You're listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. Hello and thank you for joining the American Revolution.

Today episode 131, The Continental Congress, Baltimore Edition.

Over the last few weeks, we've covered some of the most pivotal events of the Revolution.

The massive British Army under General Howe invaded New York and New Jersey sending the Continental Army fleeing before it.

The Continental Army then countered to retake New Jersey, and last week we looked at events in the South over the same period

as Tories in Florida with their Creek and Seminole

seem to have no trouble pushing into Patriot Control Georgia.

Today I want to talk about what the Continental Congress was doing

as all these events unfolded.

As the British Army pushed toward Philadelphia in December 1776, the Continental Army was not able to mount much of any defense. Many on both sides assume that the British would take

Philadelphia before ending the year's offensive. Members of Congress, not eager to become

prisoners of war, decided to leave Philadelphia.

On December 12th, the Congress voted to adjourn and reconvene in Baltimore, Maryland the following week.

In Baltimore, locals first offered Congress the courthouse, but it was too small.

Instead, Congress rented the Henry Fight House, which actually was a hotel and tavern on the

western edge of town. The three-story 14-room brick building had several rooms large enough for committee meetings.

At the time it was the largest building in Baltimore.

Congress rented the building from fight for three months for 60 pounds sterling.

Overall members were not happy with Baltimore. It was not the charming city that exists today.

As one member put it, the town was exceedingly

expensive and exceedingly dirty that at times members could make their way to

the Assembly Hall only on horseback through the deep mud. In his diary

...