"Evacuation Day", 1783, Its Many Stirring Events With Recollections of Capt. John Van Arsdale, of the Veteran Corps of Artillery, by Whose Efforts on That Day the Enemy Were Circumvented, and the American Flag Successfully Raised on the Battery

"Evacuation Day, 1783, Its Many Stirring Events" by James Riker is a recounting of a pivotal moment in American history. The story focuses on Evacuation Day, when British troops finally left New York City after the Revolutionary War. Readers will learn about Captain John Van Arsdale, a hero in the Veteran Corps of Artillery, and see how New Yorkers geared up to take back their town. It details the struggles of those loyal to the British as they face defeat, contrasted with the happiness of the patriots who waited so long to be free. At the heart of the story is Van Arsdale’s courageous act of raising the American flag over Fort George, a symbol of freedom after a long, hard fight.