Submitted by: Submitted by keinzezwow15
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Words: 939
Pages: 4
Category: US History
Date Submitted: 02/25/2014 09:01 PM
Valley Forge: A Tragedy
Facts to know:
• General Washington and his men seek shelter at Valley Forge after Battle of White Marsh
• Battle of White Marsh, last major battle of 1777
• Washington wanted to find permanent winter encampment
• He chose Valley Forge, 22 miles North West of Philadelphia
• Considered far enough from British to hinder Surprise Attacks
• The surrounding hills and river made Valley Forge easily defendable
• Twelve Thousand men in December of 1977
• The soldiers were struggling with supplies
• Soldiers were poorly fed
• Thousands of huts were built to house the soldiers
• These huts were rather primitive
• In the cold of winter, the huts barely retained heat
• Each hut required 80 logs
• These logs had to be brought from miles away
• Each hut required at least a week of construction
• Huts had difficulty keeping groundwater at bay
• The vicious cycle of snowfall and snow melt brought many diseases
• Food was very rare
• Many men relied solely on “firecake”
• Firecake ‡ a concoction of water and flour cooked primitively over fire
• Baker General Ludwig was able to provide each man with a pound of bread per day
• Many of the armies horses died due to malnutrition and exposure
• At its worst, 4000 men classified unfit for duty due to lack of garments, shoes, etc, etc
• Disease alone accounted for 2000 deaths that winter
Role in Overall War:
• Although no battle occurred, the British fled
• British fleeing occurred in June of 1778
• The Americans won by will-power
• This stand-off was similar to a staring contest
• The war continued on for many years after
• The Army was never again paralleled the lack of equipment
• Valley Forge was among the last of true hardships of humanity during the war
New York and New Jersey Campaigns
Facts to know:
• New York and New Jersey Campaign common name for a series of battles between the British and Americans in the American Revolution...