Carole Hornsby Haynes – The parallels of people and events of 244 years ago are eerily familiar to those of today.  By December 1776, the once giddy prospects of American colonists winning their independence from England had grown dim.  In December 2020, the prospect of America remaining a free nation hangs in the balance.

The colonial militia had fought over the decades, including in the French and Indian War, to protect their families during crises.  So Whigs and patriots, constituting about one third of the colonial population, believed that sheer determination to protect their homes and freedom was sufficient to win a war against the professional Redcoats.

By December 1776, it was obvious that grit alone could not overcome inadequacies in training, tactics, weaponry, and equipment.  Even worse was the deficiency in leadership, both militarily and politically, of this bold new experiment in self-government. Continue reading →