The Icarus Gazette

“The reality is that the media are probably the most powerful of all our institutions today” -Carl Bernstein, Watergate Journalist

[icarus-gazette]

Welcome to The Icarus Gazette!

This is a blog created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s founding by sharing snippets of historical information during those specific anniversaries.

I created this blog with the goal of educating more people in history and encouraging further curiosity in such topics.

I’m working in collaboration with the esteemed @feis-historical-days to bring you all the best information possible!

If there is a topic you especially would like covered on it’s anniversary then please send an ask in the Q&A section.

Yr Obt Srvt,

Icarus

Disclaimer: I will try my very best to keep up with all the historical events but I might not be able to catch all of them. I am a single person who gets busy.

Furthermore, I always encourage further research on the topics presented. I do try my hardest to be unbiased and provide a nuanced overview of the topics but I cannot represent every little part.

I do not use ai in any of my work. Everything on this blog is done by a human mind.

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Benedict Arnold’s 285th birthday!

“Just Another Legacy or Benedict Arnold?”

“__________ does have a great record, but so did Benedict Arnold”

“... are latter day equivalents of Benedict Arnold”

The name “Benedict Arnold” has become synonymous with traitor. The three quotes above are the titles of news articles from the past year. It is a bit cruel actually. To reduce someone’s life, and cast away their toil and accomplishments, in favor of remembering one of their darkest moments, yet it is what was done with Benedict Arnold. His life and legacy is the reflection of human empathy and why it is so important to study history.

Benedict Arnold V was born in Norwich, Connecticut, to successful businessman: Benedict Arnold III. However, his life would go rapidly downhill as most of his siblings died in infancy, his mother turned to the church to cope before passing in 1759, and his father would drink away the family’s money and more importantly- Arnold’s future. Despite losing out on an education at Yale College and being left saddled with the burden of taking care of his father and sister at 18, he would still work to educate himself and eventually start his own business as a trader. He would go on to marry Margaret Mansfield and have three sons with her. Though their relationship would become distant as Arnold would be away at sea and later in 1775, away at war, his love remained unshaken until her death in the same year while he was fighting at Ticonderoga. He would go on to have an impressive military career and take part in decisive battles such as the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, Battle of Quebec, Battle of Valcour Island, and Battle of Saratoga. Even with all this under his belt, he would never receive compensation and little recognition from the Continental Congress. This, in addition to some alleged convincing done by Peggy Shippen, his second wife and loyalist noblewoman, would lead him to come into contact with British Major and Adjudant General, John Andre who would work with him in an attempt to deliver West Point to the British for £20,000 and a rank as Brigadier General. Though, Andre would be caught on his way to the HMS Vulture and Arnold would flee to avoid being caught. He would be given his rank and money by the British but would remain disdained by them for the rest of his life. He would participate in the Richmond Campaign in 1781 which would earn him the ire of George Washington for the devastation he left behind. It would come to an end when he regrouped with British General Cornwallis whilst being pursued by the Marquis de Lafayette leading the Continental forces. There, he would advise Cornwallis to move elsewhere other than Yorktown due to its vulnerability to a siege but he would be dismissed and never see battle again. He would move to Canada briefly but would eventually head to England and live out the rest of his days in London. There, he would die after experiencing four days of delerium from edema caused by the wounds he sustained in battle.

In many ways, Arnold embodies the average American if not just person generally. Someone who was sold the dream of working hard to do well for themselves and obtaining the blessings of liberty that was promised to them and their posterity; only to watch their chance at such a fantasy be gambled away right in front of their eyes by those who are supposed to speak on their behalf. Left feeling bitter and betrayed, he would partake in a rash decision that would give the perfect excuse to the Congress to demonize and cast him as “other.” Such an image would be pushed onto future generations to tarnish a legacy and erase the true events from public memory. If the public does not remember, it will allow for these same things to occur time and time again. Each time, we will be dumbfounded as to what happened as it all goes to rot.

This field of study is what we call history. Many famous philosophers have said something along the lines of “we must learn history to never repeat it” but seldom is it fully comprehended. History is not just any story but the story of humanity. Studying it reveals patterns which humans are very good at recognizing. The takeaway from Benedict Arnold’s story can be the lack of empathy we as humans have for each other. Arnold was an individual who could’ve walked among any of us had it not been for the separation of time. He felt the same things we did and even acted accordingly. If his name were to be replaced by the word “he” in the first passage and read by someone else, it may have aroused sympathy from the most staunch of his critics. Yet Arnold is antagonized to no end with his very name becoming a word for a “traitor.”

If this is how we treat those who are no longer with us, how do we treat each other?

Artist Unknown

Informal Citations

@feis-historical-days

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold

myself

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Benedict Arnold’s 225th Death Anniversary.

[icarus-gazette]

Happy 245th Anniversary to Jack Jouett’s Midnight Ride!

Introduction

Most people have heard of Paul Revere due to the popularized poem: Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Some may know the two riders that night, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott, but few know of John (Jack) Jouett Jr. who would make his own midnight ride six years later— earning him the apt title of “Paul Revere’s of the South.”

Background

Jouett was born on December 7, 1754 to a tavern keeper of the Swan “ordinary” tavern (Jack Jouett Sr.) and his wife Mourning Harris. 

During the Revolutionary War, Jouett served as a captain in the 16th Regiment of the Virginia militia. His whole family was highly involved in the revolutionary cause, all three of his brothers having served alongside him, one of them dying at the Battle of Brandywine, and his father providing meat rations for the militia. Both he and his father signed the Albemarle Declaration which renounced allegiance to King George III and pledged loyalty to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jouett's Ride

In 1781, the British operations in the south were underway. British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis had intercepted a dispatch from Governor Thomas Jefferson that the Virginia legislature, including Jefferson, had fled from Richmond to Charlottesville after defected general Benedict Arnold had attacked Richmond. Cornwallis also learned that weapons were being stockpiled by the colonists at the Old Albemarle Courthouse at Scott's Landing. In response, Cornwallis ordered Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton to ride to Charlottesville and capture Jefferson and the legislature while Colonel John Graves Simcoe was ordered to destroy the colonists’ military supplies at Scott’s Landing. Tarleton left on June 3 with 180 cavalrymen and 70 mounted infantry of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, marching them covertly with plans to march the 70 miles to Charlottesville in 24 hours to catch the members of the legislature by surprise.

Meanwhile, Jouett had allegedly being resting on the lawn of Cuckoo Tavern* in Louisa County, Virginia, when he heard the sound of approaching cavalry. Noticing it was Col. Tarleton's cavalry, he presumed they were marching to Charlottesville to capture the politicians hiding in the area. He was aware that Charlottesville was largely undefended as little to no fighting had taken place on Virginian soil from 1776 to 1780, most of the forces being deployed elsewhere. At around 10pm, Jouett decided to take it upon himself to warn Jefferson and the legislators by riding the 40 miles to Charlottesville from Louisa. Due to the fact that the British cavalry was occupying the main route, Jouett had little other option but to take the backwoods trails to Old Mountain Road in the dead of the night.

*Jefferson's account states that Jouett had been at his father's house.

Jouett arrived at Monticello at around 4:30 am, waking Jefferson and several of the legislators taking up temporary residence at the estate. Jefferson awarded Jouett with fine Madeira before Jouett continued his ride another two miles to warn the town of Charlottesville.

Comparison to Revere

Paul Revere was said to have rode about 12.5 miles, which was a little more than ¼ of the distance Jouett rode on the night of June 3rd and morning of June 4th. Furthermore, Revere had many other riders that night. Some estimates go up to 40 other riders throughout Middlesex County spreading the alarm. 

That is not to belittle Revere's role on the night of April 18th and morning of the 19th. Rather, the point is to show how much of history has been forgotten and outright lost to time. Few stories are preserved and many which did survive have been embellished in some shape and form to further some sort of perspective or agenda.

Paul Revere of the South by Elizabeth Nix

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Jouett?wprov=sfti1#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere's_midnight_ride?wprov=sfti1#

https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/04/dissecting-the-timeline-of-paul-reveres-ride/

https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/jack-jouetts-ride

https://jouetthouse.org

[lore-gore]

May 5 is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women's Day. A reminder that 84.3 percent of native women have experienced violence. 56.1 percent of native women have experienced sexual violence. And the 3rd leading cause of death for native women is murder.

And they haven't even gathered significant information on native women living in URBAN areas. It could be much higher.

Dwell on this. Wear red.

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Harry Houdini’s 152nd Birthday!

Erick Weisz was born on March 24, 1824 in Budapest, Austria-Hungary to Rabbi Mayer Sámuel Weisz and his wife: Cecelia Steiner as the fourth of seven children. He arrived in the US on July 3, 1878; taking the SS Frisa. Settling in Appleton, Wisconsin, the family would change their last name to the German spelling: Weiss and Erick would become “Ehrich.”

After Erick father became a citizen, the family moved to Milwaukee before falling into dire poverty. Erick and his father would move to New York where Erick would start his early magic career.

The stage name “Harry Houdini” was inspired by the Father of Modern Magic: Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin. His previous title had been “Ehrich, Prince of the Air” which had been coined when he was 9-years old. He would be coached by magician Joseph Rinn at the Pastime Athletic Club.

While he was performing, Houdini’s brother, (Theodore) “Dash,” courted a fellow performer: Wilhelmina Beatrice "Bess" Houdini Rahner. Bess would eventually end up falling in love and marrying Houdini however and worked as his stage assistant till his death.

Houdini was rarely unable to escape but he was still human. He met his match on January 11, 1899 at Middleton's Clark St Dime Museum in Chicago. This was the same year he was thrusted to stardom as he met manager Martin Beck in Saint Paul, Minnesota who would book on the Orpheum vanderville circuit. Within months of this, he would be performing at some of the top vanderville houses in the country. He would go on to tour Europe in 1900, which would start off rocky but would quickly further his fame. During the First World War, he would dedicate himself to the American war effort by selling war bonds and teaching survival skills to soldiers.

Houdini was ambitious and known to have a temper. He was a demanding boss but also publicly feuded with figures like the widow of the son of his once-idol, Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes series. This is contrasted with Houdini’s relationship with his mother. He promised to care for her after his father’s death and her death in 1913 devastated him. He would attempt to contact her through spiritualists but this would only grow his dislike for those who practiced said mediums because she had only spoke Yiddish and German and these spiritualists would always channel her in English.

Houdini’s ambition came to an abrupt end in October, 1926. He would die at 52 from appendicitis- which is believed to be caused by student Gordon J. Whitehead punching him in the stomach intensely. He was determined to finish performing in Montreal due to the large cancelation fees but was hospitalized due to his high fever and intense pain on the 24th. On October 31st, he would pass away with his wife at his side.

Photograph of Harry Houdini (1910 or 1913)

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini?wprov=sfti1#Magic_career

https://www.acrosswalls.org/houdinis-relationship-with-his-mother/#:~:text=Harry%20Houdini%20had%20an%20extraordinarily,mother%20in%20his%20expressed%20affections.

https://lorenwoodcuts.medium.com/houdinis-fight-against-spiritual-fraudsters-f7c7c465359f

[icarus-gazette]

Today is the 243rd Anniversary of Washington’s Newburgh Address.

By the March of 1783, the end of the struggle between Britain and America was very much in sight. However, that left a problem as many of the soldiers were yet to receive proper compensation and the Congress was in no position to be making good on their promises of payment not only for their time in arms but also their promise of a lifetime pension of 1/2 their pay.

Since early 1782, Robert Morris, a major financier during the Revolution, had paused soldier’s pay officially as a cost-saving measure. However, as the months dragged on, there was growing tension surrounding the subject. Even more of a concern, the Articles of Confederation, which had been fully ratified by all 13 states in early 1781, left the federal government with no power to tax. This meant the Congress’ finances were solely reliant on donors.

The Newburgh Letters [not to be confused with the Newburgh Letter from the previous year] were a set of anonymous letters, suspected to have been written by Horatio Gates’ aide-de-camp, began circulating throughout the camp; encouraging mutiny among the men. A letter written on March 10th called for a meeting of all field officers at 11am of the next day, which Washington chastised in his general orders the morning of the 11th. Instead, Washington called for a meeting on the 15th with all the officers which a later letter would try to frame as an “endorsement of the cause.”

On March 15th, 1783, the officers gathered in a 40x70ft building for a meeting opened by second-in-command, Horatio Gates. Much to everyone’s surprise, Washington made an appearance to address the men; Gates relinquished the floor to him.

Washington’s speech was short, as he was aware that many of the men did not hold the same deference to him as they once had before, yet impactful. He began the the address by calling for patience before producing a letter from Congress and fumbling with it wordlessly before speaking again: “Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.” This one sentence brought many of the men to tears as they realized that Washington had sacrificed just as much for the cause of liberty as they had.

The address was followed by a proposition for resolution by General Henry Knox, reasserting their loyalty. Knox and Colonel Brooks would be chosen to draft this new resolution.

The Newburgh Letters and Address remains a central part of American History as it solidified the idea of civilian control over the military as well as admonishing the idea of coups to create change.

Newburgh Conspiracy by Anonymous

https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/the-newburgh-conspiracy-march-15-1783/

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newburgh_Conspiracy?wprov=sfti1#Aftermath

https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/george-washington-newburgh-address-1783

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/newburgh-address

[icarus-gazette]

Hear ye, hear ye!

I will be taking a brief hiatus as I am currently partaking in my Mock Trial competition. As I return, I may post some things that I had planned on doing on their anniversary at a later date so keep an eye out.

Sincerely,

Icarus

[icarus-gazette]

Today is the 247th anniversary of the Battle of Kettle Creek!

The Battle of Kettle Creek is a key American Revolutionary War battle which took place in Georgia. This battle contributed to the southern outcome of the southern theater— particularly the fact that despite the British holding control over the state throughout the war, they would struggle holding onto the victory throughout.

The two British/Loyalist officers were: James Boyd (who would die in the battle) and William Spurgen. They had a force consisting of about 6-7 hundred men. Meanwhile, the four American officers were: Andrew Pickens, John Dooly, Elijah Clarke, and Col. James Little who had a force of about 340-420 militia. It would be the British who experience almost ten times the causalities than the patriots, not including the five loyalists hanged.

The conflict starts with the British forces attempting to amass a force of loyalists in Georgia. In response, at ten AM on February 14th, patriot forces initiated a surprise attack which the British matched with equal fervor. That was, till the death of one of their main leaders: James Boyd, which threw the army into disarray. With Pickens, Dooly, and Clarke attacking from all sides, the patriots would manage to secure victory.

Kettle Creek by Dale Watson

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/kettle-creek

Informal Citations

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/kettle-creek

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kettle_Creek?wprov=sfti1#

https://www.todayingeorgiahistory.org/tih-georgia-day/battle-of-kettle-creek/

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Aaron Burr Jr.’s 270th Birthday!

Aaron Burr Jr. was born in 1756 to parents Reverend Aaron Burr Sr. and Esther Edwards. He would be orphaned at a young age but taken in by William Shippen. He would go to the College of New Jersey at 13 and graduated at 16 with a Bachelor of Arts. However he would spend one more year studying philosophy at Princeton. Eventually at 19 he would move to Litchfield, CT, to study law with his brother-in-law, Tapping Reeve, founder of Litchfield law school. After news of Lexington and Concord reached Connecticut in 1775, Burr would join the Continental Army and put a pause on his studies.

One of Burr’s first campaigns he took part in was the Quebec campaign headed by then Colonel, Benedict Arnold. He managed to impress the older general who observed his great “spirit and resolution” during the march. Though this campaign was plagued with problems from the beginning, the final nail in the coffin came on December 31st, 1775 during the Battle of Quebec. Not only was Benedict Arnold shot in the left leg and had to be dragged off the field but General Richard Montgomery would be killed during the battle. Burr attempted to retrieve the body but had to give up the endeavor due to the harsh weather. This early connection to the soon traitor could be seen as a connection that would foretell his own future.

Burr’s military career continued until 1779 where he would climb to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He would be stationed in various places, mostly in the north, such as: Manhattan, Monmouth (where suffered heatstroke), and West Point (which was a temporary command due to poor health from the previous event), before gathering a volunteer force of primarily Yale students in New Haven, CT during 1779, for a skirmish.

During his military career he would meet various people such as his future wife Theodosia Bartow ( then Prevost) Burr Sr. and eventual political rival: Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton would continue to play an influential role in his life even after the war. In the mid-1780s, the two would begin practicing law in the same circles, marking the start of their two paths colliding. Their rivalry would begin around the time of Burr’s 1791 victory against Philip Schuyler, Hamilton’s father-in-law. From there the tensions would worsen: leading to a public letter where Hamilton would call Burr a “dangerous man” and openly air out his dislike of the other. On July 11th, 1804, Hamilton and Burr would duel at Weekhawen. Alexander Hamilton would die from the bullet wound in the abdomen the following day.

Burr’s troubles would not end there. In 1807, during Burr’s term as vice president, he was accused of working to create a cabal to form an independent country south of the Ohio River and looking to invade Mexico. This would lead to the first treason trial in United States history.

Treason in the only crime directly defined in the Constitution: Article 3 Section 3. To meet the requirements of treason, one must be either giving enemies of the US aid or comfort or levying war against the US. Burr was accused of the latter. He would be arrested in February of 1807 with President Jefferson’s orders. However, this trial would reportedly turn up “not one credible piece of testimony” according to historians Nancy Isenberg and Andrew Burnstein. However this would hurt his public image regardless and he went into expatriation in England from 1808 to 1812.

Aaron Burr would pass away on September 14, 1836 from a stroke at age 80.

Aaron Burr by Gilbert Stuart

https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_PP_176

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Burr#

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr_conspiracy#Trial

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aaron-Burr

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/duel-events-leading-duel/

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Thaddeus Kosciuszko’s 280th Birthday!

The Polish general, engineer, and statesman was born as Andrezej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (angl. Andrew Thaddeus Bonaventure Kosciuzko) in 1746 at the Mereczowszczyzna estate in Brest Litovsk Voivodeship, Grand-Duchy of Lithuania (part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). In Europe, he got his education in both Poland and France for military matters and construction.

He came to Philadelphia in 1776 and would join the Continental Army that year, first creating fortifcations at the Delware River. He would get the rank of Colonel in October and design Fort Mercer, NJ in December.

In the Spring of 1777, he was put under the command of Major General Horatio Gates and posted at Fort Ticonderoga. While he was there, he worried that the position was too vulnerable and suggested for a battery be constructed at Sugar Loaf (which overlooked the fort) but would be brushed off. This proved to be a tactical blunder as the British under John Burgoyne would do exactly what he predicted. Major General Philip Schuyler would order Kosciuszko to slow the progress of the British army. His solution was the fell trees to block the path of the opposing army which gave the Americans time to retreat across the Hudson River. Also under Gates, Kosciusko would create the fortifications at Saratoga overlooking Bemis Heights and later the defenses at West Point. This work would make him beloved by the Americans. From 1780 till the end of the war he would fight in the south before deciding to return home, which would be delayed due Congress failing to compensate many of the officers on time. He’d finally return to Poland in July of 1784.

Back in Poland, his finances only further declined due to various reasons and he plunged into debt. Eventually he’d join the Polish army as a Major General and would fight against the Russians. He would be imprisoned for a period but was freed upon the death of Catherine the Great. He would return back to the US and meet with President Thomas Jefferson (giving him the fur coat he wore in the famous painting below).

He died in Solothurn, Switzerland from a stroke on October 15, 1817.

Left: Thaddeus Kosciuszko (Engraving) by Christian Josi

Right: Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale

https://www.monticello.org/encyclopedia/thaddeus-kosciuszko-engraving

https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/humboldt/online/rembrandt-peale

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadeusz_Ko%C5%9Bciuszko?wprov=sfti1#

https://www.nps.gov/thko/learn/historyculture/kosciuszkobio.htm

https://eppc.org/publication/historys-most-interesting-coat/

[icarus-gazette]

Today is @feis-historical-days (@fei-the-gay)’s birthday!

My husband, the boytoy twink who makes me aspire to learn more, will be celebrating his birth today.

The Fates must have favored us for us to meet. Ne’er I been happier for such a union. May this day be filled with much Benedict Arnold and quantum physics.

You’ve brought back my once-fading will to learn and grow as a person and for that I am eternally grateful.

Happy Birthday, Fei 🥹

[icarus-gazette]

Yesterday was Benjamin Franklin’s 230th birthday.

The word polymath, a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning, is an apt description of the Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin.

Born in 1706 in Boston, Josiah Franklin— a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker— and Abiah Folger, he came from humble beginnings. He attended the Boston Latin School for a few years but never graduated. He would work for his father for a bit before apprenticing to his older brother, James, at 12. There, he would be introduced to printing as James had been the one to found the New England Courant. He would publish in it under a false name until his older brother was jailed for publishing unflattering work about the governor. During this time, he would leave the apprenticeship without permission, this being a crime.

He would runaway to Philadelphia and there he would flourish. He founded: the Pennsylvania Gazette (the most successful newspaper in colonial America), the University of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Hospital (the first public hospital in the colonies), the Library Company of Philadelphia, the American Philadelphia Society, and the first volunteer fire department just to name a few. He would conduct the famous key and kite experiment which would prove the existence of electricity and create a myriad of inventions. He would author Poor Richard’s Alamanck as well.

As the American Revolution creeped closer and progressed, he would illustrate the “Join or Die” sketch and be a delegate and first Postmaster General in the Second Continental Congress. Furthermore, his trials in England highlighted the inevitability of conflict against the colony and its mother country. In late 1776, he would be sent to France to negotiate an alliance which would come to fruition in 1778.

After the revolution, he would serve at the first American Minister in France until 1785 when he was succeeded by Jefferson. When he returned, he would serve as the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention and President of the Society for the Abolition of Slavery at the same time. Though respected at the time, he was well aware of his age and own failing health. He would pass away on April 17th, 1790 from pleurisy though he had a myriad of health issues caused by his lavish lifestyle. He is remembered fondly by this nation as one of its key founders.

Benjamin Franklin by Joseph Siffred Duplessi

https://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.87.43

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1299336/

https://www.visitphilly.com/media-center/press-releases/fact-sheet-benjamin-franklin-inventions/

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Benedict Arnold’s 285th birthday!

“Just Another Legacy or Benedict Arnold?”

“__________ does have a great record, but so did Benedict Arnold”

“... are latter day equivalents of Benedict Arnold”

The name “Benedict Arnold” has become synonymous with traitor. The three quotes above are the titles of news articles from the past year. It is a bit cruel actually. To reduce someone’s life, and cast away their toil and accomplishments, in favor of remembering one of their darkest moments, yet it is what was done with Benedict Arnold. His life and legacy is the reflection of human empathy and why it is so important to study history.

Benedict Arnold V was born in Norwich, Connecticut, to successful businessman: Benedict Arnold III. However, his life would go rapidly downhill as most of his siblings died in infancy, his mother turned to the church to cope before passing in 1759, and his father would drink away the family’s money and more importantly- Arnold’s future. Despite losing out on an education at Yale College and being left saddled with the burden of taking care of his father and sister at 18, he would still work to educate himself and eventually start his own business as a trader. He would go on to marry Margaret Mansfield and have three sons with her. Though their relationship would become distant as Arnold would be away at sea and later in 1775, away at war, his love remained unshaken until her death in the same year while he was fighting at Ticonderoga. He would go on to have an impressive military career and take part in decisive battles such as the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, Battle of Quebec, Battle of Valcour Island, and Battle of Saratoga. Even with all this under his belt, he would never receive compensation and little recognition from the Continental Congress. This, in addition to some alleged convincing done by Peggy Shippen, his second wife and loyalist noblewoman, would lead him to come into contact with British Major and Adjudant General, John Andre who would work with him in an attempt to deliver West Point to the British for £20,000 and a rank as Brigadier General. Though, Andre would be caught on his way to the HMS Vulture and Arnold would flee to avoid being caught. He would be given his rank and money by the British but would remain disdained by them for the rest of his life. He would participate in the Richmond Campaign in 1781 which would earn him the ire of George Washington for the devastation he left behind. It would come to an end when he regrouped with British General Cornwallis whilst being pursued by the Marquis de Lafayette leading the Continental forces. There, he would advise Cornwallis to move elsewhere other than Yorktown due to its vulnerability to a siege but he would be dismissed and never see battle again. He would move to Canada briefly but would eventually head to England and live out the rest of his days in London. There, he would die after experiencing four days of delerium from edema caused by the wounds he sustained in battle.

In many ways, Arnold embodies the average American if not just person generally. Someone who was sold the dream of working hard to do well for themselves and obtaining the blessings of liberty that was promised to them and their posterity; only to watch their chance at such a fantasy be gambled away right in front of their eyes by those who are supposed to speak on their behalf. Left feeling bitter and betrayed, he would partake in a rash decision that would give the perfect excuse to the Congress to demonize and cast him as “other.” Such an image would be pushed onto future generations to tarnish a legacy and erase the true events from public memory. If the public does not remember, it will allow for these same things to occur time and time again. Each time, we will be dumbfounded as to what happened as it all goes to rot.

This field of study is what we call history. Many famous philosophers have said something along the lines of “we must learn history to never repeat it” but seldom is it fully comprehended. History is not just any story but the story of humanity. Studying it reveals patterns which humans are very good at recognizing. The takeaway from Benedict Arnold’s story can be the lack of empathy we as humans have for each other. Arnold was an individual who could’ve walked among any of us had it not been for the separation of time. He felt the same things we did and even acted accordingly. If his name were to be replaced by the word “he” in the first passage and read by someone else, it may have aroused sympathy from the most staunch of his critics. Yet Arnold is antagonized to no end with his very name becoming a word for a “traitor.”

If this is how we treat those who are no longer with us, how do we treat each other?

Artist Unknown

Informal Citations

@feis-historical-days

https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold

myself

[icarus-gazette]

Today is Alexander Hamilton’s 271th or 269th birthday.

Most people know founding father Alexander Hamilton from the popular broadway musical: Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda. While the musical has most definitely increased renown for him, it also has perpetuated misinformation and is a classic example of how pop culture flattens historical figures.

To preface, I am not saying Hamilton is a bad musical. It is arguably masterfully crafted by its creator and it is what got me back into history but the issue arises when it is viewed as an accurate source for historical information rather than a piece of the art it is. Too often people have said things along the lines of “studying by listening to Hamilton,” but doing so will leave you with a poor understanding of not only the time period but the people mentioned in the musical itself because it provides a sliver of a perspective and flattens the characters.

Hamilton has the obvious problem of scope when it comes to the Revolutionary War and era that followed because it is a musical following only Alexander Hamilton. This may not seem like such a big deal but it is. The sheer number of people who have forgotten completely about figures like Paul Revere- arguably one of the most iconic figures of the whole revolution- just because they only use Hamilton as a source. Even if we cast that aside, it still has to cut out entire people from Hamilton’s life who had any relation to him because of how large his reach was. There is no mention of John Andre or Benedict Arnold and you can argue that both of them only had a brief impact on his life but then again there is no mention of many close friends of his like Richard Kidder Meade nor of his half-brother, James. It is historical fiction and like all fiction it must be simple to tell a coherent story in a strict timeframe. We can especially see this in the song “Aaron Burr, Sir” as there is the obvious point that the group didn’t meet all at once in a tavern in 1776. Hamilton only met Lafayette and Laurens in late 1777 when they joined the Continental Army and Hercules Mulligan probably never met the Marquis de Lafayette historically. Though that is a rather obvious point that most people have most likely figured that out, it still is a clear sign that Hamilton cannot be considered an accurate source of history.

Speaking of condensing things, Hamilton has the further problem of simplifying its characters to the point where it becomes inaccurate in order to tell a clear story. The characters who are hit hardest are the antagonists such as Samuel Seabury, Aaron Burr, and Thomas Jefferson. Seabury and Hamilton never had a face-to-face debate in real life. It was done over a series of pamphlets from 1774-1775 with both using pen names to remain anonymous. However, it was accurate in the fact that Seabury was a staunch loyalist- but the musical was not so kind to Burr and Jefferson. Jefferson was nowhere near as outspoken, much less as comically evil, as he was portrayed. Using Jefferson, the musical simplifies the political climate at the time as “Federalists good, Democratic-Republcians bad” with Hamilton’s triumph over Jefferson at any turn being seen as a good thing. This is not true to any extent. The politics at the start of the American experiment were just as convoluted as they are now. There was no “good” political party and Hamilton wasn’t a saint in his politics who was righteously fighting off the evil Jefferson and two-faced Burr for the sake of the country.

Overall, I believe Hamilton suffers from the things that most historical media does and its mainstream popularity only amplifies the issue. Though, I am not against historical media. I do enjoy consuming it myself and believe that it is an excellent gateway to a real interest in history. But I do think that there should be some sort of warning that is put at the start because otherwise there is a very real possibility that has and will continue to happen: people will take what they see as fact rather than recognize fiction. It is important to recognize that historical figures were real people just like us and are multifaceted in their lives, views, and actions. The people in Hamilton are no exception to this.

Left: Portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull 1792

https://crystalbridges.emuseum.com/objects/1567/portrait-of-alexander-hamilton

Right: Hamilton logo made by the design firm Spotco in collaboration with Lin-Manuel Miranda

https://playbill.com/article/photos-check-out-the-9-other-hamilton-logos-that-took-their-shot

[icarus-gazette]

Today is the 250th anniversary of the publishing of Common Sense by Thomas Paine.

“Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general Favor; a long Habit of not thinking a Thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence of Custom. But the Tumult soon subsides. Time makes more Converts than Reason.”

That is how Thomas Paine begins the pamphlet which would fuel the revolutionary fervor and want for independence in the American colonies.

To begin, there must be a brief background on who Paine is:

Thomas Paine was born on February 9th, 1737 in Thetford, Norfolk, England to parents Joseph Pain, a former Quaker from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Elizabeth (Cocke) Pain, who was the daughter of an attorney in Thetford. Thomas Paine was educated at the Thetford Grammar School. After his education, he involved himself in various careers before immigrating to Philadelphia in 1774. After a tumultuous journey across the Atlantic, he would go on work for the Pennsylvania Magazine where he proved himself to be an ardent patriot. During the years of the revolutionary war, he published two influential pamphlets: Common Sense and the American Crisis. He would go on to be elected to the National Convention in France after the American revolution and narrowly escape being executed during the Reign of Terror for being a moderate. He would only return to America in 1802, with President Jefferson’s invitation. He’d pass away in 1809 at the age of 72. He would be remembered for a long time as a man who “did some good, and much harm” as the article from The American Citizen described him.

Now, to get onto Common Sense itself: Thomas Paine wrote the pamphlet to convince the American colonists why freedom from Great Britain was imperative. He wrote directly, in such a way that made his arguments much more accessible to the average person. His goal was to shift public opinion in favor of independency from rather than reconciliation with Britain.

He lays out that government is a “necessary evil” by saying: “Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.” There was a necessity for a government of some kind but a government shouldn’t be the kind where a single man has the ultimate power. For that kind of ruler would have “little more to do than make war and to give away places.” Instead, Paine advocates for an egalitarian, republican government based on popular sovereignty. One which would guarantee individual freedoms.

After all, like Paine says in the pamphlet itself: “a government of our own is a natural right.”

Common Sense, Thomas Paine

https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/1776-paine-common-sense-pamphlet

Informal Citations

https://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/1776-paine-common-sense-pamphlet

https://study.com/academy/lesson/thomas-paine-common-sense-and-the-crisis.html

https://www.sparknotes.com/philosophy/commonsense/themes/

https://www.amrevmuseum.org/read-the-revolution/common-sense

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cocke-227

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pain-72

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Paine

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/thomas-paine

[icarus-gazette]

Today is the 245th anniversary to the Raid on Richmond, VA.

A year prior to this incident the Governor of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, had the capital city moved from Williamsburg to Richmond to protect the capital from British attacks by sea.

From January 1st from January 3rd, 1781, recently turned Brigadier General: Benedict Arnold, headed up the James River; burning patriot plantations behind him.

He reached Richmond on January 4th where there were about 200 Virginian Militiamen who were all nearing the end of their enlistment period defending the city. Seeing this, Colonel John Graves Simcoe, who was leading the Queen’s Rangers, had his men engage immediately. His judgement proved correct as patriot forces only shot a single volley before retreating into the woods.

Jefferson, witnessing the milita fleeing and being chased by loyalist troops, ordered a mass evacuation of military supplies and government officials. He himself fled the city with his family via carriage.

By the time Arnold marched to the city, there was no resistance left. He briefly made his headquarters in Main Street’s city tavern and from there attempted to negotiate with Jefferson. Arnold wished to seize the city’s tobacco and agreed to leave the city in peace if he did. Jefferson refused.

On January 6th, Arnold ordered the city to be set ablaze and sacked of its valuables. Then, he moved on to the nearby city of Warwick to continue his destruction.

Overall, the burning of Richmond, VA, proved to be a terrible loss for the patriots. It led to Washington sending some of his best generals down south to capture Arnold such as “Mad” Anthony Wayne and the Marquis de Lafayette, the latter of whom would stall Cornwallis long enough for the decisive Battle of Yorktown to take place. Furthermore, Arnold’s role would cement him a place in the British Army. Though he would never be able to escape scrutiny from them in the end.

Escape of Benedict Arnold, Artist Unknown

https://www.heritage-images.com/preview/2329785?page-source=search&pagono=

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_Richmond

https://www.californiasar.org/2024/01/benedict-arnold-captures-and-destroys-richmond-virginia-2/

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/richmond-during-revolutionary-war

[icarus-gazette]

Today is the 249th anniversary of the Battle of Princeton.

Taking place on the grounds of what’s now Princeton College, NJ, the Battle of Princeton was the last battle of the 10 Crucial Days.

Occurring after the Battle of Assunpink Creek (2nd Battle of Trenton), a majority of the British force was lying in wait in Trenton under the command of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. Washington decided to sneak past Cornwallis’ flank in the night and march to Princeton instead of facing off with them in the morning.

The ~1,200 British troops at Princeton were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Manwhood, who’d been given orders reinforce Cornwallis in Trenton.

It was Manwhood who spotted the opposing army first, reversing his column and preparing to engage the Continental Army’s left flank. Due to this, it was the British who had the initial advantage in the battle.

The Scottish Brigadier General Hugh Mercer was the one leading the vanguard. He remained adamant even after his smaller vanguard faltered in the face of the much larger British force. After his horse was shot, he continued fighting on foot— only ceasing after being bayoneted up to seven times when he refused to surrender.

Meanwhile, Washington sent a brigade of militia under Brigadier General John Cadwalader to aid Mercer. Once he caught sight of Mercer’s men fleeing, he rode up himself— taking charge of troops and drove Manwhood’s own men back.

During the battle, Brigadier General John Sullivan got the Hessians taking refuge in Nassau Hall to surrender.

After the battle, Mercer was found alive and taken to a nearby oak tree which was named the Mercer Oak. (The was destroyed by strong winds in the March of 2000). He was taken to the Thomas Clarke House where he passed away nine days later.

Overall, the battle was an American victory and is considered the last major action of the New Jersey Campaign. There were reportedly 25-44 killed Continentals killed and about 40 wounded whereas the British faced somewhere between 50-100 killed, 58-70 wounded, and 194-280 captured. By the spring of 1777, it was the Continentals who held most of New Jersey partly in thanks to this decisive battle.

John Trumbull

The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777

https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/101

Informal Citations

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Princeton

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/princeton

https://pbs1777.org/the-battle-of-princeton/

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/hugh-mercer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_Oak