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14 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MAY 2026 The Turtle Submarine – America's First Submarine Attack In 1776, David Bushnell developed what is widely considered the world's rst military submarine, known as the Turtle. e small, hand- powered wooden vessel held a single operator who could navigate using propellers turned by hand and foot. A Continental Army soldier named Ezra Lee piloted the submarine in an attempt to attack the British agship HMS Eagle in New York Harbor. e mission required Lee to attach a timed explosive device to the hull of the British ship. Although Lee successfully maneuvered beneath the vessel, he was unable to drill through the ship's copper-covered hull to secure the explosive. Despite the unsuccessful attack, the mission is historically signicant as the rst documented submarine combat operation. The Liberty Tree Colonists gathered beneath its branches to protest measures such as the Stamp Act. Demonstrators sometimes hung egies of British ocials from the tree to symbolize public opposition. Members of the Sons of Liberty frequently held meetings and speeches there, turning the tree into a focal point for colonial protest. In 1775, British soldiers cut down the Liberty Tree in an attempt to suppress these demonstrations. However, by that time the symbol had already spread throughout the colonies, inspiring similar "Liberty Trees" in other towns. Unusual and Little-Known Stories from our nation's founding for America's 250th Anniversary e 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026 oers a unique opportunity to highlight lesser-known stories from the American Revolutionary era. While many Americans are familiar with famous moments such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence or George Washington crossing the Delaware River, the Revolution was also lled with unusual inventions, secret intelligence networks, compelling heroes, and dramatic conicts. The Culper Spy Ring – America's Secret Intelligence Network General George Washington recognized early in the war that intelligence gathering would be critical to defeating British forces. To accomplish this, he organized a sophisticated spy network known as the Culper Ring. Operating primarily in British-occupied New York City, the network used advanced espionage techniques for the time. ese included coded messages, numerical ciphers, invisible ink known as "sympathetic stain," and covert signal systems. e Culper Ring successfully uncovered several British plans and helped protect the Continental Army and its allies. eir methods are oen considered early foundations of modern intelligence practices.

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