Valley Forge

:Valley Forge is also the name of a nearby town: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

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.

Related Topics:
December 19 - 1777 - Brandywine - Germantown - British - Philadelphia

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The Continental Army?s ordeal at Valley Forge—for generations a central national myth in the American historical consciousness—was not due to a harsh winter, but resulted from mismanagement of resources by the Continental Congress and local indifference to the plight of the army. Many local Pennsylvania farmers chose to sell their produce to the British in Philadelphia, who would pay in cash.

Related Topics:
National myth - Pennsylvania

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The Continental Army also used the time at Valley Forge for reorganization and for much needed training, the latter directed by the Prussian military theorist Baron von Steuben. The army departed Valley Forge on June 19, 1778, in better shape than it had been six months earlier.

Related Topics:
Prussia - Baron von Steuben - June 19 - 1778

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Events leading up to the camp at Valley Forge

• May 1777 - 18,000 British forces commanded by Sir William Howe's were camped at New Brunswick and Amboy. Washington broke his winter camp at Morristown and moved to within ten miles of New Brunswick (Middlebrook Heights). 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, Washington remained at Middlebrook.
• July 23 - The British fleet (commanded by Lord Howe sailed from New York with 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 disambarked 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) retreat to Chester, Philadelphia and Germantown.
• September 15 - Washington advances to Warren Tavern but a heavy storm ruins the ammunition and leads to a retreat to Yellow Springs and subsequently across the Schuylkill River near Phoenixville.
• September 21 - The British reach the Schuylkill River and cross at several points above and below Valley Forge. On the 26th they march into Philadelphia, leaving a strong garison in Germantown.
• October 4 - The Americans are beaten at the Battle of Germantown, retreating to White Marsh, 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 White Marsh through Gulf 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 equiped 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.

Related Topics:
Gouverneur Morris - Continental Congress

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:"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.

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