’s power. Every time I can remember Washington giving orders to try this it was at the last minute.
Corinna Martell- I don’t know what happened to Sterling, but Sullivan was given back to Washington in a prisoner exchange and went on to fight later in the war.
Danielle Obermeier
ReplyDeletePredictions..The second section of the book is called Fateful Summer so I predicted that Washington's Army was going to lose some of his upcoming battles. I predicted this contrary to having something great happen because in many situations Washington knew his weaknesses in his Army and battles so I thought Washington would kno the outcome and it wouldn't so much be "fate."
Visualize..I visualized when the fog sat in right after the American Army escaped from across the river, leaving their enemy behind. I could see the men running right into the fog and then they slowly just disappeared.
Cause and Effect..I do believe that the weather had role in battles. Depending of which way the wind was blowing would help or destroy plans on either side. And like in my visualization, the fog helped immensly for the escape of the American Army.
Change and Continuity..Because the rebels changed their battle strategy, I felt like that was a change that both sides felt.
Bryce-I enjoyed reading your visualization. I never thought of how they felt seeing that, but your right it must have been pretty intimidating.
Jake Coenen
ReplyDeleteReading Thoughts:
One thing that I observed about this section particularly prior to the battle was General Washington’s lack of certainty. In the Battle of Dorchester Heights he seemed much more confident in what he was going to do, however he seemed much less aware of the British “plan” in this section. Washington is a very this is the way it has to be kind of person so not knowing what is going on must be very hard on him. Another thing that I noticed was the difference in the way the “press” portrayed the events, In London they focused on the British dominating the Americans in battle. However, in America the focused on Washington’s swift escape. It almost seemed that the Americans wanted to make the defeat seem less bitter than it was.
Reading like a Historian:
Cause and Effect, When the Americans left only three men to patrol the Jamaica pass they were asking for problems. They had both the other roads well protected but the British made them pay for it. When the British were marching to battle that is the road that they took and in doing so the really exploited the American forces. So, due to the mistake that the Americans made, the effect was the British really hitting us with a hard blow.
Differing Perspectives, The whole book switches back and forth from the perspective of the Americans and the British, however it focuses more on the prospective of the executives and their decisions. This made me think what were the Soldiers thinking about all this when it was going on? When we get to the battle Washington is watching from a distance not in the thick of the fight, some decisions might have been different if the perspective of the leader was different.
Dani, I agree with your statement on the weather being a factor in the battles that took place. Depending on the wind a Ship couldn’t move or, like in your visualization, people would disappear into the fog.
Jonathan Butler
ReplyDeletePreview/Predict: Since the title of the part is "Fateful Summer," I could have guessed that there would be a major turning point in the war. I predicted that it would be the point where the tables started to turn toward the Americans, since the army had high morale and momentum from taking control of Boston. I knew there would be a conflict at New York and thought that the Americans would have a good advantage due to the fact that they would arrive there first and have time to build up their defenses and strategize. I also did not think that the British would bring as big of a force as they did.
Visualize: It's amazing to think of all of the British ships docked in New York. It was undoubtedly a reality check for the Americans that this battle would not be as easy as in Boston. With even more ships arriving every day, I don't know how they didn't completely abandon all hope to win.
Cause and Effect: Washington dividing the army into two was a fatal mistake on his part. It left him with less people to defend Jamaica pass, which was a huge oversight. They needed better forms of communication, because even if someone had spotted the British army heading through Jamaica pass, it would probably be too late anyway. The British took a huge chance by gambling on the locals to lead them to the pass, because they were very vulnerable to an attack while they were sneaking around.
Turning Points: A huge turning point for the Americans was their escape. If they had stayed, they would have been killed by the overpowering British firepower from their ships. They were very lucky that they had fog cover the next morning. If they had taken heavy losses, they would have less troops to fight in the war and it could have ended differently.
Bryce: I agree that the rebels should have taken more effort in defending the river. A big reason why the British won was because of their ships' firepower.
Johanna Bixby
ReplyDeleteVisualize: One part that I could picture super clearly in my head was when David McCullough was describing the house fronted on Bowling Green. I could just imagine the grand stairway leading into a huge grand banquet hall along with the garden leading down to the Hudson River. The other thing that was vividly described was Lieutenant Isaac Bangs’s account of the huge statue of King George III in front of Washington’s headquarters. I can just see the huge gold statue sitting on top of a huge 15 foot high piece of white marble.
Importance: I feel it was very important that people weren’t just fighting for their selves and their family, but that they were fighting for the rights of their whole entire country. Henry Knox explains to his brother “The city in an uproar, the alarm guns firing, the troops repairing to their post, and everything in the [heights] of bustle. I not at liberty to attend her, as my country cries loudest”. Knox again showed the importance of this again when he was writing to his wife, “We are fighting for our country, for posterity perhaps. On the success of this compaign the happiness of misery of millions may depend”. If soldiers weren’t fighting for their country, they may not have tried as hard, may not have been willing to go through all the pain and suffering for the country to have what America deserved.
Through Their Eyes: To the British, all the Americans were suffering and barely holding on, but in all actually, it wasn’t all like that. Their troops were shocked to see many American’s with huge farms and nice houses. Lieutenant von Bardeleben wrote, “… The houses, in part, are made only of wood and the furnishing in them are excellent. Comfort, beauty, and cleanliness are readily apparent”. I could see why the Hessian and British troops would think this, because King George III had been providing everything to the Americans, they hadn’t been on their own before as a whole. So to see a country be as independent as the war would let them be, was a shock.
Differing Perspectives: Both the attitudes and opinions of the escape from Brooklyn and the loss at the Battle of Brooklyn between the soldiers and the citizens varied. For the soldiers, losing the Battle of Brooklyn had more importance than escaping. Once they were out of Brooklyn they we’re all tired, hungry, and wet so they all basically felt like failures and they just wanted everything to be over. On the other hand, a lot of the citizens, that weren’t loyalist, felt that the battle was a great loss but that the escape overcame that loss and we gave them hope in winning this war.
Comment on Jonathan Butler’s post: I completely agree with your cause and effect. I feel that the outcome at the Jamaican Pass would have been different if the American army wasn’t split in two and if there was more people than what they had defending the pass.
Ashley Kroll
ReplyDeletePreview/Predict: Before reading this section, I skimmed through the illustrations and tried to analyze what “Fateful Summer” could potentially mean for the troops. It got me thinking along the lines of death, extreme heat, diseases spreading, etc. on top of the hardships of war for both sides. Also, the maps showed various locations I assumed important events took place at.
Questions: Why didn’t Washington protect the Hudson River better so it wasn’t as easy to pass through ahead of time? The capabilities of the British navy is stronger than the rebel army so I feel like it’d make more sense try and block it better so it’s nearly impossible to cross the British couldn’t see it as an easier route of travel.
Change and Continuity: I noticed that the Continental Army was still much unorganized. In New York, Washington still didn’t have an ideal number of men and the ones he had ranged in all sorts of ages and still lacked skills fit for a successful battle. They continued struggling to define their officials from their soldiers. Meanwhile the British increased their standards and changed their ways of war. They improved their weapons and firing mechanisms which gave them an advantage over the rebels and resulted in a victory.
Through Their Eyes: When the British and Hessian troops first reached Long Island at the start of chapter 5, I can imagine they were flabbergasted by the abundant luxuries there. Readily available were the finest fruits and houses which showed off their wealth and higher standards of living. At the time, this was above average and not what most others were used to. Walking into such a fortified place would be shocking to see because their original thoughts were the rebels were suffering and barely holding on.
Johanna: I can relate to what stood out to you for your visualization as well. Throughout that particular chapter it seemed McCullough mentioned a few times how grand and exquisite houses in New York were. The Kennedy Mansion, which is the famous New York landmark you’re referring to, was also described as being at “the height of elegance”. For it to have stood out amongst the rest I reckon it was pretty impressive.
IAN HILL
ReplyDeleteTurning Point: when the British received around 300 ships of backup to defeat an army that was way overestimated. This was when the Continental Army started losing ground and that seemed to be a major theme of the chapter.
Questions: WHY IN THE WORLD DID WASHINGTON NOT FOCUS ON AT LEAST A SMALL NAVY INSTEAD OF SINKING HIS SHIPS TO HINDER THE BRITISH? If the British were able to bring in so many foreign troops why didn't Washington attempt the same?
Preview and Predict: From what i already understand about the united states independence I would predict that Washington gets the upper hand and starts beating the British, but from the last section I honestly could predict that the Continental Army will start falling apart and the British will take over.
Change and Continuity: Washington's army began to run out of luck which I think played a huge role in the first section. The Continental army was stuck trying to defend a seaport with no navy, no spies, a disadvantage in numbers, and a multitude of diseases. In Boston the sickness was still high, but the water reliance for Navy was much lower.
AHSLEy KROLl: I thought your "through their eyes" was very nice. I would have immediately skipped that section and would begin describing what the Continental Army must have been feeling and seeing when 300 more red ships came into the small bay of New York, so it was nice to see your perspective
Drew Litrenta
ReplyDeleteConnections: From what I know about military strategies it was a good idea for the the British army to wait till more reinforcement came and using navy force to take advantage of New York. As to Washington's retreat it was a good idea because as the saying goes live another day to fight and wait it out to see what fyou can do tomorrow.
Visualise: In the first section of the book it was a lot harder for me to picture in my head was going on. I thought that I could vission it like a movie beeter in this second section. For example, the view from the rebel side must have been very discouraging knowing that the entire fleet was out to fight you. This must have been one of the most intimidating sights a new volunteer coming to fight for the first time.
Turning point: Once again, this section ended with a large turning point, however, this turning point was a negative point in the war for the rebels. This marks an incredibke defeat and gives even more power to the British.
Through Their Eyes: Through the eyes of George Washington, this would have been very traumatic to have such a crushing defeat unfold and know that there is almost nothing that can be done to fight back and hold the line at all.
Hill: I have to aggree with Ian that at the end of this section it seams that the battle could go either way and the British might be able to pull it out.
Jennifer Slogar
ReplyDeleteMaking Predictions: As I was reading, I found myself anticipating, before the battle at Brooklyn, that it would mean a brutal defeat for the Continental Army. On just the numbers alone, the outcome of upwards of thirty-thousand, well-trained British and Hessian soldiers against 9,000 unruly Continental Soldiers is easily predictable. Because of these circumstances, one would also predict that Washington would have to retreat and go back to New York.
Questions: Why was the size of the Continental Army so overestimated by the British? Although it may be a good strategy to overestimate your opponent to over prepare yourself, I have no idea how what was about 15,000 turned into an estimated 70,000.
Through Their Eyes: I felt that McCullough did a great job in describing what the citizens of New York saw and felt when the distressed soldiers came back after their escape from Brooklyn. They saw that all of the energy and enthusiasm that the soldiers had when they left was now replaced with sickness and defeat. They were, “filthy, bedraggled, numb with fatigue, still soaked to the skin, many of them sick and emaciated.” Such a sorry sight must’ve brought a very cynical view to those who saw it, not only of the strength in their army, but in the outcome of the war itself.
Change and Continuity: The major thing that has changed in Part 2 is that Britain, with the help of the Hessians, have gained a clear upper hand, whereas at the end of Part 1 the Continental Army had the was leading. There are many things that have been continuous through the entire book, such as Washington’s great ability to lead, or the Army’s ability to accomplish when underestimated. However the true continuous idea in the story is the amazing amount of luck the Continental Army had, particularly with the weather, which in helped them escape in the end.
Commenting on One of Ian’s Questions: To be honest, I don’t think the Revolutionary Cause had any foreign alliances. They wouldn’t be able to recruit the Native Americans or the French (French and Indian war), and any other foreign nation would be too afraid to go up against such a strong country as Britain was at the time.
Caitlin Bradfish
ReplyDeletePredict- The title of this section is the fateful summer. When I read this title I could predict that the Colonial army would have a loss in our fight agains the British forces. However, it never appeared to me that this loss was due to the weakness of George Washington, which turned out to be the case.
Visualize- In this section I decided to look at the pictures that were shown before I started to read. This had helped me understand what was going to happen. The pictures demonstrated to me what many of the Generals were like and how far the armys actually traveled by foot throughout the war.
Through their eyes- While reading this section I generally stopped and thought about how different it was for the forces. Compared to how i see it, the Colonial army only saw it as a battle between their country and the british. However, many more ethnics were involved.
Cause and Effect- In this chapter the wheather had the potential to have a great effect on the outcome of the war. The fog played a great role on the escape of the American Army.
Ausin, your visualization was along the lines of how I also pictured it. However, you went into more detail which helped me understand it more.
KaoZee Xiong
ReplyDeleteVisualize: McCullough makes so many good visualizations. One, I remember very well from part two of this book was the night when the huge "hurricane" storm occurred. Here, he uses evidences from soldier's views and horrid examples of what happened to help create the scene for readers. For example he wrote, "In New York, a soldier hurrying through the streets was struck deaf, blind, and mute." Reading this, I can tell the storm really effected things.
Preview & Predict: Reading the name of part two to this book, "Fateful Summer", I sensed it was going to be about a battle the Americans would lose to. Sure enough, the British was able to drive the American Army out of New York.
Cause & Effect: There were no concerns for a sufficient amount of troops to defend the Jamaica Pass, for it was narrower than the other roads and the Americans thought it would be easy to defend. Due to this thought, Washington sent only five of his officers to defend the pass. This made it easy for the British. Going around to that pass, they eventually captured the five men, a main play into helping them win over New York.
Turning Point: The establishment of the Declaration of Independence was a turning point because it gave the American soldiers a stronger reason to fight and further pushed the Continental Army to work harder.
Comment: I agree with Corrina Martell. When it was brought up in the book that if the British were able to take over New York, it "could mean "control of the Hudson River and thus the whole Hudson--Lake Champlain corridor north to Canada", it reminded me of APHug and the Rimland Theory.
Zachary Finnegan
ReplyDeleteConnections
From the little I know about military strategies, I believe it was good military action on both sides. First, the British Army decided to wait for more troops and artillery to take advantage of New York, which paid off because they did. And on the Rebels side, Washington's retreat was smart because they were obviously outnumbered. They could retreat, gather there thoughts, and men and strategies for the next attack. Also, it did save many lives.
Visualize
When I read any novel, I try to visualize as much as possible and put myself into the characters shoes and put myself in their conflict. In this novel, During chapter 5, the description made it almost simple to put myself into the armies shoes. This part of the book, the British troops were trying to tip toe through the pass to get a better position to attack the Rebels from. Trying to be as quiet as possible, with many men, is tough for anyone to do. But for an army with pounds of supplies on their backs and trying to make no noise what-so-ever, it was easy to picture in my mind.
Change and Continuity
While not much change happened on the Rebel side, the British side change drastically. After getting defeated by a landslide at Dorchester Heights, they were motivated not to lose again. The result of that motivation was New York, as they bulldozed the American troops with more men and firepower.
Turning Points
A major turning point for the Rebels was their sneaky escape. If they would have hung around and waited for the British, they would have been slaughtered. It was a miracle, in a way, that the fog came the next morning. With that fog, it was basically impossible to see the troops escape. If this critical decision was not made, the war could have and probably would have ended differently.
Comment to KaoZee Xiong
I agree with you that the Americans had a renewed sense of patriotism due to the establishment of the Declaration of Independence. They needed something to motivate them and this was one of those keys to winning the war. Also, McCullough helped me understand as well what some of the soldiers emotions and some of the tragedies involved.
Lucas Gajewski
ReplyDeleteReading like a Historian
Change and Continuity:
Since the last section, while the American forces have generally stayed the same, the British have changed significantly (and to their advantage, too!) With constant changes like growing numbers in their ranks of men and developments in their military tactics, these dynamic changes furthered the British forces while the American improvements (if any) were static.
Cause and Effect:
Because the Continential Army didn't have a Navy or weapons or troops to fight the British off they basically just took it over and occupied it with little force. This was caused by Washington dividing his forces when he shouldn't have. They weren't able to fight off the superior forces of General Howe, therefore the loss of New York occurred.
Reading Thoughts
Preview/Predict:
Beginning this section off with the title, "The Fateful Summer," automatically forced me to believe that things would not go so great for America, unlike they had planned. I expected reading chapters full of loss of hopelessness, loss of drive, and ultimately loss of something very important to what is now the United States. I expected problems inside the Continental Army that would later have a huge impact. I couldn't imagine a whole lot happening since it would occur over a couple months, but then again, a lot can happen in so little time.
Comment to Zachary Finnegan:
I like what you said under your "Visualize" entry. It helps to "get into character" when you really want to know what someone is feeling, why they are feeling that way, and what their point of view is. A very good tool!
Stephanie Schuessler
ReplyDeleteVisualize: I once again thought that McCullough did a wonderful job with descriptions and detail. When he was describing the Americans first seeing the entire British fleet consisting of some 32,000, well tained troops, it was almost as though you were feeling the intimidation and discouragement that they felt yourself. They really had no advantages and at this point, were in a place of desperation and hopelessness.
Question: Were the sickly ever seperated from the rest? To at least attempt to stop the illnesses from spreasding so quickly to the healthy men? Yet, even if there was some attempt at seperation, there were so many that it must have been a near impossible task...
Differing Perspectives: In this section, loyalists and deserters seemed to greatly overestimate the Rebels strength while they were in New York, thinking that they had anywhere from 30,000-35,000 troops. Also, many of the higher ranked officials and officers thought that the Americans may not even want to fight. Yet Washington and his American officers felt that they needed many more troops and they did in fact want to fight. They wanted their independence from the British and if they didn't fight, all of their other efforts would be wasted.
Through Their Eyes: Most of the American soldiers believed that the British army was full of "hardened, battle scarred veterans, the sweepings of Londons Liverpool slums, debators, drunks, common criminals and the like, who'd been bullied and beaten into mindless obedience." (p.166) Yet the British were in reality much better trained and equipped. They had more disapline and were in much better health overall, partially due to their strictly enforced sanitaion laws amongst the troops.
Comment: Austin, I enjoyed reading your visualization because it was one that I too, could picture vividly. All that chaos, terror, and commotion must have been horrifying to those trying to flee.
-Bridget Daniels-
ReplyDeleteChange & Continuity: This is somewhat of a turning point as well, but the great success of the Continental Army from the first part has been violently reversed. They don't have nearly as many men as the enemy, many generals have fallen ill and are absent, thus they have limited knowledge about the land and how to defend it. Also, I found the difference in the size of both armies astonishing. The British, having called in the Hessians, had near 30,000 men (at least twice as many as the rebel force). One general on the American side had felt it was suicide.
Visualization: I'm actually enjoying McCullough's writing and description of the land layouts, soldiers, and battles. This section was particularly dark with the continued sickness, the low amount of food, and overall a very dismal situation. Some elements that helped me to really feel this section was the storm, the mud and muck, the sneaking around (both armies did so), the dreary conditions of captured soldiers, marching in the night, hard biscuits and raw pork, and the stench of the bodies waiting for burial on the battlegrounds. The grime of this section is so real and colorfully described. I think this section was also symbolic of how the Americans were doing in the war, although, it wasn't intentional (this is nonfiction). The plot and literary techniques displayed in this book seem so skillfully woven, it feels like it could be a fiction story.
Vocab: Specters- Something that haunts or perturbs the mind
Assailing- To attack violently with blows or words
Hemmed- to surround in a restrictive manner: confine
Rout- a crowd of people: rabble
Using the Past: I'm not sure which section this belongs under but this far into the book, I still feel there are a lot of differences from the Revolutionary War and today's warfare. The battles from the book seem like a big deal in that time period, but wars today are a lot more massive. I think they're also less civilized, with surprise bombings and frequent random terrorist attacks, not just in our country but around the world. It seems during the Revolutionary War, they would have a battle, there would be an obvious victor, then pack up and march to another battle where they would do it again. It was metered and simple, where today, it's a bit more complex.
Karsyn Schirmer: I also liked your "Through Their Eyes" section. We get a small taste of what the British thought of the rebels, and they seemed perplexed as to why the rebels ever had reason to rebel. They thought that the American land was beautiful, and that the colonists should be satisfied. The British wondered why the Americans would want to ruin it with a war.
Jared Gjertson
ReplyDeleteQuestion:
In the second section when the British are moving along the Jamaica Pass they intercept five soldiers patrolling the Pass. When brought back for questioning the author made it seem like they just gave up information. Is it historically accurate that the British were able to receive information from the soldiers so easily? And if so why didn’t the soldiers realize what was taken place and lie to the British and tell them the Pass was completely guarded and it was a trap? That possibly would have slowed the British down enough to prolong or abolish the Jamaica Pass battle plan.
Visualize:
In my opinion David McCullough as done a wonderful job of painting a clear image of what actually happened, especially in the end of the chapter when the rebels were escaping across the river. What really stood out to me was when Major Alexander Scammell miss interpreted Washington’s orders and had General Mifflin clear out the remaining troops that were acting as somewhat of a diversion as to everything was still normal down in the rebels camp. Even though McCullough said it was too dark to see his face I could clearly see the anger and confusion on General Washington’s face and the tone in his voice when he realized the mistake that could have affected the outcome of the retreat.
Turning Points:
Rebels’ successfully crossing the river and escaping New York without any casualties was a major turning point of the war. The rebels had very few options with the immediate threat of wind change occurring allowing the British ships to sail up the east river creating a trap in Brooklyn, action needed to occur. With the Rebels escaping it has relieved pressure of attack and has given more flexibility to the rebels in the next battle.
Through Their Eyes:
This is a really difficult part of the story to try and interpret what people at this time were seeing. After being defeated and outsmarted in their first battle it would be easy to assume that most Americans took the defeat hard and had little faith in the rebels. Though the Rebels were able to escape Brooklyn with no deaths I believe that the small victory they received escaping no where matches the large Victory the British accomplished. The British now had control of all the Rebels defenses and forts in New York and it would be hard to imagine that any Americans would believe they would win the war at this time.
Comment:
Bridget I totally agree with your change and continuity comment and I feel it is also placed in the correct category. This battle really was out of their hands. They could have never prepared for such illness to occur except for enforcing good hygiene which they did not. The lay of the land was also a huge change though they surveyed the land and mapped out all of New York it was evident their lack of knowledge when it came to New York when The British came right through the Jamaica Pass with no trouble at all.
Thomas Siegharter
ReplyDeleteReading the title of section two, Fateful Summer, I predicted that there was going to be a battle in New York due to the British departure of Boston in section one and that fate would play in the effects and the aftermath of the battle. I was rather close with this prediction although it was fought in the fields near Brooklyn. But fate did play a huge role in this battle. It was inevitable that Washington's lack of experience would cause problems for the New England army. The failure of figuring out where the British would attack was the largest problem and the inexperience the Americans had of war compounded on the problem.
The overall idea of the section was said before the inexperience the New England army had in the Battle of Long Island. First off Washington had no idea where the British were attacking, therefore he had to separate his army inorder to have a defense present where ever the British were to move. This lead to vast confusion amoungst the regiments. Secondly the idea of covering Jamaica Pass was a good idea due to the fact that it was easy to defend. But only sending five horsemen to the pass was foolish. If he were to send a regiment they could have probably out lasted the British quite well due to the fact it was quite defendable. And thirdly the idea of retreating was a great idea but some of the commanders specifically General Mifflin did not fully understand Washingtons orders. This caused even more confusion and fortunately they were not caught by the British. Overall the British took great advantage of the confusion and inexperience of the New England army.
I noticed a few connections from section one and two the most noticable was the element of suprise. Washington used it in Dorchester heights by attacking the British with the newly found artillery. This ended successful for the rebels and left the British disfuctionable and offset. The same thing happened in the Battle of Long Island where Washington ordered a retreat from Brooklyn. The fact the British were on the verge of outflanked and would have them eventually cornered them once the wind changed direction put Washington in a tough situation. And the reality that they escaped suprised the British.
Change and Continuity: This battle changed the face of the war. The rebels were fleeing from the British and losing there moral from the battle at Dorchester Heights as the British build confidence from the well executed attack. Both sides also changed their strategies. The Americans really changed how they fought from a all out offensive to a fleeing resistence. Where as the British changed by now marching through the land leaving a path of destruction. Obviously some factors stayed the same such as the Americans are still vastly outnumbered and still have very little experience in war. Clearly the British benefited the most from these changes. First of all they destroyed farmlands which reduces the amount of food the Americans will have. It also lowered the Americans moral of the war. The Americans are also making it easier for the British to attack them by fleeing from battle every time they are outnumbered. They lose too many men and the British will eventually find a way to position the Americans so the war can be over.
I have to agree with Stephanie and Jared about visualization. David McCullough does a great job explaining things in a way that people can envision it so that the reader can have a better understanding of it.
Lucas Gajewski
ReplyDelete(continued from previous post)
Visualize:
Throughout this section, I felt that it was getting more and more easy to put myself in the shoes (or boots) of a Rebel. Through McCullough's descriptive text, I could picture myself as a discouraged and intimidated soldier, not knowing what the future had in store for me or for the rest of the men.
Alyssa Scott
ReplyDeleteBig idea and generalizations
During section two I learned a lot about how the Americans felt. They were devoted to the American cause. Although there were some that couldn’t care less about the cause, there were many who had dropped everything in order to achieve freedom. Joseph Plumb Martin thought that the Americans were invincible. I think that this is incredible because he knew that the rabble in arms was raging war against the most powerful nation in the world. It also says that there was scarcely a militia man who did not think himself equal to two or three of the British.All throughout this section it frequently refers to the devotion and courage of the American Army. Although this is event is not significant to me. I think the greatest army in the world couldn’t win a battle if they had the right mindset in their heads. I think that being confident like the Americans is a good thing but if you are over confident then that’s when it gets bad.
Visual
One thing that I pictured time and time again throughout this part of the novel was the long, winding marches. For instance, at the start of Chapter Four it begins with a story of a march through the countryside of Massachusetts to Connecticut. I can just imagine a bunch of men marching through wilderness that is still winter but on the verge of spring, and the people lining the roads of towns just to watch the soldiers march by. I can imagine what their thoughts were as this has been the largest army ever seen in the colonies. As I continue to read I can just imagine how both sides are going to feel about the events at New York and the surrounding area. I feel that the British will feel proud especially the ones back at the parliament in England. And I predict that although the Americans didn’t win they didn’t lose as they learned many lessons on trust and how to wage a land vs. water war. They will also try harder to see from all angles as this time they forgot to include the fact that they can get attacked on land as well.
Response to Jared:
I too find it hard to understand what people are thinking with being defeated with little to no faith. They would feel overwhelmed and unsure of their actions causing them to have no hope for their country.
Brandon Dively
ReplyDeleteWachong, you bring up a valid point. I don't recall ever hearing of Washington being a weak leader. I feel as though the struggles faced by the colonists were due to a lack of experience as opposed to a lack of leadership.
In this section I felt that loss of patriotism by the colonists. By losing hope in the rebellion, the colonial army lost morale. This was very different than the first section, but the troops managed to work up enough pride to keep on pushing forward to achieve the freedom they were fighting for.
Clara Kennedy
ReplyDeleteVisualize
I thought that there were many times in this section that I was clearly able to visualize, but one that stuck with me was the way McCullough described the American army seeing the British for the first time. It allows you to really tap in to their emotions at that point and imagine them looking already completely defeated as this 32,000 person army comes toward them. The way they carry themselves with complete hopelessness and defeat really helps you create that image.
Questions
It seemed to me that the British really overestimated the size of the American army. Granted, that probably did prepare them better for battle, but going from 15,000 to over 35,000 is a pretty big difference in size...
Through Their Eyes
The Americans had it in their heads that the British were "Hardened, battle-scarred veterans.... who've been bullied and beaten into mindless obedience." (p.166) When in fact the British were very orderly and disciplined. In a harsh way, definitely the better army of the two.
Cause and Effect
Because the Continental Army didn't have the supplies like weapons or a Navy to effectively fight off the British General Washington made the decision to divide his forces which resulted in the loss at New York.
Comment to Alyssa Scott
I agree with the way you said that you don't think the americans could have won any battle without the right mindset. I definitely think that the right attitude definitely helped the Americans with battle.
Benjamin Gorichs
ReplyDeletePreview and Predict: Before reading the section, I skimmed through and saw the maps of Long Island, NY and Trenton, NJ and assumed that these places were where the section would take place. Also, after reading the title, I predicted that many people would meet their fates and both armies would face challenges.
Cause and Effect: Since the Rebels retreated from battle, they were able to live to fight another day. Had they stayed while the British were receiving reinforcements and ammunition, they would have been slaughtered and the British would have certainly won the war.
Change and Continuity: Two major things that in this section were the quantity of men and ammunition the British possessed and the morales of the Rebels which had lowered significantly along with their confidence in Washington. These changes made it seem as if the British would win the war hands down. The only thing that really stayed the same was the British soldiers' confidence which had risen if anything.
Visualize: I was able to paint a vivid picture in my head of the rebels retreating to Manhattan overnight without lights or a single sound. Private Martin wrote, "'We were strictly enjoined not to speak, or even cough. All orders were given... in whispers'" (188).
I also visualized rags muffling anything that could make noise and foil their retreat.
Comment: Jared, I agree with your thought on the turning point of the section; had the Rebels not retreated when they did, the war would have had a completely different outcome.
Mark Jedras
ReplyDeleteVisualize:
I had a very potent image of the American prisoners being held. Many of them wounded, with rag-tag bandages wrapped around their heads and arms. Also I imagined makeshift shelters, even some dug into the ground.
Importance:
The strategic position of Long Island is again one of importance in releveance to New York. However, I also believe that the British will change their perspectives a little, such as General Clinton. The war now fought is not one of land, but one of vehement annihilation.
Cause and Effect:
I think one of the more underrated views on the battle is the absence of the best possible commander, General Greene. While the text points out that even if Greene had been present, that the eventual retreat of the rebels was inevitable, I still think that perhaps the circumstances the rebels found themselves in would have been different.
Turning Points:
The turning point was obviously the well planned flank of the Americans by the British. The inconsistent patrols and neglected fortifications of their flank allowed the Americans to collapse easily.
Comment:
I agree with Clara, the preconception of the British that the American's force was larger than it really was is ridiculous. With mindful logic and proper intelligence it could have allowed the British to win quicker.
Nathan Motley
ReplyDeletePreview/Predict:
I started off by reading the chapter titles. i predicted that this section would deal with a turning point in the war. specifically with the British winning a major battle. I also found out what battles would be covered in this section from the maps in the book.
Turning Point:
The British victory in New York was a huge defeat for the rebels. It gave the British an upper-hand against the Americans and also destroyed their morale.
Visualize:
I felt that the McCullough did a good job detailing the immense scale of the two armies. From the Britsh ships docking in New York and the American soldiers constantly marching in formation.
cause and Effect:
The decision to split the army was a big mistake from General Washington. It gave the British and advantage as the army was now seemed a bit disorganized. The good thing about Washingtons however, was that it made it easier to retreat.
Comment: Ramsey
I liked your comment about using bows instead of muskets. It really shows how much of a gamble each battle was if you weren't two steps ahead of the enemy. I also agree that the Americans are often portrayed as being a sweeping force against the British in America when it was actually very close.
Zackry Wiese
ReplyDeletePredict: In section of 1776, Fateful summer, I predict that the major pivotal point in the war will happen. I think a major battle will occur that will spell the fate of either the British or the Rebels. It’s more likely that it will be in favor of the rebels on account of the fact that The United States exists at this point.
Visualization: In section 2 of 1776, Fateful Summer, it was easy to see the situations that occurred. Like the roaring thunder of the storm on August 21st. You could hear the deafening thunder in your head as you read about the crash after crash and how soldiers were killed in a single flash of lightening. I could see the giant storm breaking on the shore the head being as large are mountains.
Turning Points: Washington’s headquarters was moved to New York. In New York, the troops had no idea when or where they would be attacked. Washington was realistic about the fact that ships could appear but it wasn’t a very large fear. This feeling alone could change the war if he prepared for a naval attack along with a land based attack then Washington will be prepared either way but if he ignores that small fear and doesn’t prepare and a naval attack does come he could be easily defeated.
Different Perspectives:
The different perspectives of the differentiating peoples fuel this novel and the war. The rebels wanted a choice one man for one vote, an equal republic. On the other hand the British want a Monarchy one ruler that was consulted by a parliament an unequal ruling My opinions on this is that while the Monarchy has it’s perks the equal republic is what is usually desired by citizens of a country. It makes them feel like they are useful to the country.
In response to: Nathan, The loss at New York was indeed a very large loss it seems to the rebels at this point that the British are wiping the colonies with them.
Rebecca Rieckhoff
ReplyDeleteReading Thoughts-
Question-As I was reading 1776, the subject of Loyalists and Tories came up on multiple occasions. When they were mentioned in the book, while both viewed negatively, they seemed to be two separate groups. Upon looking into this, I learned that while they were both pro-British groups, the title Loyalist could be given to really anyone who supported a reconciliation or compromise with Britain. Tories, on the other hand, did not want any sort of compromise between the colonies and Britain, and they believed that anyone who believed in independence for the colonies should be eliminated.
Generalization-As shown by the fallout of the Battle of Brooklyn, when every officer in the army seemed to have someone else to blame for the failure, it can be observed that it is a common occurrence that when things go wrong in life, it is always easier to lay blame to anyone but yourself than to accept that everyone played a hand in the mistake. It is easier to focus the blame for something centrally on one person, that way you have that one target who you can direct all of your anger and disappointment at. This is an unfortunate trait of human nature, because in most cases, there are typically many people who have helped chaos ensue.
Reading like a Historian-
Through Their Eyes- It must have been really difficult to be a continental soldier. They were members of a young, inexperienced army fighting older, more seasoned soldiers from a more established and well-off country. Many of their fellow soldiers were falling ill, and no one was receiving regular pay. I would imagine it was quite hard to keep the patriotic spirit up when surrounded by so much negativity, and so far from home.
Turning Point- I believe that a key turning point in Fateful Summer was when the Declaration of Independence was written and signed. While the King's speech had inspired outrage and disagreement among soldiers, and even potentially inspiring a desire for independence among some people, the Declaration of Independence really made the Revolutionary War about independence from the mother country. Now every soldier knew that they were fighting for more than just their defense, they were fighting for their betterment, their liberty, their independence from a country that had succeeded in nothing recently but keeping the colonists down.
In response to Mark's comment about the importance of General Greene's absence, I agree that, while it is speculated that the outcome would have been the same either way, his presence could have effected the behavior of the rebels in a positive way, potentially helping to ward off a British success.
Michaela Baumann,
ReplyDeleteI became more engaged as I continued reading "1776". Before I started reading section 2, "the fateful summer", I had a feeling that because of the section's title the summer was going to be a rough one for the Americans.After looking at the pictures for this section, I continued to believe it was fore sure a hard summer for them. The private letter from Washington to Reed asking for his return for help is a big clue that the battles get more serious and there is more conflict coming up between the enemies. I thought the maps were interesting pictures to look. It was cool to see the location of the Americans compared to the British in all different places were the battles took place. Once I finished looking at the pictures; their captions also, I predicted that section two would contain much more conflict and fighting than there was in the first section. When I was reading, "Field of Battle", the first part o chapter five,I was certain there was going to be a major battle because of all the preparation going on for both sides. It turned out being the battle of Long island, just as pictures showed.
I enjoyed how the author used words and descriptions that allowed his readers to visualize exactly what was happening during that time. During starting of chapter four, I could picture the troops marching though the towns in rows. When this was happening it reminded me somewhat of what we learned about during the holocaust in seminar, Kristallnacht or "The Night of Terror", where the troop march through and towns people of the side would shout and cheer for them as they passed through, kind of like a parade. Another spot I could visualize was on page 134 when it talked about the 45 British ships inside the lower Bay of Sandy Hook looking like a forrest of trimmed pine trees, much like a christmas tree farm. When the readers are able to visualize pictures of the authors text, the reading becomes more interesting and a lot easier to understand.
Brandon Dively
ReplyDeleteClara, I also realized your point about the Colonial idea of British forces! I completely forgot to add that. I knew I was missing something!
From their eyes I can tell that there had to be a great fear or concern in the hearts of troops like Washington's. They were up against a world super-power. They had a lot to fight for and the stakes were high. They did not know what to expect if they were to be defeated. Only the worst could be imagined. At the same time they were probably very motivated to defeat the British, not only to gain freedom, but also to have something to be proud of. It was a true under-dog story. The British often times overlooked the strength of Colonial troops.
Sydney Povilaitis
ReplyDeleteReading Thoughts:
Preview/Predict- When I saw the title of the first chapter, 'Sovereign Duty', I initially thought that it would be about George Washington and how he assumed his duty as commander of the colonial army. I made this prediction because I know that many colonists looked up to Washington as a great authority figure and many treated him like royalty. Also, for some reason, I assumed that this book would be entirely about the war effort in America, which is why I did not anticipate that chapter one could be about George III. Once I read the poem about the King at the beginning of the chapter however, I realized that it would be about King George and how he and Parliament decided to handle the rebellion in America.
Turning Points- Many of the previous people that posted said that they believed that the victory at Dorchester Heights was the biggest turning point. I believe that the biggest turning point was when Henry Knox returned with the artillery from Fort Ticonderoga. That was the biggest turning point, not only because it boosted morale but it also was the key event that set the American army up for victory at Dorchester Heights. If that event had not occurred, then the American army may not have driven the British out of Boston. Also, this event proved Henry Knox's worth to the army and I think he will play an important role in the battles to come. Another turning point was when General Howe decided to stay for the winter. This was also a turning point because the British soldiers were not at all accustomed to winter in the colonies and consequently they suffered. Not only were the British suffering from the cold but they were also lacking supplies because their supply ships were getting lost in winter storms. These together became an advantage to the American army. And of course, the victory at Dorchester Heights was a major turning point because after many months and a hard winter, the Americans finally drove the British from Boston. Not only did this boost morale, but it also proved that the American army had potential in overcoming the British in the colonies.
Sydney Povilaitis
ReplyDeleteReading like a Historian:
Visualize- The part of this section that I was most able to visualize was Reverend William Emerson's account of the American encampments on pages 28-29. Before reading this passage I already knew that the American army was unorganized but reading Emerson's journal entry really gave me a sense of how unorganized it really was. Emerson's description made me feel like I was actually following him around the camp and seeing all the misshapen tents. I like the fact that each soldier's tent reflected his own personality and also his origins. The diversity of the camps demonstrated the diversity of the American colonies and how so many different people were working together for one cause. Nathanael Green's regiment also showed how well read he was in the ways of war and also how seriously he was committed to an honorable war effort.
Cause/Effect- To many, the fact that the American army was not nearly as organized as the British army may seem a shortcoming. However, their disorder as an army did prove to give some benefits. One benefit is that soldiers like Henry Knox, who were merely bookstore owners before the war, were given the chance to prove their worth to the army and offer ideas. Washington was so desperate for guns since the army was short on money that he was willing to entrust $1,000 to a soldier who had no experience, and who was trying to accomplish a mission that many had deemed impossible. In the British army, all of the generals and other authority figures were already appointed so there would have been little chance that they would have trusted a commoner with such a responsibility. Another benefit that the American army gained with being less organized than the British was that at times the British undAnderestimated them. "According to the diary of one British officer, a few of the British did find out as early as February 29, from deserters and a spy referred to only as 'Junius,' that the rebels intended to 'bombard the town from Dorchester' (p. 90). This passage shows that the British knew five days in advance that there was a possibility of an attack on Boston, yet they did not take it seriously. The only reason that they would not take the information from one of their own spies would be because they did not believe the attack to be possible and because they did not believe that the Americans could pull off the attack. Of course there were downsides to the disorganization of the American army like the lack of resources and lack of command at times, but at times the benefits outweighed the obstacles.
Comment:
Michaela, hat is a very good point, that the technology of the day made it very hard for the soldiers to communicate with their families. I can't imagine how inefficient it would be to send a letter from Boston to Maine or Virginia. And all that time the letter was on its way, the soldiers family might think that he was dead.
Sydney Povilaitis
ReplyDeleteoops...that post was supposed to be for Part one, disregard it:P
Alexis Bryan
ReplyDeleteAfter reading section 2, I saw more of Washington's flaws. Yes, he was an inexperienced leader but he did his best with the knowledge and materials he was given.
A large set back, I think, was that his troops (once they got to New York) seemed to "stop caring" about the war at hand. They were 'hypnotized' by the aray of people and places that were established in New York. The men had a hard time containing themselves it seemed. Washington not only had to contain his men from the "luxurys" of a big city but he also had to think of how he was going to be able to protect such a large space with such a little army.
Even though the British army had the upper hand in this battle, I think Washington learned a great deal from it. Yes he won the battle of Dorchester Heights, and maybe he even got cocky because of it, but because of the overwhelming number the British had Washington didnt even stand a chance. And he knew this from the beginning too! What I dont understand is, if he knew that defending New York would be so hard, why did he try to anyways? He had ticked the British army by winning the last battle and any super-power would feel that as a great blow to their pride so they already were determined to win the next battle. So why did Washington still try to defend New York when from the beginning he knew he would lose?
Alexis Bryan
ReplyDeleteCommentary on Becca Rieckoff's post: I like how you defined what a loyalist was. That reminded me of how the loyalists started killing soldiers of the Continential army. I found that part extremely intriguing because at the beginning of the book, King George III didnt want to spill and british blood because the rebels are of british blood but these loyalist are killing those of british blood. So that gets me thinking that if they are so loyal to britain as they say they are then why are they killing soldiers of the continential army when George III still sees them as of british blood?
Zach Holdridge
ReplyDeletePredict/Preview
In the second section of this book, Fateful Summer, I predicted that the direction of the war would be shifted towards one side winning it. I assumed that the side that would be gaining ground would be the United States, based on prior knowledge that the United States eventually wins the Revolution War. I was wrong in my predictions, for much of the section focused on the victory for the British at New York.
Visualize
I felt that David McCullough did a good job describing the conditions of war faced by the rebels. It was possible to feel how depleted the Continental Army must have felt when going up against a massive, well trained British Army. I was able to see an image of intimated Rebel soldiers with improvised bandages covering their wounds, in poor living condition camps.
Turning Points
A major turning point was when British reinforcements, numbering over 300 ships, came to help the cause as they thought they were facing a much larger army. The large military was able to push back the Continental Army forces and begin to gain ground. This lowered the morale of the Continental Army, who were now not only out-trained by the superior British soldiers, but greatly outnumbered.
Through Their Eyes
The Soldiers of the Continental Army following the defeat at New York must have been completely depleted. They now knew that a large British force was gathering, the British were superior troops to them, and it must have felt like the luck they had experienced through the early stages of the war, was beginning to wear out.
Comment (Zack Wiese):
Zack going off your differing perspectives paragraph, I agree that the main difference between the two sides was who they thought should be governing the people. One thing I wondered though, is what were the ideas for governing the Colonies that were made by people that wanted a peaceful compromise to the conflict?
Chris Werner
ReplyDeletePreview/Predict:
I predicted that this section would be more about the colonsits and how the war has turned slightly to their favor. The end is in sight, and they could win to become a few nation.
Visualize:
I can see these two massive forces, being the Americans and British, meeting on the battlefield in a huge battle. Also, in this section the author did a great job describing the storms on August 21st, and how huge they were.
Cause and Effect:
When General Washington split his army into two units, he may have had a harder time winning battles, but it made it easier to retreat. If the soldiers hadn't retreated, they would have been killing, and the British could have won the war much more quickly. When they did retreat, they could still fight in later battles.
Using the Past:
If General Washington hadn't split his army in the first place, maybe they would not have had to retreat. Then, they could have won more battles more quickly.
Comment:
I would have to agree with you on this issue Alexis. It is quite ironic that King George III was against spilling British blood, when by killing the rebels, he is still doing this.
Sydney Povilaitis
ReplyDeleteReading Thoughts:
Reading like a Historian:
Change/Continuity- In part two, 'Fateful Summer', the American army completely shifted locations and with the new locations came many changes. In Boston, the British were at the American's mercy as they were trapped, in New York however, the situation was reversed. Also, in Boston, the sides were very defined. The American army was outside the city and the British were inside, it would have been difficult for there to have been spies. In New York, since a lot of its population was still loyal to the King, and loyalists and revolutionists were in the same city, it was hard to define sides and there was no way of knowing who was on who's side. Also, the British now know what the American army is capable of after the American Victory at Dorchester Heights. In many ways, the advantages were completely reversed in New York. All that really stayed the same was George Washington as the commander and the cause that all the colonists were fighting for.
Through their Eyes- When the Americans moved to New York it was a dangerous time not only for the soldiers but also for the loyalists in the city. I am surprised that more loyalists didn't leave the city, with all the abuse that loyalists had to take I certainly would have left. The soldiers were so cruel to the loyalists, tarring and feathering them and parading them through the streets, or making them 'ride the rail'. It must have been absolutely terrifying for a loyalist to even leave their house and I have to give them credit for staying. However, times were frightening for the American soldiers too. For the first few months after arriving in New York, they lived their lives in a paranoia, always checking the harbor for English ships and every day waking up thinking, 'this could be the day we get attacked.' Washington even made them sleep with their arms in case of a nighttime attack. They also practiced drills, moving from camp to trenches and also were required to practice handling their weapons. For everyone in New York at the time, it would have been alarming.
Reading Thoughts:
Preview/Predict- At the beginning of this section, I knew that the Continental Army would be moving to New York, but from the pictures there was only a map of Boston and a map of New Jersey. From this I predicted that Washington and his troops would have to return to Boston for some reason and then have to abandon New York and move on to New Jersey. Well of course, I was wrong on both my predictions, and I am still wondering why there was a map of Boston in this section. I also predicted that there would be a battle in one of these chapters because of the illustration right below the title 'Fateful Summer', which is of a battle scene in New York city I think. The titles of the chapters also helped me predict their content. 'Fateful Summer' suggested hard times and probably a battle, 'The Lines are Drawn' conveyed the message that the Americans and British would have to stay in New York and prepare for a battle, and lastly, 'Field of Battle' told me that there would obviously be a battle.
Connections- On page 131, David MuCullough describes the provisions that Washington had his men take in order for them to be prepared in case of an attack. "To practice the use of their arms, they were each to fire at least two rounds, and practice moving rapidly from their camps into the trenches and fortifications..." This passage reminds me of WWII era England when people would have drills where they would go hide in their bomb shelters, much like fire drills. This also reminds me of how people would do similar drills (to the WWII ones) during the Cold War, in case of a nuclear attack. It is somewhat ironic how less than 200 years after this occurrence in Boston, the British would be the ones seeking shelter from attacks, attacks from a country that was their ally during the Revolutionary War.
Sydney Povilaitis
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Chris, I agree that it would have been smarter for Washington to have kept his army as one unit if he was confident that he would win the battle but I think that Washington knew that with his army split it would make it easier to retreat which he probably knew would have to happen
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