Podcasts about cornwallis

Following the lightning-fast two-hour fall of the pete, Lord Cornwallis found himself trapped in a gruelling logistical nightmare against the strongest fortress in Mysore. From March 12 to 20, 1791, the siege of Bangalore Fort became a high-stakes chess match of engineering versus endurance. In the first of this two-part special, Ramjee Chandran details the tactical brilliance of the Madras Sappers, the devastating psychological warfare of Tipu Sultan's advanced iron rocket corps, and the elegant, high-stakes piece of midnight battlefield theatre that set a trap under the noses of the Mysore gunners. Key Details from the Script: The Deceptive Two-Pronged Feint: Immediately following the loss of the pete, Tipu Sultan launched a calculated counterattack led by generals Qamardeen Khan and Syed Sahib. A visible decoy column staged a distant cannonade to the north-east of the fort to distract the British, while Qamardeen quietly swung his primary force around to infiltrate the pete. Cornwallis anticipated the ruse, shifted the 76th and 36th Regiments to intercept them, and inflicted over two thousand Mysorean casualties, forcing a permanent retreat. Turning Geometry Against Stone: On March 12, the methodical, systematic reduction of the fort began under Captain Alexander Kyd of the Bengal Engineers. Rather than a blind bombardment, the Sappers utilised advanced tactical gun placements: enfilade batteries fired along the length of the walls to sweep multiple defensive works at once, while ricochet batteries skipped low-angle cannonballs off the ground to bounce over protective parapets. By March 16, the first major structural cracks emerged east of the Delhi Gate. The Silver-Bearded Aggressor: Defending the fort was Bahadur Khan, an aged killedar revered for his temperate life and a beard where "every hair vied with silver in whiteness." Khan refused to play a passive defense; he launched ferocious sallies (sudden infantry sorties) that inflicted heavy British casualties and successfully used rocket volleys to completely obliterate two of Cornwallis's irreplaceable 18- and 24-pounder heavy siege guns. The Logistics Death Spiral: Beyond the fort walls, Cornwallis faced an absolute crisis of forage. Tipu Sultan's scorched-earth strategy left the surrounding countryside entirely bare, making fodder unbuyable at any price. With hundreds of transport bullocks starving to death daily, the British siege train—dependent on tens of thousands of animals to move heavy shot, water, and artillery—faced a ticking clock toward total collapse. The Ancestor of the National Anthem: The iron-cased Mysore rockets bedeviling the British camp were highly refined explosive weapons stabilised by long bamboo poles. Years later, a British officer named William Congreve would reverse-engineer captured Bangalore designs to create the "Congreve rocket"—the exact weapon used against Napoleon and the historical inspiration behind the "rockets' red glare" in the American national anthem. The Grand Theater of the Phantom Camp: On the night of March 16, Cornwallis acted on a critical intelligence tip. He quietly ordered his cavalry horses and riders down into a natural hollow, rendering them completely invisible to the fort's lookouts. Crucially, he left the empty tents standing. In the darkness, British infantry crawled into the vacated lines, crouching low behind earthworks directly underneath the decoy camp, waiting for the unsuspecting Mysore gunners to open fire on a ghost target at dawn. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

The high-stakes gamble of Cornwallis's ghost camp pays off at dawn, exposing a hidden web of espionage and bribery run by William Read and Thomas Munro within the Mysorean ranks. But as the siege pushes toward its absolute limit, the fate of Bangalore comes down to a desperate midnight assault on March 21, 1791. In the conclusion of this two-part special, Ramjee Chandran chronicles the harrowing final hours of the campaign: the elite "Forlorn Hope" navigating a two-foot-wide causeway under a sky illuminated by Mysorean fireballs, the tragic collapse of an exhausted garrison, and the heroic death of Killedar Bahadur Khan. Key Details from the Script: The Ghost Camp Success: At dawn on March 17, Mysorean gunners unleashed a devastating, carefully targeted artillery salvo directly into Cornwallis's cavalry lines. Though the barrage tore through the canvas tents and churned up the landscape, the tents were entirely empty. Cornwallis's deception saved thousands of cavalry horses from being slaughtered, preserving British mobility for the rest of the campaign. The Espionage of Read and Munro: To bypass the slow Madras administration, Cornwallis relied on Captain William Read and a young, language-proficient officer named Thomas Munro to run a sophisticated network of hircarrahs (intelligence runners). They successfully bribed and cultivated paid informants deep inside Bahadur Khan's own staff, mapping out Mysore's heavy batteries in real-time. (A historical detour: during this period, Munro translated a Persian manuscript containing the "pound of flesh" story that predated Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice). The Arithmetic of Fatigue: Expecting an immediate British assault on March 20, Tipu Sultan threw 700 elite dismounted cavalrymen into the fort as reinforcements. The defenders stayed awake in a state of high alert for over 24 hours, maintaining constant fire. When the assault failed to materialise during the day of the 21st, the garrison succumbed to profound exhaustion—leaving them unable to hold watch when the true midnight attack finally commenced. The Blank Cartridge Deception: On the day of the assault, the British concentrated heavy fire on the towers overlooking the eastern curtain wall breach near the Delhi Gate. For one full hour leading up to the attack, Colonel Giles ordered his men to switch to blank cartridges. The continuous noise and smoke successfully kept the defenders pinned away from the walls while allowing the storming parties to quietly slip into position undetected. The Path of the Forlorn Hope: At 11:00 PM under absolute secrecy, the "Forlorn Hope"—a sergeant, twelve men, two lieutenants, and thirty elite soldiers—led the advance. To reach the breach, they had to cross a narrow, 100-yard causeway that the defenders had cut through, leaving a ledge just two feet wide. Soldiers crossed in single file in total darkness before the fort erupted with defensive blue lights and explosive fireballs that illuminated the night like the noon sun. The Fall and the Tragedy: Led by the Forlorn Hope and supported by the Madras Sappers carrying scaling ladders, the British fought their way up the jagged breach, igniting brutal hand-to-hand combat across the ramparts. Within an hour, the fort fell. In the chaotic aftermath, retreating garrison troops collided with a crowd of sheltering women and children in a narrow gateway; unable to distinguish between them in the dark, British troops killed over 1,400 people. The Death of a Hero: The silver-bearded Killedar, Bahadur Khan, fought to his final breath, sustaining nearly as many wounds "as were inflicted on Caesar in the capitol." Impressed by his gallantry, the British offered his remains to Tipu Sultan, who wept and requested he be buried where he fell. The British buried the veteran defender with full military honors, attended by senior Muslim officers from the British ranks. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

While history books fixate on the dramatic midnight breach of the Bangalore Fort, the entire Mysore campaign was actually decided two weeks earlier in the blood-soaked streets of the commercial city. On March 7, 1791, Lord Cornwallis launched a brutal, house-to-house assault on the Bangalore pete—a fortified manufacturing powerhouse of over a hundred thousand citizens. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran uncovers the terrifying reality of 18th-century urban combat, the tactical genius of the pete's defenses, and the tragic fall of Colonel Moorhouse, whose legendary death at the Yelahanka Gate was immortalized by British art but fundamentally misplaced by history. Key Details from the Script: The Forgotten Metropolis: Most historians skip straight to the fort's midnight breach, but the pete of 1791 was a massive, fortified industrial city in its own right. Inhabited by roughly 108,000 people, it featured its own water grid fed by the Dharmambudhi tank, vast granaries, and a taramandala—one of Tipu Sultan's advanced state armaments factories utilizing water- and wind-driven boring machines. Cornwallis's Two-Phase Gambit: Recognizing that the pete was the logistical heartbeat of the region, Cornwallis calculated that the fort could not be taken first. The British strategy required capturing the marketplace, grain supplies, and repair yards to feed and sustain his starving army before turning their heavy guns on the fortress walls. The Yelahanka Gate Wall of Fire: At dawn on March 7, British redcoats and Bengal sepoys hacked through jungle-like overgrowth to storm the pete. While the Doddapete barricade fell to a swift bayonet charge, the advance ground to a bloody halt at the northern Yelahanka Gate, where Mysore forces unleashed a devastating crossfire from flanking towers and residential rooftops. The Sacrifice of Colonel Moorhouse: Stranded under heavy fire, Colonel Moorhouse—the revered founder of the Madras Sappers—refused to retreat. He brought heavy 18- and 24-pounder siege cannons to point-blank range to deliver a simultaneous shattering salvo against the teak doors. Moorhouse was shot twice in the body, continued commanding, and was killed after two more balls shattered his head and chest. The Whiskers Charge: Moorhouse's guns successfully punched a gap in the masonry just wide enough for one man. As Lieutenant Ayre squeezed through the opening first, the sidelined General Medows casually cheered him on like a spectator at a cricket match, famously shouting to the 36th Regiment Grenadiers: "Well done! Now, whiskers! Support the little gentleman!" before stepping in to take command. Brutal and Secret Urban Warfare: Once inside, the British cleared the narrow lanes, warehouses, and shops in two hours of fierce, undocumented hand-to-hand combat. Though British accounts largely omitted the grim details of the urban slaughter, the pete fell at the cost of 130 British lives, completely undermining Tipu's scorched-earth strategy by handing Cornwallis the markets and water lines he desperately needed. The Historical Error of Robert Home's Painting: Robert Home's masterpiece, "The Death of Colonel Moorhouse," created a centuries-long tradition claiming Moorhouse died at the eastern Ulsoor Gate. Modern historical mapping reveals this is entirely wrong; Moorhouse actually fell at the northern Yelahanka Gate, which stood where the modern Mysore Bank building stands today—miles away from the Ulsoor Gate Police Station. Tipu's Enraged Retaliation: Stunned by the rapid loss of his industrial hub, an enraged Tipu Sultan refused to concede the city. He immediately ordered a massive counterattack, dispatching an entire division from Basavanagudi under General Qamardeen Khan with strict mandates to recapture the pete at all costs. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Impact Without Limits explores the pivotal Battle of Yorktown, the decisive victory that effectively ended the American Revolution. Brian and Dale trace the events that led to the siege, highlighting the leadership of George Washington, the crucial support of French forces under Rochambeau, and the strategic decisions that culminated in Cornwallis's surrender. Along the way, they share fascinating details about the battle, the people involved, and the remarkable chain of events that secured American independence.Beyond the history itself, the brothers reflect on the faith, sacrifice, and perseverance that shaped the founding of the United States. They discuss the importance of understanding America's origins, honoring those who risked everything for freedom, and preserving the principles that have influenced generations. This conversation serves as both a history lesson and an encouragement to explore the nation's story at a deeper level.Episode Highlights: A Revolutionary War turning point.Why Yorktown changed history.Washington, Rochambeau, and the French Alliance.Hamilton's midnight assault.Faith, freedom, and America's founding story.Links Mentioned in Episode/Find More on ForeverLawn:www.foreverlawn.comImpact Without Limits Instagram: @impact_withoutlimitsForeverLawn's Instagram: @foreverlawnincGet Grass Without Limits HereVisit our show notes page HERESubscribe to Our Newsletter HEREDale's Instagram: @dalekarmieBrian's Instagram: @bkarmieFind Our Shorts on the ForeverLawn YouTube ChannelVisit the American Battlefield Trust WebsiteVisit the White House Freedom 250 WebsiteWatch the Live Free Podcast hosted by Josh HowertonYou've Been Lied to About America's History EpisodeView Hillsdale's Online CoursesCheck out PragerU's ContentThis show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

In February 1791, Charles Cornwallis marched out of Fort St. George with a singular obsession: total redemption for his humiliating defeat at Yorktown. His target was Bangalore, the heavily fortified, stone-hewn "gatekeeper" of the Mysore plateau. But moving a massive army of twenty-one thousand troops, sixty-seven war elephants, and an unyielding battering train required an astronomical forty thousand bullocks—all racing against a strict four-month window before the monsoons turned the roads to impassable mud. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran details Cornwallis's brilliant flanking manoeuver through the narrow Mugali Pass, a thick morning fog that brought two rival armies face-to-face, a bloody cavalry clash, and the tactical miscalculation by Tipu Sultan that brought the legendary Madras Sappers to the unbroken walls of Bangalore. Key Details from the Script: The Invisible Plaque: Hidden on the curved stone masonry of the Delhi Gate at Bangalore Fort, a tiny plaque marks the exact spot where the British broke through on March 21, 1791—an event that fundamentally birthed the cantonments and modern layout of the city today. The bustling modern road beneath it was once the fort's formidable defensive moat. The Ghost of Yorktown: Driven by the lingering shame of surrendering to George Washington a decade prior, Cornwallis refused to manage this war from a distant desk. He took personal, aggressive command from the front, determined to establish an advanced base at Bangalore to permanently break Tipu Sultan. The Logistics of an Empire: The scale of the British marching column was staggering. Accompanied by thousands of camp followers, it included a massive artillery train of eighteen-pounder siege guns—each weighing two and a half tons. Managing forty thousand bullocks that required constant fodder and water meant Cornwallis had to conquer Bangalore before the June monsoons arrived. The Mugali Pass Deception: Expecting the British to use the predictable southern entry points like the Gajalhatti Pass, Tipu Sultan concentrated his forces there. Cornwallis executed a brilliant feint, feigning south before pivoting sharply north to haul his heavy guns up the narrow Mugali Pass defile, bloodlessly placing his entire army onto the high ground of the Mysore plateau. The Vanishing Fog: As the British advanced rapidly, capturing Kolar and Hoskote, Tipu's guerrilla horsemen—the irregular "looties"—harassed their flanks under the cover of dense, blinding fog. On March 5, the mist suddenly lifted like a cinematic reveal, leaving both massive armies staring directly at one another across a narrow, unpassable marsh. A Bloody Prelude: The standoff shattered the next morning on March 6 when Tipu's forces ambushed a British detachment. A fierce counter-charge by British cavalry was devastated by Mysorean rockets and musketry. Senior British commander Colonel Floyd was shot in the face and narrowly rescued by a corporal, leaving the British with over two hundred men dead and three hundred irreplaceable horses lost. Tipu's Fatal Miscalculation: Believing the thick stone walls of Bangalore Fort could endure a prolonged siege that would exhaust British supplies, Tipu left the fortress under the command of his Killedar, Bahadur Khan, and 8,000 troops. Tipu retreated to Kengeri to orchestrate external ambushes. However, he failed to gauge the unique methodology of the Madras Sappers—combat engineers specialising in tunneling parallels and mapping geometric weak points. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

One line is all we need in history records that Charles Cornwallis invaded Bangalore in 1791. But behind that single line lies a sweeping story of defeat, humiliation, and a decades-long struggle for redemption. In this episode, Ramjee Chandran charts Cornwallis's journey from his agonizing, ghosted surrender to George Washington at Yorktown to his arrival in India as a powerful, dual-mandate ruler. When the initial British campaign of 1790 crumbles under the brilliant guerrilla tactics of Tipu Sultan, Cornwallis realizes he cannot run a war from a desk in Calcutta. Stepping into the field himself, he gathers a massive force, bypasses Tipu's traps, and sets his sights squarely on his first major objective on the plateau: the fortified arsenal town of Bangalore. Key Details from the Script: The Stain of Yorktown: On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis skipped his own surrender ceremony to George Washington, claiming illness and sending a subordinate to hand over his sword—cementing his status as the face of a historic national disgrace. The Trenton Irony: A decade before Cornwallis marched into Mysore to fight Tipu, his father Hyder Ali was celebrated as a hero in revolutionary America; during victory toasts in New Jersey, toast number eleven was explicitly dedicated to Hyder Ali. The "Incorruptible" Nobleman: Despite losing the American colonies, Cornwallis used his aristocratic lineage to rebuild his career, famously earning a reputation for absolute integrity by repeatedly denying corrupt financial favors to the Prince of Wales. The 1790 Failure: The war's opening phase under General William Medows was an utter disaster for the British. Tipu used the monsoon terrain and fast-moving light cavalry ("looties") to run circles around the British, leaving over a thousand colonial soldiers sick before a major battle was even fought. The Masterstroke Strategy: Realizing his generals were thoroughly outmatched, Cornwallis arrived in Madras in December 1790 to take personal command. He consolidated 21,000 troops and planned a surprise flanking maneuver through the rugged Mugali Pass to bypass Tipu's scorched-earth defenses. Bangalore First: Cornwallis understood the geography perfectly; to open the road to Tipu's capital at Seringapatam, he first had to conquer the critical fortified hinge and arsenal town of Bangalore. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

The five-year peace between Mysore and the East India Company was never a truce; it was simply a race to rearm. Ramjee Chandran breaks down the high-stakes geopolitical chess match that shattered the Treaty of Mangalore. Enter Lord Charles Cornwallis, a general eager to erase the shame of his surrender to George Washington at Yorktown. When the small state of Travancore strategically provokes Tipu Sultan by purchasing two Dutch forts, the "Tiger of Mysore" is forced to defend his vital lifeline to the sea. Discover how a dispute over a thorn-filled ditch and a frantic farcical hiding game by the Raja of Cochin unleashed the formidable Triple Alliance—setting the stage for the Third Anglo-Mysore War and the eventual landlocking of Tipu's empire. Key Details from the Script: The Looming Shadow of Bangalore: During the five years of uneasy peace following 1784, Tipu heavily fortified Bangalore—transforming it into an essential garrison town, arsenal, and the ultimate strategic hinge between the Carnatic plains and the Mysorean interior. Cornwallis's Mandate: Arriving in 1786, Lord Cornwallis found a disorganized Madras Presidency. Haunted by his defeat in the American War of Independence, he was impatient to neutralize Tipu but required a legitimate casus belli (justification for war) to void the existing treaty. The Provocation: In 1789, the British-aligned Kingdom of Travancore purchased two Dutch forts (Cranganore and Ayacottah) that sat in territory subordinate to Mysore. This commercial deal effectively placed a British-protected enclave right on Tipu's western flank, threatening his only access to global maritime trade and French assistance. The Anxious Farce: Sensing the impending storm, the Raja of Cochin (a Mysore vassal) tried to avoid choosing sides. When Tipu summoned him, the Raja feigned illness and locked himself in a room to escape Tipu's visiting minister. The Invasion: On December 29, 1789, diplomatic patience expired. Tipu breached the defensive lines of Travancore. By April 1790, he launched a full-scale invasion, dismantling their fortifications and sending 200 captured cannons back to Bangalore. The Triple Alliance: Cornwallis seized his trigger. Through the relentless backroom diplomacy of British Resident Charles Warre Malet in Pune, the British successfully bought, flattered, and maneuvered the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad into a massive, multi-front coalition against a structurally isolated Mysore. We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Prestige Group, that makes this podcast possible. Follow The History Of Bangalore on social, here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyofbangalore/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfBangalore Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoryOfBLR YouTube: https://youtube.com/@HistoryOfBangalore?si=mnH3BsYfI4BUU234 iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1323-the-history-of-bangalore-163453722/ Follow Ramjee Chandran on Instagram and Twitter: @ramjeechandran The theme music for the show was composed by German-Indian Koln based percussionist, Ramesh Shotham. Ramjee Chandran's photos by Asha Thadani. RESEARCH AND SOURCES: All our episodes are based on published research and archive records. To request information about our sources, write to hob@explocity.com. Let us know if you are a researcher (either institutional or independent) and also provide some information about why you need this information. Researchers will get priority. We only have time to engage serious, academic queries so please understand if we do not respond to casual requests.

A wounded soldier refuses to dismount. His boot overflowing with blood, his hat riddled with three bullet holes, he rallies his troops up a South Carolina hill in Pennsylvania Dutch. History turns on a single moment. Anne Mitchell, a South Carolina native whose roots run deep in the Palmetto state, joins me to share the story of her sixth great-grandfather, Frederick Hambright, a German immigrant who helped win one of the most decisive (and least talked about) battles of the Revolutionary War. As we count down to America's 250th birthday, Anne shares how a family tree hint on Ancestry led her to the Battle of King's Mountain. There, Hambright's courage helped force Cornwallis to change his entire strategy. This is a story about what it means to stand up when history calls your name and why the most powerful family stories are often the ones nobody told you growing up.〰️

Everyone knows the American Revolution was won at Yorktown in 1781, when Cornwallis’s Army was trapped, but almost no one knows that victory depended on a Spanish intelligence operative who raised 500,000 pieces of silver in Havana in just 24 hours, convincing Cuban residents to liquidate their jewelry, gold ornaments, and diamonds to fund the French fleet's journey to trap Cornwallis. Francisco de Saavedra was Spain's ultimate shadow architect, operating like a CIA station chief or Charlie Wilson funneling weapons to topple Soviet Afghanistan, coordinating resources across the Caribbean through the Council of the Indies while gathering intelligence on British naval movements. The silver he raised, equivalent to roughly $1 billion in World War II war bond drives when adjusted for inflation, paid French sailors and provisioned Washington's Continental Army for the decisive siege. Without Saavedra's behind-the-scenes diplomacy, Spain and France would never have coordinated their fleets, and the Mississippi River supply line that smuggled Spanish gunpowder and uniforms to the rebels would have remained closed. Today's guest is James Giesler, author of Francisco De Saavedra's American Revolutionary War: The Spanish Contribution to the Battle of Yorktown. We discuss the unlikely career of Saavedra, an intelligence officer for the Spanish Crown who had such adventures as being capture by the British in 1780 and talked his way out of Jamaican captivity by pretending to be a civilian, why he forced joint Spanish action to capture Pensacola in May 1781 and eliminate the British southern strategy, how he negotiated a treaty for French and Spanish military planning for the first time, and why he planned the 1782 capture of the Bahamas to keep British ships tied up in the West Indies instead of reinforcing Cornwallis. Giesler explains that Saavedra wasn't a boots-on-the-ground commander like Lafayette but a strategic fixer who rose to become Spain's Prime Minister in the 1790s, proving that revolutions are won as much by financial wizardry and intelligence networks as by battlefield heroics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this solo Outlander Cast history lesson, Blake breaks down the Battle of Kings Mountain and explains how the American Revolution moved from grand strategy into neighbor-against-neighbor violence. This is not a dusty names-and-dates lecture. The focus is pressure, loyalty, fear, land, protection, and the cause-and-effect chain that turned Kings Mountain into one of the most important moments of the Southern Campaign. Blake walks through Britain's problem in the North, the gamble of the Southern Strategy, the fall of Charleston, Cornwallis' push inland, Patrick Ferguson's fatal threat to the Overmountain Men, Benjamin Cleveland's local power, and the brutal reality of a battle fought mostly by Americans against Americans. For Outlander, that is the whole point. Kings Mountain puts Jamie Fraser inside the American Revolution at its most personal. The war is no longer an idea happening somewhere else. It is land, family, neighbors, old grudges, militia summons, and history tightening around Fraser's Ridge. We also get into the big Outlander question: was there really a James Fraser at Kings Mountain? The answer is messy, which makes it exactly right for Jamie. A partial record can still haunt a man when the name is close enough, the battle is real enough, and the future feels like it may already have him marked. Subscribe, rate, and review Outlander Cast wherever you listen. Join us for more Outlander coverage at JoinTheNerdClan.com. Slàinte Mhath.

In this episode of the David Watson Podcast, we dive deep into the forgotten history of the American Revolutionary War with author James Giesler. Discover the crucial, often overlooked, role Spain played in securing America's final victory at Yorktown. Learn about Francisco de Saavedra, the Spanish diplomat and strategist whose logistical genius and access to Spanish silver were the deciding factors that turned the tide of war. This is a must-watch for anyone interested in American history, European empires, and the financial realities of warfare.

From the American people’s first resistance to attacks on their God-given or “inalienable” rights, through the dramatic battlefield events of the Revolution and General George Washington’s pivotal faith-based leadership, to the climactic surrender of Cornwallis’s British army at Yorktown, God was directing the course of History. Rod Gragg will join us to expose the long-overlooked but critical element that kept alive the American War for Independence and motivated the ultimate victory that established the United States of America. In the words of George Washington: “The Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith. . . .”Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GRASSROOTS CONTROL AND VICTORY AT YORKTOWN Colleague Joseph Ellis. Ellis argues the Britishcould not win because local committees enforced the cause in the countryside, neutralizing loyalists. Cornwallis was trapped at Yorktown due to orders from Clinton and the timely arrival of the French fleet, which Ellis attributes to providence. Despite the victory, Washington remained vigilant, later suppressing the Newburgh conspiracy by refusing a military dictatorship, thereby solidifying the principle of civilian control over the military. NUMBER 61810 LONDON STREETS

12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolutionas a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brutally under Cornwallis, Irish immigrants and Scots-Irish settlers like Andrew Jackson fervently supported the Continental Army against the Crown. 1780 GORDON RIOTS

SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1941 HICKAM FIELD 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding deficits and better protect global commerce and vulnerable undersea cables from adversaries. 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-value assets. 3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and economic leverage leads to a submissive diplomatic stance, despite China'sdeclining ability to offer investment. 4. Enforcing Sanctions: Interdicting the Shadow Fleet to Squeeze China. Victoria Coates details the Trump administration's enforcement of a "Monroe Doctrine" corollary, using naval power to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. This strategy exposes China's lack of maritime projection and energy vulnerability, as Beijingcannot legally contest the seizures of illicit shadow fleet vessels. 5. Symbolic Strikes: US and Jordan Target Resurgent ISIS in Syria. Following an attack on US personnel, the US and Jordan conducted airstrikes against ISIS strongholds, likely with Syrian regime consultation. Ahmed Sharawi questions the efficacy of striking desert warehouses when ISIS cells have moved into urban areas, suggesting the strikes were primarily symbolic domestic messaging. 6. Failure to Disarm: Hezbollah's Persistence and UNIFIL's Inefficacy. David Daoud reports that the Lebanesegovernment is failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, merely evicting them from abandoned sites. He argues UNIFIL is an ineffective tripwire, as Hezbollah continues to rebuild infrastructure and receive funding right under international observers' noses. 7. Global Jihad: The Distinct Threats of the Brotherhood and ISIS. Edmund Fitton-Brown contrasts the Muslim Brotherhood's long-term infiltration of Western institutions with ISIS's violent, reckless approach. He warns that ISISremains viable, with recent facilitated attacks in Australia indicating a resurgence in capability beyond simple "inspired" violence. 8. The Forever War: Jihadist Patience vs. American Cycles. Bill Roggio argues the US has failed to defeat jihadist ideology or funding, allowing groups like Al-Qaeda to persist in Afghanistan and Africa. He warns that adversaries view American withdrawals as proof of untrustworthiness, exploiting the US tendency to fight short-term wars against enemies planning for decades. 9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of foreign experts like Steuben demonstrated a strategic willingness to utilize global talent to ensure the revolution's survival. 10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific conditions in British "black hole" facilities like Mill Prison and the deadly prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, where mortality rates reached 50%. 11. Caught in the Crossfire: Indigenous Struggles in the Revolutionary War. Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader, allied with the British to stop settler encroachment but became a refugee when the British failed to protect Indigenous lands. Post-war, white Americans constructed myths portraying themselves as blameless victims while ignoring their own Indigenous allies and British betrayals regarding land rights. 12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolutionas a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brutally under Cornwallis, Irish immigrants and Scots-Irish settlers like Andrew Jackson fervently supported the Continental Army against the Crown. 13. Assessing Battlefield Realities: Russian Deceit and Ukrainian Counterattacks. John Hardie analyzes the "culture of deceit" within the Russian military, exemplified by false claims of capturing Kupyansk while Ukraine actually counterattacked. This systemic lying leads to overconfidence in Putin's strategy, though Ukraine also faces challenges with commanders hesitating to report lost positions to avoid forced counterattacks. 14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusapredict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy against Lula. Meanwhile, Peña Esclusa anticipates Venezuela's liberation and a broader regional shift toward the right following leftist defeats in Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile. 15. Trump's Security Strategy: Homeland Defense Lacks Global Clarity. John Yoo praises the strategy's focus on homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere, reviving a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. However, he criticizes the failure to explicitly name China as an adversary or define clear goals for defending allies in Asia and Europe against great power rivals. 16. Alienating Allies: The Strategic Cost of Attacking European Partners. John Yoo argues that imposing tariffs and attacking democratic European allies undermines the coalition needed to counter China and Russia. He asserts that democracies are the most reliable partners for protecting American security and values, making cooperation essential despite resource constraints and political disagreements.

The origins and meaning of Thanksgiving, including President Washington's first national proclamation in 1789, and its historical significance. Peter shares his personal journey of recovery while doing a special neurological rehabilitation at the Aviv Clinic, where he has been receiving treatment for neurological injuries. The couple explores various topics, including Washington's leadership, the Bill of Rights, and their shared experiences of faith and gratitude, while reflecting on the importance of love, education, and the power of community support.   Peter reads a proclamation from President Washington in 1789, which called for a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to acknowledge God's blessings, particularly the opportunity to establish a form of government. He also discussed the significance of the 1781 Yorktown victory, where Washington's combined American and French armies successfully blockaded and defeated the British under Cornwallis. Peter noted that the U.S. government was established as an independent nation in 1789, following the Jay Treaty in 1783, which was negotiated by John Jay to settle disputes with Britain.   U.S. Bill of Rights Distinctions   Peter discusses the unique nature of the Bill of Rights in the United States, emphasizing its role in protecting freedoms and distinguishing America from other countries with constitutions. He contrasted the U.S. Revolution with the French Revolution, highlighting the differences in leadership, particularly George Washington's decision not to establish a monarchy despite his significant influence. Peter also touched on Washington's retirement to Mount Vernon and his contemplation of liberating his slaves, noting the unusual nature of such a decision given the slaves' economic value. Journey of Love and Recovery Peter and Ginger shared their belief in a loving God, and Peter shared his personal journey of recovery after a stroke. He described his passion for redbud trees and his experience of opening his heart to love and joy, both in nature and in his relationship with his wife, Ginger. They also explored the concept of the subconscious as a metaphor for God's presence in our lives, concluding with reflections on the power of love and the importance of being open to receiving love. This week's episode became a sweet and spontaneous exchange of ideas between a couple who deeply appreciate and love each other. 

Send us a textAfter the catastrophic defeat at Charleston, the Patriot forces were on the ropes.  General Clinton, commander of the British army, was so confident of the outcome, that he left his deputy, General Cornwallis, in charge and headed north.  Cornwallis planned to link up with Tory militias from North and South Carolina, to crush resistance, and to  remove two more stars  from the flag.  (The British already controlled Georgia, at least they thought they did).  The Tory militias, backed up by some regulars, had gathered at King's Mountain right on the border between North and South Carolina.  They were in a formidable position, holding the high ground.  The plan was to link up with Cornwallis, finish off the rebellion, and go home as heroes.  What could go wrong? But four battles (Musgrave Mill, Cowpens, King's Mountain, and Guilford Courthouse) changed the tragectory of the war. We have been watching the Ken Burns masterpiece on The American Revolution.  This story is told in the last episode. 

This week Walter will be talking with documentary filmmaker Ken Burns about the American Revolution, focusing on the routing of the British and their allies by revolutionary Partisans during Cornwallis' Southern campaign.Ken will also tell us a bit about his upcoming PBS documentary, The American Revolution. The six-part, 12-hour documentary series explores the country's founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence.

Of a man often misunderstood by Americans, whose life offers valuable lessons for the coming time of national renewal. Bonus content about insane Indian ethnonarcissism! The written version of this review can be found here ( ). We strongly encourage all listeners to bookmark our main site (https://www.theworthyhouse.com). You can also subscribe for email notifications. The Worthy House does not solicit donations or other support, or have ads. Other than at the main site, you can follow Charles here: https://x.com/TheWorthyHouse

When the British under Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown, rumor has it the band played the song “The World Turned Upside” down. That was the biggest upheaval the world had ever seen, but if the last few weeks are anything to go by, we might be headed down the same path. We're joined by two very special guests, Nick Burns and Graham Allison of Harvard University, to break down the monumental summit in China and why the global balance of power is changing fast. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the British under Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown, rumor has it the band played the song “The World Turned Upside” down. That was the biggest upheaval the world had ever seen, but if the last few weeks are anything to go by, we might be headed down the same path. We're joined by two very special guests, Nick Burns and Graham Allison of Harvard University, to break down the monumental summit in China and why the global balance of power is changing fast. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kris White, Director of Education and Events at the Trust, gives an in-depth tour of the largest battle of the Southern Campaign during the Revolutionary War. Guilford Courthouse resulted in British Commander Charles Cornwallis taking his forces north to Yorktown, Virginia, leaving Nathanael Greene and his Continentals free rein to undo British control in the South. "I never saw such fighting since God made me. The Americans fought like demons." - Cornwallis.

On the phone-in: gardening expert Niki Jabbour answers your questions about saving your garden during a drought. Off the top: volunteers in Annapolis County are helping to feed and house firefighters who are arriving from out of town at the old C.F.B. Cornwallis base. They are fighting the wildfires near West Dalhousie.

Send us a textProfessor John Ferling takes us on a captivating journey through the international dimensions of America's founding conflict in "Shots Heard Around the World: America, Britain, and Europe in the Revolutionary War." As we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, this conversation reveals how our revolution emerged from the ashes of the Seven Years' War, when France began meticulously planning revenge against Britain after their devastating 1763 defeat.The Revolutionary War proves far more complex and precarious than our national mythology suggests. British leaders initially believed they could quickly suppress colonial resistance, while American patriots hoped international pressure might force British concessions without prolonged conflict. Meanwhile, France's foreign minister Vergennes orchestrated a masterful long game—first providing secret aid, then openly joining the American cause in 1778 once French naval power had been rebuilt.What makes this discussion particularly illuminating is Ferling's attention to the human dimension of the struggle. Continental soldiers endured unimaginable hardships, with mortality rates approaching 40%—far higher than American losses in World Wars I and II combined. The decisive Battle of Yorktown in 1781 represented an almost miraculous alignment of circumstances, as French naval forces under Admiral de Grasse arrived at precisely the right moment to trap Cornwallis's army.Why should Americans today care about these international dimensions? Because they reveal how contingent our independence truly was. Without French strategic vision, financial support, and military intervention, the Revolution likely would have failed. Ferling makes a compelling case that Vergennes deserves recognition alongside Washington, Franklin, and Adams as a founding father of American independence.What questions does this perspective raise about how we commemorate our national origins? How might understanding the Revolution's global context shape our approach to international alliances today? Listen now to discover how America's birth was fundamentally shaped by a worldwide struggle for power and the complex web of relationships that made independence possible.

In this episode of America's Founding Series on The P.A.S. Report, Professor Nick Giordano tells the riveting story of Nathaniel Greene, the self-taught military genius who defied his Quaker pacifist upbringing to become one of George Washington's most trusted and effective generals. Often overshadowed by flashier names, Greene's Southern Campaign was the quiet turning point of the American Revolution that bled British forces dry, forced Cornwallis to retreat, and set the stage for ultimate victory at Yorktown. Discover how a man of peace became a reluctant warrior, and why his brilliance remains one of the most underappreciated pillars of American independence. Episode Highlights How Greene's Quaker beliefs clashed with his growing moral conviction to defend liberty, even if it meant war The bold, unconventional military strategy that outmaneuvered Cornwallis and crippled British control of the South Why Greene's sacrifice after the war – financial ruin, early death, and little recognition – makes his legacy even more heroic  

French aristocrat Lafayette was a teenager when he came to the U.S. to help the Patriots win the Revolutionary War. He pinned Cornwallis in Yorktown until Washington and Rochambeau arrived for the final encounter. He pulled off one of the greatest escapes in military history, after being completely surrounded. He used his influence with France's king to speed up support to the Patriot cause. He's the only foreigner whose portrait hangs in the U.S. Capitol.

fWotD Episode 2971: Battle of Groix Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Monday, 23 June 2025, is Battle of Groix.The Battle of Groix ([ɡʁwa], g'r-wah) took place on 23 June 1795 off the island of Groix in the Bay of Biscay during the War of the First Coalition. It was fought between elements of the British Channel Fleet and the French Atlantic Fleet, which were cruising in the region on separate missions. The British fleet, commanded by Admiral Lord Bridport, was covering an invasion convoy carrying a French Royalist army tasked with invading Quiberon, while the French fleet under Vice-admiral Villaret de Joyeuse had sailed a week earlier to rescue a convoy from being attacked by a British squadron. The French fleet had driven off the British squadron in a battle on 17 June known as Cornwallis's Retreat, and were attempting to return to their base at Brest when Bridport's force of 14 ships of the line appeared on 22 June.Villaret, believing that the stronger British fleet would destroy his own 12 ships of the line, ordered his force to fall back to the inshore anchorage off Groix, hoping to take shelter in protected coastal waters. Several of his ships were too slow, falling behind so that early in the morning of 23 June the rearmost ships of his fleet were caught by the British vanguard, overhauled one by one and brought to battle. Although Villaret fought a determined rearguard action, three French ships were captured, all with very heavy casualties, and the remainder of the French fleet was left scattered across miles of coastline. In this position they were highly vulnerable to continued British attack, but after only a few hours' engagement, concerned that his ships might be wrecked on the rocky coastline, Bridport called off the action and allowed Villaret to regroup inshore and retreat to Lorient.Although the battle was a British victory, there was criticism of Bridport's rapid withdrawal. British historians have subsequently considered that a unique opportunity to destroy the French Atlantic fleet had been lost. The invasion at Quiberon ended in disaster a month later, although Bridport remained at sea in the region until September. The French fleet by contrast was trapped in the port of Lorient where food supplies ran out, forcing Villaret to discharge many of his ships' crews. As a result, most ships did not return to Brest until the winter and were consequently unable to threaten British control of the French coastline for the remainder of the year. Several French captains were court-martialled following the battle, with two dismissed for disobeying orders.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:31 UTC on Monday, 23 June 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Battle of Groix on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Kajal.

Cubah Cornwallis (c. 1700s) was a Jamaican nurse who lived from the mid to late 18th century until 1848. Cubah was likely born into slavery, but eventually gained her freedom and settled in Port Royal, opening a lodging house that doubled as an early hospital. She was known throughout the port city for her healing techniques that nursed many naval officers back to health. Her methods drew from Obeah tradition and practice. Cubah is considered one of the foremothers of modern nursing practice. For Further Reading: A Week at Port Royal by Richard Hill Black History Month: Who was ‘Queen of Kingston’ Cubah Cornwallis? Earliest nursing care: Cuba Cornwallis What is Obeah? This month, we’re talking about cultivators — women who nurtured, cross-pollinated, experimented, or went to great lengths to better understand and protect the natural world. History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should. Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more. Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, Luci Jones, Abbey Delk, Adrien Behn, Alyia Yates, Vanessa Handy, Melia Agudelo, and Joia Putnoi. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. Original theme music composed by Brittany Martinez. Follow Wonder Media Network: Website Instagram Twitter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show, Paul and Ben talk about Paul's synthesizer station, Gene Hackman, the Boston Tea Party, Cornwallis, Operation Paperclip, Fitbit outing spies, the email sent to federal employees regarding five things, email encryption, DOGE costing more money than it saves, Monarch Legacy of Monsters, doing stand up and … Continue reading →

A secondary school in Maidstone has been unable to use its new £700k sports pitch – after falling foul of a ban on noise from referees' whistles.Cornwallis Academy has a brand new 3G artificial grass pitch which it has been forbidden from using since August.Also in today's podcast, there's been an increase in the number of reports of online child grooming in Kent. The NSPCC say 264 cases were recorded last year - we've spoken to Kent Police about what they're doing, and what we can do, to keep children safe. The co-owner of a burger van says he was left “shocked” after it was broken into just a week before opening.The Sheerness men had spent more than £1,500 on their new business venture, which was ransacked earlier this month. Work on a controversial one-way system branded “absolutely ridiculous” could finally start this year, having been delayed twice already.The £3 million transformation of the A28 in Wincheap is seen as a way of “considerably easing congestion” and improving “quality of life in the area”.And a Kent animal park has given a new lease of life to a pair of big cats previously living under the care of a man dubbed the “UK Tiger King”.You can hear from The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden who have taken on two of the rescues, including the UK's only Asian Golden Cat. 

Raynham Hall in New York looks like a typical colonial style house, but people claim it is the most haunted house in Long Island. The home has a colorful history that includes the Revolutionary War, British occupation and a spy ring. The house has changed ownership many times over the years and been refurbished and added to through the years. Some of the former occupants have decided to stay on in the afterlife. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Raynham Hall! Check out the website: http://historygoesbump.com Music used in this episode: Main Theme: Lurking in the Dark by Muse Music with Groove Studios Outro Music: Happy Fun Punk by Muse Music with Groove Studios Other music in this epsiode: The Rage of Cornwallis from the George Washington Show and The Presidents March by Pixabay

Esto es HistoCast. No es Esparta pero casi. Empezamos hoy una nueva serie sobre el legado del imperio español en los Estados Unidos de la mano de @cerveranavas. En esta ocasión, nos detenemos en la ayuda de España a la independencia de los Estados Unidos, a menudo desconocida o infravalorada. Participan también en esta serie de dos capítulos @danigalpe, @HugoACanete y @goyix_salduero.Secciones Historia: - Resumen de la primera parte - 00:11:20 - Las negociaciones diplomáticas de Franklin con Vergennes y el conde de Aranda en París en diciembre de 1776 - 00:33:55 - El viaje de Lee a España y la reunión con Grimaldi y Gardoqui en Burgos a comienzos de 1777 - 00:33:50 - Gálvez recibe un envío de ayuda para los rebeldes en Nueva Orleans en abril de 1777 - 00:36:28 - El Congreso Estadounidense escribe a Bernardo de Gálvez como a un aliado - 00:42:00 - Entrevista a Manuel Olmedo Checa sobre Bernardo de Gálvez - 00:45:07 - España manda un embajador informal a George Washington, Juan de Miralles, y espías a las colonias rebeldes - 1:14:58 - Las operaciones militares del año 1777, la toma de Filadelfia por los ingleses y la batalla de Germantown - 1:19:33 - La campaña de Burgoyne y la victoria estadounidense en Saratoga gracias a la ayuda organizada por Beaumarchais - 1:22:51 - Las razones de la entrada de Francia en la guerra a comienzos de 1778 - 1:38:14 - El infierno del general Washington en Valley Forge - 1:43:34 - La Gran Bretaña se da cuenta de sus errores militares y se dispone a luchar contra los Borbones - 1:47:50 - Clinton evacua Filadelfia y la confusa batalla de Mount Mouth - 1:52:25 - El conde D'Estaign sale de Toulon, intenta sorprender a los ingleses en Nueva York y fracasa frente en Newport - 1:55:00 - España sondea la posibilidad de mantenerse neutral a cambio de Gibraltar, se propone como mediador y negocia con Francia la entrada en la guerra - 1:59:18 - Las victorias de Cornwallis en las colonias del sur, la guerra en el mar y la entrada de España en la guerra en junio de 1779 - 2:03:38 - La fracasada invasión franco-española de la Gran Bretaña - 2:11:25 - Entrevista a Miguel Ángel Gálvez, presidente de la Asociación Bernardo de Gálvez - 2:19:32 - Bernardo de Gálvez ayuda a Washington antes de la entrada de España en la Guerra - 2:33:07 - Oliver Pollock - 2:36:54 - Entrevista a Teresa Valcarce - 2:39:36 - Gálvez y los Saint-Maixent - 3:10:04 - La Marcha de Gálvez - 3:15:04 - El “toma y daca” naval de 1779 - 3:32:17 - La historia del Galveztown, el bergantín de Bernardo de Gálvez - 3:35:11 - La Habana se resiste a mandar refuerzos a Gálvez y conquista la Mobila sin ayuda - 3:39:37 - Don Luis de Córdova y la acción del 9 de agosto de 1780 - 3:45:07 - La expedición particular de Rochambeau y Lafayette, la derrota de Horatio Gates en Camden - 3:50:29 - El sitio y la toma de Panzacola - 3:58:44 - Las victorias de Nathaniel Greene en las Carolinas y - 4:15:56 - El conde de Grasse, Francisco Saavedra y la campaña de Yorktown - 4:24:07 - La guerra sigue fuera del teatro americano - 4:36:49 - Conclusiones - 4:42:00 - Bibliografía - 5:28:46

BOATS THIS WEEK (OCT 14-20, 2024) — This Wednesday is the anniversary of Marie Antoinette's execution in 1793 that we saw inn the opening sequence of Ridley Scott's Napoleon (2023). After that, we'll travel exactly 169 years from 1793 to 1962, because Wednesday is also depicted in Thirteen Days (2000) as it's showing the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For our final historical event from the movies this week, we'll hop to October 19th, 1781 as it's shown in The Patriot (2000) to see how it shows the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. After learning about this week's birthdays from historical figures in the movies, we'll wrap up this episode by comparing history with another of Ridley Scott's movies, The Last Duel, which released in the U.S. on October 15th, 2021. Finally, we'll get a little behind the scenes update about BOATS This Week episodes for the remainder of 2024.Until next time, here's where you can continue the story.Events from this week in history Wednesday: Napoleon (2023) | BOATS Napoleon Miniseries Wednesday: Thirteen Days (2000) Saturday: The Patriot (2000) | BOATS #60 Birthdays from this week in history Monday: Dwight D. Eisenhower in The Longest Day (1962) Wednesday: Oscar Wilde in Wilde (1997) Sunday: Mickey Mantle in 61* (2001) Historical movies releasing this week in historyTuesday: The Last Duel (2021) Mentioned in this episode JFK's October 22nd, 1962 speech Cuban Missile Crisis timeline Eric Jager's book that they based The Last Duel on Eric Jager's article Modern-day photos of Saint-Martin-des-Champs Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/352Disclaimer: Dan LeFebvre and/or Based on a True Story may earn commissions from qualifying purchases through these links. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BOATS THIS WEEK (OCT 14-20, 2024) — This Wednesday is the anniversary of Marie Antoinette's execution in 1793 that we saw inn the opening sequence of Ridley Scott's Napoleon (2023). After that, we'll travel exactly 169 years from 1793 to 1962, because Wednesday is also depicted in Thirteen Days (2000) as it's showing the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. For our final historical event from the movies this week, we'll hop to October 19th, 1781 as it's shown in The Patriot (2000) to see how it shows the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.  After learning about this week's birthdays from historical figures in the movies, we'll wrap up this episode by comparing history with another of Ridley Scott's movies, The Last Duel, which released in the U.S. on October 15th, 2021. Finally, we'll get a little behind the scenes update about BOATS This Week episodes for the remainder of 2024. Until next time, here's where you can continue the story. Events from this week in history Wednesday: Napoleon (2023) | BOATS Napoleon Miniseries Wednesday: Thirteen Days (2000) Saturday: The Patriot (2000) | BOATS #60 Birthdays from this week in history Monday: Dwight D. Eisenhower in The Longest Day (1962) Wednesday: Oscar Wilde in Wilde (1997) Sunday: Mickey Mantle in 61* (2001) Historical movies releasing this week in history Tuesday: The Last Duel (2021) Mentioned in this episode JFK's October 22nd, 1962 speech Cuban Missile Crisis timeline Eric Jager's book that they based The Last Duel on Eric Jager's article Modern-day photos of Saint-Martin-des-Champs Did you enjoy this episode? Get the BOATS email newsletter Leave a comment Support our sponsors Unlock ad-free episodes Note: If your podcast app doesn't support clickable links, copy/paste this in your browser to find all the links: https://links.boatspodcast.com/352 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We cover some of the heroic events that increased pride and self confidence of the Royal Navy:  Pellew's defeat of a 74 with 2 frigates and Cornwallis' Retreat.  We also have Richery's expedition which demonstrates the capabilities of the French.  They were not always incompetent.The 1795 Great Winter Campaign, the Battle of the Groix and the 1796 attempted invasion of Bantry Bay are the core events of this episode.

This week our guest is author and JAR contributor Scott Syfert. When Charles Cornwallis looked at South Carolina, he hoped for a groundswell of Loyalist support. The Battle of Ramsour's Mill broke that illusion. For more information visit www.allthingsliberty.com. 

We break down and discuss  @mlw  War Chamber Part 2 Match Card Singles Match Virus (w/Cesar Duran) vs. Star Jr. (w/Salina de la Renta) Singles Match Brett Ryan Gosselin (w/Saint Laurent) vs. Budd Heavy MLW World Tag Team Title Match World Titan Federation (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Tom Lawlor) (w/Saint Laurent) (c) vs. Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas) Singles Match Sofia Castillo vs. Zayda Singles Match Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle MLW World Heavyweight Title Match Satoshi Kojima (w/Okumura) (c) vs. Bad Dude Tito (w/Salina de la Renta) War Chamber Match The Calling (Cannonball, Doctor Cornwallis, Rickey Shane Page & Sami Callihan) vs. Death Fighters (AKIRA, Jake Crist, Jimmy Lloyd & Raven) Check the LINK TREE BELOW for more content and Merch https://linktr.ee/StraightTalkWrestling

We break down and discuss  @mlw  War Chamber Part 2 Match Card Singles Match Virus (w/Cesar Duran) vs. Star Jr. (w/Salina de la Renta) Singles Match Brett Ryan Gosselin (w/Saint Laurent) vs. Budd Heavy MLW World Tag Team Title Match World Titan Federation (Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Tom Lawlor) (w/Saint Laurent) (c) vs. Bomaye Fight Club (Alex Kane & Mr. Thomas) Singles Match Sofia Castillo vs. Zayda Singles Match Timothy Thatcher vs. Matt Riddle MLW World Heavyweight Title Match Satoshi Kojima (w/Okumura) (c) vs. Bad Dude Tito (w/Salina de la Renta) War Chamber Match The Calling (Cannonball, Doctor Cornwallis, Rickey Shane Page & Sami Callihan) vs. Death Fighters (AKIRA, Jake Crist, Jimmy Lloyd & Raven) Check the LINK TREE BELOW for more content and Merch https://linktr.ee/StraightTalkWrestling​

In this episode, we discuss our upcoming visit to East Palestine, Ohio. We also discuss the founding fathers plan to establish a New World Order under the guise of freedom & liberty.Thank you to those who have already donated to our upcoming travels. If you would like to help, here is the link:https://www.givesendgo.com/delmarvastudiosWebsite: thefacthunter.comEmail: thefacthunter@mail.comPhone: 302-990-4277 (Voice Only)Snail Mail:George HobbsPO Box 109 Goldsboro, MD 21636Show NotesEast Palestine Ohio https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Palestine,_Ohio Norfolk Southern CEO gets pay raise despite company's East Palestine train derailment https://local12.com/news/nation-world/norfolk-southern-ceo-pay-raise-despite-companys-east-palestine-train-derailment-railroad-corporate-america-east-palestine-ohio-alan-shaw One Year Later, Pennsylvanians Living Near the East Palestine Train Derailment Site Say They're Still Sick https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22022024/one-year-later-pennsylvanians-living-near-east-palestine-train-derailment-site-say-theyre-still-sick/ BROWN, VANCE CALL ON ADMINISTRATION TO ESTABLISH VOLUNTARY DISEASE REGISTRY FOR EAST PALESTINE RESIDENTS https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/sherrod-brown-vance-establish-voluntary-disease-registry-east-palestine-residents Founding Fathers & Freemasonry http://www.atlanteanconspiracy.com/2008/06/freemasonry-and-founding-fathers.html Masonic United States https://www.henrymakow.com/the_united_states_is_a_masonic.html Flintstones http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2012/09/fred-flintstone-freemason-or-not.html Mel Blanc https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Blanc#:~:text=Blanc%20was%20a%20Freemason%20as,Blanc%20was%20also%20a%20Shriner.

National Tortilla Chip day. Entertainment from 1964. Battle over Las Angeles, 30 people crushed to death at a hanging, Castro stepped down in Cuba. Todays birthdays - Abe Vigoda, John Vernon, Paul Jones, Edward James Almos, Rupert Holmes, George Thorogood, Debra Jo Rupp, Steve Jobs, Sammy Kershaw, Billy Zane. Harold Ramis died.Intro - Pour some sugar on me - Def Leppard racheltcrowe@gmail.comTortilla chips - T BizzyI want to hold your hand - The BeatlesBeggin to you - Marty RobbinsBirthdays - In da club - 50 Cent http://50cent.com/Barney Miller TV themeDoo Wa Diddy Diddy - Manfred MannEscape (Pina Colada song) - Rupert HolmesBad to the bone - George Thorogood & the DestroyersThat 70's Show Tv themeQueen of my double wide trailer - Sammy KershawExit - Its not love - Dokken http://dokken.net/https://coolcasts.cooolmedia.com/

Pincer Maneuver I Am I Do I Have January 21st Love War Move Trade Repeat DignifAI - Programs That Remove Tattoos and Clothe Naughty Photos Online ⛧ Klaus Schwab Wears Lingerie At The Beach ⛧ SirSeatSitter Interviews The Founder of a FishTank Clan - Fed Or Friend?! ⛧ Boo-Bury Plots and Estimates a Live Concert Lighting Build ⛧ When Sailors Were Stagehands - Examining The Connection Between Stagecraft and Nautical TraditionSpotlights Yield To House Lights!BYO3-DG ZOSO'S CORNER (Show Notes) Follow us on the Fediverse! @behindthesch3m3s@mk.spook.social https://twitter.com/sch3m3s https://www.behindthesch3m3s.com/

Demp Bell tells us about his Historical Lowndes County property, Cornwallis. This is one of the fastest growing destinations to experience the diversity of our Alabama Black Belt. https://historicalcornwallis.com/ https://historicalcornwallis.com/big-doe-contest-rules/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093302566447 Shane & Kevin catch us up on all the Thanksgiving weekend outdoor events and tell us how to be successful in the huntin' woods and fishing waters of the Lake Millers Ferry area on this weeks TCUB Huntin' & Fishin' Report. Looks like a wet weekend according to this weeks detailed CNB weather forecast

The Town of Lunenburg is one of several municipalities in Nova Scotia that has decided to drop the Cornwallis name from its landscape. The street formerly known as Cornwallis will now be known as Queen Street. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Ed Halverson, the deputy mayor, about how the decision was made.

In the year 1780, South Carolina was in the grip of violence and turmoil. On December 3, 1780, General Nathanael Greene assumed command of the southern department from General Horatio Gates. Gates, the hero of Saratoga, had struggled in the Carolinas most notably at the disastrous battle of Camden. The Continental Congress relented to General Washington's preferred commander: Nathanael Greene. Thus, Greene left his post at West Point and traveled south. General Greene had a series of challenging decisions in front of him. How was he going to rebuild a nearly destroyed army? How was he going to recruit and train his forces to eventually challenge General Cornwallis? The task ahead of him was daunting. In the face of overwhelming odds, he made a militarily unorthodox decision: He split his army in half. In command of the other half of his army was General Daniel Morgan, a brawler from the Virginia backcountry. Morgan was a veteran of the French and Indian War. He was captured and held as a POW after the failed invasion of Quebec. He later distinguished himself as one of the heroes of the Saratoga campaign. In January 1781, Morgan was also faced with improbable odds. As he commanded General Greene's “flying army”, Cornwallis sent Lt. Col. “Bloody Ban” Tarleton to pursue Morgan. On January 17, 1781, General Morgan made a stand in a local cow pasture in northwest South Carolina. We know this location as Cowpens. It was here that Morgan achieved one of the most tactically brilliant victories in American military history. We know Morgan as the “Old Wagoner”, but he could just as easily be called the American Hannibal. Check out part three of the series and learn more about what happened at the Battle of Cowpens! HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show, subscribe in Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Visit the website. E-mail: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com  Check out our Tours: Alexandria History Tours provides guided tours of Old Town Alexandria with a focus on George Washington, the Revolutionary, and the Civil War. Use promo code “PMECOMPLETE” for a 10% discount.   Further Reading:  A Devil of a Whipping  William Washington, American Light Dragoon: A Continental Cavalry Leader in the War of Independence The Road to Guilford Courthouse Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life Kings Mountain and Cowpens Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution South Carolina and the American Revolution To the End of the World: Nathanael Greene, Charles Cornwallis, and the Race to the Dan

When the British surrendered at Yorktown, the war ended and American independence was secure.  Or was it?   The British still occupied Savannah, Charleston, and New York City, and the Congress was not able to pay the American army.  During the two years between Cornwallis's surrender and the final British evacuation, George Washington faced one of the gravest crises in American history--an attempt by some of his officers to usurp the authority of Congress and establish themselves in power.  Would Washington go along?  We talk with William M. Fowler, author of American Crisis:  George Washington and the Dangerous Two Years After Yorktown 1781-1783.  You thought winning the war was difficult--wait till you hear about winning the peace!  

For the Fourth of July we go through the Revolutionary War career of Nathiel Greene, namesake of Greene County.  From Boston in 1776 to Savannah, Greene was involved in fighting the British even after Cornwallis hung up his spurs.   The Moving Through Georgia book is available on Amazon. But they are dead - A look at mourning and notable burials in Northeast Georgia  

We do love discussing the Revolutionary War around here. Often, you will hear of that Fateful harsh Winter in Washington's Camp and how the Genius of Washington drove the British completely out of New England. All true, but often it seems the Southern Campaign gets completely glossed over. So today, enjoy a supremely condensed but hyper efficient look at the Southern Colonies under Cornwallis' Occupation in 1780. WE POST DAILY! If you don't see us, check our other socials. If you got a favorite, we are most likely on it! The AllmyLinks has all of our Socials! - https://allmylinks.com/robisright

This is the first episode in a series on the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas. The series is called “American Guerillas” and part one is titled “War in the Carolinas”. This episode will cover a lot of ground and begin with an overview of the American Revolution up until the British invasion of Charleston in 1780. After a summary of the major milestones of the Revolution, the episode will cover the following:  Why the British shifted their strategy to the Carolinas Key leaders on the British side: Cornwallis and Tarleton Key leaders on the American side: William Moultrie and Horatio Gates Siege warfare tactics that the British used to take Charleston The massacre at the Waxhaws The Battle of Camden Battlefield tactics during the Revolutionary War After listening to this episode, check out “American Guerillas Part Two: The Sword of the Lord and Gideon”. Business Update: Alexandria History Tours is open for business, providing history tours in Alexandria, VA. We have a George Washington tour, a Revolutionary War tour, and Civil War history stops on our tours! Check out the website and learn more.  Check out the website: www.professionalmilitaryeducation.com to see maps and pictures.  HELP SPREAD THE WORD! If you like the show and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.  Check out the show on Twitter and Facebook To request additional shows or guests, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com 

Did you happen to catch the latest Episode 25 of Beyond Oak Island on the History channel? Join us as we talk with Matt Howell and Ross Walker from Gone Diggin, both of whom appeared on Beyond Oak Island as they went in search of Captain Cornwallis' Treasure fabled to have been hidden during the American War of Independence along his route to Yorktown. Did they find any clues, did they find the treasure? LINKS:Gone Diggin:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GoneDigginFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoneDigginFanBeyond Oak Island - The History Channel - S3 EP25 https://www.history.com/shows/beyond-oak-island/season-3RELICS RADIO is live on spreaker.com/digginwithseven every Thursday night at 8:00 pm (Eastern) and is available on spreaker.com or wherever you get your podcast.Be sure and check out our Relics Radio sponsors:American Digger Magazine - www.americandigger.comJeff Lubbert - Sales AssociateHistory Seekers303 618-5179DK's LINKS:All My Links Here: https://linktr.ee/adventuresindirtAdventures in Dirt on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/adventuresindirtAdventures in Dirt Facebook Group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AdventuresInDirtTONY's LINKS:5280 Adventures on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/5280adventures5280 Adventures on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5280adventures5280 Adventures on Instagram:DIGGIN WITH SEVEN's LINKS:Diggin with Seven on YouTube www.youtube.com/digginwithsevenDiggin with Seven on MeWe: https://mewe.com/group/5ff9b8e3c3e5427a1b6f17dfRelics Radio on MeWe: https://mewe.com/group/5fdcb8bb0e3715112094773cLoy Milam on MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/loymilamWelcome to another episode of Relics Radio yall!

Last time we spoke, the ironclad steam warship Nemesis had made a name for herself wrecking havoc upon the Qing navy. Lin Zexu was dismissed and Qishan began negotiations with the British. Hong Kong island was now under British occupation, Chuanbi fell to the British and it seems a treaty would be ratified but both the Emperor Daoguang and Britain's parliament rejected it forcing Britain to continue its war. The British attacked the Bogue, the First Bar island, Whampoa Island and soon Qishan was rushed to Beijing and cast into chains by the Emperor. Then the British attacked Canton hoping to force the Qing government to come to a deal. Emperor Daoguang was being fed false reports from his officials of the ongoing war, but how long could they delude him until everyone realized this was a serious war? This episode is the First Opium War Part 3: treaty of nanjing   Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War.   As usual the reports coming back to the emperor were embezzled. It was said the British were stopped at the walls of Canton by the army of General Fang and repelled. In fact, on top of the Qing forces beating back the British it was said a peasant militia had killed thousands of British forcing them to flee Canton. Some went further than this and said the British expedition was on its last legs. Yishan's report to the Emperor said “the barbarians had begged the chief general that he would implore the great Emperor in their behalf, that he would have mercy upon them, and cause their debts to be repaid them, and graciously permit them to carry on their commerce, when they would immediately withdraw their ships from the Bocca Tigris, and never dare again to raise any disturbance."The Qing court urged the emperor to build upon the great victory and to bring an even larger army into the field against the barbarians. Now that the factory quarter was secure, Elliot turned his attention back to Amoy, but he still had a large problem. The British force was full on facing an epidemic of malaria and dysentery causing numerous casualties. The British warships were becoming hospitals for the countless decimated troops. Elliot had to take the force to Hong Kong island to treat the men. On July 21 of 1841 while Elliot was forming plans to attack Amoy a merchantman from India arrived with opium and a copy of the Canton Press. The newspaper read that Elliot had been dismissed by Palmerston on April 30th of 1841! It turned out the British press had vilified Elliot for making truces with the Chinese instead of pushing for a decisive victory. The Canton truce was lambasted because the 6 million was just a fraction of their demands. Elliot sent word back to Palmerston to ask why he was being dismissed and got a reply. “Throughout the whole course of your proceedings, you seem to have considered that my instructions were waste paper, which you might treat with entire disregard, and that you were at full liberty to deal with the interests of your country according to your own fancy.”. Elliot would make a public statement “it has been popularly objected to me that I have cared too much for the Chinese. But I submit that it has been caring more for lasting British honour and substantial British interests to protect a helpless and friendly people”.   Even Queen victoria made a statement about Elliot when she wrote to her uncle King Leopold of Belgium “All we wanted might have been got, if it had not been for the unaccountably strange conduct of Charles Elliot, who completely disobeyed his instructions and trie to get the lowest terms he could”. Sir Henry Pottinger, a diplomat and veteran of the Afghan wars replaced Elliot as superintendent of Trade and given an annual salary of 6000 pounds, twice that of Elliots to rub it in. Sir William Parker was also sent to be commander in chief and both he and Pottinger held impressive resumes and vast military experience. Pottinger served during the Napoleonic wars as a cabin boy at the age of 12 and then later joined the Indian army. Parker at the age of 31 retired with the rank of captain and a large fortune in prize money from the French ships he captured during the Napoleonic wars. Parker had been spending 15 years on his estate in Litchfield as a gentleman farmer before being called out of retirement by Palmerston. Parker and Pottinger arrived in August of 1841 and were met graciously by Charles Elliot before he left with his family back home to England. The opium smugglers were delighted to finally be rid of Charles Elliot and his moralistic distaste for the opium trade. They had hoped the new guys would be more amenable than Elliot and were in for quite a shock. One of the first things Pottinger did was tell the residents of Canton “could allow no consideration connected with mercantile pursuits…to interfere with the strong measures which he might deem necessary, and if they put either themselves or their property in the power of the Chinese authorities, it must be clearly understood to be at their own risk and peril.”. While Elliot was argued to be a Sinophile, Pottinger was the very opposite a Sinophobe. Pottinger did not have any understanding of Chinese culture nor their protocol for saving face in dealings. When the governor of canton came to greet Pottinger in Macao, Pottinger simply sent a subordinate to meet the man insulting him greatly.  On August 21 of 1841 the British armada was 32 ships strong, with 4 regiments of over 27,000 men aboard them. Pottinger left 1350 men to garrison Hong Kong and sailed for Amoy (present day Xiamen). Amoy was a granite island around 300 miles north of Macao and not really of any value, it was quite barren, but it was closer to Beijing and thus a threat to Emperor Daoguang. Amoy had been fortified by the Qing recently, they built a few batteries on Gulangyu island which lies just off the coast of Amoy and they prepared defenses all along Amoy's coast. Amoys coast held 96 embrasures and over 200 cannons to defend its harbor. Then the Qing sent a force to garrison it, adding an additional 42 cannons and 10,000 troops. Gulangyu island's batteries had 76 cannons including some more modern artillery smuggled over from singapore. The British armada first made contact with Gulangyu island as it protected the approach to Amoy and the Druid, Blonde and Modeste blasted its fortifications from 400 yards away. As was typical of this war, the cannons at Amoy and Gulangyu were antiquated and in fixed positions. To give you a visual idea of the issue, these cannons could not swivel well, they were basically fixed to the ground, greatly hampering range and accuracy. Thus when the British ships began to bombard them they could not effectively return fire. After 90 minutes of bombardment, the Qing cannons went silent and the British began landing troops without any opposition. Major General Gough disembarked from Nemesis by 3:45pm as Amoy's batteries were neutralized and 26 chinese war junks in the harbor were put out of commission. Despite the ferocity of the British bombardment , Amoy's fortresses cannons began opening fire upon the troops and Gough personally led a bayonet charge towards the fortresses southern wall. The Qing soldiers on the fort began to fire their matchlocks at the British but were overwhelmed by the enemy's gunfire. Soon many of the Qing soldiers routed and when the Qing commander realized the situation was hopeless he marched straight into the sea committing suicide by drowning himself. The reports going back to Emperor Daoguang were “that the Manchu commander rushed out to drive back the assailants as they landed, fell into the water and died” sort of a positive spin on the story. The British forces scaled the forts walls and opened its gates. Inside the fort the British found a large number of opium pipes lying beside the cannons its alleged. When the British found Amoy's treasury they found a record indicating that there were thousands of silver taels, but none were to be found. It turned out the Qing officials had snuck the silver out before the British arrived. Pottinger took no time ordering the armada to refit and continue sailing north, now he wanted to make up for Elliot's giving away of Chusan.  On September 25 of 1841, the armada assembled to attack the fort of Dinghai on Chusan for a second time. Dinghai was much better fortified than Amoy and held more cannons. Dinghai's garrison was commanded by General Keo who had a large number of Gingalls. Gingalls are quite interesting and a bit comical to look at. Google one up and you will understand immediately, try to imagine a giant gun that takes a tripod and 2 men to fire. The gingall was one of the most used weapons by the Qing during this part of the century and it was not very effective against the British. The defenders of Dinghai put up an impressive resistance as noted by the British. The British sent the 55th foot to assault them and took the Dinghai fort, losing 2 men with 28 wounded. When General Keo knew the British had won the battle he slit his own throat. The British found 100 iron guns, 36 outdated brass cannons and 540 gingalls in the fort indicated the capability of the Qing military. Pottinger wrote back to Palmerston to make his resolve adamantly clear “under no circumstance will Dinghai and its dependencies be restored to the Qing government, until the whole of the demands of England are not only complied with, but carried into full effect”. Catastrophe hit again when the British ship Nerbudda transporting some British and Indian soldiers went aground off Taiwan. The British soldiers fled in lifeboats leaving the Indians behind who spent 5 days on ship until dehydration and starvation forced them to go ashore on rafts. The Qing forces in Taiwan seized them and imprisoned them. In march, an opium ship named the Ann also went aground on Taiwan and 14 of her survivors were imprisoned alongside the Indians from Nerbudda. The Qing officials were desperate for good news and sent reportes to the Emperor that a large naval battle had been won at Taiwan and 2 ships were sunk. Emperor Daoguang was delighted and rewarded the Taiwan officials with honors and silver.   Meanwhile the British armada left a garrison at Dinghai and sailed for Jintai which lies 10 miles east of the mainland. They began to bombard Jintai's forts on October 10 and it proved to be a difficult task as its forts were atop a large cliff. Around 4000 Qing troops garrisoned the city, quite a few were Mongol bannermen. Major General Gough sent a force of 15000 men to flank the fort on the cliff while Wellesley and Blenhem covered their march with bombardment. By the afternoon the British had 3 men dead and 16 wounded, but as they allegedly killed several hundred Chinese. Jintai was taken by the late afternoon and the Qing commander Yukien attempted to drown himself, but having failed to do so committed suicide by overdosing on opium. The British captured around 150 cannons and noticed amongst the majority which were antiquated, the usual sort they kept finding, a few were state of the art. The Qing were replicating the British style cannons it seemed. Many prisoners were taken, but Gough had to let them go; he simply did not have enough men to spare to guard them. Yet before letting the POW's go, the British attempted a rather heinous act. The British marines used their jackknives to cut off the Manchu queues of the Qing prisoners as take away gifts. Before too many of these marines were able to do so, to the credit of Gough he ran to the scene to stop the act.   After securing Jintai, the British sent Nemesis up the Yung River and soon discovered it was crossable and that they could navigate it to get to Ningbo. On October 13th, the British armada landed troops on Ningbo 10 miles southeast of Jintai. Ningbo's gates opened for them without a fight as the Royal Irish band played “saint patrick's day in the morning”. The British found the building that held the prisoners from the Kite and burned down the prison. Pottinger wrote to Palmerston that he “looked forward with considerable satisfaction to plundering Ningbo as a reprisal for the maltreatment there of British prisoners” and that is just what he did. The British looted 160,000 in funds and placed a 10% taxation on its citizens. Pottinger also confiscated provisions, Chinese ships, property and the main Pagoda's bell as a prize sent back to India. The Qing authorities left Ningbo and the British failed to set up any form of police and thus many looters ran rampant, Chinese and British alike. Gough and Parker were livid at the conditions, the inhabitants of Ningbo had opened the gates without a fight and should be left unmolested. They both argued Pottinger was allowing British honour to be stained at Ningbo.  Now while a lot of these victories seemed easy they were also pyrrhic in nature. Disease continuously reared its ugly head reducing the British troops. Every place they occupied had to be garrisoned and now they were down to 700 able men and had to winter in Ningbo. The humiliated and pissed off citizens of Ningbo began hurling rocks at the occupiers. Soon it became very apparent police were needed at Ningbo and thus a Qing official was set up as the chief of police named Yu Dechang. In reality the British were having Yu Dechang compile a list of the wealthiest residents of Ningbo so they could extort them for more money. Yu was also doing something else, he was spying for the Qing military who was currently massing troops outside Ningbo to retake the city! Emperor Daoguang had taken up action as soon as reports came that Ningbo had fallen. He sent his cousin Prince Yijing to recruit an army to “drive the English into the sea”. Prince Yijing was a 48 year old general and a honored veteran of wars against Muslim rebels in Xinjiang province from a decade earlier. Yijing brought with him quite an unlikely band of literary scholars whose expertise lay in confucian teachings and not the art of war. The scholars also happened to be rampant opium addicts and were deemed by the British later to be “weekend warriors”.  On march 10th of 1842, Yijing had a force of 5000, mostly ill trained intellectual types. When they came to the gate of Ningbo they were met with a head impaled on a pike and a sign reading “this is the head of the Manchu official Lu Tai-lai who came here to obtain military information”. Prince Yijing was enraged and ordered his men to scale the walls and charge the center of the city. However the British had spies of their own who had warned them of the incoming assault force. The British had deliberately left the city's western city gate quasi open in order to give the impression they did not mean to defend it. In truth the western gate had been mined heavily and when the Qing rushed to it, the mines exploded killing many. Over in the southern gate the Qing pushed back some British defenders all the way up to the city center. British soldiers reported that the Qing attacks appeared to be visibly impaired by opium, including their 2nd in command General Zhang Yingyun who was leading the rearguard once the city was breached. In the city center Major General Gough with 150 men and a field artillery piece met Zhang's force with massive gunfire. The artillery piece, a single howitzer tore the Qing troops to pieces at such a close range. Corpses began to pile apparently 15 feet high blocking the streets if you believe British sources. Not all of the Qing were these intellectual types by the way, there was a volunteer force of 150 aboriginal Chinese from Golden River. This group were not using matchlocks and instead pikes,swords and spears which were their favored weapons traditionally. The 150 unfortunate and very brave souls had rushed the British position and were completely annihilated. The British lost 5 men and reported to have inflicted up to 600 casualties upon the Qing. Bei Qingjiao a literary scholar with the Qing forces reported Zhang to behaving bizarrely during the battle in the city center. Bei reported that Zhang was commanding with an opium pipe in his mouth and collapsed in a narcotic daze. When his men began to rout, Zhang also abandoned the fight by crawling onto a litter and fleeing.  It was also reported the Qing forces had devised a rather comical military tactic during this battle. In order to destroy the British warships, some of the Qing wanted to throw monkeys holding firecrackers at the ships to set them ablaze. This was not the first time the idea was thought of during the first opium war by the way, though there is little evidence it ever occurred. There was also an idea put forward to sent Chinese merchants with smallpox contaminated meat to weakened the British prior to the attack, but General Yijing vetoed this plan deeming it to be too unethical. The battle had a devastating psychological effect on the Qing military. They had suffered nearly 600 casualties and taken nearly no British down with them. The Qing commanders were realizing the British technological superiority was too significant and a defeatist mindset began to set into the Qing military as a whole. For failing to retake Ningbo, Emperor Daoguang sentenced Prince Yijing to death. Prince Yijing would escape death and instead was exiled to Turkestan. When the Qing forces made their retreat from Ningbo and sent over 270 Chinese vessels to blockade Jintai, but it seems the commander of that force, Chen Tingchen did not want to risk an invasion and never landed troops. Instead they found a British shipwreck and salvaged pieces from it to sent to Beijing as proof they had won a great naval victory. Having failed to take Ningbo, the Qing began to poison its food supply which prompted the British to attack a village named Tzeki just up the river in retaliation where many Qing soldiers had fled to. Pottinger returned to Hong Kong in February of 1842 and found the city transformed since he last saw it. Now it really looked like a westernized city, there was a four mile road, 2 dozen brothels and builders busy constructing everywhere. The tea trade was continuing in Canton and so was the opium trade. It was estimated every 4th ship that stopped at Hong Kong was carrying opium at this point. Another 100 ships were sent to China carrying thousands of troops. Gough went from having a force of 3000 to 10,000. By may of 1842 the hostilities would fire up again. On may 18th, the British were sailing further north edging closer to Beijing to put pressure on the Emperor and came across Chapu, a town 75 miles northwest of Chusan island. Major General Gough divided his force of 2220 men into 3 groups with a right and left wing and artillery in the center. The British force landed on Chapu without resistance until they reached a joss house further inland. There were 300 Chinese barricaded inside the joss house who refused to surrender and fired upon the British inflicting casualties. The fight over the joss house went on for many hours as the British stormed parts of Chapu city bombarding its walls with artillery. Gough lost one of his senior officer Lt Colonel Nicholas Tomlinson who died leading a breaching party of the 18th Royal Irish storming the city. Aside from the Joss house fight and the initial breaches the battle went over quite well for the British as the Qing defenders had only seriously guarded one side of the city walls. In Goughs words after the battle “the enemy were completely taken by surprise as usual, they were unprepared for anything except a frontal attack. They gave way on all sides and took to flight, with the exception of a body of some 300 Tartar troops who seized a small joss-house and held it with indomitable pluck and perseverance”.  The Royal Irish were infuriated at the loss of their commander and wanted to kill POW's, but British officers intervened. Instead the POW's were subjugated to having their Manchu queues tied up together in groups of 8 to 10 men and marched in public after the city was officially captured. Despite this many POW's were bayoneted. When the British found the main Qing barracks they found a horrid scene. The Manchu had a military tradition of not being taken alive and a large force of Manchu had committed suicide after poisoning their wives and children. Black and bloated faces were seen alongside soldiers with slit throats. The British reported 13 dead and 52 wounded taking the city while the Qing they claimed lost thousands. Next the British sailed forth to attack Wusong which lay at the mouth of the Yangtze River. By taking Wusong they would be able to cut off the important second capital of Nanking from its riverway. They believed taking Nanking would bring the Qing to the bargaining table and would be easier than an attack on Beijing itself. They could also take Shanghai and cut its tax revenue to Beijing. On June 13th, the British armada made it to Wusong after being fired upon by forts along the Huangbu river, an estuary of the Yangtze which caused 3 deaths. They laid anchor off Wusong and began naval bombardments of its port on June 16th. After a few hours the Qing forts stopped returning fire and the British began landing troops to assault them. As was becoming typical, the Qing defenders had mostly fled during the cannon exchange but some stayed put to meet the invaders such as the Qing commander Chen Huacheng. Chen would go down fighting to the end as the British scaled the fort walls and occupied them. Hundreds of Qing soldiers were killed during the invasion and bombardments and by the late evening Wusong was occupied in full.  On June 19th, the British marched on Shanghai just a few miles south of Wusong. They found no sign of the enemy there, just 2 pieces of artillery left on the city's walls. The invaders scaled the walls and opened the gates as its residents fled the city. The residents of Shanghai bribed the British with 300,000 dollars to prevent looting, but the British officers simply let their men plunder. An eyewitness saw some of this pillaging go down. A wealthy and respected Qing official named Cao was living in a walled home with a courtyard in the suburbs of Shanghai when some British soldiers kicked down his front door. They began to loot the man's entire food supply and demanded of Cao to show them where he was hiding his silver. They put a knife to his throat and shouted “fan ping! Fan ping!” meaning “foreign cakes” an idiom for silver. Despite their belief the man was hiding silver about, they did not find any. Cao and his family lost all their food and to make matters worse after a few days some Chinese looters came by and stole some food Cao's family had found. Cao was forced to go door to door begging for food to feed his family, but the city had been picked clean. Cao himself wrote “foreigners have contented themselves with loot and rape, but as the city fell without resistance there has been no general slaughter. They are pressing the people into their service to do all their heavy work, such as shifting gun emplacements and gunpowder. They take anyone, buddhist monks, notables, and well known people”.  Despite Shanghai's commercial and strategic importance, the British only occupied it for a week before marching towards Nanking. By taking Nanking they hoped to end the entire war, but between them and Nanking was the walled city of Zhengjiang around 50 miles west of Nanking.  Zhengjiang held around 1583 bannerman and 2700 Green Standard Army troops and by mid july the British were blockading the route between the Yangtze river and the grand canal. On the morning of July 21 the British landed 4 brigades and attacked Zhengjiang from 3 different directions. The 1st brigade of 2310 soldiers and supported by an artillery brigade made a frontal assault attacking a Qing army in front of Zhengjiang's walls. The 2nd Brigade of 1832 men attacked Zhengjiangs western gate supported by a naval bombardment. The 3rd brigade consisting of 2155 soldiers attacked the northern gate.   At 7am the British 3rd brigade landed at Beigu mountain and its grenadiers charges the north gate as bannermen atop Zhengjaings walls fired down upon them using gingalls mounted on tripods. The 3rd brigade managed to set up artillery battered the defenders atop the walls who in the haste were trying to fire back with their own artillery. After an hour the artillery of the bannermen were knocked out and the British grenadiers bayonet charged the gate and scaled the walls bringing the fight to the wall tops.  The British 1st brigade landed and took some highlands near Jinshan and by 8am began to attack the Green standard army stationed outside the walls of Zhengjiang. When the 1st brigade began to battle the Green standard army, the British 2nd brigade stormed the western gate as the armada naval bombarded its walls. There were many houses in front of the western gate which the British occupied and fired from at the wall top defenders. The bannermen atop the walls desperately fired using gingalls upon the invaders but could not stop the British grenadiers from reaching the gate. British engineers blew up bombs using gunpowder at the west gate and it was soon breached. The Green Standard army occupied with the 1st british brigade saw the city had been breached and fires were emerging. They assumed the city was a lost cause and the commander of the Green standard army ordered a retreat. Within the city the street fighting was fierce and the British third and second brigades managed to fight towards another pincering the bannermen within the city. The Manchu commander of the bannermen, General Hailin ordered the Manchu to kill themselves rather than fall to the enemy. Again families were poisoned and soldiers strangled or slit their throats. General Hailin gathered up all his court papers into a pile, sat upon the pile and lit himself on fire. Pottinger wrote of this scene “he was worthy of a nobler and better fate”. The non Manchu residents of the city did not share this view however as before his death General Hailin ordered all the non manchu residents executed on charges of treason. I am hardly qualified to explain this, but just know the animosity between the Manchu and Han Chinese at this time was particularly bitter. A poet named Zhu Shiyun who lived on the outskirts of Zhengjiang city gave an account of this event. Of General Hailin he wrote “Hailin was in a very excited state. All over the town he arrested harmless people on the ground that they were in league with the enemy. He handed them over to the Prefect to imprison and flog. It was only at the four gates that he had a cannon pointing outwards. Inside the city his whole activity consisted in arresting passersby on suspicion of their being traitors. Whenever women or children saw Manchu soldiers, they fled in terror, upon which the soldiers ran after them and slew them, announcing to Hailin that they had disposed of traitors , for which he gave them rewards. The Barbarians different and the same were now on both sides of the gates”. The British had around 40 dead, a hundred wounded and allege they killed perhaps a thousand Chinese.   In contrast to the Manchu led horror, public opinion in the city improved of the invaders on July 24th when the British hung a rapist and looter from their own ranks. They hung placards to the men warning anyone would face the same fate for such crimes. It should be said, both these men happened to be Indian, a noticeable pattern in this war, the blaming of everything upon Indian soldiers. By August 16, a proclamation was made officially forbidding looting oh and on September the 5th opium was proclaimed fully legal and traded to the residents.  Major General Gough used his artillery to blast holes in Zhengjians walls before taking the army to march onwards, making sure the city could be easily retaken later if need be. With the capture of Zhengjiang, the British gained control over the traffic upon the Yangtze river. The British quickly blockaded the Grand Canal paralyzing the region. The governor of Nanking, Yilibu sent word to the emperor summing up the situation “The Yangtze River is a region like a throat, at which the whole situation of the country is determined. Now they have already cut off our salt and grain transportation and stopped the communication of merchants and travelers. That is not a disease like ringworm, but a trouble in our heart and stomach.”. In addition to all of that, the path to march upon Nanking was now wide open. After that it was Beijing that could be marched upon! Emperor Daoguang appointed Yilibu and a Manchu court official named Qiying to negotiate with the British. The emperor gave Qiying plenipotentiary power and ordered both men to do anything necessary to halt the British advance before it reached Beijing. Meanwhile the British were marching towards Nanking with naval forces sailing the river threatening to bombard the city. Yilibu quickly raised the white flag before a shot could be fired. Unlike previous Qing officials, both Yilibu and Qiying recognized the impending disaster should they embellish reports to the emperor. No they knew they had to tell him straight what was occuring to make sure they were not caught doing anything that would bite them in the ass later so to say. One of their first reports back to Emperor Daoguang to explain the situation in Nanking read “should we fail to ease the situation by soothing the barbarians, they will run over our country like beasts, doing anything they like”.  Yilibu approached the British displaying the typical arrogance the British had become accustomed to in China. Yilibu sent a low ranking soldier to meet Pottinger. Pottinger as you might remember was …well an asshole honesty, a complete sinophobe who knew not much about the rigid Qing protocol and its hierarchical nature, but he knew when he was being insulted. Pottinger declined the low ranking solider and demanded to meet with Yilibu himself, whom he assumed held plenipotentiary power. Pottinger accused the Qing of performing the same ruse they did with Elliot countless times, making promises without the emperors authority so they could just back out of them later. While Yilibu hesitated, Pottinger made a point by ordering attacks on local villages along the Yangtze river. Yilibu did not hold plenipotentiary power however and the Emperor quickly dispatched a seal to give it to him when Yilibu pleaded for it. As Yilibu stalled waiting for the seal, Pottinger brought up the steam warship Queen and trained her guns on the walls of Nanking and began setting up 18 howitzers on the beach to rain hell into the city. Yilibu panicked and sent his subordinate Zhang Xi to meet the British aboard the Queen. Zhang Xi took a very aggressive stance with Pottinger demanding he stop his threatening actions or else. Pottinger replied he would attack Beijing after Nanking fell, a blunt message. Zhang Xi retorted that the British military successes were only due to the kindness and forbearance of the Emperor saying “who cannot bear to kill or injure human creatures. But if pushed too far would arm every inhabitant of the great empire to fight off the invaders”. The interpreter Thom looked at Zhang Xi and objected to saying his message to Pottinger and Zhang Xi screamed while pounding the table with his fists an spitting on the floor “you kill people everywhere, plunder goods, and act like rascals; that is very disgraceful; how can you say you are not rebellious?”. Zhang Xi was escorted off the ship after his outburst which honestly could have made the British attack Nanking at any moment, kinda a loose cannon of an official. Luckily on August 9th, Yilibu received the seal of plenipotentiary power just as the British brought Cornwallis into firing range of the city walls and landed troops to camp outside them.  On August 11, Yilibu offered 3 million off the bat to postpone the British attack upon Nanking, he even said Qiying would bring it himself to Queen Victoria. Pottinger agreed to postpone and begin negotiations. Yilibu then began the classic Chinese ploy of procrastination instead of negotiation. He hoped to weary the enemy down. When Pottinger sent Yilibu a treaty, he pretended to examine it, but in truth was just biding time. Then the British told him they would commence attacks on August 13th. Yilibu was cornered now, he begrudgingly made an appearance aboard the Queen and promised to begin serious negotiations if the British called off the attack. Yilibu and other emissaries met for 4 days traveling back and forth from ship to shore until Yilibu agreed to terms. However despite his potentiary powers, Yilibu argued he still had to send a copy of the treaty to the Emperor for approval. Basically the terms were so terrible he knew he was facing death if he just signed off on them. The British understood Yilibu's predicament and allowed for this, then they invited him and his colleagues aboard Cornwallis on August 20th to wine and dine them. They served the Chinese tea and cherry brandy and Yilibu and Qiying put on a show of Qing manners by bowing before a painting of Queen Victoria. Macartney, Napier and Amherst probably smiling from their graves. While Yilibu awaited Beijing's approval, Pottingers spoke to him about the opium trade. At first Yilibu refused to discuss the subject all together, until Pottinger told the interpreter to tell him the meeting would be kept secret. Then Yilibu explained the decades of hardship opium had brought upon the Qing dynasty and suggested a common solution. Why could the British simply stop the production of the crop in its held parts of India? Pottinger replied that the Americans, French or some other nation would simply take up the business and added “If your people are virtuous, they will desist from the evil practice; and if your officers are incorruptible, and obey their orders, no opium can enter your country.”. Yilibu quickly realized the opium issue was a deal breaker and dropped the matter.  Yilibu was under terrible stress, while he was dealing with the British he was simultaneously receiving orders from Beijing to not meet with the British until they sailed away from Nanking. Yilibu ignored these imperial edicts and continued negotiations which was quite brave of him. When the British demanded Fuzhou be opened to British trade, Beijing ordered him not to allow it, but Yilibu ignored that order, also accepting the term.  The result of the negotiations was the Treaty of Nanking and it represented a total diplomatic defeat for the Qing dynasty. The original demand for 6 million in reparations for the 20,000 chests of confiscated opium and the cost for Britain's war reparations ballooned to a sum of 21 million. That was half of China's yearly tax revenues back then. Yilibu accepted the amount to be paid in installments. The British gained everything they wanted except for the legalization of the opium trade in China. Despite written instructions from Lord Palmerston to “strongly impress upon the Chinese plenipotentiaries how much it would be to the interest of that Government to legalize the trade,” Pottinger did not press upon the issue after receiving a message from Emperor Daoguang through Yilibu “gainseeking and corrupt men will for profit and sensuality defeat my wishes, but nothing will induce me to derive revenue from the vice and misery of my people.”. The Emperor Daoguang refused to agree to a formal recognition of the treaty and sent another letter to Yilibu to give Pottinger “Our nations have been united by friendly commercial intercourse for 200 years. How then, at this time, are our relations so suddenly changed, as to be the cause of a national quarrel from the spreading of the opium poison? Multitudes of our Chinese subjects consume it, wasting their property and destroying their lives. How is it possible for us to refrain from forbidding our people to use it?”. The Qing government did not want to admit publicly that a shocking amount of the Chinese population were suffering from opium addiction. On August 27th of 1842 Beijing approved what it thought to be the complete text of the treaty of nanking. The draft was signed on August 29th aboard the Cornwallis and Yilibu was so sick he had to be carried onto the British ship to sign it. The signatories, Yilibu, Qiying, Parker, Gough and Pottinger gathered in the cabin of Cornwallis as the seals were fixed. A lunch was served afterwards as the Qing banner and Union Jack flew on Cornwallis's masts. Qiying insisted on stuffing Pottinger's mouth with a candied plum at dessert time stating it was a Manchu custom and symbol of agreement. An English crewmember who witnessed this said “I shall never forget Sir Henry's face determined resignation”. The Qing left after lunch and despite Qiyings playfulness with the plums it masked their despair at the terms of the treaty. The British had agreed to give back Chusan and Amoy after the reparations were paid in full. They demanded access for trade and permanent residence at the ports of Canton, Amoy, Fuzhou, Ningbo and Shanghai. Each port had to have a British consular official and the limited trade through the Cohong system was to be abolished. The pretense that Britain was a tributary inferior nation to the Qing dynasty was to be abolished and now they were to be treated as equal nations. Hong Kong island was to be a permanent British colony and Nanking would be blockaded by Britain's armada until the first reparation payment of 6 million was paid. Yilibu was so terrified of the Emperor he sent an edited version of the Treaty of Nanking to Beijing omitting the points the Emperor and screamed not to allow. The British flotilla at Nanking remained for several weeks until the British crews began to all get sick. By october 12 of 1842 the 6 million was paid and the British fleet departed Nanking. Those shipwrecked prisoners from the Ann and Nerbudda would become unfortunate victims. The Daoguang emperor ordered their execution and on August 10th the captives were taken 3 miles outside the city walls and executed. As reported in the Chinese repository a publication in Canton All the rest—one hundred and ninety-seven [prisoners]—were placed at small distances from each other on their knees, their feet in irons and hands manacled behind their backs, thus waiting for the executioners, who went round, and with a kind of two-handed sword cut off their heads without being laid on a block. Afterwards their bodies were all thrown into one grave, and their heads stuck up in cages on the seashore. Pottinger threatened retaliation for the massacre but the governor of Canton Yiliang said he arrested the ring leaders and they would be punished at Beijing for their crimes. Back in Britain the Treaty of Nanking was hailed,  the Illustrated London News crowned  “it secures us a few round millions of dollars and no end of very refreshing tea. It gives an impetus to trade, cedes us one island in perpetuity, and in short puts that sort of climax to the war which satisfies our interests more than our vanity and rather gives over glory a preponderance to gain,”. The London Times hailed it and the British fleet “early victorian vikings”.  Much like the Treaty, the press made no mention of the reason why the war occurred, ie the illicit opium trade. Now Hong Kong island would fill its function as an offloading point for opium. Despite the Qing governments best efforts, demand in China rose for opium and it continued to flood into China. Many in the British parliament wanted to abolish the trade and many tried. In the end most paid lip service to it. An Order in Council gave Pottinger the power to “forbid the opium traffic in Hong Kong.” Pottinger paid lip service by issuing a lukewarm threat on August 1, 1843: “Opium being an article the traffic in which is well known to be declared illegal and contraband by the laws and Imperial Edicts of China, any person who may take such a step will do so at his own risk, and will, if a British subject, meet with no support or protection from HM Consuls or other officers.” The Opium merchants ignored Britain's sanctions and efforts to stop them were laughable. The Opium trade continued to thrive in China and the end of the First Opium war had done nothing to end the controversy over the illegal trade. Jardine and Mathson both left China and entered parliament as staunch Whig supporters. Their Chinese counterpart Howqua died of diarrhea a year after the signing of the treaty of nanking. Howqua most likely died the richest man on Earth at the time. Lin Zexu was eventually forgiven by the Emperor in 1845 and assigned a new post but died near Canton in 1850 before he could return to service. Emperor Daoguangs wrath over the treaty of Nanking fell unevenly. Qiying was still in his favor, while Yilibu was sent into exile in chains. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me.  And so the Qing dynasty sued for peace, but at what cost? The underlying problem had not changed, that of Opium. Could China rid itself of the illicit substance or what conflict rear its ugly head yet again?