initiative

the story of Henry Knox is pretty incredible. he was a bookseller in Boston just before the Revolutionary War. he then became a part of Washington's regime as he realized he could be a part of the Patriot's cause. Knox was not a glorious soldier or a loud, dynamic leader. But he did something extremely easy and simple that shifted the result of the war towards Washington and the Colonial's favor. Knox took initiative.

Knox first realized a great need. He knew that the American rebels needed to reclaim Boston in order to win this long and great war. But how could he, a simple bookstore operator, help? He remembered that there was a surplus of old cannons stored at Fort Ticonderoga, and that these weapons could be of great importance.

then, Knox acted. he led a group of men on a trip that took over 2 months to recover these cannons and then bring them back to Cambridge. Knox's trip back to Cambridge took 56 days, they traveled 300 miles, and brought back 59 cannons (weighing a total of 60 tons) to Washington's troops. But, the team only recovered approximately 8 cannonballs, and they weren't even sure the cannons worked. and the British were planning their attack for the morning Knox returned.

after a dense fog lifted that morning, and the British looked across the harbor and saw a massive amount of cannons pointing in their direction, they called off their advancement and retreated to Halifax. not a single shot was fired. and the initiative of this 25-year-old won this important 'battle' that ultimately led to the Patriot's victory of the Revolutionary War.

Henry Knox is captured in this painting....behind George Washington....quietly leading Washington's horse.