When british dragoons in december 1776 kidnapped Major General charles lee, then secondincommand of the Continental Army. They were confident the war would soon be over. But the americans decided to respond with a special operation of their own. This event from the National Archives is a little under one hour. Our topic is the special operations to capture general charles lee and Richard Prescott by Christian Mcburney. Raised in rhode island and graduated from Brown University, mr. Mcburney has been an attorney in washington, d. C. , for the last 25 years. His prior book to kidnapping the enemy was also on the revolutionary war. Please join me in welcoming Christian Mcburney to the National Archives. [applause] thank you. Before i begin my presentation, i would like to know if anyone in the audience is a hollywood screenwriter. A few days ago, i received a call from someone who professed to be a hollywood agent saying he wanted to submit the screenplay of my book to hollywood and believe it or not having matt damon or George Clooney with a leading role. If anyone is interested in being a screenwriter, please let me know. I am just kidding. I am not taking it that seriously. That is charles lee. The general topic of my talk is the special operations during the revolutionary war. These operations of kidnapping were not infrequent. George washington supported such efforts undertaken by the Continental Army. Referring to a plan to capture general clinton in new york city, he wrote i think it one of the most desirable and honorable things imaginable taking him prisoner. Washington was the target of an attempt to kidnap him in the winter of 17781779, but it did not succeed. My story starts with charles lee. He was probably the most remarkable personality on either side. He was brilliant but eccentric, well schooled in military matters but bitingly sarcastic with his superiors. You can see charles lee there. That was said to be the best likeness of him ever done. He was a thin man. He had a large nose. An american friend called him naso. That is his dog, one of the earliest images we have of a pomeranian. Lee loved dogs. While common today it was then , seen as eccentric. Once when asked by a genteel young woman if he was fond of dogs. He retorted, i love dogs but detest bitches. [laughter] that is the kind of guy he was. His First Military experience was in north america. He was an englishman largely ignored by his mother and father who was absent on duty with the british army. But his father did train and educate lee to become a military man. His First Military expense was in north america during the french and indian war. He showed courage by being wounded at the failed british siege of fort ticonderoga in 1758. He was also insulting to his superior generals. He called the Major General the booby in chief. He was not making friends in the british establishment. Some referred to him as mad lee. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. With the downsizing of the army after the war, he was temporarily retired. Lee decided to become a soldier of fortune and served in high positions in poland and other countries gaining valuable experience. He made it clear in his letters home he was against the british monarchy and he favored republican government. Lee decided to move to america in 7070. 1770. He was hailed as a patriot leader. He wrote a popular pamphlet arguing that if the congress with britain should lead to war, american militia could defeat the british regulars. With the coming of the war the , Continental Congress had to choose generals. As a recent english transplant, he did not expect to be chosen to be the leading general but wanted to be secondincommand desperately. John adams convinced congress that since most of the army outside of austin was from new england, lee should be third in command. Pretty impressive. He was outraged. His response was typical, overly harsh but accurate. He described the harvard educated ward as a fat old gentleman who had been a Popular Church warden with no acquaintance with military affairs. After a few months, ward realized he was over his head, retired, and lee became second in command. By november, the Continental Army was in dire straits. Washington tried to defend new york city but failed miserably. Islandbattle of long british commander william howe , crushed Washingtons Army. Howe easily maneuvered, with the help of the navy run by his brother, to capture new york city. Washington agreed to fortify and reinforce fort washington, the last bastion on the island. On howe overran the fort november 17, resulting in american soldiers being 2800 captured. Many died in prison. The next day fort lee fell to a , british force. These were some of the worst disasters of the war suffered by americans. At this point, lee confidence in washington as commanderinchief. E had not not le been a part of the battle of long island. He recommended no reinforcements be sent to fort washington. Washington was not yet the mythical figure he is today. Lee appears to have made the decision he deserved to replace washington as commanderinchief of the british army. After the fall of fort lee, a english column led by general cornwallis began to chase the remnants of Washingtons Army out of new jersey. Outnumbered, washington differently needed help. He left lee commanding 7000 troops in white plains, new york, to protect new england. He asked but did not order lee to march his forces to join him across the delaware weber Delaware River in pennsylvania. During what was probably the most dangerous time for Washingtons Army, lee delayed. Why . While he was too smart to leave a paper trail, it appears he wanted to maintain an independent command as long as possible. That is the way to glory, to have an independent command. If Washingtons Army was crushed by cornwallis, lee might go to the top command of the Continental Army. Here is a map of the new jersey theater. Lee started in white plains, crossed kings ferry, and took his time until he got down to moorestown. He received the request to join washington on november 22. He did not even start to march his troops until november 26. Most of his regiments did not start marching until two days later and did not cross the hudson river until december 4. When he started marching in new jersey, he did not set any speed records either. General cornwallis had chased Washingtons Army out of new jersey across the Delaware River. It seemed he could easily capture philadelphia. Philadelphia is just down here, not far from the Delaware River. Washington begged lee to hurry to help defend the city. Lee reached moorestown on december 8 and his troops met him there december 10. Lee let his men rest an entire day, even though it was good marching weather. The next day, he had his troops head to new jersey while he and a small entourage road at the rear of the army. Lee had to decide to spend the night. He did not want to spend it at a local private residence. He wanted to spend the night at an inn. He was told of an inn three miles from the main encampment of his troops. He decided to stay there with his aides and officers. Three the tavern was owned and operated by mary white. She was operating it as a result of two of her prior husbands dying. Operating an inn was one of the few occupations deemed acceptable for a single woman at the time. She was assisted by an older sister. At a time, Basking Ridge was a small collection of houses surrounded by farms. Lees decision to spend the night far from his troops with a critical mistake. Unknown to him, a party of 38 british cavalrymen had departed to ride north and obtain reconnaissance on the army. They knew he was there and wanted to know what he was about. Led by Lieutenant Colonel harcourt, the son of a british earl, and banastre tarleton, who would later gain a reputation as the most fearsome commander, the road over the river and headed north to moorestown. On the way, loyalists to king george iii informed them lee was staying nearby at Basking Ridge. It was common. Local civilians knew everything about both armies. Information spread quickly without cell phones or landline phones. Lee wrote a letter complaining he was surrounded by tories and had to be careful. He was aware of the risk. I will not go into the details of the raid. You will have to read the book for that. It is the most detailed and accurate in print. I will say harcourt seized the moment and changed his mission. He and his men set out for the village gaining valuable information all along the way by threatening captured american soldiers with death. It worked. His force surrounded the tavern in which lee was staying. After a short but violent struggle with his guards, they captured him along with one of the french officers. With the american militia hunting for them, he his raiders raced back to safety in pennington. Here is an image of harcourt accepting lees sword in surrender. The problem is the british wore the redcoats and the americans wore the blue coats, but still it is a good depiction. After the british Raiding Party left, those who came to care for the wounded and dead buried two americans cut down by tarletons dragoons. One woman recalled they had hacked them so terribly it was difficult to remove their bodies. They were interred in the field where they lay. Here is a map of the path the raid took. It is difficult to see. It went down and across the river. These roads still exist. This was done by an aide to Nathaniel Greene a few days later. At the time, his capture was considered a disaster for the americans. A young officer gave the view of many of his fellow officers. This is misfortune that cannot be remedied as we have no other officer of equal expense and merit. The british are led by great men and expected lees capture would end the war. Harcourtt colonel wrote to his brother that as lee was the most enterprising of the generals, it seems to be the universal opinion they will no longer seek the same terms offered. The captain of a british frigate wrote he did not think they could stand long as lee was their chief men. The law of unintended consequences took over. Had lee had not been captured, it seems clear he would have tried to use his troops to capture a british outpost. This would have been difficult since the british army was aware of his presence. After learning of his capture, general sullivan rushed his troops across the river to join washington. We know what happened next. On Christmas Day in a snowstorm, washington and his men recrossed the delaware and captured troops at trenton. This raid altered the course of the war giving american patriots new hope. I argue that if lee had not been captured, the victory at trenton may not have happened. All sorts of explanations and legends of his capture had been discussed. Some patriots saw how easily he was captured and thought maybe he was a traitor. I dont think so although he did engage in traitorous activities as a prisoner. By august of 1781, a myth arose involving sexual escapades. A french officer visited the tavern to find out himself the reason for the capture. He was informed lee was smitten by the lady of the house. One of the jealous cousins went to colonel harcourt and informed him the general was in his house with a small guard. This story lacks credibility. It is hard to believe lee was smitten by the lady of the house as he never had before visited and the timing does not work. One of the controversies of his capture was whether the captors prevented him from wearing his hat and coat as he was led out of Basking Ridge. It was deemed scandalous for a gentleman to appear outside without hat and coat. One man wrote to his father that the inhuman rascals would not permit the general to take his hat and coat but carried him off almost naked. Even washington complained they carried him off with every mark of indignity. The best evidence appears to be that harcourt allowed lee to bring his hat and coat but did not allow him time to put them on. Lees fate as a prisoner was of intense interest in london with the Continental Congress. The british believed because he served as a british officer, he was a deserter. He had taken up arms against his king. One british officers view was typical. I am happy to see mr. Lee in custody and will be happy to hear he has been tried as a deserter and hanged. Here is an example of what fate lee had before him. This is from the scottish rebellion. It is the execution of lord lovat. His head was removed so he was not actually hanged, but that is still not a good result. The treatment of captured officers was not certain. The test case was ethan allen. He had captured fort ticonderoga early during the war but got himself captured ahead of an American Army said to invade canada. When captured, he was brought before Major General prescott who plays a major role in my book. He was one of those british officers who considered rebels to be criminals. After all, werent all traitors criminals . Prescott turned purple with rage and yelled at allen he would not execute him but he would grace the place in london where they would hang prisoners. Allen was treated terribly. He was placed in dark holds in british ships and fed bad food and water. He was brought to england and placed in a common prison where it was expected he would be hanged. An extraordinary thing happened. He became a cause celeb. Patriots clamored for his release. Authorities wanting to avoid a scene quickly sent him back to north america. After more miserable treatment, allen was treated the way captured officers were expected to be treated. He was allowed to live in a house in new york city with other captured officers. During the day, he was allowed to roam the city freely. He only had to return at night. General howe and king george iii wanted lee to be hanged. When the Continental Congress got wind of this plan, it passed resolutions warning the doctrine of retaliation would be applied. If lee was harmed, captured officers this will be treated in a similar manner. John adams and his wife exchanged letters about the doctrine of retaliation. Abigail favored a humane approach. Let them reproach us for our kindness and tenderness to those who have fallen into our hands. I hope it will never provoke us to retaliate against their cruelties. John wrote back that while he admired her sentiments, we must practice retaliation to make the respect the rights of humanity. Under the threat of retaliation, howe defended turning lee over. Howe was informed that lee had resigned his commission. It had to be determined if he could be convicted of desertion. Howe refused to treat lee like a normal prisoner. He had lee can find to two rooms. He made sure he was well fed and provided for, but he had no freedom of Movement Like other officers. In retaliation, congress ordered six officers captured by americans be confined to their rooms, including Lieutenant Colonel archibald campbell. Campbell was not only an army officer, he was a scottish aristocrat and a member of parliament. Massachusetts authorities threw him in a dirty jail in concord, massachusetts. Just awful, until they realized general lee was not being detained in a similar manner. One man in rhode island worried about charles lee and wanted to do something about it. He knew lee would never be exchanged until the americans had a prisoner of the same rank, Major General. This mans name was William Barton. He was born in ordinary circumstances in rhode island. He had struggled to build a Small Business as a hat maker in providence. When war broke out, he joined the rhode island militia as a private. His leadership skills showed through and he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in one of Rhode Islands state regiments. Not the continental regiments. Barton met lee when he visited newport and thought him a great general. In june of 1777, newport and the rest of the island was under the occupation of the british army. On december 8, 1776, a powerful fleet of more than 71 ships carried them to narragansett bay. They easily captured the island. There is the picture. You can see the whale boats with british soldiers in red coats being sent to the shoreline. British warships patrolled the bay not allowing any american ships in or out of the bay. Rhode island and massachusetts soldiers surrounded the island where they were on, but they were powerless to dislodge the british army. At a time, newport was the fifth most important city in the United States. Who can name the other four top cities at that time in the United States . Go ahead and name them out. [indiscernible] no. Philadelphia, new york, charleston, and boston. Newport was very prominent. On june 20, 1777, a man was escorted to headquarters. A civilian he recently escaped , from the island. He had news about Major GeneralRichard Prescott who had recently assumed command of british troops on the island. This was the same prescott who earlier abused ethan allen. He reported general prescott was ending nights at the house of a man on the island. Prescott previously had spent nights in a house in the heart of newport. Now he was spending nights at an isolated farmhouse about five miles north of newport. Barton had an idea. He would form a small party of soldiers with experience using boats. Not hard to do in rhode island. On a dark night, they would take the boats across narragansett bay avoiding the british warships stationed there. They would land unnoticed on the shores of the island, sneak up and surround the house. They would storm the house, capture general prescott and take him back the mainland. He could then be exchanged for general lee. Here is a picture of general prescott. It did not hurt that general prescott was a hated figure in rhode island. He was the classic petty tyrant. When he interviewed a captain that had been captured, he reportedly knocked him in the head and threatened to hang him. Au would regularly visit captain in jail and threatened to have him hanged. He was known to strike quaker men with his cane for failing to doff their hats in respect when he approached. Sometimes even the british felt prescott went too far. In canada he had put out a reward of 1000 pounds for the capture of americas best general at the time, Benedict Arnold. Arnold announced a reward for the capture of prescott. But it was only half the amount, 500 pounds. London newspapers admired arnold for his cleverness, and prescott looked like a fool. Why was prescott spending time at the rural house . Later reports was he wanted to sleep with henry john oberlins wife or other local women. That was not true. He wanted to be close to the action. Most of the american raids were at the northern part of the island. Here is newport down here on the southern end of the island. Here is the house. Most of the american troops were here and here at the northern part of the island. They would make nightly raids and annoy the british guard houses. Occasionally, they would come over with troops. He wanted to be close to the action in case there was a real raid. Prescott ordered most of his troops to be posted in the northern part of the island. He wanted to be closer to the action. Barton received permission from superiors to gather troops and boats to execute his plan. His party consisted of 48 men. Barton, five other officers, and 42 other soldiers. The steerer for the boat was a native american from massachusetts. One of his men who assisted him with africanamerican. Both had experiences with whale boats. I will not go into details of the raid. You have to read the book for that. The raid succeeded. Not only was prescott surprised they grabbed his aidedecamp, who was the nephew of the british secretary of war and the sentry in front of the house. Later, one of the raiders moved to vermont and sent his kid to a school. The teacher at the school was the sentry who was captured. Barton realized the weakest link in the British Defense of the island was prescotts reliance on british ships in narragansett bay to protect the west coast of the island. Prescott had troops on the east side of the island, on the northern end of the island, the southern end. He relied on the Royal Navy Frigates right here. It is deceiving. These ships are two miles away here and four miles away here. Barton thought about coming down from bristol, which is closer but would have had to come within one mile of these ships. Instead, he decided to come from. Arwick neck he took his boats from here at night to their and then came down using Prudence Island as a shield and then when in between Jamestown Island and Prudence Island and landed here. That was late at night on july 10. The most significant risk they faced was being spotted by sailors and guard boats in the bay. The warships sent out guard boats to give warning of american ships trying to enter or leave the bay. They were not expecting raiding ships. If there had been a single musket fired they all probably , would have been taken prisoner and put aboard prison ships in newport harbor. There was a humanitarian disaster on board the prison ships in newport and dozens died. Barton and his men avoided being caught. They succeeded. It was an incredible feat stealing a general in the midst , of a british army without a shot being fired. The americans were thrilled. Washington gushed it was among the finest partisan exports that has taken place during the war on either side. The Continental Congress was so pleased it made barton a colonel in the Continental Army and ordered an elegant sword be awarded to him. This is now held by the rhode Island Historical society. Here is a picture of the sword. It was beautiful, made in france. Only 15 were awarded to american officers during the war. David humphreys in 1786 brought 10 back from france. All 10 still exist today. This is one. The british were humiliated. A british officer wrote in his diary it is an extraordinary circumstance that a general commanding 4000 and on island surrounded by ships of war should be carried off in the night by a small party of the enemy without a shot fired. Here is a map the gentleman wrote. Barton landed here. The grass was dented down so they could tell the path barton and his men took. The condition of the land is still the way it was back then. British newspapers focused on two salacious points. Prescotts shortage of clothing when he was Spirited Away and rumors of female companionship in the house. The august 19 edition of a london newspaper reported rebel troops took him naked out of his bed not allowing him to put his clothes on. They made a big deal charles lee could not wear his hat and coat. Now prescott was being taken out out of my house, naked. It was reported he retired with a mile from his post with a lady but was discovered and taken by the party at 2 00 in the morning. Here is the cover of a typical london newspaper. In little time, his capture became the subject of song and jokes. The ridicule became too much for king george iii to stomach. The public advertising newspaper reported his majesty complains of the injustice done to prescott by the news writers. Favorumor of royalty this royal disfavor caused the humorists pause for some weeks. The ceasefire ended with a september 20 addition of the london evening post. It declared when general prescott was taken prisoner, all he was heard to say as they were bearing him out of the court heard of the house was give me my breeches. With that, english wits returned to their favorite topic with relish. This is from the morning chronicle. A general of late has been vitally abused and without reason, most falsely accused. How could a man be neglectful of duty taken storming the fortress of beauty . The london chronicle capitalized on the fun of general prescott being carried off naked. What lures there are to ruin a man . A nymph spoiled a generals mighty plan and gave him to the foes without his breeches. Eventually, the writers became bored and moved on to the next topic. There is no credible evidence indicating prescott was found with a woman or stayed in the oberlin house to sleep with oberlins wife or daughter or anyone else despite the legend. It was extraordinary, the freedom English Writers had marking the much mocking military leaders during wartime. Washington immediately offered to exchange prescott for lee. General howe refused. He had not received word on whether lee should be treated as a traitor. Months later, word arrived from london. The king recognizing lee did resign and cognizant of the policy to impose retaliation allowed lee to be treated as a regular prisoner that could be exchanged. It took some time for howe and washington to clear the air regarding the difference of prisoners generally. Finally, the generals were exchanged in 1778. Lee arrived back at valley forge in may. I spent most of the chapter explaining how lee returned as general, secondincommand to washington, how he opposed fighting the british army because he did not think the army could win. How he commanded the American Army and was accused of unnecessary retreat and insulting washington, how he was convicted of the same at courtmartial and suspended for one year, how the courtmartial was unfair but unintentionally got it right. Here is a nice drawing of lee called the suspended general. He is in a boot. He did have a large proboscis as well. Lee died of disease in philadelphia in 1782 in disgrace. By contrast, William Barton would live for many years. He gained tremendous reputation for planning and leading the capture of general prescott. After the war, barton became a member of the federalist party. Rhode islanders preferred to remain virtually independent and were the last holdout of the original 13 colonies adopting the constitution. On may 29, 1790, when the state convention narrowly voted to ratify the constitution, William Barton was given the distinct honor of bringing the news to president washington himself. Here is a portrait of William Barton at the rhode Island Historical society made about that time. It is a painting of the one at Brown University. After the war, many Continental Army officers returned to former positions as successful lawyers, merchants, and farmers. Barton had been a hatter prior to the war. Now that he was a war hero, he had too much pride to return to that role. He always struggled with money. He was appointed to the top federal post in the state, collector of taxes at providence port. He had trouble supporting his wife and large family in the lifestyle of a gentleman. Rhode islands postwar economy suffered. Many immigrated to the midwest and vermont. Barton led a group of providence men to obtain a grant of land from the state of vermont for undeveloped land in the northeast part of the state. His cause was helped in the Virginia House by the brother of ethan allen. The Vermont Legislature in 1781 did grant land to barton and his group. The village was and still is named barton. A small amount of taxes was imposed on the land allotted to the founders to pay for surveying and other costs. Ira allen was granted the most, 18 lots, but failed to pay taxes. William barton purchases the land forfeited by ira allen. On its face, this does not seem to be a polite or smart move. Ira allen was a powerful man in virginia politics. Barton then sold the land to new homesteaders. Soon ira allens successors brought suit against barton. Rod suit against the new owners to eject them and against barton. The legal history was tangled to say the least. After more than 15 years of litigation, a judge declared in 1810 that the old gentleman should be perplexed no longer and ruled in favor of barton. That seemed to settle it. In 1811, the chief judge of the Vermont Supreme Court reopened the case and ruled against barton requiring him to pay about 600. Barton refused. In september of 1812, he was thrown in debtors prison in vermont. In those days, a debtor could be forced to prison until he paid his debts. Typically after a short time, family or friends would pay the debt and the prisoner would be released. There was no ability to get debts canceled and get a fresh start as there is now. Barton refused to allow any family or friends to pay the debt. It was a matter of honor to him and he would not pay the damages or let family and friends pay either. However, barton was allowed to stay at an inn and not the prison. Barton spent years trying to get someone to pay the debt who were not friends or family. He wrote to the Vermont Legislature, the u. S. Congress, and even to president james monroe, all to no avail. John barton expressed the frustration and sadness over his continued absence. I would Say Something on your return to providence, but what can i say i have not already said . I pray you once more to return to the bosom of your family, sure and certain i youre am staying in vermont will answer no good purpose. I pray you to consider the feelings of your family were you to be called from this world absent from them. Like many others, this appeal failed to move barton. His sons letter suggests clearly his father had chosen to remain in the predicament. In rhode island, his wife was without a husband. While he lingered in financial purgatory, three of his sons would die. Grandchildren would be born and old friends would pass away. Why did barton sacrifice so much for the sake of a few old debts . It seems the award and fame bestowed on him for the capture of general prescott swelled his sense of pride. Before the war, he had been humble and hardworking. Prescotts capture earned him colonel in the Continental Army. He had risen to the rank of Major General and personally delivered word to washington that rhode island had voted to become one of the United States. When, in his view he was , victimized and insulted by the legal system, he saw it as a blow to his honor. His pride would not allow him to bow to what he saw as unjust application of the laws. Beginning in 1821, sympathetic reports of his plight began to circulate in newspapers. Many could not believe an old war hero was stuck in debtors prison for years. Finally fate intervened. , does anyone know who this is . Lafayette, very good. He made a triumphant tour of the United States and feted as a hero. He no doubt heard of bartons imprisonment when he visited providence. He definitely heard about bartons plight when he visited vermont in 1825. Barton had known lafayette personally and probably first met the french general when he served in the Rhode Island Campaign of 1778. In one of his last acts before returning to france lafayette , wrote a check to pay the sums for which barton was confined. Would barton accept this generosity . After all he had long refused to , let friends assist him. Lafayette was a friend. But barton accepted lafayettes offer and general barton was at liberty to return to his family after a separation of more than 13 years. A man who rode with barton in a carriage described the old soldiers return to his home. Barton seemed like rip van winkle who awoke after sleeping for 20 years. It seemed to astonish the old general to see the great alterations on the road as lee approached providence. When he spoke of lafayette, his eyes filled with tears of gratitude. He had been a powerful man and retains now in his 77th year of age much of the vigor of his younger days. He would sing a revolutionary song with a clear and strong voice. When the old general entered his home and embraced his wife, his children, and his childrens children, it was a scene i could not attempted to describe. They were all overjoyed and melted into tears. It was a long time before he could believe it to be reality. Barton was finally reunited with his family. Rhode islanders were thrilled to have him back as well. He was one of the last surviving revolutionary war heroes and would remain in demand on special occasions. In 1826, he led a procession of notables through providence honoring the deaths of john adams and thomas jefferson, both of whom passed away six days earlier. He enjoyed the following july 4 visiting the oberlin house where he captured general prescott 49 years earlier. Heres a picture of the house restored. Lauded as a hero for the remainder of his days, he died at the age of 83. By his death, bartons capture of general prescott had become a nationally honored event. Many collections of american stories produced through the midcentury included a narrative of bartons raid. Only with the coming of the civil war did bartons legendary capture of prescott begin to fade from public consciousness. I hope i have played a part bringing back barton as a hero of the revolutionary war. Thank you. [applause] i would be glad to take any questions. Please come to the microphone so cspan can hear the questions. Im david balducci. You said the verdict of the courtmartial board was unintentionally correct about lee. Could you explain more . Lee committed treason as a prisoner. He wrote out a plan for general howe on how to beat the americans. He did not think the americans could win. He thought the british would waste a lot of time, treasure, and blood winning the war. He wanted to end it as quickly as possible so he gave the british a plan. That was kept secret until 1860. When he was released, he did not tell anybody he had done that. If he had, he probably would have been hanged. He was accused of making a disorderly, disreputable retreat. In fact, he did the right thing. He saved the army from being pinned against forest and ravines. But because he was a traitor and did not believe the americans could win the war, it was probably for the best he was suspended. [indiscernible] a little offtopic. Just curious, who were some of the historians with whom he studied at Brown University . Did they have an influence on your interest in colonial history . At brown, my most influential professor was gordon wood. I even told him years later the lecture i most remember was the day the Boston Red Sox lost to the yankees with bucky dents home run. He came and started saying it what a great tragedy it was and he helped me feel better. That is one of the things i most remember. What became of general prescott . He was not an important general during the revolutionary war and was not important afterwards either. He did serve in the caribbean and did an ok job. When he died in 1796 or so, there was no mention of him in the British Press at all. General prescott, was he related to the bush dynasty . I dont believe so. There was a prescott related to the bush dynasty. There was. But that was not the one . No. Ok. In the revolutionary war i have one more question. Were there any other prominent attempts to kidnap leaders during the revolutionary war . Yes, there were. Washington was almost captured by the british in 17781779. The hudson river had frozen over and the british sent a cavalry to try to capture him. Fortunately for washington and the americans, there was a big snow storm the night before. Washington tried to capture clinton in new york on two occasions. He tried to capture Benedict Arnold after he turned traitor in new york city. In 1782, after the battle of yorktown, he tried to capture Prince William henry, who was only 16 at the time. He would later become king of england in 1831. Im not sure what washington was thinking at that point. The british tried to capture thomas jefferson. They almost nabbed him at monticello. Im coming out with a short book on the topic of these other captures. I think it is relevant for today because in afghanistan and iraq, the kidnapping of enemies has become more prominent. Was charles lee part of the major lee family, robert e. Lee . No, hes not related. He had good family blood through his mother, aristocratic blood, but he was not related to the lees of virginia. His last house is in what is now leetown, west virginia, named after him. There was a story told he could not afford to put walls in the house, so he was drawing lines in the dirt for the living room and study. He did not have a successful postwar experience unfortunately. , thank you very much. I would be glad to sign any books you have upstairs. Thank you. [applause] this week while congress is in recess, watch American History tv in prime time. American history tv will feature a variety of topics on the early american republic, jewish history, world war two, and sports history. Let us know what you think about the programs you are watching. Call us or email us. Join the cspan conversation. Like us on facebook, follow us on twitter. The panama canal opened to traffic. Structuret concrete time. The month that the u. S. Took of the panama. Interviews with those who helped to negotiate treaties. It also featured a 1978 address with president carter. First, david mccullough. He discusses the history of the canals construction. He joins us this evening from boston. Evening. Good evening. Why do you have a picture in book