Continental+Army+Winters+at+Valley+Forge

=__**//Washington goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge//** __=

On December 19, 1777, [|George Washington] goes into winter quarters at [|Valley Forge], Pennsylvania. Washington feels winter approaching and wants to settle down for the winter to rest his troops and not waste any supplies. He had an issue with supply shortage in [|previous battles], so he didn’t want to risk what he already had. Washington wanted an area to stay in where he couldn’t be disturbed or risk having the British making a surprise attack. [|The Continental Army] settled in Valley Forge, unprepared for the harsh winter ahead. The [|conditions in Valley Forge] were horrendous, miserable, and deadly because of the lack of supplies and necessities. If anything, that winter in Valley Forge was the worst thing that could have happened to the Continental Army. All [|12,000 men] that stayed at Valley Forge endured the torture of that winter. The majority of them had [|no shoes or proper clothing] to wear in the freezing weather. The clothes they did have were ragged, and many of the men were barefoot. Some were forced to wrapping their feet with rawhide and tying that on as a way to keep their feet warm. There were not enough blankets or medical supplies, because [|Congress] had no money to help the men. Washington even resorted to paying supplies for the men but it still wasn’t enough.

The result of lack of food, clothing, and shelter in the winter camp of Valley Forge was [|disease]and starvation. Sanitary conditions within the soldiers were very poor and therefore there were many diseases such as; small pox, typhoid (typhus), pneumonia, and dysentery. Disease definitely limited Washington even more because around [|2,000 men] died from lack of nutrients, causing the diseases. The winter at Valley Forge might have caused even more damage to the continental army then what General George Washington intended.

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On February 23, 1777 Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, known as the [|Baron von Steuben], arrived at Valley Forge and volunteered his [|military skills] to train the Continental Army to be more professional and disciplined. Historical records show that he was an excellent soldier, so General Washington made him Acting Inspector. He spent the winter training, disciplining, and reorganizing the army. Von Steuben taught Washington's troops how to maneuver in the field and how to use their [|bayonets] properly. He was very strict with the Americans, drilling the soldiers for hours cursing at them. Von Steuben barely knew English and learned a few phrases to scream at the army. His training was very effective during the winter of Valley Forge and [|benefitted] [|the Continental army] greatly.

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The Marquis de La fayette, a Frenchman, also volunteered his services to the colonists. As commander of his new division at Valley Forge, Lafayette made sure his troops were living to the best possible standards. Even when there was a decreasing number of men signing up for the army, he donated muskets and uniforms to the men in need. Lafayette also shared the hardships with the men, even when his rank entitled him to special privileges.



Probably the most important man in the [|American Revolution] was [|George Washington]. Washington was a natural born leader that was gifted in [|military skills] that helped win the revolution. One of his strongest points was strategizing his army. Before the [|winter of 1777], George was having a difficult time winning battles because of the lack of supplies the continental congress wasn’t able to provide for them. So he decided to have his army settle at Valley Forge during the winter so he can savage what he had left. Washington allowed the[| French] to assist his men in military strengthening and becoming more like an army. George Washington even tried to help pay for the supplies that weren’t at hand for his soldiers. With Washington’s positivity most of the men stayed with him through the winter and continued to fight for the rest of the revolution. media type="youtube" key="hFRRorYsDoE" height="315" width="420"