TODAY IN U.S. HISTORY: Today historian Rick Britton talks with Les Sinclair about what happened 234 years ago today. It was on November 3, 1783, that Gen. George Washington disbanded the Continental Army. Just two years earlier the situation had been rather bleak: the Continental Congress was bankrupt, citizen support for the Revolutionary War was at its lowest, American soldiers were deserting at a rapid pace, and there were even mutinies in the Army. Despite all of this, Washington pulled off an amazing victory at Yorktown, Virginia (thanks to the indispensable help of the French army and navy), thus, for all intents and purposes, ending the war’s major actions.

In his 1783 Farewell Order, Washington thanked his officers and men, and hailed the various state units in his Continental Army as “one patriotic band of Brothers.” He then returned his commission as commander-in-chief to Congress on December 23, 1783; making him, of course, the “American Cincinnatus.” (This marks the beginning of the Society of the Cincinnati.) The war ended on January 14, 1784, when Congress ratified the peace treaty signed in Paris on September 3, 1783. Washington proposed a national military academy, and permanent standing army augmented by militia units. This was rejected by Congress.

ALSO: On Thursday, November 16, Rick will be taking a bus group to Yorktown, Virginia. We’ll tour the brand new American Revolution Museum, have lunch at the County Grill, then Rick will deliver a guided tour of the beautifully preserved Yorktown Battlefield. To sign up, call the Senior Center Travel Office at (434) 974-6538. You don’t have to be a member to participate!