#Thomas Knowlton

[knowltonsrangers]

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton (nov 22, 1740-sept 16, 1776)

Captain Nathan Hale (june 6, 1755-sept 22, 1776)

[yr-martyr]

[mollafer]

"The Birth of American Intelligence Operations" by Marc Wolfe

BEHOLD! Another amazing work of art I have been recently introduced to!

This scene portrays the final meeting of Nathan Hale and George Washington as they planned the mission Hale would ultimately be killed during. Being an MI officer, we train so that moments like these never happen again. Every decision we make, we keep the soldiers in mind who will be out there risking their lives for us. I know Ben Tallmadge felt this same duty, as he not only lost a fellow MI officer, but his best friend that day.

I received this painting as a gift for my recent graduation from Military Intelligence School in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. And along with this painting came a certificate of authenticity with a little history of the origin of this painting, which I will include below the cut :)

During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington, Commander in Chief of the United States Continental Army wrote, "The necessity of procuring good intelligence is apparent and need not be further urged..." Military Intelligence has since been an important part of Army operations in each of the nation's conflicts.

This scene depicts the planning for one of the first known U.S. Army intelligence missions. In September 1776, General George Washington, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton, and Captain Nathan Hale met at Army headquarters in New York City to finalize the plan for CPT Hale's covert mission to Long Island to ascertain British Army movements and intentions.

Following the July 4th, 1776, U.S. Declaration of Independence, the New York campaign was critical to the newborn republic. After defeat at the Battle of Long Island in late August, General Washington needed to determine the location of a British invasion of Manhattan Island and one method to do so was to send a spy behind enemy lines. CPT Nathan Hale was the sole volunteer for this important but dangerous mission.

On September 1, 1776, General Washington organized "Knowlton's Rangers," the first Continental Army unit dedicated to tactical reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. During the Boston Campaign, LTC Knowlton served courageously at the battle of Bunker Hill and led the successful raid on Charlestown to capture British soldiers for questioning. Subsequently on September 16, 1776, during the Battle of Harlem Heights, LTC Knowlton commanded the reconnaissance force that found, engaged, and repulsed the initial British advance. After rejoining the fight later that day, LTC Knowlton was killed in action bravely leading his regiment in the American victory. The loss of this experienced, dynamic, and able leader impacted the young Continental Army. For his gallant exploits, leadership, and command of the first U.S. Army unit designed for intelligence operations, the MI Corps designated LTC Knowlton as its "MI Hero" in 1995. The Knowlton Award recognizes distinguished professionals who contribute significantly to the promotion of Army intelligence.

From Knowlton's Regiment, CPT Nathan Hale stepped forward to conduct intelligence missions against British forces on Long Island, ultimately giving his life for his country. A 21-year-old Yale College graduate and teacher, Nathan Hale had not seen action in the Boston or Long Island Campaigns and felt compelled to contribute to the Continental Army he had joined a year earlier. He saw this mission as a crucial opportunity to serve the patriotic cause. Thus, Nathan Hale dutifully volunteered to collect information against the British Army. According to a subordinate, CPT Hale met with General Washington on two occasions prior to departing. This scene portrays the final meeting.

Dressed in the guise of a school teacher, Nathan Hale crossed Long Island Sound from Connecticut and began his mission. After the British captured New York City, it was set ablaze under suspicious circumstances after midnight on September 21. The British immediately began to arrest local civilians for questioning. Nathan Hale was detained, found to have notes on the British Army, and immediately charged as a spy. According to the standards of the time, undercover spies were hanged as illegal combatants. Without a trial, Nathan Hale was executed on September 22, 1776. His last words were believed to be, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country." Nathan Hale was the first American executed for conducting intelligence operations.

General George Washington's use and staunch advocacy of intelligence operations coupled with the distinguished service and sacrifice of LTC Knowlton and CPT Nathan Hale serve as a constant reminder to all MI Corps Soldiers of our significant heritage as well as the hazards of the Military Intelligence profession.

[natehale]

I should go on vacation with Thom. Lord knows he could use the break.

[culperscomet]

“…Benjamin Tallmadge, a friend of Hale’s at Yale College and the colonel who sent the spy on his deadly mission.” - real words I saw in a museum

First off he did no such thing this is slander. leave that man alone 😭

Tallmadge wasn’t even in the intelligence service for at least another year after Hale’s execution, so that statement doesn’t even make any sense. Technically it was also Thomas Knowlton who sent Hale on his mission so I don’t even know why they would say Tallmadge did that. I think I’m more mad that this was in an actual museum because like… how do you mess that up I thought this was common knowledge?

[monicozslastbraincell]

Caved and made some That's Not My Neighbor oc's (actual art??)

We interrupt your typical Monicoz Tumblr feed to bring you this breaking development:

I honestly never do this anymore, but SOMEHOW this scratched my silly little brain just right for the hyperfixation to exist and now I've made some original characters to compensate.

Legitimately, I haven't made original characters for any non-original media since Steven Universe and Hazbin Hotel back in like 2019.

It definitely does not help that this has been my favorite genre for the past few years...

Introducing: some That's Not My Neighbor original characters.

TW in advance for some body horror/misplaced facial features!

Pictured is Dr. Thomas Knowlton, biochemist, who lives with his adopted son Danny in the apartment. He definitely has his suspicions about the "oddities" around the area, and tries his best to protect Danny from them. If the war taught him anything, it's that he should have eyes in the back of his head.

Danny Knowlton is a student. He likes typical kid stuff and isn't wholly aware of the dangers. He's had the occasional encounter but surely it won't follow him home, right? Stranger danger, as his paranoid father says.

And here's them being silly.

I tried to make them kind of accurate to the base game, sprinkling in a little bit more info about them. I'll probably post more art of them soon and make some more lore.

I'm so so normal about this. Just as normal as the fella asking to enter the building.

[taraross-1787]

This Week in History: Thomas Knowlton

At about this time in 1740, little-known Revolutionary War hero Thomas Knowlton is born. He’s been called “Connecticut’s Forgotten Hero” and a “father of American military intelligence.”

The effort he led during the Revolution is generally acknowledged as a forerunner of our Army’s military intelligence services.

Knowlton began his military career early, during the French and Indian War, but after that war, he returned to farming and raising a family. When the Revolution started, he was serving as a selectman in his home town of Ashford, Connecticut.

Nevertheless, the “shot heard ‘round the world” at Lexington and Concord immediately pushed him into action.

The story continues here: https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-thomas-knowlton

[aginggravestones]

Thomas Knowlton, 2015 & 2023

[brewminate-blog]

TODAY IN HISTORY: September 10, 1776 - Nathan Hale volunteered to spy for the Continental Army. He took part in an intelligence-gathering mission in New York City but was captured by the British and executed. Hale is considered an American hero and in 1985 was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut. Hale a part of Knowlton's Rangers, the first organized intelligence service organization of the United States of America, led by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton. General George Washington was desperate to determine the location of the imminent British invasion of Manhattan, and Hale was the only volunteer.

[knowltonsrangers]

happy independence day!!

[yr-martyr]

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

[kristineknowlton]

Live From The Asylum is celebrating their 100th episode June 24th at 8 PM ET! With a slew of guest stars from the past Donovan Andrew Kristine Knowlton Brian Shea Don Slovin Riza Mae Enriquez David J Shapiro Emma Thomas Lana Lodge and other cameos! Also featuring the usual collection of unhinged Asylum residents Michael Wirkowski Carolyn Vesho Aaron Shore Jennifer Osborne Prescott Sam Zell-Breier Elyse Lovino!

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#theasylum #100thepisode #livefromtheasylum #celebration #improv #improvcommunity #improvcomedy

[natehale]

//I haven't really seen a Thomas Knowlton acc. If anyone wants to make one that would be awesome. I will (try to) spam the hell out of your asks and we can go on silly little adventures together! For now if I talk abt him I'll reffer to him buy name!

[jackwatkinson]

MAKING OF: Atoms for Peace - "Before Your Very Eyes" from Andrew Thomas Huang on Vimeo.

Directed by Andrew Thomas Huang andrewthomashuang.com facebook.com/AndrewThomasHuang twitter.com/Andrew_T_Huang/

Producers: Brian Welsh & Matt Marsh Executive Producer: Tamsin Glasson

Director of Photography: Laura Merians Production Designer: Rebecca Stillman Hair & Makeup Artist: Olive Meyer Production Supervisor: Lauren Simpson

1st AC: Robby Hart 2nd AC/DIT: Daniel Wurschl Camera PA: Rebecca Carpenter Gaffer: Jamie Davis Key Grip: Mark Hyde Jib Operator: Stephen Winders

Art Director: Adrian Romo Makeup Assistant: Tina Martinez Stop Motion Animator: Eileen Kohlhepp

Art Department Artists: Emily Franz Jody Hughes Nancy Jean Tucker Jeff Knowlton Jenn Rose Chris Swanson Amanda Tasse

Production Assistant: Brian Steffen

POST PRODUCTION & VFX:

Visual Effects Supervisor: R James Healy Lead CG Lighter: Carlos Diego Lead Compositor: Andrew Thomas Huang Lead CG Modeler: Lucas Cuenca

Compositors: Leo Bridle Mathias Cadyck Elisa Ciocca Alix Fizet Jonathan Gallagher Duncan Gist Sami Guellaï Stefano Lari Adriano Vessichelli

CG Technical Directors: Mathias Cadyck Gianmarco Colalongo Gareth Ermisz Sami Guellaï Tim Jenkinson Simon Renaud Johannes Sambs

CG Tracking: Grant Hewlett Dan Newlands Natalie Rocks

Behind-the-Scenes Crew: On Set Photographers: Chris Sinclair & Leandro Santini Editor: Leandro Santini

Visual Effects created at Blinkink Studios Head of Production: Josephine Gallagher

Color Correction by The Mill Colorist: James Bamford Mill Producer: Cath Short

Props Workshop provided by Screen Novelties

Sound Stage provided by Milk Studios

Special Thanks to: Blinkink Studios Screen Novelties: Chris Finnegan, Seamus Walsh & Mark Caballero Logan Schneider The Mill Milk Studios & LEGS Media: Mazdack Rassi, Shaun Murdock, Adam Joseph & Tom Berendsen

A Colonel Blimp & Good Company Production

Video Commissioner: Phil Lee Record Label: XL Recordings

[handeaux]

The Brief And Curious Life Of Cincinnati’s First Astronomical Observatory

At the corner of Knowlton and Mad Anthony streets in Northside is a small and somewhat neglected monument cobbled together from the riot-wrecked detritus of the old Hamilton County Courthouse. The memorial marks the location of Ludlow Station, one of a line of fortifications maintaining a bulwark against attacks by Native American tribes as eastern settlers encroached on their territories. The monument was originally erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1915. In 1976, an additional bronze plaque, now missing, was added by the DAR which read:

“First United States Observatory “First chartings of meridians and baselines of Northwest Territory by Jared Mansfield ordered 1803 by President Thomas Jefferson.”

Cincinnati is justly famous as “The Birthplace of American Astronomy” because of our magnificent Observatory in Mount Lookout, originally dedicated in 1843 on Mount Adams. That facility houses one of the oldest working telescopes in the world and was the first public observatory in the western hemisphere.

Forty years earlier, Colonel Jared Mansfield arrived somewhat reluctantly in Cincinnati with his young family to await the arrival of a shipment of scientific instruments manufactured in England. Mansfield was the newly appointed Surveyor General of the United States and needed these devices to conduct his work. One of Mansfield’s sons, Edward, grew up to become an author and newspaper editor who left behind a detailed memoir of the family’s time in Cincinnati. He describes the scientific instruments required by his father:

“My father informed [President Thomas] Jefferson that the meridian line could not be run without certain astronomical instruments, and that these instruments could not be had in the United States. Mr. Jefferson said that Congress had made no appropriation for that object, but that he (the President) had a contingent fund out of which he would procure these instruments. Mr. Gallatio, then secretary of the treasury, wrote to Troughton, mathematical instrument maker, London, for the followingly instruments: First, a three-foot-long reflecting telescope, mounted in the best manner, with lever motion; secondly, a thirty-inch portable transit instrument, which answered the purpose of an equal altitude instrument and theodolite; thirdly, an astronomical pendulum clock; fourthly, several astronomical books. These instruments and books cost $1,054, but would cost four times that now, for they were very excellent of their kind.”

Edward Mansfield’s recollections have been quoted by every historian ever since and they all repeat Mansfield’s initial error. Photographs of these valuable scientific instruments, now preserved in the museum at West Point, clearly show a refracting telescope, not a reflecting telescope – a warning to take Mansfield’s memoirs with a dash of salt.

“The astronomical instruments, whose purchase by Mr. Jefferson has been described, were set up in one room at our house, at Ludlow Station. Hence, as I have often said, the first real observatory was established in our house. There my father made such astronomical calculations as were necessary to his purpose.”

Jared Mansfield’s “purpose” was establishing accurate baselines from which land surveys could be calculated. In the young United States, accurate land surveys were critical. The new country had very little money, but it had lots of land. This land was rather inconveniently occupied by indigenous people but, as the Europeans saw it, the Native Americans had no surveyors to certify their land claims. As the United States settled its debts by awarding land grants, it wanted to guarantee clear title to the plots it awarded to veterans and other creditors.

Although Jared Mansfield’s accomplishments have been erased from the Northside monument, he left behind a significant memorial that you might see almost every day – the border between Indiana and Ohio. It took some years, many on-the-ground measurements and calibration with astronomical observations, but Mansfield plotted that interstate boundary line from the mouth of the Great Miami River northward. This is the “meridian line” that Jefferson assigned Mansfield to plot, and it is the starting point for almost every land survey in Western Ohio.

Let us now split a few hairs. Did Jared Mansfield really establish the first astronomical observatory in the United States in Northside in 1805? The answer to that question depends on how you define “observatory” and when.

I believe we can all agree that a portable telescope set up in somebody’s house does not actually constitute an “observatory.” True, observatories do have telescopes, but there is an implication that an observatory telescope will be permanently mounted, not something you might schlep into the closet when guests arrive.

Today we might also insist that an astronomical observatory be dedicated to, you know, astronomy – not some mundane task like land records. Our modern prejudice ignores the extremely practical origins of American astronomy. The Cincinnati Observatory was very much founded to help map the United States and to help regulate time in the days before standard time. Astronomy got a boost in early America precisely because it was so useful for marking time, guaranteeing precise deeds, creating accurate maps and other practical goals. According to W. Carl Rufus, writing in the “Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific” [October 1944]:

"As late as 1816 a friend of [French philosopher Auguste] Comte wrote him from this country: If [mathematician and astronomer Joseph-Louis] Lagrange were to come to the United States, he could only earn his livelihood by turning surveyor."

It must be noted that Mansfield also used his little telescope, in addition to routine observations related to land surveys, for actual astronomical work. Colonel Mansfield hauled out his Northside telescope to calculate the orbit of a large comet in 1807. His paper on that orbit was published in one of the prestigious scientific journals of the day.

Mansfield completed his work by 1812, packed up his little observatory and returned to the United States Military Academy at West Point as professor of mathematics and natural and experimental philosophy.

Weep not for the vanished Northside plaque. In addition to nailing the Indiana-Ohio border into perpetuity, Colonel Mansfield has another memorial, probably somewhat better known. The city of Mansfield, Ohio, was named in his honor.

[knowltonsrangers]

happy 283rd birthday, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton.