American Indian Wars E54 Swamp War: The Marines Enter Florida
Seminoles were launching coordinated attacks across Florida. The U.S. Army struggled to respond. Their tactics didn’t work in the swamps, and the terrain gave the Seminoles every advantage.
That’s when Marines entered the fight. Archibald Henderson saw an opportunity to prove what the Corps could really do. Over the next year, Marines would patrol, fight, and push deeper into Florida than anyone had before. They earned respect on the ground and recognition back in Washington.
American Indian Wars E53 Christmas Promises and Gunfire: The Ambush That Changed Everything
This episode covers the Dade Massacre and the lead-up to the Second Seminole War. What started with Tecumseh’s efforts to unite Native nations eventually sparked internal conflict within the Creek, which bled into the formation of the Seminole resistance in Florida. Treaties were signed, promises were broken, and when diplomacy failed, the fighting began.
We’ll follow Tecumseh’s southern campaign, the Creek War, the rise of Osceola, and the slow, violent unraveling of Native-American and U.S. relations in the Southeast. This all builds to the attack on Major Dade’s column, a moment that shattered any illusion of peace.
American Indian Wars E52 Gone to Fight the Indians: Marines on the Early Frontier
In this episode, we’re picking up right after the American Revolution, when the United States emerged as the dominant force in North America. While hundreds of Native tribes still existed, their military strength and organization couldn’t match the newly formed U.S. government.
We’ll look at how Marines, though rarely involved early on, began encountering Native forces in places like Reading, Pennsylvania, and Florida. We’ll cover battles, ambushes, leadership decisions, and the broader consequences that shaped U.S. expansion and Native resistance.
American Indian Wars E51 Before the War Drums: Native Nations and Early American Conflict
This episode marks the beginning of Marine involvement in the American Indian Wars. It traces how early settlements like Jamestown quickly shifted from fragile peace to brutal conflict. From the 1622 Powhatan massacre to the growing wars of the 1600s, we follow how land, trade, and power shaped choices on both sides. It’s a story of shifting alliances, betrayal, and survival—laying the groundwork for centuries of bloodshed to come.
Sumatran Expedition E50 The Price of Pepper: Marines at Quallah Battoo
This episode picks up after the War of 1812, when American merchantmen returned to open waters and resumed global trade. As routes expanded into the Pacific, Southeast Asia became a key target for American commerce.
That success brought new risks. In 1831, the merchant ship Friendship was attacked and looted by pirates at Quallah Battoo. President Andrew Jackson authorized a punitive expedition led by Commodore John Downes and a large detachment of Marines. What followed was a brutal amphibious assault designed to send a message: the United States would protect its merchants abroad by force, if necessary.
The Grand Old Man E49 Gone to Fight: Henderson and the Making of the Modern Corps
Archibald Henderson shaped the Marine Corps during one of its most transformative periods. From the decks of the USS Constitution during the War of 1812 to street battles in Washington, D.C., he led from the front and elevated the Corps’ reputation through four decades of continuous service. Under his leadership, Marines adapted to shifting warfare to fighting pirates, engaging Native American tribes, and storming Chapultepec during the Mexican-American War.
He guided the Corps through political instability, structural reform, and global deployments, turning a small force into a professional, reliable military arm. He led Marines in battle well into his seventies, resisted political interference, and left behind a legacy still felt today. This episode covers the second half of his career, the events that defined his leadership, and how he positioned the Marine Corps for what came next. Henderson built the Corps to last.
Second Barbary War E48 Treaty by Broadside: The Marines at Algiers
This episode covers the Second Barbary War. This was a fast, brutal campaign that forced Algiers to the table through naval strength, not diplomacy. For decades, the Barbary states extorted the U.S. and Europe through tribute, ransom, and slavery. Early American efforts to buy peace only deepened the humiliation. By 1815, with the War of 1812 behind them, the United States had had enough.
In less than six weeks, the U.S. secured one of the most decisive and one-sided treaties in its early history. The war’s impact went far beyond our own citizens. It inspired Britain to follow suit, leading to one of the most destructive bombardments of the 19th century.
War of 1812 E47 New Orleans Held, A Nation Changed
The War of 1812 ended in a way that left plenty of room for debate. Depending on who you ask, it was either a hard-fought victory, a necessary defense, or a war that should have never happened. What isn’t up for debate is the role the Marine Corps and the Navy played in shaping its outcome. From the defense of New Orleans to the actions of privateers on the open sea, Marines were there, boarding enemy ships, manning fortifications, and holding the line.
Yet, their contributions are often overlooked in favor of more well-known figures like Andrew Jackson. Today, we’re setting the record straight. We’ll break down the impact of the Corps during this war, the political and military shifts that followed, and how America, fresh off this conflict, found itself immediately preparing for another one. This time against the Barbary pirates of Algiers.
War of 1812 E46 From Bladensburg to the Bayou
By the summer of 1814, the United States was on its heels. The capital had burned, Fort Washington had fallen without a fight, and Alexandria had surrendered. The British were tearing through the East Coast with little resistance, and it seemed like every decision by U.S. leadership only made things worse. But while the war’s political and military failures were piling up, one thing remained consistent: Marines and sailors kept showing up, ready to fight.
The Navy and Marine Corps played a critical role in slowing the British advance, even when outnumbered and outgunned. Their efforts, alongside local militias and U.S. Army forces, helped shift the tide in Baltimore, a turning point that kept the war from spiraling into total disaster.
War of 1812 E45 Washington in Flames: The Day the Capital Fell
By the summer of 1814, the United States was on the defensive. The British had tightened their grip on the war, blockading ports, raiding towns, and forcing the U.S. military into retreat after retreat. Washington was now in their sights, and the American response was scattered at best.
This episode covers the events leading up to the burning of Washington, the last stand at Bladensburg, and how a handful of Marines and sailors fought against impossible odds.