Tomorrow is the big day – July 4th! Balladeer’s Blog is squeezing in another seasonal post before then.
THE SPY (1914) – This four-reel movie was based on the 1821 novel of the same name by THE James Fenimore Cooper. The story is set largely at a home in Scarsdale, New York as American Rebel families share feuds, intrigues and romances with British Loyalists.
Everybody is keeping a secret or two and which characters are spies and which are really what they say they are remains uncertain until the very end. Cooper based the man who emerges as the central American spy on the real-life Enoch Crosby, a friend of John Jay.
Even in this June of 1914 release, George Washington’s reputation for running his own spy networks was well and truly in force in popular culture and the wily general even shows up in disguise a few times. Things work out well for the Americans, but the deep-cover double agent hero doesn’t get credit until after his tragic death.
A large battle set-piece at a bridge was impressive for 1914 and was praised by Moving Picture World and Variety that year. Herbert Rawlinson and Edna Maison starred. Continue reading
BLACKHEART RUM – Made in America, this rum product is described by the distillers as “rich in flavor and edgy to the core.” Blackheart Rum comes in at 93 proof. 
FEBRUARY 1st – At Drake’s Farm near Metuchen, New Jersey. In reaction to British losses throughout January as part of what some have called the Forage War, British General William Erskine sought to lure American forces into a trap. 
LEADSLINGERS BLACK FLAG RUM – This is a terrific spiced rum that I find much better than Captain Morgan and other brands. It’s only 80 proof, so for Balladeer’s Blog regulars who prefer stronger rums read below. 
THADDEUS KOSCIUSZKO (1746-1817) – As my last name makes clear, I’m of Polish American descent. Last 4th of July I made a blog post about
After receiving his education and military training in Europe, Kosciuszko sailed for America in June 1776. Unlike his fellow Pole Casimir Pulaski, he had missed out on serving in the Bar Uprising in Poland and was enthusiastic about fighting in the Revolutionary War. Poland’s long history of religious tolerance made Thaddeus feel a certain kinship with those who held similar sentiments in our emerging nation. 
ABRAHAM CLARK – Abraham’s two sons Aaron and Thomas were captured during the war and may have perished while captives of the British. Accounts vary and some sources even claim he had three sons die in the war. 
OCTOBER 24th – Near Sandy Hook, NJ American rebel Captain Adam Hyler leads an unknown number of men in a clash with an unknown number of British Loyalists. Hyler takes 6 prisoners during the action.
NOVEMBER 1st-6th – At Gowen’s Fort, SC, Roebuck’s Battalion and civilian non-combatants were attacked and besieged by a combined force of British Loyalists and Chickamauga Indian allies of the British. On November 6th, the Americans surrendered after the Loyalist Captain William Bates guaranteed their safety. 
MARCH 1st – British troops led by Major John Maitland landed and took Cockspur Island at the mouth of the Savannah River in Georgia. The Redcoats clashed with American Militiamen and drove them off. Both sides were left with wounded men following the exchange of gunfire, but no fatalities are known. 
Four British warships, along with multiple smaller vessels, launched a joint land and sea effort to seize American rice ships in the area in order to feed the British forces. Over 300 British infantrymen took part in commandeering the rice boats by surprise overnight. 
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