For decades the mafia had New York City in a stranglehold with law enforcement

seemingly powerless to intervene. It uses terror to extort people. But the

murder of Carmie, marked the beginning of the end.

It sent the message that we can prosecute these people.

Listen to law and order criminal Justice Systems starting August 22nd on the I Heart Radio

Appel Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Noble Blood, a production of I Heart Radio and Grim and Mild from Aaron Manky, listener

discretion advised. It is September 11th, 1777, and a soldier fighting in the American Revolutionary War is setting off valiantly into battle on Brandywine Creek, about 30 miles southwest of Philadelphia. It's a foggy day, but that's not the source of the smoke in the man's eyes and nose.

The British musket balls are flying towards him.

Gunpowder erupts everywhere around him.

Somewhere behind he has left General George Washington.

This soldier is only 20 years old and this is his very first battle of the war.

He has come to the army from a great distance away, guided by one goal to help secure America's freedom.

But right now, as the smoke is filling his lungs, his one goal has changed slightly. Right now he needs to rally the beleaguered

American troops against the British in order to stop the British from advancing

to the capital in Philadelphia.

He also wants to stay alive.

When the soldier opens his mouth to speak, perhaps to inspire his fellow soldiers, he has a very unusual accent, the

accent of French nobility.

This man fighting in the continental army of the American Revolution is the Marquis de Lafayette.

You may know him from Lin Manuel Miranda's hit musical Hamilton in which he's described as America's

favorite fighting Frenchman. That description is exactly right. Throughout his life, Lafayette loved America in ways that would almost certainly embarrass any self-respecting Frenchman today.

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