Soon he became the Continental Armys chief drillmaster. Valley Forge National Historical Park, established as a national historic site in 1976, protects and preserves over 3,500 acres of the original encampment site. The British succeeded in stealing supplies and burning a few buildings. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen and Christian Zapata. To oppose Howe, General Washington marched his 12,000-man army from New Jersey. Winter at Valley Forge: George Washington's Most Dismal - HISTORY HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. 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. Finally, on June 19, the Continental Armybetter trained and more determined than evermarched out of Valley Forge. Corrections? Outbreaks of typhoid and dysentery spread through contaminated food and water. In 1777, Valley Forge consisted of a small proto-industrial community located at the juncture of the Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River. National Park Service. He complained of a "malignant faction," led by Horatio Gates, the hero of Saratoga, Thomas Mifflin, the nation's former Quartermaster General, and Thomas Conway, a French soldier of Irish descent, who had recently been named to the Board of War by Congress.5 They had been given the authority to oversee the war effort on equal terms with the Commander in Chief. They also brought 2,000 shirts, smuggled from the city, sewn under the eyes of the enemy. 2 When did the Valley Forge happen? [19] Afterwards, brigadier generals appointed officers from each regiment to mark out the precise spot for every officer and all enlisted men's huts. 7. From this location 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Washington was close enough to maintain pressure on the enemy dwelling in the captured patriot capital, yet far enough to prevent a surprise attack on his own troops. The winter of 1777-78 was not the coldest nor the worst winter experienced during the war, but regular freezing and thawing, plus intermittent snowfall and rain, coupled with shortages of provisions, clothing, and shoes, made living conditions extremely difficult. [73], This article is about the American Revolutionary War winter encampment. [8][9], After the British landing at Head of Elk (present-day Elkton, Maryland), on August 25, 1777, the British Army maneuvered out of the Chesapeake basin and towards Valley Forge. 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. Thanks to the contributions of von Steuben and others, the Continental Army was more unified than ever before. These persons and their Scottish, Irish, and German neighbors assisted the army to varying extents as their sentiments ranged in degree from staunch patriot to fervent Tory. [72] However, Potts did not live near Valley Forge during the encampment period and did not marry his wife until 1803. The men spent extra-long hours on duty patrolling, standing guard, and manning dangerous outposts near the city and the enemy. Doctors dispatched the most serious cases to outlying hospitals, both to limit disease spread and also to cure those individuals who could be saved. Yet work remained to be done. Many regard Valley Forge as the birthplace of the American army. Several buildings, including Washingtons headquarters, are open for tours. The Army was not sure of where they were heading when they moved into winter quarters. Baron von Steuben assessed the army and recognized that Washingtons men needed more training and discipline. These returns reveal that two-thirds of the men who perished died during the warmer months of March, April, and May, when supplies were more abundant. 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. The army interred few, if any, of its soldiers who perished within the lines of the camp. The women present at Valley Forge included approximately 400 enlisted mens wives who followed the army year-round and a few general officers wives who came on extended visits. "[31] While Washington dealt with serious circumstances, he may have exaggerated slightly to obtain a quicker response from the Continental Congress. Increasing military efficiency, morale, and discipline improved the army's well-being, along with a better supply of food and arms. Von Steuben did not try to introduce the entire system of drill, evolutions, maneuvers, discipline, tactics, and Prussian formation into the American army: I should have been pelted had I attempted it, and should inevitably have failed. On June 19, 1778, after a six-month encampment, this same army emerged to pursue and successfully engage Lt. Gen. Sir Henry Clinton's British army at the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey. 1400 North Outer Line Drive George Ewing, "The Military Journal of George Ewing: A Soldier of Valley Forge Pages 4154," Ewing Family History, last modified September 16, 2006, http://www.sandcastles.net/journal4.htm. Lucy Flucker Knox, Catharine Littlefield "Caty" Greene, and other senior officers' wives journeyed to Valley Forge at the behest of their husbands. Continental soldiers under the command of General Charles Lee engaged the British in approximately five hours of continuous fighting in a ferocious heat. While the Continental forces were gathered in small shelters at Valley Forge, the British were holding a "Meschianza" in Philadelphia. Most of the land had previously been cleared for agriculture, leaving a level plateau in an open, rolling landscape. Though it would take years to bear fruit at Yorktown in 1781, the alliance provided Washington with assistance from the formidable French navy as well as additional troops he needed to counter British marine superiority. [69][70], One of the most enduring myths about the Valley Forge encampment concerns the weather. As the campaign wound down through the months of November and December, Washington maintained strong offensive pressure on the British in the city. Together they headed for New Jersey where they would make a stand against the British army, on its way from Philadelphia to New York, at Monmouth Courthouse. The majority of the army swiftly advanced from staging areas on the north side of the Schuylkill River and southeast of camp toward the Delaware River and New Jersey in order to bring on a general engagement. more information on current conditions Read more about women at the Valley Forge encampment, Read more about Black people at the Valley Forge encampment, Read more about Native American allies at the Valley Forge encampment, National Park Service Handbook of the American Revolution. Most agreed that their log accommodations were tolerably comfortable.. Concentrating the soldiers in one vast camp allowed the army to protect the countryside and be better able to resist a British attack, but it became costly when lack of supplies and hunger afflicted the inhabitants, and diseases like influenza and typhoid spread through the camp. The significance of the encampment lies both in its fact-based history and also its storied myth. The area was named after an iron forge located at nearby Valley Creek. Soldiers contracted influenza and pneumonia, while still others succumbed to typhus, caused by body lice. Washington once wrote that "the multitude of women in particular, especially those who are pregnant, or have children, are a clog upon every movement. The Valley Forge encampment occurred during the third year of the war. Valley Forge was a naturally defensible plateau where they could train and recoup from the years battles while winter weather, impassable roads, and scant supplies stopped the fighting. 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. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam 9 October 1777. Valley Forge remains a touchstone - always ready to minister to a generation in crisis. [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. The Schuylkill River also thawed, allowing the Continental Army to more easily transport convoys from the main supply depot at Reading. Source: Valley Forge National Historical Park General Management Plan, National Park Service, 2007. Valley Forge: Facts, Location & Baron von Steuben | HISTORY As a result, retreats could turn into panicked flights. 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. 'and cheers and a shout of 'God Save the American States! 4. A series of leaks and embarrassing exposures in the fall and winter of 1777 and 1778 dissolved the cabal, and Washington's reputation improved.[59]. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Several senior officers in the Continental Army originally came from France, Prussia, Poland, Ireland, and Hungary. John C. Fitzpatrick (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1934), 168.2. By the early 19th century, landowners on the north side, with its particularly exceptional agricultural soils, experimented with scientific farming to increase the yields of their fields, and became prosperous. Continental Army enters winter camp at Valley Forge - HISTORY What Happened At Valley Forge And Why Was It Significant? 3 Why did soldiers leave Valley Forge? [13] Proximity to the Schuylkill River could facilitate supply movements down the river. The ordered ranks, martial appearance, revived spirit, and fighting skill of the American soldiers spoke of a great transformation having occurred amidst the . [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. [14] On December 19, Washington conducted his 12,000-man army to Valley Forge to establish the encampment. We don't accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington's home and legacy. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Provisions were available during the early months of the encampment. 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. 10 Must-See Attractions at Valley Forge National Historical Park "[36] Washington and his aides convinced them to implement recommended reforms to the supply department. They had cause for celebration. Details about the George Washington statue at the park. 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. Washington's enslaved domestic staff included his manservant William Lee, as well as cooks Hannah Till and her husband Isaac. About 1,700 to 2,000 soldiers died from disease, possibly exacerbated by malnutrition. Continental officer George Ewing wrote that "the troops then shouted, three cheers and 'Long live the King of France!' 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. At the Village of Valley Forge, a musket factory was established even before the revolution ended. Monmouth hurt the British in the short term and provided the Americans with a long-term boost in confidence. Ann F. Rhoads, Douglas Ryan and Ella W. Aderman. Why was the winter at Valley Forge important? - JOUNIMARTIKAINEN "[17], The Valley Forge encampment became the Continental Army's first large-scale construction of living quarters. Widespread devotion to the cause was an early war phenomenon for the most part. As empires, both France and Great Britain had territory around the world that required protection. Valley Forge gets its name from an iron forge on Valley Creek that was part of an small industrial village (including a grist mill and a saw mill) that existed here prior to the Revolutionary War. Images of bloody footprints in the snow, soldiers huddled around lonely campfires, and Washington on his knees, praying that his army might survive often come to mind when people hear the words "Valley Forge." The military lessons that von Steuben helped instill served Washingtons veterans well. Valley Forge marked the first time Washington ordered the army primarily concentrated into a more permanent post where they constructed their own shelters. Farmers quickly recovered, and within the decade the huts were largely gone, fields replanted, and woodlots re-sprouted. The correspondence of General Washington and other soldiers letters and notebooks are the only accounts of what took place. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/valley-forge. Valley Forge was chosen for many reasons. These scattered Southeastern Pennsylvania gravesites have never been systematically commemorated. Valley Forge's high terrain meant that enemy attacks would be difficult. He asked von Steuben . Valley Forge National Historical Park: Where an Army Was Made. The image was popularized in paintings and in newspapers, and at one point, President Ronald Reagan even repeated it. It is where General George Washington's Continental Army of 12,000 men encamped during the winter of 1777-78. Once the bridge spanning the river was complete, the army made full use of the land north of the river as a vital supply link. Early successes against a smaller British army had led some Revolutionary leaders to believe that the righteousness of their cause and a militia-type force composed of citizen soldiers would be enough to force the British from America. [28] In practice, however, the army could not reliably supply the full ration. The men were hungry and tired after a string of losing battles that had resulted in the British capture of the patriot capital, Philadelphia, earlier in the fall at the Battle of Brandywine. They realized that Washington respected them as the leaders of the nation and had no intention of launching a coup. The most serious food crisis occurred in February, when the men went without meat for several days at a stretch. What happened at Valley Forge and why was it important? The officers formed the men into construction squads and instructed them to build cabins according to a 14-foot by 16-foot model. Mount Vernon Ladies Association. 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. First, the lay of the land made Valley Forge a natural fortress. Omissions? Popular images of life at Valley Forge depict tremendous suffering from cold and starvation. Two years of war, shuffling leadership, and uneven recruitment resulted in irregular unit organization and strength. The Continental Armys quick seizure and use of the land directly across the Schuylkill River offers an example of the extent of its capability. Valley Forge - Washington House. While no accurate account exists for the number of log huts built, experts estimate a range between 1,300 and 1,600 structures. One of the Continental Army's most able generals, Greene did not want an administrative position. What was Valley Forge and why is it important? - Sage-Answer As well, the participants had different values, and especially different ideas about what words such as liberty, equality, slavery, and freedom actually meant in practice. Why was Valley Forge important? - KnowsWhy.com This strategic shift encouraged a whole new host of problems for the American Patriots. The standardized training instilled at Valley Forge had improved their performance on the battlefield. What happened at Valley Forge? - The Historic Present Winter at Valley Forge in the American Revolution - ThoughtCo The People of the Encampment - Valley Forge National Historical Park (U A few months later, Washington and thousands of his troops would arrive at the site. These reforms in supply systems and fighting tactics, along with reforms in military hygiene and army organization, became the foundation of the modern United States Army. Along Valley Creek, an iron works named Valley Forge was established, and a small industrial village including charcoal houses, a saw mill, grist mill, and company store grew up around it. In the summer of 1777 the Continental Army's quartermaster general, Thomas Mifflin, decided to station a portion of his army's supplies in outbuildings around the forges, because of its variety of structures and secluded location between two prominent hills. 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. Click to see full answer. Washington's aide-de-camp Colonel Richard Kidder Meade met her at the Susquehanna ferry dock to escort her into the encampment. 19406, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. They often earned income either by laundering clothes or by nursing troops, which kept soldiers cleaner and healthier. Battle-worn, hungry, and ill-trained, the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, set up camp on December 19, 1777, along the plateaus of Mount Joy and Mount Misery, just 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia in the area known today as Valley Forge. The expected arrival of the French greatly altered British war plans. Washington and his weary troops occupied Valley Forge, located in eastern Pennsylvania along the banks of the Schuylkill River some 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, six days before Christmas in 1777. Valley Forge National Historical Park Has One of the Most Important Fossil Deposits in North America . A Discussion the Valley Forge Encampment Rather than wait for deliverance, the army procured supplies, built log cabins to stay in, constructed makeshift clothing and gear, and cooked subsistence meals of their own concoction. Valley Forge received its name from the iron forge that was constructed along Valley Creek, next to current PA 252, in the 1740s. They were cautiously optimistic about the future, and resigned themselves to the task of establishing their winter camp. A lack of organization, food and money shortages plagued the Continental Army throughout the first half of the seven-year-long revolution. [29] Perishable foods began to rot before reaching the troops because of poor storage, transportation problems, or confusion regarding the supplies' whereabouts. 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. Washington conferred with his officers to select the site that would be most advantageous to his army. Ibid.3. They exuded the confidence of people who knew that they had come close to beating the British in battle. 1 What was Valley Forge and why is it important? [63] France and the United States subsequently signed a treaty on February 6, 1778, creating a military alliance between the two countries. Smithsonian Magazine.Letter From George Washington to Henry Laurens, December 23, 1777. 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. What Was The Winter At Valley Forge And Why Was It Important? - AnswersAll "[22], The Continental Army that marched into Valley Forge consisted of about 12,000 peoplesoldiers, artificers, women, and children. There are no known contemporary images of the Valley Forge cantonment. All Rights Reserved. Updated: June 21, 2023 | Original: December 12, 2018. What weapons did they use in the Valley Forge? 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. Baron von Steuben to Baron de Gaudy, 1787-88. Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". [71], One of the most popular Valley Forge myths involves Washington kneeling in the snow praying for his army's salvation. Valley Forge George Washington's Mount Vernon Christopher Marshall, in "200 Years Ago Today at Valley Forge: Diary of ChristopherMarshall" (in the possession of Valley Forge National Historical Park), January 7, 1778. 25 bake ovens were built to supply the army daily with 10,000-12,000 loaves of bread. Notes:1. 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. 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. December 23, 1777 dawned cold and dank over the hills of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the scent of snow in the air. In mid-June Washingtons spy network informed him that the British were about to abandon Philadelphia. One of the most immediate remedies against the weather and a lack of clothing was the construction of log shelters by the men. At the time, the Prussian Army was widely regarded as one of the best in Europe, and von Steuben had a sharp military mind. Washington declared May 6, 1778 a day of celebration. The army had a limited water supply for cooking, washing, and bathing. [1][2] They remained there for six months, from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778. American Revolution: Valley Forge - Ducksters Get HISTORYs most fascinating stories delivered to your inbox three times a week. "[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. Washington railed against the threesome, dubbed the "Conway Cabal" by later historians. Mount Vernon is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization. Captain Alexander Graydon 24 August 1777. The local community was largely Quaker. During 1777, Patriot forces under General Washington suffered major defeats against the British at the battles . 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 scale and intensity of the encampment devastated the landscape of the Valley Forge area. In part, they worried that revolutionary fervor might spread into their own empire (which it did by 1789), but they also did not think the American colonists could win. 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. However, several tribes, including the Oneida, sided with the Patriots due in part to ties with American settlers, such as Presbyterian minister Samuel Kirkland.
2024 Polaris General Rumors,
Do Not Confess Negative Thoughts,
Immaculate Heart Of Mary Seminary,
Key Provisions Of The Pension Protection Act Of 2006,
Articles W