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Liberty Hangs in the Balance… The Midnight Ride of Caesar Rodney…
July 24, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
We have all heard the poem… THE MIDNIGHT RIDE OF PAUL REVERE. Fewer of us may have heard of the midnight ride of Ceaser Rodney and yet, he is certainly an unsung hero in America’s courageous journey to Liberty.
Rodney’s most legendary moment came during the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. By early July 1776, the Congress was debating Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence. Delaware’s three delegates were divided:
– Thomas McKean strongly favored independence.
– George Read opposed it.
– Caesar Rodney was absent in Dover, helping suppress Loyalist activity in Sussex County.
On the evening of July 1, 1776, McKean sent an urgent message to Rodney informing him of the deadlock. Rodney immediately set out for Philadelphia, roughly 70–80 miles away. Although his doctor forbade his going for his health’s sake, he rode through a severe thunderstorm all night. Despite suffering from lifelong asthma and facial cancer, he pushed through.
He arrived at Independence Hall on the morning of July 2, 1776, “in his boots and spurs,” muddy and exhausted. Thomas McKean reportedly met him at the door. Rodney voted with McKean, breaking the tie and allowing Delaware to support independence. This helped shift momentum; other colonies followed, leading to a unanimous vote. The formal Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4 and signed by Rodney on August 2. Rodney’s own account to his brother, Thomas, was incredibly modest: “I arrived in Congress (tho detained by thunder and rain) time enough to give my voice in the matter of independence.” Talk about an understatement! It just goes to show that some of history’s most courageous figures didn’t chase the spotlight—they just did what needed to be done.
The Founding of the CIA… John Jay’s Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies…
July 20, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
In a previous post we told the story of Thomas Hickey, the security guard for George Washington who was the 1st military execution.
The Hickey Plot exposed a dangerous reality: the Revolution faced threats not only from British armies on the battlefield but from spies, saboteurs, and disloyal citizens within Patriot-controlled territory. New York, with its large Loyalist population and strategic importance, was especially vulnerable.
In response, the New York Provincial Congress took decisive action. In mid-1776, it established what would become the Committee for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. This body was tasked with “inquiring into, detecting and defeating all conspiracies which may be formed in this State against the liberties of America.”
Heading the committee was a 30-year-old lawyer and rising Patriot leader: John Jay.
Jay, who would later become the first Chief Justice of the United States and a co-author of The Federalist Papers, had already proven himself a skilled organizer. The committee operated as America’s first dedicated counterintelligence organization. Its members investigated suspected Loyalists, interrogated prisoners, gathered intelligence on enemy activities, made arrests, and even ran clandestine operations.
Over its existence, the committee handled more than 500 cases involving disloyalty, espionage, and subversion. It detained influential figures, broke up spy rings, and helped secure the Patriot rear lines during some of the war’s most critical early months. Historians and intelligence professionals today widely recognize Jay as the founding father of American counterintelligence.
The story of the Hickey Plot and Jay’s committee reminds us that threats to democracy often come from within as much as from without. It also shows how crisis can drive innovation. In the face of existential danger, a group of determined Patriots created one of the first organized intelligence efforts in American history — not out of ambition, but out of necessity.
Today, as we reflect on the Revolutionary era, we usually celebrate battles and declarations. But behind the scenes, quiet work by men like John Jay helped ensure the Revolution survived long enough to succeed.
Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (reflecting back on June/July, 1776)…
July 15, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · 1 Comment
- Revolution Gaining Momentum – Building on Resistance (Lead-up to a Nation – E44)
- Irreconcilable Actions of England – Royal Authority Suppressed (Lead-up to a Nation – E45)
- The Brink of Independence – England Clings to Hope of Peace (Lead-up to a Nation – E46)
- The Virginia Convention – Colonies urged toward Independence (Lead-up to a Nation – E47)
- Centuries of Struggle – One Declaration that Changed the World (Lead-up to a Nation – E48)
We hope you’ve are enjoyed this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As we continue with the next phase of the journey, as mentioned previously, all accounts will be rooted in what they read in the newspapers of the day.
“History is never more fascinating than when read from the day it was first reported.” (Timothy Hughes, 1975)
Stories Surrounding the Declaration of Independence… the Treason of Thomas Hickey…
July 13, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
In light of the historic birthday for the American Declaration of Independence, I thought it might be nice to look at some of the surrounding stories that occurred which could have helped or hindered this momentous time in history. Perhaps one of the more intriguing stories is the treason of Thomas Hickey and those who were likely involved at some level.
In June 1776, as British forces threatened New York, General George Washington faced betrayal within his own ranks. Thomas Hickey, an Irish-born soldier and member of Washington’s elite Life Guard, became central to a Loyalist conspiracy reportedly backed by New York Governor William Tryon. The plot allegedly involved recruiting guardsmen, sabotaging supplies, and possibly assassinating Washington when British troops arrived.
Hickey’s downfall began when he was arrested for passing counterfeit money. While jailed, he bragged to fellow prisoner Isaac Ketcham about enlisting Life Guardsmen and receiving payments from Loyalists. Ketcham alerted authorities, exposing the scheme.
On June 26, Hickey faced a swift court-martial. Charged with mutiny, sedition, and corresponding with the enemy, he was convicted on witness testimony and sentenced to death by hanging. Washington approved the sentence the next day.
On June 28—the same day John Adams was presenting Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia—Hickey was hanged before an estimated 20,000 soldiers and civilians near Bowery Lane in Manhattan. Washington ordered the mass attendance to deter treason, making Hickey the first Continental soldier executed for such crimes. The event underscored the fragility of the Patriot cause and reinforced discipline on the eve of battle.
Coverage of this conspiracy can be found in THE LONDON CHRONICLE, August 8, 1776. Ironically, parts of this British plot can also be found in THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE, August 1776 … the same GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE containing the entire printing of the Declaration of Independence. 
The Declaration of Independence…Our Lives, Our Fortunes and Our Sacred Honor…
July 4, 2026 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
For roughly 5,000 years of recorded history, human civilization largely moved at a glacial pace. Empires rose and fell under kings, emperors, and tyrants. Most people lived under arbitrary rule, with limited rights, widespread slavery or serfdom, and slow technological and economic advancement. Then, in a remarkable burst beginning in the late 18th century, progress exploded, accelerated by the American Founding.
The Founders didn’t invent ideas from nothing—they synthesized the best principles from millennia of human experience, rooted in natural law, Judeo-Christian morality, English common law, and selective Enlightenment thought. They implemented these ideas into a new system of government that protected individual liberty and unleashed human potential like never before.
The intellectual roots of the Declaration of Independence (photo shown is from The Gentleman’s Magazine, London, August, 1776) stretch back thousands of years. Natural Law formed the bedrock with ancient thinkers like Aristotle and Cicero describing universal principles of justice discoverable by reason. Medieval Christian philosophers, especially Thomas Aquinas, integrated this with divine order. English common law and documents like the Magna Carta (1215) began limiting monarchical power and affirming rights.
Judeo-Christian traditions emphasized the inherent dignity of every person created in God’s image, moral accountability, and the idea that rulers are not above the law.
The Enlightenment provided key modern refinements. John Locke’s Second Treatise of Government (1689) powerfully argued for natural rights to life, liberty, and property; government by consent of the governed; and the right of the people to overthrow tyranny. Montesquieu influenced ideas of separated powers.
The American colonists, steeped in these traditions through education, sermons, and experience with British overreach, saw the Crown’s actions as violations of these timeless principles. They didn’t seek to create something entirely novel but to restore and perfect ancient liberties in a new republic.
The Declaration didn’t end history’s challenges, but it marked a turning point. By grounding government in natural law, consent, and unalienable rights—while building institutions around virtue, limited power, and free enterprise—the Founders created conditions where human potential could flourish as never before.
Below you will find the fruit of the painstaking assembly of thoughts these Founders labored through, searching history & the heart of their creator to lay a framework for all mankind. Today of all days, may we appreciate their singular focus on creating a republic that would last and inspire others.
Declaration of Independence: A Transcription | National Archives
Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (reflecting back on May, 1776)…
June 5, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Hope and Defiance – French Sympathy (E39)
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The New-England Chronicle – A Rare Voice (E40)
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Powerful Resolves – Battlefield Successes (E41)
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Addressing Military Overreach – Precedent for Restraint (E42)
- Common Sense – Condemnation of Monarchy (E43)
We hope you are enjoying this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As mentioned previously, all accounts are rooted in what they read in the newspapers of the day.
“History is never more fascinating than when read from the day it was first reported.” (Timothy Hughes, 1975)
Announcing: Catalog 367 – Released (early) for June, 2026 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
May 29, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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Reflections on Decoration Day: Honoring the Ultimate Sacrifice…
May 25, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Ten years ago today, we shared a reflection on the holiday originally known as Decoration Day. While the roots of this observance reach back to 1861 and beyond, keeping its true purpose at the forefront of our minds is a vital act of remembrance. It is the least we can do to demonstrate our gratitude for those who gave their all so we may continue to live in a nation that embraces life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
From the Archives: Our Original 2016 Post
Memorial Day is a time set aside in the United States to remember and give thanks for those who sacrificed life and limb to secure the freedoms we enjoy. These are the “self-evident, unalienable rights” bestowed upon us by the Creator, as envisioned by our Founding Fathers.
In times of peace and abundance, it is far too easy to forget the staggering cost paid by so many to ensure the freedom of others. With this in mind, I was recently struck by an article in the March 20, 1861, issue of the Western Christian Advocate out of Cincinnati, Ohio.
The piece provides moving details regarding General George Washington’s famous prayer – as well-depicted in the famous painting by Arnold Friberg: “Prayer at Valley Forge.” You can access the full text of that 1861 article via the “Western Christian Advocate” shown above.
Today, as we partake in various holiday activities, our hope is that we will all take a moment to enjoy—and truly appreciate—a blessed and meaningful Memorial Day.
Lead-up to a Nation… as reported in the newspapers of the day (reflecting back on April, 1776)…
May 8, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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The King’s own Regulars & Their Triumph over the Irregulars – Propaganda (E35)
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Voices of a Young Nation – Reports: Grim and Grateful (E36)
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Stirring Reports – Elected Delegates & New Postal System (E37)
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Independence was Destiny – The Case for Independence (E38)
We hope you are enjoying this year-long trek to the 250th anniversary of The United States through the eyes of those who were fully engaged, first hand. As mentioned previously, all accounts are rooted in what they read in the newspapers of the day.
“History is never more fascinating than when read from the day it was first reported.” (Timothy Hughes, 1975)
Announcing: Catalog 366 – Released (early) for May, 2026 – Rare & Early Newspapers…
May 1, 2026 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
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