his head as a battering ram. but whether the story is true or not, sisson is an integral part of the operation. the daring mission results in the successful exchange of the captured general prescott for the american general, charles lee all without firing a single shot. jack sisson s crucial role in the prescott raid s success earns the admiration of george washington, who still isn t certain about african-american soldiers. george washington was born into virginia culture. and slavery is very, very much a part of virginia culture. so, the idea of trusting african individuals with weapons and to fight for those causes, he felt that was inappropriate. congratulations,
[ birds chirping ] all right, boys. get this cannon mounted. philadelphia has fallen. jack sisson and just 400 men of the rhode island regiments must hold a vital post. right, let s get a move on. .against 1,200 professional killers, german mercenaries called hessians, led by colonel carl von donop. make preparations for a two-pronged attack. many african-american soldiers believe their decision to fight alongside free patriots is a just one that will eventually lead to their own freedom. ausziehen! schnell! but what many forget is that the enslaved population, particularly in the south, is given another option to achieve their freedom taking up arms and fighting for the british. early in the war, the british royal governor of virginia, lord dunmore, offers emancipation to any slave
mankind. slavery is brutal. but we can t take out the fact that there are these human relationships. you have this intense loyalty that grows up between the served and the servant. washington respects the abilities of billy lee to do what he s doing, but it is subordinate relationship. george washington is torn between the liberty he fights for and the slave-owning establishment he was born into. but he will soon be forced to choose, because without more african-american soldiers, his war for independence could be lost. ah! the only option now is to declare our independence. america is at war, dr. franklin. welcome home. for more revealing stories on these and other patriots featured in legends and lies, purchase the companion book, available at billoreilly.com
a crucial part of the victory that secures american independence, just as african-american patriots play vital roles throughout the revolution. there is a very famous watercolor from a hessian artist that includes an image of an actual african rhode island participant. it very much characterizes the fact that africans were not sideline participants. they were actively involved in nearly every aspect of building this great country. by understanding the story of jack sisson, we have a better understanding of the story of america. by taking the redoubt number 10, the rhode island regiment allows washington to launch a devastating artillery attack on the main british fortifications. five days later, general cornwallis surrenders. where is lord cornwallis? he is. under the weather, sir.
they ll have to believe. we don t know exactly what happens to jack sisson, but i think the most important thing, jack sisson had choice. and the value of freedom is when you have freedom of choice. and what jack sisson embodied was the beginning of a new opportunity of freedom and choice for america, and unfortunately, it was something that most other africans would not receive until after the american civil war, several generations later. the work is done and done well. george washington continues to own slaves for the rest of his life, but there is evidence that he may have been more progressive than his peers, thanks perhaps to his experience with african-american soldiers like the rhode island regiment. upon his death, washington will be the only one of the