American Revolution Podcast

Continental Navy Captain Lambert Wickes delivers Benjamin Franklin to France, then attacks British shipping in British waters, nearly provoking a war between Britain and France. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Lambert Wickes Sea Raider and Diplomat: The Story of a Navel Captain of the Revolution, by William Bell Clark, and The Golden Voyage: The Life and Times of William Bingham, 1752-1804, by Robert C. Alberts Online Recommendation of the Week: Philadelphia Free Library Interlibrary Loan Program: https://libwww.freelibrary.org/illiad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benjamin Franklin travels to France to join the American Delegation. He arrives in December 1776 and immediately gains pop star status with the French people. Getting the French government to go along would take longer. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, by Stacy Schiff, 2005. Online Recommendation of the Week: Sybil Ludington (The History Chicks Podcast) http://thehistorychicks.com/minicastsybil-ludington Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An army of regulars led by New York Governor and General William Tryon, raid an American supply depot at Danbury, Connecticut. American resistance led by General David Wooster and Benedict Arnold resulted it the battle of Ridgefield and many British casualties. General Wooster died in the fighting, while General Arnold's performance finally led to his promotion to major general. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Call to Arms: The Patriot Militia in the 1777 British Raid on Danbury, Connecticut, by Stephen Darley Online Recommendation of the Week: An account of Tryon's raid on Danbury in April, 1777, also the battle of Ridgefield and the career of Gen. David Wooster, by James Case: https://archive.org/details/accountoftryonsr00case Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A large British force attacks General Lincoln at Bound Brook New Jersey. Lord Cornwallis hopes to capture the relatively isolated Continental force that is posted to defend Washington's southern flank. The British scatter the surprised Americans who mostly flee the scene. Washington sends a column under General Greene to retake Bound Brook and harass the British column as it returns to its base that same day. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: War of the Revolution, by Christopher Ward Online Recommendation of the Week: Cockpit of the Revolution: The War for Independence in New Jersey, by Leonard Lundin: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.86569 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British in New York City send a raiding party up the Hudson River to attack an American supply depot. After two days of fighting, the Americans drive off the British and take back the town. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Chaining the Hudson: Fight for the River in the American Revolution, by Lincoln Diamant Online Recommendation of the Week: History that Doesn't Suck Podcast: https://www.historythatdoesntsuck.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the fall and winter of 1776-1777, General Howe proposes his strategic plans to officials in London. Those officials deny most of Howe's requests for reinforcements, thus causing him to reduce his plans. At the same time, officials in London meet with General Burgoyne and agree to have him lead an invasion of upstate New York from Canada, thus angering several more senior generals who wanted that command. No one bothers to tell the North American Commander, Howe, that he must support Burgoyne's invasion, so he plans to put his army aboard ships and sail away for an attack on Philadelphia. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Logistics and the Failure of the British Army in America, 1775-1783, by Arthur Bowler. Online Recommendation of the Week: Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts Report on the manuscripts of Mrs. Stopford-Sackville, of Drayton House, Northamptonshire Vol. 2: https://archive.org/details/reportonmanuscri02grea_0 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fearing an imminent British invasion of Philadelphia, the Continental Congress adjourns in December 1776 with a resolution to meet a week later in Baltimore, Maryland. Congress holds session in Baltimore for three months. The delegates vote to print more money, promote more generals and generally continue the work of government. At the end of February 1777, with the danger passed, they return to Philadelphia. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Moses Robinson and the Founding of Vermont, by Robert A. Mello. Online Recommendation of the Week: A vindication of his public character in the station of director-general of the military hospitals and physician in chief to the American army, anno 1776, by John Morgan: https://archive.org/details/vindicationofhis00morg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Loyalists in Florida with the aide of Seminole Warriors, raid the Georgia borders in an attempt to roll back patriot control. Meanwhile Button Gwinnett becomes President of Georgia and uses the opportunity to attack his political opponents. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Georgia-Florida Contest in the American Revolution, 1776-1778, by Martha Searcy Online Recommendation of the Week: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of American Prisoners suffer and die in New York City prisons and prison ships during the Revolutionary War. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Forgotten Patriots: The Untold Story of American Prisoners During the Revolutionary War, by Edwin G. Burrows. Online Recommendation of the Week: List of prisoners from the Jersey: http://www.usmm.org/revdead.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Continental forces under General Heath attempt to recapture Fort Independence, just north of New York City in January 1777. The Hessian Garrison forces the Continentals to withdrawal. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Benjamin Lincoln and the American Revolution, by David Mattern Online Recommendation of the Week: Memoirs of William Heath: https://archive.org/details/memoirsofmajorge1798heat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the Battle of Princeton, New Jersey militia keep the British Army hunkered down in a couple of North Jersey cities near New York. Their efforts keep patriot control of New Jersey as Washington's Continental Army rests and rebuilds for the spring campaign. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Unknown American Revolution, by Garry Nash Online Recommendation of the Week: Documents Relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey: Extracts from American Newspapers, Vol 1: https://archive.org/details/documentsrelatin01stry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Continentals surprise the British by pulling out of Trenton on the night of January 2, 1777 and marching up a back road to attack the British rear at Princeton the next morning. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Second to No Man but the Commander in Chief, Hugh Mercer: American Patriot by Michael Cecere Online Recommendation of the Week: The Life of General Hugh Mercer, by John Goolrick https://archive.org/details/lifeofgeneralhug00gool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Cornwallis is tasked to deal with the Americans who captured the Hessian outpost at Trenton. Cornwallis assembles and marches his army directly to Trenton in a matter of days. As his army moves from Princeton to Trenton, American delaying tactics prevent him from arriving until nearly the evening of July 2, 1777. After capturing the town, Cornwallis opts to wait until morning to attack the main American force on the other side of Assunpink Creek. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Road to Assunpink Creek, by David Price Online Recommendation of the Week: Rosbrugh, a Tale of the Revolution, by John Clyde: https://archive.org/details/rosbrughtaleofre00clyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After its victory at Trenton, the Continental Army retreats with its prisoners and equipment back to Pennsylvania. After discovering that the Pennsylvania militia had crossed into New Jersey, Washington opts to cross back again and reoccupy Trenton. There he will await General Cornwallis and the British Army. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Winter Soldiers, by Richard Ketchum Online Recommendation of the Week: The 8th Virginia Regiment https://www.8thvirginia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Continental Army led by General Washington attacks the Hessian outpost at Trenton on December 26, 1776. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Ten Crucial Days: Washington's Vision for Victory Unfolds, by William L. Kidder (2019) Online Recommendation of the Week: Ten Crucial Days Website tencrucialdays.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

December 25, 1776: Washington assembles enough troops to attempt an attack on the British, days before the enlistments of most of his remaining soldiers expire. Visit my site at blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Washington's Crossing, by David Hackett Fischer Online Recommendation of the Week: Washington's Crossing State Park: www.washingtoncrossingpark.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late December 1776, General Washington sends a small force into New Jersey to harass the Hessian garrisons. The force under Colonel Samuel Griffin engages the Hessians under Colonel Carl Von Donop. The fighting on Iron Works Hill causes Von Donop to redeploy his Hessians to Mount Holly New Jersey. This leaves the smaller Hessian garrison at Trenton isolated over Christmas. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: A Crisis of Peace: George Washington, the Newburgh Conspiracy, and the Fate of the American Revolution, by David Head due to be released Dec. 3, 2019 Online Recommendation of the Week: revolutionarywar.us Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Continental Army struggle to keep itself alive at the end of 1776, Thomas Paine writes The American Crisis to rally Americans to fight the British and Hessians. Visit my site at blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Thomas Paine: Collected Writings: Common Sense / The Crisis / Rights of Man / The Age of Reason / Pamphlets, Articles, and Letters, by Eric Foner (ed) Online Recommendation of the Week: Project Gutenberg's "The Writings of Thomas Paine" https://www.gutenberg.org/files/31270/31270-h/31270-h.htm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the winter of 1776-77, Patriots attempt to capture Fort Cumberland and bring Nova Scotia into the rebellion. Also, the British capture Newport Rhode Island to use as a winter port for the navy. Generals Clinton and Percy return to Britain. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Siege of Fort Cumberland, 1776: An Episode in the American Revolution, by Ernest Clarke Online Recommendation of the Week: Memoir of Jonathan Eddy on Archive.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the British Army sweeps across New Jersey, it captures Signer Richard Stockton and General Charles Lee. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Charles Lee: Self Before Country, by Dominick Mazzagetti Online Recommendation of the Week: Facebook Group American History Fanatics: https://www.facebook.com/groups/887419261386444 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Washington completes his retreat to Pennsylvania by early December 1776. The British slowly force the march but do not attempt to capture the Continentals. Washington's subordinate generals fail to come to his assistance. He discovers his own personal aid has lost faith in his leadership. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Long Retreat: The Calamitous Defense of New Jersey, 1776 by Arthur S Lefkowitz. Online Recommendation of the Week: Correspondence of Charles, first Marquis Cornwallis, Vol. 1 By Charles Ross (ed). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Aitken, a petty criminal in Britain, schemes to burn down all of the Naval portyards in England to cripple the British Navy. He hopes to become a hero of the American cause. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: John the Painter: Terrorist of the American Revolution, by Jessica Warner Online Recommendation of the Week: The Life of James Aitken Commonly Called John the Painter, by John Wilkes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Continental Congress makes no real progress approving Articles of Confederation and has trouble supporting its own army. It sends a delegation to France to get an alliance with France. Congress sends Benjamin Franklin to join Arthur Lee and Silas Deane in France, with all three receiving official commissions. Before the commissions arrive, Deane has great difficulty getting any French aid to America. Lee's interference even raises doubts in the French government about whether Deane has any legitimate authority at all to negotiate on behalf of Congress. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: A Diplomatic History of the American Revolution, by Jonathan Dull Online Recommendation of the Week: The Crossing and Ten Crucial Days - The Musical https://www.thecrossingmusical.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A British and Hessian force led by Lord Cornwallis storms Fort Lee in New Jersey, forcing the Continental Army led by George Washington to flee further south. The two armies spend days moving through cold rain and muddy roads. The Continentals continue to retreat back toward Philadelphia as the British take Newark. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Day is Ours by William Dwyer Online Recommendation of the Week: Revolutionary War New Jersey, https://RevolutionaryWarNewJersey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Washington ignores British General Howe's repeated hints that he needs to evacuate Fort Washington. Instead, he leaves the decision up to General Nathanael Greene. The British capture the Fort along with 3000 officers and men, the Continental Army's greatest loss in the first part of the war. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Washington's General: Nathanael Greene and the Triumph of the American Revolution, by Terry Golway Online Recommendation of the Week: The British History Podcast https://www.thebritishhistorypodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British under General Howe continue to push back the Continentals under General Washington, slowly nudging them off Manhattan island, but refusing to surround them or force a major battle. Eventually the Continentals are forced to retreat to New Jersey. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Narrative of a Revolutionary War Soldier, by Joseph Plumb Martin Online Recommendation of the Week: PBS Liberty: https://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Benedict Arnold avoids almost certain capture near Valcour Island with a daring night move. The British fleet catches up with him, but Arnold is able to ground most of his ships and escape overland back to Fort Ticonderoga. The British, after reaching Crown Point, decide it is too late to begin a siege of Ticonderoga. Instead, they return to Canada with plans to return in the spring. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution, by Nathaniel Philbrick. Online Recommendation of the Week: Based on a True Story Podcast https://www.basedonatruestorypodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Benedict Arnold forces the British fleet to attack him at the location of his choosing, near Valcour Island. His smaller and less experience force performs well during the battle, but then finds itself trapped by the British. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Battle of Valcour Island: The Participants and Vessels of Benedict Arnold's 1776 Defense of Lake Champlain, by Stephen Darley Online Recommendation of the Week: Univ. of Groningen American History http://www.let.rug.nl/usa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the Continental Army evacuates and the British occupy New York City, a night fire burns a quarter of the town. The British capture Captain Nathan Hale and hang him as a spy. The Americans court martial a deserter. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The British Are Coming, by Rick Atkinson Online Recommendation of the Week: https://jstor.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

France makes plans for covert aid to America. Silas Deane arrives to encourage such aid. French foreign minister puts him in contact with a playwright and part-time arms dealer name Beaumarchais. The British spy network immediately infiltrate all of this to thwart their plans. Also, others from America and in France attempt to block the attempt for personal reasons. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Unlikely Allies: How a Merchant, a Playwright, and a Spy Saved the American Revolution, by Joel Richard Paul Online Recommendation of the Week: https://TheFrenchHistoryPodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British land at Kip's Bay on Manhattan, scattering the patriot defenders. A few days later, British advance forces run into more effective resistance at Harlem Heights. While the British capture the island, they allow the Continental army to escape to the north. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Revolution on the Hudson, by George C. Daughan Online Recommendation of the Week: https://mountvernon.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British spend months putting together a fleet to crush the Americans on Lake Champlain and retake Fort Ticonderoga. Generals Carleton and Burgoyne do not get along and create a divided command. Those divisions, however, are nothing compared the divisions on the American site where Generals Schuyler and Gates fight to control the northern Continental Army. General Arnold also fights with a court martial, which tries to hold him in contempt. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Benedict Arnold's Navy, by James Nelson. Online Recommendation of the Week: Dispatches Podcast, with Brady Critzer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After capturing Brooklyn and Long Island General Howe and Admiral Howe halt their military offensive for two weeks. During that time, they invite three members of the Continental Congress to discuss the possibility of a negotiated peace. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Stop the Revolution: America in the Summer of Independence and the Conference for Peace, by Thomas J. McGuire Online Recommendation of the Week: Industrial Revolutions Podcast https://industrialrevolutionspod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Continental Army attempts to blow up the HMS Eagle in New York Harbor in September 1776. Using the work of David Bushnell and a small team, attempts to attach an underwater mine after reaching the ship using a one man submarine. The explosive fails to attach and the mission is a failure. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Turtle: David Bushnell's Revolutionary Vessel, by Roy R. Manstan and Frederic J. Frese Online Recommendation of the Week: American Heritage https://www.americanheritage.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British land 20,000 men on Long Island. Using a flanking maneuver, they easily kill, capture, and scatter the inexperienced Americans. Just as the regulars and Hessians appear to inflict the final death blow, British general Howe calls a halt to the assault. He fears sending his troops against the dug in Continentals along the East River. Instead, he opts for a slow advance of digging entrenchments. The British delay, along with the luck of weather, allows the Americans to escape back to Manhattan Island. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Battle of Brooklyn, 1776, By John J. Gallagher. Online Recommendation of the Week: American Battlefield Trust https://www.battlefields.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

British Indian Agents encourage the Cherokee to attack the colonies in rebellion. Cherokee tribes along the western frontiers of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia coordinate their attacks for about the same time the British attack the Carolina coast. After the British attack founders at Fort Sullivan and they abandon the south, the Americans are able to focus on the Cherokee and the Tories fighting with them. Fighting is brutal on both sides. Civilians are murdered. Men, women, and children are tortured. Neither side shows much interest in taking prisoners. After nearly a year of fighting, the Cherokee sue for peace. A new treaty forces them to give up millions of acres and move further west. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: A Demand of Blood: The Cherokee War of 1776, by Nadia Dean. Online Recommendation of the Week: https://www.ncpedia.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The British get off to a late start, not assembling their massive invasion force at New York until August 1776. When they disembark on Staten Island, the Continentals see the largest overseas military force Britain had ever assembled. The British fleet sails past ineffective Continental defenses. Admiral Howe attempts to begin peace talks without any luck. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Under the Guns New York 1775-1776, by Bruce Bliven Online Recommendation of the Week: revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We review the Declaration line by line and explain what it means. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence, by Pauline Maier Online Recommendation of the Week: Revolutions Podcast, by Mike Duncan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Continental Congress appoints a committee headed by Thomas Jefferson to draft a declaration while debate over independence continues. After Congress approves the Declaration with modifications, it is distributed to the world, then later signed. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendations of the Week: What Did the Declaration Declare, by Joseph Ellis (ed) & The Fourth of July and the Founding of America, by Peter de Bolla Online Recommendation of the Week: Ben Franklin's World Podcast with Liz Covart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spring of 1776, the Second Continental Congress struggles to reach a unanimous vote on independence. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Signing Their Lives Away, by by Denise Kiernan and Joseph D'Agnese Online Recommendation of the week: Online Liberty Library oll.libertyfund.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Radicals in Philadelphia overthrow the conservative colonial government. They install radicals just in time to get Pennsylvania to support independence. For more text, pictures, maps, and sources, please visit my site at AmRevPodcast.Blogspot.com. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Revolution Is Now Begun: The Radical Committees of Philadelphia, 1765-1776, by Richard Alan Ryerson Online Recommendation of the Week archive.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Henry Clinton and Commodore Peter Parker attempt to capture Fort Sullivan in the harbor of Charleston South Carolina. Although Continental General Charles Lee attempts to abandon the fort, the fort commander Colonel William Moultrie refuses. The British fail take the fort and must retreat back to New York without any military success. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week Crescent Moon Over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty, by C. L. Bragg, 2013. Online Recommendation of the Week: www.carolana.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Sullivan takes command in Canada, only to be overwhelmed by the British reinforcements commanded by Generals Carleton and Burgoyne. The Continentals attack the British at Three Rivers, only to be repelled. Even more devastating is smallpox still ravaging the army. With General Arnold's assistance the Army successfully retreats back to New York largely intact. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elements of the Continental Navy as well as a hoard of privateers harass and battle with the British Navy up and down the East coast. Naval Commodore John Barry emerges and an early naval hero. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Washington struggles to set up defenses in New York despite Tories all around him. The Continental army riots with NY Prostitutes after they murder two soldiers. The Army discovers and shuts down a plot to murder Washington ahead of the British invasion. One soldier is hanged and mayor David Mathews is taken into custody. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the Declaration of Independence, most of the remaining States adopt new Constitutions. We examine why Massachusetts took so long and why Connecticut and Rhode Island did not even bother with one. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1775 and 1776, even before officially declaring independence, the colonies begin adopting constitutions. We see many of the principles later found in the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution showing up in these first attempts at self-government. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General John Thomas takes command of Continental forces around Quebec. Despite his efforts, the Continentals must withdraw as the British relief fleet arrives in spring 1776. An American force surrenders to an inferior force at an outpost known as the Cedars, leading to scandal and courts martial. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the months between the time the British evacuate Boston and land in New York, Washington had plenty of time to work with his army to build up defenses around New York City and to confer with leaders in Philadelphia. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The North Ministry settles on a plan to send an overwhelming force. They will shock and awe the colonists into submission. General Howe will command an army of 32,000 regulars and Hessians supported by his brother Admiral Howe commanding over 10,000 sailors and Marines. A secondary force of 8000 under General Burgoyne will go to Quebec and fall under the command of General Carleton. The Howe brothers will capture and occupy New York City, then expand out from there. They also will serve as Peace Commissioners, with limited authority to grant pardons once the rebels submit to proper authority in London. Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices