[Music] it is 1775 and the long-simmering rebellion has burst out into open warfare the Americans the rebels have the British Army surrounded at Boston General George Washington appointed by Congress to lead the Continental Army rides to the front lines he finds his ranks filled with farmers shopkeepers and laborers not only are they inexperienced and undisciplined but they also lack heavy guns and gunpowder though he is one of the most experienced officers in the colonies Washington has never commanded a large army and it's been 16 years since he was last in a battle now he faces
one of the most capable armies in the world the British Army occupies a strong position within Boston to drive the Redcoats of the city will require a new and audacious plan the key to the British position is Boston Harbor and the ships that supply the Crown's army what if their supplies their lifeline could be threatened Washington realizes that if he can occupy Dorchester Heights to the south he can bring down cannon fire upon the harbor and its shipping but where to get the guns Washington orders Colonel Henry Knox to bring 50 artillery pieces from Fort
Ticonderoga and one of the great feats of the war his men hauled the cannon 300 miles of a rugged terrain to Boston in just two months [Music] guns are quickly put to use as Washington unleashes three nights of bombardment upon the British lines but it was just a diversion as the Americans secretly moved to fortified Dorchester Heights under cover of darkness 2,000 men worked to build a massive fort on high ground confronted at dawn by Washington's heavy guns on Dorchester Heights the exposed British realized they have only one good option to evacuate Boston is now
back in American hands the army celebrates its first great victory some believe the war is over but the battle for America is only just beginning Washington's victory at Boston encourages America's Declaration of Independence the rebels will become Americans but even as the army celebrates the new Declaration the British arrived in New York Harbor with 32,000 soldiers including Hessians German soldiers for hire it's the largest expeditionary force the crown has ever assembled they route Washington's army in battle after battle from Long Island to Manhattan and out into the New Jersey countryside [Music] his army once nearly
20,000 strong he is by December 1776 reduced to just 3,000 many Americans believe that the cause is lost Thomas Paine captures the desperate hopes of the moment these are the times that try men's souls the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will in this crisis shrink from the service of their country but he that stands by it now deserves the love thanks man [Music] while many have given up hope General Washington has not determined to strike the blow before the year was out he spies a weak point in the British lines a Hessian garrison at
Ripley New Jersey appears isolated and vulnerable but to reach them his army must cross the ice choked waters of the Delaware River undaunted Washington develops a risky plan of attack he will cross the river on Christmas night and surprise them at dawn he will divide his army sending one column south to block reinforcements a second to cut off the Hessian retreat and a third under his personal command to attack Trenton at dawn all depends on stealth the cover of night and good weather battered by sleet and high winds Washington's boats struggle to cross in the
face of huge chunks of river ice they make it to New Jersey without the loss of a man but they are now three hours behind schedule worse the other two columns failed to cross his plan has fallen apart without surprise with his army be exposed and destroyed Washington with the weight of the revolution on his shoulders decides to press on to trip me [Music] overcoming the pickets the Americans discovered to their amazement that most of the Hessians are still in their quarters surprise has been achieved Washington quickly positions his artillery on the heights north of
town overlooking Trenton streets his force divides into columns and moves swiftly to encircle the stun Hessians the Hessians attempt several counter-attacks with the swift American advance and the mortal wounding of their commander proves too much the remaining Hessians some 900 Surinder with their captives into Washington's army slips back across the river miraculously the Americans lose only two men lost not to Hessian bullets but to the vicious cool [Music] the barrel at Trenton where Washington famously crossed the Delaware River is one of the most decisive victories of the war but how to capitalize on the victory
many of Washington's best soldiers are nearing the end of their tours of duty and the British are already plotting their revenge to keep his army from disintegrating Washington appeals to his soldiers patriotism he reminds them of the glorious cause and reinforces their patriotism with cold hard cash responding to their generals appeal the army once more sets off to confront the booty On January 2nd 1777 Lord Charles Cornwallis the same general who had driven Washington from New Jersey six months earlier leads a force of 7,000 Redcoat and Hessian soldiers down the Kings Road to Trenton these
are some of the best troops in the British Army and they are intent on destroying the American rebellion once and for all after fighting through Washington's advanced guard Cornwallis unleashes a series of powerful frontal assaults each driven back with heavy casualties nightfall fortunately halts the slaughter Washington's defenses hold unfazed Cornwallis declares that he will cross the creek and bag the old Fox in the morning rather than wait for the British assault Washington agrees to a bold but risky plan one that will allow them to retain the initiative and avoid any sense of retreat in the
face of the enemy [Music] Washington uses the cover of night to fool the British and marches his entire army around Cornwallis driving deeper into enemy territory when the British awake Washington's entire army is nowhere to be found the old Fox has escaped just south of the town of Princeton Washington rallies his troops and leads the final charge that buckles the British lines Princeton is captured Washington's third victory in just 10 days the British once on the verge of total victory now retreat back to their lines around New York City surrendering all of their Summer Games
Britain's archenemy France takes note of the American victories and moves closer to becoming America's ally Washington's bold actions and stunning victories at Trenton and Princeton not only revives Patriot morality but quite simply save the American Revolution at its bleakest hour [Music] the next four years are filled with trials and setbacks although the French Army and Navy have joined the American cause New York City remains firmly in British hands Charleston has fallen and Benedict Arnold one of America's most celebrated generals has deserted to the British side America is out of money in the will to fight
seems almost at an end poorly supported by Congress Washington must plead for even the most basic necessities for his dwindling army Martha Washington braving capture camp disease and ferocious winter weather travels north to stay with Washington at his Valley Forge and Morristown encampments thank you for your self-esteem but even her presence is not enough to overcome his growing since dread by 1781 Washington wonders how much longer his army and the new country can hold together writing now or never our deliverance must come not just when all seems lost Washington learns of a new opportunity to
strike a decisive blow his old foe Lord Cornwallis has led his army to the coastal village of Yorktown Virginia where he awaits evacuation if the Allied army and French Navy can converge there first it might just be possible to capture Cornwallis's entire force even before it is certain that the French fleet will arrive Washington and his allies decide to seize the opportunity as Washington's army reaches Philadelphia they learned the exciting news a French fleet under Admiral de Grasse has defeated the British Navy at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay French warships have cut off Cornwallis
escape when the American and French columns arrive outside of Yorktown they immediately begin to construct their lines with heavy siege guns now in place and the French Navy blocking the sea routes Cornwallis and his army are trapped now they will tighten their grip Washington himself fires the first shot of the siege on October 9th 1781 [Music] soon thousands of French and American shells bombard the British lines at Yorktown despite the intense barrage Cornwallis and his beleaguered troops hold out with the threat of autumn hurricanes the French Navy's presence cannot be assured victory requires one more
push the Allies need to seize to advanced British positions to be able to fire cannons into Cornwallis's lines at point-blank range in a daring night raid the french attack redoubt number nine while the Americans led by a young Alexander Hamilton assault read out number 10 with these readouts secure allied guns fire 1700 rounds a day at point-blank range into the British lives with no hope of relief Yoda Smith Cornwallis considers the unthinkable on October 19 1781 eight thousand British soldiers march out of their lives and surrender when news of the disaster in your town reaches
across the Atlantic Lord North the British Prime Minister exclaimed oh god it's all over exhausted by the ongoing struggle and facing growing unrest at home King George the 3rd reluctantly bitterly agrees to end all further attempts to reclaim his wayward colonies [Music] after learning of the 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the war Washington himself declared America's victory as little short of a standing miracle love my soldiers entrusted by the public General George Washington could have become an American King instead on December 23rd 1783 he publicly surrenders his military commission to Congress his act ensures that
the people and their choices not a military dictator will govern the future after 8 long years of war Washington is finally able to return to his family and cherish home mom Verna here he plans to live the remainder of his life peacefully under his own vine and fig tree but it won't be long Joe the new nation the United States of America calls for his leadership once more [Music] [Music] [Music] you
