In the winter of 1777-1778, a small village in Pennsylvania made history. In the midst of the Revolutionary War, this village, called Valley Forge, was the temporary home of over 10,000 American soldiers under the control of General George Washington. That particular winter was long and bitterly cold, enough so that Valley Forge made its mark in American history as being the lowest point in the war for independence. The village of Valley Forge is located in the Schuylkill Township in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The geography of Valley Forge is largely believed to be the thing that impressed George Washington the most. High on a plateau, the hills that surrounded the location of Washington’s camp offered a natural protection. The hills
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After an unexpected battle at Brandywine, where British troops ambushed the Americans, over 1,000 American men were killed, and most of their heavy artillery was lost. More skirmishes after this battle caused the American hold on Philadelphia to dwindle, and the city eventually fell into British hands. Members of the Continental Congress were alarmed by the amount of British troops in and around Philadelphia, so Washington decided to keep the Continental Army close by. This way, Washington would be able to march his men out and meet the British troops in Philadelphia, and be able to prevent any attacks that the British might have planned on the surrounding countryside …show more content…
Upon marching into Valley Forge on December 19, Washington soon realized that they had twenty-five barrels of flour and a small amount of salt pork. These kinds of provisions were nowhere near large enough to feed an army of 12,000 men, and about 500 women and children. In order to get around this daunting challenge, Washington sent out men to gather supplies. The roads surrounding Valley Forge were nearly ruined, filled with ruts from the transportation of logs earlier; because of this set-back, finding men who were willing to embark on a supplies run was a tedious task. Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin was the man in charge of the troops on the supplies run. Historians have observed that Mifflin was a selfish man, and had no interest in the humiliating job that was given to him. Mifflin desired to be in active combat, making a name and legacy for himself, not constantly traveling and begging for supplies. Because of his strong desire for glory, he neglected his duties as a military transporter. It wasn’t until Nathanael Greene took over in the early spring of 1778 that supplies finally started to be transported to the camp in the quantity that they should have. Washington himself was not afraid to let his disapproval of Mifflin’s actions be known. In a letter, Washington’s secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, mentioned Mifflin as so: "I ought to mention to you a Continuance of one of your
After an unexpected battle at Brandywine, where British troops ambushed the Americans, over 1,000 American men were killed, and most of their heavy artillery was lost. More skirmishes after this battle caused the American hold on Philadelphia to dwindle, and the city eventually fell into British hands. Members of the Continental Congress were alarmed by the amount of British troops in and around Philadelphia, so Washington decided to keep the Continental Army close by. This way, Washington would be able to march his men out and meet the British troops in Philadelphia, and be able to prevent any attacks that the British might have planned on the surrounding countryside …show more content…
Upon marching into Valley Forge on December 19, Washington soon realized that they had twenty-five barrels of flour and a small amount of salt pork. These kinds of provisions were nowhere near large enough to feed an army of 12,000 men, and about 500 women and children. In order to get around this daunting challenge, Washington sent out men to gather supplies. The roads surrounding Valley Forge were nearly ruined, filled with ruts from the transportation of logs earlier; because of this set-back, finding men who were willing to embark on a supplies run was a tedious task. Quartermaster General Thomas Mifflin was the man in charge of the troops on the supplies run. Historians have observed that Mifflin was a selfish man, and had no interest in the humiliating job that was given to him. Mifflin desired to be in active combat, making a name and legacy for himself, not constantly traveling and begging for supplies. Because of his strong desire for glory, he neglected his duties as a military transporter. It wasn’t until Nathanael Greene took over in the early spring of 1778 that supplies finally started to be transported to the camp in the quantity that they should have. Washington himself was not afraid to let his disapproval of Mifflin’s actions be known. In a letter, Washington’s secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, mentioned Mifflin as so: "I ought to mention to you a Continuance of one of your