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Decades before the American Revolution or the Seven Years' War, the British Empire assembled an armada of over 180 ships and 30,000 men. Their target: the Spanish stronghold of Cartagena de Indias. It was the largest expeditionary force the British had ever assembled, and it was supposed to be a crushing blow in the War of Jenkins' Ear.

Instead, it became a masterclass in the friction of war.

Today on Prime & Load, we are joined by historian Tom Golding-Lee to dissect the catastrophic 1741 expedition against Cartagena. We look under the hood at the sheer scale of logistics required to project British power across the Atlantic, the brand-new regiments raised specifically for this campaign, and the stubborn Spanish defense that bled the attackers dry. Above all, we examine the toxic, hostile relationship between Admiral Edward Vernon and General Thomas Wentworth.

Topics Discussed:

• The Logistical Nightmare: How the British managed one of the largest amphibious operations of the 18th century prior to the 1770s.
• The Green Hell: The unique tactical challenges of jungle combat and the devastating impact of tropical diseases.
• Command Friction: The bitter rivalry between the Army and the Royal Navy that crippled operational effectiveness.
• The Defenders: How the Spanish garrison utilized the terrain, fortifications, and time to hold the line against impossible odds.

In the War Room (Over 40 Minutes of Uncut Audio): For our Plank Owners, Aide-de-Camp, and War Room members, we have an absolute massive uncut version of this episode with over 40 minutes of extra interview content. In this exclusive deep dive, we discuss:

• The American Perspective: How the colonies viewed the expedition and the specific role of the American provincial troops.
• Imperial Strategy: The geopolitical importance of the Caribbean to both the British and Spanish empires.
• Order of Battle: A closer, more detailed look at the composition of the British forces.
• The Seeds of Revolution: How the treatment of American troops and the campaign's failure may have effected the colonies' view of Great Britain.

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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When we think of 18th-century warfare, our minds usually jump to the fields of Flanders, the forests of North America, or the rolling hills of Central Europe. But while the Western powers were fighting over border forts and overseas colonies, a completely different scale of war was raging in the East.

Across the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Pontic Steppe, the Russian and Ottoman Empires were hurling hundreds of thousands of men at each other in a fight for control over the region that is modern-day Ukraine and southern Russia.

In this episode, Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Andrew Bamford turn their attention East to the monumental Russo-Turkish Wars of the mid-to-late 18th century. We are joined by historian and author Dave Watson, known on social media as "Balkan Dave", to discuss his fantastic new book covering these massive campaigns.

Together, we step away from Western Europe to explore the massive armies and economic systems that clashed in the East. We break down the contrasts in military doctrine, the logistical challenges of supplying an army across a sea of grass, and the brutal reality of fighting for the Steppe.

Topics Discussed:

• The Eastern Theater: The sheer scale and geography of the Pontic Steppe and how it effected the conflicts.
• The Russian War Machine: How the expanding Russian Empire learned from wars in the west and how it applied them in the east.
• The Ottoman Army: Breaking down the Order of Battle (OOB) for the Ottoman forces.
• Economic Warfare: The underlying financial and logistical systems that fueled these massive imperial collisions.

In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our War Room members, the full unedited conversation includes:

• The Black Sea Fleets: A deep dive into the Russian and Ottoman navies. We discuss the massive shipbuilding efforts required by both empires to control the coastlines and the tactical realities of 18th-century naval combat in the East.
• The Ottoman Decline: The structural and doctrinal reasons why the Ottoman military machine began to falter in the latter half of the century. We look past the standard narrative to examine the specific institutional friction points that led to their battlefield setbacks.

Guest: Dave Watson ("Balkan Dave"), author and military historian specializing in the 18th-century Russo-Turkish conflicts.

Recommended Reading 

By: Dave Watson

By: Virginia Aksan

By: Virginia Aksan & Daniel Goffman

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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January 1746. The Jacobites have just won another stunning victory at Falkirk Muir. But instead of marching south, Bonnie Prince Charlie finds himself overruled by his war council and forced into a controversial retreat back into the Highlands.

History often jumps straight from the victory at Falkirk to the tragedy at Culloden, ignoring the critical months in between. But the war did not stop.

In this episode of Prime & Load, Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Andrew Bamford are joined once again by Dr. Arran Johnston to shine a light on the "Small Wars" of 1746. We explore the complex, aggressive campaign waged by the Jacobites to seize the initiative in the Highlands while the main armies maneuvered.

From the dramatic Rout of Moy to the Siege of Fort Augustus and the audacious Raids in Atholl, we break down how this period set up the Jacobite Army for its final fight for the highlands.

In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation goes deeper into the strategic mind of the rising, including:

• The Prince's Fury: A look at Charles Edward Stuart’s personal reaction to the retreat, his anger, his sense of betrayal, and the widening rift with his commanders.
• Retreat as a Weapon: How the Jacobite leadership repeatedly managed to turn retreats into strong strategic positions, baffling government commanders.
• The Anatomy of the Army: We break down the specific composition of the force in 1746.

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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In the English-speaking world, we often view the French Army through the single lens of the Seven Years' War. We see the disaster: the loss of Canada, the retreat from India, and a reputation left in tatters.

But this is a dangerously limited view of the 18th-century French War Machine. To judge them only by their defeats is to miss how they defined the very art of war for the rest of Europe.

In this episode, Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Andrew Bamford are joined by Dr. Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC).

Together, we examine the "Gold Standard" of the 18th century. We discuss how the Royal French Army actually functioned, from the complex systems used to man its ranks to the massive logistical engine that kept it moving. We explore how this institution became the aspiration for the rest of the world, influencing military doctrine from Prussia to the American colonies.

Topics Discussed:

• The "Gold Standard": How the French Army became the model for the rest of Europe.
• Logistics & Supply: The sophisticated systems required to feed the largest army in Europe.
• Modern Application: How Dr. Abel uses 18th-century history to train modern officers at the CGSC.

In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation includes a deeper dive into the intellectual life of the officer corps, including:

• Doctrine Wars: The internal debates on how to fight (Line vs. Column).
• National Character: The French perspective on the "martial spirit" of their British and Prussian rivals.
• Merit vs. Birth: The struggle to introduce meritocracy into an aristocratic officer corps.

Guest: Dr. Jonathan Abel, Associate Professor of Military History at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

By Dr. Jonathan Abel

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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How do you turn the chaos of an 18th-century battlefield into a set of rules? How do you simulate the "fog of war" that plagued commanders like the Duke of Cumberland or Marshal Saxe?

In this special episode of Prime & Load, we explore the art and science of Historical Wargaming.

We are joined by Rich Hamilton and Gary McClellan from Wargame Design Studio (WDS). We dive deep into their origin stories, how they went from history enthusiasts to professional game designers, and the incredible amount of research required to build the most historically accurate games on the market. We discuss the challenge of "translating" history into gameplay, the importance of accuracy, and how wargames serve as a tool to understand the friction of command.

Topics Discussed:

• Origin Stories: How Rich and Gary turned a passion for military history into a career in game design.
• The Translation Layer: The difficult process of turning historical accounts into game mechanics.
• Obsessive Detail: The level of research required to map terrain, uniform colors, and unit capabilities for the War of the Austrian Succession.
• Simulation vs. Game: Balancing historical realism with playability.

Exclusive Listener Offer: We have partnered with Wargame Design Studio for a special offer. Use the link below for an exclusive discount code for their War of the Austrian Succession video game. Offer good until Jan 25th.

Links: https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/game-of-the-week-january-19-25

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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The retreat from Derby was not the end of the Jacobite Rising, it was a tactical realignment. Following a highly disciplined and orderly withdrawal from England, the Jacobite Army arrives in Glasgow not as a broken force, but as a growing threat.

In this episode, we examine a Jacobite army at its peak strength: refitted, reinforced by fresh Highland reinforcements, and bolstered by the arrival of French regulars and gold. The tactical situation has never looked brighter for the Stuarts as they lay siege to Stirling Castle and prepare to meet General Hawley on the rainy moors of Falkirk.

We are joined once again by historian and author Dr. Arran Johnston to break down the final major victory of the '45.

Topics Discussed:

• The Discipline of Retreat: Why the march back from Derby was a military success, not a failure.
• The French Connection: The arrival of the Royal Écossais and the Irish Pickets.
• The Siege of Stirling: Blunders, terrain challenges, and the failure of the artillery.
• Prince Charles Edward: The shifting morale and darkening mood of the Young Pretender.
• The Battle of Falkirk Muir (1746): How a blind thunderstorm and a Highland charge led to a chaotic Jacobite victory.

In the War Room (Uncut Episode): For our Plank Owners and War Room members, the full unedited conversation features over 40 minutes of extra history, including:

• The French Connection: A specific breakdown of the foreign troops, including the Royal Écossais and the Irish Pickets.
• "Hangman" Hawley: A profile on the brutal and controversial British commander, General Henry Hawley.
• The Mastermind: The story of the unsung mastermind behind Jacobite logistics who kept the army moving through the Scottish winter.

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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On New Year’s Eve 1775, in the midst of a blinding blizzard, the Continental Army launched an assault on the fortress city of Quebec. It was the climax of the first major offensive of the American Revolution, a bold attempt by Congress to seize the "14th Colony" and drive the British Empire off the continent.

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Paul Knight to break down the 1775 Invasion of Canada. We analyze the strategic logic behind the invasion, the brutal operational difficulties faced by Benedict Arnold and Richard Montgomery (from smallpox to starvation), and the tactical reality of the street fighting in the Lower Town.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the Continental Congress authorized an invasion of Canada.
• The logistical nightmare of moving an army through the Maine wilderness.
• General Guy Carleton’s defense of the city.
• The disastrous assault on December 31, 1775.

🔓 The Full Uncut Episode, available now in The War Room, we go even deeper. We discuss:

• The Shadow of 1759: How Wolfe’s victory in the Seven Years' War affected the 1775 American battle plan.
• The Canadian Militia: Who actually defended Canada? We break down the makeup of the French-Canadian irregulars.
• Carleton’s Command: A profile of the British commander who saved Canada.

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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December 15, 1745. In the freezing snow outside Dresden, the Second Silesian War came to a bloody conclusion. The Battle of Kesselsdorf is often overshadowed by Frederick the Great’s personal victories, but it was arguably the most decisive engagement of the war.

In this episode of Prime & Load, hosts Lee Gugino, Dr. Alex Burns, and Dr. Andrew Bamford break down the brutal clash between the Prussian Army and the Saxon forces defending their capital.

Drawing on the work of historian Dr. Alexander Querengässer, we analyze:

• The Command Feud: The toxic relationship between Frederick the Great and his 69-year-old commander, Leopold I (The Old Dessauer), who had to win the battle to save his reputation.
• The Saxon Perspective: Why this was a uniquely Saxon fight and how their supply lines forced them into a defensive corner.
• The Tactical Trap: How the Prussians used as unconventional tactic to lure the Saxons out of their strong defensive positions and into a slaughter.

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Referenced Material

by Alexander Querengässer 

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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December 1745. The Highland Army is at Derby. They have marched over 100 miles into English territory, outmaneuvering two British field armies along the way. They are just days away from London. The Stuart cause has never been closer to victory.

But at the very moment of their greatest advantage, the army halts.

In Part III of our Jacobite Rising series, hosts Dr. Alex Burns, Dr. Andrew Bamford and Lee Gugino are joined by our returning guest Dr. Aaron Johnston to break down the "High Water Mark" of the rebellion.

We move beyond the myths of panic in the capital to analyze the cold strategic realities that faced Bonnie Prince Charlie. This is the story of a daring invasion, the complex politics of French support, and the fateful Council of War that changed the course of British history.

In this episode, we dissect:

• The Invasion Route: How the Jacobites managed to slip past superior British forces to reach the heart of the Midlands.
• The French Factor: The arrival of the Royal Écossais and the strategic hesitation across the channel.
• The Council at Derby: We take you inside the room for the heated debate between the Prince and Lord George Murray. Was the retreat a failure of nerve, or the only military option left?

🎧 Want the Full, Uncut Episode? The main episode covers strategic decision making, but we had to cut nearly 40 minutes of deep-dive analysis and alternate history. Join us as an Aide-de-Camp in the Prime & Load! War Room on Patreon to hear the Uncut Episode where we discuss:

• The "What If" Scenario: We play out the alternate history, what would have happened if they had marched on London? Would the French have landed? Would the City have fallen?
• The English Militias: Who actually mobilized to defend the Hanoverian government (and were they effective)?

The Southern Jacobites: The reality of English support for the Stuarts.

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

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They called them the “German Regiment,” but the 8th Virginia was more than that — a fascinating mix of frontier riflemen, Scots-Irish settlers, and German-speaking farmers who brought their own traditions to the fight for independence. In this episode of Prime & Load!, we’re joined by historian and author Gabe Neville, whose book The Last Men Standing: The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution explores this Continental Army regiment’s pivotal role in the Revolutionary War.

We uncover what made the 8th Virginia unique — from its early use of American rifles to its blend of backcountry culture and disciplined military leadership. You’ll hear how this unit fought from Virginia’s valleys to the Battle of Brandywine and beyond, helping shape the Continental Army’s identity in the War for Independence.

If you enjoy this new Regimental Series, let us know by texting or emailing the show — and be sure to share this episode with a friend who loves Revolutionary War history.

The 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolution By Gabriel Neville

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General Recommended Reading

The Military Experience in the Age of Reason, By Christopher Duffy

Infantry in Battle 1733-1783, By Alexander Burns

*All materials are affiliated links that earn the show commission. Using these links helps support the podcast. Thank you.