Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2025

We all know the story about the first Thanksgiving in Plymouth. And the argument that there was one in Jamestown years earlier. And that there was one in St. Augustine Fl. Several decades earlier. And President Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789. 

But the first Thanksgiving of the United States, that is, after we were independent, was in December, 1777. And that is a different story altogether. 

1777 was a difficult year. The US was not winning the war. It was well understood that the new nation needed an ally - France. And several prominent figures were already in Paris, trying to convince the court of King Louis to recognize the US and provide aid against the British: Ben Franklin had been in Paris since 1776, as had Silas Deane and Arthur Lee. John Adams left for Paris in November 1777 (later with his son John Quincy Adams).

But France didn’t want a burden, they didn’t want to “sign on” and end up not only at war with England but with an ally who was more trouble than help. And the only way to show that was for the “Colonies” to win a convincing victory. The Continental Congress - and Gen. Washington - knew we needed to show it was worth it to Paris to aid the American. But 1777 was not an easy year for the General. 

By 1777 the British strategy had evolved; the aim was to cut the colonies into at least two pieces, driving an army up the Hudson River Valley from New York and thereby, with the help of the Royal Navy, isolating New England and all the rabble rousers therein from the rest of the colonies. General Howe would lead troops north from New York, Gen. Burgoyne would lead a force south from Canada, and Col Leger (later Gen Leger) would lead a force from Montreal to the Mohawk valley and then east to Albany, joining up with Burgoyne’s army, and then the combined force would push south to meet up with Howe.

For the plan to work, it really needed the three forces move in a coordinated manner. But in fact, the wilderness of north and central New York made that virtually impossible. Anyone who really wants to see that should visit Lake George, NY and venture into the woods around the lake - several wilderness areas and the Fingers Lake national forest. 250 years ago the major difference was that these forest areas were even larger. The movie “Last of the Mohicans” (1992), though made in North Carolina, captures the nature of the wilderness that was New York in the 1700s.

But the British plan started going sideways early when Gen. Howe decided he was going to chase down Washington, and then occupy Philadelphia.

It began with Howe suggesting to George Germain, the Secretary of State for the Colonies (who was the senior British official into colonels and the man in charge of the war), that Philadelphia, seat of the Continental Congress, be seized and occupied. Germain agreed, though apparently Germain thought Howe was going to hurt push up the Hudson and rendezvous with Burgoyne, THEN push on Philadelphia.

Howe pushed into New Jersey thinking that he would engage Washington’s army, defeat it, and then move on Philadelphia. Washington withdrew into southern New Jersey and Howe decided to move by ship south to Chesapeake Bay, and then moved up the bay to the north end and landed at present day Elkton, MD. What followed were the Battle of Brandywine, the largest battle of the war, in which Gen Washington was nearly killed (saved by Gen Casimir Pulaski - who was technically a civilian during the battle as Congress had yet to authorize his commissioning), and then a successful British engagement at Paoli (just west of Philadelphia), followed by the Congress evacuating Philadelphia for Lancaster.

Of course, while this was going on Howe failed to explain to Burgoyne just what it was that he was doing.

Burgoyne had attacked southward out of Canada, fought and won at Bennington - at considerable cost - in mid August, but by mid September, with his logistics badly strained, Burgoyne crossed the Hudson. What followed were a series of engagements - Freeman’s Farm, Gen Clinton’s thrust up the Hudson that stopped far short of the upper river, the battle of Bemis heights, and finally Burgoyne’s surrender on October 17th at Saratoga. This victory is usually recognized as the turning point in the war. Word of this victory reached Europe, and on February 6th, 1778 King Louis XVI entered into a formal alliance with the United States, providing more men and material and forcing England to divert assets.

In recognition of the victory the Continental Congress issued a proclamation:

IN CONGRESS

November 1, 1777

FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms withmost signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth "in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.” And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.

Much was still to come. The winter of 1777-1778 was the horrible winter at Valley Forge, and the victory at Yorktown (October 19, 1781) was still two years away. In fact, December 17th, 1777, the day before the first American Thanksgiving, was the day Washington issued his order to the Army explaining why they were moving into Valley Forge. But still, there was reason to give thanks.