What year did Continental Army spend winter at Valley Forge?
Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington. Here the Continental Army, a collection of disparate colonial militias, emerged under Washington’s leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force.
What is the weather like in Valley Forge?
weather permitting. All activities are free and open to the public. See the full schedule of activity times and locations, detailed below. Travel around the park to discover the story of a real person who was at the Valley Forge encampment. After you've ...
Why did Washington go to Valley Forge?
Why did Washington stay at Valley Forge? Valley Forge was chosen for many reasons. Here are a few: The British were occupying Philadelphia for the winter. The American Army needed to keep an eye on them and prevent them from foraging in the countryside for food they needed.
What happened during the winter at Valley Forge?
Who served at Valley Forge?
- Anthony Wayne.
- George Washington.
- Baron Von Steuben.
- Marquis de Lafayette.
- General William Howe.
- Henry Knox.
- Nathanael Greene.
- Martha Washington.
When was the famous winter at Valley Forge?
1777-1778Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War.
When did the winter at Valley Forge start and end?
After failing to retake Philadelphia, Washington led his 12,000-man army into winter quarters at Valley Forge, located approximately 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Philadelphia. They remained there for six months, from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778.
How long did the winter at Valley Forge last?
six-monthContents. The six-month encampment of General George Washington's Continental Army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War.
What happened at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777?
In December, 1777, General George Washington moved the Continental Army to their winter quarters at Valley Forge. Though Revolutionary forces had secured a pivotal victory at Saratoga in September and October, Washington's army suffered defeats at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, Pennsylvania.
How cold was the winter of 1780?
The winter of 1779–1780 has been called among the harshest in the eighteenth century. A total of twenty-eight snowstorms hit the United States, some dropping snow for several days in succession. The temperature rarely rose above freezing as the Delaware and Hudson Rivers froze over.
How cold was the winter of 1777?
The end of December with a low of 6 Degrees and the end of March with a low of 8 Degrees. The low in January reached 12 Degrees and February was 16 Degrees.
Did George Washington pray at Valley Forge?
One of the legends or myths of Valley Forge is that Washington prayed for his country here. We do not say that he did not pray at Valley Forge, there simply is an open question as to how he did so and if he actually was witnessed in prayer.
How did the soldiers survive Valley Forge?
The men subsisted on a concoction called “firecake”–flour and water mixed together and baked in iron kettles. The men didn't get any kind of yeast or leavening agent with their rations, so the firecakes were flat and dense.
What did the soldiers have to eat what was it made out of?
Union soldiers were fed pork or beef, usually salted and boiled to extend the shelf life, coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, and sometimes dried fruits and vegetables if they were in season. Hard tack, a type of biscuit made from unleavened flour and water, was commonly used to stave off hunger on both sides.
Why did the soldiers at Valley Forge have no shoes?
The conditions that the soldiers had to endure at Valley Forge were horrible. They had to deal with cold, wet, and snowy weather. They were often hungry, as food was scarce. Many of the soldiers didn't have warm clothing or even shoes as their shoes had worn out on the long march to the valley.
What is Valley Forge famous for?
Valley Forge National Historical Park is nationally significant as the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington.
Why is it called Valley Forge?
Valley Forge received its name from the iron forge that was constructed along Valley Creek, next to current PA 252, in the 1740s. A sawmill and grist mill had been built by the time of the encampment, making the area an important supply base for the American fighters.
Which statement about Valley Forge in the winter of 1777 to 1778 is most accurate?
Q. Which statement about Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 is MOST accurate? Royalists were encouraged by reports of Washington's forces at Valley Forge.
Where was the winter of Valley Forge?
Following the American failures at the nearby battles of Brandywine and Germantown, Washington led 11,000 regulars to take up winter quarters at Valley Forge on the west bank of the Schuylkill River, 22 miles (35 km) northwest of Philadelphia (which at the time was occupied by the British).
Where was the winter at Valley Forge?
Valley ForgeValley Forge National Historical...Valley Forge/Location
Did George Washington pray at Valley Forge?
One of the legends or myths of Valley Forge is that Washington prayed for his country here. We do not say that he did not pray at Valley Forge, there simply is an open question as to how he did so and if he actually was witnessed in prayer.
What were the conditions at Valley Forge during the war?
These problems exacerbated the harsh living conditions at Valley Forge, during the third year of the war. While the winter of 1777-1778 wasn’t exceptionally cold, many soldiers lacked proper clothing, which left them unfit to serve. Some were even shoeless.
How many people died at Valley Forge?
Cold and starvation at Valley Forge were not even the most dangerous threats: diseases proved to be the biggest killer. As the National Park Service says, “Disease was the true scourge of the camp.” By the end of the six-month encampment, some 2,000 men—roughly one in six—died of disease. Camp records indicate that two-thirds of the deaths happened during the warmer months of March, April and May when soldiers were less confined to their cabins and food and other supplies were more abundant.
Why is Valley Forge called the birthplace of the American army?
Despite the harsh conditions, Valley Forge is sometimes called the birthplace of the American army because, by June of 1778, the weary troops emerged with a rejuvenated spirit and confidence as a well-trained fighting force. Much of the credit goes to former Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben.
What is the hardship at Valley Forge?
Popular images of life at Valley Forge depict tremendous suffering from cold and starvation. While it was cold, the National Park Service says there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary about the conditions at Valley Forge, characterizing the hardship as “suffering as usual" since the Continental soldier experienced a perpetual state of hardship.
What was the military training at Valley Forge?
Military Training at Valley Forge. SOURCES. The six-month encampment of General George Washington ’s Continental Army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War. While conditions were notoriously cold and harsh and provisions were in short supply, it was at the winter camp ...
What did Von Steuben do in the Valley Forge?
In his role, von Steuben set standards for camp layout, sanitation and conduct. For instance, he demanded that latrines be placed, facing downhill, on the opposite side of camp as the kitchens.
What did General Washington build in the camp?
In addition to the huts, the men built miles of trenches, military roads and paths. According to the National Park Service, one officer said the camp “had the appearance of a little city” when viewed from a distance. General Washington and his closest aides lived in a two-story stone house near Valley Forge Creek.
What happened to the Battle of Valley Forge?
As the aborted battle plan disappeared into the churn of history on that afternoon of December 23, 1777, a heavy snow began to blanket Valley Forge. It would continue for three days, the worst blizzard of the season thus far. It was during this Christmas whiteout that Washington transferred his headquarters to a small fieldstone cottage hard by the confluence of the Schuylkill and Valley Creek, not far from where he had pitched his headquarters tent. While his personal guard began construction of their own crude huts nearby, Washington, his staff and their servants moved in. On any given day, 18 to 25 people squeezed into the cramped and musty quarters that for the next six months would serve as the de facto capital of the United States.
How many troops were frozen in the Valley Forge?
The upshot: Nearly 3,000 freezing, near-naked and starving troops—a quarter of Washington’s force—had been declared unfit for duty. The six months that the Continental Army would spent at Valley Forge would be the most difficult, and ultimately, transformative of the American Revolution.
What was the name of the attack on the headquarters tent in 1777?
With a quarter of his troops freezing, starving and barely clothed, Washington, running out of options, schemed a bold—and highly risky—Christmas Eve attack. December 23, 1777 dawned cold and dank over the hills of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the scent of snow in the air. General George Washington, pacing the headquarters tent ...
How long did the Whiteout last?
It would continue for three days, the worst blizzard of the season thus far. It was during this Christmas whiteout that Washington transferred his headquarters to a small fieldstone cottage hard by the confluence of the Schuylkill and Valley Creek, not far from where he had pitched his headquarters tent.
What did George Washington intend to do on Christmas Eve?
He intended to begin the assault with a ruse. On Christmas Eve, he confided to his trusted friend General John Sullivan, he envisioned a portion of the “light Parties” which had been shadowing Gen. Howe’s movements would fall on the left flank of the British column as if they were the point movement of a major attack. Washington assumed Gen. Howe would naturally attempt to quick-time the bulk of his force back to Philadelphia while leaving several detachments to screen his retreat and cover the Schuylkill’s northern fords.
What was the sugar-plum reveries of Washington's battle plan?
Still others, such as historian Wayne Bodle, wonder if the “sugar-plum reveries” of Washington’s battle plan were an outgrowth of nostalgia for the glories of Trenton enhanced by “a holiday-induced overindulgence in hemp or Madeira at Headquarters.”.
What year was the Valley Forge?
Kennedy Hickman. Updated January 29, 2020. The encampment at Valley Forge took place from December 19, 1777 through June 19, 1778 and served as winter quarters for General George Washington 's Continental Army. Having suffered a string of defeats that fall, including losing the capital of Philadelphia to the British, ...
How many people died in Valley Forge?
Over the next three months, influenza, typhus, typhoid, and dysentery all erupted within the encampment. Of the 2,000 men who died at Valley Forge, over two-thirds were killed by disease. These outbreaks were eventually contained through sanitation regulations, inoculations, and the work of surgeons.
Why was Valley Forge important to the Continental Army?
The location also allowed the Americans to prevent Howe's men from raiding into the Pennsylvania interior as well as could provide the launching point for a winter campaign. Additionally, the location next to the Schuylkill worked to facilitate the movement of supplies. Despite the defeats of the fall, the 12,000 men of the Continental Army were in good spirits when they marched into Valley Forge on December 19, 1777.
What happened to Washington in the Battle of Germantown?
Fifteen days later, after outmaneuvering Washington, Howe entered Philadelphia unopposed. Seeking to regain the initiative, Washington struck at Germantown on October 4. In a hard-fought battle, the Americans came close to victory but again suffered defeat.
What happened in 1777?
In the fall of 1777, Washington's army moved south from New Jersey to defend the capital of Philadelphia from the advancing forces of General William Howe. Clashing at Brandywine on September 11, Washington was decisively defeated, leading the Continental Congress to flee the city. Fifteen days later, after outmaneuvering ...
Where was Washington's army encampment?
For his winter encampment, Washington selected Valley Forge on the Schuylkill River approximately 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
What is the significance of the winter campment at Valley Forge?
The significance of the encampment lies both in its fact-based history and also its storied myth. 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. The popularity of the myth also speaks to its usefulness. Valley Forge remains a touchstone - always ready to minister to a generation in crisis.
What landscape was the Valley Forge?
On arrival in December 1777, a Continental soldier would have seen an open, rolling landscape divided into many small crop fields and pastures by fences and hedgerows; woodlands and charcoal hearths on the mountains; and the smattering of structures in the Village of Valley Forge, including the ruins of the forges themselves - burned during a raid by the British three months earlier.
What is the Valley Forge myth?
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 Washington’s men.
What was the name of the army that occupied Valley Forge?
Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington. Here the Continental Army , a collection of disparate colonial militias, emerged under Washington’s leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force. In late 1777 while the British occupied the patriot capital ...
How many people were in Valley Forge?
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. 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. 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. While there was never a battle at Valley Forge, disease killed nearly 2,000 people during the encampment.
What was the second event that consolidated Washington’s control?
A second event that consolidated Washington’s control was his successful campaign to have a congressional committee visit camp. The general lobbied Congress to confer with him in person in order to resolve some of the supply and organizational difficulties that had plagued the army during the 1777 campaign. The committee emerged from the Valley Forge meeting with a better understanding of the logistical difficulties Washington faced and more sympathetic to the army’s requirements. The army reorganization was one of the most far-reaching consequences of the committee’s work. Almost from the war’s outset, Washington had argued for a large professional army. The public’s disdain for standing armies limited his ability to raise a sizeable force. The reorganization of 1778 represented a compromise between civilian and military ideals. Realizing that the army existed at only a portion of its authorized strength, Congress consolidated regiments and created a more streamlined force.
Why is Valley Forge important?
The symbolic importance that Americans have attached to Valley Forge since the 19th century both complicates and enriches its authentic history. 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. The desire to commemorate began to shape the history of this place soon after the army marched out.
How big were the winter quarters at Valley Forge?
At Valley Forge, American soldiers were instructed to build winter quarters. Orders from Continental headquarters instructed the size of the huts to be 14 x 16 feet with 18 inches of clay for insulation. Few tools were available. With no sawmills in the near vicinity, George Washington offered a reward of $100 to any soldier who found a suitable substitute.
Who fought at Valley Forge?
Fact #1: Alexander Hamilton and Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee fought enemy troops at Valley Forge on September 18, 1777, prior to the winter encampment.
What was the role of women in the winter cantonment at Valley Forge?
The females undertook a myriad of roles, from laundry and cooking to sewing and nursing. Officer wives, including Martha Washington, were also present during the six-month encampment.
Was Valley Forge the coldest winter in the war?
Fact #10: Valley Forge was not the coldest winter of the war.
What was Valley Forge known for?
In 1777, Valley Forge consisted of a small proto-industrial community located at the juncture of the Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River. In 1742, Quaker industrialists established the Mount Joy Iron Forge. 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. 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. Settlers of German and Swedish descent also lived nearby.
What was the purpose of Valley Forge?
Monmouth. 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.
How did the Valley Forge affect the soldiers?
Outbreaks of typhoid and dysentery spread through contaminated food and water. Soldiers contracted influenza and pneumonia, while still others succumbed to typhus, caused by body lice. Although the inconsistent delivery of food rations did not cause starvation, it probably exacerbated the health of ailing soldiers. Some patients might have suffered from more than one ailment. In total, about 1,700–2,000 troops died during the Valley Forge encampment, mostly at general hospitals located in six different towns. Valley Forge had the highest mortality rate of any Continental Army encampment, and even most military engagements of the war.
How many log huts were built at Valley Forge?
While no accurate account exists for the number of log huts built, experts estimate a range between 1,300 and 1,600 structures. There are no known contemporary images of the Valley Forge cantonment.
How many people were in the Continental Army at Valley Forge?
The Continental Army that marched into Valley Forge consisted of about 12,000 people—soldiers, artificers, women, and children. Throughout the winter, patriot commanders and legislators faced the challenge of supplying a population the size of a colonial city. In May and June 1777, the Continental Congress had authorized the reorganization of the supply department. Implementation of those changes never fully took effect, because of the fighting surrounding Philadelphia. Consequently, the supply chain had broken down even before the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge. In large part, supplies dried up through the neglect of Congress so that by the end of December 1777 Washington had no way to feed or to adequately clothe the soldiers. Washington chose the area partly for its strategic benefits, but wintertime road conditions impeded supply wagons on route to the encampment.
Why did Thomas Mifflin station his supplies in the forges?
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. Fearing such a concentration of military supplies would undoubtedly become a target for British raids, the forge-ironmaster, William Dewees Jr., expressed concerns about the army's proposal. Mifflin heeded Dewees' concerns but established a magazine at Valley Forge anyway.
What did George Washington say about the march into Valley Forge?
George Washington later wrote of the march into Valley Forge, "To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without shoes by which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provisions as with; marching through frost and snow and at Christmas taking up their winter quarters within a day's march of the enemy, without a house or hut to cover them till they could be built, and submitting to it without a murmur is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralleled."
What was the low in January in Valley Forge?
The end of December with a low of 6 Degrees and the end of March with a low of 8 Degrees. The low in January reached 12 Degrees and February was 16 Degrees. The troops arrived at Valley Forge on the 19th of December and eight days later, the deepest single snow of the season fell, which was followed by the severest cold.
Why was the Valley Forge encampment so difficult?
The Valley Forge Encampment was difficult because the soldiers lacked proper clothing and proper meals. There were seven winters during the Revolutionary War. The winters could be rated on the following scale: severe, moderate and mild. 1775-1776. Moderate.
One Winter of A Long War
The War Prior to Valley Forge
- While some refused to accept it, the nature of the war changed in July 1776 when a large contingent of English and Hessian troops reached America’s shores and sought to crush the rebellion. 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 th...
Supplying The Army
- 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. 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. The farms located on the north side provided forage for the Continental Army, the location of a camp market where farme…
Ravages of Disease
- Perhaps the most notable suffering that occurred at Valley Forge came from a factor that has not been frequently mentioned in textbooks: disease was the true scourge of the camp. Men from far flung geographical areas were exposed to sicknesses from which they had little immunity. During the encampment, nearly 2,000 men died of disease. Dedicated surgeons, nurses, a smallpox ino…
A Large and Diverse Camp
- The scale of the Valley Forge encampment was impressive. 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. The troops who came to camp included men from all 13 original colonies and regiments from all of them except South Carolina and Georgia. The encampment brought togeth…
Legacy of The Encampment
- Despite the difficulties, there were a number of significant accomplishments and events during the encampment. Because of its far-reaching consequences, the single most noteworthy achievement was the maturation of the Continental Army into a professional force under the tutelage of Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben. Baron von Steuben assessed the army and rec…
Alliance with France
- European recognition augmented congressional reforms. French assistance was crucial to the success of the Revolution. Starting in 1776, vital French aid in the form of military materiel flowed to America. The efforts of American agents in France and the strong performance of the continentals at the Battles of Saratoga and Germantown convinced the French to do more than …
Leaving Valley Forge
- In mid-June Washington’s spy network informed him that the British were about to abandon Philadelphia. The commander in chief rapidly set troops in motion: a small force marched in and took possession of the city. 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 Jer…
Birthplace of The American Army
- The success of Valley Forge also can be measured in longer-term gains. Many regard Valley Forge as the birthplace of the American army. The concepts of basic training, the professionalization of the officer corps, and the rise of the army’s distinctive branches, such as the corps of engineers, all got their start here. The military lessons that von Steuben helped instill served Washington’s v…
Impact of The Encampment on The Land
- The scale and intensity of the encampment devastated the landscape of the Valley Forge area. 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. The livestock and stores of the area’s residents had been commandeered and consumed. The land itself was pock…