Could You Survive as a Redcoat during the American Revolutionary War? | Part Two

Dan Snow investigates the world-changing events of April 19th 1775. On April 19th 1775, the first muskets were fired in the American War of Independence - the famous "shot heard round the world". In this special History Hit film, Dan Snow explores the key sites where it happened on this day - Battle Green, Lexington; The Old North Bridge, Concord; and the Battle Road that saw the British redcoats fight their way back to Boston under constant attack from provincial militia. Dan meets the archaeologists and military historians who are unearthing fascinating new evidence revealing exactly what happened, uncovering musket balls untouched since they were fired, working out where and how some of the famous firefights occurred, discovering battle damage in historic houses and making comparisons with detailed tests on the firing range. As dusk fell on April 19th an uneasy peace had turned into all-out war - find out how it happened as experts unravel the momentous events of a day that changed world history. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video

Step back 250 years as a British Redcoat Soldier defending the American colonies during the War of Independence, and you were likely to face some of the most horrific and violent conditions seen just about anywhere around the world. What might have first seemed an exhilarating and patriotic endeavour would soon turn into a gruelling and gory series of events, through which your loyalty to the crown would be seriously tested… Rather than a political and social movement devised by the great founding fathers and resulting in the smooth birth of a nation, the American Revolution truly consisted of a hard, bloody and destructive war. A civil conflict that impacted the lives of so many, and would take the lives of thousands of soldiers who fought in it. But look at the paintings from the period, the history books, broadway musicals and Hollywood depictions of this war, and you’d believe it to have been a chess match won by plucky patriots against out-of-touch, aristocratic generals. Beneath of all this was the reality, an arduous series of skirmishes, sieges and pitched

What was life like for a soldier during the American War of Independence? For a special 250th anniversary compilation series, join Luke Tomes, Louee Dessent, and Dan Snow as they explore what the battlefield experience was like for soldiers in the American Revolutionary War as the Continental Army, led by George Washington took the fight to British crown forces to take back the colonies! Whilst Luke is recruited into the 33rd Regiment of Foot, a proud military unit commanded by Lord Charles Cornwallis that took part in almost all major campaigns of the war, Louee enlists in George Washington’s Continental Army, joining the 6th Virginia Regiment to face the redcoats on the battlefield. History Hit then follows Dan Snow to South Carolina to uncover the story of the 1780 Battle of Camden, where remarkable archaeological discoveries, including the remains of 14 soldiers, shed new light on the American Revolution as they are honoured in a moving battlefield memorial. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive

How did the American Revolution and the War of Independence REALLY begin? Join Dan Snow as he explores the genesis of the conflict that would change the world. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.

Discover the monumental scale of the WW2 Pacific War, a conflict fought across the world's largest ocean. This premium documentary traces the US Navy's remarkable recovery after the devastation of Pearl Harbor and how the revolutionary Task Force concept led to the pivotal victory at the Battle of Midway. War Stories is your one-stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we'll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history's most engaging and dramatic conflicts. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. You can find more from us on

Step onto the blood-soaked battlefields of Chickamauga and Chattanooga where the fate of the Civil War hung by a thread, and witness how every decision changed history. This gripping episode dives deep into the pivotal moments of the American Civil War in 1863 and 1864, focusing on the brutal conflicts at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and the march toward Atlanta. Discover how miscommunication, flawed leadership, and heroism shaped the outcomes of these epic battles. You'll learn about Union General William S. Rosecrans's collapse under pressure, Braxton Bragg's squandered opportunities, and the dramatic arrival of Ulysses S. Grant - whose strategic genius turned near-defeat into triumph for Union forces. Through intensely personal stories and vivid primary accounts, the video explores the psychological toll on soldiers like Lieutenant Joshua Callaway, the tragic cost borne by families at home, and the evolving role of Black Americans such as Austin Gilmore and Emma Stevenson. You'll gain insight into the shifting nature of warfare as it transitioned from distant battlefields to every civilian doorstep, revealing the war's devastating impact on everyday life. As Sherman's forces clash with