"The U.S. Forest Service is firing around 3,400 hires while the National Park Service is terminating about 1,000 under Trump's push to cut federal spending.
The cuts represent 10% percent of the U.S. Forest Service workforce and 5% of Park Service employees. They are part of Elon Musk's campaign to radically cut back the U.S. bureaucracy.”
This year when parks are opened for limited hours or most programs are cut back you know why
Update: time to fight back!!
Follow up to the post in the Paoli action. Germantown is a fascinating battle Washington plan something similar to Trenton with a number if converging columns That it did not work is due to a too ambitious plan, the fig and a very spirited defense by the Light Infantry battalions and the 40th holding the Chew house. One continental love brigadier drinking too much didn’t help!!!
A fascinating action and here are some details to make it more interesting
1. Washington's Army
Regiments from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware led the attack at Germantown. Washington’s total assault force included about 8,000 Continental Army troops and 3,000 militiamen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.
2. Lieutenant Richard St. George and Corporal George Peacock
Corporal George Peacock is rescuing the wounded Richard St. George from the battlefield. For his heroic effort, St. George presented Peacock with 50 guineas (gold coins), the equivalent of three years’ pay for a corporal.
3. General Sir William Howe
This officer on horseback is believed to be General Sir William Howe. According to Martin Hunter, when General Howe saw the British light infantry retreating from Washington’s army, he exclaimed “For shame, Light Infantry! I never saw you retreat before!” Howe eventually rallied his 8,000 troops, called up reinforcements from Philadelphia, and forced the American Army to retreat.
4. Beggarstown
Northwest of Germantown is the village of Beggarstown (now the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia). Washington’s army attacked the British on Oct. 4 on the main road that connected Beggarstown and Germantown, now called Germantown Avenue.
5. African American Trumpeter
This light infantry trumpeter may be a man who ran away from slavery to follow the British Army. Many enslaved men and women saw the British Army as a path to freedom. Those who followed the army worked in various positions, including officers’ servants, laundresses, and wagon drivers (shown above to the right). A few men served as musicians, such as this trumpeter, to help the British Army communicate its orders in camp and on the battlefield.
6. British Wounded
This wagon driver of African descent is evacuating British light infantrymen to Philadelphia for medical treatment. After being rescued from the battlefield at Germantown, Richard St. George was also carted into the city. Eyewitnesses reported that it took 200 wagonloads to bring the casualties from Germantown to the makeshift hospitals in Philadelphia.
7. Cliveden
This brick building is Xavier della Gatta’s representation of Cliveden, the home of Philadelphia lawyer Benjamin Chew. In reality, Cliveden (which is now a historic site, shown in the photograph below) is made of stone and is much larger. Della Gatta’s painting shows the 40th Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Musgrave entering the mansion and preparing to defend it. The 40th Regiment defended the house from intense artillery fire and 10 infantry assaults over a span of about two hours. One observer said the “Englishmen fought like lions.”
Based on Stephen Gilbert's article:
"An analysis of the Xavier della Gatta paintings of the Battles of Paoli and Germantown 1777" part 1
https://www.academia.edu/44087628/_The_Battle_of_Paoli_Stephen_R_Gilbert_An_Analysis_of_the_Xavier_della_Gatta_Paintings_of_the_Battles_of_Paoli_and_Germantown_1777_Part_I_Military_Collector_and_Historian_vol_XLVI_no_3_Fall_1994_98_108
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Guess this is a milestone for the humble blog. Over 500,000 visits to the blog. Who would have guessed? Thank you all very much for the support over the years. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you all very much!
"On the night of Sept. 20-21, 1777, a column of British soldiers launched a surprise attack on Continental Army troops encamped in a field near modern-day Malvern, Pennsylvania. In the ensuing struggle, known as the Battle of Paoli, British light infantrymen and light dragoons inflicted heavy casualties on Pennsylvania Brigadier General Anthony Wayne's fleeing troops. British Army light infantry Lieutenant Richard St. George Mansergh St. George, an Irish artist and veteran of the battle, commissioned this painting by Italian artist Xavier della Gatta in 1782 to remember the violence and trauma he experienced at Paoli.". Museum of the American Revolution
1. British Light Dragoons
These four British soldiers on horseback are members of the 16th Light Dragoons. They used their long steel sabers to devastating effect at Paoli. The dragoon on the right is raising his saber to cut down a Pennsylvania soldier.
2. Lieutenant Martin Hunter
Martin Hunter, St. George’s friend, is wrapping his wounded hand with a bandage. In his memoir, Hunter recalled the close combat at Paoli: “I received a shot in my right hand soon after we entered the camp. I saw the fellow present at me, and was running up to him when he fired. He was immediately put to death.”
3. Ferguson’s Riflemen
Wearing green coats and carrying their breechloading rifles with 25-inch long bayonets, a group of Captain Patrick Ferguson’s riflemen helped to lead the attack at Paoli.
4. Captain William Wolfe
Captain William Wolfe, the Irish commander of the 40th Regiment’s light company, died leading his troops at Paoli. He was remembered as “a most brave and attentive officer.”
5. Pennsylvania Troops
Brigadier General Anthony Wayne’s troops scrambled to defend their camp at Paoli. The Pennsylvanians fired their muskets, which made it easier for the British to find and attack them in the dark. Wayne withdrew his troops in a fighting retreat to save them from total defeat. The Battle of Paoli became known as the “Paoli Massacre” or “Wayne’s Affair.”
6. Brush Huts
Instead of tents, Wayne’s troops constructed brush huts, also called “wigwams” or “booths,“ in their camp along a woodline (which still exists today, right). These huts provided some protection from the wind and rain. Both Washington’s and Howe’s armies built temporary brush hut camps during the Philadelphia Campaign when baggage wagons carrying tents were not close by.
7. Artist’s Signature
Italian artist Xavier della Gatta signed and dated his painting in the bottom right corner: “Xav d Gatta 1782.” Richard St. George traveled to Italy after his wartime service and provided Xavier della Gatta with the eyewitness testimony needed to create this painting. Della Gatta also painted the Battle of Germantown.
All information based on Stephen Gilbert's article:
"An analysis of the Xavier della Gotta paintings of the Battles of Paoli and Germantown 1777 " part 2
https://www.academia.edu/43998778/_The_Battle_of_Germantown_Stephen_R_Gilbert_An_Analysis_of_the_Xavier_della_Gatta_Paintings_of_the_Battles_of_Paoli_and_Germantown_1777_Part_II_
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| George dealing with the reservation line. |
Saddle up the horses and pack the buggy we are going to Historicon again!
My friend George spent the time and energy staying on the phone and dealing with reservations. He was successful in booking us a room for 16 through the 19 July. Last year we arrived late on Thursday and missed a bunch of stuff. So this year we added the extra day and will arrive Wednesday.
I know its early but who else is going? I am thinking I might put on a game this year if I can get organized.