Anecdote
THE BERSERKER ON STAMFORD BRIDGE
Today is the 7th anniversary of this website. I wanted to commemorate that with a favorite story of mine. Viking berserkers would open battles by launching themselves against the enemy with no Read more
Anecdote
THOMAS SUMTER
Thomas Sumter was born on August 14, 1734 in Virginia. His father had been an indentured servant. Thomas got little formal education. He joined the militia and participated in Braddock’s defeat in the Battle of the Wilderness. After this, he Read more
Anecdote
HAYM SALOMON & ROBERT MORRIS
Haym Salomon was born on April 7, 1740. He was a Polish Jew who immigrated to New York City in 1775. He became a financial broker to merchants who were involved in trade. He immediately joined colonists who opposed British Read more
Anecdote
Casimir Pulaski and Tadeusz Kościuszko
Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor Pulaski (on the right below) was born to a noble family in Warsaw on March 6, 1745. He loved the military so he became a cavalryman when he grew up. He fought the Russians, but Read more
Anecdote
SALEM POOR and PETER SALEM
Salem Poor purchased his freedom in 1769 at age 22. It cost him 27 pounds (equivalent to $5,800 today) which was an average yearly wage for a working man. In May, 1775, he enlisted in the militia. He was Read more
Anecdote
BARON DE KALB
Johan von Robais was born in what is today Germany on June 19, 1721. At age 16, he went to France to become a mercenary. He was a born leader and rose to colonel by age 26. However, his Read more
Anecdote
JEREMIAH O’BRIEN
Jeremiah was the son of Irish Catholic immigrants who settled in Maine. His father owned two sawmills in the town of Macchias. He was 21 at the time of Lexington and Concord. A few weeks after, two British Read more
Anecdote
ABRAHAM WHIPPLE
Whipple went to sea young and became a merchant ship captain at a young age. Whipple was a privateer in the French and Indian War. In six months, he captured 23 French merchant ships. On June 9, 1772, he Read more
Anecdote
JAMES ARMSTEAD LAFAYETTE
James was born on a Virginia plantation which made him the slave of John Armstead, later Col. John Armstead of the Continental Army. He was inherited by his master’s son William in 1779. William allowed him to enlist in the Read more
Anecdote
John Paulding
Three colonial militiamen changed history. David Williams (25 years old), Isaac Van Wert (20), and their leader John Paulding (22). They were on duty near the Hudson River in New York looking for cattle rustlers. Nothing was happening so Read more