Our Living History

William Young

Our Living History brings the past to life through authentic storytelling, primary sources, and on-location conversations that explore America’s people, places, and forgotten moments. Each episode connects historical events to the world we live in today—because history isn’t just something we study, it’s something we still live.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    Battle of Camden: How the American Army Collapsed in 45 Minutes

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! On August 16, 1780, the larger American army under General Horatio Gates faced Lord Charles Cornwallis near Camden, South Carolina—and collapsed in roughly forty-five minutes. In this narrative episode, we follow the British Southern Strategy, Gates’s march toward Camden, the unexpected nighttime collision between the two armies, the placement of inexperienced American militia against veteran British troops, Johann de Kalb’s final stand, and the aftermath of one of the most devastating American defeats of the Revolutionary War. According to the American Battlefield Trust, the Americans suffered an estimated 1,050 casualties, compared with 324 British casualties. This audio episode is adapted from the Our Living History battlefield video and was created so you can experience the complete story wherever you listen to podcasts. I'd like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor. Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters. If you'd like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below: Cell: (839) 292-6571 I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible. Support the show

    Battle of Camden: How the American Army Collapsed in 45 Minutes

  2. Aug 30

    4,000 Union Soldiers Captured | The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! Approximately 4,000 Union soldiers were captured during the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky. Fought August 29–30, 1862, the battle ended in a major Confederate victory after Union troops were driven back from position after position. In this episode of Our Living History, we follow the course of the fighting—from the first clashes on August 29 through the Confederate attacks of August 30, the repeated Union retreats, the fighting near Richmond, and the capture of thousands of Federal soldiers. According to the American Battlefield Trust, estimated casualties totaled 5,650 — 4,900 Union and 750 Confederate. The consequences didn’t end at Richmond. The Confederate victory opened the way farther north into Kentucky, and on September 2, Confederate forces captured Frankfort. Whether you’re listening while driving, working, walking, or just relaxing, come along with Our Living History as we explore what happened during the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky. A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor I’d like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor. Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters. If you’d like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below: Cell: (839) 292-6571 I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible. Support the show

  3. Aug 24

    Who Burned Columbia? What the Primary Sources Reveal About the Fire of 1865

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! On the night of February 17–18, 1865, as Union forces occupied Columbia, South Carolina, a catastrophic fire swept through much of the city. But who actually burned Columbia? In this episode of Our Living History, we go back to the primary sources used in our research—including eyewitness accounts, diaries, sworn testimony, military orders, and contemporary records—to separate what we can establish from what remains unresolved. The evidence paints a complicated picture. Cotton was burning in Columbia during the day, and at least some of those fires were fought and brought under control. After dark, eyewitness testimony establishes that some Union soldiers deliberately set individual buildings on fire. At the same time, other Union soldiers were actively fighting fires and attempting to protect buildings. Some Federal soldiers became intoxicated, while extremely strong winds helped spread flames and burning material through the city. We also examine what General William Tecumseh Sherman actually ordered destroyed. His instructions called for the destruction of military, railroad, manufacturing, and machine-shop property while directing that libraries, asylums, and private dwellings be spared. The primary-source evidence examined for this episode does not establish that Sherman issued an order to indiscriminately burn Columbia’s civilian areas. So did Union soldiers deliberately burn buildings? Yes. Did Federal forces deliberately destroy Confederate military and industrial property? Yes. Can we prove that Sherman ordered the entire city burned—or identify one single fire as the cause of the great conflagration? Based on the primary sources examined for this episode, no. Sometimes history doesn’t leave us with a simple answer. This episode follows the evidence as far as it will take us—and no farther. Our Living History is dedicated to exploring the places, people, events, and surviving evidence that connect us with America’s past. Sponsored by Albert Meyer A special thank you to my friend Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History. Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters. Cell: (839) 292-6571   YouTube- https://youtu.be/SDGCbzfheW8?is=7gMtNYzICbgxCe69 Support the show

  4. Aug 16

    Battle of Kings Mountain: The Patriot Victory That Changed the Southern Campaign

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! On October 7, 1780, Patriot and Loyalist forces collided on the wooded slopes of Kings Mountain in one of the most important battles of the American Revolution’s Southern Campaign. In this episode of the Our Living History Podcast, we tell the story of the Battle of Kings Mountain — why Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist force came to Kings Mountain, how Patriot militia surrounded the position, how the fighting unfolded across the slopes, and why the Patriot victory had consequences far beyond the battlefield. Unlike many major engagements of the Revolutionary War, Kings Mountain was fought largely by militia. Patriot forces fought their way uphill while Ferguson’s Loyalists attempted to drive them back. By the end of the fighting, Ferguson was dead and his Loyalist force had been defeated. The Battle of Kings Mountain became a major Patriot victory at a critical point in the war and helped disrupt British operations in the South. This podcast episode uses the audio from our full Our Living History battlefield video. WATCH THE FULL BATTLEFIELD VIDEO: https://youtu.be/OeQEf5PyGvU?is=_YtMt-wlddZKqjS9 VISIT OUR LIVING HISTORY ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@ourlivinghistory?si=vWWJQCe8OSlRlbZR If you enjoy Revolutionary War history, battlefield tours, museums, historic sites, living history, military history, and exploring the places where history actually happened, follow the Our Living History Podcast and subscribe to the YouTube channel. Help us keep history alive by sharing this episode with someone who loves American history. CHANNEL SPONSOR I’d like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor. Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters. If you’d like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below: Office: (803) 200-2000 Cell: (839) 292-6571 Email: albert.meyer@TheJeffcoatFirm.com Website: carolinadefenselawyers.com I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and Our Living History. Support the show

  5. Jul 23

    Our Living History Theme Song

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! Experience the official Our Living History song. Our Living History is dedicated to bringing America’s past to life through living history, historical demonstrations, museum visits, battlefield tours, reenactments, interviews with historians and craftsmen, and hands-on experiences that connect people with the people, places, and events that shaped our nation. This original song was created to capture the spirit of that mission—the determination, sacrifice, and heritage that continue to inspire us today. If you enjoy American history, living history, historic sites, black powder, military history, traditional crafts, and preserving our shared past, you’re in the right place. Thank you for listening and for supporting Our Living History. Every listen, share, and subscription helps us continue documenting and preserving history for future generations. Support the show

  6. Jun 23

    The Old Sunset Beach Swing Bridge: Mannon Gore, the Causeway, and the Story of Building the Island

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! In this episode of Our Living History, we explore the fascinating history of the Old Sunset Beach Swing Bridge and the people whose vision, hard work, and determination helped shape Sunset Beach, North Carolina. We’ll discuss the historic swing bridge that connected the mainland to Sunset Beach for decades and examine how it became one of the community’s most recognizable landmarks. Through photographs, artifacts, records, and exhibits preserved at the Old Bridge Museum, we uncover stories that many visitors to Sunset Beach may never have heard. The episode also looks at the work of Mannon C. Gore, whose dredge, the Little Dawn, was used in the hydraulic dredging process that helped create the causeway to the island. Museum exhibits explain how material dredged from a parallel channel known as Gore’s Ditch was used to build up the causeway, helping make access to the island possible. Finally, we examine the efforts of the Old Bridge Preservation Society, which was formed in 2010 by Karen Dombowski, Chris Wilson, and Ann Bokelman to save the historic bridge from demolition. Through the support of thousands of residents, visitors, and property owners, the bridge and tender house were preserved and relocated, ensuring that future generations can continue to learn from this important piece of Sunset Beach history. The Old Bridge Preservation Society and Museum are currently fundraising to help pay for the relocation of the bridge to its new home next door and for future preservation costs. To learn more about the museum or support their preservation efforts, visit: http://www.theoldbridge.org/ If you enjoy local history, museums, historic preservation, and stories from America’s past, be sure to follow Our Living History wherever you listen to podcasts. Support the show

    The Old Sunset Beach Swing Bridge: Mannon Gore, the Causeway, and the Story of Building the Island

  7. Jun 12

    They Won the Battle But Lost the War | Guilford Courthouse 1781

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! On March 15, 1781, British forces under Cornwallis fought Nathanael Greene’s army at Guilford Courthouse. The British won the field—but at a devastating cost. In this battlefield tour, we walk the ground where it happened and break down Greene’s three-line strategy, the intense fighting, and how this battle weakened the British army and set the stage for Yorktown. Sometimes, winning the battle… means losing the war. Subscribe to Our Living History for more real history told on the ground where it happened. Support the show

    They Won the Battle But Lost the War | Guilford Courthouse 1781

  8. Jun 8

    1780s Venison Stew Cooked Over an Open Fire | Colonial Frontier Cooking

    Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!! What did people eat during the Revolutionary War era? Join Our Living History as we prepare a hearty venison stew using simple ingredients that would have been familiar to many Americans during the late 18th century. Cooked over an open fire in a traditional stew pot, this meal features venison, potatoes, onions, sage, salt, and pepper—creating a filling dish that could have been found on the frontier, in rural communities, or around military encampments during the 1780s. In this video, you’ll experience a slower pace of life and see how a simple meal could be prepared without modern conveniences. While recipes varied by region and availability of ingredients, stews like this were a practical way to feed families and travelers throughout early America. If you enjoy living history, historical cooking, colonial America, Revolutionary War history, frontier life, and traditional outdoor cooking, be sure to subscribe and join us on future adventures. SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR VIDEO SPONSOR Albert Meyer, Attorney at Law  Criminal Defense • Immigration • Personal Injury Office: (803) 200-2000 Cell: (839) 292-6571 Email: albert.meyer@TheJeffcoatFirm.com Website: carolinadefenselawyers.com Serving clients throughout South Carolina. SUPPORT OUR LIVING HISTORY Subscribe for more living history, historical sites, reenacting, colonial cooking, Revolutionary War history, and forgotten stories from America’s past. #LivingHistory #ColonialCooking #RevolutionaryWar #OpenFireCooking #VenisonStew Support the show

    1780s Venison Stew Cooked Over an Open Fire | Colonial Frontier Cooking
  • 8 Episodes

About

Our Living History brings the past to life through authentic storytelling, primary sources, and on-location conversations that explore America’s people, places, and forgotten moments. Each episode connects historical events to the world we live in today—because history isn’t just something we study, it’s something we still live.

Information

  • Creator
    William Young
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Our Living History
  • Show Website
    Our Living History