The First Salute

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The first salute refers to the action of the people of St Eustatius firing a one gun salute at the entrance of the American ship the 'Andrew Doria' entered the harbour on November 16th 1776. This ship flew the flag of the American Congress and the reaction to this event, in Britain (referred to annoyingly throughout this book as 'England'), in France and among the Dutch, led within a few years to American independence. 


Barbara Tuchman is an excellent historian and one of her books has already been mentioned among my rambling as you will remember the excellent book, 'Bible & Sword.'  That book was well researched, easy to read, and packed full of facts, and such a delight I have read it twice. Sadly this book was not the same. Certainly it was well researched, certainly it was full of information, but I found it quite stodgy to read and a bit of a nuisance going backwards and forwards in places. While the maps were good, most important when discussing so many places rarely mentioned outside of their locale, and much of the information interesting, the description of the conditions aboard the ships of the line did not encourage me to enlist in the navy, and while there was much information concerning the main characters I was left feeling somewhat let down by this book. Maybe it was the nauseous American belief that independence brought a new 'democracy' into the world, and that the world was 'forever changed for the better because of this,' a fact that has been proved wrong worldwide outside of the States, maybe she just tried to get too much into one small book. I found it disappointing.  


The people involved are what you would expect from those days. Humans looking after number one whether to rise in the political sphere, serve the nation (by getting rich), or just fill an empty life by fighting a war. The British soldier appears as a somewhat rough egg, not the type to take home to mother and the American was less interested in his independence than he was in his farm and his wages. Both suffered horrendously in terrible conditions! The leaders did all right of course, that is democracy everywhere! Slackness in both governments, especially when money was required, slackness in leadership among the British, a quick eye for the smart chance by the French led in turn to their revolution, and while the Dutch were early involved they were more concerned to profit and argue among themselves than much else. In short while some see a wonderful event occurring what actually happens is just another war. Britain lost America, and most, other than King George III did not care, America got itself a myth to misuse, France received a revolution, and the Dutch got cash. 


Could Britain ever have held the States by force? No, too far away and too many involved. Maybe a better situation could have arisen if George had been less militant, many died for this attitude of his! Trade resumed and we got rid of many seeking a new life, but whether they found a better one is arguable. Europe returned to the usual wars and conflicts,and the States continued abusing black men, one another and then stealing land from the Indians. Barbara Tuchman ends with a thought, "What is this 'new man' the American," and continues "Revolutions produce 'other men' not 'new men.' Halfway 'between truth and endless error,' the mould of the species is permanent. That is earth's burden."


By the way it is very difficult to type here when my fingers are frozen! Who let the cold weather come down here? keep it in the north where it belongs! 

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