|
|
|
|
Revolutionary Warm Spell
Thu Jun 12, 2003
Listen in RealAudio 
In the winter of 1780, the American colonies were not only in the midst of fighting the
British, but they were also trying to fight one of the harshest and coldest winters on record.
Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton from the Mount Washington Observatory and this is The Weather
Notebook.
January, of 1780 was especially harsh. The average temperature in Hartford, CT for example was
4 degrees for that month. At one point, the colonies were hit by 4 heavy snowstorms in 10 days
and every port on the Eastern seaboard as far south as North Carolina was iced-in.
During this rough stretch of winter weather, George Washington's army was in a crucial stage
in its war against the British. The troops were getting through the winter in Morristown, NJ.
But as the winter and snow continued, roads became impassable and the supply of food to
Washington's troops stopped. In desperation, Washington wrote a letter to all of the
magistrates in the surrounding area warning that he may have to have his men confiscate food
from local farmers, violating the very principle for which he was fighting.
But fortunately for Washington, and the young country, a warming trend took hold in the middle
of January and local farmers, having heard about the desperate situation of the soldiers,
began bringing fresh supplies to the soldiers. In fact, they brought so much that Washington
began turning down food. Although the winter continued to be harsh until May, Washington's
Army made it through the bleakest time of winter and well, you know the rest.
This happened during what was called the little ice age. And one little January thaw likely
never did so much to influence the course of history.
The Weather Notebook is underwritten by Subaru of America with major support provided by the
National Science Foundation.
|
|
