Attachment_D_Valley_Forge.pdf

B6 Unigrid National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

National Designation StateValley Forge National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior Valley Forge National Historical Park Pennsylvania

“We were determined to persevere.”

In late 1777 the British occupied the patriot capital of Philadelphia. The Continental Congress fl ed to York, Pennsylvania, leaving General George Washington—leader of the new country’s army—to keep alive the hope of independence.

Washington decided to have his troops winter at Valley Forge, a day’s march from Philadel-phia. They could train and recoup from the year’s battles while winter weather, impassable roads, and scant supplies stopped the fi ghting.

Even before Congress fl ed the capital, the leaders had diffi culty supporting the war effort. They were unable to fully supply the army, which had been plagued by inadequate food, clothing, and equipment since war broke out. Conditions reached their worst at Valley Forge. As Private Martin wrote, “We are now in a truly forlorn condition, no clothing, no provision and as disheartened as can be.”

Concentrating the soldiers in one vast camp made sense strategically because they could protect the countryside and be better able to resist a British attack. But it became costly when diseases like infl uenza and typhoid spread through the camp. Disease killed nearly 2,000 people during the encampment.

As tenacious as his men, Washington inspired them through his own resilience and sense of duty. He persuaded Congress to reform the supply system and end the crippling shortages.

He attracted experienced offi cers to the cause, including former Prussian offi cer Baron von Steuben, who was given the job of training the troops. Von Steuben taught the soldiers new military skills and to fi ght as a more uni-fi ed army. These reforms in supply systems and fi ghting tactics, along with reforms in military hygiene and army organization, became the foundation of the modern United States Army.

Private Joseph Plumb Martin, shown above with his journal, wrote these words exemplifying the resolve of the Continental Army. In this third winter of the eight-year American Revolutionary War, soldiers continued to face hunger, sickness, and hardship. Their tenacity and triumph in the face of this adversity form the inspiring story of Valley Forge.

Recovery and Honor After the winter encampment, General Jedediah Huntington called the valley “a starved country.”

Why Valley Forge? It was near the patriot capital of Philadelphia, which was occupied by the British that winter, but far enough away to be safe from surprise attack. The terrain formed a triangle of defense, which the army strengthened by constructing defensive lines. In the end, the British did not attack.

The encampment left behind a ruined land.

Soldiers had cleared forests from many miles around for wood to construct their huts and to build fi res for warmth and cooking. They also had requisitioned farm animals and supplies from local farmers, leaving some families with little food for themselves or to sell. Winter’s constant rains and the activity of thousands of people turned the fi elds into deep mud. The fi elds were so spoiled that no crops could be planted that summer.

Soon after the army left, farmers quickly dis-mantled the huts and reclaimed the wood.

They also plowed down most of the defensive earthworks that soldiers had so laboriously built. By the next summer, farmers were grow-ing crops again where the encampment had once stood. General Washington returned to the site in 1787. A farmer himself, he noted with pleasure that agriculture had recovered from the occupation.

A century later, citizens began the continuing work of preserving the land where the en-campment had stood. The commemorative landscape you see today embodies the peace that the Continental Army earned for us, and honors their sacrifi ce and triumph at Valley Forge.

In May, word came to General Washington that the long-sought alliance with France was secured. The British soon evacuated Philadel-phia and headed north to defend their strong-hold in New York City. On June 19, 1778, Washington’s troops marched out in pursuit.

The Continental Army departed camp as a unifi ed army capable of defeating the British and winning American independence. The war would last fi ve more years, but Valley Forge was a key turning point.

Private Martin explained why: “We had en-gaged in the defense of our injured country and were willing, nay, we were determined to persevere.”

The new country did not have a standing army when the revolution began, so General Washington had to organize one while fi ght-ing the war itself. Part of his challenge was to shift soldiers’ allegiance from their home states to the United States. Another challenge was to train the entire army to use the same fi ghting tactics, which allowed the offi cers to organize a more unifi ed fi ghting force.

The intertwined letters of the uniform button symbolize these transformations, as does the motto ”Out of Many, One.” In 1776, American leaders started thinking about using its Latin translation, E pluribus unum, as the new country’s motto. It still appears on the Great Seal of the United States, and remains a motto worthy of soldiers’ perseverance at Valley Forge.

Out of Many, One (E Pluribus Unum)

ENCAMPMENT ILLUSTRATION—NPS / KEITH ROCCO; BUTTON—NPS

On December 19, 1777, 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children marched into Valley Forge and began to build what would become the fourth largest city in America, with 1,500 log huts and two miles of fortifi cations. Lasting six months, the encampment was as diverse as any city, with people who were free and enslaved, wealthy and impoverished, speakers of several languages, and followers of several religions.

1777–78 Winter Encampment

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Attachment D_Valley Forge

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