Phoenix

Rebirth in Fire

Rising form the flames that gave her both "death" and rebirth-the Phoenix!

One of the most famous of all Greek myths is that of the immortal Phoenix. With her feathers still aflame, she rises into the sky for the start of her next 1000-year, life.

This is a plastic piece that I painted in July of 2021. 

Vive La France, Canada Qui Est

French Canada was guarded by limited number royal troops in the 17th and 18th centuries. With a small colonial population and massive amounts of land, the few Royal soldiers were often stretched thin as they tried to keep the kings North American Empire safe. In the end they were too few to match the British Colonial expansion wars which cumulated in the French and Indian War 1753-64 (Seven Years War in Europe). With the British victory, France lost Canada and their Louisiana territories and the long-suffering French regulars were withdrawn.  Until the next war - during the American Revolution.

From Declaration to Constitution

July 4, 1776  

Colonies declare their independence from Great Britain

October 17, 1777

General Burgoyne surrendered his army to the Americans under Arnold and Gates at Saratoga N.Y. As the greatest British defeat to this date, the victory guaranteed a French Alliance in the here-to-fore “English-Colonial Affair.”

November 1777

The Articles of Confederation establishes the first “official’ gov’t of the United States of America. The Articles stress the independence of the individual states and severely limits the powers of the central gov’t.

Winter 1777-78

Valley Forge, General’s Washington and von Steuben create the first “professional” American Army.

October 19, 1781

General Cornwallis surrenders his army to General Washington at Yorktown Virginia. Final straw that breaks the British will to continue the war. Peace negotiations begin in earnest.

1782-83

Peace of Paris, Great Britain grants the colonies their independence and all the territory from the East Coast to the Mississippi River, apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast which is given to Spain.

1785

Land Ordinance of 1785 (Township Act) established the township method of surveying and selling the lands of the Northwest Territories. A portion of each township is set aside to establish public schools.

September 1786-January 1787

Shays Rebellion demonstrated the need for a strong central gov’t. The inability/unwillingness of the states to assist one another in critical situations such as rebellions or natural disasters under the Articles of Confederation is undeniably demonstrated.

1787

Northwest Ordinance divides Northwestern territory into five smaller territories, established the format for accepting new states into the Union-60,000 settlers, a written state constitution and a representative/Republican form of gov’t. Slavery is also prohibited in the Northwest Territories.

May 25, 1787

Delegates from twelve states meet in Philadelphia to “revise the Articles of Confederation'' so as to provide unity, order and prosperity for the nation. This will become the Constitutional Convention.

May 30, 1787

The delegates decide to replace the weak “League of Friendship” of the Articles of Confederation with a strong, Federal, form of gov’t.

May-December 1787

Compromise! After many heated discussions the delegates create the United States Constitution, establishing three branches of gov’t, Legislative, Judicial and Executive. The Great Compromise established a two-house legislature: the Senate will be based on state equality with each having two senators, while the number of House seats will be based on the population of each state. The Slavery is defined and legalized in the Three-Fifths Compromise. Slave states will be allowed to count their slaves as Three-Fifths human for population numbers for the allocation of congressional representation.  This will give slave states a greater say in presidential elections through the Electoral College then the number of voters have in free states.

March-May 1788

Publication of the “Federalist Papers” to promote ratification of the United States Constitution. Written by John Jay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the papers are instrumental in swaying much public opinion to favor the ratification.

December 1787-July 1788

Ratification! Two-thirds (nine) of the states were required for passage of the US. Constitution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify while New York became the ninth on July 26, 1788.  The Bill of Rights was not initially part of the U.S Constitution, it was not added until December 15, 1791.

April 6, 1789

George Washington is unanimously chosen to become the first President of the United States, taking the oath of office on April 30.

Results of the American Revolution

 

Major Results of the American Revolution

Immediate Results:

The United States of America wins its independence. For the first time in history a colony has revolted and broken away from the Mother Country.

George Washington, gives up control of the army, refuses to be king or dictator and returns to the life of a gentleman farmer.

All states have constitutions creating elected representative governments.

Articles of Confederation creates a weak national government and strong state governments that are loosely united into one country.

60,000+ Loyalists abandon the United States to live in the British Empire. 

Apart from Florida and the Gulf Coast, the United States gains control of the lands from the Atlantic Coast (future state of Maine to Georgia) South of the Great Lake to the East bank of the Mississippi River. All this land has overlapping, confusing and often ridiculous land claims by virtually all the 13 States.

France, Great Britain, the United States and all 13 States are left with massive war debts.

Shays Rebellion demonstrates the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Long Term Effects:  

Northwest Ordinance and Township Acts, established requirements for new states, surveying the land into townships to be sold and establishment of public schools from the sale of parcels. 
 
US Constitution & Bill of Rights created forming a strong national Federal Government.
 
Separation of Church and State established in the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution.

Revolutionary Spirit spreads to Europe and other colonies in the America's. The French Revolution and the Spanish American colonial revolts are the first to succeed.

Increased "American Diversity" through waves of new immigrants.

Eventual elimination of slavery in the North and Northwestern States.

The two major losers of the war were first, the Native Americans who faced continued Western expansion with no real chance of stopping the loss of their land to American settlers. The second was the growing slave population who continued to face generations of lifetime servitude in the South.

Slaves in Colonial America

 

1st Slaves in the English Colonies

The following is from:
Historic Jamestowne National Historic Park,
https://www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/african-americans-at-jamestown.htm
2/10/2021

accessed 11/01/2021 

"The first documented arrival of Africans to the colony of Virginia was recorded by John Rolfe: "About the latter end of August, a Dutch man of Warr of the burden of a 160 tunes arrived at Point-Comfort, the Comandors name Capt Jope, his Pilott for the West Indies one Mr Marmaduke an Englishman. … He brought not any thing but 20. and odd Negroes, w[hich] the Governo[r] and Cape Merchant bought for victuall[s]." The year was 1619, and as an institution slavery did not yet exist in Virginia. Slavery as we know it today, evolved gradually, beginning with customs rather than laws. To further shed light on how this institution evolved legally, from indentured servitude to life long servitude, the following laws and/or facts are given as well as other sources on 17th century servitude among Blacks in Virginia.  

1619	Arrival of "20 and odd" Africans in late August 1619, not aboard a Dutch ship as reported by John Rolfe, but an English warship, White Lion, sailing with a letter of marque issued to the English Captain Jope by the Protestant Dutch Prince Maurice, son of William of Orange. A letter of marque legally permitted the White Lion to sail as a privateer attacking any Spanish or Portuguese ships it encountered. The 20 and odd Africans were captives removed from the Portuguese slave ship, San Juan Bautista, following an encounter the ship had with the White Lion and her consort, the Treasurer, another English ship, while attempting to deliver its African prisoners to Mexico. Rolfe's reporting the White Lion as a Dutch warship was a clever ruse to transfer blame away from the English for piracy of the slave ship to the Dutch.
1630's	Indication by surviving wills, inventories, deeds and other documents that in some instances it was considered "customary practice to hold some Negroes in a form of life service." It should be noted that by examining these documents it was also found that some blacks were able to hold on to their status of being indentured servants, thus, eventually gaining their freedom.
1639	All persons except Negroes are to be with Arms and Ammunition.
1640	John Punch, a runaway indentured Servant, first documented slave for life.
1662	Slavery was recognized in the statutory law of the colony. Legislation was passed defining the status of mulatto children. Children would be considered the same status as the mother. If the child was born to a slave, the child would be considered a slave.
1667	Baptism does not bring freedom. Until the General Assembly outlawed it, baptism could be the grounds for a black slave to obtain his/her freedom. It was considered for a period of time that it was not proper for a Christian to enslave a fellow Christian.
1670	Blacks or Indians could no longer own white indentured servants.
1680	An act was passed preventing insurrections among slaves. Blacks could not congregate in large numbers for supposed funeral or feasts. Blacks must also obtain written authorization to leave a plantation at any given time. They could not remain at another plantation longer than 4 hours.
1691	First act prohibiting intermarriage. No Negro or Mulatto may be set free by any person unless the pay for the transportation out of the colony within six months or forfeit ten pounds of sterling so that the church wardens might have the Negro transported.
1692	Negroes must give up ownership of horses, cattle or hogs. Separate courts for the trial of slaves charged with a capital crime, thus depriving them of the right of a trial by jury.
1700's	Slaves composed half of Virginia's unfree labor force.
1705	Slave laws were codified."

Results of the French and Indian/Seven Years War

 

French and Indian War/Seven Years War

The Seven Years War, all nine years of it when counting the flash point conflict in North America called the French and Indian War, was truly the first of many devastating "World Wars." Fought on every known and settled continent, the war changed the lives of tens of millions. From the French deported from Canada by the British who became the Cajuns of New Orleans, to the conquest most of the vast population of India by the British East India Company, the repercussions of this war have lasted down to our World today.

Results of the French and Indian War/Seven Years War (aside from the one million+ dead):

1. France is forced to make humiliating concessions to the British-
Forced to give up all Claims to Canada, all lands East of the Mississippi and all trade claims to India. To the Spanish, France gave New Orleans and all land claims West of the Mississippi. The bitterness of these loses and hatred for the British will lead the French to search for ways to gain revenge, through war if possible.

2. Spain, in return for New Orleans, gave Florida to Great Britain.

3. Most European and Caribbean borders are returned to prewar claims.

4. The British become the undisputed number one World Power and largest empire.  The Royal Navy will remain the premier naval power for the next two centuries.

5. With the removal of the French threat, British-American colonials look forward to moving West to settle the former French territories. 

6. All combatant nations are saddled with massive war debts that needed to be paid for through higher taxes.
 
7. One formally unknown British Colonial officer earns valuable experience and a thrill for the sound of battle. His first defeat will be forgotten after his brave actions in the Battle of Braddock's Defeat. His newfound fame and military training will serve George Washington well in the next war.

The first Worldwide war is over, the stage is now set for the "Road to Revolution!"

Revolution - Rebellion, Who Will Win?

 

Bacon's Rebellion 1675-76, Early Success Leads Death and Failure

Virginia Colony in 1675, was in turmoil. Native American troubles on the frontier, dissatisfied farmers, restless indentured servants, freed Blacks and slaves, a worried Gentry Class and a seemingly dysfunctional Colonial Royal Governor led to the first armed revolt in Colonial North America. 

The main protagonists were 70-year-old Royal Governor Sir William Berkeley and his cousin by marriage, 28-year-old land grant owner Nathaniel Bacon Jr.  Governor Berkeley, wanting to avoid another bloody war like the Anglo-Powhatan Wars (1610-1646), tried to appease friendly tribes and at the same time establish a defensive zone around the colony to protect against "bad Indians." Trade with the natives was strictly regulated and taxes raised to support the enhanced military protection.

Bacon, on the other hand wanted to attack the "Indians" with his own militia of unhappy frontier farmers and settlers. He did so after his foreman was killed in a raid. Unfortunately for all concerned he attacked an innocent, friendly tribe.  The situation continued to worsen. An angry Berkeley called on Bacon to give up his command and submit to his orders. An equally enraged Bacon gathered his forces of frontier farmers, indentured servants freed ex-slaves and even slaves and marched on the capital, Jamestown. Berkeley fled, after saving colonial documents, Bacon burned the capital, which lost him much needed support.

Soon after abandoning the ruined capital, Bacon suddenly died of "Bloody Flux and Lousey Disease" (Dysentery and Body Lice). The rebellion collapsed, 23 of its leaders were hanged, Governor Berkeley was recalled to England to explain the fiasco to the king and in 1699 the capital was moved from rebuilt Jamestown to Williamsburg. The first American revolt was a dismal failure for all concerned.


Glorious Revolution 1688, Success at No Cost

When the beloved British King Charles II died in 1685, without a legitimate child, his loathed brother, James II came to the throne. James was married to a Catholic, acted like a Catholic and introduced laws like the "Declarations of Indulgence," that eliminated punishments for "nonconformist" religious groups. The birth of James' son, Charles, who would be raised as a Catholic, threatened the supremacy of the Church of England and the vast majority of British Protestants. 

 

In response to James' rulership and faith choices, religious and government leaders invited William Duke of Orange (James' nephew and son-in-law) and his wife Mary to replace James as ruler of the British Empire. They accepted and landed in 1688, to the adoration of the crowds. James with little political support called on the army to keep him in power, the army joined William and Mary instead.  James fled to France, William became King William III, and Parliament passed a law preventing Catholics from taking the throne. Without a drop of blood being spilt, the Glorious Revolution replaced an unpopular king and changed British history forever. More direct British government involvement in American colonial political and military affairs was on the horizon.

As a side note, the term "Revolution" is usually used when the revolt succeeds while "Rebellion" normally denotes that those in revolt lost to the established government. The Glorious Revolution, American Revolution, French Revolution and Russian Revolution all were won by those in revolt. Bacon's Rebellion, Shays Rebellion, the Whiskey Rebellion and Confederacy Rebellion were all lost to the government of the time.

13 English Colonies of 1750 Major Products

Colony Name, Founding Date, Important Founder(s), Major Products

New England Colonies:  

Massachusetts 1620, William Bradford, John Winthrop-Fishing, Shipbuilding, Shipping, Naval Stores, Lumber, Food Crops, Rum, Livestock, Whaling.

New Hampshire 1623, John Mason, Ferdinando Gorges-Naval Stores-Timber, Fishing, Furs, Shipping, Whaling.

Connecticut 1636, Thomas Hooker-Shipping, Food Crops, Livestock, Whaling.

Rhode Island 1636, Roger Williams-Fishing, Shipbuilding, Iron Foundries, Food Crops, Rum-Snuff, Livestock, Rum, Whaling.

Middle Colonies:

New York 1625, Dutch Settlers,/Patroons James Duke of York-Fishing, Shipbuilding, Shipping, Food Crops, Rum-Beer-Glass, Livestock.

Delaware 1638, Swedish Settlers, Quakers-Shipping, Food Crops.

New Jersey 1664, John Berkeley, George Carteret-Shipping, Food Crops, Copper.

Pennsylvania 1681, William Penn-Shipbuilding, Food Crops, Paper, Iron, Rum.

Southern Colonies:

Virginia 1607, John Smith-Tobacco, Food Crops, Iron, Livestock.

Maryland 1632, Cecil Calvert-Tobacco, Food Crops, Snuff.

North Carolina 1663, Group of Eight Aristocrat Proprietors--Naval Stores, Tobacco, Furs.

South Carolina 1663, Group of Eight Aristocrat Proprietors-Rice, Indigo, Silk.

Georgia 1732, James Oglethorpe-Indigo, Rice, Naval Stores, Lumber.

All colonies had "Subsistence Farmers" who were able to produce enough food to live on with little or no excess to sell.

Dutch and Swedes, the Non English North American Colonies

 

New Netherlands, 1625-1674, (present New York and New Jersey) and New Sweden, 1638-1655, (Present Delaware) were two short lived North American colonial establishments.  New Sweden was taken first by the Dutch in 1655, while the Dutch colony was taken by force by the English in 1674.

New Netherlands was established for trade and territory power projection by the Dutch West Indies Company with the creation of Fort Nassau, a "Facrorij" (trading post). Established mostly on the Hudson River Valley, the major towns of New Netherlands were New Amsterdam (New York), Beverwijck (Albany), Schenectady and New Amstel (New Castle, Delaware). Their most powerful and unpopular leader was Governor Peter Stuyvesant.

Established for fur trade with the Native Americans, Nova Sweediae (New Sweden) was founded in 1638, by the Swedish South Company with the building of Fort Christina on the Delaware River. Under the leadership of Peter Minuet, the Swedish colony made friendly trade relations with the Susquehannock and Delaware tribes.

The tribes allowed further Swedish settlements at Fort Nya and Fort Nya Gothenborg. As trade communities, few actual settlers came to the colony. With a small European population of less than 600 the colony was easily overrun by the Dutch of New Netherlands during the 2nd Northern War (1655-60). From that point on New Sweden was now part of the New Netherlands Colony.

By 1670, the colonial population of New Netherlands was over 9000 Europeans or European descendants. As the English did not want an unfriendly power to have a colony dividing the English controlled territories of New England and Virginia/Maryland plans were laid to take the territory.

The diverse group of people of New Netherlands had little enthusiasm for fighting the English when the English fleet of James, Duke of York, threatened New Amsterdam in 1664. The city and colony of New Netherlands basically surrendered without a shot fired. With the end of the 2nd Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667) the Dutch formally gave up any claim to New Netherlands-now known as New York colony

While both New Netherlands and New Sweden were non-English colonies for only a short period of time, their national traits had much longer effects upon the formation of the "Colonial Spirit" of the thirteen colonies that would form the basis of the United States.

Wiliam Penn's "Holy Experiment"

 

"Now I would have you well observe, That I am very sensible of the unkindness and injustices that has been so much exercised towards you by the people of these parts of the world...to make great advantages...sometimes by the shedding of blood...But I am not such a man...I have great love and regard for you, and I desire to win and gain friendship but a kind, just and peaceable life..."                    -William Penn letter to Native Americans

William Penn, a converted Quaker, wanted to found a colony based on religious freedom and the Quaker concepts of a good and fair society.  He was able to set his “Holy Experiment” into motion when King Charles II repaid a 16,000-pound debt by deeding William land that would be named Pennsylvania (Penn's Woods) after William’s popular father. Added to this was land from the Duke of York, future James II, that would become Delaware.

Penn invited people of all religions to join him in his new colony where freedom of religion would be the law. His “City of Brotherly Love,” Philadelphia, was his dream city of Quaker ideals. He also insisted that the Native Americans be treated as equals and that their land be purchased at fair prices which lead to sixty years of peaceful relations,

Even the City of Brotherly Love needed a night-watch for those who might try to take advantage of those who believed in peace.

As with other colonies established for religious freedom, the Quaker population was soon vastly outnumbered by other religious groups. But the concepts of equality and freedom of religion remained in the fabric of the new colonies of Pennsylvania (1681) and Delaware (originally founded by the Dutch in 1638), helping establish these concepts critical to the future United States. While Penn’s ideas prospered as did his colonies, he himself received no financial gain and died in poverty.  He saw this as a small price to pay for his “Holy Experiment.”

Iroquois Confederation

The Mohawk warrior with his famous hair style that framed the European view of Native Americans for generations was one of the original five nations of the Iroquois League/Confederacy. The first five member nations were the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca. In 1722, the Five Nations of the Iroquois  became the Six Nations with the addition of the Tuscarora. When it was formed, the Iroquois Confederacy became one of the earliest existing participatory democracies in history.  Ben Franklin was so impressed with the Iroquois Confederation that he incorporated many of its systems into his concepts for the fledgling American Republic.

The tribes united for peaceful relations and mutual protection as early as the 12th century (some sources say the 13th, 14th or even 15th centuries). The Confederation formed a council of up to 56 chiefs from the tribal clans and villages. In Council, each of the tribes has one vote on decisions on civil affairs relating to the Confederacy. Of interesting note is the fact chiefs were appointed by the women clan elders who also had the power to remove chiefs they felt were no longer qualified for the position.

The Clans of Six Nations were:
Mohawk-Wolf, Bear and Turtle
Oneida-Wolf, Bear and Turtle
Cayuga-Wolf, Bear, Turtle, Sandpiper, Heron and Hawk
Tuscarora-Wolf, Bear, Turtle, Sandpiper, Deer, Beaver and Eel
Seneca-Wolf, Bear, Turtle, Sandpiper, Deer, Beaver and Eagle
Onondaga-Wolf, Bear, Turtle, Sandpiper, Deer, Beaver, Hawk and Eel

The Iroquois name for their League was Haudenosaunee or People of the Longhouse. Their Confederacy was the best organized and therefore the most powerful and effective of the tribes of the North East, even with a population at its greatest of less than 20,000, in the mid-1700's. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, they were powerful Allies for the British against first the French and then the American Revolutionaries.

At the height of their power the Six Nations of the Iroquois controlled territories that stretched from modern South Eastern Canada, Western New York, to Michigan and Eastern Illinois. They, therefore, controlled more than 2,670,000 acres (4,173 square miles) of land.  In 2021, they owned only 86,716 acres, the rest was lost through treaties, wars, purchases and eminent domain. 

Over 125,000 Native American consider themselves as members of the Iroquois Confederacy today. Most are located in the United States while around 25% live in Canada.

Ancient American Cave and Rock Art

For thousands of years, Native Americans artists have expressed their thoughts, feelings, religious concepts and the like through rock wall art.

This form of art is divided into two broad categories Pictographs and Petroglyphs. 

Petroglyphs are images carved directly into the rock face and by their very nature

are more durable and long lasting then Pictographs. This is due to the fact that Pictographs are

designs that are painted onto the face of the rocks. 

The meanings of the designs can be complex, basic or even unknown in Modern World.  

In many cases various tribes have different designs for the same concept. 

Regardless of their meanings, Native American rock wall art

is a beautiful expression of the talents of long dead artists and in some cases extinct cultures of

the first peoples of the Americas.

 

Man Made Fire in the Sky

 

Fireworks are almost as old as the invention of gunpowder by the Ancient Chinese. From the earliest days when gunpowder was first created, its use to entertain as well as destroy has been a fact of life. Countless billions have been thrilled by the explosion of color that has lightened the night sky in celebration. From the birth of a monarch to the birth of a nation, victories, milestones and great achievements have all been given the fireworks treatment. These celebrations bring enjoyment to all when man has used fireworks to ignite the night sky.

Attackers from the Sea-Let the Coastal Artillery is the Answer

                                                                              

When an enemy warship appears, coastal artillery was the first defense. This 32 pdr. smoothbore, muzzle loader could fire solid shot, explosive shell or the dreaded hot shot into the vulnerable wooden sailing ships of the early 19th century. The structure with a chimney in the background is a furnace to heat up the cannon balls (hot shot) so as to catch wooden ships on fire. Even today, fire onboard any ship is many a sailor's worst fear.                                            

Largely hidden behind angled ramparts up to ten meters (30+feet) thick, the artillerymen and their pieces were well protected from return fire. Batteries of heavy coastal artillery in stone, brick or earthen forts such as this protected key harbors and seaport cities throughout the 19th century world. 

Each fort would have a massive "bombproof" magazine as seen to the left that stored ammunition for the cannon. The other building to the right was the barracks for the forts garrison of soldiers. 

These pictures are from Fort McNab in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A traditional "star fort," Fort McNab was built to protect Halifax Harbor from possible American attacks during the 19th century.

Above is a model of a wooden frontier "Star Fort" with a cannon in the lower right redoubt. The star name is in reference to the corner redoubts that jut out like the spokes of a star.

                                                                              

Horus the Protector

 

Horus God of the Sky and Kingship, son of Osiris and Isis, was one of the main protector gods of the Ancient Egyptians as his mortal enemy was the deity who killed Osiris-Set the god of darkness and evil. Horus could be either be seen as a falcon or as a human with a falcon head. As Horus was worshiped from pre-dynastic Egypt to the Roman Era, his religious powers and responsibilities changed but not his falcon appearance.

This pair of ancient Horus statues are part of the Smithsonian collection in Washington D.C.

Aphrodite-Venus

 

Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love, Passion, Beauty and Sexuality seems to be deep in thought. To the Romans she was the Goddess Venus. Aphrodite, while married to Hephaestus, was known for her unfaithfulness and many romantic adventures with other gods and men. As she had at least 15 children from five different companions, her promiscuous reputation seems well warranted. 

While Aries-the God of War was her most powerful lover, her involvement in the start and progression of the Trojan War was her greatest direct influence upon the lives of humans. The latter was through her involvement in "the Judgement of Paris" where the Prince of Troy was asked to choose which of the Goddesses Aphrodite, Athena or Hera was the most beautiful.  Paris chose Aphrodite, after she promised him the beautiful Queen Helen of Sparta, gaining the wrath of the other two goddesses and dooming Troy in the coming war.  The Romans claimed this was one of the events that led to the founding of Rome-but that is a story for another day.

As a side note the name month of April is taken from Aphrodite.

Imperial Han Cavalry

 

From tombs almost 2000 years old come a troop of Imperial Han cavalry miniatures.

Made of baked clay, these horseman each stand about a foot tall.

These are from historic pieces are from a touring exhibition at the Bowers Museum.

California Presidio's-Protecting a Colony on the Cheap

 

The Presidio at the colonial village of Santa Barbara and other strategic posts in far flung Alta California was Spain's attempt to hold this vast area with minimal troops. To protect Alta California, the Spanish divided the colony into four military districts, each centered upon a Presidio (fort) with a small garrison. Each Presidio was tasked with the protection of the missions in their military district.  

The first was El Presidio de San Diego, founded on July 16, 1769. San Diego was responsible for the mission San Diego, San Luis Rey, San Juan Capistrano, and San Gabriel.  El Presidio de San Carlos de Monterey, founded on June 3, 1770, protected San Luis Obispo, San Miguel, San Antonio, Soledad San Carlos and San Juan Bautista. El Presidio de San Francisco founded December 17, 1776, was responsible for Santa Cruz, San Jose, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Rafael and Solano. The last Spanish Presidio was El Presidio de Santa Barbara, established April 12, 1782, that guarded La Purisima, Santa Barbara, San Buenaventura, San Fernando, and Santa Ines. 

 The chapel was a key building at each Presidio as the religious needs of the troops and conversion of the Natives were seen as keys to holding the colony.

Han Tomb Guards

 

More than 20 centuries old, these Han warriors were at one time protectors of the tombs of the Han emperors.  They are baked ceramic and are from a Chinese touring exhibition at the Bowers Museum.

Warrior Guards of Qin

 

Warriors of Qin

Ranks of 1/3rd scale warriors of Qin (Ch'in for those over 50) Shi Huang di stand in the positions their full-scale brethren occupied as they guarded the tomb of their emperor.  Qin Shi Huang di was the 1st Emperor of China and to protect his tomb he ordered more than 7000 life-size terra-cotta warriors created.  These copies are located at the China pavilion in Epcot Center in Walt Disney World.

The Bard-Multitalented Entertainer

 

A Renaissance Bard prepares to perform to a new audience of villagers, who will hopefully give him room, board and coin of the realm for their entertainment. The travelling bard was a common and looked forward to visitor to any Renaissance village or town. These multitalented performers were a combined newsman, storyteller, musician and singer. They travelled from town to town entertaining the populous with the latest news, gossip, songs and stories. Once the crowds, and money, dwindled as the townsfolk were sedated with his work, the bard would move on to the next village on his route, taking with him the latest news and gossip gained from this town to entertain and inform the next. As it might be as much as a year before the same bard revisited the same town, he was always welcomed with an attentive audience.

The Jeep-Workhorse of the Allies in the Second World War

 

With at least 640,000 Jeeps made during the Second World War, it's not surprising that they were a common sight in every Allied army on every front. Rugged, well-built and reliable, the Jeep became the new mule/workhorse of the Allies military. Completing every conceivable job from recon to raiding, transporting to towing, ambulance to anti-air, the jeep did it all.

Here we have Pacific Theater USMC Jeep armed with the famous M2 Browning (Ma Deuce) .50 cal. heavy machinegun. Firing a massive 12.7 mm (1/2-inch) wide bullet, the Ma Duce has been, and still is, a staple of the US Military since 1933. Effective against infantry, vehicles, lightly armored AFV's, aircraft and small boats, the Ma Deuce has been a popular choice in any firefight. 

At a cost of $1291.78 ($22,000 in 2022), the Jeep was a cheap and versatile way to get firepower and supplies to any hot spot on the line. With a speed of over 45 mph (72 km/p), the ability to haul over 1000 lbs. (454 kg) and travel in every combat environment, the Jeep was a welcome addition to any military motor pool.

After the war, many Jeeps became war surplus and served a double duty in the civilian realm. My own Uncle Herb used a Jeep at the Ranch for decades, doing sterling duty on the rolling hills and mountains of the Central California Coast. We still use the Jeep trails that he blazed in the 1940's, '50's and 60's. My favorite saying, he had about his trusty Jeep was "there are only two types of trees on the Ranch...those the Jeep can run over and those they can't...and there are darn few of those it can't."

This is a plastic/resin/metal piece I painted 

Highlander vs French and Native Americans in America

Colonel Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, commander of the 77th Regiment of Foot (Montgomerie's Highlanders). Formed by Hugh in 1757, the 77th regiment was part of the British Army of North America during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). One of the first Highland regiments to serve in North America, the 77th participated in the capture of French Fort Duquesne, renamed Fort Pitt, in 1758. 

Colonel Montgomerie then led the 77th in the North Carolina Cherokee War of 1760-61, a sub-conflict of of the French and Indian War. After several battles, in which more than 5000 Cherokees were displaced, fifteen of their towns burned to the ground by the British as were 15,000+ acres of crops, the Cherokee were forced to sign a peace treaty favorable to the British.  In August 1763, the 77th took part in the Battle of Bushy Run that rescued Fort Pitt from a siege by several tribes of Native Americans.  

By the end of the French and Indian war, the 1200+ man regiment had lost over 100 men killed and 250 wounded. After four years of service in the Middle, Southern and Caribbean Colonies, the regiment was disbanded with honors. Some of the men would return to their homes in Scotland with stories of the wonders and dangers of Colonial America, enticing many Scots to immigrate to the Colonies. Many of those new immigrants would be joined by those of the regiment who also returned to this new land of endless opportunities.

Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton, Baron Ardrossan, Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire, Knight of the Thistle, Peer of the Realm, Member of the House of Lords, Member of Parliament (b.1738 d.1819). Hugh was a successful politician and strong supporter of the British Crown. During his long life he witnessed the last battle between the Scots and English in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1754, the French and Indian War, the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, the creation of the United States of America, the French Revolution, the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars, the War of 1812 and the restoration of the French monarchy.  His line still holds the title of Earl of Eglinton through his Great, great, great, great, great grandson Hugh Archibald William Montgomerie, 19th Earl of Eglinton.

Pathans-Bane of Imperial Britain

 

For much of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the fanatic Pathan (Afghani Pashtun Tribes) warriors of the Northwest Frontier of the Raj (British Imperial India), Pathans were a constant menace to Imperial control. Raids, wars, punitive expeditions, threats, bribes and the like were commonplace events as these warlike tribesmen resisted Imperial authority. 

Rather armed with flintlock rifles like these men or more modern rifles as time progressed, no British officer took lightly the thought of fighting these warriors, not if they wanted a long life that is. Many a great career in Imperial service was started, or cut short, during these conflicts on the Northwest Frontier-including that of a young Winston Churchill in the late 1890's. Never fully conquered, the Pathans remained a thorn in the side of Imperial Britain until the end of the Raj in 1947, when it became a problem for other nations well into the 21st century. 

Sobek the Powerful-Crocodile God of the Nile

 

Sobek the Powerful, Egyptian Crocodile God of the Nile-Leader of Armies. One of the greatest and oldest of the Ancient Egyptian gods, Sobek was worshiped until Christianity replaced the old gods during the later Roman and early Eastern Roman Empires.

As ruler of the Nile River, he was in control of the floods that brought fertile soils to grow the crops that made Egypt powerful. His fearful nature, as a crocodile, was balanced by the protection he provided from evil, and evil magic users.

         Sobek is a large plastic piece I painted.