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Recommended Reading:
The War of the Spanish Succession by James Falkner
Prince Eugene of Savoy by James Falkner
Episode Summary
For continental European powers in 1706, fighting against France was like being in a cage match with an 800-pound gorilla. Unlike the British, who had the English Channel to keep the French at arm's length, smaller states like Piedmont-Sardinia faced a life-and-death struggle against the towering ambition of Louis XIV. Join hosts Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Dr. Andrew Bamford as they venture into the critical Italian theater of the War of the Spanish Succession.
In this episode, we dissect the monumental Siege of Turin, where a massive French army of 60,000 men besiege the capital of the Sabaudian lands. We also trace how Victor Amadeus II broke out of the besieged city to link up with the legendary Habsburg general Prince Eugene of Savoy. Together, they executed a remarkable 300-mile relief march in just 24 days. From the intense underground war of counter-mining to the final, bloody bayonet charge of the Prussian troops, we cover how a smaller allied force managed to shatter the lines of a superior enemy in one of the most decisive victories of the era.
"What Are You Missing?" (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
To keep the public feed moving, we've focused primarily on the grand strategy and the main battle. However, our War Room members on Patreon get the full, uncut experience, including 10 minutes of exclusive content and host banter:
Habsburg Arms: Andrew and Alex discuss how this battle is a high point in Austrian military history and how that effects later battles.
Modern Leadership Lessons: Alex talks about the lessons, from this historic battle, that can be useful to modern leaders.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] – The Cage Match: The geopolitical stakes of the War of the Spanish Succession.
[15:15] – The House of Savoy: Victor Amadeus II and the militarized Sabaudian lands.
[31:30] – Eclipsing the Sun King: The solar eclipse of May 12 and its psychological impact.
[45:45] – Pietro Micca’s Sacrifice: Tunnels, gunpowder charges, and the defense of the Citadel.
[1:05:00] – The Lightning Campaign: Prince Eugene of Savoy's rapid 200-mile relief march.
[1:22:15] – Storming the Lines: Leopold van Anhalt-Dessau, the Prussian advance guard, and the heavy toll of the assault.
[1:38:00] – The Aftermath & Superga: Why Victor Amadeus II built one of northern Italy’s most spectacular basilicas.
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Episode Summary
Today in 1776 General Sir William Howe launched his attack on Washington's army on Long Island. In this episode, hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford, and Lee Gugino are joined once again by National Park Service historian Jason Wickersty. 
In this episode, we'll talk about how the British lost the initial race to  occupy New York and how Charles Lee turned the city into a fortress. We'll also talk about the Howe brothers' preparation and experience made them well suited for the operation. Then, we'll dive straight into the tactical movement: Grant’s feint on the left, the Hessian push in the center, and Howe's silent night march through the unguarded Jamaica Pass.
"What Are You Missing?" 
To keep the public feed moving, we’ve focused on the tactical timeline. However, our War Room members on Patreon get the full UNCUT experience, including over 20 minutes of content:
Clinton's "Genius": Historians often sight Sir Henry Clinton as the real military genius but we discuss how at the time of the Battle of Long Island he did not inspire much confidence from his superior. 
Failure in the South: We talk about the British failed expedition to the southern colonies and how it effected the New York Campaign.
Strategic and Operational Differences: Jason explains how Howe's and Lord Germain's expectations for the campaign differed and how that effected the course of the operation. 
Maryland Regt: We talked about the famous Marylanders who held the line against the British Army and allowed the American Army to escape.
Modern Equivalencies: Lee and Jason discuss how the tactics of the British Army on Long Island mirror tactics outlined in modern military publications.
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Recommended Reading:
The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution by Ira Gruber
Episode Summary
Was Sir William Howe a sluggish, indolent commander more interested in  Mrs. Loring than winning a war, or was he the most sophisticated logistician of the 18th century? On this 250th anniversary of the 1776 New York Campaign, hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford, and Lee Gugino are joined by National Park Service historian Jason Wickersty to talk about the New York Campaign.
By reconstructing Howe's lost correspondence from nearly 1,000 scattered letters, our panel reveals a commander obsessed with the logistics of his era, wagon trains, meat barrels, and the sustainment of 24,000 troops. We examine the military mind of Sir William Howe, the "pinnacle of amphibious warfare" at Kips Bay, and the tactical reproductions of the Battle of Brooklyn. This is the story of how the British established a foothold in the colonies and why taking New York was more critical than chasing the Continental Army.
"What Are You Missing?" 
To keep the public feed moving, we’ve focused on the tactical timeline. However, our War Room members on Patreon get the full UNCUT experience, including over 45 minutes of content:
Howe’s Snarky Rhymes: The full details of Howe’s "chicken scratchy" handwriting and his dry, witty sense of humor.
The 2,000 Dead Hessians Myth: Debunking of the claim that 2,000 Hessians were killed at Pels Point. 
Jason's Path: Jason’s personal story of how he started as a "Jersey Militia" fan and ended up becoming "the man" for General Howe’s British perspective.
Fort Wadsworth Fogs: A visceral discussion on the "thick harbor fogs" that roll into Staten Island and how they truly enabled Washington’s famous escape from Long Island.
The Capture of Fort Washington: We dive into the heartbreaking story of the Hessian assault on Fort Washington, their reactions to the fighting, and the effects it had on them after the battle.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] – Introduction: Re-evaluating the 250th anniversary of 1776.
[12:15] – The Howe "Rabbit Hole": Reconstructing 1,000 letters from the "fire".
[28:00] – Theater Opening Strategy: Why New York was the British headquarters of choice.
[45:30] – The Logistical Red Ball Express: Building a land transport corps from scratch.
[1:02:00] – Kips Bay: Lord Howe, French descents, and the pinnacle of amphibious doctrine.
[1:18:00] – The Siege of Fort Washington: Clambering up glacial boulders and the trauma of the 16th of November.
[1:35:00] – The Retreat Across the Jerseys: Why 1776 was a "British curb-stomping session".
[1:50:00] – Lessons for Today: Why professional officers must study logistics above all else.
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Recommended Reading:
Glories to Useless Heroism: The Seven Years War in North America from the French Journals of Comte Maurès De Malartic, 1755-1760 Translated by: William Raffle
Montcalm's Crushing Blow, French and Indian Raids along New York's Oswego River 1756 by René Chartrand
Episode Summary
In 1756, the shores of the Oswego River became a critical flashpoint that would determine the mastery of Lake Ontario. While the world’s attention was fixed on European battlefields, a vital British trading post and fortification, Fort Oswego, stood as the only obstacle to French dominance of the Great Lakes. Join hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford, and Lee Gugino as they welcome guest expert Will Raffel to deconstruct Montcalm’s first major victory in the New World.
In this episode, we explore the miltary capabilities of New France and explore the realities of logitical operations in North America. We delve into the failed British expiditions in 1755 and the garrison that were left to rot through a "nasty winter" of privation and disease. Discover how the Marquis de Montcalm utilized over 600 bateaux and captured British cannonballs from the Monongahela to shatter British defenses and secure French control over Lake Ontario.
"What Are You Missing?" (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
Our War Room members have access to an additional 30 minutes of exclusive content, including:
The Physicality of Space: Will’s deep dive into Malartic’s journal, detailing the sheer muscle required to haul bread ovens and heavy artillery through the Canadian swamp.
Captain Broadley’s Revenge: The full story of the Royal Navy commander who tried to burn his own fleet rather than let it fall into French hands, and his subsequent fight to clear his name at a British court-martial.
The Sky Woman’s Sons: A detailed breakdown of the Iroquoian creation myths that perfectly characterized the "Good" rivers and "Evil" portages of the frontier.
The Scalped Drunk: The harrowing but darkly comedic tale of an Oswego soldier who was so intoxicated he didn't realize he had been scalped until the next morning.
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] Orientation: The Great Lakes bottleneck and the power of the fur trade.
[15:30] The "B-Team" Garrison: Shirley, Pepperell, and the American-raised regulars.
[32:45] Logistical Warfare: Birchbark canoes vs. the European bateau.
[50:00] The Siege Begins: Montcalm’s landing and the accidental death of Engineer de Combeau.
[1:10:00] Fort Ontario Falls: The retreat to the old Stone House and the death of Colonel Mercer.
[1:25:00] The Massacre: The breakdown of European POW protocols and the fate of the hospital wounded.
[1:40:00] Strategic Impact: Why the British presence on Lake Ontario was wiped out for three years.
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Recommended Reading:
Iron and Blood by Peter Wilson 
The Army of Frederick the Great by Christopher Duffy
Episode Summary
How did a "pancake flat" swamp in Northern Germany transform into the most formidable military machine in Europe? For much of the early 18th century, the Austrian Habsburgs mocked the Prussian military as an eccentric "pet project" of "toy soldiers". Yet, under a lineage of increasingly focused monarchs, this "parade ground army" evolved into a force that would eventually challenge the very foundations of the Holy Roman Empire
In the first part of our deep dive into Prussia, hosts Dr. Alex Burns and Dr. Andrew Bamford trace the origins of the Hohenzollern dynasty from the ashes of the Thirty Years' War. We explore the "Great Elector's" administrative genius, the "Soldier King" Frederick William I's obsession with his "Tall Boys" (Langer Kerl), and the revolutionary Canton System that turned Prussia into a "paradigm army"
more_horiz. Discover why Prussia was the Emperor’s biggest "headache" and how the military began to penetrate every level of Prussian village life
"What Are You Missing?" (Edited vs. Uncut Edition)
While the edited episode provides the foundational history, our War Room members get the full, uncut episode including 20 minutes of exclusive content and tangents:
Episode Highlights & Timestamps
[00:00] – Introduction: The "Snow King" myth vs. the reality of 1701
[15:30] – Devastation as Origin: How the 30 Years' War created the Prussian need for a standing army
[32:45] – The Soldier King: Frederick William I, the "Tobacco Parliament," and the "Man’s Man" culture of the Prussian court
[50:00] – The Long Boys: The weird, eccentric, and potentially "crazy like a fox" obsession with kidnapping 8-foot-tall soldiers
[1:10:00] – The Canton System: How conscription districts enabled Prussia to win wars of attrition
[1:25:00] – Social Autonomy: Why being a soldier actually gave peasants the confidence to stand up to their landlords
[1:40:00] – Looking Ahead: The transition from a peacetime army to the "Great Captain" era of Frederick II
Does Prussia hold the weather gauge of your historical interest? Help us grow by sharing this episode with a friend! Your support ensures we can continue these massive deep dives. Subscribe to the War Room today to unlock the full episode and join the conversation in our Patreon War Room
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