Henry Knox, bookseller

[Maxbialystock]

Just a reminder that this is the month of GW's first big win, the direct result of bookseller Henry Knox who had the creativity and the staunchness to propose and then execute hauling captured British artillery from Ticonderoga.  It was, so help me, a contract job and brilliantly and courageoously executed.

Pay off was 250 years ago this month when those Ticonderoga guns at Dorchester Heights drove the British Army and Navy out of Boston, never to return.

When George Washington was made Commander of the Continental Army in June 1775, he was told to go to Boston, where his Army was. That's right, the Continental Army was the Massachusetts militia.  

I am convinced that the Boston win was what gave the 2d Continental Congress the courage to write and sign the Declaration of Independence 3-4 months later.  

What I don't understand is how the Boston baseball team opted for red socks.  

What I delight in remembering is that it was an American immigrant/baseball player who spoke up in April 2013 after the horror of the Boston Marathon. After thanking the Mayor and the Police for the "great job they did last week," he said:   "This is our f***ing city and nobody gonna dictate our freedom.  Stay strong.  Thank you."   

[JoeBrady]

I remember a couple of people complaining about his use of the 'f' word.  Such a great speech.  Short and sweet, and he said exactly what needed to be said.

[drewski6]

6 hours ago, Maxbialystock said:

Just a reminder that this is the month of GW's first big win, the direct result of bookseller Henry Knox who had the creativity and the staunchness to propose and then execute hauling captured British artillery from Ticonderoga.  It was, so help me, a contract job and brilliantly and courageoously executed.

Pay off was 250 years ago this month when those Ticonderoga guns at Dorchester Heights drove the British Army and Navy out of Boston, never to return.

When George Washington was made Commander of the Continental Army in June 1775, he was told to go to Boston, where his Army was. That's right, the Continental Army was the Massachusetts militia.  

I am convinced that the Boston win was what gave the 2d Continental Congress the courage to write and sign the Declaration of Independence 3-4 months later.  

What I don't understand is how the Boston baseball team opted for red socks.  

What I delight in remembering is that it was an American immigrant/baseball player who spoke up in April 2013 after the horror of the Boston Marathon. After thanking the Mayor and the Police for the "great job they did last week," he said:   "This is our f***ing city and nobody gonna dictate our freedom.  Stay strong.  Thank you."   

Yes, very impressive for Boston.  But like all of your Boston accomplishments, us Providence folk did it first.

The sinking of the Gaspee, which we here in Pawtuxet Village, RI get fall down drunk and light boats on fire EVERY YEAR to celebrate was what gave the Union the confidence to fight in the first place.  I am fully convinced that Henry Knox would not have been granted that contract , as there would have been no Union, if John Brown (for whom Brown U is named) and a bunch of fellow fed up Rhode Islanders didnt stand up for Colonial rights and sink a British ship just off the coast of Warwick, RI.  Walking distance from where I sit right now.

The sinking of the Gaspee in 1772 was over a year before the Tea Party, drew the Union closer together, and is one of the very first acts of violence committed against the crown by the colonies.

[moonslav59]

Papi was da MAN!

[JoeBrady]

6 minutes ago, drewski6 said:

The sinking of the Gaspee in 1772 was over a year before the Tea Party,

There were other 'Tea Parties' prior to Boston.

[Maxbialystock]

Sorry, gents, but April 19 was truly the shot heard round the world.  There are a flock of Leinxton's that were so named within a couple years after April 19, 1775.  Like Lexington Kentucky and Lexington Virginia.  It was because of Lexington that the 2d Continental Congress created the Continental Army in June 1775 and made GW its commander, after which he proceeded directly to Boston where his Army was.  

Sinking a British ship was small potatoes.  Driving the British Army and Navy out of Boston was monumental and encouraged the 2d Continental Congress to take the next, gigantic step of the Declarartion. 

The immediate consequence of that was England sending an armada and fresh troops to beat the crap out of GW and the Continental Army defending NYC.  That was so successful that by December 1776 the Continental Army was pushed all the way back to the other side of the Delaware River.  That's when GW, after several councils of war aided and abetted by Thomas Paine's The Crisis, decided to cross the icy Delaware River and take Trenton, not once, but twice.  Then he chased the British Amy back to Princeton and beyond. 

It still took 5 more years, Rochambeau and 15,000 French troops, and Admiral DeGrasse's  fleet to prevent Clinton from reinforcing Corrnwallis at Yorktown in October 1781, the victory that convinced the British government that further efforts would be futile.    Plus there were a bunch of British citizens, even members of Parliament, who were sympathetic to the American cause.  

My dad grew up on a farm in western  MA and later was awarded 2 DSC's in WW  II.  

 

 

[moonslav59]

On 3/27/2026 at 4:12 PM, JoeBrady said:

There were other 'Tea Parties' prior to Boston.

In many loyalists' parlors, yes.