Posted on 11/12/2008 7:57:29 AM PST by Pharmboy
Yes, by their incredibly brave actions during the Battle of Brooklyn/Long Island, they bought Washington the time he needed to move the main army up to Brooklyn Heights where they later snuck across the East River into Manhattan to fight another day. The Marylanders helped out greatly there as well (at 'McGowan's Pass', near the Harlem Meer in Central Park -at the northeast corner of the park).
Sadly, although there is a monument in Brooklyn's Prospect Park in their honor, it is believed that the remains of many of them lie beneath an automobile repair shop in Bklyn. That's New York for you.
McGOWN'S PASS - Central Park:
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=12377
This may indeed have been your ancestor. Was he a Virginian?
Here’s a link describing the 80’ beacon pole used in Providence, RI.
Great-ggggggrandfather was a member of the Sons of Liberty there.
digitalcommons.providence.edu/cgi/...?article=1020&context=primary
Thanks for the link, but more important, thanks for your ancestor’s service!
Thank you. Did you notice this up in the corner?
*************************************************
If President Bush writes a book about his time in the White House, would you want to read it?
Yes
No
|
|||
Gods |
Thanks Pharmboy. |
||
· Mirabilis · Texas AM Anthropology News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · History or Science & Nature Podcasts · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
Thanks for pointing that out...
There was a ring of these around New York City where the Brits were garrisoned. A chain of them ran across New Jersey from this ring to Philadelphia to warn the Continental congress if the Brits were moving out towards them by land.
They were ingeniously contructred for the most part in the form of a tall slender pyramid of interlocking wooden logs. In the hollow center, they were filled with brush and combustibles and in some cases the structure was surmounted with a pole from which a barrel of tar was suspended. When a structure like this is lit from below, an immense draft is created upwards which ignites the combustibles generating a high column of fire which could be seen miles away, especially at night. These structures were placed on very high hills in areas like the Watchung Mountains to make them even more visible at a distance.
At the end of the revolution, when the Treaty of Paris was signed, Washington ordered them all set alight in celebration. Since early Americans were MEN not WUSSIES, I don;t think there were any complaints. If there were, I am sure the complainants were expeditiously and appropriately dealt with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.