The mention of Valley Forge to many Americans congers up visions of suffering Revolutionary War soldiers dressed in rags, starving, and standing in the frigid cold. But this vision is a vision created by myth and legend that has been passed down for the last two centuries. The reality of what occurred at Valley Forge is quite different. Valley Forge was one of the key turning points of the Revolutionary War.
Valley Forge, located 20 miles outside of Philadelphia, became the winter encampment of George Washington and his Continental Army in December of 1777. This strategic site was chosen by Washington and his advisors so that an eye could be kept on British occupied Philadelphia, but still be far enough away to avoid sneak attacks.
Upon arrival in Valley Forge troops quickly set to work and built cabins for shelter and would eventually build over 2000 cabins that would house approximately 12,000 soldiers. With so many cabins built Valley Forge became the 5th largest city in the America at that time. Adding to the size of the camp was also the wives and families of some of the soldiers who would travel with the army. Other women would follow the army as well providing services such as sewing, laundering and nursing.
To be fair, there was some suffering at Valley Forge, not from frigid temperatures but from the many illnesses and diseases that were passed around troops like typhus, influenza, and dysentery. Supplies were scarce, but industrious troops made much of their own clothing and gear. They also cooked meals from whatever provisions could be found.
Soldiers did not sit idly around the encampment, but instead participated in training exercises and drills led by professional Prussian Army officer, Baron von Steuben. Under von Steuben’s training Washington’s rag tag, inexperienced soldiers became a mature, confident army. By the time the encampment was broken up in the spring of 1778 the troops were prepared to engage the enemy with added confidence, discipline, and vigor. They proved their ability quickly by successfully defeating the Red Coats in the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778.
So, Valley Forge should not be remembered as a place of suffering, but as a time when the American Army transformed and defined itself to be the force that would defeat the world’s strongest military force of the time.
Please be sure to check out my video on YouTube to the right of this post on my recent trip to Valley Forge.
Works Cited:
"History and Culture". NPS.gov. 7 March 2011. <http://www.nps.gov/vafo/historyculture/index.htm>.
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