By 1777, there was no love lost between the Patriots and the Redcoats. The British had recently routed Washington’s army at Brandywine and had taken the city of Philadelphia. The commander of the Continental Army felt he needed to do something to stop his losing streak by surprise attacking Read more
John Barry was born on March 25, 1745, in Ireland to a Catholic tenant farmer. His family was evicted from its farm by a British landlord. They moved to the coast and John fell in love with the sea. At 15-years-old, he became a cabin Read more
Joseph was born on November 21, 1760. His father was a reverend and well-to-do. Joseph was given a good education, which would later be proven in his memoirs. After Lexington and Concord, he threatened to run away and join a privateer unless they let him enlist in the militia. So, Read more
Thomas Sumter was born on August 14, 1734 in Virginia. His father had been an indentured servant. Thomas got little formal education. He joined the militia and participated in Braddock’s defeat in the Battle of the Wilderness. After this, he spent some time in a debtor’s prison. Things picked up Read more
Haym Salomon was born on April 7, 1740. He was a Polish Jew who immigrated to New York City in 1775. He became a financial broker to merchants who were involved in trade. He immediately joined colonists who opposed British misrule. “To serve my adopted country is to serve humanity. Read more
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski (on the right below) was born to a noble family in Warsaw on March 6, 1745. He loved the military so he became a cavalryman when he grew up. He fought the Russians, but his side lost. A failed attempt to kidnap the pro-Russian Read more
Salem Poor purchased his freedom in 1769 at age 22. It cost him 27 pounds (equivalent to $5,800 today) which was an average yearly wage for a working man. In May, 1775, he enlisted in the militia. He was one of three dozen blacks who participated in the Battle Read more
Johan von Robais was born in what is today Germany on June 19, 1721. At age 16, he went to France to become a mercenary. He was a born leader and rose to colonel by age 26. However, his rise from this point was blocked by the fact that Read more
Jeremiah was the son of Irish Catholic immigrants who settled in Maine. His father owned two sawmills in the town of Macchias. He was 21 at the time of Lexington and Concord. A few weeks after, two British merchant ships escorted by the schooner HMS Margaretta came to Read more
Whipple went to sea young and became a merchant ship captain at a young age. Whipple was a privateer in the French and Indian War. In six months, he captured 23 French merchant ships. On June 9, 1772, he led 50 Rhode Islanders in the capture and burning of Read more