Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael C Harris

On September 20, 1777 an American force under General Anthony "Mad Anthony" Wayne was surprised and routed by British forces under General Charles Grey. Wayne's entire division was put to flight losing nearly 300 men (with the British losing just a dozen). Called by many the "Massacre at Paoli", the fight was one of many that was part of the 1777 Philadelphia Campaign. Join ERW as we welcome back historian and author Michael C. Harris, expert on the Philadelphia Campaign, as we discuss the battle, its role in the campaign, the personalities and the myths around Paoli. Harris is now working on his third volume in his much acclaimed Philadelphia Campaign trilogy, that will include the Battle of Paoli.

This week our guests are JAR contributors Michael C. Harris and Gary Ecelbarger. While Washington's Army is typically viewed as under strength, new research shows that his army was far larger than first realized. For more information visit www.allthingsliberty.com.

General Sir William Howe launched his campaign to capture Philadelphia in late July 1777, with an army of 16,500 British and Hessian soldiers aboard a 265-ship armada sailing from New York. Six difficult weeks later, Howe’s expedition landed near Elkton, Maryland, and moved north into Pennsylvania. Washington’s rebel army did all it could to harass Howe and fought and lost a major battle at Brandywine on September 11. Philadelphia fell to the British. On October 4, obscured by darkness and a heavy morning fog, Washington launched a surprise attack on the British garrison at Germantown. His early attack found initial success and drove the British legions before him. The recapture of the colonial capital seemed within Washington’s grasp until poor decisions by the American high command brought about a reversal of fortune and a clear British victory. Like Brandywine, however, the bloody fight at Germantown proved that Continental soldiers could stand toe-to-toe with British Regulars. Michael C. Harris is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and the American Military University. He has worked for the National Park Service in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Fort Mott State Park in New Jersey, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission at Brandywine Battlefield. He has conducted tours and staff rides of many east coast battlefields. Michael is certified in secondary education and currently teaches in the Philadelphia region. Description courtesy of Savas Beatie.

Author Michael C. Harris discusses the battle of Germantown and his new book about the battle. Germantown a Military History of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4th, 1777. Savas Beatie, 2020.   Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for a full text transcript, pictures, maps, and more books by the author. Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevPodcast Join the Facebook group, American Revolution Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132651894048271 Join the podcast mail list: https://mailchi.mp/d3445a9cd244/american-revolution-podcast-by-michael-troy

Author Michael C. Harris discusses the battle of Germantown and his new book about the battle. Germantown a Military History of the Battle for Philadelphia, October 4th, 1777. Savas Beatie, 2020.   Visit my site at https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com for a full text transcript, pictures, maps, and more books by the author. Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevPodcast Join the Facebook group, American Revolution Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132651894048271 Join the podcast mail list: https://mailchi.mp/d3445a9cd244/american-revolution-podcast-by-michael-troy

On September 11th, 1777 George Washington's Continental Army was all that stood between Philadelphia and the British Army. Understanding that a great stand would be required to save the colonial capitol, the General clashed with William Howe's Redcoats along the banks of the Brandywine. After a day-long battle Washington failed, and retreated in short order. As a result, the British Army captured and occupied Philadelphia for nine months and delivered one of the most terrible defeats of the American Revolution to the fledgling Patriots. On this episode our guests are authors Michael C. Harris and Bruce Mowday...spared no expense. 

Brandywine Creek calmly meanders through the Pennsylvania countryside today, but on September 11, 1777, it served as the scenic backdrop for the largest battle of the American Revolution, one that encompassed more troops over more land than any combat fought on American soil until the Civil War. Long overshadowed by the stunning American victory at Saratoga, the complex British campaign that defeated George Washington’s colonial army and led to the capture of the capital city of Philadelphia was one of the most important military events of the war. Michael C. Harris’s impressive Brandywine: A Military History of the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America, September 11, 1777, is the first full-length study of this pivotal engagement in many years. Michael C. Harris is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington and the American Military University. He has worked for the National Park Service in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Fort Mott State Park in New Jersey, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission at Brandywine Battlefield. He has conducted tours and staff rides of many east coast battlefields. Michael is certified in secondary education and currently teaches in the Philadelphia region. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Michelle and son Nathanael.