Category Archives: Neglected History

July 4, 2013 · 2:42 pm

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2013

American flagBalladeer’s Blog wishes a happy 237th birthday to the USA! What happened in early July of 1776 certainly needs no rehashing (the Green Bay Packers won the very first Superbowl) so in keeping with my blog’s theme of addressing more out of the way subjects this post will examine various events that took place on other July 4th’s throughout American history.

JULY 4TH, 1778 – George Rogers Clark led his rebel forces in taking the British stronghold of Kaskaskia, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers. Clark and his Rangers were on a mission for then-Virginia Governor Patrick Henry.

JULY 4TH, 1783 – The Massachusetts Supreme Court is finalizing its written decision holding that slavery has been illegal in the state since adoption of the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights in 1780.

JULY 4TH, 1788 – Continue reading →

21 Comments

Filed under Neglected History

Tagged as , , , , ,

July 3, 2013 · 7:59 pm

PART TWO OF FORGOTTEN NAVAL BATTLES OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

Revolutionary War naval battlesBalladeer’s Blog continues its examination of neglected naval clashes of the Revolutionary War.

MAY 21st, 1777 – Off St Augustine, FL the USS Comet waged an all-night battle with the HMS Apalachicola until the British ship had lost all sails and riggings and was forced to surrender.

APRIL 27th, 1778 – THE John Paul Jones, leading a detachment from the USS Ranger, raided the British port of Whitehaven. The detachment’s commando-style raid resulted in Continue reading →

16 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War

Tagged as , , , , ,

July 2, 2013 · 9:38 pm

REVOLUTIONARY WAR: FORGOTTEN NAVAL BATTLES

American navy -revolutionary warWelcome back to Balladeer’s Blog! As always I am big on seasonal articles and here is another one of my examinations of a neglected aspect of Revolutionary War history. With the 4th of July coming up quickly enjoy this look at some forgotten naval battles from the war for our country’s independence.

AUGUST 7th, 1775 – The Commerce raided the HMS Betsy and successfully made off with over 17,000 lbs of gunpowder for the rebel cause.

AUGUST 10th, 1775 – In Gloucester, MA the town militia fired on the HMS Falcon and drove it off, killing 35 British sailors and forcing the ship to Continue reading →

43 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War

Tagged as , , , , ,

June 26, 2013 · 8:17 pm

PART 2 OF A LOOK AT ALL 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

 In keeping with the overall theme here at Balladeer’s Blog here is part two of my look at ALL the signers of the Declaration of Independence, not just the big names. Even when dealing with the big names I try to throw in lesser- known bits of information rather than go down the same old roads with them.

At any rate here’s hoping you have a happy independence day and that this makes some nice holiday reading material for all of you out there!

FOR PART ONE CLICK HERE: https://glitternight.com/2012/07/03/sacred-honor-quick-facts-about-the-signers-of-the-declaration-of-independence/ 

NEW YORK –

1. William Floyd – Prior to being sent to the 2nd Continental Congress in 1776 Floyd was a Militia General who, earlier in the year, had led New York troops in successfully driving off British forces in the Battle of Gardiner’s Bay on Long Island.   ###   2. Francis Lewis – During the war his Continue reading →

52 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

June 24, 2013 · 11:18 pm

SACRED HONOR: LOOKING AT ALL 56 SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

The big names among the signers of the Declaration of Independence get all the attention they need, so Balladeer’s Blog will be spreading the love to ALL the signers in this article. And for a look at Revolutionary War battles PRIOR to July 4th, 1776 click here: https://glitternight.com/2012/07/01/before-the-fourth-revolutionary-war-battles-before-independence-day/

CONNECTICUT –

1. Samuel Huntington – Served as president of the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1781. After the war served as Connecticut’s Chief Justice and then Governor.   ###   2. Roger Sherman – In addition to signing the Declaration he also signed the Articles of Association, the Articles of Confederation AND the U.S. Constitution.   ###   3. William Williams – Used his own money to finance various Connecticut Militia units and allowed American and later French troops to quarter in his home.   ###   4. Oliver Wolcott – Went on to serve as a Major General and led his forces against British Loyalists who were launching raids along the Connecticut Coastline. He also Continue reading →

14 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

June 19, 2013 · 8:31 pm

REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES BEFORE JULY 4TH, 1776

Balladeer’s Blog as usual will be marking the USA’s upcoming birthday with a series of holiday-themed posts. Since we get overexposed to the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775 and the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 I will instead stay true to my blog’s theme and focus on the action in between April 19th, 1775 and early July 1776.

May 10th, 1775 – The British Fort Ticonderoga in New York is seized in what would today be called a Special Forces raid by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, who beat other American forces to the valuable military prize. Allen and his men had the advantage of being an organized body under arms for quite a long time because they were originally formed to fight for the independence of what is now the state of Vermont (“Green Mountain”).

They had been an active guerilla force fighting for Vermont’s right to be an independent entity rather than part of the Hampshire Grants being fought over by New York and New Hampshire. Their secret headquarters was the Catamount Tavern which is why the University of Vermont’s sports teams are called the Catamounts. 

May 12th, 1775 – Crown Point, NY is taken by American forces in another Continue reading →

18 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

May 26, 2013 · 10:37 pm

THE TOP FOUR FORGOTTEN MILITARY UNITS FROM AMERICAN WARS

As part of this Memorial Day weekend Balladeer’s Blog continues its examination of neglected areas of United States military history.

Oneida Nation's First Allies Unit

Oneida Nation’s First Allies Unit

4. THE ONEIDA NATION’S FIRST ALLIES UNIT 

Conflict: Revolutionary War

Comment: The Oneida Nation of Native Americans were America’s first allies. During the Revolutionary War most Native American tribes sided with the British but the Oneida Nation, under Chief Shenendoah, led his people to ally themselves with the emerging United States. The Oneida alliance with the U.S. therefore PREDATED France’s recognition of an independent America.

The Oneida warriors fought alongside American forces throughout upstate New York, most notably at the Battles of Oriskany and Saratoga. They also provided desperately needed food and medical supplies for the Continental Army during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. Two treaties were signed and honored to this very day regarding Oneida sovereignty, retention of their land and a yearly ceremonial delivery of bolts of cloth to the Oneida leaders. That ceremony continues once a Continue reading →

18 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, Revolutionary War

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,

May 25, 2013 · 5:16 pm

THE TOP FORGOTTEN U.S. NAVAL BATTLES OF WORLD WAR ONE

Navy in World War OneYes, it’s Memorial Day Weekend so Balladeer’s Blog will once again feature a few seasonal posts. In keeping with my blog’s theme I will take a look at more military actions that don’t get the attention that others do. The members of the armed forces who died in those battles deserve to be remembered as fondly as those who perished in more renowned clashes. The army gets more attention than the navy and World War Two gets more attention than World War One so I’m shedding light on two neglected areas at once with this look at U.S. Navy battles of the First World War.

OCTOBER 15th, 1917 – America entered the war just six months earlier and the Navy had been transporting the American Expeditionary Force under General “Black Jack” Pershing to Europe, with additional Navy craft escorting those transport ships and fighting German U-Boats. On this date the USS Cassin encountered U-Boat 61 and, after an hour’s pursuit the German submarine turned to fight the Cassin. After a lengthy exchange of torpedoes and depth charges the Cassin was battered but still afloat, while the U-61 suffered substantial damage also, including the destruction of its conning tower, forcing the sub to break off the action and flee.

NOVEMBER 17th, 1917 – The USS Fanning and USS Nicholson clashed with the German U-Boat designated U-58 when eagle-eyed sailors spotted the German sub’s periscope above the water line. Depth charges from the two U.S. ships damaged the U-58 and forced it to surface and engage in standard ship-to-ship combat. The Fanning and Nicholson sank the U-Boat, becoming the FIRST United States ships to Continue reading →

45 Comments

Filed under Neglected History

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , ,