Backyard History

Monument on the grounds of the Paoli Massacre

This Memorial Day Weekend I first went to York City to check out the history of the Continental Congress which located there across the Susquehanna to keep out of harms way of the British. York was a frontier town pretty much back in Colonial times. It had a courthouse, lodging, and taverns necessary for those men who drafted the Articles of Confederation and conducted the war-time political business of our nascent country. York has tried to capitalize on that colonial history but it is a hard sell.

York was an outpost on the other side of the mile-wide Susquehanna River. That is why it was selected. No other reason. York has a rich history, like being an industrial powerhouse back in the day, but these days it is another post-industrial town trying to carve out its niche after corporate America moved manufacturing work out of our country. It is coming back with automation and natural gas, but prosperity still eludes York and other smaller cities like it in Pennsylvania.     

Pretty sure the Continental Congress in fleeing Philadelphia had to pass by my town of Columbia. It is the most direct route from Lancaster City where the Congress stayed for a day but felt it still was too close to Philadelphia. George Washington and the troops were on a bit of losing streak and the war was not going well.  There were only a few places to cross the river by boat and Wright's Ferry (what was to become Columbia) was the likely location. 

Second, I paid a visit to the grounds of the Paoli Massacre where British troops attacked at night with bayonets Anthony Wayne's troops. Over 50 Americans died and many others were critically wounded. The British troops were ordered to not accept surrender by the caught off guard Americans. The British saw the Americans as traitors, not a lawful Army. Some Americans viewed the British Empire as villainous, the taxation without representation idea. The British Empire wanted American raw materials, not an England West. The Americans didn't wish to be subservient. Thus, the war.

War is awful but sometimes it is the last option to address irreconcilable differences. I am not a pacifist and don't subscribe to the canard of "redemptive violence." I don't believe violence is a laudable option...however, in fallen world, it is sometimes a lesser of evils.

Finally, I headed to Valley Forge Park yesterday and rode my bike around it on the Loop. About 5 miles or so. My soul's center is in Valley Forge. I went there much in my growing up and feel as if I have to return on occassion to be renewed.  Once we get to the rub of the Revolution, the rights of humanity--as imperfect the Union was then and now--one can't help admire the sacrifices of the common man and women, and their families, who bore the costs of war with so little support and supplies. It was a lovely day, quite a contrast to what Washington and his troops faced in their winter encampment.

Within one hour of my house West and East there is hundreds years of history that directly contributed to our freedoms. On this Memorial Day, remember those who paid the price but didn't get the reward.