Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

December 2013

Contents

Meeting announcement

Revolution History note

Program Schedule

Misc. reminders and information

The December meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution will be on Saturday, December 21st at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant at Rocky Point. The main event of the meeting will be the Installation of Officers. At the bottom of this newsletter are the forms for the luncheon, if you have not already received it, as well as the form for wreaths across America.

American Revolution Notes

Most people associate December and the Revolution with the victory by the Continental Army over the Hessians at Trenton on Dec. 26. Since this space has dealt with that in the past, we’ll look at a lesser known December event. Following the setbacks at Brandywine and Germantown, where the Continental army tried unsuccessfully to prevent the British from capturing Philadelphia, Washington moved his army 15 miles north of the city to an area around Whitemarsh, Pa. The Continental Army spent six weeks encamped at Whitemarsh. From the hills at Whitemarsh, General Washington was able to both protect the supply cities of the west and monitor the British, who were occupying Philadelphia.

Early in December, General Howe tried to launch a surprise attack on the American position, but the British plan had been ferreted out by spies. Consequently, the Americans were well prepared for the British expedition. On December 5, the British began a probe of the American position in the hills. Three days of non-decisive skirmishing followed, after which the British returned to Philadelphia. It was the last engagement in the campaign of 1777.

Both armies now turned their thoughts to winter encampment. The British would remain snug in Philadelphia. The Americans marched to a small Schuylkill River village called Valley Forge, where, with the help of newly arrived Baron Frederich von Steuben, the American army finally had the time to train properly. When the survivors of the winter encampment left Valley Forge in the spring, they were, indeed, at last, an Army.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Below is the tentative program schedule for spring 2014. As always send along any suggestions for speakers.

January        George Washington and/or Mt Vernon

February      Alexander Hamilton

March          USO of Tampa

April            ROTC Recognition

May            Victory Ship and Museum

Park and Museum

Misc. Reminders and notes

Florida Society SAR BOM Meetings (Orlando)

                January 24-25;                May 2-4;                www.flssar.org

National Society Annual Congress (Greenville, SC)

                July 18-24;                www.sar.org

Chapter Website—Remember you can find information about the chapter and programs on the chapter website. http://www.patriot-web.com/

One of the duties of the Chapter Chaplain is to send cards to our members that are sick. If you know of anyone that I need to send a card to, please mention it at our next meeting. Another duty is to send a sympathy card to the family of a member who has passed away.

Jack C. Bolen

Chaplain

Chapter officers and committee chairman are encouraged to send any pertinent information they wish included in the newsletter to the editor.