Chapter 6
●
101
germs that caused diseases and infections.
Theydidnot evenwash theirhandsor tools
before or after treatment.
During the winter at Valley Forge, a
German army officer arrived at Valley Forge.
His name was
Friedrich von Steuben
. He
offered to trainWashington’s army for free.
He spoke no English. Washington had him
writea trainingbook thatwas changed to the
English language. Von Steuben trained the
American army for hours upon hours. His
training made a huge difference in helping
the American colonies win thewar.
The American Army
Receives Help
I
n the spring of 1778, Washington’s
army began to receive more food,
supplies, and troops. In Philadelphia,
the English heard the news that a French
navy was sailing for the city. Leaders of
England’s army feared being trapped. They
left the city. The newly trained American
army followed them! As the English army
was fleeing, the American army defeated
them in two separate battles.
How did the French get into our story?
History happens inmore than one place at
a time! Early in the war, the Americans
knew theywould need help. The American
Congress sent Ben Franklin to France to ask
for their help. After many hours of work,
Franklin got the French king to send food,
money, guns, soldiers, and ships tohelp the
American colonies.
For thenext threeyears, thereweremany
more battles fought in the other colonies.
Pennsylvania was no longer a location of
fighting the English army. InOctober 1781,
with the help of the French navy,
Washington’s army defeated England’s
Molly Pitcher took her husband’s position at the cannon after he was wounded.
