1778
While the land war was a stalemate, the war at sea reached a milestone. On February 11, John Paul Jones, aboard the USS Ranger, arrived at Quiberon Bay, France. This arrival was significant because, just three days later, Jones would receive the first formal salute to the American flag (the “Stars and Stripes”) by a foreign fleet. This act by the French Navy was a public acknowledgement of American sovereignty, following the signing of the treaties in Paris earlier that month.
1779
In 1779, during the winter encampment at Middlebrook, New Jersey, the first public celebration of George Washington’s birthday took place. Although we now celebrate his birthday on February 22 (new calendar), Washington was born on February 11 under the “Old Style” Julian calendar. On this day, a grand ball was held at the Wallace House in Somerville, NJ. General Henry Knox described the event as a “most genteel entertainment,” featuring dinner and a ball attended by about 70 ladies and their husbands. It was a vital morale booster during a winter that was otherwise defined by supply shortages and military drills. This is considered one of the earliest recorded instances of a public celebration for Washington’s birthday, a tradition that would eventually become a national holiday.
1781
General Nathanael Greene continued his brilliant retreat across North Carolina, pursued closely by Lord Cornwallis. On this day, Greene organized a specialized “Light Corps” under Colonel Otho Holland Williams. This elite unit, which included “Light Horse” Harry Lee's Legion, was tasked with acting as a rear guard to screen the main army's movement. Williams was ordered to lead Cornwallis toward a different river crossing than the one Greene was actually using. This maneuver successfully bought the main Continental Army the time it needed to reach the Dan River and cross safely into Virginia.
1782
In London, the tide was turning against the war. By February 11, 1782, following the disaster at Yorktown the previous autumn, the British House of Commons was engaged in fierce debates. The opposition was gaining enough strength to eventually pass a motion calling for the end of offensive operations in America, signaling the beginning of the end of the conflict.