Saturday link blog. Some stuff that you might not have seen.   Read the rest of this entry »

The United States was one of the "Six Frigates" featured in the book by Ian W. Toll about the founding of the U.S. Navy. Here is an excerpt of a letter written by an officer on the ship to a friend in Washington. It serves as the basis for this week's (simple) puzzle.   Read the rest of this entry »

It seems only right that we should acknowledge the Father of our country on his birthday. He really does merit our gratitude and awe.   Read the rest of this entry »

The impetus for this post, other than filling out the Pierce story, was Lamar's devotion to the Constitution, even after Secession. We have to ask: What would Lamar think about present-day efforts to circumvent it?   Read the rest of this entry »

The Niles National Register is a really neat resource. The original papers have all been scanned in and it's full of interesting stuff. See it in action!   Read the rest of this entry »

It seems as though the puzzles are too hard, so this week we've made it a bit easier. Whether or not you're up to the challenge, it's worth reading this short letter from Abigail Adams to her husband John. The ladies of Boston didn't take kindly to a greedy store keeper's gouging ways.   Read the rest of this entry »

Even though the context is different, it's eerie how well some of the words fit today's issues. In this letter, Jefferson pleads with Washington to remain in office for a second term. Treaties have yet to be resolved, the national debt is skyrocketing, and the country seems poised for strife.   Read the rest of this entry »

This week's crossword is taken from some letters exchanged between Abigail and John Adams. They had a terrific marriage, but didn't always agree on everything. John thought she was being "saucy", but one gets the impression that she was more than a little serious.   Read the rest of this entry »

Although barely 100 pages, Robert Allison's new book, The American Revolution, A Concise History, is packed with interesting facts and observations about the birth of the United States. The author manages to pack quite a lot into this little book.   Read the rest of this entry »

General Nathaniel Greene, like other patriots of the revolutionary period, saw beyond the current struggle to America's future in the world and understood how large the stakes really were. In his words, this nation, yet unborn, would be the safe haven of "freedom, truth and religion" for all mankind. His prescience was only exceeded by his courage.   Read the rest of this entry »