He was 20 years old, wounded, and desperate to prove himself. When the Marquis de Lafayette spotted a column of elite Hessian soldiers, he didn't hesitate. The resulting skirmish would change his life—and the course of the American Revolution—forever. Join us for the story of Gloucester, the battle that launched a hero.

In this episode of History Distilled, we dive into the Skirmish of Gloucester, the battle that ignited the rise of the Marquis de Lafayette. We'll break down the strategic situation in November 1777 and detail the key actions and decisions that allowed Lafayette to turn a simple reconnaissance mission into a victory that echoed all the way to the halls of Congress and the royal court of France.

magine the most intense bombardment of the entire American Revolution. For six weeks, a few hundred American defenders inside a small mud fort held out against the full might of the British Royal Navy, enduring a storm of over 10,000 cannonballs.

This is the forgotten story of the Siege of Fort Mifflin, a desperate battle to control the Delaware River

They were the Hessians, the most feared professional soldiers of the 18th century, and they had come for blood. On October 22, 1777, an army of 1,200 mercenaries marched on a small, muddy fort defended by just 400 American rebels. The attack was supposed to be a swift, brutal lesson in European military might; instead, it became a shocking humiliation.

This is the story of the Battle of Red Bank, a desperate defense that turned into one of the most stunning underdog victories of the American Revolution. Join us as we explore how Colonel Christopher Greene and his small garrison at Fort Mercer defied impossible odds, inflicting a bloody repulse on Colonel von Donop's elite grenadiers. From the fort's clever design to the sheer determination of its defenders, we'll break down how this impossible victory was achieved.

It was the battle George Washington should have won. A bold, four-pronged surprise attack had the British reeling, and a stunning American victory was within grasp. So how did it all descend into a chaotic mess of friendly fire and a confused retreat?

This is the story of the Battle of Germantown, a bloody fight shrouded in fog and confusion. We dive into Washington's audacious strategy, the critical moment the American advance stalled at the Cliveden mansion, and how the battle that could have ended the war devolved into chaos. Discover the battle that, despite being a loss, proved the resilience of the Continental Army to the world. One that helped convince France to join the American cause.

If you enjoy learning about military history and the untold stories of the American Revolution, be sure to subscribe for more!

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It was meant to be a swift, surgical strike deep in enemy territory. But for the American soldiers raiding Staten Island, the mission quickly devolved into a desperate, bloody fight for survival—not just against the British, but against their own countrymen.

This is the story of the Battle of Staten Island, one of the most chaotic and overlooked engagements of the American Revolution. On August 22, 1777, General John Sullivan launched an ambitious amphibious assault that spiraled out of control.

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What happens when an army is ordered to attack in total darkness with only bayonets? In the dead of night on September 20, 1777, British forces under Major General Charles "No-Flint" Grey did just that, launching one of the most brutal surprise attacks of the Revolutionary War.

In this video, we uncover the full story of the Battle of Paoli, also known as the Paoli Massacre. We'll explore the controversial tactics that led to a devastating American defeat and how the cry "Remember Paoli!" became a powerful source of vengeance for the Continental Army.

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It's one of the great 'what ifs' of the American Revolution. In September 1777, just days after a stinging defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, George Washington's battered Continental Army turned to face the British once more. A second major battle was imminent, and with it, the potential for a decisive blow that could have crushed the rebellion.

But the battle that was supposed to happen... never did.

Join us as we uncover the forgotten story of the Battle of the Clouds, a bizarre and pivotal moment in the Philadelphia Campaign. We'll explore how two powerful armies, poised for a bloody engagement, were stopped not by cannons or cavalry, but by an enemy neither side could fight: a torrential, storm of biblical proportions.

In this episode, you'll discover:

The desperate strategic situation facing Washington as he tried to defend Philadelphia.

How a sudden, violent nor'easter turned the battlefield into an impassable swamp.

The devastating effect of the rain, which ruined thousands of cartridges and rendered muskets useless.

How this "non-battle" became Washington's miracle, allowing his army to escape, regroup, and fight another day.

Was it divine intervention that saved the Continental Army, or just the dumb luck of the weather? Watch now and decide for yourself.

Witness the chaos, the miscalculations, and the incredible bravery that defined one of the American Revolution's most pivotal battles! Learn how General George Washington's army faced near annihilation at Brandywine, and how a combination of cunning British strategy and crucial American intelligence failures almost led to a crushing defeat.

This episode dives deep into the Battle of Brandywine, fought on September 11, 1777. Discover General Howe's controversial decision to target Philadelphia instead of supporting Burgoyne, the arduous sea journey that weakened his forces, and Washington's desperate scramble to defend the capital. We'll explore the fatal flaw in American intelligence that allowed Howe to execute a devastating flanking maneuver, and the heroic rear-guard action by General Nathanael Greene that ultimately saved the Continental Army from complete destruction. Uncover the human cost of the battle, its immediate strategic consequences, and the critical lessons Washington learned that would shape the rest of the war.