StanleyWheeler

 The Howe brothers, Admiral Richard and General William, raised Britain's prospects in the Revolutionary War following the defeat at Lexington and Concord and the disastrous victory at Bunker Hill with a series of victories in 1776. The brothers, known for their reckless courage, were supportive of one another and worked in cooperation to launch amphibious attacks on the revolutionaries. Their oldest brother George had been killed in action at Ticonderoga during the French and Indian War (I've mentioned in one of my posts about that war). The Howe brothers not only held military commands, they had been appointed as peace commissioners.  The approach of the British Armada and army to Staten Island in June 1776 was described as London afloat. It was the largest invasion fleet to sail east across the Atlantic. The combined numbers exceeded the total population of Philadelphia, the largest city in the colonies, and the 32,000 troops seriously outnumbered George Washington's arm...

 Fun Fact: Frederick Lord North was 38 when he became prime minister in 1770. Corpulent with large features and a bulbous head, he was famous for his wit, literary anecdotes, and historical references. Prior to becoming PM, he had supported the policies that led to the revolution in America. Although he took a more conciliatory policy when he took office, his policies regarding the East India Company tea precipitated the rebellion.  The East India Tea Act of 1773 was designed to make tea cheaper in America and increase revenues from the tea tax, thus upholding the right of Parliament to tax America. It seemed like a win-win. While England viewed the right to tax as fundamental to parliamentary supremacy, the Americans regarded any direct tax as a tool for tyranny. The Americans responded by dumping the East India tea into Boston Harbor. North escalated the tension by imposing the Coercive acts, intending to make an example of Massachusetts; instead, it made North despised in t...

  First, I've got a flash fiction contest going for my newsletter subscribers. Go get signed up . Here are the contest terms:   Flash Fiction Contest: Submit a story of 500 words or less. The story must include a pool table OR a piece of farm machinery. Submit your story in the body of your email, or you may attach it as a .docx or pdf. The winner will be awarded his/her choice of one of my autographed paperbacks (delivery in continental U.S. only). I retain no rights to any stories presented. If the winner and runner(s) up consent, I'll post their stories on my webpage. Fair warning: Don't exceed a PG-13 rating. Let's make March 20 the deadline to submit your story. You can subscribe to the newsletter now, and submit your story with your reply to the March 1 newsletter. Fun Fact: Let's take a break from the French and Indian War to take a peek at the Revolutionary War. In July 1776, the British sent a huge fleet and more than 34,000 troops to New York. In Au...