Life Style PARK PLACE OF ST. JOHN
Chaplain’s Corner
out what the British were up to. One spy ring operated for five years, and none of its spies was ever detected. Paul Revere was not the only rider sent out to the Massachusetts countryside to warn of the approaching British. He was one of several. But his famous ride made the news and led to the legend. More soldiers died of smallpox than were killed in battle. It was a deadly pandemic throughout the war for both sides. But the initial idea of inoculation came out during this time, and Washington had his entire army inoculated at Valley Forge. As a result, many more soldiers lived to fight. Women dressed up as men and played an important role as soldiers in the war. In addition, more Black Americans joined the American troops as the war progressed. In fact, the American Revolution was the most multi-ethnic war America ever fought until the 1900s. While there have been those who insist that most of America’s founders were not Christians, but followers of Enlightenment thinking, a deeper study reveals that a larger group followed Jesus Christ, were faithful in Sunday worship in churches, and espoused Biblical teaching.
Unexpected Unexpected. I’m sure you have plenty of stories of unexpected events that just so happened. Some were wonderful. Some were devastating. But here we are in July celebrating 250 years since the United States of America was founded. If you do some historical digging, you will find any number of surprising, unexpected facts. Here are a few. The Continental Congress hired privateers (licensed pirates) to disrupt and/or loot British shipping. Some $18 million worth of British goods were acquired (about $300 million in today’s dollars). The first submarine was built. Called the “Turtle,” it sought to attach explosives to British ships in New York harbor. George Washington and others operated secret spy rings to find
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