Posted on 06/08/2006 10:46:48 AM PDT by Pharmboy
Monica?
George Washington, anyone?
As I remember a book I once read on Robert Rogers said that Col Rogers was still owed a considerable sum of money by the British government. He was chronically broke, so he tried to simultaneously get the money he was owed by the British and offer his services to Washington. Also it was not a particularly well kept secret, so he ended up spoiling his relations with both sides. He also wanted assurances that land the Brits had promised him but never actually gave him title to would be honored by the new US govt. Eventually time ran out, the US govt lost patience with him and he was left basically holding a meager British offer. His Rev War exploits for the British were mostly forgettable.
If it happens, I hope the purchase is not the Kelo v. New London fashion.
Does anybody recall such a book?
If I remember right Alan Eckert's "That Dark and Bloody River" has a scene something like that. It follows the story of the Ohio River Valley settlers.
Unlike Washington, Rogers returned to England between the wars. Moreover, Washington had a financial stake in American Independence while Rogers was fairly destitute.
I'll check it out. Thanks for the tip.
Eckert was a fascinating read. In fact, Eckert's history didn't say so, but it occurred to me in the middle of reading it that Finmore Cooper in "The Last of the Mohicans" was writing some "reasonable" historical fiction in terms of Cooper's framework for his story.
Eckert would take documents and reports of the era and place them in chronological order so that a story unfolded. The incident you mention sounds like the torture/death of Col. Crawford who was captured after a terrible battlefield miscalculation against the Shawnees.
Daniel Boone (Morgan's cousin) was also there, as was Hugh Mercer ( all the Mercer Counties are named after him) who died a hero's death at The Battle of Princeton.
reamarkable how well these tactics hold up in modern warfare.
I was particularly struck by the technique recommended for retreat in No. 9. It is remarkably like the technique used by our special ops people to 'peel back' using fire-suppressive cover while making use of terrain.
Am I supposed to care? 250 years. Give it to some archeologist and let him go over it for the next twenty years.
Thank you for the interesting article. (was on vacation and now catching up on FR)
You are most welcome, but the greater credit goes to SunkenCiv and blam who email the link to me--independently. They found it...
...as my teenagers used to say..."whatEVer."
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