As if in response to a statement by John Adams that American independence ought to be celebrated with “Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other”, American troops bombarded and set on fire a small British warship that had wandered within range between Staten Island, where the huge British army had just landed, and the New Jersey shore, where the Americans still held their ground. This took place at daybreak of July 4th, 1776, and the ship was still on fire, with the flames and smoke visible from the town of New York, at noon.
Meanwhile, according to one source, a more spectacular fireworks show was taking place in Little Egg Harbor, at the mouth of the Mullica River in southern New Jersey. John Hancock, relying on hearsay, wrote from Philadelphia that an American ship loaded with guns and gunpowder had been run ashore by a British warship:
Nowadays, spying is considered dangerous, but it’s acknowledged worldwide as being not only necessary, but legitimate. Captured spies are sometimes killed, but they also might merely be jailed, or even exchanged.
Not so at the time of the American Revolution. In European (and, therefore, American) society, spies were used, but spying was considered dishonorable by many, and captured spies were generally hanged.
Nathan Hale was a young captain in the Continental Army. Above is his commission dated January 1, 1776, and signed by John Hancock. A friend wrote, “There was no young man who gave fairer promise of an enlightened and devoted service to his country”.
Before the Revolutionary War, George Washington’s military experience was serving in the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War. This portrait, painted in 1772 by Charles Willson Peale, shows him as a militia colonel.
When the Continental Congress was getting ready to choose a commander-in-chief of the American army, they decided that he would be paid $500 a month, which was quite a lot for that time. George Washington, a wealthy Virginian, was unanimously chosen. Despite his wealth, it would have been perfectly understandable for him to take the salary that was offered, and most people would have done so. But instead, he decided to serve without pay. Here is the speech he made to the Congress when accepting his appointment (as was usual, he addressed his remarks to John Hancock, the president of congress, but he was really speaking to the whole group):
Mr President, Tho’ I am truly sensible of the high Honour done me in this Appointment, yet I feel great distress, from a consciousness that my abilities & Military experience may not be equal to the extensive & important Trust: However, as the Congress desire it I will enter upon the momentous duty, & exert every power I Possess In their service & for the Support of the glorious Cause: I beg they will accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimony of their Approbation.
But lest some unlucky event should happen unfavourable to my reputation, I beg it may be rememberd by every Gentn in the room, that I this day declare with the utmost sincerity, I do not think my self equal to the Command I am honoured with.
As to pay, Sir, I beg leave to Assure the Congress that as no pecuniary [i.e., monetary] consideration could have tempted me to have accepted this Arduous emploiment at the expence of my domestk ease & happiness I do not wish to make any proffit from it: I will keep an exact Account of my expences; those I doubt not they will discharge & that is all I desire.
Washington did indeed serve without pay for the whole war, and he definitely has my respect for that. He also kept a record of his expenses during all that time and submitted it to Congress after the war was over; if you’d like to look at it, go to the Library of Congress website.
Source
“Address to the Continental Congress, 16 June 1775,” Founders Online, National Archives, accessed April 11, 2019, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-01-02-0001. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775 – 15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1985, pp. 1–3.]
