Winter at Valley Forge
Winter at Valley Forge was one of the periods that George Washington was most well known for. In the fall of 1777, George Washington' s army needed to move south from New Jersey to defend the capital in Philadelphia from the British. For the winter, George Washington selected Valley Forge for an encampment for his army as it was difficult to fight in the snow. Valley Forge was about 10 miles from Philadelphia. He chose the area because it was easily defensible. George Washington had 2,000 log huts set up. During the early months of encampment, supplies were scarce. Soldiers often ate a bland "firecake". Although appropriate clothing was a problem for some men, the situation was often exaggerated and most men were fully uniformed. In March, disease started to ravage the camp. Many diseases spread throughout the soldiers, killing 2/3 of the original Continental Army. On February 23, 1778, Baron Friedrich Wilheim von Steuben arrived at the camp to train the colonial soldiers, who hadn't received any kind of military training like the British soldiers had. His training's results showed in the Battle of Monmouth where the Continental Army battled to a draw with the British. Leaving as a stronger army, the army pursued the British that were leaving Philadelphia and confronted them in the Battle of Monmouth. After battling to a draw, the Continental Army won their next battle, the Battle of Yorktown. Through the winter, the Continental Army gained an ally of France as well as becoming more trained.
The Battle of Yorktown ended the major Revolutionary War fighting. The Treaty of Paris was signed on Sept. 3, 1778. Without Washington, the inexperienced colonists would have lost to the British, who were a world power. Washington's guidance allowed the soldiers to survive through battles like the Battle of Trenton. However, after the Winter at Valley Forge, allthough there were great losses, Washington's decisions allowed the Americans to defeat the British.
The Battle of Yorktown ended the major Revolutionary War fighting. The Treaty of Paris was signed on Sept. 3, 1778. Without Washington, the inexperienced colonists would have lost to the British, who were a world power. Washington's guidance allowed the soldiers to survive through battles like the Battle of Trenton. However, after the Winter at Valley Forge, allthough there were great losses, Washington's decisions allowed the Americans to defeat the British.