What happened at Valley Forge in 1777 and 1778?

The six-month encampment of General George Washington’s Continental Army at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-1778 was a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War. The defeats had led some members of the Continental Congress to want to replace Washington, believing he was incompetent.

What is the significance of the time period from 1777-1778 in Valley Forge PA?

Valley Forge, in the American Revolution, Pennsylvania encampment grounds of the Continental Army under General George Washington from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778, a period that marked the triumph of morale and military discipline over severe hardship.

What were the conditions at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778 and how did the troops respond?

At Valley Forge, there were shortages of everything from food to clothing to medicine. Washington’s men were sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. The Continental Army camped in crude log cabins and endured cold conditions while the Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial homes.

What happened at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777?

In December, 1777, General George Washington moved the Continental Army to their winter quarters at Valley Forge. Though Revolutionary forces had secured a pivotal victory at Saratoga in September and October, Washington’s army suffered defeats at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, Pennsylvania.

How many died at Valley Forge?

People of the Encampment While there was never a battle at Valley Forge, disease killed nearly 2,000 people during the encampment.

Why did so many soldiers died at Valley Forge?

The soldiers who marched to Valley Forge on December 19, 1777 were not downtrodden or desperate. Yet cold and starvation were not the most dangerous threats to soldiers at Valley Forge: Diseases like influenza, dysentery, typhoid and typhus killed two-thirds of the nearly 2,000 soldiers who died during the encampment.

Who died at Valley Forge?

Out of the 12,000 men who arrived in Valley Forge, 3,000 soldiers died and another 2,000 left because they were so sick. There isn’t much you can do in the middle of winter with without proper shelter and clothing, but the troops found things to do to pass the time.

Did cannibalism occur in Jamestown?

Archaeologists have discovered the first physical evidence of cannibalism by desperate English colonists driven by hunger during the Starving Time of 1609-1610 at Jamestown, Virginia (map)—the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

What is the significance of winter at Valley Forge?

Although seen as a low point in the American Revolution, the winter spent at Valley Forge did help the army. The crossing of the Delaware raised the moral of the army, inspiring many to continue their service. The same battle proved to the world that the American colonists could, in fact, defeat the British.

What are facts about Valley Forge?

Interesting Facts About the Valley Forge Valley Forge was the first state park in Pennsylvania. The area was named after an iron forge located at nearby Valley Creek. General Friedrich von Steuben wrote the Revolutionary War Drill Manual which became the standard drill manual used by the US forces up until the War of 1812 .

What did Valley Forge do in the Revolutionary War?

Valley Forge, in the American Revolution, Pennsylvania encampment grounds of the Continental Army under General George Washington from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778, a period that marked the triumph of morale and military discipline over severe hardship.