what was valley forge and why was it important?what was valley forge and why was it important?

Word came in May to General Washington that the long-sought alliance with France was secured. The relish for the trade of soldiering that von Steuben inspired in the men also enabled the army, despite continuing hardships and spiraling citizen apathy, to stick single-mindedly to their task until they secured independence in 1783. [50][51], By Spring of 1778, Wappinger, Oneida and Tuscarora warriors who were on the side of the Patriots, with prominent Oneida leader Joseph Louis Cook of the St. Regis Mohawk among them, had joined the Americans at Valley Forge. Valley Forge received its name from the iron forge that was constructed along Valley Creek, next to current PA 252, in the 1740s. However, several tribes, including the Oneida, sided with the Patriots due in part to ties with American settlers, such as Presbyterian minister Samuel Kirkland. King of Prussia, More adequate money and supplies were forthcoming after the Franco-American Alliance became known in late spring 1778. They were cautiously optimistic about the future, and resigned themselves to the task of establishing their winter camp. About 1,700 to 2,000 soldiers died from disease, possibly exacerbated by malnutrition. Even worse, his quartermaster reported that he had just twenty-five barrels of flour and only a little salt pork to feed the entire army. Yet work remained to be done. While each hut housed a squad of twelve enlisted soldiers, sometimes soldiers' families joined them to share that space as well. Many soldiers and commanders hailed from German-speaking communities, as with Pennsylvania-born Brigadier General Peter Muhlenberg. Valley Forge was chosen for many reasons. Captain Alexander Graydon 24 August 1777. But truer images of the place would show General Washington using the time between December 1777 and June 1778 to train his men and to fight to maintain his position as the head of the Continental Army. They had cause for celebration. [55][56] Unit strength and the terms of service became more standardized, improving the Continental army's efficiency. On December 23, Washington wrote Henry Laurens, the President of the Continental Congress. The expeditionary force landed at the head of the Chesapeake Bay (now Elkton, Maryland). By the fall, the British had pushed Washingtons unevenly trained and outnumbered force to the brink of defeat and established control over New York City and the states of New York and New Jersey. Cold and starvation at Valley Forge were not even the most dangerous threats: diseases proved to be the biggest killer. The encampment at Valley Forge took place from December 19, 1777 through June 19, 1778 and served as winter quarters for General George Washington 's Continental Army. Mount Vernon Ladies Association. cause. This strategic shift encouraged a whole new host of problems for the American Patriots. Washington ordered that soldiers' rations include either one to one and a half pounds of flour or bread, one pound of salted beef or fish, or three-quarters pound of salted pork, or one and a half pounds of flour or bread, a half pound of bacon or salted pork, a half pint of peas or beans, and one gill of whiskey or spirits. In turn, this made the troops appear more professional and disciplined. The encampment brought together men, women, and children of nearly all ages, from all walks of life, of every occupation, from different ethnic backgrounds, and of various religions. [24] Washington chose the area partly for its strategic benefits, but wintertime road conditions impeded supply wagons on route to the encampment.[25]. Ibid.3. Valley Forge | Battle, PA, Date, Definition, National Park, & Facts 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial HighwayMount Vernon, Virginia 22121. George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam 9 October 1777. [73], This article is about the American Revolutionary War winter encampment. READ MORE: Winter at Valley Forge: George Washington's Most Dismal Christmas Ever. Doctors dispatched the most serious cases to outlying hospitals, both to limit disease spread and also to cure those individuals who could be saved. As Washington described in a December 23, 1777, letter to Henry Laurens, we have, by a field return this day made no less than 2,898 Men now in Camp unfit for duty because they are barefoot and otherwise naked. [11] Interested parties suggested other sites for an encampment, including Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware. Why is it called Valley Forge? Here are a few: Starting in 1776, vital French aid in the form of military materiel flowed to America. All Rights Reserved. They exuded the confidence of people who knew that they had come close to beating the British in battle. The local community was largely Quaker. The farms located on the north side provided forage for the Continental Army, the location of a camp market where farmers from this vicinity could sell their produce to the army, and the center for commissary operations. [49], Commanders brought servants and enslaved people with them into the encampment, usually black people. George Washington, "General Orders, December 17, 1777," Ibid., 168. What Happened At Valley Forge And Why Was It Significant? "George Washington to Henry Laurens, January 31, 1778," Ibid., 410. [29] Perishable foods began to rot before reaching the troops because of poor storage, transportation problems, or confusion regarding the supplies' whereabouts. [67] That night, British General Sir Henry Clinton moved his army out of Freehold and resumed their march to Manhattan. Pennsylvania state legislators and the Continental Congress expected the Continental Army to select an encampment site that could protect the countryside around Philadelphia. "[32], On January 7, Christopher Marshall related how "ten teams of oxen, fit for slaughtering, came into camp, driven by loyal Philadelphia women. The correspondence of General Washington and other soldiers letters and notebooks are the only accounts of what took place. Valley Forge National Historical Park: Where an Army Was Made. Washington chose Valley Forge as the winter encampment for his 11,000 men along with approximately 500 women and children who accompanied them for several reasons. Despite the difficulties, there were a number of significant accomplishments and events during the encampment. "[22], The Continental Army that marched into Valley Forge consisted of about 12,000 peoplesoldiers, artificers, women, and children. Promising to "share in the hardship" and "partake of every inconvenience," Washington moved with his closest aides into a two-story stone house near Valley Forge Creek.4 He spent much of his time writing to Congress, demanding more supplies for his men, while defending himself against charges of incompetence and dictatorial ambitions. These scattered Southeastern Pennsylvania gravesites have never been systematically commemorated. The officers formed the men into construction squads and instructed them to build cabins according to a 14-foot by 16-foot model. The People of the Encampment - Valley Forge National Historical Park (U Thanks to the contributions of von Steuben and others, the Continental Army was more unified than ever before. In May and June 1777, the Continental Congress had authorized the reorganization of the supply department. [14] On December 19, Washington conducted his 12,000-man army to Valley Forge to establish the encampment. On the march south, Washington paraded the American army through Philadelphia to impress the various factions among the citizenry with the prowess of the patriot force. The ordered ranks, martial appearance, revived spirit, and fighting skill of the American soldiers spoke of a great transformation having occurred amidst the . Still others spoke Scottish- or Irish-Gaelic, and a few descended from French-speaking Huguenot and Dutch-speaking communities in New York. "The Prussian Nobleman Who Helped Save the American Revolution," by Erick Trickey, April 26, 2017. 4. In addition to the huts, the men built miles of trenches, military roads and paths. Washington declared May 6, 1778 a day of celebration. A precursor to vaccination (introduced by Edward Jenner in 1798), inoculation gave the patient a milder form of smallpox with better recovery rates than if the patient had acquired the disease naturally. Sometimes the soldiers families joined them in the space as well. Some patients might have suffered from more than one ailment. The mythical narrative is important in its own right for it reveals something about our character in the heroic way we wish the Revolution to be remembered. Europeans began to settle the region in the late 17th century and pushed out the natives. Recent scholarship shows that a mix of motives was at play, particularly in the minds of men who enlisted in early 1777. Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington. The British soon evacuated Philadelphia and headed north to defend their stronghold in New York City, and on June 19, 1778, Washingtons troops marched out of Valley Forge in pursuit. The Americans used artillery to hold off British troops and even launched bayonet counterattacks-skills they had sharpened while drilling under von Steuben at Valley Forge. Valley Forge Historical Research Report, Three Volumes. Despite the best efforts of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton and Captain Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, the two Continental army officers selected to evacuate the supplies from Valley Forge, Crown soldiers captured supplies, destroyed others, and burned down the forges and other buildings.[9][10]. The six-month encampment of General George Washington's Continental Army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War. A second event that consolidated Washingtons control was his successful campaign to have a congressional committee visit camp. The area was named after an iron forge located at nearby Valley Creek. Largely thanks to capital improvements made by John Potts and his family over the following decades, the small community expanded the ironworks, established mills, and constructed new dwellings for residents. In spite of the resentment leveled at them, it was often the Quakers and other religious societies such as the Bethlehem and Lititz Moravians and the Ephrata Cloister members who rendered valuable assistance to sick soldiers while many citizens stood aside. During the 18th century, military tactics primarily included a respite from fighting during the winter months mainly because of the severity of the weather. However, no contemporary evidence exists suggesting such a prayer occurred. "[36] Washington and his aides convinced them to implement recommended reforms to the supply department. Washington and his campaign-weary army marched into camp on December 19, 1777. While 2,000 men died that winter, Valley Forge is not the site of a battle. Valley Forge is an extremely important site to the American Revolutionary War. On December 19th, 1777, 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what essentially became the fourth largest city in the colonies at the time, with 1,500 log huts and two miles of fortifications. As a result, retreats could turn into panicked flights. What was Valley Forge and why is it important? 14 languages Tools Valley Forge Part of The American Revolution Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge Valley Forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the Continental Army 's main body, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. Few Americans appreciate the scope of the war. The Continental Army forced the British to retreat at the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, in June 1778, and fought with skill in the southern campaigns that led to the victory at Yorktown in 1781. What happened at Valley Forge, and why was it significant? American Battlefield Trust.Monmouth. He posted the army's mounted troops at Trenton, New Jersey, and additional outposts at Downingtown and Radnor, Pennsylvania, among other places. Even under the most trying conditions, including his army's winter encampments, Washington remained with his soldiers. Valley Forge was where the American Continental Army made camp during the winter of 1777-1778. The British succeeded in stealing supplies and burning a few buildings. Here the Continental Army, a collection of disparate colonial militias supported by hundreds of camp followers and allies, emerged under Washingtons leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force. The army interred few, if any, of its soldiers who perished within the lines of the camp. [60] Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian drill master who had recently arrived from Europe, instituted a rigorous training program for the troops. He hoped this would keep them warm since there were not enough blankets for everyone. One of the Continental Army's most able generals, Greene did not want an administrative position. Mifflin heeded Dewees' concerns but established a magazine at Valley Forge anyway. The general lobbied Congress to confer with him in person in order to resolve some of the supply and organizational difficulties that had plagued the army during the 1777 campaign. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Disease at Valley Forge Cold and starvation at Valley Forge were not even the most dangerous threats: diseases proved to be the biggest killer. The desire to commemorate began to shape the history of this place soon after the army marched out. Likewise, patriotism did not peak during the relatively short six-month period at Valley Forge. George Washington, "General Orders, December 17, 1777," The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, Vol. The army hereafter would be more cohesive, healthier, and highly efficient. Following the Battle of Brandywine (September 11, 1777) and the abortive Battle of the Clouds (September 16), on September 18 several hundred soldiers under General Wilhelm von Knyphausen raided the supply magazine at Valley Forge. The Schuylkill River also thawed, allowing the Continental Army to more easily transport convoys from the main supply depot at Reading. As the campaign wound down through the months of November and December, Washington maintained strong offensive pressure on the British in the city. About 30% of Continental soldiers at Valley Forge did not speak English as their first language. The image of Valley Forge as a site of terrible suffering and unshakeable perseverance emerged years after the encampment ended. Throughout the winter, patriot commanders and legislators faced the challenge of supplying a population the size of a colonial city. What happened at Valley Forge? - The Historic Present The image was popularized in paintings and in newspapers, and at one point, President Ronald Reagan even repeated it. The British also feared a French naval blockade of Philadelphia, so in June, Clinton abandoned it for New York Citya loyalist stronghold. As they marched through south and central New Jersey on their way to New York City, the British destroyed property and confiscated supplies and food, inspiring growing enmity among the area's civilians. Despite the mortality rate, Washington did curb the spread of smallpox, which had plagued the Continental Army since the American Revolution had begun in 1775. What was Valley Forge come to symbolize for Americans? Washington first asked his generals where to quarter the Continental Army in the winter of 17771778 on October 29, 1777. Three months of shortage and hardship were followed by three months of relative abundance that led to wonderful changes in the morale and fighting capabilities of the Continental Army. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Bibliography:Bodle, Wayne K. and Thibaut, Jacqueline. The land itself was pockmarked with entrenchments, muddy military roads and paths, some 2,000 huts, offal and other refuse pits, and work areas. The procedure provided lifetime immunity from a disease with a roughly 1533% mortality rate. Mark Edward Lender and Garry Wheeler Stone, Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Valley Forge Military Academy and College, "Timeline of the American Revolution 1763 - 1783", "Chapter Six: Historical Accuracy vs Good Taste: Valley Forge on the old 1920s and 1930s - Valley Forge National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)", "The Battle of Valley Forge - Journal of the American Revolution", "The British Campaign for Philadelphia and the Occupation of Valley Forge in 1777", "Washington's Generals and the Decision to Quarter at Valley Forge - The Washington Papers", "Founders Online: General Orders, 20 December 1777", "Founders Online: From George Washington to Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, 3 ", "Founders Online: General Orders, 18 December 1777", "Founders Online: From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 23 December 1777", "Founders Online: General Orders, 27 May 1778", "Founders Online: General Orders, 4 August 1777", "The Women Present at Valley Forge - Valley Forge National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)", "Colonial Williamsburg | the World's Largest Living History Museum", "Patriots of Color at Valley Forge - Valley Forge National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)", "American Indians and the American Revolution", "Founders Online: To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 27 January 1778", "Revolutionary War Sites in Manalapan, New Jersey", "Overview of Valley Forge History and Significance", "Valley Forge: Making and Remaking a National Symbol", "Continental Army Winter Encampments: Morristown, New Jersey and vicinity", Pictures of Valley Forge National Historical Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Valley_Forge&oldid=1155043515, This page was last edited on 16 May 2023, at 08:45. The cabal consisted of a handful of military officers and American politicians who attempted to replace Washington with Major General Horatio Gates as the head of the Continental army. In March 1778, Congress also appointed Nathanael Greene as Quartermaster General, who reluctantly accepted at Washington's behest. In the 19th century, iron mills and later a steel mill were operated there, as well as textile factories; saw, paper, and grist mills; wharves and a towpath associated with the Schuylkill Navigation Canal; a rail line with freight and passenger stations; stone and sand quarries; a water bottling plant; and enterprises including a hotel, stores, blacksmiths, and a tannery. [1][2] They remained there for six months, from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. Washington's Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge. For other uses, see. [7] Settlers of German and Swedish descent also lived nearby. First, while the battle of Saratoga in September 1777 would prove to be a turning point in the war, Washington's army in the northern colonies had yet to find similar success. The British soon tested the Continental Armys newfound discipline at the Battle of Monmouth, which took place in central New Jersey on June 28, 1778. As the drillmaster of Valley Forge, he taught the soldiers how to use the bayonet, and most importantly, how to re-form lines quickly in the midst of battle. She took over the management of his household, helped with his correspondence, and cheered him by entertaining guests. Farmers quickly recovered, and within the decade the huts were largely gone, fields replanted, and woodlots re-sprouted. [6] Surrounding the valley was a rich farmland, where mainly Welsh-Quaker farmers grew wheat, rye, hay, Indian corn, among other crops, and raised livestock including cattle, sheep, pigs, and barnyard fowl. "[35] According to historian Wayne Bodle, they came to understand through their visit "how vulnerable the new army could be to logistical disruption, owing to its size, its organizational complexity, and its increasing mobility. On September 18, 1777, General Wilhelm von Knyphausen led British soldiers on a raid of Valley Forge, where American troops had built a handful of storage facilities. However, the October 1777 surrender of British General John Burgoyne's army at Saratoga won for Americans the assistance they needed from other foreign powers. The success of Valley Forge also can be measured in longer-term gains. The Story of Valley Forge - US History Indigenous Peoples occupied the area in and around what is now known as Valley Forge National Historical Park as early as 10,000-8,000 BP (before present), enjoying the abundance of food and shelter offered by the river valley environment. The park, established in 1976, encompasses 5.4 square miles (14 square km) and maintains many restored structures and defensive works. Several buildings, including Washingtons headquarters, are open for tours. British strategy for the third year of the American Revolution included a plan to capture the patriot capital at Philadelphia. by Charles Willson Peale It was at Valley Forge where the Continental Army turned into a trained fighting force. Perhaps the most notable suffering that occurred at Valley Forge came from a factor that has not been frequently mentioned in textbooks: disease was the true scourge of the camp. To oppose Howe, General Washington marched his 12,000-man army from New Jersey. On May 6, having already received word of the French alliance, Washington ordered the Continental Army to perform a Grand Feu de Joie, a formal ceremony consisting of a rapid and sequential firing of guns down the ranks. Indeed, General Nathanael Greene believed that the troops had fled from victory at Germantown. Also important, the ideas and ideals held dear by Americans today were not forged at Valley Forge, but rather contested not just between patriots and the British but also among different Americans. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. "[30] Resentment swelled within the ranks towards those deemed responsible for their hardship. The livestock and stores of the areas residents had been commandeered and consumed. This splinter group of officers and congressmen blamed Washington for having lost the capital to the British and argued that he put the war effort in jeopardy. The committee emerged from the Valley Forge meeting with a better understanding of the logistical difficulties Washington faced and more sympathetic to the armys requirements. All Rights Reserved. In the old days, writes archivist and author John Buchanan, the Continentals probably would have fled. But, as Wayne Bodle writes in The Valley Forge Winter: Civilians and Soldiers in War, after their six months of training in the mud and snow of Valley Forge, Washingtons troops became imbued with a deeper identification with and pride in their craft.. Valley Forge, in the American Revolution, Pennsylvania encampment grounds of the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778, a period that marked the triumph of morale and military discipline over severe hardship. It tells us that it was the experience of tremendous suffering from cold and starvation during the encampment that forged a spirit of extraordinary patriotism among Washingtons men. A lack of organization, food and money shortages plagued the Continental Army throughout the first half of the seven-year-long revolution. Dead horse remains often lay unburied, and Washington found the smell of some places intolerable. The proponents of this movement, which became known as the Conway Cabal, suggested that General Gates, the victorious leader at the Battle of Saratoga, was perhaps more fit for the top command position. Although its ranks were decimated by rampant disease, the Continental Army was reorganized, and it emerged the following June as a well-disciplined and efficient fighting force, largely because of the efficient drilling methods introduced by Frederick William, Freiherr (baron) von Steuben. December 23, 1777 dawned cold and dank over the hills of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the scent of snow in the air. What weapons did they use in the Valley Forge? In December, 1777, General George Washington moved the Continental Army to their winter quarters at Valley Forge. Provisions were available during the early months of the encampment. [13] Proximity to the Schuylkill River could facilitate supply movements down the river. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In addition to the huts, the men constructed miles of trenches, five earthen forts (redoubts), and a state-of-the-art bridge based on a Roman design over the Schuylkill River. John C. Fitzpatrick (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1934), 168.2. Though commonly conceived of today as a rag tag bunch of inexperienced fighters, by 1777 the Continental Army was battle-tested and capable of standing up to the British. The concepts of basic training, the professionalization of the officer corps, and the rise of the armys distinctive branches, such as the corps of engineers, all got their start here. The Valley Forge encampment occurred during the third year of the war. Within this civilian climate, the army was able to stabilize its situation and concentrate on a much-needed training program. 1400 North Outer Line Drive The most common killers were influenza, typhus, typhoid, and dysentery. [37], Maintaining cleanliness was a challenge for the Continental Army. Valley Forge was the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army. What was the winter at Valley Forge and why was it important? The string of humiliating defeats had led some members of the Continental Congress to want to replace Washington, believing he was incompetent.