StanleyWheeler

 

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 August, the redcoats, led by General Howe, outmaneuvered the Americans to drive Washington's army on Long Island back to the East River. Washington was trapped. It seemed inevitable that the largest contingent of the army was doomed to be crushed and captured between the forces of General Howe on land and his brother Admiral "Black" Dick Howe on the water; the revolution would be throttled on the banks of the East River.

Fortunately, the hammer hesitated, and the anvil couldn't get into position. General Howe elected not to press the assault against Washington's defenses, fearing a repetition of the horrendous British casualties at Bunker Hill. Admiral Howe was stopped from sailing up the East River by a lack of favorable wind. 

Washington saw his opportunity for salvation and called for the 14th Regiment, the Marblehead men, under Colonel John Glover. These were men who knew how to could handle boats. The swaggering Glover, who wore pistols and a broadsword in his belt, called for all the craft that could be found, and sent a false message, to throw off British intelligence, that the boats were to bring reinforcements down from New Jersey.

Under cover of rain and darkness, the boats gathered, and Washington's men began slipping away from Long Island across the river. Unfortunately, dawn was approaching, and many of the weakened rear guard would be left vulnerable when the British discovered the escape still in progress. 

When the sun rose, it was as Washington had feared. The rear guard was trapped. However, before the British discovered the paltry force, a heavy fog arose to obscure the true circumstances from the enemy's eyes, and the evacuation continued behind the providential veil.  The fog lifted and the redcoats advanced to test the defenses only to find the American breastworks deserted as elements of the massive British fleet sailed up the river too late too block the path to refuge.

These events form a substantial part of Crisis in Fire and Snow, Book 6 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. Of course, the battle goes somewhat differently in the book, and the evacuation requires aid from Alex and Lucette's special abilities.