OLIVER'S JOURNAL OF THE
AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1764-1783 By Alice X
G NI T S E T O R P
ANY GOODS COMES WITH A COST Remarkably, yesterday was like a chapter of the story that I will never stop rereading. I remembered the faces of the mob vividly. Under the moonlight they seemed undefeatable, and yet, the second they heard the gunshots the crowd disappeared. We all knew the five bodies that our soldiers have shot were not as innocent as the colonists thought. It was a fine day in 1764, I have just stepped in the land of North America for reinforcement from Britain. Because of an accident that happened to my family in the “French and Indian War” which changed my life – I, Oliver, joined the British army. My admirable, kind father, the man who contributed his life into fighting for the crown, and I shall continue his will, traveled to the “New World” and became of his Majesty’s soldiers. Our kindhearted king has protected the colonists as well as land, food, materials and pleasant living conditions. In return, they called us bloody lobster backs, and more cruel things, but I will always remember what my father said to me, “any goods come with a cost.” The Sugar Act was imposed to put a tax on all the sugar that imported from Britain. In my opinion, the tax that they are paying is going to a perfectly reasonable cause, the money spent on the “French and Indian War” the war that our wonderful country has fought for this colony to restore peace. The Stamp Act imposed in 1765, and it was required for them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. In the same time, The Sugar Act repealed because of the enraged voices from the colonists, and it seemed to be evident that the Sugar and Stamp act was very unpopular among colonists. Two years later, the British has repealed it and replaced it with Townshend Act, a series of laws passed by the British government in 1767 which placed new taxes on the items that America imported from Britain.
BOSTON MASSACRE
0771 , H T 5 H C R A M
ANY GOODS COMES WITH A COST During all of this, there was an infamous list in the Custom House, showing the names of merchants breaking their boycott. As I walked around the city of Boston, my peaceful morning was ruined, by the screams of loyalists. From far, its vinegar, and medicinal smell has undoubtedly told me that what was going on. Tar and Feather, public torture and humiliation used to enforce unofficial justice and revenge for supporting the crown. A person that’s defending their own country was harassed, the sons of perdition must be responsible for it, and they will pay for what they have done. I remembered clearly on the night of the fifth of March, 1770, a protest lead by the barbarous wastes has gathered in knots, marching onto the King’s street. Standing in the frigid cold snow alone, I called for reinforcements to quell the riots. All of Boston’s church bell tolled mournfully, echoing off the snow. Soon, we were ready to battle in with the backward savages. The harassment turned into snowballs, and the snowballs slowly turned into rocks, oyster shells. The tension broke when the commander shouted, “Fire!”. The world exploded in my ears, the sound echoed in my soul. Later, I found myself aiming at the crowed, followed the order. At the end of the night, five seemingly innocent colonists has been killed. After that night, the six soldiers including me were charged with manslaughter unreasonably. We were sentenced to branding on our hand, from that moment on, I was more than determined to fight for the British army, and retrieve the colony that was stolen.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
INDEPENDENCE Soon after the battle of Saratoga, I looked at the branding on my hand, and wondered what the purpose of all this was? All the acts and battles that us loyalist soldiers have to go through, without proper housing and fresh clothes, the family that has stopped sending me letters and forgotten me, I was left with nothing. In the middle of the journey of my life, I have come to myself that I didn’t belong in the British army, despite my father’s will. After the loss at the battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, we have to retrieve back to Boston. Not having enough time to catch my breath, we were summoned back to the peninsula and prepare the attack to captative Bunker Hill to break the siege. However, the battle did not go as planned. On 17th June 1775, we accelerated the attack on Breeds Hill, where the colonists have set up their defense, before my eyes, many of the soldiers that have fought battles with me, came to the “New World” with me were shot dead. In the end, we British soldiers have captured both hills, but we have lost more than 1000 soldiers. Throughout the whole battle, I wished I had someone to talk things over with, and I wanted nothing more than peace. In July 1775, the Olive Branch petition was sent to our beloved King George iii, seeking for peace and not war, they have pledged their loyalty to the crown and asserted their rights as British citizens. The petition was my last hope for peace, we are all citizens of Britain, and yet, we are fighting our kind for what? The thoughts of becoming a colonist and settle down in America has appeared and reappeared in my mind, during countless hours at night, unable to fall asleep.
BATTLE OF SARATOGA SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1777
INDEPENDENCE Since the petition, seeking for peace, was rejected from the parliament, more and more colonists started calling themselves ‘Americans.’ In January 1776, Common Sense published by an American author called Thomas Paine. Common Sense, the pamphlet, has advocated independence throughout the American colonies, Later in that year, on July 4th, 1776, adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at the Pennsylvania State House, America has declared its independence from Britain with the Declaration of Independence. It was a peaceful day before Christmas in 1776. I was sent along with some of the other soldiers to Trenton and fought with the Hessian force. The soldiers were enjoying the party of celebrating a year coming to an end and partying all day in the base camp. Astonishingly, the intelligent George Washington has planned a surprise attack on Christmas, without any warning, they have made a perilous crossing of the icy cold Delaware river and trounced our soldiers. The uncertainty came within me, if this is the army that I wanted to fight with or not, I went to Saratoga and prepared for the next battle. I felt powerless in the British army– and the continental army was more powerful than ever before. We were severely defeated, and our General Burgoyne fled back to Britain. The anger has come within me, and I have decided to join the continental army, and I’m ready to fight the army loyalists that was once my everything, and it’s a decision that I do not regret. What seemed like was stolen, has become something glorious, and maybe, that was the good that came with the cost.
SURRENDER OF CORNWALLIS
PLAIN AMERICAN This day marked something magnificent, The Treaty of Paris was signed! Finally, my inner peace restored, and the will of my father was complete. I have settled down in America, as a 30-year-old man, and have found my life purpose. Started in 1764, I have fought in both armies, but I never got a chance to live life, with the peace treaties signed, I am ready to start a new chapter of my life. Followed by the American’s victory at Saratoga, in 1778, France finally decided to join the alliance to fight battles against the British troops. Meanwhile, we Continental Army spent six months of the encampment at Valley Forge. Though the conditions were very harsh– the cold winter and food shortage that we had to deal with– our army has transformed into a unified fighting force capable of beating the British under the command of George Washington. Bitterly cold and humid– such an enchanting combination. Every surface, every blade of grass and twig is growing long like ice crystals. During this severe winter, I was one of the 11,000 soldiers that fought for America, and we brought victory to the Americans. The success has brought not only glory for the American army, but part of me felt something way more significant, it felt like as if I had finally harkened to this army, and become a plain American. In 1781, the Articles of Confederation came into force. It was an agreement amongst the 13 original states, and it served as a constitution. The Articles allowed the Congress to do things like raising an army, be able to create laws, and print money, it was a set rule for a form of official government that has put in use after the separation from Britain. However, it did not go as well as it should. In result, it has failed because the federal government, under the Articles, was too weak to enforce their laws and therefore had no power.
SEPTEMBER 3, 1783
TREATY OF PARIS
PLAIN AMERICAN After every mountain peak, there's another. The battle of Yorktown was the last step to our victory, and it was the final great battle of the American Revolutionary War. As the British army led by Charles Cornwallis trying to retrieve back to Yorktown, I was a part of the army lead by our General marching down from the north. During that time, I have heard that the French Navy has moved to the coast close to Yorktown to prepare for the siege too. In the end, the British army was outnumbered, forced to surrender. Horary! On October 19, 1781, General Cornwallis signed Articles of Capitulation and the British has finally surrendered. It's been a hell of a ride for the past 17 years. From the end of the French and Indian war that has inspired me to join the British army, to the Boston Massacre which I have shot five innocent Americans who were just seeking for liberty, and I will never forgive myself for doing that horrible action. All the soldiers that have passed away due to the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Delaware, Saratoga and more will be forever remember as the part of American history that has shaped its future. The realizations that I have got has improved my own life in various ways. Being a plain American– a true American, I know what I am, and I know what I’m about. I know how to make choices and speak up for myself, and I know that I have found my place in America, to continue my life with peace.
BIBLIOGRAPHY Stein, Jeff. “The American Revolution Was a Huge Victory for Equality. Liberals Should Celebrate It.” Vox, Vox, 4 July 2017, www.vox.com/2016/7/3/12062334/american-revolution-liberals.
“Hutchinson Affair.” Benjamin Franklin Historical Society, www.benjamin-franklin-history.org/hutchinson-affair/.
Editors, History.com. “Boston Massacre.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-massacre.
“Surrender of General Burgoyne.” Architect of the Capitol, www.aoc.gov/art/historic-rotunda-paintings/surrendergeneral-burgoyne.
“7 Paintings That Define the Revolutionary War - Re-Enact: Lifestyle, History, War Stories, and Events for ReEnactment Enthusiasts.” Re, 18 July 2017, www.reenactmag.com/7-paintings-define-revolutionary-war/.
“On This Day In History: Treaty Of Paris Was Ratified – On January 14, 1784.” Ancient Pages, 14 Jan. 2018, www.ancientpages.com/2017/01/14/day-history-treaty-paris-ratified-january-14-1784/.