October 10, 1776 – Prelude to Valcour Island: American shipbuilders rushed to complete vessels on Lake Champlain, delaying British invasion and buying precious time for the northern front.

October 9, 1776 – George Washington wrote to Congress decrying militia unreliability after Long Island defeats, urging a professional army—a call that shaped the Continental forces' evolution.

October 8, 1776 – Hessian scouts probed American defenses near Fort Washington, foreshadowing the November loss but highlighting the ferocity of New York campaign defenses.

October 7, 1765 (prelude to revolution) – Though pre-1776, its spirit lived on; in 1776, delegates reflected on this boycott's role in forging unity, leading to the Declaration just months earlier.

October 6, 1776 – Amid retreats in New Jersey, Washington began planning his iconic Delaware River crossing, setting the stage for the surprise victories at Trenton and Princeton that revived the Patriot cause.

October 5, 1776 – Following the Battle of Harlem Heights, George Washington skillfully withdrew Continental forces, preserving his army for future campaigns and demonstrating strategic resilience against British advances.

On October 4, 1789, the U.S. Supreme Court convened its first session in New York under Chief Justice John Jay, marking the judiciary's birth under the Constitution and ensuring checks on federal power.

October 3, 1900 – Though post-founding, celebrate North Carolina's literary giant Thomas Wolfe's birth, whose works like Look Homeward, Angel captured the American spirit of exploration and identity rooted in revolutionary ideals.