In 1780 Hurricanes hit the Caribbean with such ferocity that after the season, not a single building was left on Barbados and up to 27,000 people died. The British Royal Navy also lost 24 warships.
On November 13, 1775, Continental Army Brigadier General Richard Montgomery takes Montreal, Canada, without opposition.
Montgomery’s victory owed its success in part to Ethan Allen’s disorganized defeat at the hand of British General and Canadian Royal Governor Guy Carleton at Montreal on September 24, 1775. Allen’s misguided and undermanned attack on Montreal led to his capture by the British and imprisonment in Pendennis Castle in Cornwall, England.
Although a failure in the short term, Allen’s attack had long-term benefits for the Patriots. Carleton had focused his attention on suppressing Allen’s attack, while refusing reinforcements to Fort St. Jean, to which Montgomery’s expedition laid siege from August 21 to November 3, 1775. Fort St. Jean’s commander, Major Charles Preston, surrendered on November 3, fearful of the hardship the town’s civilians would face during a winter under siege. With the final fortification between Montgomery and Montreal in Patriot hands and Carleton’s defenses depleted by the conflict with Allen, Montgomery’s forces entered Montreal with ease on November 13.
November 12, 1775, General Washington issued an order forbidding the enlistment of Black men, along with vagabonds and old men, into the Continental Army. However, this ban was short-lived, as Washington reversed the policy within a few months due to manpower shortages and the British actively recruiting enslaved people by offering them freedom. By January 1776, he allowed free Black men who had already served to reenlist, and the restrictions were further lifted over time, eventually allowing all free men to enlist regardless of race.
NWTA’s own Walter Hast was an extra on this show, Best Medicine! You’ll never know where reenacting might take you!
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TRY REENACTING!
Do you want to fire a musket, help crew a cannon, or just enjoy an evening around the fire?
Our Units are excited to host folks who want to try out the hobby.
They will supply the necessary gear and clothing for you (and your family) to join us for a weekend reenacting the American Revolution!
What are you in for? Read our “What Re-enacting with the NWTA Looks Like.”