"Wicked Winter"
"There comes a Soldier, his bare feet are seen thro' his worn out Shoes, his legs nearly naked from the tatter'd remains of an only pair of stockings, his Breeches not sufficient to cover his nakedness, his Shirt hanging in Strings, his hair dishevell'd, his face meagre; his whole appearance pictures a person forsaken & discouraged." (Commager 460). -Quote by Surgeon Albigence Waldo of the Connecticut Line on December 14, 1777.
This description could be used for many of the soldiers coming that winter at Valley Forge as the army was weakened and the men ill dressed, sick, and cold. Washington's exasperated army arrived at Valley Forge in late December of 1777 and began to set up for winter camp. "In all, Washington's army numbered 11,000 officers and men, of whom 8,200 were fit to fight" (Middlekauff 418). Washington chose a good strategic site for that winter but they lacked all necessities and supplies needed for the army to persevere through it. They were in need of clothes, blankets, food, shelter, and so much more that was supposed to be provided by Congress but never had be given to army. The men would have to suffer through this tough winter without supplies and in addition to that would have to build their ownn shelters.
This description could be used for many of the soldiers coming that winter at Valley Forge as the army was weakened and the men ill dressed, sick, and cold. Washington's exasperated army arrived at Valley Forge in late December of 1777 and began to set up for winter camp. "In all, Washington's army numbered 11,000 officers and men, of whom 8,200 were fit to fight" (Middlekauff 418). Washington chose a good strategic site for that winter but they lacked all necessities and supplies needed for the army to persevere through it. They were in need of clothes, blankets, food, shelter, and so much more that was supposed to be provided by Congress but never had be given to army. The men would have to suffer through this tough winter without supplies and in addition to that would have to build their ownn shelters.
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Upon arrival the troops stayed in tents or on the cold open ground. Both of these were not sufficient in the cold winter and many troops were falling ill. They realized the need for proper housing of troops and shortly after arriving they started to construct huts made of timber from the area. The troops would be forced to make their own huts which were small, cramped, and only 1 room around 14 x 16 feet that would have to fit 12 troops in it. If one person got sick the others in the hut were inevitably going to fall ill as well. These huts were the best the troops would get for shelter and they would have to suffice with them through the long winter.
*video from YouTube.com by JeremyHooper007 |
The conditions at Valley Forge were not beneficial for the troops as many would become sick and the troops had nothing in the way of orders or commands pertaining to camp care. All that changed with the arrival of Baron von Steuben who implemented a set of rules that would help to limit the diseases in camp by having greater sanitary conditions and better camp organization. Even with the diseases slowed in camp the men lacked proper necessities and the winter was a rough one with around 2500 men dying there. There may have been even more fatalities if it had not been for the arrival of Nathanael Greene as the new Quartermaster. "At Valley Forge in February, energy proved as important as organization in rescuing the army from near-starvation. Greene, under Washington's supervision , provided both energy and organization..."(Middlekauff 422). The conditions and camp may not have been a favorable one for the troops but it was the best they could have that winter. Their perseverance through it and the new conditions and training they received from Baron von Steuben made for a hardened army of Americans Regulars. The winter at Valley Forge was a turning point in the war and without the men of the Continental Army being able to make it through the winter history would be drastically different.
**picture behind title from flickr.com by MikonT
***picture from WikiSpace.com
***picture from WikiSpace.com