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June 19, 2016

The last men of the American Revolutionary War

Samuel-Downing.jpg

Samuel Downing was born on November 30, 1761, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. At the time his picture was made, he was 102 and living in the town of Edinburgh, Saratoga Country, New York.
Samuel enlisted in July of 1780 in Hailstown, New Hampshire at the age 16. Served in the Battle of Saratoga in which British General Burgoyne was defeated. Died February 19, 1867. Discussing his service in the Continental Army…..” we were stationed in the Mohawk Valley. Arnold was our fighting general, and a bloody fellow he was. He didn’t care for nothing; he’d ride right in. It was ‘Come on, boys!’ ’twasn’t ‘Go boys!’ He was as brave a man as ever lived. He was dark-skinned, with black hair, of middling height. There wasn’t any waste timber in him. He was a stern looking man, but kind to his soldiers. They didn’t treat him right: he ought to have had Burgoyne’s sword. But he ought to have been true. We had true men then; ’twasn’t as it is now. Everybody was true; the Tories we’d killed or driven to Canada…….The men that caught Andre were true. He wanted to get away, offered them everything. Washington hated to hang him; he cried, they said.” - - Vintage News

Posted by gerardvanderleun at June 19, 2016 10:53 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Kee wrap. Even the turncoats had balls of steel.

We're luckier today. Our turncoats have no balls whatsoever. Sissy boys the whole lot. I don't underestimate them, though.

Ash Carter is a big turncoat. Today I read that he wants a "permeable military." Well, what else is there to fark with in the military, Ash? I'm sure you'll find another spot to bugger before you're through.

Do we want hard men like this centenarian patriot? No. We want gay men to occupy 2 man foxholes in the woods at night. We want women to put their backs against the howitzers to keep them from backing down the mud slopes.

Our esteemed Defense Sec. is now asking for civilians to laterally move into high ranking positions in the military. One day, a political communications consultant, the next a colonel in the army. To hell with the military culture-the one that takes a crucible and years of suffering and fighting to belong to. That's outdated shit. We want the guys who will maybe add a pink hanky to their breast pocket because, WTF, it's Friday.

I'm only sticking around here to see what kind of shit comes down the line next.

Posted by: Casey Klahn [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 19, 2016 11:48 AM

The article has at least one error regarding dates. It says that Samuel Downing was born in 1761, yet says that he enlisted in 1780 at the age of 16. Doesn't add up.

Aside from that, though, an interesting article, though it leaves out some crucial details. When they quote the men as referring to "Arnold", do they mean Benedict Arnold? Enquiring minds want to know ...

Posted by: Grizzly [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 19, 2016 7:18 PM

Don't think there were two Arnold's in the Army, one was enough.

Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 20, 2016 4:45 AM

Samuel enlisted in July of 1780 in Hailstown, New Hampshire at the age 16. Served in the Battle of Saratoga in which British General Burgoyne was defeated.

Saratoga was 1778.

Try again.

Posted by: DonRodrigo [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 23, 2016 3:27 PM

"Arnold" was Benedict Arnold, who was key in helping to win Saratoga.

Posted by: DonRodrigo [TypeKey Profile Page] at June 23, 2016 3:29 PM

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