The John Batchelor Show

Charles's Return and the Fate of the Prize Guest: Eric Jay Dolin Barnard and his marooned men were eventually rescued by two British whaling ships and taken to Lima, Peru. Before starting his arduous, uncertain two-year return journey to New York, Barnard regretfully gave his beloved dog, Cent, who was critical to their survival, to a British whaling captain, believing Cent would have a better life. Barnard returned home virtually bankrupt, having signed a $5,000 bond. The "lawfare" over the Nanina eventually concluded when Murray and Son successfully appealed the prize court's initial decision favoring D'Aranda. Murray and Son received payment for the brig's value, leaving D'Aranda with nothing. Though initially vowing to quit the sea, Charles returned to sealing, later becoming a port warden, and published a book about his experiences in 1829.

Prize Greed and the Abandonment of Barnard Guest: Eric Jay Dolin Charles Barnard offered the British castaways a humanitarian deal: rescue them in exchange for salvaging the Isabella. This accord was shattered when HMS Nancy, commanded by Lieutenant William Peter D'Aranda, arrived. D'Aranda, seeking personal fame, immediately disregarded the agreement, prioritizing personal financial gain through the prize system, which was widely viewed as "semi-piracy." D'Aranda seized the Nanina as a prize and declared the Americans prisoners of war. Crucially, D'Aranda callously abandoned Barnard and four others (including three British) who were ashore hunting food for the entire group. Marooned for 534 days, Barnard's survival hinged on the help of his dog, Cent, who was vital for hunting powerful, four-tusked wild boars.

Shipwreck in the Barren Falklands Guest: Eric Jay Dolin The Nanina crew was sealing in the inhospitable Falkland Islands, characterized by constant 18 mph winds, cold temperatures, and no trees, only tall tussock grass. The sealing industry targeted valuable fur seals, rougher hair seals, and massive elephant seals whose blubber yielded high-quality illuminant oil. While the Americans were operating, the British ship Isabella, sailing from the Australian penal colony to London, wrecked on Eagle Island. The Isabella carried 54 people, including armed Marines, former convicts, and prostitutes. Captain George Higton was blamed for the crash due to his ineptitude and heavy drinking. Although the survivors made it ashore, they felt stranded and many broke into the salvaged alcohol.

Commerce, Conflict, and the High-Risk Sealing VoyageGuest: Left for Dead is set during the War of 1812, documenting a collision between young America and Britain in the contested Falkland Islands. The narrative begins with the highly lucrative sealing commerce, which involved gathering millions of seal skins and sea otter pelts for sale primarily in China. American sealer Charles Barnard proposed a high-risk voyage aboard the brig Nanina to Murray and Son, aiming to exploit the projected pent-up demand due to reduced competition. Despite the imminent war, they left New York Harbor just as an embargo was placed. The crew included Barnard's elderly, infirm father, Valentine, who was intended to sail the initial cargo back to New York. The presence of four experienced sealing captains among the crew, including diarist Barzillai Pease, created a potential "recipe for disaster."

PREVIEW: ERIC JAY DOLIN'S LEFT FOR DEAD D'Aranda's Treachery and the Semi-piracy of the Prize SystemGuest: The book focuses on the greed involved in the prize system during a minor 1812 incident in the Falkland Islands. Lieutenant D'Aranda of HMS Nancy arrived intending to be a hero by rescuing castaways. However, D'Aranda immediately ripped up the Americans' humanitarian deal, viewing the situation as an opportunity for personal financial gain. He claimed the American ship Nanina as a prize and the Americans as prisoners of war, highlighting how many interpreted the prize system as "semi-piracy." The British castaways did not oppose D'Aranda's decision. D'Aranda completed his villainous act by abandoning Charles Barnard and his party who were hunting ashore to secure necessary food provisions.

3. Magpie Breeding Causes Bird Substitution: Dallas the Dog Meets the Courageous Currawong Family Guest:Jeremy Zakis Dallas the dog was "absolutely dumbfounded" before dawn when he found a family of currawongs on the back lawn instead of his usual magpies. Currawongs are similar in size to magpies but resemble crows, retaining some white feathers. They appear to be substituting for the magpies, who are now dedicating more time to their nests during breeding season. Dallas eventually became accepting of the currawongs. These substitute birds are courageous, sometimes standing at the kitchen window looking in at eye level. Furthermore, the destructive cockatoos ("cockies"), known for stripping pine trees and dropping debris like half-eaten pine cones and sticks, are also staying away during their own breeding cycle, offering a "nice little reprieve."

2. Air Attacks Intensify During Worst Magpie Season, While Snakes, Including a Red-Bellied Black in a Dollhouse, Abound Guest: Jeremy Zakis It is magpie breeding season, described as possibly the worst magpie season in a long time. Male magpies are strategically attacking fast-moving cyclists and joggers, with reports of magpies landing on heads or even stealing a cyclist's earbuds. Meanwhile, the mild winter led to early reptile breeding, resulting in snakes that are more numerous and growing "a lot bigger" due to ample food. Snakes are moving into urban areas, evidenced by a 1.5-meter-long red-bellied black snake found in a child's dollhouse in southern Sydney. Children as young as five are taught safety: if they encounter a venomous snake, they must "stop still" and "act like a statue" to avoid panicking the snake before backing away.

Extreme Spring Heat Signals Catastrophically Hot Summer and Multi-Wave Bushfire Risk for AustraliaGuest: Australian springtime is experiencing unseasonably hot temperatures, approximately 16°C above average. Western Australia recorded 110°F, while Sydney reached 80-90°F. This sustained heat is seen as an ominous sign of a catastrophically hot summer involving droughts and bushfires. However, temperatures are expected to plummet by up to 20°C later in the week. This rapid cycling between hot/dry and cool/wet weather poses a major risk, as rain promotes rapid undergrowth that could fuel second, third, or fourth waves of bushfires. Discussions of La Niña have vanished, focusing instead on Antarctic upper-level wind layers, which are about 30°C warmer. Long-term forecasting is currently "almost impossible." 1864 BUSHFIRE

3. Rituals of Command and the Cicero Revelation Londinium Chronicles Gaius & Germanicus Debate The emperor asserted command authority over the legions in a ritual event at Quantico, Virginia, with his viceroy addressing the leadership of the legions. This ceremony was designed to overturn the previous instances of "command disobedience" experienced by Trump during his first term (such as General Milley's reported actions). The message delivered was a direct command: "New mission. Fortress America. If you are uncomfortable with that, leave."Domestically, this ongoing power transition draws parallels with the murder of Caesar, which marked the end of the Roman Republic and the path toward the principate. A newly shared detail from the documents of Marcus Tullius Cicero reveals that Brutus allegedly raised his dagger while striking Caesar and shouted "Cicero." This detail suggests Cicero, the master storyteller and champion of the senatorial class, provided the intellectual legitimacy and imprimatur for the assassination, affirming that the murder was committed in the name of the Senate's vision of republicanism. 1802

LONDINIUM CHRONICLES: GAIUS & GERMANICUS PHILOSOPHIZE Summary of Audio Part 2 Gaius and Germanicus discuss the emperor's ceremonial gathering of the legion leadership at Quantico, where the new mission of "Fortress America" was announced, an event they view as a necessary ritual to overturn previous command disobedience and re-establish the emperor's authority. They connect the current US political crisis to the end of the Roman Republic, observing that the constitutional system cannot sustain the ongoing conflict between the immensely rich oligarchic Senate faction (represented by "blue" elites) and the popular movement championed by the powerful leader, similar to the clash between senators and populares. This power struggle is visible in the Governor of California's challenge to the president's authority to use the National Guard against perceived "insurrections," which they believe is an unavoidable dynamic leading towards the establishment of a principate system.

LONDINIUM CHRONICLES: GAIUS & GERMANICUS PHILOSOPHIZE Summary of Audio Part 1 Gaius and Germanicus, reflecting on 21st-century events from Londinium, compare the American "princeps" (emperor) issuing ultimatums against "gangsters" in places like Gaza and Caracas to the Roman precedent of figures like Pompey suppressing the Cilician pirates, noting that emperors do not negotiate. Germanicus suggests the current US administration's approach of reducing direct administrative control over allies while maintaining titular supremacy is reminiscent of how the Roman Emperor in Constantinople dealt with emerging barbarian kingdoms by bestowing Roman titles like Consul and Patrician. They debate whether Europe's recent emergency meeting in Copenhagen regarding a "drone wall" signifies European independence or a success of the US princeps' policy of creative retrenchment, criticizing the arbitrary basis of 20th-century alliances like NATO and the discredited domino theory.

8. The Legacy and Sacrifice of the Marbleheaders: From Bankruptcy to Monument Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware Following the Trenton campaign, many Marbleheaders, exhausted and with enlistments expired, returned home, including John Glover, whose wife was ill. Marblehead suffered immense devastation post-war; the prosperous town went "bust," the industry declined, and many leading men went bankrupt. The sacrifice was tragic, resulting in nearly 400 widows by the war's end, with many bodies lost at sea. Washington eventually entreated Glover to return, promoting him to general, and Glover continued fighting until 1782. Today, the Marbleheaders' story is visible through remaining historic landmarks: John Glover's house has a plaque, the Jeremiah Lee mansion serves as part of the Marblehead Museum, and notable figures are buried in Old Burial Hill. In Trenton, a statue of Marbleheader John Russell is displayed, holding an oar to symbolize the famous Delaware crossing. Henry Knox paid tribute to the regiment, stating he wished Congress had seen the men of Marblehead alone stand forward to lead the army across the perilous river to achieve the victory at Trenton.

7. The Indispensables at Trenton: Crossing the Ice-Filled Delaware River Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware On Christmas night 1776, Washington ordered his 2,400 men to cross the ice-filled Delaware River to attack Trenton. This "mission impossible" was only achieved due to the skill of the Marbleheaders in handling the Durham and flat-bottom boats, as all other attempts to cross the river that night failed. Their unique expertise, developed while fishing the Grand Banks, allowed them to manage the difficult currents and ice flows. The regiment was a diverse, unified team, including free men of color such as Caesar Gloverand Oliver Cromwell. After crossing in the nor'easter, the troops—many lacking shoes—marched toward Trenton. Glover's regiment was in the vanguard, marching down the river road. They secured the crucial Assunpink Creek bridge, ensuring the captured Hessians under Johann Rall had no means of retreat, leading to a decisive double envelopment victory. Days later, during the Second Battle of Trenton at Assunpink Creek, the remaining Marbleheaders held the bridge against repeated assaults by elite British grenadiers, allowing Washington to execute a feint and escape north toward Princeton. 8. The Legacy and Sacrifice of the Marbleheaders: From Bankruptcy to Monument Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware Following the Trenton campaign, many Marbleheaders, exhausted and with enlistments expired, returned home, including John Glover, whose wife was ill. Marblehead suffered immense devastation post-war; the prosperous town went "bust," the industry declined, and many leading men went bankrupt. The sacrifice was tragic, resulting in nearly 400 widows by the war's end, with many bodies lost at sea. Washington eventually entreated Glover to return, promoting him to general, and Glover continued fighting until 1782. Today, the Marbleheaders' story is visible through remaining historic landmarks: John Glover's house has a plaque, the Jeremiah Lee mansion serves as part of the Marblehead Museum, and notable figures are buried in Old Burial Hill. In Trenton, a statue of Marbleheader John Russell is displayed, holding an oar to symbolize the famous Delaware crossing. Henry Knox paid tribute to the regiment, stating he wished Congress had seen the men of Marblehead alone stand forward to lead the army across the perilous river to achieve the victory at Trenton.

6. The Miracle Evacuation: The Marbleheaders at the Battle of Long Island Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware After the defeat at the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, Washington's 9,000-man army was trapped at Brooklyn Heights, facing destruction by Lord Howe's forces. Washington decided upon a harrowing retreat across the swirling, mile-long East River—an evacuation described as one of the most difficult military maneuvers. Had the British succeeded in destroying the army here, the Revolution likely would have ended. The Marblehead Regiment was tasked with rowing the army across in small, inadequate boats. The success relied entirely on the unique skill set of the Marbleheaders, honed by fishing the deadly Grand Banks. Despite the wind and currents initially frustrating the operation, two timely atmospheric events aided them: the wind failed to shift in a way that would allow the British Navy to sail up the East River to intercept, and as dawn broke, a dense fog rolled in, screening the movements of the escaping army. Washington personally supervised the evacuation, enforcing order and being one of the last men to leave the shore.

5. Battling the Smallpox Pandemic: Dr. Bond and Washington's Strategic Inoculation Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware The Revolutionary War unfolded under the shadow of a smallpox pandemic. The virus devastated Marblehead after being brought in by fishing ships. Initial quarantine efforts failed, but Dr. Nathaniel Bond promoted inoculation. This dangerous 18th-century technique involved intentionally introducing a small amount of the virus into the body to create antibodies. Patriot efforts to establish an inoculation hospital on remote Cat Island were met with political violence when Loyalists organized a mob to storm the jail and torch the hospital while people were still inside. Later, following the Trenton and Princeton campaigns, the virus became a catastrophic threat, infecting and killing nearly 20% of Washington's army. Recognizing that the virus could destroy his fighting capability, Washington made the strategic decision to order Dr. Bond to establish inoculation hospitals. Bond set up these facilities and personally conducted inoculations, a move considered Washington's greatest strategic decision. Dr. Bond, who had once been ostracized for treating British soldiers, ultimately died as a result of his service to the Continental Army, having saved it through inoculation.

4. Washington's Ad Hoc Navy and the Formation of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware Upon George Washington's arrival in July 1775, the Continental Army suffered a critical shortage of black powder, forcing Washington to seek urgent supply solutions. He developed a unique trust with the Marbleheaders, whose nautical expertise he relied upon. Washington bypassed Congress to create his own Navy—a fleet of "cruisers" (including the Leeand the Warren) manned by Marblehead sailors, essentially perfect marines. Their primary goal was to intercept British transports laden with ordnance and powder. Captain John Manley, a Marbleheader, achieved a critical success, capturing one of the war's richest prizes—a ship filled with supplies that included a massive mortar used later at Dorchester Heights. Washington's Navy operated primarily out of Beverly, Massachusetts, a heavily defended, difficult-to-navigate, protected port. Additionally, Washington formed the Commander-in-Chief's Guard, or Lifeguard, which was an early precursor to the Secret Service, tasked with protecting the general and his papers. This handpicked volunteer unit was placed under the command of Marbleheader Caleb Gibbs.

3. Treason, Spies, and Political Violence: The Revolution as a Raging Civil War Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware The Revolutionary War was characterized as a "raging civil war" where loyalists and patriots lived together, leading to intense political violence. Individuals were targeted based on perceived loyalties, a form of "cancel culture." Dr. Nathaniel Bond, a virus specialist, faced death threats and had his house surrounded by a mob after he treated wounded British soldiers following Lexington and Concord, simply following his Hippocratic oath. He was eventually exonerated after demanding a court martial. Internal betrayal was severe, exemplified by Dr. Benjamin Church, a medical doctor and influential leader who appeared to be an ardent patriot. Church, who was deep in debt, was actually General Gage's greatest spy. He sat on all major Massachusetts provincial committees, funneling crucial Patriot intelligence to Gage, informing the British general exactly where munitions were stored. Church communicated in cipher code and was known as a charming gambler and ladies' man who even faked his own involvement in battle by sprinkling blood on his stockings.

2. The Seizure of Black Powder: Lexington, Concord, and the First Shots of the Revolution Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware Black powder was the most crucial resource for the nascent revolution, as it did not exist in the colonies, making guns useless without it. The British actively sought to seize all gunpowder in New England. The Marbleheaders, utilizing their established supply lines, brought in the bulk of the powder and arms the British were trying to confiscate. A key early action occurred on December 14, 1774, during the raid on Fort William and Mary, which was a main powder source for the British. Led by John Sullivan and John Langdon, the raiders—tipped off by Marblehead intelligence—stormed the fort and seized the powder and cannon; the few shots fired here are considered the "first shots" of the American Revolution. Following this, in April 1775, the British marched toward Lexington and Concord. Marblehead leaders, including Elbridge Gerry, were meeting nearby and fled into a cornfield, fearing arrest. The returning British column faced thousands of angry militiamen, including the Marbleheaders, who fought them during their retreat along the Battle Road. This included a deadly stand at Menotomy (Arlington), where many patriots were slaughtered.

1. The Prosperous Mariner Community of Marblehead and its Revolutionary Leadership Author: Patrick O'Donnell Book Title: The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington across the Delaware Marblehead was the second-largest port city in Massachusetts and a thriving cosmopolitan community, with a population estimated at about 5,000. Its economy relied heavily on fishing, specifically codfish from the Grand Banks, which were salted and traded globally via a massive merchant fleet. This commerce fostered some of the wealthiest men in the colonies. Key leaders included Jeremiah Lee, a man of enormous wealth and influence, and John Glover, a scrappy, stocky, red-haired self-made man who started as a cobbler and built a successful fleet of ships. These men, along with Elbridge Gerry, were prominent members of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, sitting on crucial committees of supply and safety. They leveraged their trade routes to bring in vital resources, such as gunpowder and cannon, securing Spain as the colonies' "first foreign aid" in 1774. Glover led the Marblehead Regiment, which was notably diverse, including African Americans like Caesar Glover and Romeo, who sailed and fought together.

1783 Inquiry Fails to Resolve Cause; Historians Exonerate WashingtonThe Great New York Fire of 1776: A Lost Story of the American Revolution In October 1783, General Guy Carleton convened an inquiry to determine if the fire was accidental or by design, questioning witnesses about sabotage and combustibles. However, no summary opinion was reached. The unique records of this inquiry were found not in the British archives but in the clerk's private papers, donated in 1893. Early American memoirists like Joseph Henry concluded Americans were responsible, arguing that even "great countries can do bad deeds." However, influential historians like Washington Irving later strove to exonerate George Washington, blaming apolitical "miscreants" instead. Retry