Getting Hammered®

Enjoy the details as Washington realizes he has to impress upon his soldiers how to act once they're in Boston. This is a very explicit effort to make sure the uncomfortable lines between Boston inhabitants who are leftover royalists, patriot residents, possible spies, and Continental soldiers are observed with as little drama as possible, and all conflict dealt with in legal avenues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode , Mary Katharine Ham and Vic Matus cover the Oscars, the bright spots and the political commentary, Iran strikes and "taking Cuba", jihadist attacks in the U.S., one of which exemplifies the uselessness of gun control laws, and the continuing leftward lurch of the state of Virginia under alleged moderate Abigail Spanberger. Plus, Paul Ehrlich critique! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two views on the Revolution today, one from John Adams' diary, discussing a resolution to remove arms from disaffected colonists, who did not want to fight for America. Adams wanted the resolution to go further, urging colonists to take up all powers of government, repudiating the Crown's authority, but he settled for the one presented. It was a big escalation, and enforced spottily across the 13 colonies, but the Army also really needed the muskets. Meanwhile, Washington occupies the high ground around Boston, but that tactical advantage doesn't erase his concerns about smallpox. Are the British troops spreading it on purpose to his ragtag Army? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A truly astonishing feat, which becomes a turning point in Boston and in the entire war. Tune in for this ruse and how it goes down, causing British Gen. Howe to reportedly remark (although it is not attributed in a primary document, so let's attribute it to very cool legend): "The rebels have done more in one night than my whole army would have done in a month." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is fascinating! Abigail Adams begins a letter to John Adams in Philadelphia that she won't finish until eight days later on March 10. Why? Because she is continually interrupted by bombing in nearby Boston, which unbeknownst to her is the beginning of the consequential taking of Dorchester Heights by the Colonial Army. She also talks about attacks on Adams' reputation, the trouble some friends get into defending him, and her thoughts on "Common Sense." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You'll remember Washington's War Council rejected a plan to attaack Boston in mid-February, instead telling Washington to put cannons up on Dorchester Heights. This is a contingency attack plan written by those same generals, should the British attack Dorchester Heights. They didn't feel great about its potential for success, and luckily, things turn out differently on the high ground around Boston later in March. Stay tuned! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Feb. 23, 1776, John Adams offered resolutions in the Continental Congress with the intent of boosting domestic production of saltpeter, a main ingredient in gunpowder, and gunpowder mills. Domestic production never really took off during the war, only accounting for a small percentage of total gunpowder. Instead, the colonies imported or smuggled supplies in from the French and the West Indies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices