Valley Forge

Valley Forge was the site of the camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War. This was a time of great suffering for George Washington's army—but also a time of retraining and rejuvenation.

History

Introduction

The army that entered camp on December 19, 1777 was reeling from defeats at Brandywine and Germantown. The British had occupied the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia, about 20 miles away. The American army was weak, poorly supplied, and ill. An estimated 2,500 men (out of 10,000) would die over the winter.

Contrary to popular myth, the winter of 1777–1778 was not unusually cold. (The next winter, while the army was encamped at Morristown, New Jersey, was one of the coldest winters on record.) Historian Edward Lengel argues in General George Washington: A Military Life (2005) that the mild winter ironically made conditions worse for the army. Because it rained often and the ground did not freeze, local roads were muddy and often impassable, making it difficult for supply wagons to reach the camp. The main reason for the army's suffering, however, was not the weather but rather the poor performance of the army's supply officers. This improved after Washington appointed Nathanael Greene as quartermaster general. Another problem was local indifference to the plight of the army, as many local farmers chose to sell their produce to the British in Philadelphia, who would pay in cash.

The Continental Army also used the time at Valley Forge for reorganization and for much needed training, that latter was directed by the Prussian military theorist Baron von Steuben who arrived on February 27.

The army departed Valley Forge on June 19, 1778.

Events leading up to the camp at Valley Forge in 1777

May - 18,000 British forces commanded by Sir William Howe were camped at New Brunswick and Amboy. Washington broke his winter camp at Morristown and moved to within ten miles of the New Brunswick Middlebrook encampment. He took with him about 7,300 men, including 6,000 of the continental congress and 500 New Jersey militia.
June - The British force moved to Staten Island, while Washington remained at Middlebrook.
July 23 - The British fleet (commanded by Lord Howe) sailed from New York with the entire British army under the command of his brother Sir William Howe. They stopped at the capes of the Delaware. Washington moved to Neshaminy Creek, 90 miles north of Philadelphia.
August 20 - The British fleet arrived in Chesapeake Bay. On the 23rd the Continentals marched through Philadelphia to Wilmington. The British disembarked at the Elk River, 54 miles southwest of Philadelphia.
September 11 - After a crushing defeat at the Battle of Brandywine, the Americans (then numbering about 11,000) retreated to Chester, Philadelphia, and Germantown.
September 15 - Washington advanced to Warren Tavern, but a heavy storm ruined the ammunition and led to a retreat to Yellow Springs and subsequently across the Schuylkill River near Phoenixville.
September 21 - The British reached the Schuylkill River and crossed at several points above and below Valley Forge. On the 26th they marched into Philadelphia, leaving a strong garrison in Germantown.
October 4 - The Americans were beaten at the Battle of Germantown, retreating to Whitemarsh, about six miles north of Chestnut Hill.
November 10 - Lord Howe's ships fortified Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer below the city. At the same time, the Battle of Red Bank took place, in which Count Donop, the Hessian commander, was mortally wounded.
December 19 - After a grueling march from Whitemarsh through Gulph Mills, Washington's troops arrived at the hills at Valley Forge. Four days later, nearly 3,000 men of this force were too sick or poorly equipped to fight.

Quotes

"An army of skeletons appeared before our eyes naked, starved, sick and discouraged," New York's Gouverneur Morris of the Continental Congress.

"The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats nor hats, nor shirts, nor shoes. Their feet and their legs froze until they were black, and it was often necessary to amputate them." The Marquis de Lafayette.

The National Park

The site is now a United States National Historical Park. On July 4, 1976 the area around Valley Forge was designated as Valley Forge National Historical Park. The modern park features a newly renovated visitor center, which shows a short film and has several exhibits. Recreational activities in the park include hiking, walking, jogging, running, horseback riding, kite flying, cross-country skiing, boating, fishing, biking, and birding.

External links

American Revolutionary War sites | Archaeological sites in the United States | History of Pennsylvania | National Historical Parks of the United States | Landmarks in Pennsylvania