Project Appleseed - Massachusetts

On This Day in History: The Battle of Alligator Bridge took place on June 30, 1778, and was the major engagement in Colonel Elijah Clarke's third and final unsuccessful campaign to conquer East Florida. In a disastrous battle, Clarke's 300 Georgia militiamen went up against a far larger force composed of British regulars, Tories, and Indians. His defeat left the area firmly under British control.

As with previous failures in the region, Southern politicians refused to grant Continental Army officers full command of their militias. So, while General Robert Howe waited with about 400 regular troops at Fort Tonyn to the north for Georgia Governor John Houston and South Carolina General Andrew Williamson to arrive with their militias, Clarke pursued an enemy detachment that had just been routed from an outpost to the west of the fort. He and his men were stopped at Alligator Bridge, where Major Marc Prevost had established hasty field fortifications. In the fortifications were 500 British regulars, along with 200 more outside of them; also outside were around 100 Rangers. Clarke took a detachment of mounted men and attacked what he saw as a weak point in the British line. He expected to break the line and pour the rest of his men into the breach. But the horses had trouble getting through the tangle of brush and logs that had been set up specifically as an obstacle course; when they cleared this, they reached a ditch that was designed for the same purpose. The ditch was too wide for the horses to clear with one jump, and this was the moment the British chose to begin shooting and shouting.

Clarke was wounded and nearly captured, after which he ordered a recall. Some say he was spurred on by a counterattack of British troops posted outside of their earthworks. Whatever the reason, Clarke withdrew, having lost nine men killed in action. He lost more to hunger and sickness, leading to the collapse of the 1778 invasion. The site of the bridge has long been supposed to have been in central Callahan, where a marker has been placed.

https://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/.../780630-alligator.../

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Shooting pistols well is based on three skills, grip, sights, and trigger. A Pistoleer™ score depends on mastering all three. Join a pistol clinic and test your skills. https://appleseedinfo.org/schedule/?eventtype=pistol

Battle of Springfield, 23 June 1780

Under Hessian general Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen, British forces attempted an invasion of New Jersey in the spring of 1780. Knyphausen intended to capture Hobart Gap, enabling a march on American headquarters in Morristown. When Knyphausen moved in force toward the Hobart Gap, American troops, decided to take a stand in the small village of Springfield.

On June 23, the invaders approached in 2 columns. Gen. Nathaniel Greene was advantageously posted. The British force, about 5,000-men strong, with cavalry and almost 20 cannon, seemed sufficient to crush any American army that might oppose them. For more than 40 minutes, Angell and his men fought 5 times their numbers to a standstill. The British slowly pushed the militia back to the second bridge over Van Winkle’s Brook on Morris Avenue. The British resorted to burning and looting. Only 4 houses remained after the battle.

After setting fire to Springfield, they retreated to the shore, and crossed over in haste from Elizabethtown Point to Staten Island, on a bridge of boats. Clinton had lost a rare opportunity for the conquest of New Jersey, and possibly the destruction or dispersion of Washington's army. The British goal of reaching Morristown was thwarted and the Battle of Springfield marked the last invasion of the British into New Jersey and removed the danger of final defeat of the Continental forces.

This was one of the last major engagements of the Revolutionary War in the north and effectively put an end to British ambitions in New Jersey. Because the decisive battles of the war moved further south, the Battle of Springfield became known as the "forgotten victory."

https://www.myrevolutionarywar.com/battles/800623-springfield/

Curious about attending a Project Appleseed event? Here is a great article from that provides an excellent overview. https://armed2defend.com/project-appleseed/
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Project Appleseed | Armed2Defend We love Project Appleseed! If you haven't heard of it, read on. It is a great event!

Why do we Appleseed? "The smiles on people's faces, making great scores, is what I strive for," stated one instructor.

"The joy of shooting, improving, and learning some history," from a student.

There are lots of reasons to come to Project Appleseed, liberty, marksmanship, and history. Come discover what it's all about.

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Let's celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army! ALL Active Duty and Veterans of the U.S. Army will receive 50% off any 25m Traditional Rifle clinic on the calendar in June! Join the line!
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On this day in History: Spain formally declared war with Great Britain on 16, June 1779

After France declared war on Great Britain in 1778, in support of the American Revolution, Spain likewise declared war. The two nations formulated a plan to divest Great Britain of Gibraltar, the strategic location guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. They expected to capture Gibraltar quickly, but refrained from a foolhardy frontal assault. Instead, they laid siege.

The siege began in the summer of 1779. By winter the effects were being felt. Food grew scarce, the rocky land had very little wood, so fuel was hard to come by. Summer of 1780 saw intensified bombardment, returned by the British. The siege continued. As winter approached, provisions again grew short. The French and Spanish spent the summer of 1781 building up greater forces. They were prepared for a great attack in November. The British learned of the impending assault and took a great gamble, committing half of the garrison to a very successful nighttime preemptive strike.

The assailants devised a new plan, and with it a secret weapon. A French military engineer designed floating gun batteries, protected from hot shot by circulating water through the sides using metal tubing. Building the batteries took time. And every day the siege dragged on. Work on the new weapons progressed problematically. Design revisions were made. The tubing was very difficult to construct.

By September 1782 patience had worn out and action was needed. Defenders used the conventional technique of pounding the batteries with hot shot. Red hot iron cannonballs imbedded into the thick wooden armor, set it smoldering, the cooling systems were not working, and batteries began to burn. In February 1783, with peace negotiations in Progres, hostilities ended. The defense of Gibraltar is remembered as one of Britain’s greatest military achievements, at least of the era. But the most important commemoration of the victory is the very fact that Gibraltar remains a British territory to this day.

https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/03/the-greatest-siege/

The Greatest Siege - Journal of the American Revolution There were many sieges during the American Revolution. Some are well-known even to novice students of the war, like Boston and Yorktown; others are known only to those who study in more depth, like Newport and Charleston. They lasted for weeks or sometimes months; the siege of Boston spanned almost....

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there! 🎉❤️ Whether it's hitting the range or capturing memories, cherishing these moments with family is what truly matters. Let's celebrate the bond that makes us stronger! 💪📸