JOE CURRERI
u This cannon at Valley Forge National Historical Park stands as a poignant reminder of the presence of the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778.
N DECEMBER 19, 1777, at the end of a hard fall campaign during which the Continental Army lost two major battles and failed to
prevent the British from occupying the colonial capital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, General George Washington and his army of about twelve thousand volunteers marched into Valley Forge to set up winter camp. The Continental Army’s stay at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778 was a crucial point in the development of the fledgling American military. The Continental Army entered Valley Forge demoralized and lacking in essential training but emerged a more capable fighting force that would be able to stand face to face with the British Army and eventually ensure the independence of the thirteen former colonies from Great Britain.
Named for an iron works that had been located in the
area, Valley Forge is situated about twenty-five miles north- west of Philadelphia and was chosen as the Continental Army’s winter camp for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the fact that the terrain made the area easy to defend. Contrary to its name, Valley Forge is actually an area of relatively high ground, which is protected on its western edge by Valley Creek gorge and Mt. Joy. The Schuylkill River served as a natural obstacle to help defend
52
the area in the north, and on the eastern side of the area, Washington had his men dig entrenchments and line them with a barrier consisting of sharpened poles. But Washington’s choice of Valley Forge as his army’s encampment for the winter of 1777–1778 was about more than defending his army against a British attack. The Continental Army had lost Philadelphia to the British following the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777, and a winter camp at Valley Forge would allow Washing- ton to stay close enough to the British to prevent them from dominating the countryside around the capital, yet far enough away from them that his army wouldn’t be subject to a surprise attack. More importantly, Valley Forge was strategically located between Philadelphia and York, Pennsylvania, where the Continental Congress was meeting now that Philadelphia was in British hands. A winter encampment at Valley Forge meant that Washing- ton would be able to protect Congress if the British were to march on York.
Disease, Hunger, and Cold The Continental Army’s main enemy during the winter of 1777–1778, however, was not the British Army, which was comfortably ensconced in Philadelphia and made only a
A P R I L 2 0 1 2
PHOTO: ©JOSEPH SOHM/VISIONS OF AMERICA/CORBIS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76