1776 and the Winchester area
From the last week of August to the last week of December 1776, George Washington and his Continental Army were in one long retreat from one defeat to the next, from losing the Battle of Brooklyn on Long Island to retreating to Fort Washington and losing that to retreating from Kipps Bay and losing that, to retreating from White Plains NY north of the Bronx and losing that to retreating all the way across New Jersey being chased by Howe's army.
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One long treat for almost 4 months being chased.
This long retreat and loss after loss all started when the British left Boston only to invade NYC.
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And losing a top general -- Charles Lee.
The British thought that a major coup. But the loss of Charles Lee actually got the Continental Congress to rely more on Washington and to trust him even more.
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And what connections to the Winchester area do any of these men have?
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Lt Andreas Wiederholdt was a Hessian captured on the raid on Trent, crossing the Delaware. He was held as prisoner at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. He drew the first earliest map of Winchester other than the plat designs submitted by James Wood and Lord Fairfax. He was allowed to walk the streets of Winchester. There was little fear of him escaping. To the East, north and south were American rebels who would have caught him. To the west was a Halloween of Indians.
Read of Hessian Lt Andreas Wiederholdt and Adam Stephen:
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Adam Stephen almost blew the whole crossing the Delaware operation by signaling the army's presence to the Hessians in Trenton. Luckily his patrol was one of many harassing the Hessians whose leadership would not suspect a much larger army than these little bee stings. Stephen has a place in Martinsburg, a town he created, designed and named after he was court martialed out of the army, naming the town after a passive loyalist in the heart of this war of independence.
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Both Charles Lee and Horatio Gates have a home near Martinsburg.
And Charles Lee? He's captured in his pajamas by the hated Benestre Tarleton. If he had listened to Washington's pleas to join his army, Charles Lee would not have been caught. He was also a turncoat furnishing advice to the British while in captivity. This was lucky in a way for Washington. This incident made Continental Congress trust George Washington more. They stopped trusting Charles Lee's criticism. Charles Lee had been considered the better General at the time by both Continental Congress and by the British. Charles Lee had a lot of experiene. He fought with Lord Loudoun in Portugal as part of the Seven Years War in 1762.
And Horatio Gates was there in NYC and at Trenton. He brought shame upon himself by leaving his fellow soldiers alone on a horse to escape British capture and pursuit.
Read about Horatio Gates at his home near Martinsburg entertaining Adam Stephen and one other discussing a long ago battle they shared with George Washington: Braddock's Defeat. Of the 4 Rev War generals, Washington, Gates, Stephen and Lee -- the last 3 were all drummed out of the army in disgrace.
Compiled by Jim Moyer 10/11/2024, updated 10/13/2024
Sources
1776 by David McCullough [HOLT MCDOUGAL, 2006] (Paperback) [Paperback] Paperback by David McCullough (Author)
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