If anyone still has doubts about Washington's preeminence, a recent sale at Christie's will clinch the argument. At the end of the War for Independence, the Marquis de Lafayette gave George a pair of inlaid, carved, steel-mounted saddle pistols he had bought during his 1775 service in the French army, and carried throughout his career in America. In 1824, one of Washington's heirs gave them to Andrew Jackson for his heroism in the War of 1812, and to console him for losing the presidential election that year to John Quincy Adams. There may have been a hint that Old Hickory should use them to shoot Henry Clay, who engineered the ``corrupt bargain`` that put JQA in the White House. When Jackson died in 1845, he bequeathed them to Lafayette's son, George Washington Lafayette. His descendants sold them in 1958, and there was a Paris auction in 1983. But the price did not come close to the Christie's tab: $1,986,000. It's a world's record for firearms.
Ed Mills, our former chairman, who died last year, left several books in Tom Fleming's care to be sold at the Round Table for our speaker's fund. One of the choicest items is a six volume set of George Otto Trevelyan's masterwork, The American Revolution. The first four volumes tell the story of the war; the concluding two volumes, published separately, are titled: ``Charles James Fox and George III'' but they are subtitled ``The concluding part of The American Revolution.'' In these books Trevelyan deals with the aftermath of the Revolution in England. Complete sets of this epic treatment of our favorite war are relatively rare. The narrative is a marvelous tour of both sides of the story, told from a Whig (sympathetic to the Americans) point of view. We hope the bidding will start at $150.00. Bids can be made by phone to Tom Fleming at 212 988 9160. Final bidding will take place at our June meeting.
At a special Saturday March 30 meeting at Valley Forge, the Philadelphia American Revolution Round Table made an announcement that the New York Round Table applauds. Philly chairman Robert Heffner proclaimed that their annual prize for the best book of the year will henceforth be called ``The Thomas Fleming Award.'' They also gave Tom a handsome plaque, saluting his contribution to the scholarship of the Revolution. He responded with a stirring talk on George Washington as a master of espionage.
Marty Markowitz, the newly elected borough president, has announced that he is taking the portrait of George Washington off the wall in his office in Borough Hall and demoting it to the cellar. To justify this decision, Mr. Markowitz has unleashed the following profundity: ``I respect history, but there has to be a recognition that this is 2002. There's not one picture of a person of color, not one kid, not one Latin. Borough Hall should reflect the richness of our diversity.'' We don't disagree even slightly that the walls may need some diversifying. By all means add portraits of people of color, Latins, even kids who have contributed to Brooklyn's history. But why remove Washington, who fought for freedom in Brooklyn on a patch of ground not five minutes from Markowitz's office? What shall we call this newly elected leader of Brooklyn's people? Our choice would be: IGNORAMUS.
The National Park Service is considering the creation of a new National Heritage Trial within easy driving distance of the Round Table. It would follow the route General Rochambeau's army took from Newport to the climactic battle of the Revolution, Yorktown. A conference to discuss the possibility took place at the Old Barracks in Trenton on April 6. The study of the route was authorized by Congress through the Washington-Rochambeau National Heritage Act of 2000. The goal of the study is to produce an historical narrative, a bibliography, and a resource inventory. A first phase of the study will culminate in November 2002, when the NPS Advisory Board will decide whether the route is ``nationally significant.''
That latter sample of bureaucratese is from a press release from the National Park Service. Our only comment is: ``Are they kidding? Of course it's nationally significant!'' Let's get on to phase two, boys and girls. For those who want to make less sarcastic comments, tune into the NPS website, www.nps.gov/revwar/links.htm.
Ignite is an Austin Texas based educational software company, which claims it can teach kids history without forcing them to go near a textbook. Better, claims Ignite, is their software, which teaches everything from the Revolution to the Holocaust through cartoons. Backed by $18,000,000 from investors, Ignite is saturating state education departments with its hard sell.
Here's how Ignite teaches the Louisiana Purchase. The cartoon imagery is supplemented by an imaginary poem addressed to President Jefferson.
So you've made this small purchase called Louisiana
That doubles the size of our nation
If that's not enough, there's this other cool spot
The Northwest, you might snag for vacation.
Ignite is headed by President George W. Bush's brother, Neil Bush. Maybe we can get Dubya to issue an executive order, putting Neil out of business.
The following letter was smuggled to the editors of BROADSIDE.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lowell Ford
Commanding
Royal Welch Fusileers in America
I WAS PLEASED TO RECEIVE YOUR KIND MESSAGE OF LOYAL GREETINGS SENT ON BEHALF OF ALL RANKS OF THE 23RD REGIMENT OF FOOT, THE ROYAL WELCH FUSILEERS IN AMERICA ON THE OCCASION OF ST. DAVID'S DAY.
AS COLONEL-IN-CHIEF OF THE FUSILEERS, I SEND MY BEST WISHES TO ALL WHO CELEBRATED THE DAY ON 1ST MARCH.
Elizbeth R.
One of these days, will Lt. Col. Ford order his men to put bullets as well as powder in their muskets and try to regain Her Majesty's lost provinces? And we thought Al Queda was all we had to worry about!
John Hayes, everyone's favorite historian of the cavalry in the Revolution -- we flew him from Florida to give us a talk a few years ago -- has decided to show the world Tom Fleming isn't the only one who can write nonfiction and fiction. In Neither Death Nor Glory, Hayes has combined his headful of horse lore with a tale about a rakish Anglo-Irishman named James Francis O'Bannion, who wins a 1775 appointment as a gentleman volunteer in the Seventeenth Light Dragoons. O'Bannion finds himself in revolutionary Boston with orders to locate billets and otherwise prepare for the regiment's arrival as a royal strike force. On April 19, our hero ducks bullets on the road from Concord to Lexington and becomes a member of the besieged Boston garrison. Women and cards help O'Bannion while away the days, while the King's men flounder into Bunker Hill and then into boredom. It's a marvelous inside look at the British side of the war. One reader has called it ``enthralling.'' Tom Fleming says he's ``green with envy.'' John tells us it's the first of six projected volumes that will take O'Bannion through the Revolution -- and, we suspect -- into the American ranks. For those who want a copy, send $17.95 to the author at: 6848 N W 25 Way Fort Lauderdale Fla 33309.
H. Arthur Bankoff thinks he has found the graves of possibly dozens of soldiers killed in the Battle of Brooklyn. Bankoff is chairman of Brooklyn College's archaeology department. He has used newly developed electrical probes that can penetrate a dozen feet below the surface to detect shapes that strongly resemble human bodies near Prospect Park's Long Meadow. The site is not far from where Hessians outflanked the American defenders on August 27, 1776 and attacked them from the rear. The archeologist thinks he has discovered a major Revolutionary site -- and is asking the city for $44,000 to do further research. Will he get it in spite of the budget crunch? Stay tuned.
On Sunday, April 14th, this reviewer had the pleasure of seeing the Village Light Opera Group's latest foray into musical theater. VLOG and I are old friends; twenty years ago I was production stage manager for their presentation of Gilbert & Sullivan's ``Princess Ida,'' better known as ``Space Ida.'' (It's a long story, folks!) This time it was Rodger's and Hart's early show, ``Dearest Enemy.'' I am happy to report that 20 years have not diminished VLOG's talents.
``Dearest Enemy'' is the story of Mrs. Murray entertaining Generals Howe, Clinton and Tryon while American troops under Putnam escaped from lower Manhattan to Harlem Heights, after the American rout at Kips Bay. The Murray house, roughly at present day Park and 37th (Is the Williams Club on Murray land?) became a beautiful two story set similar in appearance to the Morris-Jumel Mansion. Also noteworthy was the correct use of Revolutionary flags (Grand Union and Betsy Ross). It's a good bet that Round Tabler Fred Cookinham was a force behind both the house and the banners. Fred also contributed a witty essay to the program, explaining the historical background of the story. He separated fact from the show's fantasy without in the least detracting from the fun of it all.
VLOG's professional orchestra, led by Ronald Noll, was excellent as usual and the singing and acting were up to VLOG's high standards. ``Dearest Enemy'' is not often performed, and with good reason. Unlike R&H's classic works, such as ``The Boys from Syracuse, Babes in Arms'' and ``Pal Joey'', DE is a piece of fluff, with only one song worth remembering, ``Here in My Arms It's Adorable.'' Still, the net result was a lot of enjoyment. Major General Tryon talked like a Hessian and sang two funny songs. At one point, Generals Howe, Clinton and Tryon burst into ``Yankee Doodle.'' Who could ask for more?
Jean Hayter has once again won! Her answers to the April quiz on the siege of Fort Stanwick: 1. The fort was commanded by Col Peter Gansevoort; the British forces were led by Lt. Col Barry St. Leger. 2. The relief column was commanded by Gen. Nicholas Herkimer, who was opposed by Sir John Johnson's Royal Greens, Col. John Butler's Rangers and Joseph Brandt's Iroquois. 3. The battle between these two armies was fought at Battle Brook (Oriskany). Herkimer's leg was shattered by a musket ball. He died 11 days later, after his leg was amputated. 4. Lt. Col. Marinus Willett and Lt. Stockwell sneaked out of Fort Stanwick for help, legging it to Fort Dayton. 5. Gen. Schuyler sent Brig Gen. Benedict Arnold at the head of the next relief column. 6. The novel and film was ``Drums Along the Mohawk.'' Henry Fonda panted to Fort Dayton with Indians in relentless pursuit.
Name these movies about the French and Indian War.