Continental+Army+Winters+at+Valley+Forge




 * __The Difficult Winter at Valley Forge__ **

In the winter of 1777 to 1778 the [|American] army suffered the cold in[|Valley Forge], [|Pennsylvania.] Conditions at camp were incredibly harsh. The winter itself was brutal. With the piercing cold and wicked [|blizzards], the winter was very dark for the[|troops]. It almost seemed hopeless. The Army was just returning from a victory at the [|Battle of White Marsh]. Out of the 11,000 troops that arrived at Valley Forge, 2.500 hundred died.



At their lead was [|George Washington]. George Washington looked to lift their spirits, but unfortunately, shelter, food, and happiness was scarce. It seemed the winter would only harm the troops. As time went on, George Washington inspired his troops and they seemed to respond and work a little harder to survive.

// "Some were still boys -- as young as 12 -- others in their 50s and 60s. They were described as fair, pale, freckled, brown, swarthy and black. While the majority were white, the army included both Negroes and American Indians." ([|The American Revolution]) // Many different kinds of people were present. Most came from simple towns as [|militia] and learned how to fight in [|combat] properly. Others enlisted to spite the British from formal grudges. The Native Americans fought because the British originally moved to the America’s and stole their land. African Americans joined the war because they were promised freedom from slavery if they served twelve months. // "The army was continually plagued with shortages of food, clothing and equipment. Soldiers relied both on their home states and on the Continental Congress for these necessities. Poor organization, a shortage of wagoners, lack of forage for the horses, the devaluation of the Continental currency spoilage, and capture by the British all contributed to prevent these critical supplies from arriving at camp.  //  Along with the winter plaguing the troops, the [|British] were still a problem. The Brits prevented the Americans from getting their supplies by taking over nearby citys and pillaging and stealing food and[|artillery].  It was originally planned to build huts for shelter as soon as the troops arrived. Unfortunately, shelter was not created as soon as they had hoped. Soldiers lived in thin tents. Clothing was thin and not very protective from the biting wind. Not to mention all the men were missing shirts, hats, layers, and shoes. They suffered [|frostbite] and froze to death. Others were deteriorating with diseases such as [|typhoid], [|dysentery], [|typhus], and [|pneumonia]. Horses passed on as well, leaving many men without any other transportation but their feet. // "On February 23, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von Steuben, arrived at Valley Forge to offer his military skills to the patriot cause. Washington assigned him the duties of Acting Inspector General and gave him the task of developing and carrying out a practical training program." // [|Baron Fredrich von Steuben] was a former general staff of the[|Prussian Army]. When he arrived to Valley Forge, he was in possession of a note from [|Benjamin Franklin,] whom he had met in [|Paris]. Apparently, Franklin sent Steuben in hopes of training the American army. With this new training, the Americans have a chance at defeating [|King George]’s Armies. The troops endured training sessions everyday. Steuben drilled them everyday and instilled a new sense of [|nationalism] in all their hearts. After the terrible conditions of wintertime at Valley Forge, a new army was born. The American troops that overcame a major setback went on to [|Yorktown] and won the American Revolution.

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 * 1) What Battle did the American’s just win after moving to Valley Forge?
 * 2) About how many men died at the camp and what caused it?
 * 3) How was Baron von Steuben introduced to George Washington, and what did he do to help the troops?
 * 4) What caused the troops to suffer so badly?
 * 5) Who was leading the Army and what did they do?