This series is a hidden gem in the massive KZfaq Historical genre.

Was Washington a brilliant tactical commander? Certainly not (although he did have his moments like in these battles). However he was 100% the right man for the job. He had a very deep understanding of the strategic importance of keeping the Continental Army intact and in the fight despite losses on the battlefield as well as the grace to understand that the military power he was given was a privilege and to only wield it for the American cause of liberty. There were few if any other men who could have led America through the revolution successfully like he did.

learning about Washington is like riding a roller coaster. as first your like "this could be fun" then "oh no please stop" but by the end your fully into it "lets go Washington"

I’ve been fascinated by the Revolutionary War ever since I was little. What I didn’t know, until I started working on my family tree a few years ago, was that I have a 6th great-grandfather who fought in it! George Pepperrell Frost enlisted in the New Hampshire regiment a day after Bunker Hill, and then participated in the siege of Boston, the tail end of the Quebec campaign, both Trenton and Princeton, both battles of Saratoga, endured the winter at Valley Forge, then ended his major engagements with Monmouth Courthouse. He mustered out in 1782. (Luckily for my research he listed all of his service record in a letter he wrote for his pension in the early 1800s.)

“Instead of being the last charge of a dying rebellion” sheds light on the gravity and utter will that these men braved in their crossing and march on Trenton, to face a small but formidable force composed of the most feared soldiers on Earth. Freezing and demoralized, knowing this will most likely be their final march, pushed onward.

I will always be impressed by this campaign, as Washington pulled off what even Frederick II "The Great" Hohenzollern dubbed "the greatest achievement in the military annals." I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment, as it, comparative to Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck's masterful African campaign of World War I, was the use of maneuver by a numerically inferior army against a numerically superior and resource rich force against its small outposts.

I'd love to see an American Civil War series after this.

I work in Trenton in where the battle was fought

Awesome work! We hear about Trenton a lot in the U.S, but not as much about Princeton.

Man i have been waiting for channels of the same caliber of epic history tv to cover the American Revolution. Reminds me of the old history channel shows. Great job!

I will never walk on Mercer Street again and not remember this video! Well done!! The entire Greenwich Village is named after Revolutionary War generals or other types of heroes and I'd say 99% of New Yorkers have no idea!

Great video glad to see you guys back! Also fun fact was that future president James Monroe was at the battle of Trenton as a lieutenant but he very well could have been one of the few American deaths as he was wounded greatly by a musket shot to his shoulder that severed a artery luckily for him a doctor saved his life and unknowingly saved a future president. Also general Hugh Mercer was a truly interesting person who had been a surgeon in the Jacobite uprising before fleeing to America sadly his life ended brutally but his sacrifice wasn’t in vain

I’m so glad you guys finally got a sponsorship!

I participate in the Princeton reenactment every year, going there again in a week. Fantastic videos, I like to do some research on the battles I reenact before I go, and these have definitely been a great reference!

Bloody outstanding!!! Cheers from Tennessee

man this is amazing ive been waiting for epic history but you are killing the competition keep up the great work man and merry christmas

Of all the online briefs on this critical timeline period, yours is by far the best. The mix of important verbal historical road to war points, along with the graphic display of schemes of manuaver make it a Five Star level brief!!!. BRAVO ZULU!!!...

I cannot express how much I love this series! I am american but have never found a series on youtube about the revolution as engaging and detailed as this!

Another excellent episode, and perfectly timed. Congratulations on the sponsor. It's much deserved.

The turning point... The aftermath was hugely telling...it was clear that the British army could not garrison and protect loyalists, and so even New Jersey could not be gained by victories even on the scale of the New York campaign of 1776. This realization would heavily impact the strategy of both sides in the common years. The British would cast about for some way of defeating the rebels in specific regions, rather than globally.... ...and Washington would turn to the Fabian strategies he did not initially wish to pursue...seeing how effective they had been at restoring most of New Jersey.

Merry Christmas 🎄

An absolutely amazing series. My current favorite.

Thanks!

One, if not the greatest, winter campaign in history.

These Stories Must Always Be Taught In Our USA Schools!

I’m so glad to find these, I’ve been searching for an American history channel like this and oh boi was I not disappointed. Definitely going to apply to the Patron to give my full support!

great video thank you & merry Christmas

Thank you for posting & Merry Christmas 🎄

Very clear and well produced video. A pleasure to view!

Hooray! Its here!

This is one of the best History channels on KZfaq you guys deserve way more subs. A hidden gem

Great video as always, merry christmas!

Hispanics also fought in the American Revolution under Spanish General Bernardo de Gálvez! Beautiful American history often overlooked! Spain paid for the Yorktown campaign paying both the French and Continental soldiers who hadn't been paid for several months and years causing several mutinees and also paid and refurbished Degrasse's French fleet allowing Degrasse to travel to both the Chesapeake and later Yorktown which Spain also had a huge role in the military planning which is why the Spanish Ambassador was invited to the Yorktown victory celebration in October of last year 2023! Spain protected French possessions in the Caribbean allowing Degrasse to travel to his destination freely without worry and it was Spanish General Bernardo de Gálvez who was kind and generous enough to release his own French troops under Spanish command and ALLOWED Degrasse to take them to go reinforce Rochambeau at Yorktown! Bernie didn't have to do that but he was very generous! Spain also sent muskets to Saratoga in coordination with the French in 1777! In fact, one link suggests that ALL weapons at Saratoga were Spanish supplied only by Spain! The very first foreign weapons to arrive even before the American Revolution began were from Spain! Diego de Gardoqui sent 300 Spanish muskets and 600 Spanish pistols to Marblehead Massachusetts in February 1775! Spanish aid or Spanish trade was first before Lexington and Concord before the Declaration of Independence and before America's so called first and oldest ally France! Spain was just as significant as France if not more so and I would argue more so! Without Spain's decisive involvement both France and the American Colonies could never have won the American Revolution! Not without Spain!

My 6x great grandfather, Corporal David Baker and his brother, my 6x great grand uncle, Private Richard Baker, were soldiers in the Virginia Line of the Continental Army. They took part marching on Christmas Day 1776. My 6x great grand uncle was one of the two non-combat deaths that froze to death. My 6x great grandfather took part capturing Trenton. He died in 1838 at 86 years old.

Excellent series! I look forward to each video!

Just in time.

When I was younger, I was under the impression that Washington was a bad general and that remains a popularly echoed sentiment nowadays. However, when you actually delve deeper into his campaigns, the man was fairly good. This campaign demonstrated boldness, surprise, proper usage of defeat in detail, and a cunning manoeuvre to the rear which saw Cornwallis' communications cut when Washington marched on Princeton. Though, I wonder how many Loyalists were guarding the depot at New Brunswick? The distance should be enough that Washington's army might have been able to make it there in a day or two days' march at most. I think a swift victory there, followed by the seizing of provisions for his men might have definitely been possible before Cornwallis came up. It would have been a good boon to the Revolutionaries and allow them to resupply, while depriving the Loyalists in the harsh winter months.

Finally a new video!

I love this channel. I wish we would make more of an effort to remember these events at Christmas. That cold was so brutal on our boys

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

My favorite channel

This series reminds me of Epic History’s Napoleon series. Keep you the great work! Can’t wait for the next episode

George Washington wasn't one of the great military minds of the age, but his skills at maneuver warfare are undeniable. Not every commander of this period could move his men around so quickly and in such an orderly fashion.

Such an epic series!

Absolutely brilliant work. I get legitimately excited when I see that you've posted again. Washington is a problematic favorite of mine. My big gift to myself this year is a fig tree. May we all have a vine & fig tree to rest beneath. Be well.

there are people living in the Trenton area today who claim to be the decedents of the captured Hessians

Quite fantastic videos brother, keep it up!

Glad to see another episode! Didn't know that about the British generals. Thanks for expanding my knowledge. And thanks again for looking at this from both sides. Can't wait for the next one!

Excellent battlefield analysis using stats and graphs with quick explanations allows you cover a lot of material efficiently about the most unlikely miracle of America 🇺🇸 where we live free or Die.

With each video, I like your channel more and more. Merry Christmas!

Another excellent episode! keep it up

Hope you'll cover the Philadelphia campaign in detail, selfishly as I live here. Fort Mifflin Brandywine and Germantown are almost unknown for how enormously important they were

Thank you for this series. The graphics and narration are superb, and the thoroughness of your research and love of your subject shine through. I'm a long-time student of the American Revolution, and yours is the best telling of it I've seen. Keep up your great work!

Man i love history

Nice work ❤

Thank you for this excellent presentation.

This is an amazing series. Very well done!

Love to see it, keep up the great work

Washington fought a brilliant campaign. The only thing that could have made it perfect is if the British had held on to Charles Lee who was a legend in his own mind and a thorn in the side of Washington. Very well done video. Thank you

6:20 Tarleton unwittingly did the Patriots a great favor by capturing Lee.

Fantastic! Love your channel!

This is the most high quality military history vids I have come across. I look forward to your future videos.

Excellent work friend. Keep up like that 😉👍👌.

One of my grandfather, Seth Hoyt, crossed the Delaware River with Washington and fought at Trenton. He was one of the volunteers that fought at Princeton as well. Earlier in the war he was one of the soldiers that followed "then loyal" Benedict Arnold through the Maine wilderness and attacked Quebec only to get their azzes kicked. He survived the war.

Awesome work. But Washington never planned on making his family relocated from Mount Vernon. When you go there you learn all about how his brother and Martha, his slaves and his property were never in danger. There was a code of conduct in the British army and they never even thought to burn or plunder his goods. Matter of fact, the British sent the warship HMS Serabis up the Potomac River and exchanged food and was offered lodging by Washington’s brother. Washington scolded him for this action.

What an excellent channel, keep up the fantastic work. Iwish you had a Patreon.

❤from Taipei. If only Swedish King Charles knew. But he the king, could not sympathize the Herculean task of forming a new nation under Liberty, as George knew and saved his fellow countryman's lives!

Your content is fantastic. I specifically like the level of detail provided in your videos. Definitely looking forward to more.

Some would say its an American Crisis

It's just crazy to me that I work just ten miles from where he crossed Delaware (near where it says Bordentown) and that at one point, I drive just a mile from the encampment at Valley Forge. Really need to visit sometime. I'm just so happy that my state has such close ties to our nation's founding. Hell, we're only beat by being the first state by five days.

Been watching this series since i found out when you made bunker hill, Loving it! Amazing how its the same quality as Epic History, HistoryMarche etc.

Great work!

Your videos are great I keep coming back to see if there's anything new. One tip I saw was creators switching thumbnails around and it gives it another chance in the algorithm kind of like a marketing ad you just try 5-10 different ones and narrow them down to which one works the best or find out why it worked better I would love to see you get the support you deserve

You didn't mention James Monroe being in the battle. On their way from the landing, the Continental Army passed the house of a local doctor. He saw them, and believing his services would soon be needed on the battlefield, went out and followed the army. One soldier on the American side was shot in the chest, the round clipping an artery in his heart, but he was standing almost right beside the doctor, who was able to help him and close the artery immediately. The Soldier was James Monroe, future president of the US. Another thing: the Hessian commander had a report telling him Washington was coming, but he didn't get around to reading it. He put the unopened letter in his pocket because he recieved it while at a party and didn't want to be interrupted.

This is a fantastic video. Thank you. I am trying to learn more about "The First Battle of Springfield" which took place in December, 1776. (Not the later, 1780 battle.) It's been forgotten because of Trenton & Princeton but it marked the first retreat of the British in NJ. This is a description of from a 1923 publication "The History of Westfield" by Charles A. Philhower. Because of the great activity on his rear of the militia under Colonel Ford, southeast of the Watchungs, Cornwallis sent out a company of men from Elizabeth Town to drive them from their supporting position at Short Hills. Somewhere about 1,500 men made up of Waldeckers and General Leslie's brigade moved out to Springfield. Major Spencer, who occupied Springfield, withdrew toward Chatham. Captain Brooklield attacked the right flank on the Vaux Hall road and Captain Seely the left-on the Westfield road. There was a conflict of about an hour, which ceased on both sides because of darkness. The Continentals fell back and the British rested on their arms in Springfield. It was expected that the battle would be renewed in the morning; but to the surprise of Colonel Ford he found that they had folded their tents like the Arabs and had silently stolen away. The advance toward Springfield was apparently from three directions -Vaux Hall, Connecticut Farms and Westfield-in order to rid the terri- tory of all harrassing movements in the rear of the army. The left wing came through Westfield from Rahway and retreated from Springfield by the same route. On the withdrawal from Springfield, Colonel Ford's militia pursued the left wing to our town, but could not overtake it. It is with pride that the people of Westfield now, as then, view this first retreat in our State of the British before the Continental troops through their town. Quoting Colonel Symmes, the statement reads, "This was the first instance in the State of New Jersey when the British troops turned their back and fled from those they called rebels ; and this success, small as the affair was, taught the Jersey militia that the foe-was not invincible" ("New Jersey Journal," No. 4636). The line of retreat was doubtlessly over the Springfield road to what is now Woodland road, thence to Mountain avenue by the.church, through the center of the town, and out by way of Central avenue to Rahway. The militia assembled for the defense of Short Hills was gathered together at Mor- ristown, and on the sad and untimely death of Colonel Ford, Washington sent General Maxwell to take command of them. The success at Springfield and through Westfield was followed De- cember 26 by Washington's'surprise party for the Hessians at Trenton. The sad and gloomy days of the first part of the month were at Christ- mas time turned to gladness ; and the patriots were fired with an indomi- table zeal for victory. Washington's instructions from Trenton to Max- well were, "Collect as large force as possible at Chatham and after gain- ing the proper intelligence endeavour to strike a stroke upon Elizabeth Town or that neighborhood." It is probable that Washington inter- viewed Maxwell in Westfield concerning this matter about the time of the battle of Trenton. Benjamin Downer, in the biography of his father, the Rev. Edwin Downer, says Samuel Downer entertained General Washington there (in the house now occupied by Dr. Frederick Kinch) for a few days at the time of the battle of Trenton. Passing around the enemy at Trenton, Washington captured Princeton, January 3, 1777, and by way of Pluckemin went into winter quarters at Morristown, Janu- ary 6. At this time the enemy was much confused, and Maxwell, following out instructions, had a brush with them at Springfield, compelled Leslie's brigade to evacuate Newark, drove them out of Elizabeth and fought the Waldeckers, January 5, at Spank Town (Rahway). At this last place mentioned about 1,ooo bushels of salt were captured. Amboy aad New Brunswick alone were left in possession of the enemy.- With this suc- cess great relief come to the people of Westfield. The enemy ceased his plundering, and the inhabitants who had taken refuge back of the moun- tains returned to their homes from their six weeks' exile. They found fences broken down, houses plundered, homes destroyed. It is said that the depredations committed by the Hessians and British at this time were "a disgrace to human nature." Captain Eliakim Littell and General William Maxwell, with the State militia, were the war dogs that kept the enemy at bay and protected the lives and property of Westfield in this period of gravest peril. The good work they did is set forth in a statement of Washington, January 20, 1777: "Within a month past, in several engagements with the enemy, we have killed, wounded and taken prisoner between two and three thou- sand men."

Here before this channel blows up. The hard work is much appreciated!

Awesome!

I ate an edible and as I was scrolling I thought this was a hockey video. Because of the thumbnail on the right, I thought it was a net and the circles/players on the ice

This video is great.😊

TRUE STORY.Before the Delaware River froze over,a Schlagel relative of my Aunts' rowed across the river from Bucks County, PA.He went to see the Hessians at Trenton. He told them, "why are you fighting us,we are many Germans on the other side". He said, "Any man who comes with me now,I will give you some land,and one of my daughters to marry".2 Hessian soldiers got into the boat.One of them was named Johann Schwalm,and he is buried there on this same farm, still owned by the Schlagel family.

well done. The one missing factoid - it was Robert Morris - essentially treasurer of the Congress, who gave (lent) Washington his personal cash to pay the one-month enlistment extension bonuses to keep the Continental army in the field. (You do also omit that Washington abandoned Trenton for PA after Christmas but then recrossed river for the rest of the story after he got this money.) Without that cash - provided by ONE patriot - the war would likely have ended right then. Our culture tends to dismiss the role that wealthy patriots played in risking all for success.

You are so underrated

Great video .... thanks

Washington was very good at the Fabian defense

There was a German Continental battalion at Trenton? That's interesting!

George Washington was truly a great man.. he could have been king of America. And all of those men that fought under his command were the greatest of men..

My favorite president

Again, very good. Note that there was another reason to have spread out British forces. This was that American roads were poor and few, and drayage hard to come by, while our agriculture somewhat primitive, and the availability of fodder and pasturage quite limited. Thus, the British had to spread out not just to reassure loyalists, but to subsist themselves without over - here's that unfortunate word again - taxing local supplies.

George Washington is one the greatest human beings ever to live🇺🇸🇺🇸he had one of the most sound minds of any leader this world has ever seen

❤

My ancestors were there.

Please, can you lads tell me the name of that outro beat you dropped at 22:09? Marvelous work! Keep it up!

USA! USA! USA! USA!

They didnt render unto caesar That which was caesars The taxes owed to britain Eighty years later the southern States were in a similar situation not wanting the union Telling them what to do!

Do you have twitter ?

The Left would like to forget our epic history but these were desperate times and as Wellington once said about Waterloo, "It was a near-run thing!"

The more I learn about these little battles in the war. The more I get the feeling that the British could have smashed the rebels at any time or captured Washington. What were they actually doing there it’s like they were trying very hard to make them come to them and say sorry. That was never going to happen. They had the impression that would actually happen. Why the hell did they let the rebel commanders go back to fight them again. It’s like they were playing a game of war. I honestly think if they had took it seriously like the wars with napoleon it would have been finished within a month. Wellington and the British were ruthless hiring assassins and all that sort of business. Not this pissing about with a bunch of rebels

2 dead in continental army at Trenton skirmish?!!? , i mean in melee fighting for 1 hour, 2 dead?! is this for real ?

😃😃😃

Too many Americans.