While the British occupied the city, General
Washington ordered his American army to construct
a winter camp at Valley Forge, 20miles away. From
this location, he could observe the English army
movements. It is very hard to imagine how primitive
living conditions were at the
encampment
. General
Washington’s 12,000 troops were poorly fed and
clothed. Good
sanitation
was not a top priority of the
troops. Hismen built crude wooden huts to protect
themselves from the bitter winter winds. People
brought what food and clothing they could to the
camp, but it was rarely enough. During the frigid,
harsh winter of 1777-78, more than 3,000men died
fromsickness, disease, and infection. Today, you can
visit the encampment and crude huts at
Valley Forge
National Historical Park
.
Strangely enough, no one died of starvation or
freezing weather. But the sanitary conditions and
poor diet at the camp were so bad that disease and
infection claimedmany lives. During this time in
history, doctors knew nothing about the types of
germs that caused sicknesses such as typhus,
typhoid, or dysentery. They did not even wash their
hands or tools before or after treating the soldiers!
During the winter at Valley Forge, a German army
officer volunteered to trainWashington’s army in
military tactics. His name was
Friedrich von Steuben
.
Although he could not speak English, Washington had
himwrite an instructor’smanual which he had
translated into English. Von Steuben drilled the
American army for hours upon hours over the winter.
In the spring of 1778, Washington’s army began
to receive food, supplies, andmoremen. Fortunately
for the American colonies,
Ben Franklin
had been
negotiating
with France for many months toward
helping the American cause. France had become an
ally of the Americans. England received news that a
French navy was sailing toward Philadelphia. To avoid
being trapped in Philadelphia, the English army left
the city. They were right to do so. Themany hours
von Steuben spent training the American army paid
off. The American army defeated the fleeing English
army in two separate battles.
Now, how did the French get onto the historical
stage? Losing most of the battles, and being poorly
equipped, the Americans needed help badly. The
American Congress had anticipated this trouble and
sent Ben Franklin in December 1776, to France to
seek help. The leaders of Congress thought that the
Frenchmight want to
avenge
their defeat to the
English during the French and IndianWar. It took time,
but Franklin was charming and wise, understood
government, and knew how to negotiate. Franklin
persuaded the French king to sendmoney, food,
soldiers, and ships to help the American colonies.
For the next three years, there weremany more
battles in other colonies. By October 1781, with the
help of the French navy and army, Washington’s
troops defeated England’s army at the Battle of
Yorktown, Virginia. After this defeat, the English king
decided to give the American colonies their freedom.
It took the two countries twomore years to work out
the details of a peace agreement which was signed
in Paris, France.
Following their decisive defeat in the Battle of Brandywine,Washington’s troops set
up camp inValley Forge.More than 3,000 troops perished here during the harshwinter.
Friedrich von Steuben, aGerman army officer, spent the
harshwinter inValley Forge trainingWashington’s men.
With von Steuben’s training, and somemuch-needed
assistance fromFrance,Washington’s troops defeated a fleeing
English army in the summer of 1778.
52
Understanding Pennsylvania
