Edward Telfair Chapter SAR, Savannah, GA

04/04/2026

03/27/2026

S9E16 Podcast: The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return

As part of GHS’s ongoing commemoration of the US250, Stan’s guest this week on Off the Deaton Path is author and historian Ryan L. Cole, discussing his new book, The Last Adieu: Lafayette’s Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic (Harper Horizon, 2025). The Marquis de Lafayette arrived in America in 1777 to fight in Washington’s army, becoming a major general at age 19. In 1824, the “Hero of Two Worlds” returned on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the American Revolution, one of the last living links to that momentous event. Lafayette traveled more than 6,000 miles across all 24 states, reminding Americans of their Revolutionary heritage just in time for the country’s Golden Jubilee.

Listen at https://www.deatonpath.georgiahistory.com/s9e16-podcast-the-last-adieu-lafayettes-triumphant-return/

03/19/2026

Congress passed tariffs to pay off war debts, with a 25 year sunset on March 18th, 1783. Getting control of the debts was critical to getting established as a nation.

The committee consisting of Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham, Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [James] Madison, Mr. [Thomas] Fitzsimmons and Mr. [John] Rutledge, "appointed to consider the means of restoring and supporting public credit, and of obtaining from the states substantial funds for funding the whole debt of the United States," having brought in a report; and the same being under consideration,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states, as indispensably necessary to the restoration of public credit, and to the punctual and honorable discharge of the public debts, to invest in the United States in Congress assembled, a power to levy for the use of the United States, the following duties upon goods imported into the said states from any foreign port, island or plantation.

[Rates given]

Upon all other goods except arms, ammunition and cloathing or other articles imported for the United States, a duty of five per cent. ad valorem, provided that there be allowed a bounty of 1/8th of a dollar for every quintal of dried fish exported out of these United States and a like sum for every barrel of pickled fish, beef or pork to be paid or allowed to the exporters thereof at the port from which they shall be exported.

Provided that none of the said duties shall be applied to any other purpose than the discharge of the interest or principal of the debts which shall have been contracted on the faith of the United States, for supporting the present war, agreeably to the resolution of the 16th day of December last, nor be continued for a longer term than twenty-five years; and provided that the colletors of the said duties, shall be appointed by the States within which their offices are to be exercised, but when so appointed, shall be amenable to and removable by the United States in Congress assembled, alone; and in case any State shall not make each appointment within one month after notice given for that purpose, the appointment may then be made by the United States in Congress assembled.

That it be further recommended to the several states, to establish for a term limited to twenty-five years, and to appropriate to the discharge of the interest and principal of the debts, which shall have been contracted on the faith of the United States, for supporting the present war, substantial and effectual revenues of such nature as they may judge most convenient for supplying their respective proportions of one million five hundred thousand dollars annually which proportion shall be fixed and equalized from time to time, according to the rule which is or may be prescribed by the Articles of Confederation; and in case the revenues established by any State, shall at any time yield a sum exceeding its actual proportion, the excess shall be refunded to it; and in case the revenues of any State shall be found to be deficient, the immediate deficiency shall be made up by such State with as little delay as possible, and a future deficiency guarded against, by an enlargement of the revenues established; provided that until the rule of the Confederation can be carried into practice, the proportions of the said 1,500,000 of dollars shall be as follows, viz.

• New Hampshire ... 52, 708
• Massachusetts ... 224, 427
• Rhode Island ... 32, 318
• Connecticut ... 132, 091
• New York ... 128, 243
• New Jersey ... 83, 358
• Pennsylvania ... 205, 189
• Delaware ... 22, 443
• Maryland ... 141, 517
• Virginia ... 256, 487
• North Carolina ... 109, 006
• South Carolina ... 96, 183
• Georgia ... 16, 030

The said revenues to be collected by persons appointed as aforesaid, but to be carried to the separate credit of the states within which they shall be collected:

That an annual account of the proceeds and application of the aforementioned revenues shall be made out and transmitted to the several states, distinguishing the proceeds of each of the specified articles and the amount of the whole revenue received from each State, together with the allowances made to the several officers employed in the collection of the said revenues.

Journals of the Continental Congress --TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 1783

Image: Exterior view of Independence Hall, c. 1770s, National Archives and Records Administration.

© 2020-2026 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding

03/19/2026

During the War of 1812, the focal point of the Battle of Lundy’s Lane became the British artillery battery in the center of the line and a general melee ensued as one side and then the other sought to gain control of the battery. General Eleazar Ripley, who now assumed command of American forces due to wounds suffered by Generals Jacob Brown and Winfield Scott, ordered Colonel James Miller of the 21st regiment, all Massachusetts men, to capture the guns. Miller's reply was simple, “I will try, Sir,” and that humble phrase and the story behind it was taught to American school boys for the next five decades as an example of modest courage. Miller led his men in the darkness to within a few yards the British battery before firing their muskets and taking the battery with a bayonet charge. Find out what happened during the Battle of Lundy’s Lane in this week’s article. Visit https://americanacorner.com/blog/lundys-lane.

Image of James Miller courtesy of Wikimedia.

03/17/2026

On the 14th of March, 1776, John Adams would write in his diary, “This Resolution and Order was indeed assuming the Powers of Government in a manner as offensive, as the Measures We proposed could have been,” in discussing the motions of the day in the Continental Congress. Although Adams would not oppose it. The Resolution was calling for the colonies to take control of their governments and their citizens, disarm those opposed, and raise a Continental Army.
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Thursday March 14, 1776. The State of the Country so obviously called for independent Governments, and a total Extinction of the Royal Authority, and We were so earnestly urging this measure from day to day, and the Opposition to it was growing so unpopular, that a kind of Evasion was contrived in the following Resolution, which I considered as an important Step, and therefore would not oppose it, though I urged with several others, that We ought to make the Resolution more general, and Advize the People to assume all the Powers of Government. The Proposition that passed was

Resolved That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions and Committees or Councils of Safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all Persons to be disarmed, within their respective Colonies, who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and shall refuse to associate to defend by Arms these united Colonies, against the hostile Attempts of the British Fleets and Armies, and to apply the Arms taken from such Persons in each respective Colony, in the first place, to the Arming the continental Troops raised in said Colony, in the next, to the arming such Troops as are raised by the Colony for its own defence, and the Residue to be applied to the arming the Associators; that the Arms when taken be appraised by indifferent Persons, and such as are applied to the Arming the Continental Troops, be paid for by the Congress and the Residue by the respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety.

Ordered that a Copy of the foregoing resolution be transmitted by the Delegates of each Colony, to their respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils or Committees of Safety.

This Resolution and Order was indeed assuming the Powers of Government in a manner as offensive, as the Measures We proposed could have been: But it left all the Powers of Government in the hands of Assemblies, Conventions and Committees, which composed a Scaene of much Confusion and Injustice the Continuance of which was much dreaded by me, as tending to injure the Morals of the People and destroy their habits of order, and Attachment to regular Government. However I could do nothing but represent and remonstrate: The Vote as yet was against me.

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/01-03-02-0016-0075

Image: John Adams, by Mather Brown, 1785.

© 2020-2026 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding

03/16/2026

03/14/2026

As the British were readying to leave Boston, General Washington laid down the law for his soldiers, in a part of the March 13, 1776 General Orders.

General Orders
Head Quarters, Cambridge, March 13th 1776

…. As the Ministerial Troops in Boston, both from information and appearance, are preparing to evacuate that town: The General expressly orders, that neither Officer, or Soldier, presume to go into Boston, without leave from the General in Chief at Cambridge, or the commanding General at Roxbury; as the enemy with a malicious assiduity, have spread the infection of the smallpox through all parts of the town, nothing but the utmost caution on our part, can prevent that fatal disease from spreading thro’ the army, and country, to the infinite detriment of both—His Excellency expressly commands every Officer, to pay the exactist obedience to this order.

If upon the retreat of the enemy any person whatsoever, is detected in pillaging, he may be assured the severest punishment will be his lot—The unhappy Inhabitants of that distress’d town, have already suffer’d too heavily from the Iron hand of Oppression! their Countrymen surely will not be base enough to add to their misfortunes….

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0336

Image: George Washington, Patriae Pater, by Rembrandt Peale, c. 1827. National Portrait Gallery.

© 2020-2026 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding

03/14/2026

Tom Hand, creator and publisher of Americana Corner, discusses what happened during the War of 1812 when the Americans went on the offensive, and why it still matters today.

03/12/2026

03/08/2026

An event 250 years in the making. The U.S. Postal Service will release commemorative stamps honoring 25 individuals whose actions helped shape the outcome of the American Revolution.

03/07/2026

So where would you be? A patriot or a Loyalist. It was a great divide on this continent, as we were not yet a country. My ancestors, too, were divided. The question, and the causes have continued to divide the nation as the country would be in another civil war, brother against brother, nearly a hundred years later.

By a passage from the London papers it appears that the mildness of the Massachusetts government, and the generosity of the Whigs to the Tories, is attributed altogether to timidity, and an apprehension that the cause of the Americans is gone. "It is now very common," says the passage referred to, "to see the friends of government walking arm in arm in the streets of Boston, unnoticed; and they hold meetings and visit one another, which they have not done since General Gage's army came among them. In short, it is said they are very much disheartened." It seems, then, that the Tories are allowed more liberty under the present government than they were in Gage's time, which is undoubtedly true; but then all is owing to fear. It is in this manner our enemies construe all we say and do. The humanity with which we have treated those who have fallen into our hands by the fortunes of war, is ascribed to the same principle of fear, and has been returned by the most barbarous treatment of the subjects and friends of the United States, who have fallen into their hands—even the sailors on voyages of mere trade. They have been murdered in a systematical way, by crowding them together in cells and dungeons, and gradually starving them. This is not high painting; it is literally true.

But we may venture to say, it is not the interest of our enemies to treat us in this manner. If gratitude will not, prudence ought to teach them better. Did the impartial world know all the circumstances, and the unexampled provocations we have met with, they would admire us as much for our moderation and mildness, as for our bravery and love of liberty.

Freeman's Journal, March 4, 1777.

Diary of the American Revolution. From newspapers ... v.1. Frank Moore, 1860.
Image: Not all was as rosy as described in the paper, or at least not a year earlier. Print shows a cartouche on a map with Loyalist attempting to replace a banner displaying a pine tree and topped with a liberty cap signifying America with a banner bearing the British lion; the patriot raises a knife to defend the American banner. On the left, a Native watches in horror this struggle for ownership of the land. le Chr. de Beaurain, geógraphe de sa majeste ... Gravé P. Croisey.... Paris, 1776.

© 2020-2026 Clifford Olsen/250Years America’s Founding