Marquis de Lafayette
Marquis de Lafayette was a French officer who was assigned to serve in the army alongside George Washington. When Washington's army was ordered to delay the 8,000 Hessian troops marching to Philadelphia, Lafayette fought next to George Washington and was wounded in the leg by a gunshot.
Marquis de Lafayette spent the bitter winter with George and the other troops at Valley Forge, where the two men developed a friendship. Lafayette was always there to inform Washington of important propaganda.
After setting himself apart from the rest of Washington's troops, Lafayette decided to go back to France to seek help from Louis XVI for the revolution. Lafayette was placed under house arrest for defying the king's wishes. But because Louis XVI was pleased that Marquis was fighting against the British troops, he did not punish Lafayette for a long time. Louis XVI decided to help Lafayette. He sent 6,000 men and a French fleet to help America gain freedom.
When Lafayette returned to America, he was put in charge of the Virginia militia in order to find British General, Cornwallis. Lafayette and his troops used guerilla tactics to chase Cornwallis to Yorktown, where they could surround and outnumber him. With the help of George Washington and French General Rochambeau, Cornwallis surrendered.
Lafayette returned to France and continued to fight for his beliefs. Thomas Jefferson offered Lafayette to join the American Government several times, but each time he declined the offer. Instead he urged America to abolish slavery. Lafayette bought plantations, on his own dime, and set hundreds of slaves free himself.
On America's 50th Anniversary of Freedom, Lafayette returned to America, where he visited George Washington's grave with his son named George Washington de Lafayette.
Marquis de Lafayette spent the bitter winter with George and the other troops at Valley Forge, where the two men developed a friendship. Lafayette was always there to inform Washington of important propaganda.
After setting himself apart from the rest of Washington's troops, Lafayette decided to go back to France to seek help from Louis XVI for the revolution. Lafayette was placed under house arrest for defying the king's wishes. But because Louis XVI was pleased that Marquis was fighting against the British troops, he did not punish Lafayette for a long time. Louis XVI decided to help Lafayette. He sent 6,000 men and a French fleet to help America gain freedom.
When Lafayette returned to America, he was put in charge of the Virginia militia in order to find British General, Cornwallis. Lafayette and his troops used guerilla tactics to chase Cornwallis to Yorktown, where they could surround and outnumber him. With the help of George Washington and French General Rochambeau, Cornwallis surrendered.
Lafayette returned to France and continued to fight for his beliefs. Thomas Jefferson offered Lafayette to join the American Government several times, but each time he declined the offer. Instead he urged America to abolish slavery. Lafayette bought plantations, on his own dime, and set hundreds of slaves free himself.
On America's 50th Anniversary of Freedom, Lafayette returned to America, where he visited George Washington's grave with his son named George Washington de Lafayette.
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene was born at Forge Grist Mill in Warwick, Rhode Island. He was trained as a blacksmith, but was interested in being a general in the army. Greene trained for the military with a deserted British officer who Greene persuaded into supporting the American side.
On the evening of April 19, 1775, Greene heard about the British attack on Lexington. Without a second thought, Greene jumped on his horse and rode to East Greenwich, where he met the other militia and marched into Boston. Greene was later appointed General of the Continental Army and eventually Major General.
Greene participated in many battles during the Revolutionary War including: Harlem Heights, Trenton, Brandywine, Valley Forge, and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Following the victory against British Generals, Lincoln and Gates, Washington appointed Greene Commander of the South. Nathanael Greene is remembered as one of the most trusted generals of the Revolutionary War.
On the evening of April 19, 1775, Greene heard about the British attack on Lexington. Without a second thought, Greene jumped on his horse and rode to East Greenwich, where he met the other militia and marched into Boston. Greene was later appointed General of the Continental Army and eventually Major General.
Greene participated in many battles during the Revolutionary War including: Harlem Heights, Trenton, Brandywine, Valley Forge, and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Following the victory against British Generals, Lincoln and Gates, Washington appointed Greene Commander of the South. Nathanael Greene is remembered as one of the most trusted generals of the Revolutionary War.
Henry Knox
In the early winter months of 1775, Henry Knox offered General George Washington a compelling yet bold proposal. Washington's troops had Boston under siege, and had the advantage of higher ground. The only issue was that Washington's army was desperate for artillery. Luckily, Henry Knox had an idea as to where they could get some.
Henry Knox proposed to travel 300 miles to Fort Ticonderoga and collect the 59 guns that were captured when the British surrendered to the Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys. Although the operation was risky, George Washington granted Knox permission to carry out the plan. After all, America was in need of a win against the British.
On December 1, 1775, Knox left for Fort Ticonderoga and arrived 4 days later. Henry and his men immediately began to disassemble the weapons and transported them to George Washington by boat and ox-cart. The weather remained mild, but it was winter and things began to freeze over.
Knox and his men succeeded in transporting the artillery over water, but it was a challenge to get them over land. Knox contacted a farmer and asked for sleds that could hold about 5,400 pounds that would be pulled by oxen to the camp outside of Boston. Henry Knox received the equipment in order to carry out the operation. On December 17th, Knox wrote Washington informing him that the artillery and ammunition would be delivered to him within 16 or 17 days, without obstacles. Unfortunately, weather did not cooperate with Knox. George Washington received the guns and ammunition on March 17, 1776.
Henry Knox contributed mass amounts of artillery to General George Washington's Army and without him, they most likely would have lost the Revolutionary War due to lack of resources compared to the well armed British Military.
Henry Knox proposed to travel 300 miles to Fort Ticonderoga and collect the 59 guns that were captured when the British surrendered to the Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys. Although the operation was risky, George Washington granted Knox permission to carry out the plan. After all, America was in need of a win against the British.
On December 1, 1775, Knox left for Fort Ticonderoga and arrived 4 days later. Henry and his men immediately began to disassemble the weapons and transported them to George Washington by boat and ox-cart. The weather remained mild, but it was winter and things began to freeze over.
Knox and his men succeeded in transporting the artillery over water, but it was a challenge to get them over land. Knox contacted a farmer and asked for sleds that could hold about 5,400 pounds that would be pulled by oxen to the camp outside of Boston. Henry Knox received the equipment in order to carry out the operation. On December 17th, Knox wrote Washington informing him that the artillery and ammunition would be delivered to him within 16 or 17 days, without obstacles. Unfortunately, weather did not cooperate with Knox. George Washington received the guns and ammunition on March 17, 1776.
Henry Knox contributed mass amounts of artillery to General George Washington's Army and without him, they most likely would have lost the Revolutionary War due to lack of resources compared to the well armed British Military.
Citations:
http://chadclaeyssen.hubpages.com/hub/Forgotten-Hero-of-the-American-Revoution
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/lafayette/exhibition/english/introduction/index.html
http://www.ottnpublishing.com/forgheroesbooks2.htm
http://www.nathanaelgreenehomestead.org/nathanael.htm
http://massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=29
http://chadclaeyssen.hubpages.com/hub/Forgotten-Hero-of-the-American-Revoution
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/lafayette/exhibition/english/introduction/index.html
http://www.ottnpublishing.com/forgheroesbooks2.htm
http://www.nathanaelgreenehomestead.org/nathanael.htm
http://massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=29