Chapter 6
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these very necessary items? It was easy to
see that the American colonies were not
givenmuch of a chance towin!
Not everyone in the American colonies
supported this war. Many people were still
loyal
toEngland. Tobe loyalwas tobe true
and attached to England. During the
American Revolution, about 1,400 people
from Pennsylvania joined England’s army.
Also, many religious groups in Pennsyl-
vania, such as the Quakers, did not believe
in war. However, they did care for the sick
andwoundedAmerican soldiers.
People in the towns of Pennsylvania
helped inmany ways during the American
Revolution. Rifles were made in Lancaster.
Cannons weremade in Philadelphia. Other
iron furnaces around the state also
made cannons. Military supplies and
ammunition were stored at Carlisle, near
Harrisburg. A tough wagon was needed to
haul heavy supplies to the American army.
The
Conestoga Wagon
, made by the
PennsylvaniaDutchnear Lancaster,was the
wagon of choice. The wagon could be
loadedwith up to 10,000 pounds of goods!
Until the endof 1776, notmuch fighting
happenedbetween the twoarmies.Muchof
the fighting early in the war was centered
on the American colonies’ larger cities —
New York City
and Philadelphia. The
English thought that control of the cities
wouldbring aquick end to thewar.General
Washington’s small, poorly fed army had
lost battles around New York City. Then,
Washington took his army south to
New
Jersey.
The English army followed them. If
the English army could catchWashington’s
army, thewar would be over!
Washington headed west through New
Jersey. He was planning on crossing the
Delaware River to fight in Pennsylvania.
However, there were no bridges to get
across the river! He sent scouts ahead to
look for boats. They found large boats that
had been used to carry iron. Washington
used these strong boats to cross the
Delaware River.When the English army got
to the river, therewerenoboats for them to
cross the river! So, the English army
campednearby at
Trenton
, New Jersey.
Washington’s camp was located about 35
miles north of Philadelphia. He had learned
that the English were waiting for the
river to freeze. Then they could attack
Washington’s army. It was the Christmas
holiday seasonof 1776.Washingtonhad the
boats, so he decided to attack the British
army on Christmas night. In the bitter cold
night, with snow and sleet falling,
Washington’s army crossed the Delaware
River at three different places. Two parts of
his army turnedback. However,Washington
andhismenmarched toward Trenton.
They took the English army by surprise.
The English gave up without much of a
fight. The colonies did not win the war
because of this victory. This was only one
small part of the English army. However,
Washington’s troops built these crude,
wooden huts at their winter camp
in Valley Forge.
