Getting Hammered® #Todayin1776: The Plan to Attack Boston If Hell Breaks Loose
Feb 26, 2026
A rejected mid-February plan for an amphibious assault on Boston is unpacked. The arrival of Knox’s 59 cannons and their 300-mile journey gets attention. A contingency plan to respond if the British attacked Dorchester Heights is described. Detailed landing zones, signal systems from Roxbury, troop composition, and proposed command arrangements are outlined.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Knox's Artillery Changed The Strategic Balance
- The Continental Army gained decisive firepower when Colonel Henry Knox delivered 59 cannons from Fort Ticonderoga after a 300-mile trek.
- Moving 60 tons of artillery across frozen rivers and wilderness in January enabled Washington to threaten British control of Boston from the high ground.
Flags On Roxbury Set Up A Battlefield Early Warning
- Washington's generals prepared a detailed contingency signaling system from Roxbury meeting house to track British moves against Dorchester Heights.
- The plan specified different flag signals for embarkation, landing, troop counts, reinforcements, retreat, and capture of works.
Execute A Coordinated Amphibious Landing If Opportunity Arises
- If an attack on Boston seemed likely, the generals recommended embarking 4,000 men split between Cambridge and Prospect/Winter Hill under a single commander.
- The 1st Division would land at the Powderhouse and the 2nd at Barton's Point to seize Beacon Hill, Mount Hortum, and Copse Hill before forcing the Neck gates.