From January to March of 1777 there was a small war that was unfolding in rural New Jersey, it was known as the Forage War.  The British were in search of supplies for there winter camps in New Brunswick and Amboy but a series of blitz attacks by the Americans left them wanting through most of the winter.

We are closing up the campaigns of 1776 by talking about the plans of Washington and the Army in winter and early spring of 1777.

Washington won a surprise victory over the Hessians at Trenton the day after Christmas.  He wants to follow up that victory by heading north to New Brunswick but Cornwallis is marching against him at the head of 8,000 men.  Washington is once again going to have to out smart the British if he is going to be successful.

Having successfully crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night Washington now leads his army to Trenton.  The Germans having celebrated the previous night were not ready for the early morning wake up call the Americans had planned.

December 1776 Howe sends a communiqué out to the rest of the army that the British Army would be going into winter quarters.  That sentiment however would not be shared by Washington who plans to launch a surprise attack on the German Troops in Trenton.  On Christmas night Washington crosses with his army to give the Germans a Christmas surprise they will never forget.

We are returning to Washington's Army, the British are planning to head into winter quarters.  Washington is preparing for the defense of Philadelphia, but at the same time there is opportunity to take advantage the British under estimation of the Continental Army.

When last we let the American fleet was in the fight of their lives with the British lake fleet.  With evening coming the Americans were in a tough spot when the morning came the fight would resume.  The fearless leader of the Americans Benedict Arnold decides that the best chance the Americans have is to escape to Crown Pointe.  But would the fleet make it there is the big question.

We are finally at the great battle of lake champlain; will Arnold's ragtag army be able to stand up to an experienced British fleet.  Though the battle is one of the more overlooked subjects in studies of the American Revolution it was one of the most important battles of 1776.

After spending several episodes talking about the American fleet i wanted to take this episode and talk about what was going on with the British fleet.  As the feet comes together it is becoming more obvious that Carleton's nervousness took the British out of the 1776 campaign season.  But he can salvage it by taking out the only force between him and the American stronghold at Fort Ticonderoga.

The American lake navy begins to north for the inevitable showdown with the British; but not before mother nature has something to say.