Bradford, choice wayne bodles the valley forge winter is the first comprehensive study of the continental armys most famous encampment, despite its prominence in revolutionary war historiography and popular memory. The valley forge winter is not a simple retelling of the oftrepeated story about the famous encampment of the continental army during the winter of 17771778. This important study challenges most of the accepted views of valley forge. Jan 14, 2020 with the onset of the bitter winter cold, the continental army under general george washington, still in the field, enters its winter camp at valley forge, 22 miles from britishoccupied philadelphia. Here george washington, one of americas greatest leaders, transformed our first army into a military force capable of winning independence from great britain. Certainly hardship did occur at valley forge, but the encampment experience could be characterized as suffering as usual, for privation was the continental soldiers constant companion.
Mcguire talked about difficulties that the american army had at valley forge. Bodle moves beyond the myths and legends that besiege and. Video files valley forge national historical park u. The pennslyvania society of the sons of the revolution. The armys camp sat high on a plateau at the top of a series of hills that protected it. George washington and the making of the constitution full movie.
Our work has been featured by the new york times, time magazine, history channel, discovery channel, smithsonian, mental floss, npr, and more. I we live uncommonly well for campwe have milk and sugar in plentyi have my hair powdered every day. Only a few months before the valley forge encampment, late in 1777, he had exclaimed to a new jersey leader, elias boudinot, that he could not do everything. Valley forge national historical park hosts several annual events commemorating the 177778 winter encampment, honoring the soldiers who made camp in. The event is hosted by the cradle of liberty council and commemorates the soldiers of the continental army who braved the winter of 177778 at valley forge. This book tells the story of the hundreds of camp women who spent the winter of 177778 with the american continental army at valley forge, pennsylvania. Washington and the continental army spent the winter of 177778 at valley forge, twentyfive miles northwest of philadelphia. Plan to visit during this events for the full valley forge park experience. The winter at valley forge, 17771778 images of snow marching to valley forge. Valley forgevalley forge, continental army encampment during the winter and spring of 17771778, is situated on the west bank of the schuylkill river, in chester county, pa. Learn more about the winter encampment at valley forge and its significance to the american revolution.
On december 19, 1777, when washingtons army marched into camp at valley forge, tired, cold, and illequipped, it was. It recalled the suffering of the continental army during their winter encampment from 1777 to 1778. Civilians and soldiers in war presents the story of the winter of 17771778 with details that may be new to most readers. Valley forge, in the american revolution, pennsylvania encampment grounds of the continental army under general george washington from december 19, 1777, to june 19, 1778, a period that marked the triumph of morale and military discipline over severe hardship. Valley forge had the highest mortality rate of any continental army encampment, and even most military engagements.
Valley forge functioned as the third of eight winter encampments for the continental armys. The mythical narrative is important in its own right for it reveals something about our character in the heroic way we wish the revolution to be. The society of the descendants of washingtons army at valley forge dvf is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer service organization for men, women, and children dedicated to preserving the memory of those men and women who entered the camp at valley forge between 12191777 and 6191778. First, the lay of the land made valley forge a natural fortress. Ask someone to think of valley forge and they will nearly always envision an anonymous group of soldiers struggling against winter s fury and clothed in nothing but rags. The next six months proved to be turning point for the continental army. Its easy for you and your family to attend all these events at the annual encampment by becoming a death valley 49ers member. George washington leads troops into winter quarters at valley. A winter encampment, our orientation film, provides visitors with an overview of the events leading up to, during, and after the. The original story of valley forge was a very careful constructed tale told after the revolutionary war to teach the american people about perseverance. Winter camp at valley forge click here for a printerfriendly version in 1777, the british, hoping to bring about a speedy conclusion to the american revolution, decided to capture philadelphia, the patriot capital. The significance of the encampment lies both in its factbased history and also its storied myth. Bradford, choice wayne bodles the valley forge winter is the first comprehensive study of the continental armys most famous encampment, despite its prominence in revolutionary war historiography and popular memory overall, this is an important book that deserves a wide readership.
The encampment store at valley forge the one stop shop for revolutionary war books and merchandise. Home the encampment store at valley forge national. Author wayne bodle proposes that while it was a difficult experience to endure, the conditions were not nearly as bad as retained in our national memory. Coauthors of valley forge bob drury and tom clavin describe how the continental army survived the harsh 17771778 winter encampment where almost 2000. After the american defeats at brandywine, paoli, and germantown and a. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Feb 07, 2010 valley forge national historical park. Some patients might have suffered from more than one ailment. Women at the valley forge encampment, by nancy loane, is a fact filled enjoyable read.
Valley forge functioned as the third of eight military encampments for the continental armys main body, commanded by general george washington. With a wreathlaying ceremony at the valley forge national historical park vfnhp on the saturday of presidents weekend, scouts and scouters will gather to honor general george washington and his soldiers at the valley forge national memorial arch. Women at the valley forge encampment kindle edition by loane, nancy k download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Many historians say the leaders calm, caring presence during those horrible winter months was the most important factor in preventing the army from disintegrating.
You brought the women of the valley forge encampment to life during your presentation. Second, she makes no embellishments to glorify her subjects in fact, she includes an appendix where she painstakingly exposes the myth surrounding martha washington. More about who served at valley forge your assignment is to research an individual who spent that winter with the continental army at valley forge, pa. Cradle of liberty council celebrates george washington and his troops in three ways. For the men of the army, building the huts was a welcome relief from the waiting at whitemarsh. And on december 19, 1777, the army moved to winter quarters and began building their camp gulph mills on map winter encampment 2.
The winter at valley forge a guide by lane willams. Visit the membership booth at the entrance to fiddlers campground behind the gas station at furnace creek ranch on highway 190. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading following the drum. In september 1777, british forces had captured the american capital of philadelphia. Certainly hardship did occur at valley forge, but the encampment experience could be characterized as suffering as usual, for privation was the continental soldiers. From there, the army was close enough to maintain pressure on the british yet far enough away to prevent a surprise attack. He explained how george washington dealt with the situation. The encampment store is a nonprofit 501 c3 cooperating association with the national park service whose mission is to provide support and assistance to the interpretive, educational, scientific and historical activities of valley forge national historical park. Valley forge national historical park hosts several annual events commemorating the 177778 winter encampment, honoring the soldiers who made camp in valley forge, and celebrating the treasure that is the park. The history and mythology of the valley forge winter encampment is fundamental to understanding american identity.
Jan 29, 2020 the encampment at valley forge took place from december 19, 1777 through june 19, 1778 and served as winter quarters for general george washingtons continental army. Boynton, published in the life of george washington by jared sparkes in 1843 several locations were considered for the armys winter quarters, but washington selected valley forge, pennsylvania, which was named for an iron forge on valley creek in whitemarsh, pennsylvania. Your browser does not currently recognize any of the video formats available. Overview of history and significance valley forge national. Everything you need to be ready to step out prepared. Soldiers cabins at valley forge the enchanted manor. Dec 19, 2017 the encampment at valley forge in 1778, 1830 steel engraving by g. This video describes the events leading up to, during, and after the 17771778 winter encampment that took place here at valley forge.
Valley forge, the famous site of the continental armys 17771778 winter encampment, was host to one of the most important episodes of the american revolution. Valley forge, continental army encampment during the winter and spring of 17771778, is situated on the west bank of the schuylkill river, in chester county, pa. Valley forge encampment was the result of a study conducted over a period of eight years, undertaken to document the organization of the continental armys command structure during its winter encampment at valley forge. Overall, this is an important book that deserves a wide readership. Under general washingtons command, the continental army. Jan 21, 2015 being ten unexpected and edifying quotations from the third winter encampment. It was clear that our audience enjoyed every minute of it. Trego valley forge historical society the prayer at valley forge by arnold friberg, 1976. A winter encampment is the parks orientation film that is shown daily in the park theater. The traditional account portrays valley forge in the 1770s as a desolate wilderness far removed from civilian society. The valley forge winter museum of the american revolution.
We feature smart, groundbreaking research and wellwritten narratives from expert writers. He chose to encamp at valley forge, twenty miles northwest of philadelphia. Pictures of valley forge national historical park valley forge. A winter encampment is valley forge national historical parks official orientation film, currently shown daily in the park theater. Leaving valley forge philadelphia was a difficult place for the british to defend. We take time to tour sites in the philadelphia area including valley forge national historical park. The soldiers who entered camp on december 19, 1777, were upbeat despite the poor supply situation. Pilgrimage to valley forge cradle of liberty council. See more ideas about valley forge, continental army and park. December in montgomery county is marked with historic holiday celebrations, but the calendar also features major concerts, performances by top comedians, awardwinning stage shows, and the annual marchin of the continental army, one of the largest events of the year at valley forge park. Home society of the descendants of washingtons army at. View the parks 18minute orientation film, valley forge. The 18minute video provides an overview of the historical events that took place at valley forge during the 17771778 winter encampment and a brief synopsis of the american revolution.
Get the valley forge, pa local hourly forecast including temperature, realfeel, and chance of precipitation. On november 27, the continental congress read more. Sir henry clintons british army at the battle of monmouth in new. After failing to retake the city, washington led his 12,000man army into winter quarters at valley forge, located approximately 18 miles 29 km northwest of philadelphia. Journal of the american revolution is the leading source of knowledge about the american revolution and founding era. After the american defeats at brandywine, paoli, and germantown and after the british had occupied philadelphia then the national capital, gen. Valley forge archives journal of the american revolution. Redirected the previous winter from the frontier at kittanning to new jersey, and then on to the philadelphia campaigns culminating in the winter at valley forge, joseph was now a seasoned and welltrained soldier who had been in the company of some of the most famous officers of. Doylestown pa historical society your lecture was filled with details that made history come alive for all of us. Following the american failures at the nearby battles of brandywine and germantown, washington led 11,000 regulars to take up winter. Ask someone to think of valley forge and they will nearly always envision an anonymous group of soldiers struggling against winters fury and clothed in nothing but rags. This time is called our encampment, just as it was called in 1777.
In total, about 1,7002,000 troops died during the valley forge encampment, mostly at general hospitals located in six different towns. Here george washington, one of americas greatest leaders, transformed our first army into a military force capable of. Washington chose valley forge as the winter encampment for his 11,000 men along with approximately 500 women and children who accompanied them for several reasons. They were poor, dirty creatures who clung to the very edge of survival, amny working as the armys washerwomen, nurses, cooks and seamstresses.
Having suffered a string of defeats that fall, including losing the capital of philadelphia to the british, the americans made camp for the winter outside of the. Valley forge is the location of the 17771778 winter encampment of the continental. Redirected the previous winter from the frontier at kittanning to new jersey, and then on to the philadelphia campaigns culminating in the winter at valley forge, joseph was now a seasoned and welltrained soldier who had been in the company of some of the most famous officers of the revolutionary war. The winter encampment at valley forge is one of the most famous episodes of the american revolution. On december 19, 1777, washington and his war weary troops marched into valley forge. We picnic with the valley forge park alliance on one of the evenings, participate in a memorial service at the washington memorial chapel, and hold our annual banquet. Having suffered a string of defeats that fall, including losing the capital of philadelphia to the british, the americans made camp for the winter outside of the city. Dec 02, 2016 the winter at valley forge was one of the darkest periods of the revolutionary war. Now, two hundred and twentyfive years later, wayne bodle has written the first comprehensive history of the winter encampment of 177778. Within days of arriving at valley forge, troops constructed 1,500 to 2,000 log huts in parallel lines that would house 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and. Online store the encampment store at valley forge pa. The valley forge pilgrimage and encampment is the oldest annual scouting event in the world. The continental army was demoralized after a string of retreats, including the occupations of new york and. First, her material is well researched with excellent notes.
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