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The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep330: WASHINGTON'S NAVY AND THE LIFEGUARD Colleague Patrick O'Donnell. Upon arriving in Cambridge in July 1775, George Washington formed a close bond with the Marblehead Regiment, relying on them for security and expertise. Facing a desperate shortage of gunpow

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Books, Society & Culture, News, Arts

4.62.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 January 2026

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

WASHINGTON'S NAVY AND THE LIFEGUARD Colleague Patrick O'Donnell. Upon arriving in Cambridge in July 1775, George Washington formed a close bond with the Marblehead Regiment, relying on them for security and expertise. Facing a desperate shortage of gunpowder, Washington utilized the Marbleheaders to create an impromptu navy; Captain John Manley successfully captured a British ordinance ship, delivering vital supplies. Washington also established the "Lifeguard" (Commander-in-Chief's Guard) to protect himself and his papers, appointing Marbleheader Caleb Gibbs as commander. The segment describes Beverly as a crucial, difficult-to-navigate port that protected these new cruisers from the Royal Navy. NUMBER 4
1870

Transcript

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0:42.4

This is CBS, I in the world.

0:46.7

I'm John Baxter with the author Patrick O'Donnell, his new book, The Indispensibles.

0:52.6

The diverse soldier mariners who shaped the country, formed the Navy, and rode Washington across the Delaware.

0:57.9

Arriving in July of 1775, straight from the Congress is George Washington to take command. What was the Marblehead opinion of Washington

1:04.3

when he first arrived? Were they affectionate towards him as they became? George Washington

1:10.4

needed a headquarters, and that headquarters was at the Vassal House,

1:16.2

and it was the Marbleheaders that were guarding the Vassal House.

1:19.9

That's where they encamped.

1:21.7

And Washington develops a very unique and important relationship with the marble headers.

1:26.7

He trusts them. and that bond of

1:29.9

trust is something that'll extend through the entire revolution and they guard Washington and

1:36.5

it's it's here at the vassal house that um you know Washington is also introduced to nautical things.

1:45.4

It's John Glover, who's in charge of the regiment at this point.

1:50.2

And powder becomes, it remains the crucial supply.

1:54.8

They need it badly.

...

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