At Valley Forge, Steuben trained the still-raw troops, who came away a disciplined fighting force giving a good account of themselves in 1778. Why is this question significant? Why 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. Why was Valley Forge significant to the American Revolutionary War victory? At the same time he realized that American soldiers would not submit to harsh European-style regulation. Within this civilian climate, the army was able to stabilize its situation and concentrate on a much-needed training program. Why does it matter today? These reforms in supply systems and fighting tactics, along with reforms in military hygiene and army organization, became the foundation of the modern United States Army. French assistance was crucial to the success of the Revolution. The commander in chief’s professional reputation also got a boost at Valley Forge. While the conditions were harsh, Washington tried to provide for the comfort of his men. The army buried the soldiers who died in these out-of-the-way care facilities in church graveyards adjacent to the hospitals. The genius of this nation is not in the least to be compared with that of the Prussians, Austrians, or French. 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. In late 1777 while the British occupied the patriot capital of Philadelphia, Washington decided to have his troops winter at Valley Forge, a day’s march from Philadelphia. Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 Valley Forge is among the historical places that marked the American Revolution. Starvation, disease, and exposure killed nearly … Valley Forge. Discover the stories behind some of the famous names who made Montgomery County their home during those six months. To oppose Howe, General Washington marched his 12,000-man army from New Jersey. 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 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. Valley Forge was significant not only for the reshaping Washington’s army, but for the dedication, endurance, and resilience demonstrated by the Americans in their cause for Independence. The livestock and stores of the area’s residents had been commandeered and consumed. (All misspellings and odd capitalizations appear in the original.) Instead, von Steuben demonstrated to the men the positive results that would come from retraining. 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. Von Steuben remarked on how quickly Washington’s men progressed in the retraining process, saying that it normally took two years to properly train a soldier. 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. As winter wore on, the so-called cabal dissolved, bringing disgrace to and ending the careers of several of its leaders. 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. Why was George Washington choice of valley forge as a winter camp a bad decision? 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. First, the lay of the land made Valley Forge a natural fortress. Moreover, George Washington and his army spent a harsh winter at Valley Forge in the year 1777 -1778. The Valley Forge area (terrain) was defensible. Click here! Why is it important to ask wether a soldier at valley Forge should have re enlisted? What is a Valley Landform? The territory was just the right … Here are a few: The British were occupying Philadelphia for the winter. The Congress, after fleeing Philadelphia, were at York PA, west of Valley Forge. Unfortunately both of these works contain some of the myths that cannot be substantiated by the documents. The proponents of this movement, which became known as the Conway Cabal, suggested that General Gates, the victorious leader at the Battle of Saratoga, was perhaps more fit for the top command position. Pre-encampment 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. They were cautiously optimistic about the future and resigned themselves to the task of establishing their winter camp. At the worst point in early March, the army listed 2,898 men as unfit for duty due to a lack of clothing. A Discussion the Valley Forge Encampment "Valley Forge" is another of those iconic phrases used to describe American history that fewer Americans understand than one might think. Situated between Mount Joy and Mount Misery on the west bank of the Philadelphia River, it was the perfect, defensible camp and most viable option for shelter and survival against the coming winter. Valley Forge is a name that every child learns in elementary school, but most people still don't know the story of what happened. The most serious food crisis occurred in February, when the men went without meat for several days at a stretch. Valley Forge: Would you have quit/ re enlisted? In the two key battles of the Philadelphia campaign, Brandywine and Germantown, the Americans fought with skill and courage. Valleys assume a wide array of forms, from broad plains to steep-sided canyons. 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. After wintering at their stronghold in Morristown, New Jersey, Washington’s forces prepared to meet the British with renewed fervor in the spring of 1777. The American Army needed to keep an eye on them and prevent them from foraging in the countryside for food they needed. The 12,000 men and women of the Continental Army who arrived in Valley Forge on December 19, 1777 with Commander In Chief, General George Washington, were half-starved and no longer believed they could win a war of independence from Britain. The officers formed the men into construction squads and instructed them to build cabins according to a 14-foot by 16-foot model. 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. This year, with tens of thousands of our young men and women serving overseas in the war on terrorism, the celebration of George Washington¹s birthday at Valley Forge had important things to say to the Americans of 2004. Von Steuben has spent time Valley Forge was important because after only sporadic victories (Trenton, Princeton) and defeat at Brandywine the army was demoralized and on the verge of dissolution (as it was for most of the war.) Three months of shortage and hardship were followed by three months of relative abundance that led to wonderful changes in the morale and fighting capabilities of the Continental Army. — Baron von Steuben to Baron de Gaudy, 1787-88. Yet work remained to be done. 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. Things didn't look so good for a long time. 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. 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. Suggested answer: Answers may vary. It was during the American Revolutionary War that General George Washington led a troop of 12,000 soldiers 18 miles northwest of Pennsylvania against the winter’s rage to prepare for battle against the British Army. Valley Forge was where a new, confident, professional American army was born. This, however, does not deter the good spirits of Curzon and his company. A grown woman in her late twenties didn’t know why Valley Forge has historical importance. Valley Forge was the first winter encampment where many thousands of men had to build their own huts. 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. Washington knew that for every year the war dragged on the Americans held the advantage. Baron von Steuben assessed the army and recognized that Washington’s men needed more training and discipline. Farmers quickly recovered, and within the decade the huts were largely gone, fields replanted, and woodlots re-sprouted. C. After the hardships of Valley Forge, the American army was stronger, prouder, and better trained. Nearly 250 years of legend have etched the impression of the winter of … Not a battle, but a winter encampment that proved to be hugely significant in the formation of the US Army. The army’s decision to occupy Valley Forge and maintain strong offensive pressure on the enemy was a wise one. By the time of the encampment, most of the land in the vicinity had been cleared for agriculture. American determination to survive at Valley Forge convince the British to surrender. After they abandoned Philadelphia, the British had little to show for all of their past year’s efforts. A Brief Overview of the Encampment Although the officers of the Continental Army wrote hundreds of letters during the Valley Forge winter, the poignant communication from which this quote is taken is one of the few extant letters from an enlisted soldier at camp—in this case, “Henery Jonson.” Valley Forge is an area in Pennsylvania, about 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia . 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 local community was largely Quaker. Provisions were available during the early months of the encampment. The scale and intensity of the encampment devastated the landscape of the Valley Forge area. Likewise, patriotism did not peak during the relatively short six-month period at Valley Forge. ... Women played an important role at Valley forge. Instead of being able to focus on building the camp and obtaining much needed rest, the troops had to expend energy on security operations. The winter encampment at Valley Forge is one of the most famous episodes of the American Revolution. 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. Doctors dispatched the most serious cases to outlying hospitals, both to limit disease spread and also to cure those individuals who could be saved. 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