Aug. 1, 1776: Francis Salvador, the first Jewish member of a legislative assembly in America as part of South Carolina’s Provincial Congress since 1774, is killed in combat in the Cherokee war that has erupted on the frontier. Tne English-born Salvador, 29, was a slave and plantation owner. 1/3

July 31, 1776: The Continental Congress resolves that 4 tons of gunpowder and 6 four-pound cannons, “or such others as can be procured,” be immediately sent to North Carolina. All the troops raised there are also welcomed into the Continental Army service.

July 31, 1776: Congress’ President John Hancock tells Washington that Brig. Gen. John Sullivan has withdrawn his proposed resignation, and “you will please to assign him such Post of Duty as you shall think proper” in New York.

July 31, 1776: The ships carrying Gens. Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis and their troops arrive off Sandy Hook, N.J., after the British abandon attempts at a Southern campaign this summer. The British are now in position to invade New York City with over 30,000 men, outnumbering Washington’s Army.

July 30, 1776: “Here we behold the strengths and weakness of the human Understanding and the extent of human virtue & folly,” writes Congress member Benjamin Rush (Pa.) “Time will meliorate us. A few more misfortunes will teach us wisdom & humility, and inspire us with true benevolence.”

July 30, 1776: Congress member Samuel Chase sees the Articles of Confederation as the most important issue facing the country: “We shall remain weak, and distracted and divided in our Councils, our Strength will decrease, we shall be open to all the arts of the insidious Court of Britain… 1/2

July 30, 1776: An eclipse of the moon is recorded in Britain, with visibility peaking at midnight. “A great eclipse of the moon from 10 to 12, almost total,” records Thomas Hutchinson, ex-governor of Massachusetts. Its closing phases are barely percepible after dusk in eastern North America. 1/2

July 30, 1776: Members of the Rhode Island Council resolve that any person who acknowledges or declares “their late King to be their rightful sovereign or prayed for the success of his arms” will be considered guilty of a high misdemeanor. (National Park Service, 1976)

July 30, 1776: Washington tells Gen. William Howe Congress has authorized a "General Exchange of Prisoners... or those of equal rank...Soldier for Soldier, Sailor for Sailor and Citizen for Citizen." Particular mention, he notes, was made of Col. Ethan Allen, who can be exchanged for any officer.

July 29, 1776: Charles Hutin, a French painter of historic religious and genre scenes, as well as a sculptor and engraver, dies at 61 in Dresden, Germany, where he was director of the Royal Academy of Arts.

July 29, 1776: Richard Henry Lee, in a letter to Samuel Adams, assails the last clause of New Jersey's Constitution for holding out the hope of reconciliation. "Must we hang for ever on the 'haggard' breast of G. Britain? 1/2

July 29, 1776: Thomas Jefferson pleads with his friend Richard Henry Lee to come to Philadelphia to pick up the work of Congress, as Jefferson will leave soon for Monticello. "For God’s sake, for your country’s sake, and for my sake, come. 1/2

July 29, 1776: John Adams sees "two knotty problems" in the Articles of Confederation for the new nation. The first "is how We shall vote. Whether each Colony shall count one? or whether each shall have a Weight in Proportion to its Numbers, or Wealth, or Exports and Imports," or a ratio of all? 1/2

July 29, 1776: To counter a Cherokee alliance with the British, troops from Virginia, North and South Carolina invade the nation's territory on the frontier. They begin a campaign that will ultimately destroy 32 Indian towns and villages.

July 28, 1776: A notice is placed in New York: “Wanted immediately in the General Hospital, a number of women, who can be recommended for their honesty, to act in the capacity of nurses; and a number of faithful men for the same purpose.”

July 28, 1776: From a diary at Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y.: “Immediately after divine worship this day, the Declaration of Independence was read by Colonel St. Clair; and, having said 'God save the free independent States of America' the Army manifested their joy with three cheers. 1/2

July 28, 1776: Arthur Lee, an American agent in Britain, writes to fellow patriot Silas Deane in France that because of the risk involved in communicating by mail, it will be necessary for the two of them to meet directly and "settle a plan." 1/2

July 28, 1776: Baron de Woedtke, a Prussian officer who became the first German commissioned a brigadier general in the Continental Army last March despite doubts over his alcoholism, dies at about 36 at Fort George, N.Y., possibly of smallpox. John Adams had called him “good for nothing.”

July 27, 1776: The Massachusetts Council directs Capt. John Lambert of the schooner Diligent to transport Francis Shaw and the "Indians now under his Care" to St. John River in Nova Scotia. Lambert is to return to Watertown with "any Indians he may Inlist into the Service of the United States."

July 27, 1776: Spain's King Charles III names Pedro de Cevallos to head a military campaign in South America to recover lost territory in what's now Brazil and punish Portugal for aggression there. The countries still dispute the Treaty of Tordesillas line dividing the continent between them.

July 27, 1776: The Pennsylvania Safety Committee places orders for "two tons of Lead and two tons of powder, made into Cartridges," and "Brass for the use of the Gun Factory." The state Convention also hears the first draft of a Declaration of Rights, then refers it to committee for further study.

July 27, 1776: In the wake of the Declaration of Independence, Delaware becomes the latest state to plan a new constitution. The Assembly, "not thinking themselves authorized by their constituents to execute, this important work," recommends Delaware's 3 counties elect deputies to write the charter.

July 27, 1776: The Continental Navy brig Reprisal, taking new U.S. commercial agent William Bingham to Martinique, finds its entrance to St. Pierre Harbor blocked by the British sloop-of-war Shark. After a brief but sharp fight, the Shark withdraws. 1/2

July 26, 1776: Loyalist Nicholas Cresswell plans to flee Virginia for England after dining at the home of patriot George Mason, “who proffers to give me a letter of recommendation to the Governor Henry for liberty to go on board the Fleet in the Bay. I have no other choice to get home but this."

July 26, 1776: News of the Declaration has reached Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y., where Col. Matthias Ogden writes to his friend Maj. Aaron Burr: “Independence is well relished in this part of the world.” 1/2

July 26, 1776: Congress’ debate over the Articles of Confederation centers on trading with Indians, which would become a federal responsibility under John Dickinson’s draft. Some states, including South Carolina, wish to retain the trade their own source of revenue. 1/2

July 26, 1776: Charles-Jean Garnier, France’s chargé d'affaires in London, expresses the cynical view in a letter home that the Americans are little more than pirates. Fortunately, “they do not commit any acts of piracy against us,” but rather weaken France’s enemy Britain.

July 26, 1776: Brig. Gen. John Sullivan, down from the Northern Army in New York, presents himself before Congress in Philadelphia, asking leave to resign. He cites the decision to appoint Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates above him as his reason. 1/2

July 25, 1776: The log of the British frigate Milford, sailing off Cape Ann, Mass., illustrates the common use of false flags in wartime. “At 9 AM saw a Sail in the NW Quarter, made Sail and gave Chace at 11 She hoisted English Colours. We Hoisted Yankee Colours at Noon… 1/2

July 25, 1776: John Adams is taking leave from Congress. “No gentleman can possibly attend to an incessant round of thinking, speaking, and writing, upon the most…important concerns of human society, from one end of the year to another, without trying both his mental and bodily strength. 1/2