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John Hancock

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John Hancock and Fite House Coin
$14.50 per Bronze Merlin Gold Coin  plus $7.00 Shipping for one to 20 coins

© Stanley L. Klos has a worldwide copyright on the artwork in these coins.

Third and First President of the Continental Congress
of the United Colonies and States of America
May 25, 1775 to October 29, 1777
http://www.johnhancock.org/

Broadside  Image Courtesy of the Library of Congress Collection  CF-021
 

[Proclamation – Day of Humiliation] – Broadside extracted from the Journals of the Continental Congress. This is a facsimile, 7”x8”, from the Collection at the Library of Congress which is a reprint of the March 16, 1776 order of the Continental Congress for a for a Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer: 

© Stanley L. Klos has a worldwide copyright on the artwork in these coins.

Day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer

In times of impending calamity and distress; when the liberties of America are imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an insidious and vindictive administration, it becomes the indispensable duty of these hitherto free and happy colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publickly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of God; to confess and deplore our offences against him; and to supplicate his interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous efforts in the cause of freedom, virtue, and posterity.

The Congress, therefore, considering the warlike preparations of the British Ministry to subvert our invaluable rights and priviledges, and to reduce us by fire and sword, by the savages of the wilderness, and our own domestics, to the most abject and ignominious bondage: Desirous, at the same time, to have people of all ranks and degrees duly impressed with a solemn sense of God's superintending providence, and of their duty, devoutly to rely, in all their lawful enterprizes, on his aid and direction, Do earnestly recommend, that Friday, the Seventeenth day of May next, be observed by the said colonies as a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer; that we may, with united hearts, confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and, by a sincere repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure, and, through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness; humbly imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural enemies; and by inclining their hearts to justice and benevolence, prevent the further effusion of kindred blood. But if, continuing deaf to the voice of reason and humanity, and inflexibly bent, on desolation and war, they constrain us to repel their hostile invasions by open resistance, that it may please the Lord of Hosts, the God of Armies, to animate our officers and soldiers with invincible fortitude, to guard and protect them in the day of battle, and to crown the continental arms, by sea and land, with victory and success: Earnestly beseeching him to bless our civil rulers, and the representatives of the people, in their several assemblies and conventions; to preserve and strengthen their union, to inspire them with an ardent, disinterested love of their country; to give wisdom and stability to their counsels; and direct them to the most efficacious measures for establishing the rights of America on the most honourable and permanent basis--That he would be graciously pleased to bless all his people in these colonies with health and plenty, and grant that a spirit of incorruptible patriotism, and of pure undefiled religion, may universally prevail; and this continent be speedily restored to the blessings of peace and liberty, and enabled to transmit them inviolate to the latest posterity. And it is recommended to Christians of all denominations, to assemble for public worship, and abstain from servile labour on the said day.    By Order of Congress

 Attest. CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary                                             JOHN HANCOCK, President

GOD SAVE THE PEOPLE [i]

AND

Save Fort Ticonderoga

Stanley L. Klos Collection CF-020

Hancock, John - Letter signed "John Hancock," with flourish, as President Of the Continental Congress, to Major General Arthur St. Clair (1737-1818) Philadelphia, 30 April 1777. 1 page, 8” x 12  ¾” folio, with St. Clair’s   docket on verso.  The Letter reads in full:

Sir: The Congress having received intelligence of the approach of the enemy towards Ticonderoga have thought proper to direct you to repair thither without delay. I have it therefore in charge to transmit the enclosed resolve [not present] and to direct that you immediately set out on the receipt hereof.  
To: Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Clair.                                                    John Hancock, Presidt. [ii] 

Major-General St. Clair arrived in early June and set about preparations for defense. Although Congress desperately wanted to retain Fort Ticonderoga, St. Clair was only issued 2,500 men and scarce provisions to hold it. A minimum garrison of 10,000 men was required to check the British advance to secure the Fort and surrounding hill tops. Short of troops, General St. Clair made the decision not to fortify the steep assent to nearby Mount Defiance which he deemed impassable for heavy artillery.  Burgoyne's army consisted of 8,000 British regulars and 2,500 auxiliary troops and he outflanked the Continental troops as the British were able to place  artillery batteries on the mount. The British were now capable of bombarding Fort Ticonderoga without fear of retaliation by the Americans.[iii]  

St. Clair and his officers held a council of war, and decided to evacuate the fort. Upon the retreat of St. Clair from Ticonderoga, Matthias Alexis Roche de Fermoy, the commander of Fort Independence opposite Fort Ticonderoga, made a grave military error that almost caused St. Clair the loss of a large number of his forces. Fermoy set fire to his quarters on Mount Independence at two o'clock in the morning on July 6th, 1777.  This revealed to Burgoyne St. Clair's evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga.[iv] Had it not been for this, St. Clair would have successfully retreated with minimal causalities and loss of his supplies.   The fire forced St. Clair fled through the woods, leaving a part of his force attacked and defeated by General Fraser on July 7th, 1777.  On July 12th St. Clair reached Fort Edward with the remnant of his men. St. Clair reported: 

"I know I could have saved my reputation by sacrificing the army; but were I to do so, I should forfeit that which the world could not restore, and which it cannot take away, the approbation of my own conscience". [v]

The loss of the fort turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to the Americans. St. Clair's action forced General Burgoyne to divide his forces between pursuit of St. Clair and garrisoning Fort Ticonderoga. Burgoyne, after a long and arduous trek through the New York frontier, made an unsuccessful attempt to break through American Forces and Capture Saratoga.   Burgoyne decided to await support from Clinton, who never came. News of its easy capitulation of Fort Ticonderoga, however, convinced General William Howe that Burgoyne's force could manage without his assistance. Historian John Fisk write of the incident:

The king rushed into the queen's apartment, glee. clapping his hands and shouting, " I have beat them ! I have beat all the Americans! " People began to discuss the best method of reestablishing the royal governments in the "colonies." In America there was general consternation. St. Clair was greeted with a storm of abuse. John Adams, then president of the Board of War, wrote, in the first white heat of indignation "We shall never be able to defend a post till we shoot a general ! "[vi]

With his supply line cut and a growing Continental Army Burgoyne decided to attack on October 7th ordering a reconnaissance-in-force to test the American left flank. He was unsuccessful and loss General Fraser due to Benedict Arnold's direct counter-attack against the British Center. Burgoyne's troops took refuge in a fortified camp on the heights of Saratoga but the Continental Forces swelled to over 20,000 and  Burgoyne surrendered on October 17, 1777 to General Horatio Gates who was hailed the "Hero of Saratoga".  Despite this outcome General St. Clair was accused of cowardice by the same faction (Conway Cabal) that sought the ousting of George Washington as Commander-in-Chief for Gates. George Washington remained loyal to St. Clair who remained with his army throughout his Board of War court-martial. The court inquiry concluded

"... the facts brought out by the court martial spoke eloquently in favor of St. Clair. Burgoyne's army, when he met St. Clair, numbered 7,863. St. Clair had less than 2200 men, all of whom were ill fed and half clad. Burgoyne surrounded him with 142 guns, while St. Clair had less than 100-second rate cannon of various sizes and these were served by inexperienced men. It is scarcely necessary to defend his retreat in this age of general intelligence.

The Court having duly considered the charges against Major- General St. Clair, and the evidence, are unanimously of opinion, that he is not guilty of cither of the charges preferred against him, and do unanimously acquit him of all and every of them with the HIGHEST HONOR.”[vii]

Lafayette wrote to St. Clair, "I cannot tell you how much my heart was interested in anything that happened to you and how I rejoiced, not that you were acquitted, but that your conduct was examined."[viii]

Presidential and Capitol Trading Cards
15 Different 4" x 6"

ISBN: 0-9752627-9-3

$6.95 for a Full Set of Fifteen Different President and Capitol Trading Cards
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Peyton Randolph & City Tavern         Henry Middleton &  Carpenters Hall         John Hancock & George Washington        Henry Laurens & York Court House

John Jay & Kew Palace            Samuel Huntington &  Independence  Hall         Thomas McKean & Lancaster Court House       John Hanson & Great Seal

Elias Boudinot & Nassau Hall           Thomas Mifflin &  Maryland State House    Richard Henry Lee & French Arms Tavern      John Hancock & Henry Fite House

Nathaniel Gorham & Versailles          Arthur St. Clair & New York City Hall         Cyrus Griffin & Fraunces Tavern

Books by Stanley L. Klos

Medallions of the United States Founding
Click on Each Medallion to Learn More
 

Size: 30 mm - 50 cents size   Types of Issue: Gold - Silver - Merlin Gold Bronze - Copper

© Stanley L. Klos has a worldwide copyright on the artwork in these Medallions not legal tender.
The artwork is not to be copied by anyone by any means
without first receiving permission from Stanley L. Klos.

 Forgotten Founders Exhibit 
Minnesota Convention Center
August 29th - September 4, 2008

King George III                    Charles Thomson

Presidents of the Continental Congress

Declaration of Independence                  Continental Congress

Presidents of the United States in Congress Assembled

United States in Congress Assembled

*Huntington was elected as President of the Continental Congress but
ascended to the United States Presidency on March 2, 1781
under the Constitution of 1777 -- The Articles of Confederation

Eight Capitol Coins of the United Colonies/States of America
1774 – 1789

Philadelphia	September 5, 1774 to October 24, 1774	City Tavern on September 4th and then Carpenters Hall
Philadelphia	May 10, 1775 to December 12, 1776	Pennsylvania State House
Baltimore	December 20, 1776 to February 27, 1777	Henry Fite House, Maryland
Philadelphia	March 4, 1777 to September 18, 1777	Pennsylvania State House
Lancaster	September 27, 1777	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Court House
York	September 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778:	York, Pennsylvania, Court House
Philadelphia	July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783	Philadelphia, College Hall, then Pennsylvania State House
Princeton,	June 30, 1783 to November 4, 1783	Prospect House and then Nassau Hall, New Jersey
Annapolis	November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784	Maryland State House
Trenton	November 1, 1784 to December 24, 1784	French Arms Tavern, New Jersey
New York City	January 11, 1785 to November 13, 1788	New York City Hall
New York City	November 1788 - March 1789	Fraunces Tavern

© Stanley L. Klos

 

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