Why does it matter today? Valley Forge was where the American Continental Army made camp during the winter of 1777-1778. Following the American failures at the nearby battles of Brandywine and Germantown, Washington led 11,000 regulars to take … The Inspector General also spelled out directives for officers and eventually wrote a complete military handbook. Shortages of clothing did cause severe hardship for a number of men, but many soldiers had a full uniform. The grounds were suitable to guard against attack. 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. But then those things changed. Suggested answer: Answers may vary. The troops being at Valley Forge between the British and York were a protection for Congress. Valley Forge Valley Forge was an important place during the course of the American Revolution. George Washington and the Continental Army spent a brutal winter there in 1777-78, and during this time, many soldiers died not from battle, but instead from cold, disease, and hunger. The romantic image that depicts the troops at Valley Forge as helpless and famished individuals at the mercy of winter’s fury and clothed in nothing but rags renders them and their commander a disservice. Philadelphia was back under patriot control. 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. The expected arrival of the French greatly altered British war plans. As spring wore on, whole brigades marched with newfound precision and crisply executed commands under the watchful eye of the baron. On December 19th, 1777, 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what was essentially the fourth largest city in the United States, with 1,500 log huts and two miles of fortifications. The winter encampment at Valley Forge is one of the most famous episodes of the American Revolution. They were cautiously optimistic about the future and resigned themselves to the task of establishing their winter camp. 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.In September 1777, Congress fled Philadelphia to escape the British capture of the city. During the winter at Valley Forge, American forces were able to retake New York. The Valley Forge encampment occurred during the third year of the war. I should have been pelted had I attempted it, and should inevitably have failed. Valley Forge was a camp that the Militia, or the American soldiers camped in through the Winter. Here are a few: The British were occupying Philadelphia for the winter. The Continental Army’s quick seizure and use of the land directly across the Schuylkill River offers an example of the extent of its capability. The army interred few, if any, of its soldiers who perished within the lines of the camp. In the two key battles of the Philadelphia campaign, Brandywine and Germantown, the Americans fought with skill and courage. Instead of being able to focus on building the camp and obtaining much needed rest, the troops had to expend energy on security operations. From there, he could keep an eye on the British, while he planned what to do next. Valleys assume a wide array of forms, from broad plains to steep-sided canyons. Valley Forge provides a site for exploring this complicated story and examining the multiple perspectives of those involved there – from soldiers to citizens, officers to enslaved Americans, from women to American Indians – the encampment was a microcosm of a revolutionary society at war. While the conditions were harsh, Washington tried to provide for the comfort of his men. The army placed the 2,000-odd huts in parallel lines, and according to one officer, the camp “had the appearance of a little city” when viewed from a distance. Starvation, disease, and exposure killed nearly … 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 September 1777, British occupation of Philadelphia brought the war to southern New Jersey. More than 10,000 men (and women) were part of the Continental Army's encampment at Valley Forge. The livestock and stores of the area’s residents had been commandeered and consumed. Starvation, disease, and exposure killed nearly … Von Steuben taught the soldiers new military skills and to fight as a unified army. An early version of what would eventually morph into the song "Stay Alive," "Valley Forge" more explicitly describes the conditions for Washington's men, as Hamilton sees "the best minds of [his] generation waste away in pestilence and starvation. Von Steuben’s regulations extended beyond tactical instruction. It is approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Encampment Valley Forge is often called the birthplace of the American Army. Curzon and his … What is a Valley Landform? Q. It is where General George Washington’s Continental Army of 12,000 men encamped during the winter of 1777-78. Unfortunately both of these works contain some of the myths that cannot be substantiated by the documents. It is approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. On June 28, at the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, Washington’s men demonstrated their new battlefield skills, as they forced the British from the field. Additional information about the history, people, and places of Valley Forge is available in the History & Culture section. It wasn’t actually that cold. The troops who came to camp included men from all 13 original colonies and regiments from all of them except South Carolina and Georgia. On June 18, 1778, the British army evacuated Philadelphia and began marching toward New York, as Washington led the Continental Army eastward from Valley Forge. Likewise, patriotism did not peak during the relatively short six-month period at Valley Forge. The local community was largely Quaker. Few Americans appreciate the scope of the war. Famous Revolutionary War People at Valley Forge The People at Valley Forge More than 10,000 men (and women) were part of the Continental Army's encampment at Valley Forge. Whether or not these disaffected persons were Quakers or from some other religious affiliation, resolute patriots referred to them all as “Quakers,” and persecuted some for not aiding the Continental Army. Within this civilian climate, the army was able to stabilize its situation and concentrate on a much-needed training program. Baron von Steuben assessed the army and recognized that Washington’s men needed more training and discipline. The most serious food crisis occurred in February, when the men went without meat for several days at a stretch. Washington recognized the strain that this situation placed on his men and rewarded them with two months’ hardship pay. The scale and intensity of the encampment devastated the landscape of the Valley Forge area. The commander in chief’s professional reputation also got a boost at Valley Forge. European recognition augmented congressional reforms. At the Village of Valley Forge, a musket factory was established even before the revolution ended. A second event that consolidated Washington’s control was his successful campaign to have a congressional committee visit camp. The establishment of Valley Forge as a memorial provides a place where generations of Americans have had the opportunity to discover and admire the Continental Army’s sacrifices and achievements and to participate in commemoration of this history. Valley Forge was and is still important because it is the mark of the victory of the struggles, hardships and battles for survival that is embedded in this place. Valley Forge: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania was where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777. Washington described Valley Forge as "a dreary kind of place and uncomfortably provided." October 7, 2015, cherran, Leave a comment. Armstrong's diary begins uneventfully in July 1777. VAlley Forge had taken place the winter of 1777-1778. At Valley Forge in the spring of 1778, the army joyously celebrated the formal French recognition of the United States as a sovereign power and valuable alliance with this leading European nation. Valleys are the most predominant landforms on the face of the earth. The bridge connection also made the camp more secure as patrols could range the country to the north and east to check British movements and intentions in that quarter. The kind of valley created depends on numerous factors, 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. Two events that occurred during the encampment strengthened George Washington’s authority. Through the duration the encampment, Washington inspired the soldiers through his own resilience and sense of duty. This is a book that covers the beginning of the revolutionary war in America from the time that George Washington is selected as commander-in-chief of the army, until his army enters winter quarters at Valley Forge . Qualities a soldier in the Continental Army needed in order to survive the Revolutionary War consisted of resilience, Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777-1778 during the American Revolutionary War. A Discussion the Valley Forge Encampment By the time the army left in June 1778, every tree for miles around had been taken down for firewood or hut construction, as well as miles of farmers’ fences and many outbuildings. After they abandoned Philadelphia, the British had little to show for all of their past year’s efforts. Hardship did occur at Valley Forge, but it was not a time of exceptional misery in the context of the situation. Valley Forge “Helplessness includes hopelessness and history attest that loss of hope and not the loss of lives is what decides the issue war” B. H. Linddel Hart. The number of soldiers present ranged from 12,000 in December to nearly 20,000 in late spring as the army massed for the campaign season. First, the lay of the land made Valley Forge a natural fortress. But, many men died. Valley Forge is an area in Pennsylvania, about 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia . The ordered ranks, martial appearance, revived spirit, and fighting skill of the American soldiers spoke of a great transformation having occurred amidst the cold, sickness, and hardship that was Valley Forge. 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. The park commemorates the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation. ... Women played an important role at Valley forge. While Valley Forge was not a site of a great battle during the American Revolutionary War, it was the site of one of its pivotal moments. 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. The Valley Forge area (terrain) was defensible. Things didn't look so good for a long time. Valley Forge was named for resembling an iron forge on Valley Creek. During the encampment, nearly 2,000 men died of disease. Lasting six months, from December until June, the encampment was as diverse as any city, with people who were free and enslaved, wealthy and impoverished, speakers of several languages, and adherents of multiple religions. Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777-1778 during the American Revolutionary War. With the onset of the bitter winter cold, the Continental Army under General George Washington, still in the field, enters its winter camp at Valley Forge, 22 miles from British-occupied Philadelphia. In the summer of 1778, Washington could claim that the war effort was going well. Distressed and haughty New England officers in camp leveled their most impassioned complaints at the locals who did not appear to support the cause. American determination to survive at Valley Forge convince the British to surrender. Why does it matter today? Many do not realize that the war lasted for eight-and-a-half- years, was international in scale, or that the American army campaigned in areas as far north as Canada, as far south as Georgia, and even west of the Allegheny Mountains. The success of Valley Forge also can be measured in longer-term gains. Moreover, George Washington and his army spent a harsh winter at Valley Forge in the year 1777 -1778. It would be difficult to imagine a scenario in which the leader of a popular revolution stood by while his men froze and starved. By the fall, the British had pushed Washington’s 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. Valley Forge was demographically, militarily, and politically an important crossroads in the Revolutionary War. Most of the nearby prominent farm and industrial families were members of the Religious Society of Friends. Valley Forge was the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army. The thriving community included dwellings, religious institutions, and schools. Indeed, General Nathanael Greene believed that the troops had “fled from victory” at Germantown. Valley Forge was a naturally defensible plateau where they could train and recoup from the year’s battles while winter weather, impassable roads, and scant supplies stopped the fighting. Where can you find the descendents of General Nathanael Greene? Explain why you think each is important for a soldier to survive the war. Instead, von Steuben demonstrated to the men the positive results that would come from retraining. D. The French army was able to use Valley Forge as a base for raids into Canada. Valley Forge National Historical Park is the site of the third winter encampment of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, taking place from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778.The National Park Service preserves the site and interprets the history of the Valley Forge encampment. 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. The winter of 1777-78 was not the worst winter experienced during the war, but constant freezing and thawing, and intermittent snowfall and rain, coupled with shortages of provisions, clothing, and shoes, made living conditions extremely difficult. African Americans at Valley Forge. The Continental Army’s transformative experiences at Valley Forge reshaped it into a more unified force capable of defeating the British and winning American independence during the remaining five years of the war. Click here! Source: Valley Forge National Historical Park General Management Plan, National Park Service, 2007. The men spent extra-long hours on duty patrolling, standing guard, and manning dangerous outposts near the city and the enemy. The myth often obscures the actual history of the event, however. Why is it important to ask wether a soldier at valley Forge should have re enlisted? the entire system of drill, evolutions, maneuvers, discipline, tactics, and Prussian formation into our Army. 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. While Valley Forge was not a site of a great battle during the American Revolutionary War, it was the site of one of its pivotal moments. Yet work remained to be done. 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. For example, army records of the food shipped to camp in the month of January 1778 reveal that the men received an average daily ration of one-half pound of beef per man. Valley Forge Encampment (1983). The picture of the encampment that emerges from the army records and the soldiers’ own writing is that of a skilled and capable force in charge of its own destiny. 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