America at War: Recent Episodes
Marc Blackburn
Explore the rich history of our past through the lens of our military institutions. From the settlement of North America to the present, this podcast encompasses traditional military history and goes the extra step to address the evolution of ideas and institutions. Join us!
In this episode we focus on one of the most pivotal moments in American Military History. When Elihu Root was confirmed as Secretary of War, he needed a War Department that could meet the task at hand - pacifying the Philippines. Well aware of the short comings of the Army that emerged during the Cuban campaign, Root embarked on reform. We will focus on the issues Root faced and what he wanted to accomplish, setting up for a conversation about the creation of the General Staff. These innovations were the first steps in building a defense policy that could meet the needs of the twentieth century.
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With the assumption of an Empire and growing economic and military power, the United States flexed its muscles in the Philippines, Central America, and the Caribbean. Since the nineteenth century, the United States wanted to keep European powers and interests out of countries in close proximity to its borders. With the success of ridding the hemisphere of European powers in Cuba and the Philippines, the United States exerted itself. For a generation, the Marines would intervene in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Santo Domingo. It was the beginning of the American century.
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Once Americans landed in Manila, tensions simmered between the Filipino independence movement and emerging power of the United States in the Pacific. Attempts to come to any accommodation failed. Emilio Aguinaldo led an Army but failed to wrest control from the United States. Rather than give up the fight, Aguinaldo pursued a guerilla campaign. While they put up a good fight, they failed to secure independence. In a struggle that lasted longer than the campaign against Cuba, the United States was now saddled with the consequences of pursuing an empire. While they won over many Filipinos, tensions remained.
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In this episode we will wind up the story of the campaign against Spain. After the fall of Santiago de Cuba, American forces landed on the island of Puerto Rico. With the capture of the largest city on the island, the colony was for the most part secured quickly. Half way around the world, American forces concentrated on taking the political and cultural center of the Philippines - Manila. Attempting to sideline the Filipino independence movement, the Americans compelled Spanish forces to surrender, shutting out the Filipinos from securing independence. As we will see, this would lead to a protracted conflict after Spain gave the archipelago to the Americans.
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In February of 2016 I embarked on a new project, a podcast that would go through the timeline of American Military History. Ten years later we are finally on the cusp of the twentieth century. This episode will focus on where we are headed in the coming months and some general reflections. Thank you to all of my loyal listeners. I appreciate your support, no matter in what form it comes in. Thanks and here is to another ten years!
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The story of the Spanish American War continues. In this episode we focus on the actions of the US Army and Navy in the aftermath of General Shafter's first moves. After capturing El Caney and San Juan Hill, the Spanish squadron that was in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba left their anchorage to face the Americans. In a lopsided fight, the American victory effectively marked the end of the Cuban campaign. Despite Shafter's own reservations concerning the siege of Santiago, facing insurmountable issues of their own, the Spanish garrison capitulated rather than fight to the death. Take a listen!
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Welcome to the first episode of the year! We are continuing our series on the Spanish-American War. We are transitioning from Tampa, Florida to the Island of Cuba. The commanding general of V Corps, William Shafter, landed outside of Santiago de Cuba. Rather than reduce the fortifications at the mouth of the harbor, Shafter was ready to move against the Spanish garrison in the city. He chose to attack Spanish outposts at San Juan and Kettle Hills and El Caney. The breezy optimism that the Americans had were dashed by a robust Spanish defense. While the Americans were able to successful capture the Spanish positions, it came at a higher cost than anticipated. The battle may have made the career of Theodore Roosevelt, but it shook Shafter's confidence.
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Once war was declared in April, plans to send an American expeditionary force evolved. Once a Spanish flotilla was trapped in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, rather than striking at Havana, the decision was to send the force to Santiago. The size and complexity of the force grew from a projected 5,000 men to 25,000. The Corps commander, General William Shafter, was overwhelmed. Tampa was completely inadequate for a port and Shafter had few people he could call on to help prepare the force for embarkation. In May through early June, it proved difficult to properly assemble the force and its supplies, delaying their departure and impacting their performance. Take a listen!
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We are continuing our narrative on the Spanish-American War. In this episode we will concentrate on Admiral Dewey's victory in Manila Bay in the spring of 1898 as well as naval movements around the island of Cuba. Dewey's easy victory would open opportunities in the Philippines, but more on that in later episodes. The Army, pressured with more men than they anticipated, struggled to supply and arm the waves of volunteers. While supply organs slowly ramped up production, there was a deficit in modern fire arms that would dog the Army throughout the war. On the eve of the twentieth century, the long rifles that would dominate the century entered the scene. It took time to manufacture and equip troops, meaning that when Americans landed on the shores of Cuba, there were armed with second hand weapons.
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After discussing the origins of the Spanish-American War in our last episode, we bring the story forward to the declaration of war and the plans of the United States and Spain. Spain was unable to pour reinforcements, either naval or ground into Cuba and the Philippines. They had no choice but to use the resources they had access to. In the United States, the navy had begun planning for a campaign long before hostilities commenced. The Army was far behind and subject to the whims of politics. Rather than expand the regular army, a decision was reached to recruit volunteers, complicating mobilization and training.
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We have done it! We have reached the end of the nineteenth century with the beginning of the Spanish-American War. In the first of a string of episodes, we will be exploring the country's first overseas venture - war with Spain over its island possessions in the Caribbean and the Pacific. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States was already thinking beyond its continental borders. With the purchase of Alaska and new found influence in Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands, the United States was already considering what was next. With Spain's influence on a steep decline, there were an insurrection in Cuba which captured the attention of public opinion and those magnates who had invested heavily in the Cuban sugar industry. Uncertain whether to negotiate of go to war, Presidents Cleveland and McKinley proceeded carefully until events dictated their actions.
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The second and final episode of this arc take the story of the new steel navy to the beginning of the Spanish-American War. From the mid-1880s to the 1890s, the necessary infrastructure was put in place to expand the capabilities of the ships joining the fleet. Moreover, there was a shift in ideas on how to use the navy. Rather than focus on coastal defense and commerce raiding, thanks to the writings of Alfred Thayer Mahan, there was an interest in building larger ships that could wrestle the command of the seas from regional adversaries. Rather than concentrate on cruisers, there was growing interest in building what today we would know as battleships. This will be the final episode of this season before we move forward into thinking about the Spanish-American War.
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Perhaps one of the most prominent aspects of this period is the rise of the steel navy. After several decades of decline, the navy made a bold move and built a small fleet of steel warships. There was a growing, often fractious, political consensus that the navy needed to move forward. The move toward steel ships triggered the evolution of the American manufacturing base, slowly building the capacity to cast and mold steel, as well as build modern weapons made of the same material. We take the story up to the creation of the first four steel ships and will continue the expansion of the fleet in the next episode.
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In this episode we take a look at Harbor Defense in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. One of the most consistent missions of the US Army since the founding of the republic was defending the nation's harbors. The Civil War demonstrated that the granite of bricks of yore were outclassed by modern weapons. After a period of stagnation in the years after the Civil War, in 1886 Secretary of War Endicott released a plan for modern fortifications. While it took more than a decade to appropriate funding, these fortifications would defend the nation's harbors well into the twentieth century.
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In this episode we will continue and conclude our discussion of Emory Upton. We left off with the beginning of Upton's around the world journey. Upton traveled overseas on a mission to observe the armies of Asia and Europe. It was an important time for Upton. His observations of some of the most modern and, in his mind, backwards armies of the world, allowed him to work out his own notions of how the United States should reform its Army. Inspired by what he saw, Upton wanted a thoroughly professional Army that met the needs of the country. While inspired by, in particular, the German model, he fashioned a system that would correspond to American traditions. Unfortunately, due to health issues, he took his life in 1881. Upton's shadow continued to be thrown across American military history. He is an important bellwether for the degree of introspection that was occurring not only in Upton's mind, but his peers as well.
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We are continuing our exploration of professionalization and what kind of Army would emerge through a long period of introspection. In this episode we are going to explore these issues through the eyes of Emory Upton. A protege of William T. Sherman, Upton's experiences in the Civil War would trigger an intense interest in tactics and the shape of the Army in the future. This episode will focus on the formative stage of Upton's career - his experiences at West Point, serving in the Army during the Civil War, and navigating the pitfalls of the post war army, and how these fueled his interests. In our next episode we will explore the works that inspired a future generation of officers. Please take a listen!
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We are continuing our exploration of reform and revitalization of the US Army in the decades after the end of the Civil War. This is a critical topic that deserves some coverage if you want to understand the army’s performance in the future. One of the trends that emerged in this time period was an acceleration of moving the army toward a more professional organization. Will look at the key ingredients of this movement, in particular with a focus on education. A component of professionalization is education. We will spend some time looking at the emergence of the post-graduate education system. Please take a listen!
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In this episode, we will continue our story on the military's response to civil unrest. As we spoke of in the previous episode, we concentrated on how and why the National Guard and the US Army responded to civil disorders. We focused on the 1877 strike and in this episode we will talk about the Pullman strike and other actions as the nineteenth century began to draw down. The Army's response to unrest informed what was emerging as one of the chief responses to change.
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We are back! Our series on the reform and revitalization of the American military continues with a focus on how the military responded to civil disorder. The rise of the factory system and the industrialization of the United States changed the economic landscape of the nation. Wage earners, feeling powerless at time of rampant profits as well as little in the way of protections during economic downturns, used collective action to put a stop to these abuses. Often, these labor stoppages would involve property destruction and violence. In response, both the National Guard and regular army troops would intervene. The great railroad strike of 1877 was the first instance in the post Civil War era that this occurred, informing how the military would respond to unrest for the rest of the century. Enjoy!
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In this episode we kick off the Progressive Era with a brief overview of the National Guard in the late nineteenth century. The National Guard emerged from the volunteer militia's that dominated the scene from before the Civil War until the decades after. We will delve more into their activities in future episodes, namely responding to civil disturbances. In this episode we will introduce the desire for more federal recognition, while preserving its unique allegiance to the states in which they served.
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We have finished western expansion and the Army's campaigns 'out west'. With this episode we move into reform and revitalization of the Army and Navy until the end of the nineteenth century. In the aftermath of the Civil War, the United States remained insular. Without any external threats, the Army and Navy began to professionalize and think about the future. We will be focusing on a number of topics in this new series: the rise the National Guard, the expansion of officer education and professionalization, the modernization of the country's coastal defense infrastructure, and the rebirth of the navy. This was an exciting time. The growth of American military power at the beginning of the twentieth century cannot be understood without taking a look at this era.
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In our last episode on the frontier army, it seems appropriate to highlight the African-Americans who served in the west - the Buffalo soldiers. Two infantry and cavalry regiments were set aside for African-American soldiers. They flocked to the colors to serve. Taking part in many of the campaigns in the west, they cemented their reputation. The officers who led these regiments were white. In the decades after the end of the Civil War, several men of color were admitted into the US military academy at West Point. Three men were able to finish their military schooling and build careers in the US Army. We will focus on their stories.
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This episode follows up with the previous. After focusing on what it was like to serve in the west after the Civil War, we close the circle with this episode where we focus on the campagin trail and combat. Rather than fighting standing armies as had occured in the Civil War, the 'wars' more often than not, these brushes with violence could be called skrimishes rather than set piece battles. Regardless of the size of the battles, combat was a very personal and, in many cases, terrifying experience. Some men excelled, others did not. Nevertheless, the crucible of serving on the frontier would propel the army to change at the end of the century.
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In this episode, we take a closer look at the life of officers and enlisted men on the frontier. We explore the motivations for joining and the challenges of serving. The post Civil War Army served in over 200 posts spread through the west. They had to endure tedium, hardships, and occassionally the terror of serving in a battle. This episode will provide a broad overview of life on the frontier.
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As we draw down the arc of episodes related to post-Civil War Indian Wars, in this episode we will concentrate on subduing Geronimo. Geronimo bedeviled the US Army as he left the reservation three separate times. For the last two campaigns, General George Crook successfully cornered the proud warrior and compelled him to return to the reservation. Unfortunately, Crook was not happy the second time Geronimo went on the campaign trail and he was sent into exile in Florida. The native peoples who have inhabited this continent are still here today. Despite the trauma of this period, they are contributing to their local communities and carrying their ancestors legacy into the future. Let's celebrate that.
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In the episode we move from the Lakota and Sioux to the border region. Long before the United States controlled what we know today as the Southwest, Spanish and then Mexican authorities had to contend with Navajo and Apache raids. Once the Americans established themselves, the pressures of colonization would trigger Army intervention, and basically very little in the way of accommodation, triggering further raids and army reprisals. The episode will focus first on the Navajo and their attempts to preserve sovereignty in light of dissatisfaction with American Indian policy. The Apache resisted American efforts to stop their raids, which resulted in a series of campaigns in the 1860s and 1870s. Take a listen!
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I wanted to ask you all a question and wish you a happy and safe holiday season. If you would like to respond to the query, you can either respond through the podcast's facebook page or drop me a line through the podcasts email at americawarpodcast@gmail.com.
Thank you for listening to this podcast for all of these years. I really appreciate the support. Please be safe and enjoy the time with your families!
The death of George Armstrong Custer and the destruction of the Seventh Cavalry is a touchstone for the Indian Wars. It is the one event that in many people's mind, is the touchstone for the post-Civil War conflicts with Native Armericans. We will focus on that in this episode of the podcast. The campaign to hem in the Sioux to their reservations was to be facilitated by a multi-prong advance. Rather than seeing success, the Army was blunted on the Little Big Horn and the Rosebud. The defeat had a lasting effect on the Army and did not step the colonization of the west, but it was the greatest victory experienced by any tribe in the decades long conflict. You can decide for yourself if Custer was either brave of foolhardy in his attack on the Little Big Horn.
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We are moving to the center of the country with this episode. Before the beginning of the Civil War through the decade of the 1870s, the Army was busy in the center of the country. This episode will serve as bridge between the end of the Civil War and the Sioux and Lakota Wars of the 1870s. As settlement stretched west, there were clashes between native peoples and the Army. In a familiar story, dissatisfaction with treaties and the ongoing conquest of native lands, forced the hand of many Tribes, leading to war. The Fetterman fight, and Washita are bellwethers for the future of native peoples being able to coexist with Euro-American settlers. Take a listen!
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This is our last episode concerning the Nez Perce War of 1877. In the aftermath of Big Hole, the Nez Perce continued east, traveling through the newly established Yellowstone National Park. As it became clear that they were not welcome in Crow Country, the Nez Perce decided to head north to Canada and sanctuary. After exiting Yellowstone, the Nez Perce swung north, clashing with the Army at Canyon Creek. After crossing the Missouri River, they found a site known as Snake Creek or Bear Paw to rest. Nelson Miles took advantage of their pause and besieged them in what would turn out to be the last battle of the war. Cold, hungry, and desperate, they laid down their arms and the war was over. The trauma of 1877 is still felt, but the Nimiipuu are still here. Take a listen.
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We continue our narrative on the Nez Perce War, concentrating on what happened at Big Hole Montana. After successfully eluding the army in Montana, they camped in the Big Hole valley, thinking they were safe. They were not. Colonel John Gibbon was in pursuit. In what could best described as a massacre in the making, Gibbon attacked the Nez Perce encampment early in the morning of August 9, 1877. As Gibbon's men fired into the tipis, killing women and children, the Nez Perce rallied, pushing Gibbon back. Besieged, Gibbon's command survived, as the Nez Perce bought time for their families to leave the valley. By the end of August, the Nez Perce were at the gates of Yellowstone National Park.
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We continue the Nez Perce War with this episode. After the various missteps and mistakes by General Howard, the Army struck the Nez Perce again at the Battle of the Clearwater. While it could be seen as a victory, the Nez Perce escaped, leaving their household goods behind. A council among the Nez Perce leaders resulted in a reluctant decision to head east, over the Lolo Trail, to their friends in western Montana. Hoping that they would escape the war, they went east. Howard, belatedly, followed them. The Nez Perce arrived at the foot of the Bitterroot Valley and continued south, ending up at a traditional camping place in the Big Hole Valley. They were happy to have 'escaped' the war, but little did they know, one of the greatest tragedies of the war was about to happen. Stay tuned.
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We are continuing our story of the Nez Perce War of 1877. In this episode, we will concentrate on the start of hostilities. With emotions running high, Joseph and his band left the Wallowa's of northeast Oregon for the now reduced Nez Perce reservation. When they gathered at a place called Tolo Lake, emotions got the better of three young men who murdered some ranchers along the Salmon River. The army responded and the first battle of the war, at Whitebird, began in June of 1877. General Howard, slow to respond, could not catch the bands as they traveled east. In the meantime, in a capricious attack on White Bird's village, it added to Howard's problems. Take a listen!
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With this episode, we continue the story of the Nez Perce War of 1877. With the onset of the colonization of the Pacific Northwest, tensions gradually rose between the Tribes of the Northwest and these newcomers. Once the border between British Canada and the United States was agreed to, the U.S. quickly organized the Pacific Northwest. Isaac Stevens was appointed territorial governor and Indian agent. He met with the Nez Perce in the summer of 1853 to negotiate a Treaty. When anti-treaty factions learned of this, they interceded to make certain all voices were heard. Unfortunately, ten years later, the discovery of gold on the reservation triggered another Treaty which dispossessed many Nez Perce of their lands, creating the conditions for conflict between certain bands of the Nez Perce and the U.S. Army. Have a question, comment, concern, or compliment? Contact us at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your questions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for listening!
As we move to the Pacific Northwest from California, it is time to consider the Nez Perce War of 1877. The conflict captured the public's imagination, much like the Modoc War, of a Tribe wanting to establish a home, but not allowed. To understand the full measure of the Nez Perce War, this episode and the next will focus on the roots of the Nez Perce culture and homeland as well as the challenges to their sovereignty. Fur traders gave them manufactured goods. Missionaries brought Christianity to the Nez Perce homeland and were harbingers of change.
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Once a year I post a short episode on the state of the podcast. It is an overview of where we are and where we are going. No someone who enjoys history? Tell them about this podcast! We could use some more listeners.
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In this episode we will be concluding our series on the Modoc War of 1872-73. With the Modoc on the run, they retreated to a stronghold on the toe of a lava field, providing a bastion to protect their families from the U.S. Army. It took time to gather soldiers and supplies and did not attack until January 1873. It failed. In an attempt to break the impasse, negotiations led by General Canby were met with violence, coming to a sudden conclusion with the assassination of the general. A second attack in April 1873 succeeded, but not before the pursuing troops were ambushed by the retreating Modoc. Captain Jack and other leaders were captured in the spring. In a show trial, four Modoc, including their leader Captain Jack, were hanged in October 1877. The Modoc are still here, but the trauma of the event still lives with them.
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This is part two of a three episode arc on the Modoc War of 1872-73. With an increasing number of Euro-Americans settlers coming into the Klamath Basin astride the Oregon/California border after the end of the Civil War, tensions rose. Modoc's feared a loss of access to their homeland and it became an issue with both parties. It put increasing pressure on the Lost River band of the Modoc Tribe to remove themselves to the Klamath Reservation. Governed by two different agreements, one approved by Congress and the other not, created tension. In November 1872 the powder keg exploded when the Lost River band clashed with the U.S. Army. What became known as the Modoc War commenced.
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We are moving into our season on the wars of the western frontier. We are starting on the Pacific coast with the Modoc War of 1872-73, California's only large post Civil War conflict with a native people. This episode sets up the events of the war. The Modoc homeland, in the far reaches of Northern California in the Klamath Basin, was under pressure with waves of immigration that occured in the aftermath of the Civil War. Tensions between settlers and Modoc gradually rose through the 1850s and 1860s that built resentment and pressure for action. Two treaties were negotiated, one in California and the other in Oregon, causing confusion and further tension. With disagreements over who had the right to the land, it would set up the conditions for conflict.
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We are now moving beyond the Civil War and examining the armies role in the western United States. In the decades after the Civil War came to an end, the regular army was sent west. After 1865, with the completion of the transcontinental railroad and the Homestead Act, settlement of the west accelerated. Unfortunately, as the western states began to wholesale colonization, it brought them into conflict with the native peoples who lived in the areas west of the Mississippi River. As this series moves forward, we will handle the various conflicts that were peppered throughout this period from a regional perspective, going west to east. Stay tuned!
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The period from the end of the Civil War until 1877 was known as Reconstruction. As the name suggests, it was the country's attempt to reconstruct and, perhaps, transform the South. The hope was to not only stitch the country back together again, but provide the freedmen a step up, to integrate the formerly enslaved population back into society. Tensions between Congress and the President led to an uneven and imperfect process. The Army was the only institution that could provide stability, but never had enough men to stamp out the violence and change the attitudes prevalent in the South. By 1877, the north had lost interest and the south put into place a system of control that would not be overturned for a century.
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We have reached the penultimate episode of our series on the Civil War. We briefly touch on the surrender of the Confederate field armies but devote most of our time to looking at issues related to the winners and loosers of the war. It is fair to say that Lincoln won the war, but lost the peace. We don't explore all of the issues that led to the defeat of the Confederacy, but we concentrate on the sailient points. Take a listen!
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In this episode, we concentrate on the siege at Petersburg, VA. With Grant unable to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia in the 1864 campaign season, instead he maneuvered Lee's Army into Petersburg for an extended siege. While Lee's army was able to fight another day, as Grant extended the siege lines around Petersburg, Lee's forces were stretched far too thin. In the spring of 1865, Lee was hoping to shorten his lines with an attack on a Union fortification. Unfortunately, it failed and Lee was forced to evacuate the siege lines and attempt to head south and join with Joe Johnston's forces. Short on men and supplies, Lee's gambit failed and he laid down his arms on April 9, 1865. The war was over.
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In our last full episode devoted to the western theater, we know turn our attention to Sherman's next act, his march through the Carolina's. When he completed his march across Georgia, the thought was to reunite with Grant. Instead, Sherman wanted to march through the heart of the Carolina's to the border of Virginia. Imperiling Lee's supply line. Grant agreed to the idea. Sherman marched through the heart of the Confederacy, further wrecking the fragile Confederate economy, and driving morale down to the bottom of the barrel. Despite Jefferson Davis naming Robert E. Lee General-in-chief of the Confederacy, it was too little, too late. The end of the war was in sight. Take a listen!
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Once Atlanta was secured, Sherman considered next steps. Sherman mulled over an idea - marching through Georgia. After deliberations with the Lincoln Administration and General Grant, Sherman convinced them to back his plan. He wanted retribution and to demonstrate what the Union could do. In a severe blow to Confederate morale, Sherman wrecked the economy of Georgia. Rather than contesting Sherman, Confederate General Hood marched north to Tennessee to distract Grant and the Union high command. Grant and Sherman had planned for this. Hood wrecked the remainder of his army at the battle of Franklin. The heart of the Confederacy was defenseless.
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In this episode we journey east. In the aftermath of the disaster at Cold Harbor, Grant turned his eyes toward Petersburg, the critical supply hub for the rebel capital at Richmond. While giving Lee the slip, Grant's tired troops bungled the capture of Petersburg. A siege ensued. In the meantime, in an effort to siphon troops from the siege line, Jubal Early launched a raid on Washington, DC. While it temporarily succeded in drawing forces off the siege lines, it caught the attention of Grant, who ordered Phil Sheridan to the Shenandoah to stop Confederate intrusions. He did that and more - destroying Early's force and denuding the valley of supplies for the Confederates.
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In our last episode we covered Sherman's march to Atlanta. In this episode we cover the siege and fall of Atlanta. Dissatisfied with General Johnston's penchant for retreat, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced him with John B. Hood. Hood was the polar opposite of Johnston - aggressive to the point of recklessness. Upon taking command, Hood tangled with Sherman in attempt to stop his advance on Atlanta. Given Hood's desire to attack, he may have slowed Sherman down, but could not stop him from layng siege to Atlanta. In the end, all Hood accomplished was waste his army away with quesionable attacks.
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In this episode we head west and focus on General Sherman's march on Atlanta, Georgia. After the victory at Chattanooga, moving into the Confederate heartland and neutralizing Atlanta seemed a prudent next step. Over the summer of 1864, General Sherman and his opponent, General Johnston maneuvered, retreated, skrimished, and occasionally fought from Tenneesee to Atlanta. Johnston prudently chose to give up space for time to preserve his army, but the Confederates could not afford to do so. Faced with a great deal of criticism, as Sherman's army arrived at the gates of Atlanta, Johnston was replaced with John Hood who, in the later half of the campaign, would destroy the army Johnston wanted to preserve.
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In this episode we head west and focus on General Sherman's march on Atlanta, Georgia. After the victory at Chattanooga, moving into the Confederate heartland and neutralizing Atlanta seemed a prudent next step. Over the summer of 1864, General Sherman and his opponent, General Johnston maneuvered, retreated, skrimished, and occasionally fought from Tenneesee to Atlanta. Johnston prudently chose to give up space for time to preserve his army, but the Confederates could not afford to do so. Faced with a great deal of criticism, as Sherman's army arrived at the gates of Atlanta, Johnston was replaced with John Hood who, in the later half of the campaign, would destroy the army Johnston wanted to preserve.
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In this episode we continue our coverage of Grant's overland campaign. After the wilderness and Spotsylvania Grant continued to move south with Lee moving in concert with him. After being stopped at North Anna, Grant continued south and wandered into the battlefields of McClellan's campaign in 1862. Grant and Lee met again at a place called Cold Harbor. Lee entrenched. Grant attacked. While Grant would recognize that it was a mistake to attack, for Grant's critics, Cold Harbor was synomous with his new nickname, 'butcher Grant'. I weight the evidence and conclude that Grant's failures at Cold Harbor can't be seen in isolation with the other battles of the Overland campaign. Take a listen!
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Grant's overland campaign began in 1864 as he moved south to engage Lee's forces. Grant was determined to destroy Lee's Army. While outnumbered, Lee adroitly moved south in concert with Grant, engaging the Army of the Potomac, first, at a place known as the wilderness, a tangle of undergrowth that was fought over the year before where it was known as Chancellorsville. Grant attacked Lee's forces and nearly suceeded but was pushed back. Disengaging with Lee, Grant moved south and re-engaged Lee at a place called Spotsylvania. Lee had the advantage over Grant, but the Army of the Potomac pushed hard. Grant's determination set him aside from his predecessors.
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As we mentioned in our last episode, we are ready to start 1864, the last full year of the Civil War. We will focus on Ulysses S. Grant's assumption of command of all armies that the Union could field. After years of searching, President Lincoln finally found a general he could work with. Grant, unlike his presecessors, was not only ready to commit the Army of the Potomac to battle, but pursue Lee until the rebel army was broken. Grant was also ready to apply force at every point of the map to keep the Confederates engaged. While these subsidary campgains failed, Grant was ready to battle Robert E. Lee.
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A short episode that will focus on what is next now that we are ready to start focusing on the last full year of the Civil War - 1864.
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In this episode we finish telling the story of the naval contributions to the Civil War. The story concentrates on the campaigns to close the final Confederate ports open to blockade runners - Charleston, South Carolina, Mobile, Alabama, and Wilmington, North Carolina. The naval forces of both sides made important contributions to their respective war efforts.
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One of the more compelling stories of the Civil War was the journey to freedom that many freedmen took. Beginning in 1862, and accelerating in 1863, many men of color took up arms to help defeat the insitution that had enslaved them. They made important contributions to the war effort, though faced many challenges - low pay, raical barriers, and threats of re-enslavement from the Confederate government to name a few. The story of the accomplishments of the men who fought for their freedom is the story of the Civil War.
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In our last episode we spoke of Chickamauga. In this episiode, we speak to its sibling, the battle of Chattanooga. General Rosecrans may have captured Chattanooga, but was summarily trapped by Braxton Bragg. Not satisfied with Rosecran, he was relieved and replaced with General Grant. Grant improved the supply situation and planned to dislodge Bragg and break his siege. His subordinate generals attacked Bragg's flanks and then broke the center of the line, sweeping Bragg's army from the field.
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As Meade battled Lee at Gettysburg, Grant captured Vicksburg, and William Rosecrans was wrestling with Braxton Bragg in Tennessee. For the better part of the 1863 campaign season, Rosecrans was far too slow in making his moves. While Rosecrans was able to maneuver Bragg out of Chattanooga, Rosecrans split up his army, providing an opportunity for Bragg to attack. Bragg put Rosecrans in his place at Chickamauga, narrowly missing an opportunity to destroy Rosecrans' army.
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We have come to the last day of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. The third day was dominated by the event known as Pickett's Charge. General Lee was convinced that a final push at the center of General Meade's line would destroy the Army of the Potomac. Unfortunately, it was wishful thinking. Despite the bravery of the men moving forward, the assualt failed. We spend the remainder of the episode exploring the legacy of this famous battle. Take a listen!
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We continue the story of Gettysburg, focusing on the afternoon of the second day. With Dan Sickles Third Corps exposed, Longstreet's Corps hit the Union line, endangering Meade's defensive scheme. Despite pushing them back, they failed to break the line. On the far right of the Union line, a poorly coordinated attack failed to make any inroads. Lee was primed to attack on the third and final day of the battle. Would be succeed? Stay tuned. Have a question, comment, or compliment? Contact us at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your questions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for listening!
In this episode we turn the page to the beginning of the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. As units of the Army of the Potomac concentrated south of Gettysburg, Meade recognized the advantages his position afforded and remained on the defense. Lee, not having a full picture of Meade's army, thought that a second day of attacks, along both flanks, would break Meade's position. As the day unfolded, Dan Sickles, Commander of Meade's Third Corps, upset the Union's position, which would become apparent as the battle commenced in the afternoon.
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In this episode we provide an overview of what we accomplished in 2020 and what you all can look forward to in 2022! Take a listen.
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Let's move on to the afternoon of the first day at Gettysburg. While troops from the Army of the Potomac sucessfully stopped the initial probes of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, it came at a tremendous cost. Corps Commander John Reynolds was dead and his command paid a high price for success. With the coming of the afternoon, the Confederates pressed their attack on Seminary Ridge and Oak Hill, eventually breaking the Union line. Late in the day Winfield Scott Hancock reset the line on Cemetery Hill, immediately south of Gettysburg, resetting the Union line and anchoring the defenses for the second day. Take a listen!
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In this episode we focus on the morning of the first day at Gettysburg. Robert E. Lee and George Meade hoped that their actions would entice the other side to battle. In fact, it became a meeting engagement as the leading elements of both armies bumped into each other at Gettysburg. Rather than retreat from adversity, Henry Heth attacked, committing the Army of Northern Viriginia to the offensive. We also spend some time on how to experience the battlefield at Gettysburg. Take a listen!
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We are continuing the story of Gettysburg. As Robert E. Lee headed north, the commanding general of the Army of the Potomac, Joe Hooker, was in trouble. In a whispering campaign in the aftermath of Hooker's defeat at Chancellorsville, the Army, the President, and his administration had lost faith in him and he was replaced by George G. Meade on the eve of Gettysburg. In other issues, Lee, having let General Stuart go on his own cavalry raid, was now blind as his army spreadout across south central Pennsylvania. As Lee struggled to find a position to locate and fix the Army of the Potomac, the fringes of both armies were ready to meet at a little place called Gettysburg.
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We have finally arrived at Gettysburg. In the first of several episodes, we will start by exploring Lee's reasoning behind his extended raid into the keystone state. This was the Confederacy's last major raid into a northern state, so it garners a great deal of attention in the history of the Civil War. While not as critical as it seems, it was nevertheless an important campaign. Lee took advantage of the tide of good fortune in the aftermath of his victory at Chancellorsville and was able to quickly pivot and move the Army of Northern Virginia north. Please take a listen!
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In this episode, we finish up the story of the siege of Vicksburg. Once Grant crossed the Mississippi River with his army, it appeared that Vicksburg was doomed. In a brilliant campaign of maneuver, Grant isolated Vicksburg from the rest of the Confederacy. While worried about General Johnston's army, the Confederates were unable to coordinate a strategy to save the city. After an initial, bloody attempt to breech the city's fortifications, Grant settled in for siege. Worried about the health of his army and the civilian population, Pemberton surrendered to Grant on July 4, 1863. It was a key moment in the war. The Confederacy was split. The South's quest for independence was in jeopardy.
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We are continuing our narrative on the siege of Vicksburg. In this episode we concentrate on the key moment in this campaign - Grant crossing the Mississippi River and capturing the capital of Mississippi, Jackson. In three weeks, Grant's army was able to cut off the primary supply line and communication corridor from Vicksburg to the rest of the Confederacy. In addition, Grant beat back General Pemberton's only attempt to meet Grant outside of the city, the battle of Champion Hill. This was one of Grant's stellar campaigns and would set up the siege of Vicksburg.
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We are continuing our short series on the Vicksburg campaign. In part II, we will focus on the winter of 1862-63. Grant and Sherman were bested by the Confederates in their initial probes toward Vicksburg. Undaunted, Grant attempted a number of schemes to get his army on the eastern short of the Mississippi River. Grant dug a canal and made several attempts to reach Vicksburg through some of the alternative river systems. None of these efforts were successful. In the spring of 1862, Grant ran his fleet past the Confederate river batteries at Vicksburg, gaining a bridgehead and kicking off his campaign.
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One of the most consequential campaign's of the Civil War was U.S. Grant's struggle to capture the Confederate fortress at Vicksburg. As we already know, by mid-1862, Vicksburg was the only remaining major city on the Mississippi River in Confederate hands. As 1862 drew to a close, it became clear that Admiral Farragut's naval forces alone could not defeat the fortifications of Vicksburg. In the last quarter of 1862 Grant and his chief subordinate, Sherman, planned an envelopment of the city from the north and the south. These moves were checked, forcing Grant to consider alternative plans to capture the city.
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Robert E. Lee's greatest victory was against Joseph Hooker at a small crossroads in Virginia called Chancellorsville. Known as 'fighting' Joe Hooker, he formulated a plan that would trap Lee against two arms of the Army of the Potomac. Unfortunately for Hooker, Lee reacted in an unexpected and bold manner. Dividing the Army of Northern Virginia, he kept Union forces at Fredericksburg at bay and flanked Hooker's main force. Hooker lost his nerve and his plan was dashed. While the Army of the Potomac was not destroyed, it set up the conditions that would allow Lee to raid Pennsylvania.
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In our last chronological episode, we ended with Ambrose Burnside's disastrous campaign against Lee's army entrenched above the heights of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Undeterred, Burnside launched another march against the Army of Northern Virginia which was ruined by the weather. Tired of the relentless attacks on his character, Burnside attempted to have his critics removed. Lincoln turned the tables, accepted his resignation and elevated Burnside's vocal critic, Joseph Hooker, to be commanding general of the Army of the Potomac. Hooker unleashed his considerable energy in restoring morale. Take a listen!
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When we think of the Civil War, the titanic struggles that occurred in the mid-Atlantic states and the southeast comes to mind. What is largely forgotten was what was occurring in the American West. From 1862 through the end of the war, there were clashes in the upper Midwest with the Sioux in Minnesota, in the Southwest with the Apache and Navajo and Colorado. The clashes with Tribes that would dominate the actions of the post-Civil War Army can be traced to the Civil War and, in many cases, even before the war. Take a listen!
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Geographically, to this point, most of our focus has been on the campaigns in the Mississippi River Valley and the mid-Atlantic states. In this episode we explore what was happening in the far west. In 1862, a Confederate force launched an offensive into the territory of New Mexico. The plan was bold, but risky. The Confederates were going to depend upon captured supplies to sustain them. After occupying Tucson, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, it looked like they were going to succeed. Alarmed, reinforcements from Colorado and California halted the Confederate advance at the Battle of Glorieta Pass. Whatever chance the Confederates had, faded. Take a listen!
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In this episode we return to the sea and look at what was going on to stem the tide of Confederate blockade runners and commerce raiders. Knowing that Union commerce was vulnerable, a small number of Confederate raiders made their reputations known around the world. Confederate raiders were enough of a problem to ratchet up insurance rates and cause some worry among Union officials. In the second part of the episode we focus on the various attempts to close the port of Charleston. Take a listen!
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The Civil War was as much as struggle to keep armies supplied as it was to vanquish an adversary. Logistics during the Civil War had many modern qualities, in particular, using railroads to supply and move armies around the country. Both the Union and the Confederacy used their railroad networks to keep their armies fed. Unfortunately, the Confederates were not as well prepared as the Union due to issues with rolling stock and the mileage of track laid. Take a listen to learn about this neglected but important topic.
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The great leveler in the Civil War, or any war for that matter, is getting wounded or killed on the battlefield. In this episode we focus on what was going through a soldier's mind as they prepared for battle. We also discuss the medical establishment and how they handled wounded, and preventing disease. While we tend to see Civil War medicine through the lens of the 21st Century, making the 1860s seem primitive, in fact, the medical establishment made great strides in trauma care. It is a difficult topic to talk about, but necessary. Take a listen!
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In this episode we will return to our mini-series on the experiences of ordinary soldiers with a focus on camp life, food, and recreation. For a majority of the men who served, military life was foreign. Experiences in camp and training molded these men into soldiers. Thankfully, due to a rise in literacy, we have a rich tapestry of memoirs, letters, and diaries that tell the stories of service. Take a listen!
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We are taking a break from battles and leaders and looking at the men who composed the armies of the North and the South during the Civil War. This episode will be the first of several that look at the lives of the ordinary soldiers. It seems appropriate to start with a broad overview of the motivations that compelled men to serve. On the flip side of the coin, we will also discuss conscription in the north and the south. Take a listen!
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1862 started off well for the Union. As the year progressed, their hopes were dashed as the Confederates bested the Army of the Potomac at the gates of Richmond, Virginia, and at the end of the year in front of Fredericksburg. Even with a new commander, Ambrose Burnside, Robert E. Lee proved to be an impressive opponent. In the west, even though Bragg's raid into Kentucky had been pushed back, despite wrestling some border states from the Confederacy, Union efforts had stalled along the Mississippi River and in the mountains of Tennessee. Perhaps 1863 would be decisive?
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When we last covered the western theater, the focus was on the pivotal battle at Shiloh. After focusing on the east, we now return to the west. In the aftermath of Shiloh, Grant was replaced with Henry Halleck. Halleck was far too slow in continuing the advance to Corinth, Mississippi and he was booted up the chain to Washington DC. In the interim, the Confederates took advantage of the stretched Union lines. Braxton Bragg pushed through Tennessee and raided Kentucky. While failing to bring the Commonwealth back into the Confederacy, it temporarily put a halt to the spectacular Union advances that had occurred earlier in the year.
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The bloodiest single day of the Civil War occurred at Antietam, outside of Sharpsburg, Maryland. Despite the intelligence find of lifetime (Lee's orders to his army), General McClellan's caution overtook him as he closed on Lee, wasting an opportunity. Nevertheless, Lee and McClellan clashed along Antietam Creek in September, 1862. McClellan, attacked Lee's army in piecemeal, allowing him to counter each attack one at a time. While McClellan stopped Lee's raid, it was a hollow victory as the Army of Northern Virginia left. Nevertheless, it was a victory, allowing President Lincoln the leverage he needed to end slavery in the Confederacy.
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Lee's victory over George B. McClellan in front of Richmond sealed Lee's reputation. With McClellan disgraced, Lincoln turned to John Pope who assembled an army along the Rappahannock River. Lee formulated a plan that would lever him out of his position by attacking his supply depot at Manassas. The bold plan worked and Pope was defeated. Lee considered his next moves and looked to the north. He crossed the Potomac and moved into Maryland, setting up another clash at Antietam.
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Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson's reputation and legacy was sealed with his audacious campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. In a gambit to pin Union troops west of the Potomac River, preventing them from joining McClellan's army, Lee had high expectations. Boy were they met. Jackson defeated the Union in detail and prevented them from going south. At the gates of Richmond, Robert E. Lee, the new commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, beat back McClellan's forces and removed the threat to the rebel capital. Robert E. Lee's star was on the rise! Take a listen!
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In our last episode we spoke of the interest in Ironclads. In this episode we focus on their epic clash. While it ended in a draw, the echoes of that clash had a profound effect on navies around the world. The age of the wooden ship was over. Once the threat of the CSS Virginia was nullified, General McClellan began his march on Richmond. Overly cautious and far too methodical for President Lincoln's taste, It took well into the summer before he was knocking at Richmond's door. With his opponent, General Johnston, wounded, McClellan would know face its most talented opponent, Robert E. Lee.
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We have hit the 100 episode mark! Thank you dear listeners for downloading the previous 99 episodes that concentrate on our country's military past. In this episode, we speak of my journey in the field of military history as well as some podcast business. The patron system will change, giving you all more flexibility if you would like to donate to the podcast. We will continue our journey down the timeline, so stay tuned for more content!
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Let's return east to Virginia. At the beginning of 1862, George McClellan was sick with Typhoid Fever, which Lincoln took advantage of and began exercising his authority to get McClellan's plans on paper. After a considerable amount of push and pull, McClellan revealed his plans - doing an end run to Richmond through the York Peninsula. While a bold plan, it left Lincoln nervous. Before the Army could move, however, the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia deterred the Union plan. We will set up the ironclad's story and carry it on in a future episode.
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One of the iconic battles of the Civil War is Shiloh. Grant had seen nothing but success since he began his campaign at the beginning of the year. That run would come to an abrupt halt at Shiloh in April of 1862. Desperate to stop Grant, Albert Sidney Johnston was able to assemble an army and attacked. While the Confederates were able to gain an edge over Grant with a surprise attack, Union troops doggedly defended their ground. As the battle dragged on, Johnston was killed and command passed to PGT Beauregard who put a halt to operations. The next day, reinforced, Grant pushed Beauregard back. While Grant was stung by criticism, and demoted, he learned from his mistakes and showed what he was made of sterner stuff. Take a listen!
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U.S. Grant's move against Forts Henry and Donelson was quickly followed by moves at both ends of the Mississippi River. Commodore Foote continued his drive down the river, moving against Confederate fortifications at Island Number 10 and Fort Pillow, opening the river to Memphis and beyond. At the delta of the Mississippi, David G. Farragut, moved his fleet past the forts on the main channel, opening up the New Orleans, the largest port in the Confederacy. It was a critical move that hurt the Confederacies ability to defend the critical corridors into the heartland of the south. Take a listen!
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With the beginning of 1862, Presidents Lincoln and Davis wanted to see results for their respective nations. Unfortunately, the year would begin with a critical Confederate defeat. U.S. Grant successfully unhinged Confederate held forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers - Forts Henry and Donelson, blowing a hole in Confederate plans. Grant's successful campaign secured Kentucky and opened up Tennessee for the Union. Grant's star was on the rise. Take a listen!
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In this episode we switch gears and move from land to the sea. Despite the challenges of secession and the loss of bases and ships, the US navy was able to quickly redeploy their available assets and blockade the Confederacy. It created a challenge for the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis attempted to not only break it through diplomacy, but leverage their hold on the cotton market to gain international recognition. Both efforts were foiled, but the Confederates continued to hope for legitimacy overseas. Take a listen!
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After the Union's ignoble defeat at Bull Run, President Lincoln appointed George B. McClellan as the commanding general of what would become the Army of the Potomac. McClellan is an controversial character. He resurrected and created the sword of Lincoln, but the stresses of his position brought forward personality traits that have sullied his contributions. He was insubordinate and a procrastinator. He would have a large role to play in 1862, so stay tuned!
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In this episode we finish our discussion of the border states with a brief overview of what occurred in what would become West Virginia and then move to the struggle for Missouri. From the west, we head east to cover the first major clash in the eastern theater - the Battle of Bull Run. After a hard fought battle with enthusiastic but green troops, the Confederate field army bested the Union's. Bull Run shattered expectations of a quick and relatively bloodless war. It was the beginning of a long and bloody struggle.
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In this episode, we will finish up our discussion of weapons and tactics before we make the transition to talking about what's going on the field. We start that discussion by looking at what was happening in what we now know as the border states, with particular emphasis on Kentucky. We will follow up with Missouri and West Virginia in the next episode. Kentucky was a critical state and the Confederates blinked first, occupying the state and jeopardizing their quest to bring it into the Confederacy. Take a listen!
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In our last episode, we compared and contrasted the resources of the Union and the Confederacy. In this episode, part one of two, we will speak to the arms and armies of the Civil War. This is broad overview and we will speak to the organization of the armies and the effect of the rifled musket on the face of battle during the Civil War. Take a listen!
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We all know that at the end of the Civil War the North emerged victorious, but it was a long row to hoe. To understand how the war unfolded, let's take a look at the balance sheet, that is, how both countries stacked up against each other. There are many intangibles that can't be measured, such as national will, but let's take a crack at this. Take a listen!
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Fort Sumter, located at Charleston, South Carolina, became the epicenter for the secession crisis. When Lincoln took the oath of office, the immediate business at hand was dealing with the Fort. Unwilling to evacuate the fort, and hoping to buy some time to resupply the garrison, he was unable to alleviate the tension. After failing to meet the Confederate ultimatum, rebel batteries opened fire on April 12, 1861. After several days, the fort was evacuated. The Civil War had begun. Take a listen!
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With the election of Abraham Lincoln in November, 1860, the lower south reached a breaking point. Between Lincoln's election and his subsequent inauguration in April, 1861, the states of the lower south seceded from the union. In spite of attempts to find common ground, none was found. As the war began, Lincoln and Davis steered their respective ships of state. The historical reputations of Lincoln and Davis were therefore sealed in the crucible of the Civil War. This episode compares and contrasts the two men and explores how they succeeded and failed.
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In this episode we continue the story of the origins of the Civil War. We begin with the decade of the 1850s and concentrate on the issues that created the conditions for war. Rather than stop the expansion of slavery, it continued. While Southern states were pleased, opinion makers in the North were not. As the decade progressed, attitudes hardened, making compromise impossible to achieve. In our next episode we will concentrate on the secession of the southern states and the opening months of the Lincoln administration. Have a question, comment, or compliment, contact us at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your questions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Thanks for listening!
This is the first episode that speaks to the origins of the Civil War. Given the complexity and length of these events, this and subsequent episodes covering origins of the war will provide a broad overview of the run up to the war. In this episode we speak to the increasingly difficult path to compromise over the spread and regulation of slavery into the new western territories. While compromise was attained, by the decade of the 1850s, attitudes had hardened. Take a listen!
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We reached the American Civil War. This is the first episode of what will more than likely be many on the country's bloodiest conflict. This episode will provide a road map of where we are headed as well as some of the key concepts that guide my view of this important conflict. Please take a listen!
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On the eve of the American Civil War, the United States Army and Navy continued to play the roles that they had for the first half of the nineteenth century - the army garrisoned and patrolled the growing frontier and the navy protected American commerce overseas. While staying above the fractious sectional politics of the era, the army and navy had grown and matured. Unfortunately, that was all going to change with the coming of a civil war. Thanks for listening!
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In 1859, an American settler shot a pig rooting around a garden on San Juan Island. A group of Islands in what would become Washington State, the incident triggered the last border incident between the Great Britain and the United States. Rather than going to war, the two nations agreed to a joint occupation that, in 1871 was settled peacefully. It set the foundation for the 'special relationship' that would dominate the twentieth century.
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In the aftermath of settling the border dispute between British Canada and the United States in the Pacific Northwest, the United States moved to consolidate their hold over the region. Territorial governor Isaac Stevens quickly concluded a series of treaties with the Tribes of the region. Unfortunately, the tensions associated with this process lead to violence in eastern and western Washington. In a series of brief but violent skirmishes, tensions remained, but American hold over the territory was complete.
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The capital of Mexico was in American hands. The war slowly wound down and the Americans got what they wanted - the northern provinces of Mexico and an international border that followed the Rio Grande River. It was not without a cost. President Polk's goals of a quick campaign were not met and the acquisition of new lands would ramp up sectional differences. We also take some time to set up the next part of our story - conflict in the Pacific Northwest. Stay tuned!
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Here is a short New Year's message regarding where we have been and where we are going in 2020. Take a listen!
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This is the final episode concerning the campaign to capture Mexico's capital. General Winfield Scott had marched from the coast and outmaneuvered his opponent, General Santa Anna. Santa Anna was determined to make an American assault on Mexico City. General Scott was able to, once again, outmaneuver Santa Anna's forces, unhinging his plan to defend Mexico City. It was a brilliant campaign, though not without some costs. We will finish up the Mexican-American War in our next episode. Take a listen!
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In this episode, we continue the narrative dealing with Winfield Scott's campaign to capture Mexico City. In the previous episode, we focused on the capture of a base of operations at Vera Cruz, on the Gulf Coast. After securing the city, Scott began his advance through the highlands of eastern Mexico. General Santa Anna chose a place called Cerro Gordo to stop the American advance. Faced with a strong defensive position, in a bold flanking march, Scott unhinged the position, making an assault on Mexico City inevitable.
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General Winfield Scott's march on Mexico City was the crowning moment of the entire war with Mexico. Unable to compel the Mexican government to the negotiation table, President Polk approved Scott's plan to advance on Mexico's capital. It was a bold move, but fraught with risk. Nevertheless, after meticulous planning, Scott's forces besieged the city of Veracruz, capturing it at the end of March, 1847. Once this base was secure, Scott made preparations to march west, into the highlands and, ultimately, Mexico City. Take a listen!
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In the aftermath of Zachary Taylor's capture of the city of Monterrey, Taylor's force became an army of occupation. Taking advantage of the lull, Santa Anna raised an army and at the beginning of 1847 attacked. The battle of Buena Vista was the only time the Mexican Army took the offensive. In spite of being outnumbered, Taylor prevailed. Unable to bring Mexican officials to the negotiation table, President Polk turned his eyes south. Enlisting General Winfield Scott, Polk began planning for a march on Mexico City. Take a listen!
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As Zachary Taylor advanced across the Rio Grande river and fought the Mexicans at Palo Alto and Reseca de la Palma, other American columns advanced into what would become New Mexico and California. Stephen Kearny led a column from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to San Diego, an impressive feat. Kearny, in cooperation with the US navy, was able to defeat a rebellion and consolidate the American hold along the Pacific coast. Take a listen!
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We began our series on the Mexican-American War in our last episode, speaking to the origins of the conflict. In this episode we speak to the opening moves by Zachary Taylor in Texas. Mexican forces endeavored to push Taylor back by cutting his supply line; Taylor wanted to establish a bridge head on the Rio Grande. They clashed. The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma ensued. Taylor won the day, triggering the formal declaration of war against Mexico and the mobilization of volunteers for service in Mexico. Take a listen!
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Until the opening of the Civil War, the United States' war with Mexico dominated the middle of the nineteenth century. President James Polk agitated for land concessions from not only Mexico in Texas, but from Great Britain in the Pacific Northwest. Not willing to fight a two front war, cooler heads prevailed in adjudicating the occupation of the northwest. Not so in Mexico. Polk's adoption of a bellicose and antagonistic policy toward Texas, made war nearly inevitable. Take a listen!
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I have a special relationship with Davy Crockett. This short, bonus episode relates how my Grandfather, Thomas Wakefield Blackburn, created a cultural phenomenon.
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As we turn to the war with Mexico, it seems appropriate to set the stage with Texas' war of independence. After centuries of Spanish rule, Mexico won its independence. Struggling in the aftermath to create a civil culture, rather than provide a degree of autonomy to Texas, the country would instead be governed by central rule. Texas, led by Euro-American settlers, rebelled. While at first successful, the leader of Mexico, General Santa Anna thought otherwise. Various attempts to repulse the Mexican advance were defeated with disastrous results. Regardless, the Texans prevailed, setting up the circumstances for a clash with the United States. Take a listen!
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One of the most infamous incidents of the pre-Civil War antebellum period was the removal of the Cherokees and other southeastern tribes to 'Indian Country' in present day Oklahoma. President Andrew Jackson wanted to free the trans-Mississippi west for the United States. Pandering to the southern states as well as exercising his executive authority, he was able to secure legislation that enabled the removal of the Cherokees from their homeland. While Jackson was stymied by the Seminoles in Florida, he largely got his way, creating a precedent that would continue until the end of the century. Please take a listen!
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In this episode we move away from reform to the Army's chief duty - policing the frontier. We speak to the Creek and Seminole clashes in the southeast and the so-called Black Hawk War in the upper reaches of the old northwest. The army's role as a police force would last for most of the nineteenth century and would define its role in the twentieth century. Take a listen!
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In this episode we take a brief look at what the U.S. Navy. Propelled by its successes against British ships, the navy grew in the aftermath of the War of 1812. While this ardor for a larger navy was tempered by time, the officers and ships had established a solid reputation for professionalism and fighting spirit as the nineteenth century unfolded. The navy served American foreign policy by showing the flag around the world and aggressively pursuing American interests. In Central and South America, naval officers intervened when the circumstances called for gunboat diplomacy. The navy also struggled with the challenges of building a professional officers corps and the evolution of steam technology. Take a listen!
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In this episode, we continue and conclude our discussion on the professionalization of the U.S. Army. As the nineteenth century progressed, we continue to see the development of a professional officers corps and the maturation of the U.S. military academy at West Point. By the beginning of the Civil War, the officers corps had, for the most part, a common identity. While the rise of Jacksonian democracy attacked the notion of a professional officers corps, it nonetheless survived. We also touch on the rise of the volunteer militia and a taste of what it was like to serve in the army during this time period. Take a listen!
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One of the key developments of the nineteenth century was the rise of the professional soldier. While the United States ha d a tradition of using citizen soldiers, the first decades of the nineteen century saw the rise of officers who could be recognized as professional soldiers. Educated at the military academy at West Point, the officers who started their careers in the decades after the War of 1812 exhibited all of the characteristics of a professional. In this episode, we explore this trend. Take a listen!
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Of the many developments that occurred in the post-1812 Army was the growth of a domestic arms industry. With the founding of the Republic in 1787, government arsenals in Springfield, MA and Harper's Ferry, VA, were established, providing the Army with a set of dedicated manufacturing facilities devoted to small arms. Entrepreneur and inventor Eli Whitney was able to introduce and refine his production system which manufactured small arms with machine tools, allowing for the standardization of parts and processes. It was an important time. Take a listen!
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John C. Calhoun wanted change. He not only advocated for an expansable army, but made initiated significant reforms in how the Army would be commanded in the field as well as its supply and administration. The office of the commanding general was created as well as various bureaus that managed the supply of the army in the field and its administration. While these reforms were critical in professionalizing the Army, they were less than perfect and, in some minds, would create more problems than solve. Take a listen!
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One of the key missions of the U.S. Army in the nineteenth century was garrisoning the coastal defenses along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. John C. Calhoun initiated what today we know as the Third System of fortifications. This brief episode provides a broad overview of this critical mission, exploring the comprehensive planning required to protect the important commercial and population centers along the country's coastline. Take a listen!
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In the aftermath of the War of 1812, John C. Calhoun was appointed Secretary of War. He took a close look at the performance of the U.S. Army during the War of 1812 and absorbed its lessons. He reorganized the staff in his office to make the administrative functions more efficient. Moreover, he advocated for a plan to allow the army to expand and contract in its manpower during emergency. While the plan was not enabled by Congress, his ideas continued to resonate throughout the nineteenth century. Take a listen!
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The War of 1812 is done. In this episode we summarize the war and its legacy. In a sense, it solved nothing. The end of the war in Europe had a greater effect than American arms in persuading the British to end their onerous policies. It also marks a jumping off point for the rest of the nineteenth century up to the beginning of the Civil War. Take a listen!
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The last year of the war, 1815, saw some success and failures for both the British and the Americans. The Americans had some success on the northern border, fighting some of the bloodiest battles of the entire war. While they fought the British to a stalemate, it showed how far the Americans had come. In spite of these successes, British naval power allowed them to land in the Chesapeake and attack the nation's capital, burning many of the public buildings to the ground. In contrast, the British attack on Baltimore failed. In the end, it is fair to say that after several years of war, they fought themselves to a draw. Peace negotiations, in the meantime, had advanced to the point of a agreeing to a provisional treaty, but not before the final British attack took place at New Orleans. A busy year. A useless war? You decide.
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1814 would prove to be the last full year of the war. In spite of the British being able to devote more resources to North America with the defeat (albeit temporary) of Napoleon, the war continued to drag on. On the northern front, Americans saw success early in the year, but were pushed back by the British. By the fall of 1814, the campaign could best be described as a draw. To the south, given British mastery of the sea, British forces were able to successfully raid the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., but they were repulsed in Baltimore. Please take a listen!
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Let's welcome in the New Year! This is a short episode that takes a look at what we accomplished in 2019 and where we are headed in 2020. Take a listen!
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Happy New Year dear listeners! A short summary of what happened in 2018 and what to expect in 2019!
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1813 started out well for the United States. With a resounding victory on Lake Erie, the campaigns on Lake Ontario, while starting well, ended in disaster. Due to poor planning and incompetent leadership, the initial gains on the Canadian side of the border opposite of Detroit were lost. Similarly, on the high seas, the United States Navy could not replicate the successes it had had the previous year. The only success, at least from the Army's perspective, was against the native peoples of the Ohio Valley and along the border with Florida. Take a listen!
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If 1812 was characterized as a year of American disappointments, 1813 was a year of victories and opportunities. The Americans were able to defeat Tecumseh and his British allies at the Battle of the River Thames and Oliver H. Perry decisively defeated the British squadron at the Battle of Lake Erie. We will also take some time to finish up our discussion on the naval war of 1812, switching gears and talking about the iron men who crewed these wooden ships. Enjoy!
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1812 was not a kind year for the United States. All of the campaigns in the border regions between the United States and British Canada had failed. The only bright spot was the war at sea. Britannia may have ruled the waves, but the frigates of the United States Navy gave the Admiralty pause. The USS Constitution in particular made a name for herself in the fall of 1812, defeating two British frigates over the course of several months. While these victories did not spell doom for the royal navy's sovereignty over the seven seas, it did plant some seeds of doubt. Join us in understanding the importance of these victories in 1812.
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After war was declared, Canada beckoned. The Americans, decided for a multi-pronged approach to the campaign of 1812. Henry Dearborn decided that an attack against Montreal, British fortifications across from Detroit and the Niagara River would compel the British back to the negotiation table. Unfortunately, rather than a quick victory, the Americans were repulsed at every turn, symptomatic of the lack of realistic planning and an uneven mobilization. Take a listen!
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Congress declared war on Great Britain in June, 1812. The United States was ill-prepared to initiate a campaign against British Canada but was optimistic nevertheless. President Madison wanted to bring the British back to the bargaining table by using force. Preoccupied with the war in Europe, the British had a thin crust of Red Coats and local militia along the border to defend their interests. As Madison would find out in the ensuing months, it was easy to declare war, but exceedingly difficult to prosecute one.
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The War of 1812 was symptomatic of the ongoing struggle between Britain and France in central and western Europe. The United States of America endeavored to stay above the fray, but saw its rights as a neutral carrier attacked by both the French and the English. This issue, along with the impressment of American sailors and the perceptions of British interference along the western frontier all contributed to the origins of the war. It was by means inevitable, but once the ball got rolling, it was difficult to stop. Please take a listen!
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Thomas Jefferson easily won a second term at President of the United States. Unfortunately, as the war between Napoleonic France and Great Britain flared up, the United States was caught in the middle. The British impressed American sailors in the Royal Navy and restricted American merchants from trading as a neutral power. Desperate to avoid war, Jefferson attempted to coerce Britain through an embargo to gain concessions from the crown. His policies failed and set up the conditions for another war with Great Britain.
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Well, we've reached 50 episodes! This is a short podcast thanking you dear listeners and touching on where we've been and where we are going for the next 50 episodes. Thanks for listening!
Thomas Jefferson was upset. Rather than pay tribute and ransom for American sailors held by the Barbary States of North Africa, Jefferson went to war. Taking advantage of the navy, he blockaded the port of Tripoli, hoping to extract some concessions. While the war ultimately failed in its stated purpose, the conflict fostered the continued professionalism of the US Navy and established a precedent of the American navy protecting the country's interests overseas. Thanks for listening!
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Zebulon Pike's explorations of the upper reaches of the Mississippi River, the Rocky Mountains, and the southwest are not as well know as his peers, Lewis and Clark. Pike's career was tied to James Wilkinson, the highest ranking officer in the Louisiana Purchase. Wilkinson was an unsavory character whose long shadow has obscured the importance of Pike's accomplishments. Taken together, Lewis, Clark, and Pike cemented the Army's reputation for their professionalism and the role the Army would play in the exploration and settlement of the west. NOTE: The audio is scratchy. Sorry about that! Please take a listen!
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One of the most memorable events of Thomas Jefferson's administration was the expedition to the Pacific Ocean led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Jefferson took advantage of a unique opportunity and purchased from France what today we know as the Midwest - the drainages of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The expedition established American sovereignty over the new lands as well as exploring the Pacific Northwest and the Columbia River drainage. The expedition reminds us of the role the US Army had in exploring and administering. Enjoy!
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With the election of Thomas Jefferson, the era of the Federalists was over. Jefferson immediately began to distance himself from federalist policies. This is the first of several episodes that will explore Jefferson's relationship with the military. Jefferson made several changes, shrinking the size of the standing army and reducing the size of the officer corps. Jefferson established a politically neutral officer corps, removing officers not committed to the new administration. He also established the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, to inoculate the officer corps with Jeffersonian values. His first steps in reorienting the Army were successful.
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In less than a generation, France went from an ally to an enemy. Tired of the violations of American neutrality, John Adams mobilized the navy to stop French commerce raiding. The new navy was very successful and created a fleet that was here to stay. The success of the war at sea is in stark contrast to what happened on land. The fear of French interference in American affairs gave Alexander Hamilton the necessary justification to create an army loyal to him. The political uproar that ensued emboldened Thomas Jefferson and shattered the Federalist party. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a short 'state of the podcast' message!
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In our last episode we began our conversation about the founding of the United States Navy. We continue this story in this episode. With a temporary cessation of the depredations of the Barbary States and British commerce raiding, there was a push to end the navy before it began. Thanks to George Washington, the was granted a reprieve, resulting in the completion of three ships. Unfortunately, as Europe became engulfed in war, tensions rose between France and the United States which would result in the quasi war. Take a listen!
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In this episode we continue to explore the Federalist's military legacy by turning our attention to the creation of the first coastal fortifications and the establishment of the United States Navy. With Napoleon on the offensive in Europe and the Barbary states capturing American merchant ships, Congress took action to protect our shores and American interests overseas. Take a listen!
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In our last episode we spoke of the creation of the American Legion under the command of Anthony Wayne. We continue that story in this episode. Wayne was ready to meet the British and Indians in the Ohio Valley. Today, the 'battle' of Fallen Timbers would be called a skirmish. Nevertheless, Wayne's efforts broke the back of British power in the American interior. Wayne's victory set precedent's over how the American military would be organized for the next century. Please, take a listen!
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George Washington needed good news. After the failure of the Harmar and St. Clair expeditions, Anthony Wayne was convinced to return to the Army. A veteran of the American Revolution, for two years Wayne recruited and drilled a unique formation - the American Legion. Inspired by the Roman Legions of old, this combined arms unit was seen as the Washington administration's best hope for success. This episode introduces Wayne's labors in building a force that could secure the Northwest Frontier for the new Republic.
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One of the most pressing issues that George Washington had to solve was the security of the new frontier. The western borders stretched from the Appalachians to the Mississippi River. British outposts, still staffed with soldiers in violation of the Treaty of Paris, fomented unrest. Many of the Indian Tribes did not recognize the United States and were angry that settlers were moving into their lands. Washington sent two expeditions west, one under Josiah Harmar and the other under Arthur St. Clair to take care of the situation. Both met with failure, forcing Washington's hand. Take a listen!
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In this episode we explore the origins of the Constitution through the lens of national security. The Challenges facing the newly independent United States were many. Faced with a weak central government and, for some, a dangerous level of internal unrest, in the summer of 1787 a Constitutional Convention was called. The document would ultimately form the basis of our current system of government and was meant to insure domestic tranquility and see to the country's common defense.
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The Revolution was over. The newly minted United States had to face their future. The key questions facing the new government revolved around the character of their new institutions. Living up to the legacy revolution, the central government was left small, the army and the navy non-existent. While certainly living up to the legacy, only the future would reveal if it sidelining the Continental Army was the right thing to do.
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In the fall of 1781, the Continental Army and their French Allies had succeeded in trapping the British Army in Virginia in Yorktown. Unable to break the siege, General Cornwallis surrendered his force to Washington. Little did the General know, this was the last major battle of the American Revolution. Unwilling to continue the war, the British and Americans negotiated a peace treaty. The war was over. Independence was achieved, but now the hard work began.
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After General Cornwallis reestablished his base of operations from the Carolinas to Virginia, little did he know that he was setting up the conditions that would be lead to the end of the American Revolution. Ordered to hold a small port in Virginia, Cornwallis chose Yorktown. The French turned the tables on the Royal Navy, defeating the squadron sent to keep Cornwallis supplied. Hemmed in by the Continental Army on land and the French Navy at sea, Cornwallis had little choice but to sit tight and hold out. Have a question, comment, or compliment, contact us at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. You can also leave comments and your questions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/americaatwarpodcast/. Leave your questions on voicemail at (253) 642-6535. Thanks for listening!
With General Cornwallis' departure to Virginia opened the door for the wholesale liberation of South Carolina. Rather than defend everything, the British and Greene clashed several times in 1781. While Greene technically came out as a loser, the British lost men they could not readily replace. To his credit, Green was successful in succeeded in pinning the British in several coastal enclaves where they would remain until the end of the war. If you have any questions, drop us a line at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Take care and thanks for listening!
As the southern campaign continues, Nathanael Greene entices British General Cornwallis deep into North Carolina. Cut of from a reliable supply line, it was Greene's hope to defeat a desperate and starving British column. Cornwallis indulges Greene and battles the Continentals and militia at Guilford Court House in the spring of 1781. While technically a draw, Cornwallis' force was too depleted to continue and regrouped with a new plan to attack Virginia. We also take the time to begin to explore the legacy of the revolution and its influence on the military institutions of the new republic. Questions? Drop a line at americawarpodcast@gmail.com or on the podcast's facebook page. Don't forget to leave a review on ITunes! Thanks for listening.
The war in the south continues......Nathanael Greene took over the reigns of command in the south at the end of 1780. With the assistance of Daniel Morgan, he began pursuing British General Cornwallis. While Morgan secured a victory over the British at Cowpens, South Carolina, it marked the beginning of a long campaign that would ultimately lead to the siege at Yorktown and the end of the revolution. We also touch on the war in the north as George Washington dealt with the difficult challenges of funding the army and dealing with the treachery of Benedict Arnold. Questions? Send your emails to americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Enjoy listening!
Bonus episode! In late July and early August I visited the United Kingdom with my family. I thought I would share my thoughts about some of the attractions that we were drawn to. I am a firm believer that to understand history, we have to experience the places the events took place in. Great Britain certainly provides plenty of institutions and places that are compelling and meaningful. Take a listen! If this is something you would like to hear more of, drop me a line at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Take care and thanks for listening!
The fall of Charleston, South Carolina emboldened the British. Recruiting Loyalists and insisting on loyalty oaths, divided the colony and triggered a bitter internal conflict, if you will, a Civil War. In spite of the relative success of partisan leaders such as Francis Marion and Thomas Sumter, they could not win the war without the help of the Continental Army. Unfortunately, the hero of Saratoga, Horatio Gates was defeated at Camden, South Carolina, marking the lowest point of the war in the south. These episodes, as disastrous as they were, in the long run, would prove to be the beginning of the end of the American Revolution. If you have questions, please join us on the podcast's Facebook Page or send an email at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!
In this episode we turn our attention south. When Henry Clinton assumed command of British forces in North America, he turned his attention to the southern states. Governed by the assumption that British troops could break the revolution by appealing to the Loyalist sentiment in the South, Clinton moved into Georgia and captured Charleston South Carolina. We also briefly touch on the struggle to control the western frontiers. Take a listen. If you have any questions, drop a line at americawarpodcast@gmail.com or leave a review on ITunes.
In the aftermath of France's entry into the war, Great Britain's resources were stretched thin. General Howe's replacement, Henry Clinton, could not be everywhere at once, so he evacuated Philadelphia to consolidate his forces in New York City. As the British marched across New Jersey, George Washington moved to intercept them. The two columns met at Monmouth Court House and fought for nearly an entire day in hot and humid weather. While for all intents and purposes this was draw, Washington demonstrated that he could continue to frustrate British efforts. Rather than continue the campaign in the northeast, the British chose to move south, which will be the topic of our next episode. Questions? Contact us at americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania is remembered as a patriotic sacrifice for the revolution. In fact, the iconography, as compelling as it, blurs the facts. The encampment was not the coldest that the Army ever endured, but it does allow us to examine three issues of equal importance - the break down of supply, attacks on George Washington's character, and the institutionalization of a training regime under the watchful eye of Baron von Steuben. If you enjoy this podcast, write a review on ITunes or go to the podcast's Patreon page and leave a donation. Questions? Go to americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!
In our last episode we spoke of the John Burgoyne's advance down the Hudson River Valley. After being repulsed at the Battle of Bennington and the failure of the siege of Fort Stanwix, Burgoyne was in trouble. Electing to continue his advance, he met Horatio Gates and his Continentals near Saratoga, New York. After two failed attempts to carry the American position, Burgoyne had no choice but to surrender. This was a pivotal point in the revolution. The victory convinced France to recognize the United States and bind themselves together in an alliance. If you enjoy this podcast, leave a review on ITunes. Questions? Drop me a line at Americawarpodcast@gmail.com. Take a listen!