General Discussion

underpants

(194,118 posts)

2. We got a lucky break at Yorktown

Thu Nov 20, 2025, 03:11 PM

Nov 20

I’m sure he has a better story of it but basically Washington faked that he was going to NYC. Cornwallis was headed that way but the Royal navy couldn’t get into the York River because a storm slowed them down and if they had the French Navy would’ve been shooting fish in a barrel. Cornwallis got trapped and Washington just surge warfared him until he surrendered. Though he didn’t show up to the ceremony.

It was really the only battle Washington won….with the help of Lafayette and Von Steuben (who was gay BTW)

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

13 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Mr.Bee rurallib InstantGratification OAITW r.2.0 Boomerproud TommyT139 txwhitedove markodochartaigh love_katz Grey5 Prof. Toru Tanaka raging moderate Swede

81 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

KEN BURNS, WoW! [View all] Mr.Bee Nov 20 OP

Ken Burns is a treasure..it takes years to get his documentaries completed but so worth it for us. Deuxcents Nov 20 #1

People don't understand that dates are relevant for cause and effect misanthrope Nov 20 #5

A treasure indeed. B.See Nov 20 #48

We got a lucky break at Yorktown underpants Nov 20 #2

U beat me to the punch with von Steuben BaronChocula Nov 20 #18

It has been illuminating. A tour de force for sure. mahina Nov 20 #3

And now we're throwing it all away misanthrope Nov 20 #4

i do not accept barbtries Nov 21 #59

I appreciated that they did not gloss over the slavery issue... maptap22 Nov 20 #6

Not only owned but ruthlessly hunted down escaped slaves. BannonsLiver Nov 20 #8

Just goes to show you Farmer-Rick Nov 21 #62

I like that he trashed the narrative on George III that is/was taught in our schools BannonsLiver Nov 20 #7

Does he cover post-war veterans, etc? leftstreet Nov 20 #9

It's woven into the whole thing TommyT139 Nov 20 #31

I heard it said that Burns could do a documentary on dirt an it would be wonderful. 😂😂😂 Srkdqltr Nov 20 #10

Hey, he managed to make BASEBALL interesting, for me! Paladin Nov 20 #20

Those First 3 Episodes Of "Baseball" Are Awesome ProfessorGAC Nov 20 #41

He did Kali999 Nov 21 #78

Yes Srkdqltr Nov 21 #79

Several indigenous tribes allied with Britain. Frasier Balzov Nov 20 #11

The British offered freedom from slavery for blacks that fought for the Crown nt wolfie001 Nov 20 #21

Then left them to die in small boats from smallpox and dysentery Ponietz Nov 20 #27

Oh yes wolfie001 Nov 21 #57

It has been a great series so far, as expected. Hey Joe Nov 20 #12

That issue came up some during the Covid mandatory troop vaccinations. Hassin Bin Sober Nov 20 #54

I love the artwork they chose to put in the series BigmanPigman Nov 20 #13

I was going to point out how wonderful the illustrations are, just rounds out this most excellent production. n/t SheilaAnn Nov 20 #28

And The MAPS! Mr.Bee Nov 20 #52

All is accurate except part of your 2nd paragraph - --if not for the French. 3Hotdogs Nov 20 #14

okay... Mr.Bee Nov 20 #16

--- not trying to beat up on you. 3Hotdogs Nov 20 #42

Did I reveal Mr.Bee Nov 20 #53

Peter Coyote is one of the great narrators of all time. nt moniss Nov 20 #15

Green Mountain Boys Fiorillo Nov 20 #17

any relation Mr.Bee Nov 21 #55

Not found Fiorillo Nov 21 #66

I a lot of ways, it was the wealthier people who fought against the British Warpy Nov 20 #19

Yes, and George Washington was not a nice man. But he was the right man for the time in which we needed him. SunSeeker Nov 20 #36

Since the 18th century artillery has been the biggest killer on the battlefield AverageOldGuy Nov 20 #22

Yes, Burns' episode 2 talks about the horrible toll smallpox took during the Revolutionary War. nt SunSeeker Nov 20 #37

That is quite true. MANY more soldiers died of disease than of wounds, Jack Valentino Nov 20 #46

technically it was our mosquitoes + malaria that got the brits. pansypoo53219 Nov 21 #76

I keep thinking while watching--How in the world did we win this war? Bayard Nov 20 #23

Learn more every day! elleng Nov 20 #24

Great series. Even better than The American Revolution-OverSimplified. BHDem53 Nov 20 #25

"The Revolutionary War wasn't just fought with muskets or antique cannons shooting at each other." Collimator Nov 20 #26

Some at least might have been. soldierant Nov 21 #75

The French King Louis XVI (hubby of Marie Antoinette) loaned vast sums for our revolution hedda_foil Nov 20 #29

That history is also fascinating catchnrelease Nov 20 #44

Never thought of the American Revolution as our first civil war until watching the first couple of episodes. walkingman Nov 20 #30

That the American Colonial Revolution changed the whole world's idea of governance has been what I have always ShazamIam Nov 20 #32

THE PHRASE homegirl Nov 21 #68

This is why Col. Stanton said, " Lafayette, we are here!" spike jones Nov 20 #33

Ken Burns is a gift, madamesilverspurs Nov 20 #34

I'm waiting to see if Burns talks Deminpenn Nov 20 #35

The theme that the Revolutionary War was also a civil war is definitely told. SunSeeker Nov 20 #39

That is so, but here, the British actively sought to set the Deminpenn Nov 21 #72

Iroquois Nasruddin Nov 20 #38

Yes, episode 2 makes clear the native nations helped keep Canada British. SunSeeker Nov 20 #40

Back in 1960 or thereabouts Jilly_in_VA Nov 20 #43

I'm sorry your teachers failed you. I was taught all of that by my teachers in the 1960s. Martin68 Nov 20 #45

"Nationalist mythology with diversity window dressing" masmdu Nov 20 #47

Thank you. Burns is a master storyteller but I have a few issues with the mythmaking. Solomon Nov 21 #58

+1 leftstreet Nov 21 #67

Definitely Mr.Bee Nov 20 #49

Did You Catch Craig Furguson Mr.Bee Nov 20 #50

Would it be so bad if we were like Canada or Australia? hunter Nov 20 #51

You may find Jay Winik's book, "The Great Upheaval" of interest . . . Journeyman Nov 21 #56

There were Native Americans allied with the British as well. cab67 Nov 21 #60

Oneida Nation Warriors Haudenosaunee Nov 21 #61

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Nov 21 #73

Shekoli! Satekhwalá:ne' kʌ ni'isé: tsi' náhte' yutanuhelá:tuhe̲' marble falls Nov 21 #77

Glad to see your name pop up. Bohunk68 Tuesday #81

Fact: by the time of the American revolution, SidneyR Nov 21 #63

Been watching also jonstl08 Nov 21 #64

and let's not forget the contribution by WOMEN! Mr.Bee Nov 21 #65

Yep jonstl08 Nov 21 #69

I watched the first episode last night. So well done, debm55 Nov 21 #70

I just now watched the first 50 minutes while Emile Nov 21 #71

There were lots H2O Man Nov 21 #74

I prefer my history with more content and less comment. WarGamer Nov 21 #80