George Washington and the Christmases at Valley Forge
During the harsh winter of 1777-78, American spirits had reached a low point. British troops had marched triumphantly into Philadelphia the previous autumn, at a time when Philadelphia was the largest city in the Colonies and the seat of political power. After the British swept into Philadelphia, the Continental Congress had fled west, first to Lancaster then to York.
The Continental Army, led by General George Washington, had spent the summer of 1777 fighting a string of losing battles. The Americans harassed the British army in skirmishes and minor battles for much of the fighting season. In the fall, the army had fought well at the Battle of Brandywine in September and the Battle of Germantown in October, but in spite of this, the Americans were unable to keep the British out of Philadelphia.
On December 19, 1777, Washington marched his tired, hungry, poorly-clothed, sick and defeated army to Valley Forge, a location about 20 miles northwest of British-occupied Philadelphia. From Valley Forge, Washington could keep an eye on General Howe's British army which was encamped in Philadelphia. But all was not well at Valley Forge. There were shortages of everything from food to clothing to medicine. Washington's men were sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. The Continental Army camped in crude log cabins and endured cold conditions while the Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial homes. The patriots suffered food shortages while the British soldiers ate well. Terms of enlistment were ending for many soldiers in Washington's army and Washington wondered if he would even have an army left when the spring thaw finally arrived.
Washington was upset that local farmers were hoarding much-needed food waiting to earn higher profits in the spring. Some farmers even secretly transported grain into Philadelphia to feed the British army, who paid in gold or silver. With each passing night came more desertions.
Then there was the grumbling of some in Congress and among some of Washington's own officers. Washington's leadership skills were openly questioned. Many said General Horatio Gates was better-suited to leading the army. Gates had scored a major victory in October at the Battle of Saratoga. Washington and his spent a miserable Christmas at Valley Forge that winter.
On Dec. 23, Washington wrote a scathing ten page letter to Henry Laurens, the president of the Continental Congress. The Congress had recently fled Philadelphia, first for Lancaster, then for York. The original letter is browned with age but is still quite legible. It is at the Visitor Center of the Valley Forge National Historical Park. In the letter, Washington wrote:
"I am now convinced beyond a doubt, that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place, this army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of these three things. Starve - dissolve - or disperse, in order to obtain sustenance in the best manner they can. Rest assured, Sir, this is not an exaggerated picture, and that I have abundant reasons to support what I say."
The letter did not help. The Continental Congress did not come up with the cash in time to ease the suffering of the soldiers during the harsh Valley Forge winter. It left Washington to depend on the individual states, who did not provide much either.
On January 24, 1778, five Congressmen came to Valley Forge to examine the conditions of the Continental Army. Washington pressed upon them the urgency of the situation. Washington also informed them that he wanted Congress to take control of the army supply system, pay for the supplies, and replenish them when necessities were scarce. By the end of February, there were adequate supplies flowing throughout camp after Congress gave full support to monetarily funding the supply lines of the army, along with reorganizing the commissionary department (which controlled the gathering of the supplies for the army).
Increasing military efficiency, morale, and discipline were also vital to the army's well-being. The task of developing and carrying out an effective training program fell to Baron Friedrich von Steuben. This skilled Prussian drill master, who had recently arrived from Europe, drilled the soldiers, improving their battle and formation techniques greatly.
Martha Washington arrived at the camp on February 10, 1778. She visited soldiers in the huts and in the camp hospital. She also organized a sewing circle of women who knitted, crafted, and patched socks, shirts, and trousers. Camp followers at Valley Forge consisted of the wives, children, mothers, and sisters of the soldiers. These camp followers often served as laundresses, cleaning and mending the uniforms of the soldiers. Washington understood a soldier would die quickly from disease if his uniform was dirty and threadbare. These camp followers also provided the emotional support to the army, encouraging them to remain at camp and continue on training and soldiering during the winter months. Women were relegated to the back of the column when marching and were forbidden to ride on wagons. Camp followers faced the issues of disease along with the soldiers. Some women lost their lives on the battlefield trying to obtain goods from wounded or dead soldiers. At Valley Forge women averaged 1 to every 44 men, adding up to around 500 women.
After the harsh winter, the Continental Army learned that France was going to aid their cause by sending military and monetary donations to the army. France had signed an alliance pact, on February 6, 1778 with the 13 colonies. A celebration of French alliance was organized on May 6, 1778, at Valley Forge. Word of the British departure from Philadelphia brought a frenzied activity to the ranks of the Continental Army. On June 19, 1778, exactly six months after the soldiers arrival at Valley Forge, the tested army marched away from Valley Forge and retook Philadelphia. They later charged in pursuit of the British, who were moving toward New York. The Battle of Monmouth, which occurred on June 28, 1778, resulted in an indecisive victory, though Congress and many newspapers treated it as an American victory (since the British retreated and left the battlefield first). This result demonstrated that the colonists were now able to withstand a strong British army after the intense training at Valley Forge under von Steuben.
Washington would later claim that the perseverance gained by the soldiers at Valley Forge was what made the Continental Army bind together even stronger and eventually win the war.
Today Valley Forge National Historic Park commemorates the perseverance, sacrifice, and dedication of the soldiers of the Continental Army. The site of the encampment became a Pennsylvania state park in 1893 and, on the July 4, 1976, it became Valley Forge National Historical Park. The modern park features historical and recreated buildings and structures, memorials and a visitor center, which shows a short film and has several exhibits. Washington Memorial Chapel was built in 1903 as a memorial to Washington and his army.
The Continental Army, led by General George Washington, had spent the summer of 1777 fighting a string of losing battles. The Americans harassed the British army in skirmishes and minor battles for much of the fighting season. In the fall, the army had fought well at the Battle of Brandywine in September and the Battle of Germantown in October, but in spite of this, the Americans were unable to keep the British out of Philadelphia.
On December 19, 1777, Washington marched his tired, hungry, poorly-clothed, sick and defeated army to Valley Forge, a location about 20 miles northwest of British-occupied Philadelphia. From Valley Forge, Washington could keep an eye on General Howe's British army which was encamped in Philadelphia. But all was not well at Valley Forge. There were shortages of everything from food to clothing to medicine. Washington's men were sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. The Continental Army camped in crude log cabins and endured cold conditions while the Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial homes. The patriots suffered food shortages while the British soldiers ate well. Terms of enlistment were ending for many soldiers in Washington's army and Washington wondered if he would even have an army left when the spring thaw finally arrived.
Washington was upset that local farmers were hoarding much-needed food waiting to earn higher profits in the spring. Some farmers even secretly transported grain into Philadelphia to feed the British army, who paid in gold or silver. With each passing night came more desertions.
Then there was the grumbling of some in Congress and among some of Washington's own officers. Washington's leadership skills were openly questioned. Many said General Horatio Gates was better-suited to leading the army. Gates had scored a major victory in October at the Battle of Saratoga. Washington and his spent a miserable Christmas at Valley Forge that winter.
On Dec. 23, Washington wrote a scathing ten page letter to Henry Laurens, the president of the Continental Congress. The Congress had recently fled Philadelphia, first for Lancaster, then for York. The original letter is browned with age but is still quite legible. It is at the Visitor Center of the Valley Forge National Historical Park. In the letter, Washington wrote:
"I am now convinced beyond a doubt, that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place, this army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of these three things. Starve - dissolve - or disperse, in order to obtain sustenance in the best manner they can. Rest assured, Sir, this is not an exaggerated picture, and that I have abundant reasons to support what I say."
The letter did not help. The Continental Congress did not come up with the cash in time to ease the suffering of the soldiers during the harsh Valley Forge winter. It left Washington to depend on the individual states, who did not provide much either.
On January 24, 1778, five Congressmen came to Valley Forge to examine the conditions of the Continental Army. Washington pressed upon them the urgency of the situation. Washington also informed them that he wanted Congress to take control of the army supply system, pay for the supplies, and replenish them when necessities were scarce. By the end of February, there were adequate supplies flowing throughout camp after Congress gave full support to monetarily funding the supply lines of the army, along with reorganizing the commissionary department (which controlled the gathering of the supplies for the army).
Increasing military efficiency, morale, and discipline were also vital to the army's well-being. The task of developing and carrying out an effective training program fell to Baron Friedrich von Steuben. This skilled Prussian drill master, who had recently arrived from Europe, drilled the soldiers, improving their battle and formation techniques greatly.
Martha Washington arrived at the camp on February 10, 1778. She visited soldiers in the huts and in the camp hospital. She also organized a sewing circle of women who knitted, crafted, and patched socks, shirts, and trousers. Camp followers at Valley Forge consisted of the wives, children, mothers, and sisters of the soldiers. These camp followers often served as laundresses, cleaning and mending the uniforms of the soldiers. Washington understood a soldier would die quickly from disease if his uniform was dirty and threadbare. These camp followers also provided the emotional support to the army, encouraging them to remain at camp and continue on training and soldiering during the winter months. Women were relegated to the back of the column when marching and were forbidden to ride on wagons. Camp followers faced the issues of disease along with the soldiers. Some women lost their lives on the battlefield trying to obtain goods from wounded or dead soldiers. At Valley Forge women averaged 1 to every 44 men, adding up to around 500 women.
After the harsh winter, the Continental Army learned that France was going to aid their cause by sending military and monetary donations to the army. France had signed an alliance pact, on February 6, 1778 with the 13 colonies. A celebration of French alliance was organized on May 6, 1778, at Valley Forge. Word of the British departure from Philadelphia brought a frenzied activity to the ranks of the Continental Army. On June 19, 1778, exactly six months after the soldiers arrival at Valley Forge, the tested army marched away from Valley Forge and retook Philadelphia. They later charged in pursuit of the British, who were moving toward New York. The Battle of Monmouth, which occurred on June 28, 1778, resulted in an indecisive victory, though Congress and many newspapers treated it as an American victory (since the British retreated and left the battlefield first). This result demonstrated that the colonists were now able to withstand a strong British army after the intense training at Valley Forge under von Steuben.
Washington would later claim that the perseverance gained by the soldiers at Valley Forge was what made the Continental Army bind together even stronger and eventually win the war.
Today Valley Forge National Historic Park commemorates the perseverance, sacrifice, and dedication of the soldiers of the Continental Army. The site of the encampment became a Pennsylvania state park in 1893 and, on the July 4, 1976, it became Valley Forge National Historical Park. The modern park features historical and recreated buildings and structures, memorials and a visitor center, which shows a short film and has several exhibits. Washington Memorial Chapel was built in 1903 as a memorial to Washington and his army.