AmericanRevolution's podcast

In this episode we are concluding the Saratoga campaign with Burgoyne's retreat and surrender.  This victory will fundamentally change the outlook of the war in several ways.  

We are back talking about Burgoyne and his army.  After the bloody battle he had with the Americans on September 19th Burgoyne is planning his next move.  After lingering for a couple of weeks the British stumble into another battle with the Americans.

I just wanted to take a few minutes to to let you know about a plan for some future episodes after we finish the Saratoga campaign.

In this episode we talk about the forts Montgomery and Clinton and the 3 Clinton's that will do battle there.  Yes I said three, though a footnote to the Saratoga Campaign it is important to mention the events that will take place in the Hudson Highlands.

Burgoyne begins moving his army from Fort Miller, he has to find the best way to by pass the American army or overtake them.  Gates and the Continentals are ready if the British come they will make them pay for it.

Not that we have finally gotten to through all of the other side stories.  We will begin looking at the armies on either side are fairing 

In this episode we are looking at two events that act as a catalyst for the coming battle of Saratoga.  

In this episode we will conclude the discussion about what is going on in the Mohawk Valley.  We are looking at the siege of Fort Stanwix and how this will be a key moment in the war in the north.  

Returning after a long hiatus we are picking up where we left off.  I review the start of the mohawk expedition to set the stage for the Battle of Oriskany.  A relief force of local patriots coming to the aid of the Fort Stanwix will face off with Tories and their Indians allies in one of the bloodier battles of the Frontier.

We are shifting our focus from Burgoyne's Army to the expeditionary force under Colonel Barry St. Ledger.  The plan was for them to move down the valley along the Mohawk River and meet up with Burgoyne at Albany.  First however St. Ledger would have to take Fort Stanwix.

Things are heating up in upstate New York, as Burgoyne moves south he decides to allow a contingent of men go in search of supplies.  Under the command of a German Colonel a mixed force of Germans, British, Tories and Indians run into a force of Vermont and New Hampshire militia at a small town called Bennington.

Burgoyne is poised to march on Schuyler at Fort Edward but the wily General has a plan that will help change the fortunes of the American army.

The American army is about to be trapped inside Fort Ticonderoga, if the Army is lost so are the hopes of American Revolution.  Arthur St. Clair decides that he is going to evacuate the fort as a result two small but important conflicts erupt around Hubbardton and Fort Ann.

Burgoyne Has prepared his army for the march south if they move swiftly they can lay siege to Fort Ticonderoga removing a key military force from the field on his march for Albany.

In this episode we are heading back north to the begin the summer campaign season of 1777.  Arnold and Gates had a very eventful fall and kept the British in the north.  As we begin the campaign season of 1777 there is a new commander for the British and he is looking to make a name for himself.  

From January to March of 1777 there was a small war that was unfolding in rural New Jersey, it was known as the Forage War.  The British were in search of supplies for there winter camps in New Brunswick and Amboy but a series of blitz attacks by the Americans left them wanting through most of the winter.

We are closing up the campaigns of 1776 by talking about the plans of Washington and the Army in winter and early spring of 1777.

Washington won a surprise victory over the Hessians at Trenton the day after Christmas.  He wants to follow up that victory by heading north to New Brunswick but Cornwallis is marching against him at the head of 8,000 men.  Washington is once again going to have to out smart the British if he is going to be successful.

Having successfully crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night Washington now leads his army to Trenton.  The Germans having celebrated the previous night were not ready for the early morning wake up call the Americans had planned.

December 1776 Howe sends a communiqué out to the rest of the army that the British Army would be going into winter quarters.  That sentiment however would not be shared by Washington who plans to launch a surprise attack on the German Troops in Trenton.  On Christmas night Washington crosses with his army to give the Germans a Christmas surprise they will never forget.

We are returning to Washington's Army, the British are planning to head into winter quarters.  Washington is preparing for the defense of Philadelphia, but at the same time there is opportunity to take advantage the British under estimation of the Continental Army.

When last we let the American fleet was in the fight of their lives with the British lake fleet.  With evening coming the Americans were in a tough spot when the morning came the fight would resume.  The fearless leader of the Americans Benedict Arnold decides that the best chance the Americans have is to escape to Crown Pointe.  But would the fleet make it there is the big question.

We are finally at the great battle of lake champlain; will Arnold's ragtag army be able to stand up to an experienced British fleet.  Though the battle is one of the more overlooked subjects in studies of the American Revolution it was one of the most important battles of 1776.

After spending several episodes talking about the American fleet i wanted to take this episode and talk about what was going on with the British fleet.  As the feet comes together it is becoming more obvious that Carleton's nervousness took the British out of the 1776 campaign season.  But he can salvage it by taking out the only force between him and the American stronghold at Fort Ticonderoga.

The American lake navy begins to north for the inevitable showdown with the British; but not before mother nature has something to say.

The fleet building continues in upstate New York and work is beginning to slow down Gates makes a move that will change the dynamic of the Lake Fleet.  Benedict Arnold is made commander in chief of the lake navy, under his leadership the fleet will begin to take shape and start its trek north to face the British.

On either end of Lake Champlain the British and Americans work to get their fleets together.  Both sides understand it's a numbers game whoever can bring the most ships and cannon to bear has the best possibility to win.  

The British are now in control of Canada, the Americans have retreated to Fort Ticonderoga between them is Lake Champlain.  Arms race is underway who ever can build a navy the fastest will have the advantage in the inevitable battle on the lake.

We look at the very last action that takes place in Canada, the Americans would finally be pushed out by the newly arrived British Army.  As they retreat the way the upcoming battles are going to shift from land but to the waterways of upstate New York.

In this episode we are reviewing the Canada campaign as a refresher to set the stage for the next major campaign.  

We are finishing our series on Hudson River fortifications by talking about the chains that crossed the river blocking ships from moving north and their effect.

Fire is a commanding element, in the case of warfare it is a destructive force.  Washington wanted to use this against the British Navy in hopes of chasing them from the Hudson.

As we continue looking at Hudson River defenses we examine a dutch creation chevaux de frise.  Originally used as a calvary defense the Continentals would reengineer them to defend against the British Navy.

Underwater warfare was something that was dreamed about, but thanks to Robert Bushnell those dreams could be realized.  Thanks to him the Continental Army would have the first ever combat submersible.

The Hudson River is vital to the survival of the revolution, the Continental Congress and the New York Commission of Safety look for ways to protect the river from the British Navy.  The first attempt was put in the hands of Bernard Romans.

After White Plains Washington moves his army into New Jersey to Fort Lee.  After the fort is abandoned Washington is chased all the way to the Pennsylvania boarder by Cornwallis.

Fort Washington is the last major conflict in the New York campaign, Washington has to make a choice to keep Fort Washington garrisoned or not.  Though many think that the fort should be abandoned, including Washington, but he is convinced to leave the garrison in place.  Nathan Greene believes that could be held and should be held to protect the Hudson River.

As promised in this episode we are talking about the life and death of Nathan Hale.  Hale is thought of as one of the great heroes of the revolution, but is this a fact or has his legend been built up over time?

Howe's delaying has given Washington much needed time to pull back to the town of White Plains.  When Howe finally does arrive his men grapple with the Americans and again the Americans are more then up for the task.

Howe once again has delayed and the Continentals will use this time to better their position.  When the British tried to flank the Americans they run into a small force of Continentals at Pell's Point. 

In the early morning hours of September 21st a fire breaks out in a New York City tavern before the day is done one quarter of the city is in ashes.  The political, social and economical fall out will be far reaching for New York City and the British Army. 

Washington has retreated to the north end of Manhattan, from Harlem Heights a small skirmish turns into a major conflict.

The Continental Army is at a breaking point the retreat from Long Island has caused panic in the ranks.  The men begin to desert i large numbers, when will the British attack and from where?

We are concluding the battle for Brooklyn Heights, the British are poised to trap the main body of the Continental Army on Long Island.

We begin the largest battle of the American Revolution in a watermelon patch.  The Americans will have to react as best they can to the situation at hand due to the effectiveness of British counter intelligence.

Howe is preparing his army for the invasion of New York arriving on one of the largest fleets seen in the colonies.  He consolidates his force on Staten Island until all pieces are in place.  The Continental Army in the mean time is preparing their defense for the inevitable attack.  

We are heading back to the north as we prepare for the first major campaign for Washington and the main continental army.  Washington's men will frantically work to ready the defenses of the city expecting Howe and his army any day.

June 1776 the congress calls for a vote on the issue of independence. This is one of the most pivotal votes and if they don't have a unanimous decision this could take all the wind out of the movement. Thomas Jefferson will be given the responsibility to write the Declaration.

We continue to follow Clinton's Campaign in the south.  They will attempt to capture the city of Charleston but first they have to silence the fort on Sullivan's Island.

We are moving from the North and begin talking about Henry Clinton moving south to open up another front.

Since talking about Henry Knox and the "Noble Artillery Train," I thought I would take this episode to talk about all the different types of artillery that we would run into on the 18th century battlefield.