the clear padarthas or your freedom rate
and patriotic
here are some exciting scenes from
today's episode of Liberty's kids I
think it's some kind of underwater boat
that you're going to attack the Redcoats
with our infant Navy can't beat the
British on top of the sea
so we intend to strike from beneath and
the target advil house flagship the
Eagle sink her break the blockade
if we fail house brother lands his army
and takes New York
I will not aid in the death of British
sailors
James look quicker September 4 1776 dear
mother
James Omri and I find ourselves in New
York and the city is under siege Lord
Admiral Howe has arrived with nearly
30,000 troops and the wooden walls of
his fleet have sealed off Manhattan
Island
no helper supplies can reach the
Colonials from the sea the rebels
licking their wounds from their
devastating defeat on Long Island are
down to only 9,000 able men last night a
British officer posted ad milord house
flagship HMS Eagle alone could sink what
there is of the splinter fleet fer built
rebel Navy on me when will you learn to
close a door when entering a room but
I'd only have to open it again when we
leave to meet James a story James wants
us to meet him at the fishing world as
soon as you're ready coming you're going
to be thrilled
a sea monster in New York Harbor sir
that is most unlikely
maybe not thrilled first eagerly we hear
me last I fished these waters fair and
foul more years and a three you've been
alive and never seen the likes of this
last midnight it was a mile north of the
Whitehall battery and less than a cable
link away from my boat round it was
bright like a candle I tried to give
chase but down it goes a light under the
water and then gone and all I'd like to
rent your skiff tonight you're not
thinking of stalking this seagoing
phantom Oh James it isn't real are you
sure because I think I know what its
next meal is
there's the Whitehall battery we roll
bio north
see anything yes
trouble if we run into a patrol all the
monster Audrey no one believes in
monsters I remind you this is the 18th
century but I about stories about about
giant beasts that hit warships in one
night that's more than I can swallow I
think she made a joke and the joke is
what we are out here in the middle of
what are you doing let's get after it I
feel it we should be getting away from
it
if that's a monster on wreaths and
nature's become a coppersmith what is it
tell you later
the Pope was sticking again
I couldn't surf is fast enough if you
must release the b*mb you'll pop right
up and what did you see they were
watching from the woods I repeat what
did you see we saw that and that is I I
think it's some kind of underwater boat
that you're going to attack the Redcoats
with if that were so such an enterprise
would require secrecy which begs the
question of what to do with you three
spies we are not spies we're journalists
for Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania
Gazette my word no my words I wrote that
article below it Benjamin Franklin
helped convinced General Washington when
my turtle was an idea worth trying I'm
in his debt you three may stay but only
if you give your word you'll withhold
the story until after the attack we
agree now mr. Bushnell David Bushnell
late of Seabrook Connecticut James
Hillier Sarah Phillips and on rila fever
now about this attack our infant Navy
can't beat the British on top of the sea
so we intend to strike from beneath and
the target you won't be disappointed
Admiral House flagship the Eagle 64 g*ns
and this powerful ship this side of the
Atlantic sink her and we break the
blockade keep a lookout for the patrols
there's even more ships since last night
I count three hundred homes
make for the battery something up ahead
folks by order of the crown
what is that I call it a rotating or
they lose the vessels pull and this one
helps it go under mr. Bushnell you have
created what men have dreamt of an
underwater craft it is practical and
safe my little turtle is all that and
more you see once under the Eagle
sergeant Lee will drill a small hole in
the hole and attach this underwater b*mb
bombs can't explode underwater this one
can and what it does it will send a
message to the HMS Eagle that we are a
force to be reckoned with
the soldiers will have no warning yes we
are living in strange times but we are
at w*r miss Phillips
and soldiers understand w*r there's also
pumps ballast weights rudder no end of
things to turn pump screw and unscrew I
know there's a lot to learn sergeant I
wish we had more time for training
there's another problem I fear
the Redcoats captured the tow boat they
took the crew I don't think they'll talk
at least not right away
we'll be it's all right general Putnam
they work for Benjamin Franklin ah yes
I've met the boy a fine show at Bunker
Hill in Boston a lad yes sir
this does leave us with a problem
it does indeed general put them even if
the men don't talk now we'll know that
some plan is afoot we must strike soon
when can you attack we need a calm sea
in a week F tide see the night after
next but we'll need another boat to tow
the turtle into range
maybe I can help let us do it three
youths in the middle of that Armada it's
dangerous we've been in dangerous spots
before sir we know how to avoid trouble
three use one of them a girl it would be
ignored as harmless besides I'd only be
towing not actually attacking and if
we're going to report this story we have
to be on the water what do you have in
mind son what happened Sarah could you
please make a sketch of the turtle for
the paper I suppose so
listen we can't let Sara know this she'd
object we're supposed to be journalists
not soldiers we're not supposed to be
part of the action you do not cluster
sure I trust her but she is British I
think we should tell her we'll fill her
in later right now just tell her were
observing the British fleet but why at
night we're letting them get used to us
so they'll ignore us when the turo goes
on its mission here what is going on
with you two wait
they've seen us but what should we do
I'm coming what are you doing out here
we are planning to attack and stick you
with physics what's this then
they are notes for writing my mother and
my adventures in the colonies your
mother takes a keen interest in military
affairs
there's nothing seditious about an
intelligent woman wanting to keep
well-informed
that's the black d*ck to decide bosun
pass a towline black geek that's what
the sailors call Admiral Howe and give
us black d*ck and we feel nothing but
why does he call him black d*ck perhaps
he has a dark temperament we're going to
find out they're taking us aboard the
eagle
the Admirals complements your to escort
the prisoners to his day cabin pretty
good set this way
watch him animal aide don't like a bit
of mold with your brain as you can see
we plan to control the Hudson River
Valley by holding Montreal on the north
and New York to the south cleaving the
colonies into divide and conquer a sound
strategy if this were Europe and all
Pleasant fields and farms but it's
nothing but dense hostile wilderness
nature will fight us as defiantly as the
Colonials as a colleague observed you
cannot conquer a map we must first
negotiate negotiate with these hmm I see
you've never met Benjamin Franklin he
may be many things including a rebel but
his worst enemy would not dare call him
ignorant don't underestimate the
Americans captain they're carving a
nation out of wilderness they claimed
there were night fishing sir but I found
this she said their notes for writing
her mother I trust there's a good
explanation for plying restricted waters
in the middle of the night like we said
we were night fishing sir indeed well
you've hooked some trouble young man
Admiral how were journalists and we're
writing about your fleet we work for
Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette
Benjamin Franklin mother sent me to stay
with him while she remained in London
dr. Franklin very kindly taught us to be
journalists and how is my dear friend
dr. Franklin
is there anyone to boss doesn't know he
is very well thank you sir
the rebels are planning something
frighten or not I don't trust them my
captain is a cautious man and with
excellent reason I assure you we are
only observing just fishing for facts
young lady I want your word as a loyal
subject of the crown that you're taking
no action against us you have it it's
the truth
I suppose it is prudent to make friends
with the press sir
indeed captain oh I did not think we
would ever get off that ship and
complete our mission our mission on me
you mean gathering facts what else
you mean what else aren't you and James
telling me you two have been acting odd
all night what is going on we're going
to tow the turtle and be part of the
attack what I wanted to tell you right
away thanks on three
I guess you're upset no I'm not upset
I'm livid I gave my word to Admiral how
you have made me a liar I've never lied
in my life never how could you betray me
like this
Sara it's not what you think what am I
supposed to think that you've forsaken
your duty as a journalist for personal
glory I knew you wouldn't understand you
understand
I will not aid in the death of British
sailors but we're only towing them that
makes it right how horrible I'm ashamed
of you I'll have nothing to do with this
if I your prisoner mr. Bush no of course
not but I must insist on your being my
guest only until after the attack who
you Sarah
maybe if you promise not to tell me
already made a liar out of me once mr.
Hiller that's enough for one night
Donn's in two hours time to go give me a
minute we're going now
I just wanted to say goodbye can't tell
what might happen out there you know you
don't have to do this yes I do it's
wrong I'm sorry you feel that way I've
got to go
guess I won't need this tonight not
unless you want a beacon to alert the
British it'll be dark but the Foxfire
moss inside will provide light enough to
read the depth gauge looks like you get
your story firsthand tonight best of
luck Wallace
lots of lobster bats on the water for
this hour I wonder if they know what's
happening we're here
still wish I had more training you'll do
fine I'm sure a patrol hurry
and good luck
the time passes slowly it doesn't it it
does indeed miss Phillips
nearly danza by heaven ain't nowhere I'd
rather be
why aren't you why hastily train someone
else to lead the attack the turtle calls
for limbs stouter than mine they lacked
the strength and endurance
my dear brother trained for months he
can make a thread a needle if he had to
what happened
so wants to strike a blow for liberty
Minh he's down with a fever that ravages
our troops sure sergeant Lee will do his
best
a little bit up that's it
steady now steady come on stop
strong must fight it
wings air supplies going to one out
where is he the b*mb should have
exploded by now something's wrong
please get out of the boat you said that
something was wrong I want to help my
friends but I can't do it alone
err
they see him
look it's your ball mr. Bushnell
through the fleet cut anchors and drift
with the tide but that will loose our
blockades uh until we know rafts and how
many we're up against
I won't risk for fleet recall the
longboats they're cutting the Rikers and
the long boat is turning away
my friends as safe miss Phillips I just
wanted to thank you for what you did out
there and also to say I'm sorry I should
have told you the truth I was wrong not
to yes you were and it hurt I just
didn't know which side you were really
loyal to whichever one it may be nothing
would change my loyalty to my friends
thanks to you too my turtle will live to
fight another day I'm afraid it'll be
without us sir
a wise lady has reminded me that good
journalists record events they don't
make events
September 7 1776 dear mother Admiral
Howe has moved his fleet to a more
distant Anchorage I must admit my
admiration of these ingenious clones
there is something about this new world
that inspires new thoughts perhaps its
untamed vastness fills the heart with
dreams of endless possibilities the more
I'm here the more I believe in the
future of this infant nation
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01x13 - The Turtle
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Benjamin Franklin and four fictional associates experience the American Revolution.
Benjamin Franklin and four fictional associates experience the American Revolution.