Glenn Williams likes to live dangerously. He had us all in the same frame of mind at our February meeting when he told us that his book, The Year of the Hangman, George Washington's Campaign Against the Iroquois was taking on some formidable opponents. Some historians pronounced this 1779 venture into northern New York "a well executed military failure." Other scholars called it ethnic cleansing and claimed it drove the Indians still further into the British camp. Still others claimed it did nothing for the American war effort and asked why the expedition failed to capture Fort Niagara, the headquarters of the British partisan war on the Canadian border. Glenn took on all of these charges and told us how he disproved each of them in his hard-hitting book. The expedition was anything but a military failure. It wrecked the Iroquois' war making ability by destroying their villages and orchards and cornfields - the same sort of havoc the Indians had wreaked on Cherry Valley and other towns in New York and Pennsylvania. There was no ethnic cleansing -- the Americans did not kill women or children - something the Indians did repeatedly. It did not drive more Indians into the British camp. Most of the Iroquois were already there. It gave the U.S. war effort a big much needed boost in self confidence by marching almost 5,000 men hundreds of miles and getting them back in time to defend the towns and cities of the nation at the start of the next campaign. The Americans did not capture Fort Niagara because it was never an objective. That would have required a time consuming siege. Round Tablers came away with renewed admiration for General George Washington and his field commander, the often unlucky John Sullivan - and for Mr. Williams and his prize-winning book. There were zero unsigned copies left on Treasurer Davis's table by time we all headed home with lots of history to think about.
Dr. Joanne Grasso reviewed Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Republic by Catherine Allgor. The older she gets, Joanne said, the more she appreciates the character of women. Dolley Madison was one of the great women of American history, for whom "character is an intricate word." She was especially struck by pictures of Dolley and her son (by her first husband) Payne Todd. Dolley had to pay $250,000 -- the equivalent of several million today - to cover Payne's debts from gambling and reckless spending. Joanne disagreed with Ms Allgor's harsh characterizations of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. But she was delighted with the "word picture" the author draws of early Washington DC, a barren hamlet with 109 habitable brick houses and 263 barely habitable wooden ones. Dolley was the "perfect Washington hostess" but she had to cope with not a few detractors, who thought she was too "racy." Joanne concluded the book deserves an honored place beside books about other remarkable women such as Edith Carow Roosevelt and Libby Custer. She left us with a thought that has special relevance in 2008: "It would be incredible to think what kind of politician Dolley would have been on her own."
Peter Ford regaled us with his review of New Jersey in the American Revolution, edited by Barbara Mitnick. Peter professed amazement about how much he learned from this collection of essays by eleven "very different authors" each with a "different slant" on New Jersey during the long struggle for independence. The topics range from loyalists to women to blacks and all are "well written and interesting." It proved, Peter said, that there was more to be said about New Jersey than "what exit is it?" As he concluded, Peter smiled fiendishly at Tom Fleming, sitting a few feet away, and refused to mention that Tom, a born (and still passionate) New Jerseyan, had the lead essay in the collection. As Tom departed at the end of the evening, he was heard to mutter: "Ford may have retired as Colonel of the Royal Welch Fusileers. But he's still the enemy!"
Along with distributing books to our stellar reviewers, Lynne Saginaw dispersed some interesting revolutionary thoughts. She praised the decision to name a street in Brooklyn after Margaret Corbin, heroine of Fort Washington, supplanting its previous claimant to the name, railroad baron Austin Corbin, a notorious anti-semite.
On a larger scale, Lynne urged Round Tablers to visit without fail the new home of the Museum of American Finance, which has moved to 48 Wall Street, the former home of the Bank of New York. The museum is headed by John Herzog, a longtime friend (and member) of the Round Table. The "Hamilton Room" has a permanent exhibit dedicated to the legacy of the man who founded the Bank of New York and created the nation's financial system. The museum will feature interactive exhibits on the history of finance. There are spacious galleries for changing exhibits and a comfortable theater where visiting lecturers will hold forth. The museum's goal is to become "America's collective financial memory." Only a block from the Stock Exchange, it will soon be a major destination on Wall Street.
As the February meeting began, Jim Davis asked the Round Tablers to spend a minute of silence remembering our oldest member, Mrs. Walter "Fritzi" Jacobs, who died at the age of 98 in mid-December. Fritzi was the mother of our chairman, Dave Jacobs, and his brother Dan, a loyal RT member. Her late husband, Walter Jacobs, was one of the founders of the Round Table in 1958. Fritzi attended our meetings almost without fail until a year ago, when her health began to falter. Many members will recall her good humor - and sharp intelligence. We extend our deepest sympathy to Dave and Dan and the other members of their family.
When General Washington handed his resignation as commander in chief to the Continental Congress on Dec. 23, 1783, he read his statement from a handwritten copy he had made from several previous drafts. Among the twenty or so congressman listening was Dr. James McHenry, his former aide, (a Marylander). The ceremony closed with the General and most of the audience dissolved in tears. McHenry wrote a vivid description of the scene in a letter to his fiancée. Omitted from his account was the way he apparently approached the General as he left the Annapolis state house and asked him if he could have a copy of his memorable words. Washington was very fond of "Mac" and gave him the copy he may have still been holding in his hand. For the next two hundred plus years the statement hung in a frame on the walls of various McHenry houses. Recently someone became alarmed at its deteriorating condition and decided to sell it. The state of Maryland, with the help of several wealthy Baltimore donors, paid $1.5 million for it. The restored document will be exhibited in the state house. Way to go, Mac!
Undaunted by Peter Ford, Tom Fleming sent us a news story featuring no less than "Fleming's Castle," the erstwhile tavern established by the founder of Flemington, New Jersey, Samuel Fleming. George Washington supposedly stopped there for a swig of Madeira or maybe a flagon of flip, the popular 1776 mixture of rum, whiskey and beaten eggs that separated the men from the boys. Tom says he and Samuel may be distantly related. "The Flemings," he solemnly assured us, "had a real castle in Ireland, not far from Limerick. They were the Barons of Slane. But they picked the wrong side in the so-called Glorious Revolution and fought for the Catholic king, James II, at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. Their castle, quite a showplace, is now owned by the Coyningthams. Note the way they spell that good old Irish name, Cunningham. That means they're Protestants." Samuel's decision to call his tavern a castle may have been a yearning for the clan's lost glories, Tom thinks. "He was born in 1706, only sixteen years after the battle of the Boyne. His family may have been among the 'Wild Geese,' the Catholic Irish who were forced to flee abroad." The Fleming Castle is being rehabilitated as an historic site by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. We asked Tom if he was letting this castle thing go to his head. "Not at all," he said. "Just remember to call me Your Lordship now and then."
What does a piano bar named Marie's Crisis at 59 Grove Street in Greenwich Village have to do with Tom Paine? It's named for Tom's 1776 essay, The Crisis, with its immortal words about the times that tried men's souls. "Marie" is Romany Marie, who ran several tearooms in the village in the early 1900s. Paine died in 1809 in a small wood framed house that was on the property at the time. He moved to New York in 1806 and lived on Church, then Bleecker streets before he tottered to 59 Grove Street only a month before he expired. Friends buried him on his farm in New Rochelle but English admirers arranged to have his bones exhumed and shipped to London, where they disappeared. No one knows where (or if) he is buried today. The Greenwich Village Historical Society put the plaque on 59 Grove in 1923.
The New London (CT) Historical Society has recently discovered it owns an American flag that may be worth millions. It's an antique 13 star banner made of faded white and red silk ribbons hand stitched together. It's been part of the Society's collection for decades and until lately hung over the mantle in the front parlor of the Shaw Mansion in downtown New London. In 2006 it was restored by experts in Rhode Island. Gradually, it dawned on them that it was one of only a very small number of 13 star flags. Not even the Smithsonian has one of these rarities "We have come to conclude it is probably a sort of national treasure," says Edward Baker, executive director of the Society. "It may be worth several million dollars. But there are no plans to sell it." This attitude inclines us to think the New London Historical Society is also a rare national treasure.
The latest report on what young people don't know about America's past will make history lovers like members of the ARRT reach for a stiff drink. Students at the nation's supposedly best colleges are graduating with less knowledge of American history, government and economics than they had when they entered as freshmen. The survey was conducted by the Institute for Intercollegiate Studies. Among the schools rated were Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Cornell, Duke and Berkeley. The average foreign student studying in these and other schools learned NOTHING about the nation's history in his/her four years. The survey consisted of a series of multiple choice questions, Here are two samples from the Revolutionary era. George Washington's role in the American Revolution is best characterized as: a: prudent general and statesman. b: influential writer on constitutional principles. c: leader of the Massachusetts delegation to the Constitutional Convention. d: strong advocate for states' rights.
Which battle brought the American Revolution to an end? a; Saratoga. b: Gettysburg. c: The Alamo. d: Yorktown. e. New Orleans.
On these and similar questions, which one would think a high school freshman would be able to answer with ease, Harvard seniors got a D+.
The New-York Historical Society has a not to be missed exhibit dealing with Lafayette's Grand Tour of the United States. Originating as part of a presentation of the Mt.Vernon Ladies Association, the exhibition (entitled "French Founding Father: Lafayette's Returnto Washington's America")detailed his complex and ambitious program of travel.
Beginning in August, 1824, Lafayette visited all 24 states, from Maine to Georgia and as far west as Missouri, returning to France in September, 1825. In Philadelphia,he rode under 13 arches and received a 13 cannon salute in front of Independence Hall. Above Boston harbor, he laid the cornerstone for America's first great Revolutionary monument atop Breed's Hill honoring those who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill. At Mount Vernon he visited the grave of General Washington, where he was seen to weep.
Ceremonies and honors were presented wherever he visited, some of which created American traditions. At Philadelphia's Grand Civic Ball, marches were composed in his honor ,. "Brandy Wine," "German Town" and "Yorktown" were written by Francis Johnson, who would become the first African-American to have his compositions published. In New York City, a militia named itself "The National Guard" after Lafayette's own "Garde Nationale" which he commanded during the early stages of the French Revolution. Now all state militias are called National Guards. And at Yorktown, thousands of Revolutionary veterans once again found themselves fighting the British. This event, on October 19, 1824, marked the beginning of on-site battlefield reenactments in America.
Among the items on display are Lafayette's personal copy of the Declaration of Independence (on loan from the University of Virginia). But of equal, if not more interest, is the collection of commemorative items.Only oncebefore,upon the death of Washington, hadAmerica seen anything like it. Oilpaintings of the great Frenchman werecommissioned from Samuel F. B. Morse, Rembrandt Peale, Thomas Sully, and Charles Ingham. At least 13 biographies were published; all manner of goods were stamped with Lafayette's name and/or likeness: plates, flasks, pitchers, salt dishes, paperweights, ribbons, medals, snuff boxes, gloves,children's shoes, straight razors, and even clothes brushes (the bristles spelling out "Lafayette 1824.") And topping off the exhibit is one of the carriages (from New Hampshire) whichLafayette used for traveling, and a guillotine which, happily,he never used!!
The answer to the February Quiz: The Blue and Gray Education Society (founded to study the Civil War) made its eighth stop at Grant's Tomb.
Based upon the following clues, name this revolutionary figure.1. I am the grandson of one of America's foremost religious personalities. 2. My father had been the president of the college I eventually attended. 3. On a cold December Canadian night, I watched my general die in battle. 4. I founded a company that would evolve into one of America's largest financial institutions.A free dinner to all who answer correctly by email, snail mail or phone.