Sunday, August 25, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, “August 25, 1776, brought one of the largest battles of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Long Island, involving more than 40,000 men. It was not a good outcome for the Patriots. Marching through the night, the British took the Americans by surprise and overwhelmed most of their lines. George Washington, watching the enemy cut down his men, cried out, ‘Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose!’
“Only grim resistance by Maryland and Delaware troops avoided a complete rout. ‘If a good bleeding can bring those Bible-faced Yankees to their senses, the fever of independency should soon abate,’ one British officer predicted.
“The Americans retreated to Brooklyn Heights, where they sat on the verge of disaster. Washington realized that he must somehow get his men off Long Island.
“British warships were prepared to sail up the East River, which lay between Long Island and Manhattan, to cut off any retreat. Fortunately for the patriots, winds kept the ships out of the river, but Washington realized that it was only a matter of time before he was trapped.
“The general ordered a search for all available boats. On the night of August 29, under cover of rain, oarsmen began ferrying the army across the East River. One Connecticut officer remembered making eleven trips across the river that night, carrying men to safety. The troops hurried in strict silence – if discovered in retreat, the Patriot force would be annihilated.
“Only a portion of the army had crossed by daybreak. As historian David McCullough notes, ‘Incredibly, yet again, circumstances – fate, luck, Providence, the hand of God, as would be said so often – intervened.’ A heavy fog settled over Brooklyn, concealing the American movement. When it lifted, the stunned British realized that mor than 9000 men had slipped out of their grasp. The bruised Patriot army would live to fight another day.”
(Source: The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T. E. Cribb.)
Sunday, August 25, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Sunday Times reported several short news items in a column entitled “Social News from Near-By Towns”. Some of the news accounts have been previously mentioned in this column, but in a slightly different form. The following news carried a dateline from Johnson City, and a date of August 24, 1901:
“One of Johnson City’s young men, A. W. Gillespie, was happily married on Wednesday to a charming young belle of Limestone, Miss Charlsie Klepper. The marriage occurred at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Klepper in the presence of invited friends. The young couple will make their home in this city.”
Limestone is a community in rural Washington County.
“John Ryburn and Miss Cora Ray, both of Erwin, were married at the Piedmont hotel (sic for Hotel) in this city Tuesday. Rev. John Moore officiated. They went to Knoxville on a visit after which they will live in Erwin.”
Erwin is in Unicoi County and is located about 18 miles from Johnson City. It is the county seat of Unicoi County.
“Mrs. W. C. Briscoe of Bristol has been a guest of Rev. and Mrs. John R. Herndon at the Presbyterian Manse.”
Bristol is about 24 miles from Johnson City. It is north, and very slightly east, of Johnson City.
“Miss Lena Waddell, a charming young lady of Limestone, is the guest of Mrs. J. M. Brown.”
“Mrs. T. C. Blair, of Henderson, Ky., is visiting in the city.”
“Miss Ethel Barlow is visiting Miss Elsie Hickman of Flowerville.”
Flowerville is a typographical error for Flourville, which is a community located in rural Washington County.
“Miss Willie McFarland, of Bristol, is the guest of Miss Grace Hart.”
Mrs. J. M. Brown continued to be in the news. “Miss Mabel Gammon of Garbers is the guest of Mrs. J. M. Brown.”
Garbers is a community in rural Washington County.
“Mrs. Slaughter and children have returned from Locust Mount.”
Locust Mount is a community in rural Washington County.
“Rev. A. N. Jackson and family have returned from Louisville, Tenn., where they spent several weeks on a vacation.”
Louisville, Tennessee is about 120 miles from Johnson City. Louisville is southwest of Johnson City.
Chattanooga is approximately 216 miles from Johnson City.
The Chattanooga Sunday Times was published as The Chattanooga Daily Times the other days of the week. It is now published online as the Chattanooga Times Free Press. I do not have access to any newspapers that may have been published on a daily basis in Johnson City in 1901; The Comet was published weekly.
Friday, August 25, 1916: One hundred and ten years ago today, the National Park Service was formed. “Celebrated within the National Park Service of the United States to commemorate its founding on August 25, 1916. Founders Day is an opportunity for the United States parks to show pride, connect with visitors and reflect on the importance of the National Park Service mission.
“The Organic Act of 1916 established the National Park Service within the Department of the Interior. The act stated: ‘The service thus established shall promote and regular the use of the Federal areas known as national parks, monuments, and reservations…., to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.’”
(Source: Chase’s Calendar of Events, 2026.)
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