Revolutionary War - E11: From Victory in the Bahamas to River Warfare
After seizing weapons and supplies during their daring raid in the Bahamas, the Continental Marines returned from their first amphibious operation with renewed purpose. As Philadelphia fortified the Delaware River, bracing for inevitable attacks on major ports, America’s navy expanded its reach. Ships like the Lexington and Reprisal clashed with British frigates, testing the colonies’ power at sea. Bold captains like John Barry and Lambert Wickes captured prizes, recruited Marines, and showed Britain’s navy was not invincible. These early hard-fought victories set the stage for greater coordination between land and sea forces, expanding the Revolutionary War’s scope.
Revolutionary War - E10: America’s First Amphibious Assault
In the spring of 1776, the Continental Navy and Marine Corps launched a daring mission in the Bahamas. Commodore Esek Hopkins and Captain Samuel Nicholas led a fleet south to secure critical supplies, pivoting from Virginia to New Providence after British reinforcements arrived. Guided by captured sailors through dangerous reefs, over 200 Marines seized Fort Montagu overnight. Although 162 barrels of gunpowder were hidden, they captured cannons, ammunition, and other supplies. Fort Nassau fell days later without resistance. This first amphibious assault demonstrated the Marine Corps’ potential in complex operations.
Revolutionary War - E09: Marines Set Sail for New Providence
Commodore Esek Hopkins assembled America’s first Continental Navy, leading a small fleet eager to take action against British forces. After weeks trapped in ice on the Delaware River during the winter of 1776, Hopkins chose to bypass a potential confrontation with Lord Dunmore in Virginia, deciding to sail south for a bold raid on the Bahamas instead. This British-controlled territory was believed to hold a critical cache of gunpowder and munitions vital for the colonial war effort. With Marines under Samuel Nicholas, the newly established Corps prepared for its first amphibious assault, ultimately targeting New Providence. Local defenses were sparse, and officials had not anticipated an invasion so distant from New England. Relying on the element of surprise, Hopkins and Nicholas led the fledgling Navy and Marines in an audacious operation aimed at capturing valuable supplies, boosting morale, and…
Revolutionary War - E08: Pay Disputes, Recruiting, and Early Marine Life
George Washington wasn’t thrilled about pulling two battalions from his Army to create a whole new military branch. He had bigger battles to fight and limited resources to stretch. When Congress decided the country needed a Marine Corps, they handed the task to Samuel Nicholas.
In today’s episode, we'll take a look at the whirlwind of chaotic…
Colonial America - E07: From Militia to Marines - America’s Fight Takes Shape
Tensions between England and its American colonies erupted into open conflict after Lexington and Concord, rallying undecided colonists to the rebel cause. In Massachusetts, militias surrounded Boston, placing it under siege, while provisional assemblies struggled to support volunteers who were eager but untrained. Amid this chaos, the Second Continental Congress acted decisively, forming the Continental Army, Navy, and Marines in 1775, setting the foundation for the modern U.S. Marine Corps…
Colonial America - E06: The Intolerable Acts and Colonial Resistance
In this episode, we delve into General Thomas Gage’s daunting task of enforcing the Intolerable Acts in a colony teetering on rebellion. While Britain sought control, colonists quietly stockpiled weapons and boycotted British goods. Tensions boiled over when Paul Revere’s midnight ride spread the alarm of Redcoat movements, rallying farmers, shopkeepers, and tradesmen to take…
Colonial America - E05: From Liberty Poles to the Boston Tea Party
Boston in 1768 was a city teetering on the edge. British troops enforced oppressive taxes, soldiers patrolled the streets, and freedoms once taken for granted began to slip away. Liberty Poles symbolized defiance, and the death of young Christopher Seider fueled public anger, leading to the infamous Boston Massacre…
Colonial America - E04: Taxes, Tensions, and the Path to Rebellion
Today, we’re diving into the restless spirit of the colonies that gave rise to the Marine Corps. Enlightenment ideals clashed with Britain’s post-war taxes, pushing the colonists toward rebellion. Financial strains, imposed regulations, and the growing desire for liberty united thirteen diverse colonies into a common cause.
It’s a story of bold thinkers, mounting debt, and ordinary people demanding…
Colonial America - E03: Samuel Nicholas, First Marine Commandant
Samuel Nicholas was born in February 1744 into a prominent Philadelphia family deeply engaged in the city's social and commercial life. Growing up among merchants, sailors, and influential thinkers, he studied at the Academy of Philadelphia, an institution guided by Benjamin Franklin's progressive educational ideals that would eventually become the University of Pennsylvania.
This episode will take a look at some of his accomplishments, such as introducing the "leatherneck" uniform, leading…
Colonial America - E02: The Carpenters and Tun Tavern’s Legacy
Colonial Philadelphia offered ambitious immigrants, like Samuel and Joshua Carpenter, opportunities in the thriving tavern trade. Quaker roots and friction with William Penn didn’t stop them from shaping the city through wharf construction, tavern ownership, and real estate. Their Tun Tavern gained fame as the birthplace of the Marine Corps, blending faith, commerce, and public life. Women, too, found empowerment as tavern-keepers, influencing Philadelphia’s social and economic growth. This episode delves into how these forces defined the city’s evolution and America’s heritage…