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Presenting the Gospel, as told by my children. “Jesus died on the cross and he got a lot of boo boos! And He camed alive, and he loves all the children with boo boos and now he not got boo boos anymore, the end! It’s a happy day!” Pay attention for the addition of a hospital and a giant chicken (this is on the page where Peter denies Christ three times before the cock crows 🤣). Also, my kids call everyone “her” right now, you’ll hear. Every day is Easter here! #eastersunday #gospeltruth

British troops left Boston on March 17, 1776. After Washington commanded the heights, the siege of Boston and occupation thereof by the British troops ended with a bit of a whimper, not a bang. In this installment, we have patriot Timothy Newell’s account of the day from his view inside the city, where he has been throughout the year-long siege. He, as you will hear, is not a fan of the British, but has held a key position by being a civilian leader who could negotiate for treatment of stuck citizens with the occupying forces in the city and be a trusted go-between in negotiations between Howe and Washington. #america250 #todayin1776 #a250

This is Washington’s letter to Artemis Ward explaining the mission to take Dorchester Heights, including some cartoon-like shenanigans with barrels. I’m updating much more often on the Getting Hammered podcast feed, so subscribe there! But the end of March is very important, so I’ll add some more letters to get us out of Boston and up to NYC by April. #todayin1776 #america250 #a250

I’m a little behind posting here (check the Getting Hammered podcast for more!), but here’s a recap following Abigail Adam’s’ letter about where the Continental Army is and what’s about to happen in the move for Dorchester Heights, which happened this week in #1776. #america250 #todayin1776 A letter from Gen. Washington will be in Part 2.

#Todayin1776, Abigail Adams writes a letter to her husband in Philadelphia. Well, she starts it on March 2, but is anxious and repeatedly interrupted by bombing in nearby Boston. She doesn’t know it yet, but on March 2 she is hearing the diversionary fire on British troops in Boston meant to distract from Colonial troops taking Col. Henry Knox’s artillery up to Dorchester Hill.

From Mar 2-10, Abigail Adams hears this play out from about 10 miles from Boston, sometimes even observing the action from nearby Penn’s Hill. But in today’s part of the letter, she recounts attacks on Adams’ character in town by those loyal to the Crown and her own thoughts on Common Sense and what Congress should do.

Oh, to be the kind of person for whom friends and family are willing to get thrown out of bars to protect your reputation. MAy we all be so deserving go such friends and partners like Abigail. More from this letter as we go through the week and this important battle, as seen through the eyes of a brave and engaged patriot, Abigail Adams. #america250 #a250

#todayin1776, Washington’s generals write a contingency plan for attacking Boston if they can’t hold and command Dorchester Heights or the British attack them there. This is part of the run-up to the decisive battle for Boston in March. #a250 #america250

“Mom, stop embarrassing me in front of the General!” #todayin1776, a Virginia planter and pamphleteer has some critical thoughts on “Common Sense” and recounts an embarrassing story about trying to get his own grandson a slot in the Continental Army. It doesn’t end well. #america250 #a250 Subscribe to “Getting Hammered,” link in bio, for full letters and episodes throughout the year!

Another letter from John Adams to Abigail on Feb. 18, 1776. He confides in her about a delicate mission to Canada, tells her about “Common Sense,” and envies her French. #todayin1776 #america250 Subscribe to @gettinghammeredpodcast (link in bio) for the full letter and many more!

#todayin1776 Washington’s War Council wonders what to do about the Siege of Boston. Washington suggests a complex assault on the city, but the war council says “no” and that made a huge difference. Subscribe to Getting Hammered (link in bio) for all the Council had to say. #america250

By popular demand, a letter from John Adams to Abigail on Feb 11, 1776. #todayin1776 #a250 #america250

On #todayin1776, Benjamin Franklin writes a rundown on the failure of the Canada campaign for the Committee on Secret Correspondence. Franklin is one of five members of this committee, which is engaged in diplomacy with allies in other nations and the nation’s first attempts at foreign intelligence gathering. He later describes the reports of a Canadian intel asset, but that was too long to include here, so subscribe to “Getting Hammered” for fuller explanations! Link in bio! #america250

In the winter of 1776, George Washington faced a serious problem with his troops. Because Americans were suspicious of standing armies, the Continental Army was created with citizen soldiers who and militia service as its foundation— men volunteered to fight on relatively short time and then returned home to make way for the next group. In practice, this lack of professionalization and consistency took a real toll on the mission, leading to, Washington notes in this letter, the failure of a Canada campaign and the death of General Richard Montgomery. In this letter, Washington while maintaining the dignity of Washington, pleads with John Hancock, of famed large signature on the Declaration of Independence, who was then the President of the Continental Congress, to convince the politicians that they needed to invest in soldiers who will stick around.

This #america250 project has now taught me a new word (animadversion: criticism/censure) thanks to reading #1776today. I suppose there’s an argument for trying to summarize and modernize this stuff for an online audience, but truly, the practice of reading the real words is so good for everyone.