Continental+Army+Winters+at+Valley+Forge

 **By: Liz Johnson** ** To start off, when the Continental Army arrived at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania (northwest of Philadelphia) in 1777, the soldiers were in terrible conditions. After fighting in the Battle of White Marsh, the men were poorly equipped, malnourished and extremely exhausted. On top of that, many of the men did not have appropriate clothing to endure the harsh winter conditions; some soldiers didn't even have shoes. As a result of this, many of the wounded soldiers could not survive due to the exposure they encountered and about 4,000 soldiers were listed as unfit for duty. Another issue the soldiers encountered was the lack of food. Their daily meals usually consisted of a "firecake," a mixture of flour and water that was tasteless and unappetizing. ** **  Although huts were built within just six weeks, they provided damp and crowded housing for the men and this lead to filth and disease, resulting in about 2,500 soldiers dying. George Washington's repeated petitions for relief to the Continental Congress were of no help, considering the Congress had no way of providing the help needed to the suffering soldiers. Washington eventually had to spend his own money to help his deteriorating army for he could not and would not let his troops fall apart. With the help of Washington and many others, the army could make it through the winter. ** ** Still, the lack of food, clothing and shelter at Valley Forge was unimaginable. Upon arriving, bloody footprints could be seen in the snow from the many soldiers who endured the long trek without shoes. Some men had just a blanket to wrap around themselves and as a result may have suffered from diseases such as typhoid or pneumonia. It is clear that the winter at Valley Forge was not a walk in the park for these average men. ** media type="youtube" key="wtb9W3mPVtE" height="313" width="419" media type="youtube" key="szyeSw8sGZ8" height="314" width="420" align="right"





**Though the Continental Army was not doing well, a prussian-born military officer by the name of Fredrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben (or Baron von Steuben) was there to help. Steuben was born in Magdeburg, in what we now know as Germany. In his later years, Baron von Steuben served in the Seven Years Warand was eventually recruited to work with Frederick the Great, a great honor. As well as offering the soldiers knowledge, Steuben also had military drills to help get the men back into the swing of things. Baron von Steuben was happy to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with the soldiers, for he knew that they would not be able to make it much longer without his help. Most soldiers that were enlisted in the Continental Army did not have any military training whatsoever, but Steuben helped change this. Although he did not speak English, Steuben and his aide-de-camp Captain Benjamin Walker whipped the soldiers into shape and created a more organized and disciplined system for the men to follow. The main system that he used was called the "model system," where 100 men were chosen by Steuben to participate in many military excercisesthat helped them become more of an army. Then men that were trained by Steuben were then able to help the other soldiers in each brigade. This system was not easy for the soldiers, but Baron von Steubens harsh language and strict training would completely restore the Continental Army and prepare them for upcoming battles. Steuben was one of the most important people during the armys' time at Valley Forge.** **When Washington moved his troops to Valley Forge near the Schuylkill River after being defeated at both Brandywine and Germantown, no one expected the struggles that were to come. But, from the second the Continental Army stepped foot into Pennsylvania, George Washington was nothing but supportive of the men. He wanted the best for his soldiers and he would do whatever he could to help end their suffering. Though it was difficult, Washington always kept a positive attitude while at Valley Forge. He would do whatever it took to get his army healthy and ready for battle again. As you can see in the portrait at the top of the page, Washington was supposedly praying for his troops while at Valley Forge. Washington was an extremely honorable general and genuinely cared about his troops. On top of that, he also had an abundance of experience that he would continue to share with the soldiers. With the help of Steuben, George Washington and the Continental Army would be defeating the Loyalists in no time.**