In Memory of Thomas Adams
The inset image is the grave of my first ancestor in America. He was born in 1735 in Ireland. He came to America and settled in central Pennsylvania. When the Revolution started he joined the fight as a Captain. He fought in the Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776. This was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War and the first battle in which an army of the United States engaged, having declared itself a nation only the month before.
Thomas eventually died of disease from his service at Long Island in December of 1776. He never saw the birth of this great nation we call the United States of America.
In the battle of Long Island, the Pennsylvania troops were under the command of Thomas Mifflin. Mifflin advised Washington to retreat to Manhattan while he and his Pennsylvania Regiments made up the rear guard, holding the line until the rest of the army had withdrawn. The Generals agreed unanimously with Mifflin that retreat was the best option and Washington had orders go out by the evening. Mifflin’s rear guard was tending campfires to deceive the British and convince them that nothing was going on. At 4:00 am, on August 30, Mifflin was informed that it was his unit’s turn to evacuate. Mifflin told the man who had been sent to order him to leave, Major Alexander Scammell, that he must be mistaken, but Scammell insisted that he was not and Mifflin ordered his troops to move out. When Mifflin’s troops were within a half mile of the ferry landing Washington rode up and demanded to know why they were not at their defenses. Edward Hand, who was leading the troops, tried to explain what had happened, but Mifflin arrived shortly. Washington exclaimed “Good God! General Mifflin, I am afraid you have ruined us!” Mifflin explained that he had been told that it was his turn to evacuate by Scammell; Washington told him it had been a mistake.
Mifflin then led his troops back to the outer defenses. Artillery, supplies, and troops were all being evacuated across the river at this time but it was not going as fast as Washington had anticipated and daybreak soon came. A fog settled in and concealed the evacuation from the British. British patrols noticed that there did not seem to be any American pickets and thus began to search the area. While they were doing this Washington, the last man left, stepped onto the last boat. At 7:00 am, the last American troops landed in Manhattan. All 9,000 troops had been evacuated without a single life lost.
What are the ideals that have driven so many to give their lives for our country? Recently, I did a study of the Declaration of Independence to better understand the forefathers idea of freedom. I admit that over the years I have often taken this freedom for granted. This exercise was helpful to me. It reinforced my drive to improve the life I live for those that gave all. Slowly reading these bullet points and letting them sink in helped me better understand. Here are some bullet points from that study.
- The foundational belief of the forefathers was that all men are created equal and given rights from their Creator.
- These rights include Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
- Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness cannot be taken away or denied.
- Government is instituted to secure the rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
- Government power is derived from the consent of those governed.
- When government becomes destructive of these rights it is the people’s right to alter or abolish and institute a new government.
- This new government is built to affect the Safety and Happiness of the governed.
- Prudence dictates the government should not be changed for light and transient causes.
- Experience shows mankind will generally suffer rather than abolish accustomed government.
- But when abuse becomes despotism it is the people’s right and duty to throw off government and provide new.
- Despotism is the exercise of absolute power, especially in a cruel and oppressive way
- That has been the situation of the colonies and is now the reason to alter their former government.
- From this point to the end of the Declaration of Independence specific examples of despotism are given in support of the action of the revolution.
So, I feel the responsibility to honor the sacrifices made by so many. Their sacrifices made these words a reality. We have the freedom to exercise the God given rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness because of them. We must do whatever is necessary to maintain that freedom and live lives that honor their sacrifices.
To me this is just one more reason to be men of grit that keep pushing through resistance and obstacles to be everything we were designed to be.
Honor them.