A friend emailed me to whisper a big secret at Colonial Williamsburg!
The only detail she gave to me was that the kids and I must come for a unique event during the next morning’s street theater experience.
Why not?
With anticipation the kids and I drove down for the day!
Except…as we entered town one of the employees who saw us walking in to the historic area excitedly revealed the secret to us. =/
Oh, well.
COLONEL GEORGE WASHINGTON
At least the 18th century charm beguiled us in with a new site for us to enjoy as we heard the leisurely gait of horse’s hooves transporting us to 1774.
Colonel George Washington himself passed by, not on his horse, but in his riding chair, acknowledging us with a stoic nod of his head.
We couldn’t help but overhear his conversation with one of the burgesses complaining about the other colonies and Britain.
Soon the street theater experience began with the angry mob protesting the Stamp Act at the Charleton Coffeehouse.
FLASH MOB ON DUKE OF GLOUCESTER STREET
Typically, the recitation of the Declaration of Independence occurs at the Capitol, but this day it was performed in front of the Raleigh Tavern.
As the recitation closed with God bless these United States, one lone tenor voice from the direction of the King’s Arm Tavern, rose his voice to sing God Save Great Washington.
As other gents lent their voice, some ladies standing near the tavern lifted their voices to join the men.
Like waves of the ocean flowing onto the shore, came melodic voices from throughout the crowd.
With each line of God Save George Washington, came another handful of incredibly talented voices, adding to the mix of bass, tenor, alto, and soprano.
On that unique day, 400 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang on Duke of Gloucester Street…which someone captured on video.
GOD SAVE THE KING
Those who first hear the song, God Save Great Washington, recognize the tune as My Country ‘tis of Thee.
Originally written as God Save the King, debates continue in determining the composer.
The earliest date attributed to the tune is 1740, with the first known printing is in the 1744 publication of the tune book, Thesaurus Musicus.
GOD SAVE THE THIRTEEN STATES
Somewhere along the way, the lyrics changed to reflect the American Revolution:
God save the Thirteen States!
Long rule the United States!
God save our States!
Make us victorious,
Happy and glorious;
No tyrants over us;
God save our States!
To our famed Washington,
Brave Stark at Bennington,
Glory is due.
Peace to Montgomery’s shade,
Who as he fought and bled,
Drew honors round his head,
Num’rous as true.
Oft did America
Foresee with sad dismay
Her slav’ry near.
Oft did her grievance state,
But Britain, falsely great,
Urging her desp’rate fate,
Turned a deaf ear.
We’ll fear no tyrant’s nod
Nor stern oppression’s rod,
Till time’s no more.
Thus Liberty, when driv’n
From Europe’s states, is giv’n
A safe retreat and hav’n
On our free shore.
O Lord! Thy gifts in store,
We pray on Congress pour,
To guide our States.
May union bless our land,
While we, with heart and hand,
Our mutual rights defend;
God save our States!
Washington we famously know, but who are Stark and Montgomery?
PEACE TO MONTGOMERY’S SHADE
Sequentially, let’s begin with the great story about Richard Montgomery.
Peace to Montgomery’s shade,
Who as he fought and bled,
Drew honors round his head,
Num’rous as true.
The song references Richard Montgomery, who in 1775 was assigned to serve under General Schuyler in the Quebec campaign.
Control of the integral waterways of Lake Champlain, Lake George, and the Hudson River Valley was paramount, as the British sought to cut New England from the rest of the colonies.
As the British established command in Quebec, they planned their attack south.
Extending 107 miles from Quebec to Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Champlain became the focus of attention for both the British and American armies.
Thus, Schuyler planned the attack from Fort Ticonderoga, at the southernmost point of Lake Champlain in New York, while Benedict Arnold set to lead the attack from Maine.
After Montgomery wrapped up preparations from Albany (south of Fort Ticonderoga), he traveled to Fort Ticonderoga.
Montgomery’s wife joined him as far as Saratoga, where his parting words were: You shall never have cause to blush for your Montgomery.
After Schuyler left the fort to secure support from the Iroquois Confederacy, Montgomery received intelligence that the British had finally completed the building of their boats.
They were ready to cross the 106 mile distance on Lake Champlain from Quebec to Fort Ticonderoga.
Sending communications to Schuyler of the situation, Montgomery moved 1200 men north on Lake Champlain.
Returning to the fort, Schuyler resumed command, but soon fell ill, requiring Montgomery to oversee the invasion.
In August 1775, the invasion endured many twists and turns with the British army holding strong resistance.
Maintaining command, Montgomery secured a British surrender on November 2, 1775.
BRAVE STARK AT BENNINGTON GLORY IS DUE
Previously fighting at the battles of Bunker Hill, Trenton, and Princeton, John Stark heroically defeated the British at the Battle of Bennington.
Brave Stark at Bennington,
Glory is due.
After Stark proved himself as a Colonel in the New Hampshire militia at the Battle of Bunker Hill, Washington offered him a commission with the Continental Army, which Stark accepted.
After fighting at Trenton and Princeton, he saw another promoted over him, whom he considered an underling.
Miffed, he resigned his Continental Army commission.
A few months later in July 1777, the New Hampshire Militia offered him the rank of Brigadier General.
Accepting New Hampshire’s offer, he vowed to ignore the Continental Army.
Gathering nearly 1500 militia men to Manchester, Vermont, General Benjamin Lincoln requested Stark reinforce Schuyler’s army on the Hudson River in Saratoga, who was expecting British General Johnny Burgoyne.
Refusing, he determined a different strategy of chasing Burgoyne, as Stark led his men to Bennington, Vermont.
Alarmed, the British requested reinforcements, however that was denied under the presumption that the New Hampshire militia would easily be defeated.
Various accounts record that Stark announced either:
We’ll beat them before night or Molly Stark’s a widow.
OR
There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!
In short, the New Hampshire militia conquered the British on August 16, 1777, teeing up the Continental Army on the Hudson River who expected Burgoyne’s arrival any day.
BATTLE BENNINGTON TEES UP BATTLE SARATOGA
On August 19, 1777, Major General Horatio Gates replaced Major General Philip Schuyler, due to his loss at Fort Ticonderoga.
Meanwhile, the Continental Congress recognized Stark’s strategic defeat, so they promoted Stark to Brigadier General in the Continental Army on October 4, 1777.
Upon arrival of the British troops, the Battle of Saratoga over the contested waterways of New York began.
Cleverly anticipated Burgoyne’s plans on September 19, 1777, Major General Benedict Arnold placed troops in the British path at Freeman’s Farm.
Despite gaining control of the site, the British suffered significant losses.
Meanwhile hot-tempered Gates refused to mention Arnold’s contribution to the Continental Congress, since Arnold had a more favorable opinion of Schuyler than did Gates.
When Arnold protested, Gates gave Arnold’s command to General Benjamin Lincoln.
Nevertheless, when battle resumed on October 7, Arnold leaped to action, fighting in the most vigorous manner for which he was known, leading an attack on a British redoubt.
Burgoyne wrote: A more determined perseverance than they showed … is not in any officer’s experience.
With his horse shot from under him, Arnold’s leg was permanently injured by shot and then upon by fallen horse.
Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777, marking a turning point in the war.
On December 18, 1777, Congress responded, declaring the day: for solemn Thanksgiving and praise.
France took note of the strategic opportunity to overcome their ancient enemy, who most recently defeated France in the Seven Years War.
On February 6, 1778, France formally allied with the United States through two treaties.
Recognizing America’s independence and promising trade, the Franco-American Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed.
Meanwhile, military support was achieved through the signing of the 1778 Treaty of Alliance.
Almost exactly four years after the Battle of Saratoga, the British forces surrendered to the allied American and French forces on October 19, 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia, which ended the war.
Today at Saratoga Battlefield two monuments literally testify silently to a miffed hero.
One is an obelisk, each side of which has statues of the instrumental American commanders of the Battle of Saratoga: Generals Gates and Schuyler, and Colonel Daniel Morgan.
Alas, the fourth side of the obelisk will forever remain bare in memory to a man who secured victory for ultimate independence.
A clue to whose statue was destined for the bare spot of the obelisk is in the infamous boot memorial…recalling one man’s heroic valor at the cost of permanent injury to his leg.
Erected 1887 By
JOHN WATTS de PEYSTER
Brev: Maj: Gen: S.N.Y.
2nd V. Pres’t Saratoga Mon’t Ass’t’n:
In memory of
the “most brilliant soldier” of the
Continental Army
who was desperately wounded
on this spot the sally port of
BURGOYNES GREAT WESTERN REDOUBT
7th October, 1777
winning for his countrymen
the decisive battle of the
American Revolution
and for himself the rank of
Major General.
Thus, the story of one miffed hero enabled by another miffed hero, who stayed on the American side despite hurt feelings, John Stark of the Battle of Bennington.
His valor teed America up to victory.
GOD SAVE GREAT WASHINGTON
God Save the King, which became God Save the Thirteen States, later became God Save Great Washington…all to the tune that later became My Country ‘Tis of Thee.
Long esteemed, Washington was apparently acclaimed with this version to the tune of the modern My Country ’tis of Thee. (I’ve read there are several versions to these lyrics.)
God save great Washington,
His worth from ev’ry tongue,
Demands applause:
Ye tuneful pow’rs combine,
Whose heart did ne’er resign
The glorious cause.
God save great Washington,
Virginia’s war-like son,
Defend him from all the blows of Howe and all his foes
Washington save.
To earth’s remotest bound,
The sweet melodious sound
Liberty’s our own!
The earliest account I’ve read of this is in 1786, before Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention.
As Washington arrived for his first inauguration in New York City as President of the United States on April 30, 1789, this song was sung.
