American Revolution Podcast

Latest Episodes:

ARP173 Treaties with France Nov 01, 2020

Show notes

In 1778, the American Commissioners in Paris convince French King Louis XVI to sign a treaty of alliance and a treaty of amity and commerce, recognizing the US as an independent nation. The revelation of this alliance forces Britain to declare war on France.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Ten Key Campaigns of the American Revolution, Mark Edward Lender, ed.

Online Recommendation of the Week: The Treaties of 1778, and Allied Documents: https://archive.org/details/treatiesof1778al00fran

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ARP172 Winter at Valley Forge Oct 25, 2020

Show notes

Washington's Continentals suffer a lack of food, clothing and shelter as it struggles to get through the winter at Valley Forge. At the same time, it must contest a British move into Darby in search of forage. Captain "light horse Harry" Lee distinguishes himself during this time. Americans also capture a British ship on the Delaware river. Washington fights with Congress to get what he needs to maintain and train his army.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge, by Thomas Fleming.

Online Recommendation of the Week: The History of Valley Forge, by Henry Woodman: https://archive.org/details/historyofvalleyf00wood

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AR-SP03 James Kirby Martin on the Saratoga Campaign Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

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.

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ARP171 Conway Cabal Oct 18, 2020

Show notes

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 these changes are unacceptable. Gates also fails to impress by organizing a new invasion of Quebec, which must be aborted before it even began.

After several months, Congress ends up backing Washington as commander and drops any idea of replacing him.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: Cabal!: The Plot Against General Washington, by Mark E. Lender.

Online Recommendation of the Week: Lender discusses the Cabal with Brady Crytzer on the Dispatches Podcast: https://jardispatches.podbean.com/e/e34-mark-edward-lender-cabal-the-plot-against-general-washington

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ARP170 Whitemarsh Oct 11, 2020

Show notes

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. Congress orders the Continental Navy to sink several ships on the Delaware river to prevent their capture.

After several weeks, the British army advance on the Continentals at Whitemarsh, but find the lines too well defended. After the British return to Philadelphia, the Continentals move into winter quarters at Valley Forge.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow.

Online Recommendation of the Week: Whitemarsh; an address delivered before the Pennsylvania society of Sons of the revolution at Whitemarsh, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1909, by Charles Henry Jones, https://archive.org/details/whitemarshaddres00jone_0

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ARP169 Articles of Confederation Oct 04, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Continental Congress, by Edmund Cody Burnette.

Online Recommendation of the Week: Articles of Confederation, as adopted Nov. 15, 1777, transcript: https://www.ourdocuments.gov/print_friendly.php?flash=false&page=transcript&doc=3&title=Transcript+of+Articles+of+Confederation

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ARP168 Forts Mercer and Mifflin Sep 27, 2020

Show notes

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 rejoin the main Continental Army. Any remaining American naval vessels on the river are burned to prevent their capture by the enemy. With that, the Delaware River is freed from impediments

Another force under General Lafayette attacks a Hessian outpost at Gloucester, inflicting more casualties. It reminds the British that its outposts are still threatened.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: Fight for the Delaware, by Samuel Stelle Smith

Online Recommendation of the Week: Ann C. Whitall, the heroine of Red Bank by Isabella and Wallace McGeorge: https://archive.org/details/anncwhitallheroi04mcge

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AR-SP02 Author Kurt Avard on his book "First, Do No Harm" Sep 23, 2020

Show notes

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 bringing God’s wrath to a sinful people? Author Kurt Avard takes readers on a journey through a society still emerging from medieval Europe to embrace enlightenment. The struggle between religion and science breaks into open warfare as a determined group searches for a way to end this terrible suffering. First, Do No Harm releases on September 25, 2020. Pre-order your book on Amazon today.

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ARP167 Defending the Delaware Sep 20, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Pennsylvania Navy: Defending the Delaware 1775-1781, by John W. Jackson.

Online Recommendation of the Week: Ford, Worthington C. Defences of Philadelphia in 1777, Brooklyn: Historical Printing Club, 1897: https://archive.org/details/defencesofphilad00ford

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ARP166 Surrender at Saratoga Sep 13, 2020

Show notes

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 England. However, the Continental Congress refuses to comply with those terms and keeps the army prisoner for the remainder of the war.

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Book Recommendation of the Week: The Generals of Saratoga: John Burgoyne and Horatio Gates, by Max M. Mintz, 1990.

Online Recommendation of the Week: HistoryAuthorTalks.com

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