Revolutionary War - E25: The Cost of Hesitation: Penobscot’s Collapse

What started as a promising attempt to reclaim Maine from the British ended in complete disaster. Despite superior numbers and early successes, American forces fell victim to weak leadership, constant delays, and a lack of coordination.

The Marines played a key role in the initial assault, scaling cliffs under enemy fire to secure the landing. But with no support from the fleet, their gains were wasted. As commanders debated instead of acting, British reinforcements arrived, and the American fleet was forced into a desperate retreat. One by one, ships were either destroyed or captured.

This episode uncovers the story of a mission that had every chance of success but collapsed under its own weight. From battlefield heroism to strategic blunders, we’ll explore how this defeat shaped America’s military thinking and why it remains one of the greatest failures in early U.S. naval history.

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