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Recommended Reading:
The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution by Ira Gruber
Episode Summary
Was Sir William Howe a sluggish, indolent commander more interested in  Mrs. Loring than winning a war, or was he the most sophisticated logistician of the 18th century? On this 250th anniversary of the 1776 New York Campaign, hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford, and Lee Gugino are joined by National Park Service historian Jason Wickersty to talk about the New York Campaign.
By reconstructing Howe's lost correspondence from nearly 1,000 scattered letters, our panel reveals a commander obsessed with the logistics of his era, wagon trains, meat barrels, and the sustainment of 24,000 troops. We examine the military mind of Sir William Howe, the "pinnacle of amphibious warfare" at Kips Bay, and the tactical reproductions of the Battle of Brooklyn. This is the story of how the British established a foothold in the colonies and why taking New York was more critical than chasing the Continental Army.
"What Are You Missing?" 
To keep the public feed moving, we’ve focused on the tactical timeline. However, our War Room members on Patreon get the full UNCUT experience, including over 45 minutes of content:
Howe’s Snarky Rhymes: The full details of Howe’s "chicken scratchy" handwriting and his dry, witty sense of humor.
The 2,000 Dead Hessians Myth: Debunking of the claim that 2,000 Hessians were killed at Pels Point. 
Jason's Path: Jason’s personal story of how he started as a "Jersey Militia" fan and ended up becoming "the man" for General Howe’s British perspective.
Fort Wadsworth Fogs: A visceral discussion on the "thick harbor fogs" that roll into Staten Island and how they truly enabled Washington’s famous escape from Long Island.
The Capture of Fort Washington: We dive into the heartbreaking story of the Hessian assault on Fort Washington, their reactions to the fighting, and the effects it had on them after the battle.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] – Introduction: Re-evaluating the 250th anniversary of 1776.
[12:15] – The Howe "Rabbit Hole": Reconstructing 1,000 letters from the "fire".
[28:00] – Theater Opening Strategy: Why New York was the British headquarters of choice.
[45:30] – The Logistical Red Ball Express: Building a land transport corps from scratch.
[1:02:00] – Kips Bay: Lord Howe, French descents, and the pinnacle of amphibious doctrine.
[1:18:00] – The Siege of Fort Washington: Clambering up glacial boulders and the trauma of the 16th of November.
[1:35:00] – The Retreat Across the Jerseys: Why 1776 was a "British curb-stomping session".
[1:50:00] – Lessons for Today: Why professional officers must study logistics above all else.
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Recommended Reading:
Glories to Useless Heroism: The Seven Years War in North America from the French Journals of Comte Maurès De Malartic, 1755-1760 Translated by: William Raffle
Montcalm's Crushing Blow, French and Indian Raids along New York's Oswego River 1756 by René Chartrand
Episode Summary
In 1756, the shores of the Oswego River became a critical flashpoint that would determine the mastery of Lake Ontario. While the world’s attention was fixed on European battlefields, a vital British trading post and fortification, Fort Oswego, stood as the only obstacle to French dominance of the Great Lakes. Join hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford, and Lee Gugino as they welcome guest expert Will Raffel to deconstruct Montcalm’s first major victory in the New World.
In this episode, we explore the miltary capabilities of New France and explore the realities of logitical operations in North America. We delve into the failed British expiditions in 1755 and the garrison that were left to rot through a "nasty winter" of privation and disease. Discover how the Marquis de Montcalm utilized over 600 bateaux and captured British cannonballs from the Monongahela to shatter British defenses and secure French control over Lake Ontario.
"What Are You Missing?" (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
Our War Room members have access to an additional 30 minutes of exclusive content, including:
The Physicality of Space: Will’s deep dive into Malartic’s journal, detailing the sheer muscle required to haul bread ovens and heavy artillery through the Canadian swamp.
Captain Broadley’s Revenge: The full story of the Royal Navy commander who tried to burn his own fleet rather than let it fall into French hands, and his subsequent fight to clear his name at a British court-martial.
The Sky Woman’s Sons: A detailed breakdown of the Iroquoian creation myths that perfectly characterized the "Good" rivers and "Evil" portages of the frontier.
The Scalped Drunk: The harrowing but darkly comedic tale of an Oswego soldier who was so intoxicated he didn't realize he had been scalped until the next morning.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] Orientation: The Great Lakes bottleneck and the power of the fur trade.
[15:30] The "B-Team" Garrison: Shirley, Pepperell, and the American-raised regulars.
[32:45] Logistical Warfare: Birchbark canoes vs. the European bateau.
[50:00] The Siege Begins: Montcalm’s landing and the accidental death of Engineer de Combeau.
[1:10:00] Fort Ontario Falls: The retreat to the old Stone House and the death of Colonel Mercer.
[1:25:00] The Massacre: The breakdown of European POW protocols and the fate of the hospital wounded.
[1:40:00] Strategic Impact: Why the British presence on Lake Ontario was wiped out for three years.
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Recommended Reading:
Iron and Blood by Peter Wilson 
The Army of Frederick the Great by Christopher Duffy
Episode Summary
How did a "pancake flat" swamp in Northern Germany transform into the most formidable military machine in Europe? For much of the early 18th century, the Austrian Habsburgs mocked the Prussian military as an eccentric "pet project" of "toy soldiers". Yet, under a lineage of increasingly focused monarchs, this "parade ground army" evolved into a force that would eventually challenge the very foundations of the Holy Roman Empire
In the first part of our deep dive into Prussia, hosts Dr. Alex Burns and Dr. Andrew Bamford trace the origins of the Hohenzollern dynasty from the ashes of the Thirty Years' War. We explore the "Great Elector's" administrative genius, the "Soldier King" Frederick William I's obsession with his "Tall Boys" (Langer Kerl), and the revolutionary Canton System that turned Prussia into a "paradigm army"
more_horiz. Discover why Prussia was the Emperor’s biggest "headache" and how the military began to penetrate every level of Prussian village life
"What Are You Missing?" (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
While the edited episode provides the foundational history, our War Room members get the full, uncut episode including 20 minutes of exclusive content and tangents:
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] – Introduction: The "Snow King" myth vs. the reality of 1701
[15:30] – Devastation as Origin: How the 30 Years' War created the Prussian need for a standing army
[32:45] – The Soldier King: Frederick William I, the "Tobacco Parliament," and the "Man’s Man" culture of the Prussian court
[50:00] – The Long Boys: The weird, eccentric, and potentially "crazy like a fox" obsession with kidnapping 8-foot-tall soldiers
[1:10:00] – The Canton System: How conscription districts enabled Prussia to win wars of attrition
[1:25:00] – Social Autonomy: Why being a soldier actually gave peasants the confidence to stand up to their landlords
[1:40:00] – Looking Ahead: The transition from a peacetime army to the "Great Captain" era of Frederick II
Does Prussia hold the weather gauge of your historical interest? Help us grow by sharing this episode with a friend! Your support ensures we can continue these massive deep dives. Subscribe to the War Room today to unlock the full episode and join the conversation in our Patreon War Room
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Episode Resources & Links
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Recommended Reading:
The Hessians by Dr. Friederike Baer 
The Hessian Mercenary State by Charles Ingrao
A Generous and Merciful Enemy by Daniel Krebs
Episode Summary
"He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and tyranny." With those words in the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson fixed the image of the "Hessian" in the American mind for 250 years. But were they really the cruel, bumbling hirelings of pop history?
In this special 250th-anniversary episode, hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford and Lee Gugino strip away the propaganda of 1776 to reveal the tactical reality of the 37,000 German soldiers who fought for the British Crown. We explore North American service through the eyes of the most militarized societies in Europe. From the complex "subsidy treaties" that funded the small German principalities to the professional adaptation of skirmishers in the North American wilderness, we deconstruct how these units actually functioned on the battlefield. Discover the truth about the "drunk at Trenton" myth, the surprising Hessian sympathy for enslaved African Americans, and why many of these "enemies" eventually chose to become Americans.
"What Are You Missing?" (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
To ensure we stay within our upload limits, the public version of this episode focuses on the broad narrative. However, our War Room members have access to an additional 15 minutes of deep-dive content, including:
The German Native American: The incredible, true story of Baron Riedesel encountering a Native American warrior in the wilderness who was born in Heidelberg and spoke fluent German.
Turkish Bands & Prestige: A look into the 18th-century obsession with "Moorish" regimental bands and the specific fate of the 100+ African Americans who returned to Germany with Hessian units.
The "Piece of Excrement" Duel: The visceral story of a fatal sword duel between a Hessian Jäger and a British soldier triggered by a drunken insult.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] – The 250th Anniversary: Reading the Declaration of Independence as a military document.
[12:15] – The Misnomer: Why they weren't all Hessians and they weren't really mercenaries.
[25:30] – "The Army is our Peru": How small German states turned the "soldier trade" into a national industry.
[42:00] – Prussian Schools: Training, uniforms, and the elite Jäger culture.
[1:05:00] – Tactical Adaptation: Two-rank lines and the rise of the skirmisher.
[1:22:00] – Social Shock: Hessian reactions to American material wealth and the horrors of slavery.
[1:40:00] – Desertion & Legacy: Why 12-18% of the force stayed in America to become citizens.
Love the history? Help us celebrate the 250th by sharing this show with a friend! Your support helps us climb the charts and keep these archives growing. Subscribe today to unlock the full "War Room" archives and get the history the textbooks leave out!
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Episode Resources & Quick Links
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Recommended Reading:
The Wooden World by N.A.M. Rodger
Episode Summary
Can a single lost island lead to the execution of a British Admiral by his own government? In 1756, a spark in the North American wilderness ignited a global conflict that would become the Seven Years' War. The French set their sights on the strategic "key to the Mediterranean": the British-held island of Minorca. Join hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford, and Lee Gugino as they deconstruct the land operations, the controversial naval clash between Admiral John Byng and the Marquis de La Galissonnière, and the political fallout that shook the British Admiralty to its core.
In this episode, we explore the "Lizard" geography of the Balearics and the strategic importance of Port Mahon. We delve into the reality of a Royal Navy struggling with a peace establishment and the technological shift in ship design between French 74s and obsolete British 80-gunners. Discover how Byng successfully seized the weather gauge only to see his line of battle collapse following a "critical hit" on HMS Intrepid. This is a story of tactical nuance, the focusing power of French mission doctrine, and the grim origins of mayonnaise.
What Are You Missing? (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
Our regular listeners know we often blow past our upload limits to bring you the full tactical reality. By joining the War Room on Patreon, you’ll unlock an additional 10 minutes of exclusive content, including:
The "Peace Dividend" Decay: A deep dive into why the British garrison was a skeleton force of understrength battalions with their officers home on leave.
The HMS Ramillies Pedigree: The fascinating story of Byng’s flagship, which officially started life in 1664 as the Royal Catherine and was "rebuilt" into a three-decker over 90 years.
The Handkerchief Signal: The full, harrowing account of Byng’s execution on the quarterdeck of HMS Monarque, including his refusal to have his eyes bound and the signal he gave to the firing squad.
Captain Gardner’s Revenge: The "postscript" story of Byng’s flag captain who eventually died capturing the very French flagship that had defeated them at Minorca.
The "Encourage the Others" Debate: An uncut discussion on whether the threat of execution actually created the "steely determination" that characterized the later Royal Navy.

Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] Orientation: Port Mahon and the "Lizard" of the Mediterranean.
[12:15] Global Context: How a frontier skirmish in America triggered a European war.
[25:30] Naval Hardware: French 74s vs. British 60-gun ships.
[40:45] The Naval Clash: Seizing the weather gauge and the confusion of flag signals.
[58:00] The Siege of Fort St. Philip: Conventional sapping and the capture of Colonel Jeffreys.
[1:15:00] The Scapegoat: Why Byng was acquitted of cowardice but sentenced to death anyway.
[1:30:00] The Culinary Legacy: The surprising origin of Mahonnaise (Mayonnaise).
Love this show? Help us grow by sharing it with a friend! This helps other enthusiasts find our tactical deep dives into the 18th century. Subscribe now on your favorite platform so you never miss an anniversary update!
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