Emerging Revolutionary War

Much has been written about the “shot heard around the world,” as the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson eloquently wrote in the 19th century. Yet, what about those actual shots? The musket balls fired on April 19, 1775? What was the damage, and how does this material culture history add to our overall understanding of the events that unfolded on that fateful day? Thanks to historian Joel Bohy, who is part...

Join us as we sit down to discuss the 250th anniversary of the capture of Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775, a pivotal moment during the early days of the Revolutionary War. We will be joined by Stuart Lilie, Vice President of Public History, Fort Ticonderoga. We will discuss Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold and the Green Mountain Boys.

Join historians Rob Orrison, Mark Maloy with Maureen Wiese and J. Michael Moore as we discuss the events leading up to the April 21, 1775 Powder Incident in Williamsburg, VA. A few days after Lexington and Concord (unknown to the Virginians at the time), Governor Lord Dunmore removed powder from the magazine in Williamsburg. This event led Patrick Henry to lead militia towards Williamsburg and pos...

Join Emerging Revolutionary War historians and special guests as we discuss the events of April 18-19, 1775 and learn about sites and events to see the anniversary weekend. Grab a drink as we have a fun round robin on everything Lexington and Concord!

"He said to his friend, "If the British march By land or sea from the town to-night, Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch Of the North Church tower as a signal light,-- One, if by land, and two, if by sea;" These famous words from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem about Paul Revere's ride recount the important role the Old North Church played in the events leading up to t...

Join us as we chat with historian and author Robert Dunkerly about the role that women played in the Southern Campaigns. Most of us know about the story of Molly Pitcher but the women of the Southern Campaigns have been mostly over looked. Grab a drink and listen in as we uncover many untold stories and little known events that show the complexity of the American Revolution. 

Join us as we welcome Stephen Wilson, Executive Director with the St. John's Foundation as we discuss the Second Virginia Convention. Mostly known for Patrick Henry's famous "Give me Liberty or Give me Death" speech, the Second Virginia Convention that was held at St. John's Church in Richmond and was instrumental in changing the narrative in early 1775. Virginia's leader...

Join us as we sit down with the curatorial staff of the National Museum of the United States Army, Chief Curator Paul Morando and Adam Zielinski, to discuss the upcoming new special exhibition to commemorate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday in 2025, and our nation’s declaration of independence in 2026. This new landmark exhibit will include a rare collection of Revolutionary War artifacts from the o...

We are excited to welcome historian and author J.L. Bell. Few know more about the events around Boston in 1775 than Bell. His blog, Boston 1775 is the most detailed and researched source on everything Boston 1775 (and before and after 1775). As we approach the 250th anniversary of Lexington and Concord, we will continue our on going discussion about the events leading up to the first shots at Lexi...

In July 2024, Minute Man National Historical Park announced the discovery of five musket balls fired at Concord’s North Bridge on April 19, 1775. Park Ranger Jarrad Fuoss joins Emerging Revolutionary War for a behind-the-scenes look at how the bullets were unearthed and will also provide a preview of the park’s 250th anniversary events this April.

Join us as we welcome historian and author Gary Ecelbarger to discuss his new two volume study of George Washington between July 4, 1777 and July 4, 1778. During this momentous year, Washington faced the British army at major engagements at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He also spent the winter at Valley Forge. Ecelbarger breaks down this year into two volumes. The first volume, which cove...

Many have heard of Paul Revere’s ride to Lexington and the shot heard round the world at Concord (and Lexington) but few know about the December 1774 raid and skirmish at Fort William and Mary in New Castle, New Hampshire. Here, inspired by news from Paul Revere, local militia attacked and captured a small British garrison at Fort William and Mary. Join us as we welcome Dr. Cynthia Hatch to discus...

Revolution started on the green at Lexington and North Bridge in Concord, the bloodiest part of April 19, 1775 took place in the community of Menotomy (modern day Arlington). Join us as we welcome Matt Beres from the Arlington Historical Society. We will discuss the viciousness of the fighting on the afternoon of April 19th along the road back to Boston, including stories like the Jason Russell Ho...

For nearly five years we have been bringing you our Rev War Revelry podcasts. In the beginning, these podcasts were just our ERW team chatting about topics in early American history. We thought it be good to get the band back together again and catch up on all our projects, debate history and make fun of Mark Maloy’s love of the movie Patriot. Grab a drink and join in the discussion

Emerging Revolutionary War ventures to the west to discuss the recently published book, “Till the Extinction of this Rebellion, George Rogers Clark, Frontier Warfare, and the Illinois Campaign of 1778-1779.” The author, Eric Sterner, is a contributor to the  Emerging Revolutionary War,  along with the author of  An Anatomy of a Massacre: The Destruction of Gnadenhutten ,  1782.  When not writing h...

Although 1781 is most known for the pivotal and successful victory at Yorktown, action in the American Revolution unfolded throughout the eastern seaboard. In early September 1781, Benedict Arnold returned to the land of his birth to lead a raid on New London and the port that harbored preying privateers. During this raid, the American militia under Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard especially, s...

Commemorating the 250th anniversary of Dunmore's War, we welcome good friend Dr. Glenn Williams to discuss the last conflict of America's colonial era. Known to history as “Dunmore’s War,” the 1774 campaign against a Shawnee-led Indian confederacy in the Ohio Country marked the final time an American colonial militia took to the field in His Majesty’s service and under royal command. Led b...

Join us as we welcome Dr. Steven Smith as he discusses his new book "The Battles of Fort Watson and Fort Motte, 1781." Dr. Smith will discuss the history of four critical weeks from April 12 until May 12, 1781, in which the tide of the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War turned in favor of the Americans. Focusing on General Francis Marion’s and Colonel Henry Lee’s capture of two k...

When Washington set the world on fire... George Washington has frequently been criticized for his first military campaign, which sparked the French and Indian War. This backwoods campaign between British and French colonials eventually grew into the Seven Years’ War, a global conflict between these European empires. In 1754 Washington was an ambitious yet inexperienced young officer, eager to carr...

On February 27, 1776 Patriot and Loyalist forces faced off at Moores Creek Bridge in southeastern North Carolina. Loyalist forces anticipated support from a British army arriving along the North Carolina coast and planned to use this combination force to return British authority in North Carolina. Though, when help did not arrive, a mixed bag of North Carolina Patriots turned back an attack at Moo...

We welcome back historian and author Alex Cain. Alex is a well known expert on everything Lexington, Massachusetts (among many other topics) and hosts a well researched blog: Historical Nerdery. Alex’s book,  We Stood Our Ground: Lexington in the First Year of the American Revolution  is highly recommended by ERW for a detailed account of Lexington and its role in the beginning of the American Rev...

Join us as we sit down with producer Mark O’Rourke, to discuss an important film project focusing on the battles of Saratoga. “Saratoga 1777: The Turning Point” is a noble, veteran-owned independent feature film project dedicated to bringing the compelling story of how the victories at Bennington and Saratoga kept the sacred flame of liberty from being extinguished during one of the darkest hours...

Join us as we continue to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the events that led to the American Revolution. We welcome Executive Director Michael Norris to discuss the historic Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia and the role it played in hosting the First Continental Congress. The First Continental Congress convened in Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between September 5 and Oc...

Join us for a chat with Doug Cubbison, Board President of the Braddock Road Preservation Association. We will discuss all things involving the group’s work to preserve and educate the public about the story of the French and Indian War in Western Pennsylvania. The Braddock Road Preservation Association is an advisory organization that seeks to research, develop, interpret and promote the French an...

Join us as we welcome back historian and author J.L. Bell. We discuss the events in Boston and Massachusetts in 1774 after the passing of the now popularly called “Intolerable Acts” in response to the Boston Tea Party. A time of political, social and economic upheaval for everyone in the colony, the events that transpired had big impacts across all the colonies and set the stage for April 19, 1775...