American History
Sybil Luddington Patriotic Rider
During the American Revolution Colonel Henry Ludington commanded the Dutchess County militia. On April 26,1777 he received a message. The British were advancing up the Hudson River and were attacking Danbury CT. Colonel Ludington immediately needed to alert his militiamen. Could he go? Would Torries (Loyalists) notice him riding and interfere? Was it best for…
Read MoreJOHN JACOB “RIFLE JACK” PETERSON
John Jacob “Rifle Jack” Peterson was a Revolutionary war era patriot of African and Kitchewan descent whose quick thinking helped repel British forces in Croton, New York. His actions threw Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans into disarray and led to the capture of Major Andre. In September 1780, Peterson and a fellow private class soldier named Moses…
Read MoreOur First Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton
Image of Alexander Hamilton Courtesy of www.biographyicon.org Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers, is regarded as the architect of American capitalism. Born in the Caribbean around 1755, he was orphaned while still young and worked as a clerk as a young man. His writing talent caught the attention of local patrons who sent him…
Read MoreBenjamin Franklin: A Renaissance Man
Benjamin Franklin was what many might consider to be a renaissance man. Among his many inventions were the lightning rod, bifocals, odometer, the glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. But he also invented swim fins and proved with his kite experiment that lightning is electricity. Franklin did not secure patents for any of his inventions…
Read MoreWashington Crossing the Delaware
On Christmas Eve 224 years ago General George Washington crossed the Delaware River and attacked the Hessian mercenaries garrisoned in Trenton, New Jersey. The Hessian’s stopped in Trenton after forcing the American Patriots out of New Jersey into Pennsylvania. The Hessian’s now had a river between opposing armies, and intelligence reports that the Americans were…
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