Secret Strength

This month, on the year of our country’s 250th anniversary, I’m featuring different patriots. Today, I’m featuring Revolutionary hero, Henry Knox (July 25, 1750 – October 25, 1806).

Henry Knox

I was interested in knowing more about him because of what he did in the winter of 1775. What about this man whose name is familiar to most of us because of locations named after him? There’s Knoxville, Tennessee, nine counties in the US, a historic site in Windsor, New York; as well, there’s Fort Knox in Kentucky and Fort Knox in Maine.

At twelve years old, Henry Knox had to quit school after his father died suddenly to help support his family. He was an apprentice to a bookbinder. At twenty one, he opened his own bookstore and married Lucy Flucker in 1774. Her parents were British loyalists and when she married, her parents disowned her. In 1776, they sailed out of  Boston with other British soldiers and loyalists and Lucy never saw them again.

Knox became famous in 1775 when in the middle of winter in New York, he led the expedition to transfer sixty tons of captured British cannon from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston. What did that mean? In the middle of winter, Knox dragged 42 sleds loaded with the cannons across snow and frozen waters. The 3 month endeavor over 300 miles from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston was called by historian Victor Brooks “one of the most stupendous feats of logistics.” The placement of these cannons on Dorchester Heights in Boston forced the British to evacuate Boston and flee to Halifax, Canada. Knox was only twenty five years old at the time. 

There’s so much more I can write about this man who died suddenly at age 56, but I am humbled when I think about the many patriots who gave so much for the freedom we enjoy today.

He married Lucy Flucker, the daughter of Boston Loyalists, in 1774.  Ten of their 13 children died before they were grown.  They were formidable and conspicuous not only for their generous sizes—they both weighed over 250 pounds—but also for their gregarious personalities and love of the good life. DAR

A lot of people say they didn’t enjoy studying history in school. I must have had good teachers, for I loved learning and hearing about what happened in my own country and throughout the world.

In the morning, before I write, I always read passages in the Bible, another history book–but special because it is from God.

The Bible I use when reading early in the day, is special to me. Given for my birthday in 1982, it has pages that list marriages, births, deaths, family records, and church records. The pages of this book are thicker than most Bibles made today and have a nice solid feel to them. What is precious to me are the underlinings in different verses. There are splotches of what were tears and sometimes coffee stains. Here’s some of what I read today:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)…

I read this when I feared for my husband’s life in 2005.

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39 NIV)…

I read this while recovering after delivering my stillborn daughter, Carrie.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Psalm 23 KJV)…

My mother had each of her five children memorize this chapter at age four. It has countless times soothed my sleepless nights, given me strength and courage in times of trouble. 

Finally, this:

The Lord bless you
and keep you (Numbers 6:24 NIV)…

My dad often closed Sunday morning worship service with this verse. What a charge to us!