Award-winning author and historian Patrick K. O’Donnell commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Long Island that occurred on August 27, 1776. Gen. George Washington found his troops outmanned and outmaneuvered at the Battle of Long Island, but thanks to a series of desperate charges by a single heroic regiment, the First Maryland Regiment—famously known as the Maryland 400—Washington was able to evacuate his men and the nascent Continental Army lived to fight another day. In this talk, O’Donnell brings to life the remarkable men of this elite unit by discussing their role at the Battle of Long Island and other major engagements of the American Revolution.
About the Speaker:
Patrick K. O’Donnell is an award-winning independent historian and the author of 14 books on American military history, with topics ranging from the Revolutionary War to the Battle of Fallujah. Notable works include Into the Rising Sun: In Their Own Words, World War II’s Pacific Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat, We Were One: Shoulder to Shoulder with the Marines Who Took Fallujah, Washington’s Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course of the Revolution, and The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Mariners Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware. O’Donnell served as a combat historian in a Marine rifle platoon during the Battle of Fallujah and is a professional speaker on America’s conflicts, espionage, and special operations. Throughout his career, he has also provided historical consulting for DreamWorks’ award-winning miniseries Band of Brothers and for documentaries produced by the BBC, the History Channel, Discovery, and others. He is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the William E. Colby Award and the OSS Society’s John Waller Award. Currently, he serves as the director and historian at the OSS Society and is a fellow at Mount Vernon.