So the General is getting down to the nitty gritty. Today, he and his generals have a council of war and their focus is the defense of their positions around Boston.

Disclaimer here…. this is a synopsis from what I am reading. I try to be fairly specific, but I may be mistaken on small details. This is not an exhaustive or in depth exposition of history, just a geek writing her thoughts on what she has read about the day.

That being said…. this council of war covers discussions of British troop strength and their allies, the troop strength of the Colonial army. By their own estimates they are woefully deficient in the amount of men needed to put up a good defense. They make plans to recruit more men, make plans for Washington to ask for temporary reinforcements and plan where they would retreat if defending the positions becomes untenable. That position….. “Welch Mountains near Cambridge & in the Rear of the Roxbury Lines is a suitable Place.” And in Roxbury…..

July 9th, Sunday.—This morning our chaplain came and preached In our regiment, from Chronicles 5:34; in the afternoon from Deuteronomy 23:9.  A flag came from the enemy with a packet by General Lee.  A man in a neighboring regiment was whipped twenty stripes for striking an officer.

In Roxbury, Jacob Haskell noted the events of the day in his diary. It’s amazing that such a momentous even in our history is played out in normal events of the day to day.