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 IndependentCompany 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 th