Podcast Summary: Inheritance – “The Nutmegger and the Turtle”

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Air Date: September 19, 2025
Original Broadcast: May 23, 1954 (Golden Age of Radio)

Overview:

This episode of Inheritance revives a dramatic retelling from America's Revolutionary War history, focusing on the true story of the first American military submarine—David Bushnell’s “Turtle”—and its daring pilot, Sergeant Ezra Lee, the nutmegger from Connecticut. Set during the dire days of 1776, the narrative weaves together invention, audacity, and the American spirit in a fictionalized, yet fact-based radio play, highlighting both technological innovation and stubborn courage against overwhelming odds.

Main Theme & Purpose

• Central Focus: Showcases American ingenuity during the Revolution, spotlighting the development and attempted use of the Turtle submarine as a secret weapon against the British fleet, and the resolve of those involved—especially the wry, self-reliant Sergeant Lee.
• Purpose: Illustrates how vision, courage, and improvisation form a vital part of the “inheritance” that built the American nation.

Key Discussion Points & Dramatic Scenes

1. Setting the Stage: Revolutionary America (00:12 – 02:17)

• Narration introduces the dire military situation post-Long Island defeat and the desperate measures being considered.
• Historical context is established—America’s “inheritance” is defined not just as material wealth, but the legacy of ideals and ingenuity.

2. The Invention Unveiled (02:17 – 06:13)

• Generals Putnam, Parsons, and inventor David Bushnell gather at the water’s edge to examine Bushnell’s novel underwater craft.

• Sergeant Ezra Lee’s character—a raw, independent “nutmegger”—is introduced as a potential pilot.

• Quote:

  “You mean this...this wooden clam here?”
  —General Putnam, skeptically eyeing the Turtle for the first time (03:22)

• Technical Explanation: Bushnell explains the Turtle’s construction, underwater operation, ballast, and explosive payload (03:39–05:22).

• Bushnell reassures:

  “The bomb contains a clock and a gun lock with good flint that cannot misfire. Once attached...the turtle [has] 20 minutes to escape.”
  (05:22)

3. Volunteers Needed; Sergeant Lee Steps Up (06:13 – 09:19)

• No volunteers emerge for the dangerous mission until Putnam recommends Lee, notorious for his brawling and solitary nature.
• Charming insight into Lee’s character:

  “Most of the time, sir. ... Sometimes I just get real hungry for words. Besides, way I figure, talking to yourself is safer than talking to others.”
  —Sergeant Ezra Lee on his habit of talking to himself (08:19)

• Lee is persuaded to take up the challenge, seeing the Turtle’s isolation as a good match for his temperament.

4. Training, Technical Challenges, and Hazards (09:19 – 13:36)

• Sergeant Lee practices submerging in the Turtle, dealing with fears about coming back up, limited visibility, and air supply.
• Running technical problems: Phosphorescent wood “compass” lights fail, air is scarce, and the Turtle is physically cramped for a “nutmegger” (10:29–10:45).
• Quote (light humor & camaraderie):

  “She sinks real fast. Real fast. ... Coming back up I’m mainly concerned about.”
  —Sergeant Lee (09:35)

• Determination: Lee insists the Turtle is ready for action:

  “Furthermore, I have spoken to my first mate and to all members of my vast crew. There’s not a single objection in the lot, sir. We all concur.”
  —Lee, humorously referring to himself as the entire crew (12:13)

• Plan set: Turtle is readied to be towed into position for a daring night attack on HMS Eagle (13:00–14:21).

5. The Mission Launches (14:21 – 15:58)

• Final banter before the dive; Lee's dry wit shows as he prepares for the unknown.
• Notable exchange:

  “There’s only one thing bothers me. ... I kind of wish I knew how to swim. It’s the one detail I forgot with all the preparations. Well, man can’t think of everything. Here I go.”
  —Sergeant Lee (15:37)

• Lee is sealed inside the Turtle and sets off for his dangerous mission.

6. Tense Waiting and the Mission’s Outcome (16:42 – 23:17)

• Generals wait anxiously; no explosion is heard for hours, prompting fears for Lee’s fate.
• Lee’s Underwater Monologue:
  Lee, alone in the Turtle, attempts to attach his “egg” bomb but discovers the Eagle is copper-sheathed—his auger cannot grip the hull (17:56–19:58).

  “Sergeant Lee, the Turtle has been out foxed by an eagle.”
  (18:56)

• Forced improvisation: Lee tries circling the ship and ultimately must abort.
• Lee risks surfacing or suffocating:

  “There’s no time for lengthy debate, men... All those in favor of on top, all those for going under. ... Under the water it is. And let’s not stop until we run smack into the coast.”
  —Lee, talking to himself, humorously pretending his one-man crew is voting (21:33)

• He returns safely, exhausted but alive, after an epic escape (22:55–23:05).
• General Putnam’s assessment:

  “I think the Turtle has a good chance of being the grandfather to a long line of very successful offspring.”
  (23:17)

7. Aftermath and Historical Impact (23:40 – 26:36)

• Sergeant Lee meets General Washington:
  Humorous exchange about the Turtle’s temperamental nature and the origins of its wood (Connecticut vs. Massachusetts) (24:02–24:37).

  “It’s all American wood. That’s what really counts here.”
  —General Washington (24:37)

• Turtle’s ongoing impact: The Turtle is credited with harassing British ships, including the destruction of the Cerberus via explosives, spreading alarm and losses in the British fleet (24:36–25:19).
• Washington recruits Lee:

  “I’d like to have you on my staff as a spy... Calls for a man who likes to work alone, and for a man who, when he has to talk, make sure he only talks to himself.”
  —General Washington (26:06)

• Lee accepts, eager for new adventure.

8. Reflection on America’s Inheritance (26:36 – end)

• Closing narration ties the story to future innovation—drawing a direct line from the tiny Turtle to the atomic submarine.
• The real inheritance: Courage, invention, and the willingness to take risks for liberty.

Notable Quotes

• General Israel Putnam (skepticism at first sight):

  “You mean this… this wooden clam here?” (03:22)

• Sergeant Ezra Lee (solitude):

  “Seems every time I talk to others, darned if I don’t talk myself right into a big mess of trouble.” (08:19)

• General Samuel Holden Parsons (reflection on innovation):

  “It’s never size that matters, Captain. In either men or ships…” (13:10)

• Sergeant Ezra Lee (self-reliance):

  “As captain of the Turtle, I want to report that my vessel is in the best of condition. Furthermore, I have spoken to my first mate and to all members of my vast crew. There’s not a single objection in the lot, sir. We all concur.” (12:11)

• General George Washington (the heart of the story):

  “It’s all American wood. That’s what really counts here.” (24:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:12 | Introduction and historical context | | 02:17 | Generals and Bushnell inspect the Turtle | | 06:14 | Sergeant Ezra Lee introduced | | 09:19 | Training in the Turtle—trial runs and technical details | | 12:11 | Lee asserts readiness as ‘crew’ of the Turtle | | 13:36 | Plan for launching and mission details | | 14:21 | Launch of the mission | | 15:37 | Lee’s witty resolve before submerging | | 17:56 | Lee’s inner monologue under water; failed attack | | 21:33 | Lee’s democratic “crew” meeting with himself | | 22:55 | Lee’s successful return | | 23:40 | Aftermath—meeting with General Washington; Turtle’s legacy | | 26:36 | Narrator—legacy and ‘inheritance’ reflections |

Memorable Moments

• Lee’s Comedic Monologue:
  Throughout the mission, Lee talks to himself, treating the one-man Turtle as if commanded by a full crew, blending humor with high stakes.

• Gentle Humor of Regional Rivalry:
  Lee and the generals trade jabs about Connecticut (“nutmeggers”) and Massachusetts, poking fun at colonial-state stereotypes.

• Poignant Irony:
  The Turtle’s technical failure against the Eagle (due to copper sheathing) becomes a testament to both the unpredictable nature of war and the value of trying the unthinkable.

• Affirmation of American Spirit:
  General Washington encapsulates the theme: “It’s all American wood. That’s what really counts here.” (24:37)

Conclusion & Reflections

This episode of Inheritance is a vibrant dramatization of a pivotal yet often overlooked moment in American history, balancing technical curiosity with character-driven storytelling. It captures the uniquely American attributes of innovation, resourcefulness, and humor in adversity, and frames them as the true “inheritance” passed down to future generations. The banter, technical explanations, and acts of courage render the story both educational and entertaining, suitable for anyone interested in history or the roots of American ingenuity.