The Great Cannon Caper: How Washington Borrowed Some "Boom Sticks" to Bounce the Brits from Boston
General George Washington wasn't exactly rolling in muskets and mortars during the early days of the American Revolution. Stuck outside Boston with a ragtag Continental Army and facing a well-armed British force, Washington needed a serious firepower upgrade. But where, oh where, do you find cannons on short notice? Enter Henry Knox, a bookseller with a surprising knack for artillery acquisition (turns out reading about cannons translates well to snagging them in real life).
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| How Did General Washington Find The Cannons He Needed To Attack The British In Boston |
A Fort-uitous Opportunity (Get it? Fort? I'll see myself out)
Remember Fort Ticonderoga, that fancy fort perched on Lake Champlain way up north? Well, in May 1775, a daring raid by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys (think colonial vigilantes) liberated the fort from the British. Here's the kicker: Ticonderoga wasn't just any fort; it was practically a cannon convention, boasting a treasure trove of artillery – 78 cannons, 6 mortars, and 3 howitzers to be exact. Enough firepower to make a Redcoat reconsider his breakfast crumpets.
Operation Cannonball Run (Not that Cannonball Run)
Knox, ever the enthusiastic go-getter, volunteered for a seemingly impossible mission: haul these heavy metal beasts all the way from Ticonderoga to Boston – a trek of over 300 miles! Imagine trying to Uber a cannon across state lines in the 18th century. The logistics were insane. Rivers to ford? Build makeshift bridges! Snowdrifts? Hire a team of oxen stronger than Paul Bunyan's prize bull! Through sheer grit and determination (and probably a lot of WD-40, because those cannons must have been creaky), Knox and his crew managed to muscle the artillery to Boston in January 1776.
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The British Get a Rude Awakening (Literally)
Washington, ever the strategist (and relieved he wouldn't have to fight with glorified muskets), devised a cunning plan. He ordered the cannons placed atop Dorchester Heights, strategically overlooking Boston Harbor. The surprised British woke up to a whole lot of staring down the barrel (well, technically the muzzle) of American cannons.
Needless to say, the Redcoats weren't exactly thrilled about this turn of events. Their once-secure position was now exposed, and facing American cannons was a hard pass for even the most loyal soldier.
Tip: Jot down one takeaway from this post.
On March 17, 1776, with their tails firmly between their legs, the British evacuated Boston. Washington, with a little help from some borrowed artillery and a determined bookseller, had won his first major victory in the Revolutionary War.
Huzzah!
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Frequently Asked Cannons: How-To Edition
How to move a giant cannon across hundreds of miles in the 18th century? A whole lot of muscle, ingenuity, and probably a healthy dose of complaining.
How to convince your friends to help you move a giant cannon? Promise them eternal glory (and maybe some free rum).
QuickTip: Pay close attention to transitions.
How to know if the British like waking up to cannons pointed at them? Spoiler alert: they don't.
How to become a history buff extraordinaire? Start with the funny stories, then delve deeper!
How cool is Henry Knox? On a scale of 1 to "borrowed a fort's worth of cannons," pretty darn cool.
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