American rivers, flow

TL;DR -- We saw a graphic while browsing that was not attributed. So, we went looking and found something similar. It shows the comparative flow of the major rivers. The Ohio River stands out as does the Mississippi River which it feeds. Rivers in the southwest are drier by nature. But. they have lots of people drawing off of them. 

--

Rivers are a favorite subject. We enjoy them many ways. Some are famous. Others seem to have disappeared. And example is the Arkansas River that comes out of the Rockies of CO and crosses several US States before joining the Mississippi in AR. Along the way though, if one searches for the river it seems to have disappeared. But, the flow went underground and reemerges sufficiently to support barge traffic from Tulsa, OK to New Orleans, LA. 

On the other hand, the mighty Colorado River comes out of another part of the Rockies in CO and heads down to the Gulf of California. But, along the way, it is dammed (for Lakes) and tapped for people and crops. By the time it gets to Mexico, it is a small portion of itself. 

Those are two western examples. Looking east, the Mississippi gets a large flow from the Ohio River after it has joined with the Missouri River near St. Louis, MO. Lewis & Clark was on both. They took the Ohio down to the Mississippi, then ventured north to travel up the Missouri River, to its source. In doing so, they also looked at some of the rivers of the northwestern part of the US.

What motivated this post was seeing a graphic and looking to see its source. We show the graphic below. At the same time, we looked at some of our earlier posts as they presented graphics too. Let's list a few of these and then add in a new graphic. Each post has a graphic with respect to US rivers. 

• Continental divides (Feb 2025) -- we think of the Divide that we cross as we travel east-west in the western part of the U.S. But, there are other divides. 
• New Missouri (Aug 2022) -- when one compares the upper Mississippi to the Missouri, the question about naming comes up. This was really the Missouri River which contributes more water from a longer route. Whereas the flow from the north is shorter and looks larger. 
• East meets West (Jun 2022) -- the Gardner River flooded and got our interest. It flows through what is known as Gardiner, MT. The map shows all of the watershed of the continental U.S. 
• 
  Research notes: Rivers (Feb 2021) -- looks at some western rivers (Yellowstone, Gardner, ...) in an area where water goes either east or west.  
• Rivers and more (Feb 2021) -- looks at the Mississippi and one link from the west to the east via the Fox River.  
• How great? (Feb 2023) -- looks at a couple of elevation maps of the U.S. This is to put the below material into perspective.  

We started really looking at rivers during the time of the pandemic. We were doing a lot of research which involved families who came west after the time of the U.S. start. This relates to the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Nation. Then, as we researched, more and more information became pertinent. This work precipitated our use of Frontier century and Lost generation. 

First, let's put up the graphic which shows the comparative flow of watersheds that reach a certain rate of flow. Some of these show up with a light color since the flow is reduced severely as the water makes its way out of the mountains to the shore. 

American rivers
Pacific Institute

In the middle, one sees the long reach of New England with the Ohio coming down to the Mississippi. So, stepping back, one can see the importance of the use of the Ohio in movement to the west. Wagons were brought west, moved north on the Mississippi, and then went up the Missouri. At that point, the wagons went west by land with rivers to cross. That shows rivers in two roles: means of motion; barrier to progress. We looked at the second one in our look at the New England party that left Boston and journeyed to Lawrence KS for two reasons: define a State; start a University. 

Remarks: Modified: 08/15/2025

08/15/2025 - 

New Englanders and Leary

TL;DR -- We saw a genealogy chart which included shields and looked further. That reminded us that we have had several posts on the subject. Heritage is an important subject, even for relationships in fields of expertise such as mathematics, technology, and psychology. 

--

We were looking at an old pedigree chart that was hand drawn. Wonderful work. My thought was, at least, we know this didn't come from GenAI/LLM. Here is a compressed look at the photo of the chart that was posted by Melissa Berry on the FB Group - New England Family Genealogy and History.  

Posted on FB by
Melissa Berry

One sees modern verrsions of this type of chart, many done by computers. Our hope is that these get documented some way for future researchers, especially if provenance needs to be considered. But, that's another issue for another time. 

We have had several posts on genealogy and on our thoughts of such. To note, we support The Heritage Society  Community and the Daughters of the American Revolution and more. With the 250th now in progress, themes of lineage will be constant. 

But, with tecnology, especially advanced computing, we have been going on about this for several years now. In particular, we note the need for computers to support science and any work of difficulty and as those that are complicated. Along that line, we looked at Gibbs of thermodynamics fame after the Nobel prize of last year being directed to mathematical physics (namely, xNN). HIs work impressed Maxwell of Scotland (as in, James Clerk). 

Some posts on genealogy: Endless genealogies; Vanity genealogy; Modern genealogy; Major players; ... This might be the time to point to the Mathematics genealogy project. Here is the page for Josiah Gibbs. 

---

Switching gears, while looking at our posts, we found this article: 10 New Englanders Turned On By Timothy Leary. Taking a quick look, we saw many familiar names. We might look at this further in terms of genealogy and psychology.    

Remarks: Modified: 08/11/2025

08/11/2025 - 

Semper paratus

TL;DR -- An little known example of being "prepared" is the U.S. Coast Guard which celebrates its 235th birthday this year (this weekend). The Owasco class cutter is one example from the long history of the Coast Guard.

---

Of late, we have mentioned the 250th of the U.S. and its defense organizations: U.S. Army; U.S. Navy; U.S. Marines. With these, we will be studying the history of the Revolution. Today, we start to look at the U.S. Coast Guard and its history. 

The U.S. Coast Guard birthday was celebrated at The National WII Museum in New Orleans on 4 Oct 2025. 

DoD's site provided a nice overview of the service provided by the Coast Guard over 235 years. Also, see a definition of "semper paratus" there: always ready. The coast guard got its start with Washington approving expenditures for 10 cutters in 1790. Alexander Hamilton was the founder. 

Much focus might have an emphasis on "domestic" duty of the service. But, the Coast Guard supports the U.S. Navy in times of war. And example was use of the Owasco class cutter during the Vietnam conflict. 

See Vietnam service,
"Crew cititation"

Provisioning at sea
off Vietnam with
USS Guadalupe 

U.S. Navy battleship USS New Jersey and the
U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39)
off Vietnam in 1968

Paul Switlik (John's brother) served as an Electrician Mate on the USCGC Owasco (WHEC-39) on its Vietnam tour in 68/69. He tells the story of the photo . 

The Stars & Stripes newspapers had us come along side this big baby for the photo shoot. The headline read:

big N & little o says: "No TO THE VIETCONG"

The New Jersey was firing her 16" guns which was shaking the hell out of us. We kept hollering, get us the hell out of here before all of our nuts and bolts come loose.  

Remarks: Modified: 08/05/2025

08/05/2025 - Changed photos to clearer version. Added one for the rendezvous with the USS New Jersey. Included comment by Paul about the photo event with the battleship. 

U.S. Coast Guard History Program

Cannons from Ticonderoga

TL;DR -- George Washington took control of the Revolutionary Army on 3 Jul 1775. He spent 11 months in the Boston area. Henry Knox convinced Washington that he could bring cannons from Fort Ticonderoga which Ethan Allan had captured earlier in the year. Knox succeeded, and the cannons were placed on a hill overlooking the British encampment which resulted in the evacuation of Boston.  

--- 

Early, in our research, we saw a reference in Joseph Felt's book on Ipswich to cannons from Fort Ticonderoga being used at Boston during the Revolutionary War. This British fort has been captured by the Green Mountain Boys of Ethan Allen. 

Traversing winter landscape
in New England pulling cannons
(took months)

Yesterday's look at George Washington's role during the Siege of Boston got us to look further. Below, we summarize what happened and provided links to further research. 

• Washington Takes Command of the Continental Army - Massachusetts History's overview. 
• Henry Knox Trail - this page shows commemorative markers along the route taken by Knox. 
• The Knox Trail - report by the Hudson River Valley History organization about the 1926/7 effort by the States of New York and Massachusetts which provided the map below. 
• The guns of Ticonderoga - gives an overview of the event, with the consequence of the British rmoving their huge force and ships. 
• Dragging cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, 1775 - letter from Knox to Washington written along the way. 
• Henry Knox Cannon Trail - there are two Revolutionary War Routes in the Hudson River Valley covered in the page. The second is the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route related to northern events in the war during which the French joined in the fray. After success in the north, the majority of the focus was the south.  

There's a lot more to look at. But, the cannons had arrived by March, later than expected. Once they were in place, the British commander opted for them to leave. But, looking at the size of the equipment available to the British, one is amazed by the success of the maneuver. 

• On the night of March 4, the cannons were moved into position on Dorchester Heights, overlooking the city and the harbor. On March 5, when British General William Howe learned what the colonists had done, he exclaimed that “these fellows have done more work in one night than I could make my army do in three months.” On March 6, 1776, he gave the order to prepare for evacuation. On Saint Patrick’s Day 1776, 120 ships carried 9,000 British soldiers, 1,200 dependents, and 1,100 Loyalists out of Boston. On the deck of one ship, the merchant George Erving told other Loyalists, “Gentlemen, not one of you will ever see that place again.”

Remarks: Modified: 08/17/2025

08/01/2025 - Edit typos; changed Felt's book from Salem to Ipswich; added image of the cannons being pulled by oxen, horse, and men. 

08/17/2025 -- Spelling change: Massassachusetts to Massachusetts - I'll blame it on repeating characters forming repetition of a group of characters ;>). Though I have the writing assist turned off. Errors let the world know that the typist was human. Being a touch typist, there is always some delta difference twixt what the mind thinks and then imagines and then what the fingers do and finally how the magic of input from keystroke to blips on the screen for the eyeballs to see as empirical evidence. 

George Washington in Boston

TL;DR -- George Washington was in Boston MA for eleven months in 1775/6. He was joined by Martha during the latter part of that period. Siege of Boston? That was the event. 

--

We are still in the time of the Siege of Boston, in 1775. It started back in the spring months and continued into 1776 when the British were evacuated. The day is celebrated in Boston on March 17 which is St. Patrick's Day, too. 

This post will consider the time that George Washington spent in Boston during those 11 months. For one thing, we could look at the houses that he occupied. 

• Wadsworth House - This is the house of Benjamin Wadsworth who was 8th Head of Harvard. 
• Longfellow House - This larger house had been occupied by the troops of Col. John Glover, but Washington moved in 16 Jul 1775. He and some senior officers lived there. Many came to visit Washington and conduct business such as Gen. Nathanael Greene who later would be given a lot of responsibility. Martha joined him in December of 1775. 
• Christ Church Cambridge - George and Martha attended a service on New Year's Eve of 1775. The church was closed and its organ melted down to make bullets. 

There are many others that we can report on as we get into details of the Revolution. 

-----

Let's step back a two decades. Washington was involved, as a young man, with the French Indian affair. This New England report provides some commentary on the period: The French and Indian War: A New York Perspective.  

Earlier, we had a post about Lord Fairfax who was related to Washington. 

Remarks: Modified: 07/31/2025

07/30/2025 - 

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts

TL;DR -- Artillery comes to mind when thinking of the defense of the U.S. The effort to defend the U.S. started early. An organization with "ancient" roots was reorganized in Massachusetts. The modern organization devoted to recognizing the service goes by the name of Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. We will be looking further at their mission.  

--- Theme: 250th, Army, Navy, Marines. 

Effort at protecting what became the US started early. In 1637, a London-based company was restarted here by members who had come over as colonists. 

The organization by the name of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts (A&HAC) was a colonial version of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) of London. The HAC was founded by King Henry VIII in 1537. Artillery in those days consisted of the longbow and equivalent. Gunpowder was still in the future on the islands. 

The HAC is now a Regiment of the Royal Army.  

The A&HAC was formed in 1637 which was during the period of the Great Migration (1620-1640). Many members had belonged to the HAC prior to their leaving for the colonies. There are Hereditary Societies in the U.S. for which descendants of A&HAC members with known lineage can join the "THE OLDEST CHARTERED MILITARY ORGANIZATION". 

Women Descendants A&HAC

Remarks: Modified: 07/15/2025

07/15/2025 - 

250th, US Marines

TL;DR -- The 250th for the US Marines is in November of 2025. Their media page has a list of events for the year with a major kickoff occuring at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans earlier this year. Featured at their site is a photo showing the change in rifles over the 250 years. 

--

The message from the US Marines on their 250th page: Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fidelis and Happy Birthday! Their start was on 10 Nov 1775. 

The year, just started on 4 Jul 2025, leads up to the 250th of the Nation which will be celebrated in June of 2026. The Marine page shows a schedule for activities for the public in 2025. An early event was the celebration held this year at Super Bowl LIX which was held in New Orleans, LA. 

From the Marine media page: 

• Since its founding in 1775, the United States Marine Corps has earned a distinguished reputation as one of the world's premier naval infantry forces. This legacy is built on an unwavering fighting spirit, strict adherence to the highest standards, and formidable marksmanship skills. This legacy was forged in combat using a tool of warfare that has evolved dramatically over the last 250 years - the rifle.

Rifles used by US Marines

Remarks: Modified: 08/02/2025

08/02/2025 - The U.S.Coast Guard has a commemoration for its 235th on 4 Aug 2025.