Reflects on another band of brothers, no less tried by battle and certainly one in the survival of our nations freedom. His book, washingtons immortals the untold story of an elite regiment who changed the course of the revolution, chronicles a group of rich merchants, tradesmen, and free blacks who made up the first maryland regiment of the revolutionary war. Memorialized to most of us as the maryland 400. Through mr. Odonnells were, we relive their actions in subsequent battles for independence, key to the ultimate establishment of the United States of america. A bestselling military historian, mr. Odonnell has authored 10 books including, seals. Lor and he speaks often on espionage, special operations, and counterinsurgency. It is a pleasure to welcome here today as we look at the historic perspective of the founding of our nation. Patrick. [applause] patrick thank you. And an honor to be here today. It for me, the journey for watching 10s immortal started centuries ago when i was in new york city and the commanding ,fficer, was third battalion was in new york as a liaison officer. He asking what i wanted to do that day. Met, inted to go to the said, no, sir, i would like to take you to a battlefield tour of brooklyn. The reason why i have maintained my friendships with all the marines i was within the battle in 2004. It provided a lasting memory for me. I went house to house with the marine rifle platoon and recorded their story, and i saw some of the worst combat in iraq were i had pulled a marine who had hacked his face taken off by a bullet out of a firefight. These are lasting memories that allowed me to write this book, but it created a bond of friendship that has lasted a lifetime for me. When he asked me what i wanted to do, i wanted to take into the battle of brooklyn. The battle of brooklyn is the largest battle the American Revolution, and interestingly enough, it begins and a watermelon patch. It was outside of Greenwood Cemetery, there was something kind there there was something called the red line inn. Doubles footprint in it and a watermelon patch. Thele would come and night of august 26, 27, 1776, british pickens found the watermelon patch that began the largest battle revolution that was unfolding. The kernel and i went to the gates of Greenwood Cemetery where the red lion inn once stood and started to walk the hills there. Battle hill is there. It is an amazing cemetery. It is one of the greatest cemeteries in america, where there is not only some of the most famous people in new york city buried, but a place of American Revolution battle that our nation hung in the balance there. As we went up and down the hills, we went through sort of the alleys of brooklyn and we found an old stone house. That house, which is depicted on the cover of washingtons immortals, is one of the most epic smallest units of engagement in u. S. History. The United States was saved at that point. What i mean by that is there were about 400 marylanders that held off part of the british army commanded by made a series of the and that charges that allowed them as parson a large portion to escape back to the fort in brooklyn heights. I was struck by the significance of this place and the fact that not much has been written about it. Then we walked further down the alleys of brooklyn and i found a rusted old sign that said here soldiers,ontinental maryland heroes. They are buried somewhere in anoklyn under a street or empty lot. I was struck, how is it possible that americans who had saved United States are buried in an empty lot . Toooked at the signer wanted know the story behind the story. I spent six years recreating that story in washingtons immortals. It begins on a wintry day in 1774 in Baltimore City where men of honor, family, and fortune came together and risks their lives and what and work considered traitors come to form the First Independent Company Called the baltimore independent cadets. These were men of wealth. They were prominent merchants. The main person in the group was an extremely and wealthy man. They signed a contract that put their lives in danger. They put their fortunes in danger. Put theirlso livelihood and basically put them on hold to fight the war. They were tired of being told by that was 3000 miles away how to run their businesses. They were afraid of tierney tyranny and were tired of being told what to do. They wanted freedom and liberty. It was this beer that formed this small tavern that create some of the greatest fighting regiments of the American Revolution. Family, andonor, fortune were a unique group. They put not only their money on the line, but they decided to andst in the best weapons the clinic that money could buy. They train themselves. They caught the attention of the city of baltimore. Years going through ,housands of pages of documents original documents, most cases, had never been published. I remember a letter that resident a letter that resonated with me. It was signed by an anonymous source. The men had captured the attention of the city in 1775, and said, the letter said, they would undergo an amazing test. They would be part of an american monopoly and would be spartans that would have to face down tens of thousands of troops. This is a prophetic letter that occurs one year before the battle of brooklyn, which is an amazing thing. Someone have predicted this was what they would face. , the smallard company of men, they were called initially the baltimore independent cadets or the baltimore company, then becomes the greatest fighting regiments of the American Revolution. It first become something called smallwood battalion and eventually becomes the first maryland regiment and splits up into multiple other regiments. This book is not a dry reciting of the American Revolution. It is a boots on the ground, like history of what these men went through. Much of it is in their own words. It puts you there. As smallwood battalion trains, they undergo some of their first test. They defend baltimore against potential raid from british forces, and then ultimately, they are call to arms to rally around new york city. In the british lodge, one of the largest invasions in history at the time was the invade first Staten Island and the main bay an attempt to invade new york city by landing first in long island. These men are sent there as reinforcements. Their initial headquarters is near the stone house. The night of august 27, their first real combat begins. It is the most desperate days of many of the lives of these men. Are call to arms and wake up in the dead of night and they march towards Greenwood Cemetery. And they set up in order of battle, they faced on the british, which have basically a demonstration force, or a force to tie them down while a massive flanking maneuver goes around their position. These men hold off the british for several hours and then they come to the realization that they are surrounded. They had to fight their way back to the stonehouse. Epic story in and of itself. Once they made their way toward the stonehouse, they are the allowing thousands of american troops from being captured and killed, or being saved. They launch a series of desperate charges on the position that the cornwall has in the stonehouse. There are several cannons in the withstandthey have to it. They march in charge for the house. Many of their numbers are lost. They over the dead bodies of their fellow countrymen and continue to charge. They allowed an opening in the british lines, which allows hundreds of their fellow americans to escape across a milk pond. Many of these men, up to 256 potentially, maybe more, the numbers are not exactly certain, perished over captured that day. Survived to fight another day. It is a marylanders that make this epic stand that we see the inflection points of the American Revolution. The most important battles over and over. Even with their depleted numbers, washington relies upon them to be the rearguard. One of the greatest escapes, evacuations in military history occurs a couple of days later where john glover and the marblehead men evacuated the british army across the east river back into manhattan. A marylanders on the last man to stand in the encampments. They are nearly left behind. They make it to the boats and get over to manhattan. Two weeks later, the british land in manhattan. It is a marylanders who once again are standing while many others are fleeing the battlefield. Park a place near central that the marylanders make another epic stand and allow the army to escape to harlem heights. They are involved in the first battle, the first victory against british drill troops in 1776 at the battle of harlem heights. Throughontinue to fight the campaign in new york city. They are involved in white plains. There is a group of marylanders in Fort Washington. For washington is one of the forgotten stories of the American Revolution. We had about 3000 americans that were bottled up any fort that was 1. 5 miles long. If you know where the base of the Washington Bridge is on the manhattan side, this is where itassive fort that was is here that our men are fighting. It is here that something occurs over and over in the American Revolution. This book is also about the first civil war. What i mean by that is the marylanders in this book had divided loyalties within their own families. Many of the men had to be traded on fathers to fight for the cause. Washington, the second in command basically fled the fort with the plans and order of battle and gave it to the british. The men inside that fort were in serious jeopardy. When they attacked, the marylanders held off many assaults against an incredible hero often forgotten. We meet again in trenton. He was able to breach the defenses at Fort Washington. Incredible tragedy that occurs. Thousands of americans are captured. Byy are executed by bayonet soldiers who are basically unrestrained for a while at the british officers come in. It is here that i see the immortals washington come to life. I used thousands of files to write this book. Affidavit, if an you were lucky enough to survive the American Revolution, you could go down to the local courthouse elsewhere under oath what you did. It is here that sort of the humanity of this book, i wanted to capture the feelings and emotions. One of my favorite applications who is probably the luckiest maryland or and may be man in the revolution in some ways because he was able to escape Fort Washington by a rowboat. He found a rowboat and was able to cross the hudson river by rowboat while many were perished or captured. Nearbye made his way fort lee, he finds general washington. Washington is witnessing through a spyglass and he sees many of his men are executed. They are running through a. Auntlet of men hundreds of hessians, being german allies that fought for great britain, and british soldiers lined up and made their men run through a gauntlet as they were beaten and kicked and robbed. He sees this through his spyglass. Everhart remarks that he saw tears in washingtons eyes. This is the book that i wanted to convey. Washingtons immortals captures that hidden war of feelings and emotions. Is not just old men in the amber of oil paintings. Its a life, boots on the ground stories. The first band of brothers history of the American Revolution. From Fort Washington, the marylanders are in the rearguard as it retreats through the jerseys. The marylanders and delaware blues. The delaware blues are sort of the brother regiment that fights sidebyside with the marylanders through his most epic campaigns. They are constantly in the rear. They are hoping obstruct, holding key bridges, obstructing the passage of british troops. Washington is heading towards the delaware, where there is the safety of the river, but also a friendly population. Within the Maryland Line, you have divided loyalties. Within america, you have a civil war within their many loyalists. Many parts of new jersey were loyal to the crown. Washington has to move his supply base a friendly area. It is here that the stories and letters come out. The book has many notable figures, including james feel, an ensign. That is a low ranking officer, but he often carried the flag. James is the brother of Charles Wilson peel. I will never forget the story i him across the men are fleeing towards the delaware. The sight that charles sees of the men in the army. The army at this time is reduced to rags. These men are barefoot. In eight years of work, many of these men were never properly closed. Clothed. They never had issues. Had shoes. Most of these men were never paid. He sees a figure that has sores delivered his face. He has rags on his person. He sees this man part of a long line of patriots is given towards the delaware, which is lit up with massive bonfires. Sort of this scene from hell. He notices its his brother. He doesnt even realize it at the time until he sees his face so close up. This is the state of easement all of these men, which starts 1000 strong. They are reduced to about hundred 50 marylanders at this point. For they stay together. Through this entire eight years of war, the men of the Maryland Line always stuck together. They were the bedrock that washington would rely upon. When the army was destroyed, they would rebuild it around the marylanders. They would make it across the river, then it is desperate times. Some of the darkest days of america. The winter of 1776, the enlistments of these men are running out. Many marylanders stay behind, even though they dont have to be there. The army is falling apart. Washington has to use his greatest oratory skills to basically tell men, if you give me another month, it will be a time of service to your country that you can do in no other time. Men stay. And he launches an audacious counterattack. The post at trenton, manned by the hero of white plains and Fort Washington, keys manning and outpost. Is manning an outpost. The hessians were drunk on christmas. It was not the case. These were reversible soldiers that were highly trained. They were on constant alert. These men slept in their clothes. They had their bayonets and muskets by their side. They had been rated multiple times raided multiple times by the local militia, as well as the continental army. They were on high alert. Its during a noreaster on Christmas Day that washington crosses the delaware along with the marylanders. They are part of the 10 crucial days in American History where these battles are so precious to our countrys liberty that what i found amazing i traced the root of the battles of trenton. Im struck by the crossing of the delaware. They make their way to a high grant in delaware. Its there that henry knox, this rotund bookseller from boston, they start the fire upon johans men. What is striking is that that spot is an empty junk. There are no markers, nothing. They fire upon them. Its one of the great epic victories in American History. They are able to defeat johan, whos killed and buried in trenton. It is an incredible victory. They rode crossed the delaware. It is a bit of a drunken crews in many ways. Drunken cruise in many ways. They find barrels of rome. Of rum. Washington tried to stop it. They hardly drank. Some men fell off the boats as they crossed the delaware. They heartily drank. Some men fell off the boats as they crossed the delaware. There will gs from there were casualties from that. It looks like a complete and utter victory. A local militiamen from the philadelphia they cross a day after christmas. They were part of the initial assault. The river was so icechunked, they could not make it. Washington has a dilemma. Do i leave john cap water with washin washington decides to reinforce. That sense of the most forgotten battle that sets up the most forgotten battle. It is called the second battle of trenton. Here washington does not set up inside the city. He sets up on the eastern side of assateague creek, in a line of battles that stretches nearly 2 miles long. Cornwallis, who is a brilliant general, very much a hero with general. In this book i capture not only the marylanders stories but also the british officers, many enlisted men, many hessians also in their accounts. He launches a counterattack immediately on washington. Washington is prepared. He is set up behind the creek. There is one main crossing point, stonebridge built in 1774. That has to be held at all costs. It is an epic story of 3 bayonet charges that were launched against that bridge. And we held. We held at all costs. Had we not held, the center of washingtons line would have been potentially cracked open. It could have meant the loss of a significant portion of the American Army that day. The delaware blues and marylanders and virginians and others held that bridge against all odds. Bodies stacked up as the british continued to charge. Blood was literally on the stones of that bridge. When i found fascinating is that the fabric there are potentially original stones from that bridge still to this day. Tragically, there is nothing marking it. Something i hope to accomplish with washingtons immortals his to bring awareness to these sites and to our heritage. This book is about the founding of america. This is about who we are as americans in the darkest days of the American Revolution. The book continues, where washington has to decide, does he retreat against the delaware . This is peerless at this point. Perilous at this point. Or does he do something novel . He attacks princeton. It is an incredible story of our commanderinchief in battle. This is 18thcentury warfare. The principal general of regiments fought in the front. Washington rallies the troops as they are initially starting to break. It is an epic story. Washington is on his horse, and he says, parade with me, there are only a few of them. He leads the counter attack. They break the british regiment at princeton. Initially the plan was to go to new brunswick, where theres a massive war chest of 70,000 pounds. Which, at the time, was an enormous fortune. The men were so tired from any days of being up and marching that it was impossible. Washington marches off into high ground and fortifies for the winter. Its just the beginning of this epic saga. This book also covers not only the for the computer of operations, the northern theater of operations, but also the southern. The marylanders and delaware blues were one of the few minutes in the army that fought in both areas. The marylanders were crucial. They as the war goes on, there is a great deal of trauma. There is hyperinflation. Economically, the American Economy is devastated. The continental is worthless. The men captured in the book, there is a needs that occurs a mutiny that occurs that needs to be brought down. America is wavering once again in 1780. The war is stalemated in the north. The british decide to go south, where there are many loyalists in the carolinas. They first have Great Success at charleston, where the capture thousands of americans. The marylanders are set down to reinforce the American Army and charleston. They are led by a small unit of baltimore cadets. It blossoms into a full division with several regiments. It is commanded by the great hero, a foreigner. He is remarkable, kind of the schwarzenegger of his day. He is in his late 50s, but he marches alongside men. Most of the time he refuses to ride. The marylanders were crucial. They as the war goes on, there is a great deal of trauma. There is hyperinflation. Economically, the American Economy is devastated. The continental is worthless. The men captured in the book, there is a needs that occurs a mutiny that occurs that needs to be brought down. America is wavering once again in 1780. The war is stalemated in the north. The british decide to go south, where there are many loyalists in the carolinas. They first have Great Success at charleston, where the capture thousands of americans. The marylanders are set down to reinforce the American Army and charleston. They are led by a small unit of baltimore cadets. It blossoms into a full division with several regiments. It is commanded by the great hero, a foreigner. He is remarkable, kind of the schwarzenegger of his day. He is in his late 50s, but he marches alongside men. Most of the time he refuses to ride. He only eats some coffee, and for lunch, he has a bit of a sandwich. Very little to eat. And he is spartan. He commands respect of his fellow marylanders. They are involved with general ratio dates general horatio gates, who had been given way more credit than he deserved at the battle of saratoga. Gates decides he will confront cornwallis at camden. Its the summer of 1780 that the two armies faceoff, with the marylanders and delaware blues being the linchpin that holds the Southern Army together. This is the backbone. These are the men there overtime. The militia comes and goes. At camden, cornwallis, who is outnumbered, practically destroys the American Army. Is an amazing story. It is a story that has been underreported in many ways. One reason is because it is an american defeat. Its after the destruction at camden that we see the heroics of men like john howard. It is a most a region of what happens at brooklyn. Redo of what happens at brooklyn. To flea the british army. They are fleeing for their lives. Is the kernel the colonel of the American Army. One of the great epic stories occurs in february, where he the flying army, under the command of daniel morgan. One of the most powerful figures. Incredible heroes like daniel morgan, has to come up with a way to defeat banister charleston. Earlier in the war, he captures an American General along with his Commanding Officer. He commends an element of Cornwallis Army. Daniel morgan is up against a lot of challenges. He has to organize what he has at his disposal. He has this incredibly tough marylanders. He has been delaware blues. As well as other continentals. Most of the men come and go. Dale Morgan Daniel morgan at calkins at cowpens. One of the true innovations of the American Revolution. Instead of putting his men in a Standard Life of battle, he organizes defense and death. He puts his most inexperienced men up front. There are a few sharpshooters before that. Then the marylanders are hidding behind a hill. The plan is for the men in the front to fire a couple shots, fire at the officers, then retreat through a hole in the marylanders line. Everything starts to go perfectly well. The british come full on. They see the militia, the militia does their job. They fire their shots. They pull through the front lien. It looks like a classic route with the british. This is a repeat of camden. As they move back, they see the marylanders. They drop many british soldiers. The british, john howard, this heroic figure. He is a psion in baltimore. He raises the company of men in 24 hours. Thats how much charisma he has. He is a brilliant and that under stands the smallest tax in the smallest details. He orders is misunderstood by a virginia to retreat. The men show their backs towards the british. The plan is for the men in the front to fire a couple shots, fire at the officers, then retreat through a hole in the marylanders line. Everything starts to go perfectly well. The british come full on. They see the militia, the militia does their job. They fire their shots. They pull through the front lien. It looks like a classic route with the british. This is a repeat of camden. As they move back, they see the marylanders. They drop many british soldiers. The british, john howard, this heroic figure. He is a psion in baltimore. He raises the company of men in 24 hours. Thats how much charisma he has. He is a brilliant and that under stands the smallest tax in the smallest details. He orders is misunderstood by a virginia to retreat. The men show their backs towards the british. It becomes another camden. The british then attack with full force. But what happens next is the militia rally. And they encircle the men, along with the horse of william washington. It is a Great American victory. The book, i can go through each one of these southern battles. It is a band of brothers on the American Revolution. What i mean by that is it focuses on the key officers in the Maryland Line. The first person id like to talk about is Nathaniel Nick ramsay, who is a lawyer from cecil county, maryland. Ramsay is also a politician. He is one of the older men in the Maryland Line. Ramsay is an ardent patriot. He volunteers. He is there from the beginning. He barely escapes with his life at the battle of brooklyn. He is over six feet tall. In the water in the mill pond, many cannot swim. But he is tall enough that he can walk through and help other men escape. Ramsay fights through the key battles in the north. What is fascinating about ramsay is this is replete. Mrs. Ramsay. Jenny ramsay, they are extremely wealthy individuals. She accompanies her husband as she marches with the army. The book covers cap followers. Mrs. Ramsay followed her husband out of love and devotion. Mrs. Ramsey was the epicenter for social life for the Maryland Line. Whenever she set up camp, the officers in the Maryland Line would coalesce around your campfire. Around her campfire. They would discuss what happened. In many ways she plays an for Important Role in that aspect. Nathaniel ramsay continues to fight through the key battles of the American Revolution with the marylanders. Monmouth is fear freehold new jersey is near freehold, new jersey. The british army at this point is evacuating philadelphia. They dont have enough troops. The book gets into the global war that the American Revolution becomes part of. There are not enough troops to hold new york and philadelphia. The british decide to abandon philadelphia. Washington has a decision to make. To z attack, or does he let does he attack, or does he let the british go . He decides on a bit of both. She creates a c h he creates a core to strike at the british army as they make their way towards ships. They have to march through new jersey to accomplish that. He decides to put charles lee, who has captured by banister charleston. The british troops are put in the rear of this long winding train of british soldiers. The best british troops are put in the back because they anticipate Something Like this. Lee a tax and is nearly lee attacks as nearly routed by these troops. It is here that washington confronts lee. Its an amazing story of washington, who is a stoic figure that is unflappable. Lafayette reports that the leaves on the trees actually shook because washington swore so much. [laughter] it is here that Nathaniel Ramsay has his finest hour. He is nearby washington and requests that ramsay and his regiment hold back the british one of so that washington can bring up the main army. Its an epic stand again. The marylanders charge into the vortex of battle. In a microcosm of the battle, ramsay is confronted by his counterpart, a british officer. They cross swords. The british officer on horses ram officer unhorses ramsay and is about to execute him. And ramsey shows his masonic ring, according to legend, and to that grandson qua and that grants him quarter. I am not a freemason historian. Is not something i will necessarily cover. But when you go through the multiple records and find there are summons to attend large meetings. Many in the Maryland Line or some of the most powerful freemasons in america. Mrs. Ramsay follows her husband. They are captured. Mr. Ramsay is parlloed. Paroled. This is not treatment that average pows received. If you were an enlisted man that had no money, you would typically be put on a prison ship in new york harbor. The number of casualties were enormous. Our men were starved to death on floating concentration camps. The number is anywhere between 10 and 18,000 americans died on these rotting hulks. The ramsays were lucky. They were able to purchase a home in new york city and lived out the war. Its sort of this band of brothers. Many men in the Maryland Line that are deep friends because of battle, and they are also tied by family. Another person linked in with this deep friendship to the ramsays was samuel smith. Samuel smith was one of the great regimental commanders of the work. Smith was one of the original baltimore cadets in 1774. He was the original surgeon of arms. Sergeant of arms. Smith was Close Friends with many of the men, the court cadre of the core cadre of officers. Smith is a merchant. His father did a lot of trade in europe. Its interesting the relationships he formed. As he traveled back and forth to europe before the war, he met ace british he met a bridge spymaster. A british spymaster. It is smith that survives long island. He is heroic in that he finds a log and transports men across the mill pond. Before the battle of planes of white plains, a river separated the two armies. Smith attempted to contact andre across the river. He was unsuccessful just to say hello. It is fascinating how these men on both sides interact. Smiths finest hour is at a place called mount island. Its near presentday philadelphia. Mud island was the most important for of america in 1778. Our stand on that fort prevented the british from resupplying philadelphia by river. The fort had held out for weeks. Smith was in charge of the garrison at this fort. Its an incredible story of dueling artillery. One of my favored accounts is from a cannon within the fort that shot a 12 pound ball 500 yards that landed into a british 24 pound cannon, directly into the barrel. [laughter] the luckiest shot of the American Revolution. Interestingly enough, two british ships were destroyed attacking the fort. And smith was a man of action. The fort was being surrounded by ernest artillery. British artillery. Smith, in the dead of night, organized an Amphibious Landing to take out the guns. Smith led his men in battle. Quite an interesting story. They surround the men with guns. Many of the gunners eventually surrender, but the officers dont. Smith then put a gun to the head of some of these officers and said, you will surrender, and they did. This is a man of action. He wasnt waiting for somebody else to do it. The British Artillery finally got the best of samuel smith. He was gravely wounded during the assault on the fort. Eventually the patriots realized that the fort can no longer be held in the evacuated. Smith is greeted before he is wounded by one of his best friends, who essentially one of his mortal enemies. Jack stuart was initially he initially dueled samuel smith. They were mortal enemies, but after, they obviously did not fire upon each other. The luckiest shot of the American Revolution. Interestingly enough, two british ships were destroyed attacking the fort. And smith was a man of action. The fort was being surrounded by ernest artillery. British artillery. Smith, in the dead of night, organized an Amphibious Landing to take out the guns. Smith led his men in battle. Quite an interesting story. They surround the men with guns. Many of the gunners eventually surrender, but the officers dont. Smith then put a gun to the head of some of these officers and said, you will surrender, and they did. This is a man of action. He wasnt waiting for somebody else to do it. The British Artillery finally got the best of samuel smith. He was gravely wounded during the assault on the fort. Eventually the patriots realized that the fort can no longer be held in the evacuated. Smith is greeted before he is wounded by one of his best friends, who essentially one of his mortal enemies. Jack stuart was initially he initially dueled samuel smith. They were mortal enemies, but after, they obviously did not fire upon each other. They survived and begin closest of friends. Samuel smith is greeted by jack stuart. Stuart is an incredible figure. He is a very tall individual, muscular, sort of fiery. Stuarts motto is you only live once. Hes extremely reckless and daring. He tries to support the battle of long island. Stuart is also involved in a courtmartial in manhattan. He has reprimanded for striking an american soldier that was fleeing. Eventually both men were slapped on the wrist. Stuart continues to fight. Hes involved in the key panels up until the forgotten raid on Staten Island. Th marylanderse are involved. The marylanders are. Stuart is captured. Unfortunately he does not have money on him. Hes not going to imagine being new york city going to a mansion in new york city, but is put on one of these hell ships. He somehow escapes and get back to american lines. It is suspected that smith may have provided money for his escape. Jack fights through the war in all the key battles. Guilford courthouse in the south. The marylanders, their story comes full circle. There are several regiments that eventually face cornwallis. The man that nearly annihilated them at brooklyn and yorktown. Stuart fights through the south and is Close Friends with william washington. He is paroled and meets his wife in charleston. The war is over, and it stuart and washington are tending william washingtons wedding. Its here that jack is riding towards the wedding and falls off his horse and breaks his neck. The man that only lives once is killed in a tragic accident. Hte last person i will briefly talk about the book is not only about rich men that are white, it is an integrated unit. 79 were free africanamericans. One of my great characters is private thomas carty, a forgotten hero of the revolution. He was a free black man that believed in liberty and fought for over 7 years of war. He first joins the marylanders at brandywine, then fights through the epic battle. The battle of guilford courthouse, where it changes the course of the revolution, kearny is noted to have bayoneted 7 british soldiers. An incredibly heroic figure. His finest hour is at a place this book covers all the major battles. 96 is a british outpost on the South Carolina and georgia border. Here is one of the great sieges of the revolution. Nathanael greene, who has the marylanders, surrounds a star shaped fort meade of birth. Fort made of earth. To try to start out the loyalists inside. They find out they will be resupplied and reinforced. Greene and the marylanders have to make a decision. Do they let 96 go, or make one last attack . They built a tunnel underneath the fort they were going to blow up. They had something called a mayhem tower. An incredible bit of american ingenuity. They built a massive log tower that would overlook the fort. American riflemen could fire down into the fort itself. The loyalists were smart enough to put sandbags to prevent the american fire from reaching them. Nothing was working. So they launched something known as a forlorn hope. The marylanders are in so many during the horror. Its called that because the chance of survival of the assault troops leading it is very small. The men have to cut through, effectively sharpened logs that surround the fort. This is 18thcentury razor wire. You could be impaled by those logs. The front rows of the forlorn hope included thomas carney, who is armed with only an ax. Things dont go well during the assault. Carney and his men are pinned down by the fire from the loyalists. It is going incredibly poorly. Perry benson is shot in the head. Thomas carney takes his Commanding Officer up and carries him off the battlefield. And what it does is creates a lasting friendship. A bond of friendship that lasts a lifetime. These men after the war come together and stay together. Its suspected that they met lafayette when he returns to america. This is a book about brotherhood and friendship. I wrote washingtons immortals to find out the mystery. To understand who these men are. It is about who we are as americans. That is why i believe it is time to find the men of honor, family, and fortune. Thank you. [applause] we have time for a few questions. Wait for the mic and be kindly enough to say your name. First, i commend you writing this book. It is refreshing to hear a book about valor, not the demolishing. Not victimology. The question ive always wondered, why did the americans fight . 1 3 are loyalists, 1 3rd could care less. Government from britain wasnt nearly as oppressive as governments today. These women that had a great deal to lose. Of what is your take on why they fought . Mr. Odonnell it is a mixed answer. In this group alone, these men sacrificed their entire fortunes for the cause. Many of these men went bankrupt after the war. After the American Revolution, there were bankruptcy prisons. These men went into it. Strikingly, they supplied and weapons for their own men. They were not reimbursed. They believed ardently, against all odds, in what they were doing. They believed in liberty. Many of them were schooled in the classics. They believed in fighting tyranny. There were others. As you mentioned, this is a nuanced war. It was not a situation where everyone believed in the same thing. It covers the civil war. Many americans were not only fighting the most adaptable army in the world, but also fighting fellow americans. Its the core group that believed in what they were doing. Much because they did not want to be told what to do. They do not want beer cuts dictate want bureaucrats dictate who they could trade with. They wanted freedom in commerce and freedom in their lives. Mordecai tamed his named his sons states rights and independence. [laughter] what caused cornwallis to surrender . Mr. Odonnell a lot of factors. The biggest is that they did an inventory of how many cannonballs Cornwallis Army had after the siege. He was nearly out. He was not reinforced. They were pressing in. The American Army, along with our french allies, conducted the siege at yorktown. The heavy artillery moved with the siege lines and they were selling Cornwallis Army. It was basically, without ships, there was the escape. There was no escape. You spoke earlier about the lack of memorials to this unit. Are there any memorials in the state of maryland for this unit . Mr. Odonnell there are. There is a beautiful statue of john howard in Baltimore City. In my opinion, no there are not enough. What i hope to do with washingtons immortals is get average americans interested in the American Revolution. This is who we are, our most important conflict. Our most important founders. This book is resonating. Its already in its fourth reprint. Its my hope that it continues to resonate. Americans look back into their own family histories as to who they are. Which your website allowed itself to cementing donations . Submitting donations . Mr. Odonnell i will point you in the right direction. It will be through the website, through the Civil War Trust fund. The Civil War Trust fund has something called campaign 1776. They are dedicating resources and manpower to preserving the outfields of the American Revolution. In particular, the great outfields of the south. That is a noble effort. They have the resources, the lawyers, they know how to do this right. I encourage anyone to look up campaign 1776. One more down front. What more is known about the soldiers religiously . Were many Roman Catholic . Is there anything more known about their masonic influence . When they were summoned to these meetings, that is a Secretive Group but do you know more about that influence . Mr. Odonnell it wasnt underpinning. Was an underpinning. Many are Roman Catholics because they are from maryland. Maryland is divided geographically. The Eastern Shore was largely protestant. You would have mixed religious elements within the Maryland Line. The freemasonry influence is extremely heavy in the top leadership. It grows after the war, where the men are very much there. These men follow the role of their commanderinchief. They hang up their swords after the war. They return to normal life. The example here that is so powerful, washington could have been a dictator. But he recognized that power corrupts. He went back to farming and ultimately becomes president. These men found the society of cincinnati. The oldest future oldest Patriotic Organization in america. I will speak there in may. King george sees this, and finds out that washington is resigning. The book ends in the maryland statehouse, where most of the congress assembled. Washington gives his resignation speech. He resigns and becomes a planter again. King george, the brutal ever three goes, that is most powerful man in the world. [applause] thank you. We have copies of washingtons immortals. Patrick will be happy to sign them and talk further. It is interesting to know why maryland is the old line state. Thank you for your kind attention. We hope youll join us in the future. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2016] you are watching American History tv, 48 hours of programming on American History every weekend on cspan3. At his been twitter history for information on our schedule and to keep up with the latest history news. Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890. The National Headquarters was found a few blocks from the white house. Next, american artifacts, a visit to the dar museum, to learn about their 100 their exhibit, remembering the American Revolution, 17761890. We begin with this visit to america by revolutionary war hero general lafayette
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