Salina Baker tells Historical Tales that transport readers to a different time and place. She is an avid student of American history with a passion all things supernatural. Her books set in the Revolutionary era combine the historical and fantastical. HEAR her tell us Tales of the American Revolution about Joseph Warren, unsung founder father, Henry Knox and the cannons from Ticonderoga, the Battle of White Plains and the Billop House not to mention Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware.
Joseph Warren
Dr. Joseph Warren was the Founding Father who became America’s first martyr. He was the defacto leader of the intended revolution, but he died at the Battle of Bunker Hill despite the fact that he was not supposed to be there.
Painting by John Trumbull of the Battle of Bunker Hill via Wikipedia
Nine months after the Battle of Bunker Hill, Warren’s body was recovered and a funeral was held at Kings Chapel in Boston with the eulogy being reprinted into the next century as example of advocacy for Revolution. A year earlier, at the Old South Meeting House on the 5th anniversary of the Boston massacre, Warren had given an impressive theatrical oration on the shooting with British Officers and patriots in attendance.
Henry Knox and the Noble Train
Henry Knox, former Bookseller from Boston, seized tons of artillery from the British at Fort Ticonderoga and lugged it overland to Boston. Through snow, ice and obstacles he made it happen and changed the course of the Revolution.
Billop House
The Billop House aka Conference House on Staten Island, New York NYC built in 1680. It was the site of a peace conference between the British Howe brothers , John Adams and Benjamin Franklin after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Howe’s demanded retraction of the Declaration which ended the talks after 3 hours.
Battle of White Plains
The Battle of White Plains was part of the campaign that led to British control of New York City General Howe intended to encircle and defeat Washington at Harlem Heights. Continental army escaped to White Plains along Bronx River and dug in. Howe proceeded in columns toward Washington. Americans waited, fought and then retreated to North Castle, NY. British won the battle but with heavy casualties that discouraged further aggression by Howe
Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware
We have all heard of the familiar tale of Washington, crossing the Delaware. It turns out there’s more to the story than the painting of him in the front of a boat. After breaking the siege of Boston, Washington marched his army from Massachusetts to New York City. At White Plains the continentals were defeated and retreated.
The Patriots then retreated to New Jersey, where they faced low morale and desertions, but Washington launched a surprise attack on the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night. The crossing of the icy Delaware River pictured in that painting was delayed due to a storm. Despite the weather, Washington’s troops managed to cross the river, march to Trenton, and launch the successful attack on Christmas night.