Patriots of the Past

It’s December 4, 1779. I’m in the living room with Betsy Martin, sitting in front of a warm fireplace. Her brother, Joseph, is fighting in the Continental Army. JG: “Betsy, …

It’s August 23, 1779. I’m in New York in a British prison camp with Elizabeth Lewis. Her husband, Francis, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. JG: “Mrs. Lewis, …

It’s May 13, 1779. I’m in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with the governor of Spanish Louisiana, Bernardo de Galvez, JG: “Governor de Galvez, why are you helping the cause for American …

It’s December 18, 1778. I’m in front of the beautifully decorated chapel at Yale University with its president Ezra Stiles. JG: “President Stiles, what is the mood on campus this …

It’s November 1, 1777. I’m in a British prison camp with Elizabeth Jackson, the mother of future President Andrew Jackson. JG: “Mrs. Jackson, aren’t you afraid you’ll catch prison fever …

It’s October 21, 1777. I’m with the Surgeon General of the Continental Army, Dr. Benjamin Rush. He’s calling for the resignation of General Washington. JG: “Dr. Rush, why have you …

It’s December 19, 1776. I’m at the court of Louis XVI with Ambassador Benjamin Franklin. JG: “Ambassador Franklin, what brings you all the way over here to Paris, France?” BF: …

It’s August 1, 1776. I’m with David Bushnell in his invention, a submarine called Turtle. It sure is hot in here I can hardly breathe. JG: “Will the British warship …

It’s July 8, 1776. I’m in Philadelphia with Deborah Franklin, the wife of Benjamin Franklin. JG: “As they read the Declaration of Independence in the streets of Philadelphia, are you …

It’s July 8, 1776. I’m in Philadelphia at the Statehouse Tower with Benjamin Franklin. The Liberty Bell has been ringing for hours as a huge Declaration of Independence party is …

It’s June 17, 1776. I’m with Patriot Daniel McCurtain, who lives near the New York Harbor. JG: “Daniel, what do you see?” DM: “Look Mr. Gillespie, it looks like 1,000 …

It’s February 27, 1776. I’m with Scottish Tory General Donald MacDonald at Moores Creek Bridge in North Carolina. JG: “General MacDonald, what is your strategy?” DM: “Mr. Gillespie, we will …

It’s August 17, 1776. I’m in the Bahamas with the commander of the first American navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins, JG: “Commodore Hopkins, what are your orders from the Continental Congress?” …

It’s August 2, 1775. I’m in Kentucky with Daniel Boone. JG: “Mr. Boone, why have you built this fort in the Kentucky wilderness? DB: “Johnny, where’s your coonskin cap? This …

It’s June 28, 1775. I’m in Boston, Massachusetts, with Elizabeth Adams, the wife of Samuel Adams. JG: “Mrs. Adams, your good friend, Joseph Warren, has been killed at the Battle …

It’s June 16, 1775. I’m sitting on the roof of a Boston home watching thousands of British soldiers lineup on Breed’s Hill. They’re preparing to charge American soldiers, most of …

It’s May 10, 1775. I’m at Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York. The British garrison is relaxed. I’ve come in with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys. They quickly …

It’s April 20, 1775. I’m at the home of 15-year-old Billy Diamond, the drummer boy for the Lexington Minutemen. JG: “Billy, you were very brave to march into battle yesterday …

It’s April 19, 1776. I’m at the Concord Green with militia leader Colonel (James) Barrett. News of the Lexington battle has reached Concord, JG: “Colonel Barrett, can your Minutemen take …

It’s March 5, 1770. I’m in front of the customs house in Boston Square with African-American Crispus Attucks. JG: “Crispus, why are you shouting at the British troops? ca: “Johnny, …