American Revolution Podcast

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 source...

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 tencru...

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 Sta...

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 http...

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 / Pam...

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 For...

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...

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...

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...

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 A...

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...

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...

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: Nar...

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...

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 Islan...

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...

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....

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...

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 cour...

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: Am...

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. B...

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 entrench...

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 figh...

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. AmRevPodca...

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 mega...