250 and Counting

Category: US Congress

  • The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge–February 27, 1776

    Cover art for February 27, 1775: Historical marker located near the restored bridge. Image via revolutionarywar.us

    As Revolutionary battles go, the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge was relatively minor. It didn’t last very long, there weren’t a ton of losses on either side (though definitely more on the Loyalist side), and it led to the capture of hundreds of Loyalists.

    However, it changed the way the British viewed the Carolinas through the rest of the war. Overall, the perception was that the Carolinas were poor, and weak, and a stronghold of Loyalist sympathizers. And this was an easy assumption to make, especially when you think back to the Siege of Ninety-Six and the way that finally ended. British confidence was pretty high at that point, especially given the fact that it ended pretty much in a draw.

    But the lasting effect of The Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge was more in the way it affected recruitment of Loyalist troops, in that the numbers plummeted. And, only about two months later, North Carolina delegates were among the first to vote for Independence.

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

    To read about the battle in greater detail, check out this website, which is also the source of today’s cover art.

  • August 18, 1775: James Elliot

    Cover art for August 18, 1775: Grave marker for James Elliot and his wife Lucy. via Find-A-Grave.com

    James Elliot was born in 1839 (like the stone says over there), in Massachusetts. Later on he became a legislator for the state of Vermont, which was neither a state nor even a colony when he was born; it was still disputed territory between New York and New Hampshire.

    Although Elliot was too young to participate in the American Revolution, his political fortunes waxed and waned…but mostly waxed.

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

  • February 13, 1775

    Cover art for February 13, 1775: historical marker outside the Phipps Street Burying Ground in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

    Here’s a peek behind the curtain: Mike and Claude do their own research for the individual shows, though Mike did the initial setups for the dates. So he’s the one who figured out what happened when, and then they each do the deeper research for the episodes they record.

    So Mike probably had no idea that there was a familial connection to this episode for Claude. For what it’s worth, neither did Claude, until he started looking into the story of Nathaniel Gorham. So if Mike had been recording this episode, it’s likely that he wouldn’t have had anything to say about it other than “Oh, fun coincidence.”

    We’re only sad that we couldn’t find a portrait of Nathaniel; we have no idea whether there’s a family resemblance.

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

  • 250 and Counting: January 22, 1775

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

    Cover art for January 22, 1775: The tombstone of Abraham Henry Schenck

    It’s Cake and Candles today for Abraham Henry Schenck, State Assemblyman and then Congressman from New York State.

    But despite being from New York, and being a member of Congress, during his tenure as State Assemblyman he had something going on back at home. It wasn’t common in New York, but it wasn’t unheard of—nor was it illegal until several years later.

  • 250 and Counting: January 12, 1775

    Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

    Cover art for January 12, 1775: the gravestone of Joseph Gist

    Joseph Gist wasn’t an especially distinguished person, but you don’t have to be distinguised to get noticed on 250 and Counting.

    Gist was born in Union County, SC and while he moved to Charleston in his teen and college years, he moved to Pinckneyville to practice law. Pinckneyville was part of the Ninety-Six District, which we discussed in yesterday’s episode.

    Although the district court at Pinckneyville was abolished not long after he settled there, it was still a fabulous place to practice law, and he was in enough demand that he’d be pursued for representation by both parties in many suits. Later on he was elected to Congress and served in the House for six years, leaving of his own accord.