Sunday June 18, 1775

Day 170

~Abigail Adams to John Adams~

The day after the Battle of Breads and Bunker hill. 

 

Dearest Friend                                                                                             

Sunday June 18 1775  

The Day, perhaps the decisive Day is come on which the fate of America depends. My bursting Heart must find vent at my pen. I have just heard that our Dear Friend Dr. Warren is no more but fell gloriously fighting for his Country-saying better to die honourably in the field than ignominiously hang upon the Gallows. Great is our Loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude, by animating the Soldiers and leading them on by his own Example. A particuliar account of these dreadful, but I hope Glorious Days will be transmitted you, no doubt in the exactest manner.
   The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong-but the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people Trust in him at all times ye people pour out you hearts before him. God is a refuge for us. Charlstown is laid in ashes. The Battle began upon our intrenchments upon Bunkers Hill, a Saturday morning about 3 o’clock and has not ceased yet and tis now 3 o’clock Sabbath afternoon.
   Tis Expected they will come out over the Neck to night, and a Dreadful Battle must ensue. Almighty God cover the heads of our Country men, and be a shield to our Dear Friends. How mandy have fallen we know not; The constant roar of the cannon is so distressing that we cannot Eat Drink of sleep. May we be supported and sustaind in the dreadful conflict. I shall tarry here till tis thought unsafe by my Friends, and then I have secured myself a retreat at your brothers who has kindly offerd me part of is house, I cannot compose my self to write any further a present. I will add more as I hear further-

Spelling mistakes are not my fault! I just had to get that out there.

Well Bye, 

®achel™

Defense Of The American Cause

 Day 132

My Dearest
I am now set down to write you on a subject which fills me with inexpressible concern, and this concern is greatly aggravated and increased when I reflect upon the uneasiness I know it will cause you. It has been determined in Congress that the whole army raised for the defense of the American cause shall be put under my care, and that it is necessary for me to proceed immediately to Boston to take command of it.
You may believe me, my dear Patsy, when I assure you, in the most solemn manner, that so far from seeking this appointment, I have used every endeavor in my power to avoid it, not only from my unwillingness to part with you and the family but from a consciousness f its being a trust too great for my capacity, and that I should enjoy more real happiness in one mouth with you at home than I have the most distant prospect of finding a broad, if my stay were to be seven times seven years. But as it has been a kind of destiny it is designed to answer some gook purpose…
It was utterly out of my power to refuse this appointment without exposing my character to such censures as would have reflected dishonor on myself and given pain to my friends. This, I am sure, could not and ought not to be pleasing to you and must have lessened me considerably in my own esteem. I shall rely, therefore, confidently on that providence which has heretofore preserved and been bountiful to me, not doubting but that I shall return safe to you in the fall.

~George Washington to Martha Washington ~

Well Bye, 

®achel™

Praise For Mr. Henry

Day 58

“Mr. Henry is also a Lawyer, and the conpletest speaker I ever heard. If his future speeches, are equal to the small samples he had hitherto given Us, they will be worth preserving, but in a litter I can give You no Idea of the Music of his Voice, of the high wrought, Yet Natural elegance of his style, and manner.”

~Silas Deane~

To Elizabeth Deane

Well Bye, 

®achel™

Random thing!

Day 55

A farmer in our country, sent two of his servants to borrow [a harrow] of his neighbour, ordering them to bring it between them on their shoulders. When they came to look at it, one of them, who had much wit and cunning, said, “What could our master mean by sending only two men to bring this harrow? No two men upon earth are strong enough to carry it.” “Poh!” said the other, who was vain of his strenght, “what do you talk of two men? one may carry it. Help it upon my shoulders and see.” As he proceeded with it, the may kept esclaiming, “Zounds, how strong you are! I could not have though it, Why, you are a Samson! There is not such an other man in America. What amazing strangth God gas given you! But you will kill yourself! Pray put it down and rest a little of let me bear part of th weight.” “No, no,” said he, being more encouraged by the compliments, than oppressed by the burden; “you shall see I can carry it quite home.” And so he did.
 

~Benjamin Franklin~

 I don't know what good reading this will do you, but I am digging deep to find things to post, and in doing so I came up with this.

Well Bye, 

®achel™

A Spy Among Them

 Day 48

Rachel Revere

~Rachel Revere to Paul Revere~

My Dear,
by Dr. Church I send a hundred and twenty five pounds and beg you will take the best care of yourself and not attempt coning into this town again and if I have an opportunity of coming or sending out anything of any of the children I shall do it.
Love from your affectionate 
R. Revere
 




Paul Revere was made of leave Boston after the war began. His wife and eight kids joined him soon afterwords. This letter was written while his family was still in Boston and Paul was out.
Dr. Church was a member of the Sons of Liberty and was right up with the most well know men such as Samuel Adams, Dr. James Warren and Paul Revere. He was latter found to be a spy (had been from the very beginning).   He latter left in a boat and the boat was never seen again.


Well Bye, ☺
®achel™

About Abigail

Day 46



~In a letter from James Warren to John Adams~
   “After all our study, I don’t know but Mrs. Adam’s Native Genius will Excel us all in Husbandry. She was Engaged when I came, along, and the Farm at Braintree Appeared to be under Excellent Management.”
         

~In a letter from John Adams to Abigail~
         “Gen. Warren writes me, that my Farm never looked better, than when he last saw it, and that Mrs.- was like to outshine all the Farmers.- I wish I could see it.- But I can make Allowances. He knows the Weakness of his Friends Heart and that nothing flaters it more than praises bestowed upon a certain Lady.”


James Warren was the husband to one Abigail's best friends and the two families were very good friends. These letters where written while John was in Boston and Abigail was in Braintree. She went and joined him in Boston soon afterwords.

Well Bye,
®achel™

♥This is the best I can do for Valentine's Day♥

 Day 45

I dare not express to you at three hundred miles distance, how ardently I long for your return… An whether the end will be tragical, Heaven only knows. You cannot be, I Know, nor do I wish to see your, an inactive spectator; but if the sword be drawn, I bid adieu to all domestic felicity, and look forward to that country where there are neither wars nor rumors of war, in a firm belief that through the mercy of it’s king we shall both rejoice there together…

Your most affectionate,
Abigail Adams  

~In a letter to John Adams~

If you are so inclined I would suggest looking up the legend of St Valentine. It was kind of interesting to know where we got the holiday, for a long time I had know idea why we made such a big deal about the holiday (and still don't) but now, at least, I know where it came from, and you should too.☺"

Well Bye,

®achel™

Why the Bald Eagle?

Day 33

In January 1784 Ben Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter in which he complained about the using of the bald eagle to symbolize America and the image of the eagle he used looked more like a turkey. here is what he wrote.

“For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by sharping and Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little “King Bird” not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who hare driven all the king birds from our Country…
I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a bald Eagle but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain and silly a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”  



Well Bye,
®achel™

Surrounding them

 Day 23

“Do you not remember the story you told me of the scotch sergeant, who met with a party of forty American Soldiers, and thought alone, disarmed them all, and brought them in prisoners? A story almost as improbable as that of the Irishman, who pretended to have alone taken and brought in Five of the enemy by Surrounding them.”

~Benjamin Franklin ~
in a letter to William Strahan

I thought that this one was kind of funny. Just my thought on it.

Well Bye,

®achel™

The Wisdom of Mr. Franklin

Day 13

You need not be concerned in Writing me about your bad spelling; for in my opinion as our Alphabet now stands, the bad Spelling, of what is called so, is generally the best, as conforming to the Sound of the Letters and of the Words. To give you an Instance, a Gentleman receiving a Letter in which ere there Words, “Not finding Brown at hom, I delivered your maseg to his yf.” The Gentleman finding it bad Spelling and therefore not very intelligible, called his Lady to help him read it. Between them they picked out the meaning of all but the “yf,” which they could not understand. The lady proposed calling her Chambermaid; “for Batty,”says she, “has  the best knack at reading bed Spelling of anyone I know.” Batty came, and was surprized that neither Sir nor Madam could tell what “yf” was “Why,” says she, “‘yf’“  spells Wife, shat else can it spell?” And indeed it is a much better as well as shorter method of speling “Wife,” than by “Doubleyou, i ef e,” Which in reality spells “Doubleyifey.”

~Benjamin Franklin ~
To his Sister, after she lamented her bad spelling.

I got a book from the library recently of quotes from our founding fathers and this was in it and I was just so surprised and thought that it was so funny, primarily because I have never been very happy with the fact that I am not good at spelling.

Well I hope you think it's funny too.

®achel™

Who Thought?

 Day 11


“Some Talked , Some Wrote, and some fought to promote and establish it, but you and Mr, Jefferson thought for us all, I never take a retrospect of the years 1775 and 1776 without associating your opinions and speeches and conversations with all the great political, moral, and intellectual achievements of the congress of those memorable years,”

~Benjamin Rush~
To John Adams

Well Bye,

®achel™

Somebody said...

Day 8

 “Somebody said, there was nobody on our side but the Almighty. The Doctor who is a native of Switzerland, and speaks but broken English, quickly replied, “Dat is enough - Dat is enough,” and turning to me, says he, “It puts me in mind of the fellow who once said, ‘The Catholics have on their side the Pope, and the king of France, and the king of Spain, and the king of Sardinia, and the king of Poland, and the Emperor of Germany etc. etc. etc. But as to them poor Devils the Protestants, they have nothing on their side but God Almighty’” 

~John Adams~
In a letter to Abigail

Well Bye,
®achel™