Fact or Fiction

Here’s a riddle for you:

Which plot points or moments in history discussed in The General’s Watch were fact and which were fiction?

Take a guess, then click on the description to find out!

Image: “New England Bedroom, 1750 - 1850,” model by Narcissa Niblack Thorne (1882 - 1966) & workshop artisans, taken at the Art Institute of Chicago

(Meaning, it is a fictional bedroom!!!)

Page under construction. Please keep checking back as it slowly gets finished.

  • Fact

    Sources:

    Letter to Gen. Washington from Gen. McDougall, April 13, 1778: “Mr. Kosciusko is esteemed by those who have attended the works at West Point.”

    But see:

    Letter from Gen. Washington to Gen. McDougall, Aprl 22, 1778: “As Colo. La Radiere and Colo. Kosiusko (sic) will never agree…”

  • Fiction, although I cannot find support of the officers who are named in the book as having their wives present or absent (at this time).

    As an example, Dr. James Thacher wrote in his memoir that he dined at West Point on July 27, 1778, and the wife of Col. Malcome was present. Thacher dined at West Point several times and mentions the society women present, so the campground and fortifications were not entirely devoid of "polite society," as the character of Col. Greaton says in The General's Watch.

  • Fact, though it happened before the events in book 2

    Sources:

    Letter from Gen. Washington to Gen. McDougall, March 31, 1778: “We must either oppose our whole force to [British Gen. Howe] in this quarter—or take the advantage of him in some other. which leads me to ask your opinion of the practicality of an attempt upon New York, with Parson’s Brigade, Nixons, and the Regiments of Van scoick, Hazen, James Livingston, aided by the Militia from the States of New York and Connecticut…”

    Gen. McDougall’s response, April 13, 1778: “No service would be more agreeable to me than an Attack upon New-York, could I recommend it consistent with any probably Prospect of Success. But the Condition & Strength of these posts, utterly forbid it.”

  • True, sort of, because locals militia were not necessarily intended to serve alongside the army, except as needed

    Source: Letter from Gen. Gates to Gen. Washington, May 23, 1778: “The Militia are all employed upon their Farms, & tho’ immediately called for, would no be here in time to defend, or to finish the intended Fortifications… I have earnestly pressed Govr Trumbull, to comply with Your Excellency’s request for a reinforcement of Militia, but from what I know, they will not come in time to save this pass, should the Enemy make a Sudden & determined push to carry it.”

  • The Continental Army struggled throughout the entirety of the War to procure and distribute sufficient supplies to the numerous regiments of the army. Before June 1778, soldiers were not issued army uniforms and were expected to provide for themselves. By the time Washington did order a standard issue of hunting shirts and pants for the army, multiple letters were exchanged among the officers that described the poor state of those stationed at West Point.

    Example sources (original spellings):

    Mjr-Gen. Israel Putnam to Gen. George Washington, Peeks Kill, June 1, 1777: “The Troops here make a most Unsoldier Like Appearance for wants of Cloaths—many of them no shirt at all, and verry few more than one—no Uniform or Shoes, which is a most assential Article here—if they were Bro’t to Action it would be Almost Impossible for them to Act, Among those Rocks and Mountains, which Peeks Kill Abound with.”

    Mjr-Gen. Israel Putnam to Gen. George Washington, West Point, Feb. 13, 1778: “Dubois Regiment are unfit to be order’d on duty, not one Blanket in the Regiment—very few have either a Shoe or a Shirt—& most of them have neither Stockings Breeches or Overalls; several Companies of Inlisted Artifacers, are in the same situation & unable to work in the field—several Hundred Men are render’d useless merely for want of necessary apparel.”

    Col. William Malcolm to Gen. George Washington, West Point, July 26, 1778: “The Two Small Continental Regts are absolutely in Rags—no Shirts—Shoes or Overhalls—There are some of those Articles in Store at Fish Kill—I pray your Excellency will indulge me with an order for about 320 pair of each, & Some Blankitts. The Regts have a Number of Waggons—we want but few here and its difficult to provide forrage—i.e. it takes too many men from more important duty to assist the F. Master i bringing it over the River.”

  • Fictional, so far as I know! However, Orange County was chosen as the setting for The Enlightened series because there was constant skirmishing throughout the War.