American Revolution Podcast

An interview with author James Kirby Martin who recently wrote about the Saratoga Campaign in the new book The 10 Key Campaigns of the America Revolution.   Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for a transcript of our discussion, as well as pictures, maps, and links to more books by James Kirby Martin. Contact me via email at mtroy.history@gmail.com Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevP...

Following the victory at Saratoga, political leaders consider the idea of replacing General George Washington with General Horatio Gates as Commander in Chief. Several ambitious officers within the Continental Army support the move. Congress appoints Gates to head the Board of War, where he can make strategy and give orders to Washington. Very quickly other top officers in the army make clear that...

In the weeks following the battle of Germantown, the Continentals camp at Whitemarsh, only a few miles from the British lines. There, they set up defenses and prepare for another battle. Washington deploys Alexander Hamilton to see Horatio Gates in NY, in an attempt to get Gates to send reinforcements. The army also tries and cashiers Gen. Adam Stephen following accusations from Germantown. Congre...

With the British Army in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress moves to Lancaster, Pa, and then to York. There, they have to fight off defeatism while many delegates, including President John Hancock, return home.   The Congress does finally finish its proposed Articles of Confederation, which it sends to the state for ratification. News of the victory at Saratoga help raise everyone's spirits. V...

The Hessians under Col. von Donop fail to capture Fort Mercer following an aggressive attack. The British focus on Fort Mifflin, subjecting the garrison to a massive artillery barrage for days. Eventually the surviving defenders make a nighttime escape to Fort Mercer. Following the loss of Fort Mifflin and expecting a second assault on Fort Mercer, the garrison there abandons the fort and moves to...

An interview with author Kurt Avard, about his new novel First, Do No Harm. In 17th Century Vienna, a local watchman discovers a dead body outside of Stephansdom Cathedral. He soon realizes that the black plague is sweeping across the city. He must determine: Is there a medical cure that will stop this illness from devastating the population? or is the plague the result of other-worldly beings bri...

After capturing Philadelphia in 1777, the British spend weeks trying to open the Delaware River so that the navy can supply the occupying army. The Americans spent years installing barriers and forts to make the approach difficult and dangerous. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: The Pennsylvani...

After failing to push through the American Lines, British General Burgoyne holds out for a relief force from New York City. Although the British attack Kingston, NY as a distraction, the Continental Army keeps its focus on Burgoyne's army. Finally, with no options left, General Burgoyne agrees to a surrender.  General Gates agrees to generous terms, promising to send Burgoyne's army back to Englan...

The British under General Johnny Burgoyne make a desperate push against the Americans under the command of General Horatio Gates on Bemis Heights, in upstate New York. General Benedict Arnold defies Gates' orders to stay away. Instead, he leads the Americans to victory before being shot down near the end of the day. The British are forced to withdraw and remain trapped.   Visit my site at https://...

British General Sir Henry Clinton makes a desperate attempt to distract the Continental Army facing General Burgoyne in the upper Hudson Valley. Clinton captures Forts Clinton and Montgomery but fails to cause any of the Continentals under Horatio Gates to turn focus away from Burgoyne. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book R...

Special Episode: Discussion with Dr. Ronald S. Gibbs on Medicine and the American Revolution Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Dr. Gibbs' Novel: The Long Shot: The Secret History of 1776 (2020). Dr. Gibbs' Website https://ronaldsgibbs.com   Contact me via email at mtroy.history@gmail.com Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevPod...

On October 4, 1777 the Continental Army attacks the main British Army at Germantown, several days after the British occupied Philadelphia. General Washington attempts a complex four pronged assault on the British camp. The attack falls part as units get lost in the heavy fog and the attackers turn their focus on taking a stone house on the edge of the battlefield. This gives British forces time to...

As General Burgoyne's British army faces off against General Gates' Continentals near Saratoga, Colonel John Brown leads an attack on the British rear at Fort Ticonderoga. The Continentals fail to capture the fort, but take 300 prisoners and thrown the British supply lines into disarray. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book...

The British army under General Burgoyne finds itself increasingly isolated. On the American side, General Gates replaces General Schuyler as commander of the northern army. Gate's picks a fight with General Arnold while setting up defenses to take on the British. The British assault at Freeman's Farm forces the Americans to pull back to their defensive lines in heights, but also leaves the British...

As the British Army plans its final assault on Philadelphia, the continentals leave an army in the British rear to harass them. This army, led by General Anthony Wayne, took a position near Paoli Tavern. A British force led by General Charles Grey attacked the continentals at night, using bayonets to dispatch the enemy silently. Most of the Continentals fled into the dark woods.     Following the...

Following the American loss at Brandywine, Congress reevaluates its officers. At the same time, Gen. Washington prepares to rally for the next confrontation.  The Continentals and British advance on each other near White Horse Tavern. As they prepare for a major battle, a terrible rain storm floods the field and damages most of the gunpowder. General Washington uses the opportunity to pull back ac...

General Washington sets his defenses along Brandywine Creek, hoping to prevent General Howe's advance on Philadelphia.   Howe sent his Hessians under General von Knyphausen against the Continental lines. At the same time Howe marched his regulars further north where he crossed the creek and marched against the Continental right flank. The Continentals put up a good fight against the British assaul...

The British Fleet deploys an army of over 15,000 British and Hessian soldiers at Head of Elk, Maryland. It takes the army several days to unload and to recover from the long journey. The Americans move to Wilmington Delaware as they scouted out the enemy. The armies clash several days later at Cooch's Bridge before the British move into Pennsylvania. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com...

Over the summer of 1777, native tribes along the western frontier attack American settlements. In August, they attack Fort Henry in Virginia. After a sustained attack, the garrison receives reinforcements and forces the attackers to abandon the siege. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Year of t...

German troops under Col. Friedrich Baum are defeated by the militia raised by General John Stark near Bennington. Later that same day, Stark's forces defeat a relief column under the command of Col. Von Breymann. 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 Bennington: Soldiers & Civilians,...

With a demoralized and shrinking Continental Army facing General Burgoyne's invasion of upstate New York, New Englanders turn to a disaffected former Continental colonel, John Stark, to form a militia army. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Stark; The Life and Wars of John Stark, French and Ind...

On August 22, 1777, the Americans launch two independent raids on British defenses around New York City. General Sullivan leads an attack on Staten Island, while General Putnam orders a raid on Setauket, Long Island. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on this topic. Book Recommendation of the Week: Lost British Forts of Long Island, by David...

General Nicholas Herkimer leads a militia relief force to save Fort Stanwix. A native an militia force form St. Leger's Army ambushes the relief force in the bloody battle of Oriskany. The relief force retreats and the siege continues. Days later, General Benedict Arnold leads a relief force to the fort. After the enemy believes exaggerated numbers of Arnold's army, the force under St. Leger flees...

As General Burgoyne Launches his Campaign from Canada into upstate New York, General Barry St. Leger leads a second army made up primarily of Native Americans and Loyalists through Western New York's Mohawk Valley. St. Leger planned to capture Fort Stanwix, then link up with Burgoyne's army at Albany. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcast.com for more text, pictures, maps, and sources on thi...

General William Howe gets a late start to the 1777 fighting campaign, not leaving New York City until the end of July. He opts to sail all they way to Virginia and then up the Chesapeake Bay to land in Maryland, with Philadelphia as his goal. Weeks of the British Army at sea leave the Continentals perplexed and guessing at what the ultimate goal would be. Visit my site at https://blog. AmRevPodcas...