DOC God Bless Chesty: A first person account of the making of a Marine in the year 1969 by G W Andrews in History

Description

*Includes pictures *Includes correspondence between the spy ring and explains the results of their activities *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents After the siege of Boston forced the British to evacuate that city in March 1776; Continental Army commander George Washington suspected that the British would move by sea to New York City; the next logical target in an attempt to end a colonial insurrection. He thus rushed his army south to defend the city. Washington guessed correctly; but it would be to no avail. Unlike Boston; New York City's terrain featured few defensible positions. The city lacked a high point from which to launch a siege; as the peninsula of Boston was fortunate to have. Moreover; Washington wasn't sure defending the city was necessary; hoping that an expedition launched toward Quebec like the one Benedict Arnold had led in late 1775 would keep the British away from New York anyway. However; Congress thought otherwise; and demanded that Washington defend New York. Washington thus did what he was told; and it nearly resulted in the army’s demise. In the summer of 1776; the British conducted the largest amphibious expedition in North America’s history at the time; landing over 20;000 troops on Long Island. British General William Howe; who had led the British at Bunker Hill and would later become commander in chief of the armies in North America; easily captured Staten Island; which Washington was incapable of defending without a proper navy. Washington’s army attempted to fight; but Washington was badly outmaneuvered; and his army was nearly cut off from escape. The withdrawal across New York City was enormously disorderly; with many of Washington's troops so scared that they deserted. Others were sick as a result of the dysentery and smallpox plaguing the Continental Army in New York. In what was arguably the worst defeat of the Revolution; Washington was ashamed; and he also felt betrayed; by both his troops and Congress. However; unbeknownst to nearly everyone; Washington had some men remain active in New York City: the now famous Culper Ring; one of the Revolution’s first major intelligence efforts. The ring consisted mostly of a group of civilians in and around New York City who spied on the British forces and Loyalist Americans and reported what they saw and overheard ultimately to Washington; who took a personal; hands-on approach to their management. After modern histories brought their story more fully to light; these spies have since become the subject (with the historical facts somewhat altered) of a recent hit television show; Turn: Washington’s Spies. Without question; the relatively little-known clandestine actions of these patriotic men and women contributed to the eventual victory of the long struggle for American independence; and several good books cover part or all of the history of the Culper Ring. However; the main sources consist of the correspondence; much of which has somehow survived; between the members of the ring and their military handlers. Like other spy tales; theirs is a story of courage fraught with constant suspense at being found out and facing a caught spy’s usual fate of imprisonment and execution. Indeed; around the time the ring was being organized; America’s most famous spy; Nathan Hale; had been caught with maps of British positions on Long Island in his possession and had been summarily hanged. The Culper Ring: The History and Legacy of the Revolutionary War’s Most Famous Spy Ring profiles the members of the ring and their activities. Along with pictures of important people; places; and events; you will learn about the Culper Ring like never before; in no time at all.