who were well apprized of the nakedness of the Troops advised me, near a Month ago, to postpone the execution of a Plan, I was about to adopt for seizing Cloathes [they]think a Winters Campaign and the covering these States from the Invasion of an Enemy so easy a business. Incompetence, Corruption and Disorganization within the Supply Chain Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin had resigned in November, 1777. When teams and organizations regroup and refocus, they sometimes learn part of the refining process is making necessary changes. They were helped by women and even children, wives and children of soldiers who were known as camp followers. Some women decided to join their husbands in theoff-season, when there was less work to do at the farm at home, and their ceaseless, voluntary labor and care saved many men. He had resolved to uproot and evacuate his army from Valley Forge if circumstances forced him to do so. Therefore, they sent over 15,000 troops to Philadelphia and General Washington decided to march his 8,000 Continentals and 3,000 militia from New Jersey to fight the British at Germantown, Pennsylvania, about six miles northwest of Philadelphia. . 1. Trussell, Jr., in the Epic on the Schuylkill, notes that By December 23, lack of shoes or clothing had made 2,898 men unfit for duty. New York Continental Congress member, Gouverneur Morris, enlightened the public about the soldiers at Valley Forge by describing them as an army of skeletonsnaked, starved, sick and discouraged. General Washington described this undernourished troop as unfit for duty because they are barefooted and otherwise naked.. attles. Therefore, the most significant result of the encampment was the Continental Armys growth into a more skillful and confident force. His wife Martha had been a camp follower, serving not only her husband but enlisted men as well, working alongside other American women to relieve the suffering of the soldiers. Diary of Surgeon Albigence Waldo, of the Connecticut Line.. For some, the extreme cold combined with the shortage of food, and uncertainty were more than they could take. By Phillip S. Greenwalt August 17, 2021 Updated March 16, 2023. Although the Commissary and the Quartermaster Department were normally supervised by commissioned officers, they were primarily staffed by civilians, and this was a frequent source of conflict. the military situation is concerned, the Bevolution first started in the neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Bernadette Lear, Affiliate Faculty Of those three moments in the war, Valley Forge at least conjures up a concrete image: barefoot soldiers leaving footprints of blood in the snow. Also dieses such as Dysentery and Typhus ran rampant at Valley Forge. Their conditions were not the best, which had some even suffering. Early spring began to see a slight improvement. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, 800 CE The people of Northumbria were terrified by the heathen men who are invading. the harrowing inroads of heathen men destroyed the church of God in Lindisfarne. History at Valley forge Penn never did build its suburban campus, and the old farmland had long remained undeveloped. Secondly there were only 1,800 out of the 12,000 men died in Valley Forge(doc A). Defeat, disappointment and discouragement should be the motivating factors that drive the desire for success. The committee then denied funds and thereby thwarted plans for a veterans cemetery in the park. The Continental Armys experience of limping into Valley Forge only to emerge as a fierce fighting force can help us to learn five principles for dealing with defeat, disappointment and discouragement in our own lives and the lives of our teams. Today, Valley Forge is a national historical park visited by people from all across the country. What is the central idea of the passage? After the 11,000 soldiers (over 2,000 of them barefoot) marched for seven hours to Valley Forge on December 19, 1777, they started to build cabins to occupy, to cook meals of their own creation, and to fashion their own provisional gear and clothing. The Pennsylvania State University According to Buchanan, von Steubens training, passed on to recruits by officers and sergeants and privates who had been there, lay at the root of the achievement of the regulars in formal combat situations. On June 19, 1778, Washington and his troops departed Valley Forge. Colonel Philip Van Cortlandt to George Clinton. 13 Feb. 1778. Even though that has happened I have decided to not re-enlist for three reasons which are: conditions, health, and results of war. [97], President Gerald Ford signed the bill into law at a special ceremony held at Valley Forge on July 4, 1976. [80] The old Victorian ghost stories had been largely forgotten, as if even the spirits had found their newly developed surroundings less desirable than lonely, rural Valley Forge. There were many soldiers at Valley Forge, Many of them died, but many of them also lived. An Army of Skeletons.. [87], The position of the park commissioners had gradually changed from opposition to endorsement. 1 See answer Allyvellongelia is waiting for your help. The soldiers who died were often stripped of their clothing, which was then passed on to other soldiers, spreading even more disease. The estimated amount of illness during the encampment was 3,989 which is about 50% of the people get sick. Many reasons why soldiers are dying because of the harsh conditions such as sickness, poor food, cold weather, fatigue, Vally Forge Argumentative Essay They had been transformed from Rebel into a Mature Army. National Park Service officials admitted there would be changes, generally emphasizing historic preservation and discouraging some recreational uses of the park, but these would be gradual and would be made after discussions with interested groups and individuals. It is a place where thousands of soldiers endured hunger, disease, and bitter cold; against all odds they struggled through adversity to fight for the nations freedom and independence. Ten Facts: Valley Forge | American Battlefield Trust The huts were drafty, damp, smoky and terribly unhealthy. Sheets of lightning terrified the Northumbrian people. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 1800 out of 12000 soldiers may sound like a lot but it is actually only 15%. The executive director of the PHMC, S. K. Stevens, announced his support for this grassroots movement, yet progress remained slow because the Nixon administration had adopted a policy against federalizing state parks, instead advocating a return of excess federal lands to local control. Most of those opposed to the cemetery at Valley Forge shared the argument that a modern cemetery would "superimpose" one national shrine on another, The U. S. House Committee on Appropriations made this point as it too entered the fray, noting, "There is no justification for developing national shrines as cemeteries or overly concentrating activities in such locations." Although officers were ordered to check cabins twice daily for cleanliness, excavations at Valley Forge indicate that most soldiers simply threw the remains of their meals into the corners of their huts. Mifflin was a wealthy Philadelphia merchant and a born politician who wanted glory on the battlefield not the headaches of transportation. [69] The university's president had indicated opposition to the project, [70] causing the group of alumni who had supported the move during the 1920s to scale back their plans and by the end of the 1930s finally abandon them. Washington broke camp in June, leaving Valley Forge for a site closer to Philadelphia, but he dispatched men to go back to Valley Forge and clean it up. [78]. Clothing and feeding the troops was a daunting challenge. Unfortunately the lack of food and spread of disease caused many deaths during this harsh winter. Area residents and the media used the adjective "high-density" to describe it, and there were estimates that it would bring at least 10,000 and perhaps as many as 12,000 to 14,000 new residents to Valley Forge. Each would have a stone fireplace. As two other American divisions heard the fire and turned around to help, they grew confused in the fog and fired on each other, eventually causing both groups to flee. The war started on December 1777, me along with the rest of the army camped out at Valley Forge (Roden 141). A few young women developed scarlet fever, a fascination with British soldiers and their bright red coats (Roden 141)., The book Ordinary Courage tell the story of an ordinary soldier by the name of Joseph Plumb Martin. Poor food - hard lodging - Cold Weather - fatigue - Nasty Clothes - nasty, In 1777 Continental troops head toward Philadelphia to fight and take land from the British troops, but are stopped by a Tragic snow storm. This alliance would bring much needed military and financial support from France. 1778. The Forging of an Army | Pennsylvania Center for the Book Shelter was not so much a problem as food and clothing. Christopher Ludwig was a baker in Philadelphia who came to Valley Forge with 60-70 men and started baking. He literally ignored the job. Dragons attacked Northumbria. But the next time youre near Danbury, Connecticut, pay a visit to Putnam State Park and remember all the heroes of our war for independence. Mrs. Malloy was also quoted as saying, "I know already that we have a beautiful burial ground. Explain the issues that created the greatest controversies during the ratification of the United States Constitution (1787-1788) and explain how those The diary of Dr. Waldo wrote about the conditions of the troop and huts. Click here. Much of the supply deficiency at Valley Forge was probably inevitable, even given organized, efficient commisaries and patriotic, generous farmers. It wasn't until the spring when Washington's most capable general, Nathanael Green, took over the quartermaster's post that supplies began to move in decent quantity. Your call.. What were the conditions like for the soldiers at Vally Forge? But sickness is common around this time. Valley Forge was a horrible event a lot of people got sick and even died from it, the army that lived there was the militia or continental congresss army. On March 2, Major General Nathanael Greene was appointed Quartermaster General with overall supervision not only of the Quartermaster Department but also the Commissary. First and foremost about 12,000 men settled at valley forge and from December 1777 to February 1778 about 4,000 men died. Winter at Valley Forge in the American Revolution - ThoughtCo These are tragic deaths but if you do the math you only have a ten percent of dyeing, and 90 percent of living. Despite this urging, Buchanan was slow to effectively respond to the crisis. Maybe its because Washington wasnt in Connecticut, and we only remember our biggest heroes. for the conclusion. But it is necessary they should come to some agreement or determination upon the subject, to remove the inconveniences hitherto incurred on this score; the Commissaries having frequently imputed the deficiency of supplies to a want of the means of transportation. The Baron von Steuben had arrived in February to drill the army, and he was untiring in his efforts to get them ready to face the British army and win a set battle. On January 20 Washington wrote to Governor William Livingston of New Jersey, noting: Farmers contended that the constant depreciation of the Continental currency made it only fair that they should increase their prices. Dr. Bodo Otto, an elderly German and his two physician sons, ably ran the hospital until the end of the war. The bad news is that the next winter camp of 1778-9 was even worse. Number of soldiers that deserted during the encampment at Valley Forge. So the Continental soldiers began building their cabins, which they did very quickly. [82] The dead, at least, would not be allowed to move in on Valley Forge. Washington described Valley Forge as "a dreary kind of place and uncomfortably provided." Watts, Henry Miller. The Tennessee Sports Writers Association has released its 2023 All-State baseball teams for all six TSSAA classifications. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Von Steuben to Baron von der Goltz., Waldo, Albigence. The primitive shelters were laid out in regular patterns to form streets. Valley Forge: Do I stay or Do I go Though trouble and doubt we will prevail. Christina R. Green teaches chambers, associations and small businesses how to connect through content. [91] Vroon also mentioned urban sprawl, lamenting that lack of vision years before had allowed the Pennsylvania Turnpike to come too close to Valley Forge. Valley Forge: The Decision Is Yours There is no food, I am cold, and have little humor, I want to go home. In the spring of 1778, an unsung hero arrived at camp. He used his own supplies and ovens, and he refused to take payment. Lawsuit Over Deer Culling At Valley Forge Highlights Troubles Of [100] Annamaria Malloy made it clear that her interest in the affairs of Valley Forge would not cease with the demise of the park commission. Fish also started running, and the soldiers went fishing every day to round out their meager diet. He now coaches chamber professionals, consults with chambers, trains staff and members, and speaks professionally. [84], State Representative Peter Vroon introduced legislation for emergency bicentennial relief money for Valley Forge. Were the conditions bad? Their lack of experience, supplies and equipment began to take its toll. The same month Baron von Steuben began transforming the troops, the Conway Cabal, a plot to remove George Washington from power by others who were disappointed with the lack of success, was finally put down never to be discussed again. I have served my time.Things have been so bad, I am deciding to quit and not re-enlist. Despite deprivation and disease, Buchanan asserts the American army was a revolutionary force, and like all such armies it knew how to sufferthe Cause burned brightly among them and in a large part made them forsake home and loved ones. Quoted in the Diary of Surgeon Albigence Waldo, Lieutenant Samuel Armstrong proclaimed that Men never bore up with such bad Usage before, with so little Mutinyindeed there was more mutiny among the Officers than among the men.. You will likewise extend your views to establishing the necessary Magazines for the next Campaign with respect to their situation. 12 Feb. 1778. I am sick-discontented-and out of humour. The soldiers were not alone, though we picture them in complete, miserable isolation. If I had a choice to quit or stay at Valley Forge I would choose to quit. It has inspired the subject matter of artists and authors, while scores of soldiers in America's subsequent wars have related to the harsh winter and sacrifices made there. The Continental Army, as it had the previous winter, wanted to stay close to the British during the winter hiatus. Great post, I have been waiting for something like that? Not all of the soldiers were able to survive. By late spring, the Continental Army was a completely different force. I can assure those Gentlemen that it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable room by a good fire side than to occupy a cold bleak hill and sleep under frost and Snow without Cloaths or Blankets; however, although they seem to have little feeling for the naked, and distressed Soldier, I feel superabundantly for them, and from my Soul pity those miseries, wch. These were the houses of various inhabitants of the area: warmer, certainly "homier" and with the "modern amenities . He also took their side. shortage in clothing, meat, transportation, hypothermia, and many deaths Who was Friedrich Von Steuben? Also, with the frequent lack of any currency with which to pay for their agricultural purchases, the commissaries often issued nothing but promissory notes to the farmers, which the latter distinctly distrusted. Whether the Commissaries should be dependent on the Quarter masters for teams, or be empowered to provide for themselves, is a matter they can perhaps best settle between themselves. They ought never to have less than thirty days provisions in them. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The 1950s in America not the greatesttime. Soldiers trying to attack would have to charge up-hill, putting them at a distinct disadvantage. About 1,700 to 2,000 soldiers died from disease, possibly exacerbated by malnutrition. Washington made that a lot harder. At the same time, Valley Forge, approximately twenty miles outside of the city, was close enough to Philadelphia that Washington could sustain pressure on the British. A building now known as the Duportail House was located on the property, named for its famous guest, Washington's chief engineer. Regrouping isnt looking for and identifying a scapegoat, but an opportunity to study the game plan, shore up a weakness or make a necessary change. I would leave Valley Forge, because from 18,000 healthy soldiers, soon became 7,000 soldiers getting ill, and 2,500 end up dying (Document A). Interested in using our content? The Continentals re-occupied Philadelphia once the British left, then followed the army and waged battle at Monmouth Courthouse on June 28. The first priority was the building of huts. Valley Forge - Wikipedia Was it incompetence on the part of their commander, General Washington, or unconcern? Annamaria Malloy cooperated in supplying information to journalist Colman McCarthy for a two-part article that was published by the Washington Post's wire service in many other papers, including the Philadelphia Inquirer. Valley Forge was also very well situated for defense, making it very difficult for the British topull off an off-season surprise attack. Valley Forge: Statistics on number of soldiers serving, wounded Historians were speculating that relatively few men would have died in the camp, because the sick would have been removed to outlying hospitals. Change your course, sir! Im a seaman, second class, comes the reply. I am in tatter'd clothes and have barely enough food to survive, but Ill go through this just so my country doesn't have to suffer any more. Christina is just your average bookish writer on a quest to bring great storytelling to organizations everywhere. Although never a battlefield, Valley Forge claimed the lives of hundreds of American Revolutionary soldiers during the encampment of 1777-78. Malloy objected strongly and sought an injunction as a private citizen. After bi-week, they were able to refocus their efforts and won 9 of their next 10 games becoming the only team to qualify for the play-offs after an 0-4 start. Valley Forge, 1777-1778. The army quartermaster, Thomas Mifflin, did a terrible job finding supplies for the men. When at last it came time to break camp, the Continental Army was still mostly intact. With the suffering they endured at Valley Forge still fresh in their minds, the fierce Continental Army and the British Army clashed on June 28, 1778, at Monmouth Courthouse. [76], In 1975, the specter of Chesterbrook was suddenly overshadowed when a retired brigadier general informed the park commission that the Veterans Administration was considering Valley Forge as the site of a 500-acre cemetery that would stretch from the park's eastern entrance along Outer Line Drive to the National Memorial Arch. This workshop was a major success and the attendees loved it. -Mark Sturdevant, President/CEO La Habra Chamber. by Ron AveryWriter for the Philadelphia Daily NewsWritten exclusively for ushistory.org. At Valley Forge, the Continental Army struggled to manage a disastrous supply crisis while retraining and reorganizing their units. As Buchanan writes, the food supply remained sporadic throughout the winter, at times approaching a feast-or-famine regimen, which was only surpassed as a problem by the lack of proper clothing. By the fifth of February, nearly four thousand men lacked either clothes or shoes, making them unfit for duty. Five hundred people cheered at one meeting held late in 1971 when Tredyffrin Township delayed the zoning decision that would have enabled development to start. Copyright Statement, Steven Herb, Ph.D., Founding Director (2000-2017) In the Estimate of illness and deaths at Valley Forge (Document A) it shows how many soldiers were sick and how many soldiers. Read the passage. In the second week of January, Washington's long requested committee of Conference, consisting of members of Congress, arrived at Valley Forge. Some purchasing agents displayed more initiative and resoursefulness. James McCready, Information Resources and Services Specialist This evidence is meaning even though the conditions were very bad, a lot of the other soldiers showed spirit and willingness, so I would have too. The combination of crowded cabins, unwashed bodies, and decaying refuse greatly contributed to the unsanitary conditions at camp. The conditions that the soldiers had to endure at Valley Forge were horrible. On December 22, 1777, just three days after the arrival of the army at its winter encampment, General Washington wrote a piteous letter to Henry Laurens, President of Congress, at York, Pa. Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin had resigned in November, 1777. Hopefully, the soldiers will have the courage to make it through this devastating time. In February the brutal cold weather began toease. Also, 1,800- 2,500 is the estimated number of people who die due to illness. The encampment at Valley Forge is unsurprisingly an enduring tale in American mythos. 2 The lack of proper clothing was a significant problem. While this was intended to provide incentivies for more purchasing activity, it also encouraged corruption. The huts at Valley Forge held up to 12 men. ]The deputies in your department complain of a deficiency of Waggons[sic], the power you have by virtue of your office of impressing them, if exerted, will certainly remedy this evil. The talk of change was all rather vague, making it clear that no one was certain exactly what the new era opening at Valley Forge would bring. This is a place where General Washingtons soldiers prevailed over hardships, and because of their commitment, it became a turning point in the Revolutionary War. Valley Forge I am a soldier at Valley Forge, sacrificing myself for my suffering country so that we all can be free from Britain's control. After suffering a series of losses, organizations, sports teams and military planners will often regroup in order to determine where there may be a problem. Frank Kennyis a successful entrepreneur, chamber member, chamber board member, chamber board of directors chair, and chamber President/CEO. Details of lightning and whirlwinds, and fiery dragons were seen flying through the sky. Trussell, Jr. writes in Epic on the Schuylkill, It was a triumph of endurance and dedication over starvation, nakedness, cold, disease, and uncertaintyFor generations of Americans, Valley Forge has provided a symbol of patriotic devotion, epitomizing the ideal which brought our nation into being.. (Doc A). Copyright 2023 The Pennsylvania State University. Erica King, Instructional Designer Van Cortlandt, Philip. Valley Forge provides a site for exploring this complicated story and examining the multiple perspectives of those involved there - from soldiers to citizens, officers to enslaved Americans, from women to American Indians - the encampment was a microcosm of a revolutionary society at war. In order to speed up the cabin-building process, Washington offered a twelve-dollar prize for the first well-constructed hut in each regiment. The stench of bodily waste and rotting horses finally drove Washington to issue an order than any man seen not using a latrine would get five lashes of the whip. Suppliers were often unable to transport their goods to the encamped army even if they were willing to give it away for free. Transportation was the major stumbling block. We are here to fight for are freedom from the british. That is about of the colonists fighting in the war. While von Steuben trained the American soldiers in the European style, he quickly realized he needed to adapt his instruction to their unique tempers. Pros And Cons Of Valley Forge - 550 Words | Internet Public Library For slaves, serving in the army was a way to earn their freedom. Pennsylvania's Governor Milton Shapp asked the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to investigate the feasibility of acquiring at least enough of Chesterbrook to prevent potential flooding on Valley Creek. Commons Attribution 4.0 license. These problems exacerbated the harsh living conditions at Valley Forge in the third year of the war. Remember, at that time there was no shudder of doom at the very name of Valley Forge. Washington decided to make winter camp at Valley Forge. One member of the remaining opposition questioned whether the federal government had done so well at Gettysburg. On June 19, 1778, exactly six months after the Americans arrived, a new armyanxiousto fight the British streamed out of Valley Forge toward New Jersey. many men are dying because of diseases, the climate, and even starvation.
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