The Budget!!!

This is such a great visualization of the disaster our country is in right now and the meaningless words and empty promises from our elected leaders. Would you ever leave such a debt for your own children with in your own household. I don't understand why the American people allow this to stand. I know there are many hard working parents providing and setting aside savings for their children's future yet don't seem to be too concerned about the horrendous spending of its government. It won't matter if you have set money aside or not there just won't be any left. Or rather it won't be worth the paper it's printed on.
We have come a long way from the words of Davy Crockett and his concern for recklessly using the tax-payers money. I fear it will be too late by the time the people awake from their long sleep of prosperity. Watch and let me know what you think.

Rebecca Motte - Revolutionary War Woman

Rebecca Motte was a courageous woman willing to sacrifice all that she had for her country. A strong persevering woman with a great attitude to survive the many pitfalls of her life and an undying patriotism to her country. She also had a great respect for humankind no matter enemy or friend, always seeing to the needs of others before her own welfare. Showing forth a class of genteelness and hospitality.

Rebecca Brewton (Motte) was born on the 28th of June, 1738. She later married Jacob Motte in 1758, she was the mother of six children with only three living to maturity. Her husband had died in the early beginnings of the Revolutionary War leaving her a widow. This great woman lived in a beautiful mansion on the south side of the Congree River in South Carolina.
In the early part of May 1781, British soldiers under the command of Captain McPherson took possession of Mrs. Motte's plantation home to use as a fort. McPherson along with about 175 of his British soldiers fortified her home, surrounding it with a trench and parapet. She moved into a small farm house on the plantation. Soon a force led by Francis Marion and Lighthorse Harry Lee laid siege to Fort Motte and called upon the British commander to surrender, Captain McPherson refused. The British captain left them no other alternative but to burn the plantation mansion. Upon hearing Marion and Lee's plans for her home Mrs. Motte replied: "I am gratified with the opportunity of contributing to the good of my country, and I should view the approaching scene with delight." Mrs. Motte even presented Lee with the combustible arrows that were used in the burning of her home. History says she inherited them from her brother Miles Brewton who had brought them from East India.

The bow and arrows were placed in the hands of Nathan Savage, a private in Marion's army. He shot three arrows that impacted and ignited the roof. Captain McPherson seeing his men could not easily put out the burning mansion quickly threw out the white flag to surrender. Marion and Lee's men took back possession of the Motte mansion and their men where able to put out the fire on the roof saving the mansion house.

In true southern hospitality Mrs. Motte cooked a dinner later that evening for both the American and British officers and served it in her dining room.

Rebecca Motte was a woman we can all look to as an example of fortitude and bravery during difficult times. We need to look within ourselves and find that courageous person as well, and to always carry a good attitude with a sense of class.

Marion. Friends! fellow-soldiers! we again have heard

The threats of our proud enemies; they come,

Boasting to sweep us, like the chaff, away.

Shall we yield? shall we lie down like dogs beneath

The keeper's lash? Then shall we well deserve

The ruin, the disgrace that must ensue.

Ne'er dream submission will appease our foes;

We shall be conquered rebels, and they'll fear

The spirit of liberty may rouse again;

And therefore will they bind us with strong chains,

New cords, green withes, like those which Samson bound,

And we, alas! shall have been shorn and weak,

On Folly's lap, if we yield up our freedom.

MRS. S. J. HALE'S TRAGEDY, "ORMOND GROSVENOR." ACT IV.

A Tea Party

NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

Protesters were concerned with a variety of issues:

1. The familiar "no taxation without representation" argument, along with the question of the extent of Parliament's authority in the colonies, remained prominent. Some regarded the purpose of the tax program—to make leading officials independent of colonial influence—as a dangerous infringement of colonial rights.

2. Legitimate tea importers who had not been named as consignees by the East India Company were also threatened with financial ruin by the Tea Act.

3. The Tea Act gave the East India Company a monopoly on the tea trade, and it was feared that this government-created monopoly might be extended in the future to include other goods.

Samuel Adams was the Boston patriot who led the resistance to the Tea Act. In 1772, Samuel Adams suggested that political leaders in Boston form a twenty-one member Committee of Correspondence to help get the word out to other communities how the British actions threatened American liberties. One example of their efforts occurred when Great Britain blockaded the Boston Harbor in 1774 with the intention of starving the colonists into submission. The communities quickly spread the word and soon wagon-loads of food and supplies were rolling into Boston to help its citizens. Little did his Majesty understand that he was uniting the people even more to become ever stronger. When the British tea ships arrived in Boston Harbor, the colonists wanted to send them back to England. Governor Thomas Hutchinson rejected their wishes. Feelings in Boston continued to escalate especially when the townspeople were told that the Governor refused to send the ships back. On December 16th, 1773, Samuel Adams told the towns people that their meetings could do nothing more to save the country, and there was a cry from the crowd: "Boston harbor a teapot tonight!" "Hurrah for Griffin's Wharf!"
About 100 Bostonians disguised as Mohawk Indians, went to the Wharf and raided three British ships docked in Boston Harbor, dumping their cargoes of 342 chests of tea overboard, so as to avoid paying the tea tax.

From a letter written by George Washington to his friend George William Fairfax, about the American resolve in regard to the Boston situation:

The [British] ministry may rely on it that Americans will never be taxed without their own consent; that the cause of Boston--the despotic measures in respect to it, I mean - now is and ever will be considered as the cause of America . . . . . and that we shall not suffer ourselves to

be sacrificed by piecemeal, though God only knows what is to become of us . . .while those from whom we have a right to seek protection are endeavoring by every piece of art and despotism to fix the shackles of slavery upon us. (Andrew M. Allison, The Real George Washington,page 106)

Soon it was clear that the Americans meant to stand up for their right.

And so it continues today - We as Americans are crying out to our political leaders that we oppose the spending of our government in Washington. As they continue to insist on shackling us, our children, our grandchildren, our great grandchildren, our great great grandchildren, etc., with their poor stewardship of our tax money. Just like his Majesty King George who would not hear the shout from the New World and its Colonists our government (of the people) are not listening to the will of the people today. Let us continue our shout (with peaceful demonstrations) as we remind our elected leaders that this is a government by the people and for the people.

"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." Thomas Jefferson

Information taken from: The American Heritage Junior Library Books

"I have not yet begun to fight!"

As the Revolutionary War progressed, the British found themselves more and more on the defensive. Those blasted Americans were not only sinking His Majesty's ships right and left, but had the audacity to attack right in the British home waters!

On April 22nd, 1778, Captain John Paul Jones boldly sailed his ship, the Ranger, right into the harbor at Whitehaven, England, and set fire to the assembled shipping. He then landed his men, seized the battlements, and spiked the guns (drove iron spikes into the holes where the fuses were placed for setting off the cannon) so they would no longer fire.Later that year, Jones went to France to bargain for a large vessel to add to the American fleet, and old Indiaman, the Duc de Duras. But what a vessel! She was about twelve years old, condemned because the rot had penetrated her planks. Jones took her over forthwith.

"We will name you the Bonhomme Richard," said Jones, in honor of his friend, Benjamin Franklin, the author of 'Poor Richard's Almanac', (Bonhomme Richard was the French translation of "Poor Richard").

The great, converted hulk put out of L'Orient on August 9th, 1779. With her went the American ships, Alliance, Pallas, Cerf, and Vengeance.

Early in the afternoon of September 23rd, off Falmborough Head on the east coast of England, Jones sighted a large fleet of British merchant ships, escorted by the Countess of Scarborough, 20-guns, and by H.M.S. Serapis, a brand new frigate of 44-guns, under Captain Richard Pearson. Jones ordered his ships to the attack. The Vengeance went after the merchant ships, one at a time. The Pallas engaged the Scarborough. While Captain Jones went straight for the Serapis, well aware that he was badly outgunned.Both ships fired a broadside. On the Bonhomme Richard, this was disastrous. Two of her old 18-pounders promptly exploded, killing the gun crews and blowing out the deck above. Now the deadly new guns of the Serapis raked the rotten hull of the American ship from stem to stern, killing entire gun crews and putting the guns out of action one by one.With his guns useless and the ship threatening to sink beneath him, the only hope Jones had was to engage in hand-to-hand battle. But his ship was clumsier than the Britisher. He had to try a trick. As the Serapis started to come about to rake the Richard with another broadside, Jones cleverly filled his sails as though to try to escape. Then he abruptly turned into the wind, luffed, and caught his opponent off guard. The two ships came together with a mighty crash, bow to stern, stern to bow.

"Heave grapnels!" shouted Jones, and within seconds the ships were firmly locked.

At the last moment, Pearson, seeing what was happening, ordered his gunners to discharge their guns, and the gun deck of the Bonhomme Richard was leterally ripped apart by the blast. Lieutenant Dale's few surviving gunners scrambled topside to fight with hand weapons. It was at this moment that one of the gunners, seeing the slaughter on deck, cried out "Quarter! Quarter!" This was the accepted cry of defeat.

"Have you struck?" shouted the British captain, hearing the cry."No!" replied John Paul Jones in words that have echoed through history, "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Now it was the skill of the American seamen aloft--fighting from the ropes and platforms in the rigging--that was to play a large part in the battle. Marines and sailors, armed with muskets and hand grenades, cleared the British from the rigging of the Serapis, and then dropped hand grenades on the enemy and picked them off with musket fire. By 9:00 P.M. the leaking, blazing Bonhomme Richard was strewn with the dead.
For a moment, it seemed that the British would rally. Jones held his ground, and the hand-to-hand fighting continued even more furiously. At 10:30 P.M., after three and a half hours of bloody battle, Captain Pearson struck his colors and the fight was over.Two factors had brought about an American victory: sheer courage and grim determination. So badly wrecked was the Bonhomme Richard that she sank, and Jones took over the Serapis as his flagship. The cost of victory had been high: about half of the crew lost their lives. But it was this action, more than any other in the Revolution, which established the American Navy as a fighting force of the very first order.

Information from: The American Heritage Junior Library Books

Another great read to go with this subject is: Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham

Surprise!

At sea, individual ships of the American navy were astonishing the oldline British officers and seamen who had thought of the colonists as ill-trained and poorly equipped. During late 1776 and early 1777, Captain Lambert Wickes was annoying the British by capturing vessels in the enemy's own waters. One of the greatest surprises of all was in store for the captain of an English ship, the Prince of Orange (who came up with that ridiculous name?). Leisurely taking breakfast on May 3rd, 1777, in his private cabin, while his ship was cruising right in the middle of the English Channel, he looked up indignantly when a stranger burst in -- an American officer.
"Sir," said the officer, one Gustavus Conynghan, "you will pardon me, but I am taking over your ship."
When the British officer stomped out on deck to reprimand his officers for permitting this intrusion, he was struck dumb with astonishment. For an American ship, the 10-gun Surprise, had lived up to her name by coming alongside in the heart of enemy waters and overpowering the British ship without firing a shot (Hurray for those crazy, sneeky Americans).

In December 1775, Captain Biddle took command of the 14-gun brig Andrew Doria and joined the fleet commanded by Esek Hopkins in the expedition against New Providence.

One of the finest American ships was the frigate Randolph, 32-guns and later commanded by the 27 year old Nicholas Biddle. On February 12th, 1778, Biddle set sail out of Charleston with four vessels of the South Carolina navy: General Moultrie, Notre Dame, Polly, and Fair American. Heading into the West Indies, Biddle encountered a formidable enemy off Barbados, the strong, 64-gun ship-of-war Yarmouth. On the afternoon of March 7th, not hesitating at being out-gunned two to one, Biddle lunged to the attack in the trim little Randolph. Almost at the start of the battle, Biddle was wounded badly. None of the other American ships had sufficiently heavy artillery to get into the battle, except for the Moultrie, which became confused and fired into the Randolph by mistake. For fifteen minutes the gallant Biddle raked the enemy back and forth, inflicting heavy damage, and suffering little hurt to his own ship. But in the moment of glory as Biddle was waiting to get on the badly battered Yarmouth's quarter, the Randolph blew up. Flaming debris from the Randolph showered down on Yarmouth preventing her from pursuing the South Carolina ships which slipped away in the darkness.
Of the valiant crew of 315 officers and men, only four survived. Commodore Biddle was one of the casualties.

"I fear nothing but what I ought to fear. I am much more afraid of doing a foolish action than of loosing my life. I aim for a character of conduct, as well as courage, and hope never to throw away a vessel and crew merely to convince the world I have courage. No one has dared to impeach it yet. If any should, I will not leave them a moment of doubt."
Nicholas Biddle to his brother, Charles, 16 June 1776

Take What You Need

Esek Hopkins may not be a hero in the full sense of the word but I like his initiative and leadership. I think you will enjoy his story as well.

Esek Hopkins was born in Rhode Island on the 26th of April, 1718. As a young man he began a career at sea, captaining merchant vessels and, during the French and Indian War, he was a successful privateer. Hopkins had sailed to nearly every quarter of the earth before the Revolutionary War.
On December 22, 1775, Esek Hopkins was appointed Commander in Chief of the first American naval fleet.

In mid-February 1776, Commodore Hopkins sailed from Philadelphia, the Chesapeake Bay, along the southern coast and off Rhode Island. Realizing that enemy strength was too great to permit execution of this ambitious task, Hopkins instead undertook what would be the Navy's first amphibious offensive. On the 3rd of March, his squadron put a landing party ashore Nassau, in the Bahamas. Marines and sailors landed in "a bold stroke, worthy of an older and better trained service," capturing munitions desperately needed in the War of Independence. The American fleet returned home with more than 85 artillery pieces and a great deal of valuable gunpowder.

On the 4th of April, 1776, while en route home, the Continental ships encountered and captured two small British warships.

John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, wrote Hopkins: "I beg leave to congratulate you on the success of your Expedition. Your account of the spirit and bravery shown by the men affords them [Congress] the greatest satisfaction . . . "

Esek Hopkins then brought his fleet into home waters and began a successful foray against enemy ships along the east coast. Later in a battle with the British Glasgow, Hopkins came under critical fire for his undertaking with the 20-gun Glasgow and her escape. Several months later was dismissed as the only man ever to hold the title "Commander in Chief of the Fleet."

Esek Hopkins retained his local popularity and served the Rhode Island legislature. He continued to serve the Rhode Island General Assembly through 1786, then retired to his farm where he died the 26th of February 1802.

I would like to see this story in the headlines today. Of course there is no need for us to go and take munitions from anyone else we make our own now -- or wait a minute! China here we come. . . . . !