[captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] welcome to many of our new students. Happy 40th birthday, cspan. We will focus on the Continental Army and were situating this very much in the broad history of war and the military and the Continental Army is different from other armies that preceded it, largely because its one thats very much based on ideals and certain concepts and beliefs, rather than your sort of traditional army. So, what is the Continental Army . Where is it, first of all . America. America ok. It will become the first United States army. But before it is the u. S. Army, it is the army of . America, yes. About what element of america but element of america . When does the Continental Army begin . Its not necessarily with the start of the revolution, but we will pick up with the beginning of the war. A couple classes ago, we were talking about the french and indian war and thats a world war that fundamentally altered several different nations, but primarily france, britain, and the british colonies and Many Americans fought alongside british soldiers and officers during the war. Anyone recall what transpired when the two groups interacted . The british, they looked down on the colonists. Prof. Smith so in a lot of ways, the british are looking down on the colonists for a lot of reasons. And that was having to do with tactics, lack of former military training. Some of it with how they dressed. We know theres lots of resistance. Theres also a large aspect over who holds the higher rank. Theres a colonial officer outranked a british officer, and the british officers of lower rank were saying they outranked any colonial officer. This infuriated a young George Washington. So, our story begins after the french and indian war and the start of the revolution. Who wants to give me the standard answer . What caused the American Revolution . The tea party. Prof. Smith thats part of it. Taxes and give me the phrase. No taxation without representation. Prof. Smith or taxation without representation is tyranny. Perfect. From there, its also more than that. Its about rights. Its about being treated as a full subject or full british subject. And ultimately, it evolves into violence. And this starts after the tea party. There is the boston bill and one of the intolerable acts are going to shut down local governments. Its going to bring into marshall law over boston, massachusetts, and the british actually start under thomas gage start seizing weapons, leading to increased tensions and this is going to build to a potential chance to seize gunpowder in concord, maybe arrest sons of liberty, samual adams or john hancock in lexington. The final result is this, the shot heard round the world, maybe. Some say it happened in concord. One of the first shots in the revolution was fired when the british regulars meet up with colonial militiamen, from massachusetts. And shots are fired. Who fires the first shot . Nobody knows. Prof. Smith exactly. But who do the british say fired . The colonists. Prof. Smith the rebels. Who do the colonists say fired . Good enough, the british, murderers. From this, the war begins. So, a militia unit is anyone from 16 and 60. They would meet up roughly once a month and drill and train in traditional trappings. Think of the National Guard today. Most american colonists do have some experience with a gun, with a musket, more so than the british soldier, largely from hunting or fighting native americans. But they dont have formal military training, fighting in ranks. Shots are fired. Normally, the colonists lose and the british winds, but this is a profound moment that is going to begin the war. And Thomas Jefferson is going to refer to this very specifically. Unprovoked murder in open violation of faith and honor, in defiance of sacred observation of treaties that even savage nations observe. Where is jefferson getting at . He saying what the british did was slaughter. We didnt provoke them. They decided to kill us, even savage is can comprehend its terrible. Prof. Smith there is no ethics behind it. Its fundamentally immoral, but the british have done is so barbaric, to use a term, that this cannot be looked over. This is beyond rights. This is justification for the war. We talked about the idea of a just war principal and what makes a war just in almost every circumstance . It basically comes down to who attacks who. The americans are presenting themselves as an aggrieved party. They are fighting a defensive war, which means what . They are in the right. Their war is just. Largely based on a swiss philosopher who in his law of nations is very much going to cast the correct of the morality or the honor of the war based on who starts it. The british start the war and justifies american resistance. Meanwhile, we get another battle at concord bridge, named that because it has a bridge. Americans are successful at concorde bridge. Why do you think this is . You may remember this from William Wallace scottish rebellion. [inaudible] prof. Smith ok, so you have to cross the bridge, meaning numbers dont matter. You have to funnel in. This is where you get the traditional shot heard round the world, if you believe the 19thcentury poem. This is where americans, under orders, fire. Whereas, as lexington, both sides were under orders not to fire. So, when you think of american colonial militiamen fighting, we probably think of the romanticized notion of the minutemen. Ok, so what is the minutemen . [inaudible] prof. Smith ok, theyre going to jump out of bed ready to fight. Average musket at the time takes a minute and a half to load, so listen to me. So, the idea is the militiamen is fighting a guerrilla style, very much copying the native american style. And why the americans developed this style as opposed to the british, who are fighting in open right formation, as they do in europe . They had and they had to adapt to their tactics. They had to defend themselves and they had to adapt to their tactics. Prof. Smith they adapted over centuries. Also, the british werent equipped to fight in that warfare. Prof. Smith exactly. Weve seen this, specifically, braddocks defeat, where the british army is defeated by french and native allies using the same tactics. The british had the higher numbers. They had to adjust their fighting to accommodate. Prof. Smith ok, so they have to accommodate and adapt. Now, the popular perception on the march back from concorde is this attack from the tree line. You see them down here from hidden positions on the exposed flank, the exposed side of the british army. What interesting, on this long march back, the british army is marching back after an immediate march at night from boston to the outskirts, and then marching back with limited ammunition. They can be picked off. What you see here, is you see these explosion marks. Despite the romanticized element of them hiding behind trees, like mel gibson in the patriot, there are battles along this. Its going to force the british to retreat to boston and defend themselves. Ultimately, the british attempt to take fortified colonial positions at bunker hill, which everyone knows, was fought on the americans lose. But they inflict heavy, heavy casualties. But still, this is not the Continental Army. These are colonial militia forces. There were pretty good win loss ratios. They forced a retreat to boston. An empiric victory, the idea the british when, but lose heavy losses due to colonists running out of ammunition. Its this finding in massachusetts that forces a response by the colonies. Is this americas war . Is this massachusetts war . An army is formed by, who do you guess . [inaudible] prof. Smith under the condo congress, were going to get continental congress, were going to get George Washington. He said im serving under my own character, which is different than young washington in his early 20s, where he resigned his commission and says for his own honor and his countrys wellbeing. So its a fundamental reversal of roles, washington saying im taking this up for duty to the nation, enhancing civilian supremacy, saying i take my orders from congress. I dont function as a military there is opposition. A lot of it comes from this man. His name is charles lee. Hes a general. Charles lee, british trained, all around europe trying to change his ranks and he thought he would be one of the people commander in chief. He had a lot of respect. It is not think the americans can win fighting in the traditional europeanstyle, and he thinks the americans should be using this guerrilla hit and run, militia style, in fact even retreat less and make the british chase them. Washington is opposed to this. And washington, he uses multiple styles, very much trying to fight the war on a traditional europeanstyle. And there are a few reasons why and one of them is hes concerned with reputation and how this revolution will be viewed internationally. If they are fighting as the europeans, in a civilized way, it would be respected. If they are not, then they may not gain alliances or support from other nations. So theres differences of opinion and these two will clash many times throughout the revolution. Ultimately, washington would prove successful. Thats the story thats coming. Anyway, washington is going to take command and hes going to meet the Continental Army in boston, late spring, 1775. This is right after the battle of bunker hill. At first, the two sides dont get along, particularly the militiamen of massachusetts. If you think back, we talked about early colonial warfare, the massachusetts militia, in particular, elects their officers. In virginia, where washington is from, they were appointed. What is the problem with elected officers versus appointed officers . In any fighting force . Popular. Prof. Smith in many times, it becomes a popularity contest rather than skill. People often unwilling to order their friends into combat. When youre voting on who is going in, i feel like may be more people dont run as much, or maybe its kind of oh, im going to do this because it seems cool. Prof. Smith and oftentimes, whoever brought the most beer to the barbecue, whatever would happen. So washington is going to try to staff his army. Is going to urge a certain type of individual to be officer. Nowadays, every man is a general. But in the 18 central, it meant something 18thcentury, it meant something different. Washington saying if youre a gentleman, a man of honor in civilian life, we can translate that to military. Because america doesnt have a military academy. They dont have a professional army. So who are your officers . Who are your soldiers . Regular people. No formalized training. Some fought in the french and indian war. But very limited overall. Here are the british, trapped in boston. Youll go to the map, the british forever retreating in this depiction. Any of these elevated positions, you have american colonial excuse me, Continental Army cannons. They forced the british out. The british are going to evacuate boston. And the date of that was two days ago, march 17. Heres the big, overarching map of the campaign. It goes from 1775 to 1783, technically the last major battle in 1781. If you were the british, what are your tactics here . How are you going to beat the americans . Numbers. Prof. Smith numbers, superior army, hands down. He wants to cut them off. Prof. Smith how do you cut them off from the rest of the world . The navy. Prof. Smith there you go. You blockade the coast. The british make another tactical decision. They believe since the war begun in massachusetts, if you cut off massachusetts, what can you stop . The war. Prof. Smith so how do you cut off massachusetts . Create a border, almost, cut them off from the ocean. Prof. Smith you blockade them and . Dont you blockade the hudson . Prof. Smith yeah. You take new york and split them off. This is one of the worst kept military secrets. Washington knows they will attack their. The british know they will attack their. So why attack their . Its the only thing they can do. Prof. Smith the harbor, they can use the navy. Washington reluctant to defend this. What is the basic obligation of the government . [inaudible] prof. Smith there you go. If they dont do it, they are failing as the british have and attacking their citizens in lexington and concord. The declaration of independence is read right before the battle of brooklyn, battle of long island, and these are the reasons they are getting, some of the chief reasons for breaking away from britain. The king had advocated government by declaring us out of his protection in waging war against us. So how do you split with the king . [inaudible] prof. Smith hes no longer your king. Hes done something wrong. Americans are taking issue with the conduct of the war, particularly the british are going to hire mercenaries, known as hessians. They are from the german state, and the popular belief is that they are mercenaries fighting purely for money. Theyre actually, the army is rented out by their parents. They are fighting for regular wages. Its just the prince thats cashing in on this. So, battle of new york does not go well. In fact, it is numerous retreats. Heres washingtons retreat from long island to manhattan island. Extremely difficult moving and army across any body of water. The washington proves quite successful. The british easily take new york. The Continental Army is forced to retreat. Traditionally, a major defeat like this would be crushing to a war, crushing to a commander. But its how washington interprets this and uses this to change the way we look at the military and warfare. And how does he do that . Well, he studies. Washington could complain about his education his whole life. How do most american officers learn to become officers . You have a handful, like charles lee, that have been trained by the british. How do most learn . [inaudible] prof. Smith they get a book. Two of your most successful generals, henry knox and medic arnold, American Hero benedict arnold, American Hero, up until a certain time, anyway, both sold books. Maybe to get a little simplistic, henry knox becomes head of artillery because he read a book on it. So theyre many ways, selftaught, so they learn how to be officers and soldiers. Religion, upon which true founders. Honor consists in common practice of virtue and the duty of a soldiers honor properly performed. The idea that if you act well in a battle or in a campaign, that you are doing your duty. You can receive honor. It used to be on her only for the victor. James wolf, who was a british general that died during the french and indian wars in quebec, is going to say the character of your army. He doesnt want a drunken, vicious, regular army. Its a poor defense to the state. But obedient troops are a sure guard against all assault to execute their part in honor and spirit. Why dont you want a drunken, vicious army, raping, pillaging, brutalizing . You cant organize them, and they cant take orders. Prof. Smith they cant maintain order. That breaks down the military. In the revolution is about ideals. So who do you want on your side . Gentlemen. Prof. Smith who else . Youre fighting this war in america. Americans. Prof. Smith you dont want to upset the balance between patriots and neutrals. So frederick the great, king prussian general, we focused on him before. And in this point, numbers are an essential point of war. They always take extreme care to recruit troops, the idea that theyre taking his concern with the wellbeing of average soldiers. If you think about war and the common soldier prior to this, they were the dregs of society, absolute lower classes. He joined the military because you had no choice. They are viewed as expendable. What is he doing here that is fundamentally different . Hes talking about how the numbers of the army is really important because each individual man can be the tipping point, like a Single Person could make it win or lose. Prof. Smith so youre depending on the conduct of your soldiers. For washington, what happens if the army is defeated and loses too many men . This is the revolution. The war is over. This is what he has. So theres an understanding of soldiers, something different. Another british general publishes a book that the Continental Army takes seriously. Youre going to lose. At some point, you will lose. And it shouldnt be officers are chasing victory or the potential of victory so long as they put in a valid effort when the odds makes sense. They can be honorable. Washington is going to relay this to lafayette, a general and pseudoson when he says no rational person will condemn you for not fighting with the odds against you and while so much of it is depending on it, all will censure a rash step if not tendered with success. What is he getting at . Its ok if you decide not if the odds are against you, dont do it but you have a small chance the odds are with you and you brush it prof. Smith yes, you have an obligation to preserve the army. Some of it is protecting, not the complete rank differences where you have aristocracy. Theres less difference between the gentleman officer and the soldier. So, washingtons going to use, going back to this fabian tactics, the roman general, and the classic defensive tactics that are first employed against cartledge in the classical era. And fabian strategy, which we talked about long ago, involves defensive war, also known as a war of post. So, a defensive war implies fighting when it makes sense for you, forcing the enemy to act. So, washingtons only going to fight when it makes sense. Otherwise, hes going to retreat. Hes literally going to retreat from new york to new jersey and hes got the british chasing him, particularly charles cornwallis. He also plays ben franklin in the john adams miniseries. He refers to George Washington as the fox. And he treats it as a game, he is literally hunting washington and washington is running and hiding. Hes using these tactics not as cowardice. Hes using it because he wants to maintain the army. When the situation is in his favor, such as here, crossing the delaware, he is able to spring these very elaborate, difficult, silent night crossings of rivers, the delaware, and attacking hessians in successful battles, keeping and preserving the war, giving americans this moral boost at a time where favor at the war is waning and commissions running out. Its fighting defensive waves instead of being ultraaggressive. And washingtons going to view the army differently. Is going to say i should hope every post would be deemed honorable which gave man opportunity to serve his country. By this, he means soldiers, officers. Anyone can serve. He also expands it to anyone aiding the military. That could be civilians providing food or clothing, women taking collections to feed the army. It could be africanamericans who are joining the army to serve in a variety of capacities. And expands the definition of who is a gentleman . We said gentlemen was really a hierarchal term. As early as 1775, at the start of the war, we have a new term created, called the gentleman soldier. Its being done in sermons, used in the Continental Army, used for the malicious, which are different malicious militias, which are different. The gentleman soldier exhibits good conduct. In the service of their country. They become honorable. They become these gentlemen by serving their nation, rather than to obtain or to lord in earlier time periods. Every soldier should be a gentleman. Merit. If you recall back to the french and indian war, the virginia militia had started to perform based on merit rather than status. And soldiers have to regard their duty to become honorable. They dont have to be victorious. And this is carried on to other officers. General anthony wayne, another officer in maryland, john eager howard, the idea honors for soldiers is for officers, and is not just for the individual. So how a person acts, how you behave would affect your colonel or general, also as a nation. Meanwhile, we do have africanamerican soldiers, both free and enslaved. So, does anyone know the first battle that africans americans fought in in the revolution . Trivia question. Bunker hill . Prof. Smith there are africanamericans in bunker hill, but even earlier. Lexington . Prof. Smith lexington. Lexington, concord, and bunker hill. There were not segregated. These were free africanamericans who had fought. Initially, washington is resistant, as are his council of generals. He initially for bids enlistment of either, not just enslaved, but also free africanamericans. Hes ultimately going to move back, allow free africanamericans, and openly enslaved african americans. Why the change . Now, two schools of thought, one is the pragmatic. The british, under lord dunmore, will issue proclamations for freedom for any slaves that fight against the colonists. Washington gave the same offer. Is this about men . Is this about combating this . The other thing, maybe he has a change of heart when he gets reports like these. Talk about a veteran of the campaigns around boston, a character so brave a man who behaves like an experienced officer as well as an excellent soldier. So, not just any soldier, but an experienced officer, so elevating an africanamerican soldier. General john thomas says they are equally serviceable with other men, all other men. Looking at the conduct and honorable major. It could be both. There is roughly 5000 africanamericans or so that are going to serve in some capacity in the Continental Army, ultimately offering freedom for service. Meanwhile, things dont go so well. For washingtons army. In fact, in battles around philadelphia, washingtons going to lose, and the capital is going to be occupied by the british army. This is one of the major low points of the war and its going to force washington to go on the defensive as a retreat. Meanwhile, further north, the british have a plan. It involves this man, gentlemanly johnny burghley. Ok, so he gets the name gentlemanly johnny because of his love of fine wine, fine clothes. Hes a ladies man and a playwright. So, the mission is for him to march south from canada. Another British Force to march north from new york city along the hudson and cut off new england. Problems with this are its a long march through treacherous terrain, now means forests, and he has exceptionally long baggage, meaning hes lugging a lot of stuff. He has a cart dedicated just to his champagne. That may sound ridiculous, so why dragging your champagne through the woods of upstate new york . Its not as ridiculous in the period, and thats because british officers, particularly generals of high rank, were expected to entertain. The officers and officers wives. They would stop and requisition the house and have a party. If you cant throw these parties, it calls into question your character. Hes moving along with native allies. The allies are getting terrified of saying this is not good, tactically. We have to be aware of ambush. Oh, nonsense. And they march along. Ultimately, the Continental Army, led by Horatio Gates, british trained officer, are going to cut off johnnys army. And gates will say he singlehandedly won the victory, but theres another man who said he did it. And that is benedict arnold, American Hero. Ok, so arnold, despite defying orders horatio gave, they had this ongoing feud about command and rank. Largely, arnold had been loyal to general philip schuyler. You remember his daughters from another musical, and peggy. And hes really resistant to gates. Arnold is going to be ordered by gates to leave the battlefield, but he defies orders and singlehandedly charges in and stops a potential retreat, and pushes it forward. Ultimately, theres a victory in saratoga and arnold is going to be wounded, shot in the leg. His horse is going to fall on top of him and his men rushed to him and carry him off the field as if he was a spartan soldier. And hes asked, general, how are you . He goes, youre wounded in the leg. He says, id rather it in my heart. Been my heart. So hes looking for this glorious and, this romantic, classical death. Had he died right there, he would probably be one of the greatest American Heroes of all time. The rest of him is the problem. So there is a surrender. Its a major turning point. It proves to the french the americans could potentially win. And the french are willing to get into this war for no other reason that they dont like the british. They also hope to gain back some of the land they lost during the french and indian war. The french come in and there is an alliance for 1778, and its an alliance between the americans and the french. The french are going to send money, supplies, ultimately an army. But more importantly, what is frances most important contribution . Louisiana prof. Smith thats later. The navy. Prof. Smith the navy. The french navy is comparable and that is what is going to cut off the british advantage. So, as news of saratoga spreads, washington is at the darkest period of the war. Hes at valley forge, short of supplies and clothing. Meanwhile, Horatio Gates won a grand victory and he becomes the hero of the north. He starts potentially conspiring. Washington is lost. He allowed the capital to fall. Maybe washington isnt right for this, some say. And this is going to be during this period of victory in the north and defeat in philadelphia. Its going to be an attempt to unseat washington. Before we come to this, the winter encampment at valley forge is crucial. One of the reasons is armies in the 18th century dont fight in wintertime. You have campaigning seasons. You fight in the spring, fall, or summer, but not winter. Its during the winter they can train themselves. They had a hard fight. And who helps train the army . Washington also has been performing plays in his off time. Why not . You have to do something extracurricular. Its this man, the baron von stuben. He is responsible for bringing in european drill masters concept. The problem is, he doesnt speak any english. Most americans dont speak any german. So he would create one model unit and basically yell at them and rate them in german and show them what to do. And that one model unit which of the other units what they needed to do. Its in this unit by unit basis the Continental Army was trained to fight with the european army. And through him, theres actually a creation of this regulation, which is basically a code of conduct and drills for the Continental Army. They create a book, as many of them had learned. So they are creating the basis of performing this europeanstyle army. Heres some images of von steuben drilling. Meanwhile, back to conspiracy, comes to be known as the conway kebab. So this man is general conway. Hes irish. You had many foreigners showing the Continental Army ash you have an accent you have an accent. Heres a commission. Many europeans could embellish their record and you could rise quickly in the war. Heres gates. Gaetz and conway, theres questions of what transpired. Theres potential attempts to put gates and command based on his record. And its largely nothing, but washington believed it to be true. But he still trusted civilians. Ultimately, this is found out and gates is sort of shamed and he backs away. Meanwhile, charles lee comes back. Where was charles lee . He had been captured and he had been a prisoner of the british army, where he may or may not have committed treason. In the late 19th century, a document was found that lee had drawn up a plan to tell the british how they could defeat the americans. The question is, was this done with false information or was he trying to defeat the americans . I leave it to you to judge, but. No one knew at the time he had been out of it. The war passed him by. But he had been this adversary of washington. Hes pretty estranged british trained. This all comes to a head again at the battle of monmouth, which is in new jersey. And lee is given command of the vanguard, which is a Procedures Commission prestigious commission, leading the army. He turns it down. I shall not deign to accept. So washington appoints lafayette. Lafayette accepts. Lee is now upset that a junior officer has been placed in command rather than him. And then he demands the position. So he accepts and marches out. His force is facing british grenadiers and hes under orders. The question is, is it direct orders or implied orders . But he supposed attack and he retreats instead. Washington catches wind of this. Its actually a drummer running back in washington grabs hold of him. What are you doing . I dont know, sir. Were retreating. What do you mean . He runs into a retreating lee and says to lee, what are you doing . Paraphrasing, a bit. Your excellence he calls them, you damn platoon what does that mean . You damn coward. There are reports of the trees shook at the sound of washington swearing. Anyway, washington relieves him of command and personally charges in, riding a potential retreat. This basically stops any sort of challenges to washington, this political side to him also. Lee is going to demand a courtmartial, saying his honor has been infringed on. He has been insulted by washington. But the court favors in favor of washington. He challenges a woman to a duel. In jest, he says she got the color of his pants wrong. What else does she get wrong . There ultimately is going to be a real dual fon duel fought. But this is the end of charles lee and the end of push against washington. This is going to aid the Continental Army immensely. Not just men, but equipment, training. Meanwhile, philadelphia, the british are going to evacuate philadelphia. It has been under occupation. The question is, who is going to be placed in command there . Perhaps a recovering battlefield hero, known for his gallantry and selling of books. Benedict arnold. Benedict arnolds recovering and given this prestigious command. He doesnt want it. Hes a battlefield commander. He wants to fight, but hes not ready yet. Is given this position. Its prestigious. He accepts it. Hes full of himself. He runs his mouth. Congress doesnt like him. He feels hes passed over by lesser officers. Inferior officers that have been promoted over him. Hes been brought up on charges before, using government property, pillaging, some other charges nobody knows about until after the war. And its hes placed in charge here. The Congress Demands he square an oath of loyalty to them first. How dare you . Look what i have done for this country. He will take it to officer henry knox. Arnold is set up for military governor. What is his first act . He throws himself a party, where he invites no member of the Continental Army. He whines of marrying peggy shippen. Its through her he may or may not make the acquaintance of a british major name to john andre, potential correspondence that would lead to treason. He gives himself the codename after, who we read earlier, the same swedish king. Meanwhile, the british have a new plan. Go south, young man. See, im coopting. Anyway. The british are going to turn their attention to the south. Theyre constantly chasing loyalists. If they can link up with loyalists in america, it can turn the tide of the war. There is really faulty intelligence, some of it dating back to 1774, that its really only a few rabblerousers. Most of the colonies arent for this. Whos going to be sentenced . Charles cornwallis . The idea is to march north. Whose first in command during the early days, particularly the battle of camden, is going to be horatio gaines, the Great Northern hero go south. Its after this crushing defeat that gates is going to retreat. Some reports say 180 miles further than his army. How does he do that . He literally runs away. Runs from the british. Its actually about 70 miles. But this is the end of her Horatio Gates, because is viewed as cowardly, and effective. This is proving ineffective. This is proving everything that was duplicitous about the conway cabal. And Alexander Hamilton is going to joke he is not shocked gates did this, but a man of his age was physically capable of riding so far and so fast. Thats the end of Horatio Gates, whos put into charge instead, general Nathanael Greene. Hes from new island. Hes a quaker. Quakers are usually pacifists. He was very much in favor of resistance, fighting the defensive war. Hes your chief general in the southern campaigns. The south is very much dictated bipartisan fighting. By that, i mean loyalist versus patriot. Not necessarily traditional Continental Army, but different bands of loyalists. So, this is where you get mel gibson in the patriot. Or if you go to older disney movies, like the swamp fox, fighting in these guerrilla styles. Its difficult to know who is who. It also leads to heightened degrees of atrocity, where you have brutal reprisals against loyalists, patriots. And in one case, you have one commander, rutherford, whos in this frontier area. News reaches Nathanael Greene of potential violation of harm coming to loyalist women and children, their homes and property, and he is denouncing this fervently, saying this is not the war were fighting. Were fighting a war based on principle, ideology, to show we are better. We have ethics. We have honor. Proper treatment of trip prisoners, civilians. This is something washington even says. It comes to be known, sort of highlighted by this individual he is a british officer. Hes tavington in the patriot. He is also in harry potter. No, its not alan rickman. Jason isaacs. Blonde hair, cane, snakes. Whoever that is. Lucius. Prof. Smith yeah, that guy. Who also gets to start is a young teenager. Go on to become president. Literally refuses to clean and officers boot in the regiment and gets a finger to the side of his head and vows to fight the british for the rest of his life. Anyone . Jackson . Prof. Smith andrew jackson. You have all different ages fighting, engaged in combat. Meanwhile, for the north, whispers, plotting. After philadelphia, ready to return the command he had been brought up on courtmartial charges in philadelphia and found guilty. His reprimand was relatively light, a public censure from washington that basically boiled down to we had wished his conduct would not include this and will change in the future. A little light tap. Arnold was furious. His last protector has betrayed him. America ended his honor. He is lost to all. So hes going to plot to make a daring change, defect to the british. Hes going to angle to be placed at west point. So west point was a fort. Washington was shocked because he knows arnold wants to fight in battle. Why does he want an outpost . But he agrees. And west point is crucial for this right here. And its all on the hudson. What that is is literally a chain, a big, thick chain, about this thick, that stretches across the hudson river. What do you think its meant to do . [inaudible] prof. Smith keep out ships. Tear the hull open. Did it work . What do you think . [inaudible] prof. Smith no one knows because it was never tested. You have batteries on other side. The british never tested it. But if west point falls and the garrisons and batteries are removed, what can the british do . Take the hudson and therefore divide the colony, which they have been trying to do. So andre, this is his selfportrait. Hes a very fashionable gentleman. Is going to arrange to meet with arnold, and they do it in secret. Andre is a british major. He wants to meet with him past american lines. Now, if a british officer in his red coat was meeting with benedict arnold, a commander at west point, that would look a little suspicious, dont you think . So he tells andre to take off his uniform. Problems, what happens the moment he takes off the red coat . Hes a spy. So, ultimately, theres correspondence and andre is caught by a roving band by these sort of roving militiamen, which question are they loyal . Some argue they are brigands. But they become celebrated heroes and andre identifies himself as major john andre, his kings horses, sort of shocking display. Theyre not british loyalists. So, arnold is discovered. Andre is going to be hanged as a spy. But washington and the Continental Army uses this great moment. There has been waning difficulty between Continental Army and the civilian population at this point. The army is complaining the population isnt supplying the army properly. Wheres the food . Wheres the clothing . Or its being sent at exponentially high prices, war profiteering. Meanwhile, villagers are saying, how come you havent won this war . You let the capital fall. You havent been winning. But its this moment that sort of shocks america together, like 9 11 or pearl harbor, sort of brings everyone back. The question is why . And its this galvanizing moment. George weeden says if we have not virtue enough to check mr. Arnold without losing sight of the grand object, we ought to better. Meaning that we need to rise above this. If we cannot, we will lose and we should lose. Washington says this is a great thing. How is this a great thing . Because its never happened before. How dedicated are americans that this is the first instance of its kind when moore was to be expected . And this proves the value of the army. Within the year, we have a march on yorktown, which is going to be a major final battle. Cornwallis will move himself further north into virginia on the peninsula. We talked about this before. Why do not want to put yourself on the peninsula . One way out. Prof. Smith so why does cornwallis want to do it . He think she can retreat via the navy. But, a late march of the french and americans jointly, they are going to surround cornwallis on the peninsula and the french navy is going to come off the british navy. So were literally going to have a siege of yorktown and cornwallis doesnt have a way out. And hes going to be forced to surrender. And the british band plays the song, the world turns upside down. This is the last major battle and it will carry on for a couple more years, but this is it. And why did the british stop fighting . Why do you think . They could continue this war. There is still a full army in new york. There was nobody left loyal in the country. Prof. Smith you still have loyalists, but you have to not only defeat the army, but win over the hearts and minds of americans. Thats problematic. This is costly. [inaudible] prof. Smith ok. So now, by this point, the french are in, the spanish is in, the dutch are financing, this has become a world war in many respects, at least a standard european war. Its not the best interest. So, yorktown is going to be the last major battle. There are small skirmishes here and there. Daniel greene is going to be worried about a lone figure carrying on and going past, in terms of duties, like Griffith Rutherford or arnold, exceeding what they should be doing and dragging conduct of the war downward. As peace starts coming to an end, rumors start circulating of a piece. An washington has one less battle to fight. Its with his own officers. This is newburgh new york, not far from west point. The british army is still in new york city. They will remain there until after the war. The content army is sort of checking them Continental Army is sort of checking them and watching over them. The problem is, the officers have not been paid. Why have they not been paid . Anybody . [inaudible] prof. Smith yeah, they dont have any money. They have worthless continental dollars. Theyve also been offered have pay for life, so pension. Problems . Same one as before. Not a lot of money. Prof. Smith yeah, and congress doesnt have it. They dont have any other means of getting money. Prof. Smith they dont need it. Plus they were injured in the war. Prof. Smith they are not needed. And it comes to be known as the newburgh conspiracy, or new bigger fair newburgh affair. Officers are going to secretly meet and to things they will discuss, a coup on congress, take over congress until they get paid. Or two, retreat behind the mountains. What mountains . Those mountains. And let the british march at a new york city and do what . [inaudible] prof. Smith whatever. Until . [inaudible] prof. Smith fundamentally, both of these are problematic, and both of these go against the American Revolution. What washington is going to do is cancel their meeting and call their own meeting. You cant meet. Youre going to meet with me instead. He didnt sound like that. Hes going to appeal to them based on what comes to be known as the newburgh address