Washington and his men spent a difficult winter at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania from the end of 1777 to the early months of 1778. One of the strange customs of war from the 18th Century is that armies would basically call a cease-fire when the weather turned cold. As winter would approach, each army would find a place to hibernate until the fighting would resume in spring. Washington's choice was Valley Forge.
It is well documented how miserable his men were during this time. There was little food, adequate clothing or proper shelter to protect the men from the winter winds. Washington, in display of one of his best qualities, refused to live in comfort while his men suffered. He remained in the camp until winter thawed out.
As difficult as this time was, the men in Washington's camp received the best training of their "careers" up to that point. Prussian military leader Friedrich Von Steuben came to the aid of Washington and drilled his men until they were an actual fighting force. For this week's blog, I want you to read this story, watch part one and part two of this video series and in the comments write about your impression of Washington, Von Steuben and the soldiers in light of their struggle at Valley Forge.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe winter at Valley Forge brought a lot of changes. There was the struggle of the harsh weather and other disease outbreaks--such as typhoid, dysentery, typhus. There was also a shortage of food supplies, and many of the soldiers were not properly clothed for the conditions. It was in this time where we see General Washington really take the lead with his patriotic army. He was a leader when it was needed most and saw that supplies came when the conditions got better so his soldiers wouldn't have to suffer greatly--for we all know that there's no guarantee of a perfect time during war, or war hibernation. But here was the problem: Washington's army was just surviving, and…they didn't exactly fight like professionals. Baron von Steuben was a Russian army leader who came to train Washington's army to fight together. The first impression of this stranger was that he seemed to want everything to be his way, or that he came to ruin the colonist-soldier's system at camp. My impression on these guys was that they didn't want some random Russian person to come in and start telling them what to do--some even thought he wasn't a Baron due to rumors. But when the men started learning to fight together and work as a team, everyone loved him. He cared for the soldiers. and most importantly, he had made the army fight like a real army and not just a bunch of random recruits. Steuben brought everyone to the same level and everyone who joined later on. Benjamin Franklin knew from the start that Washington's army needed Steuben. If only we could have had the same first perspective of this man! (284)
ReplyDeleteValley Forge changed a lot of things. The soldiers suffered through the cold with little to cover them, little shelter, little food, and a lot of disease. However through this General George Washington chose to stay with his troops instead of getting better conditions. This may have been one very good reason that the army transformed like it did. When Baron von Steuben came they went from a rag tag group of lawyers and farmers to looking like an actual army. Even though he may have been tough on them they had to learn. So even though it was a tough winter for the soldiers most of them held through, of course about 2,000 of the 12,000 soldiers died and some probably ran away, but most held through. Even through the cold, shelter less, food less, hard training, and disease filled months, these soldiers stuck through it because they had a reason to fight. They were fighting for freedom not only for them, but for the future generations. When you look at all this it's kind of like drawing a character(let's just use Mickey Mouse as an example). When Walt was drawing Mickey Mouse he was just drawing another character. I mean he probably wasn't thinking, "One day everyone will have heard of me because I made this mouse and I will have a billion theme parks." He was probably just thinking, "This is another of my characters," because he had made several before. Well now Mickey Mouse is known by billions of people. Okay, so Walt is George Washington, the pen he wrote with is Von Steuben, and Mickey Mouse is the army. Well, Washington was the general so he was over this whole army so he knew what was going on. Then Von Steuben was shaping the army like the pen was drawing Mickey Mouse. Then the army got better and started to look better just as Mickey did after a few final touches. Now The United States of America is a very well known country just like Walt Disney World and Mickey Mouse. (348)
ReplyDeleteVon Steuben was a brilliant leader and battle strategist. He came to the United States on just a letter! He came over 3000 miles on just a letter! He also had great determination because he spoke little English, and he had the hard task of training a whole bunch of misfit troops who were already demoralized. He also had to deal with the crap the troops were giving him. Because of his work at Valley Forge, he became a shining beacon, guiding the army. My overall impression for Von Steuben is that he was a brilliant leader.
ReplyDeleteThe troops deserve even more respect than Von Steuben. They actually had to fight when the odds were against them. They also had to endure the tough winter of Valley Forge. These men literally went from zero to hero. Staying at Valley Forge for a cause that they believed in rather than leaving and thinking it was a lost cause took a lot of courage. My overall impression is these men are hardcore.
George Washington had the ever arduous task of leading the underdog army to victory. He obviously knew what he was doing because he led his rag tag army to victory against the best military power in the world. My overall impression of him is that he was a very intelligent man and brilliant commander in chief. (226)
Von Steuben was a good man in my opinion, because he came 3000 miles to American and all he got was a pice of paper asking him to come. That shows that he is a good person because he is always willing and ready to help, and it wasn't like a thing everyone would like to do because the army was a joke the men were just farmers and kids. But he came and was willing to train them and he also had to deal with all the men messing with him and making fun of him, but he was still willing to train them. That just shows he is a strong man mentally and physically.
ReplyDeleteWashington was a great leader. He was willing to grab a gun and and fight with is his men. He was also a strong leader because he had Great War plans and he also came up with ways to hide them wen he sent them to his other leaders under him. But on the other hand the troops hated him for the winter of valley forge because a lot of then men didn't have shoes to wear. So they were going bear foot in the winter but wen they got the money from the French they got more shoes and more food, and the troops liked him aging.(223)
My impression about Washington, is that he was determined. Even though he was just watching his army practically fall apart, he was determined to train the men he did have and get prepared for this battle. He was not going to give up what so ever, he would get anyone to train his men. He wanted to win. Washington was a leader, and he was going to lead his army to victory. Now, Von Steuben wanted to train these soldiers well, so he was going to do exactly that. In the beginning, Washington’s army was kind of falling apart, then Steuben came along. Washington’s army was soon a fighting force thanks to Von Steuben. So my impression of Steuben, is that he was helpful. Lastly, the soldiers. I think that the ones that left, were wimps. They did not want to be cold and have lack of food, so they left. The soldiers that remained, they were willing to do whatever it takes to be able to win this battle. They were going to listen to Von Steuben and they were going to work their butts off until they were one fighting team. So they were pretty determined just like Washington. All of these people were a huge part in this. Washington had to lead them, Steuben had to train them, the soldiers had to listen and follow instructions. Without any one of these people, how would they be able to fight? (242)
ReplyDeleteMy opinion of General George Washington during the winter of Valley Forge was impressed. No matter what his army was going through he stuck with them. when his army was going through the tough winter with limited supplies he didn't let that get him down. He did his very best to get the supplies for his soldiers which he eventually did do. Other people tried to trick his generals into thinking that taking over Canada was a good thing and so was giving up on Washington. But instead they believed in him, and decided to stay with Washington. And he wasn't the only great leader, General Friedrich Von Stuebon was also a great leader of the Continental Army. Even though at first the troops didn't listen to him, he stuck with the plan and eventually they bought into what he was saying. and at that point they became a trained army, and they started using proper techniques for fighting. (159)
ReplyDeleteI was very impressed with Washington at Valley Forge because when times got tough he didn’t stow away in hos offecers tent and just watch all of his men suffer. He was in the same tents as his men. When small pox broke out he was right there with all of the men. His men were actually less devoted at times there were rumors going there the army of fleeing to Canada and basically saying that they don’t want to fight any more. To do that would contradict all things that they had said before about the army. Von stueben was a big turning point in the war because when he came the men got to the point to where they respected him and listened to his advice and he was a great man. So when the actually listened and took his instruction he tought them amazing things.
ReplyDeleteWords 150
Washington was a good man and a great general. He wouldn’t ask his men to do any thing that he wouldn’t do him self. This sounds simple but that meant when it was cold and some people would have to sleep out side he would stay in the nice house and be warm he would be right there with them. He was a good general because he made good decisions and when he needed it he wasn’t afraid to ask for help. He asked for help a valley forge with training his soldiers to fight. This is how Von Steuben came in. He was also a good person and good military trainer. He came across the entire Atlantic Ocean to help an army he had nothing to do with. On top of that it was the middle of winter when he came and he didn’t wuss out and give up he stayed in the cold snow until the army was finely tuned. (162)
ReplyDeleteThe winter in Valley Forge really helped change the war in favor of the colonies. I was very impressed with Washington at Valley Forge. General Washington led his weary and weakened army to Valley Forge a few miles away where they would camp for the winter. Conditions in the camp were terrible with all diseases going around and barley enough warmth, food, and blankets. Through all the trouble General Washington made his army strong through his leadership. Washington’s army was weak and was not as powerful as the British. Baron von Steuben helping the soldiers become an excellent army. He helped increase discipline and reinvigorated pride among the troops. He trained them to be strong and work as a team with the right discipline. He taught amazing things to them helped make a turning point in the war.
ReplyDeleteit was 138 words
ReplyDeleteThe winter of valley forge changed the war. it allowed the colonies to train and know what hardship was in war. the british were pampered and had everything they needed. the colonists were in the middle of the woods, cold and wet. Washington played one of the larger roles in the changing of the tide. he made the right descisions to have everyone given small pox vaccine, and he asked for the French Von Stueben to come and help train soldiers, which allowed this small militia to become an unstoppable army. they were very disciplined and had great shots. Von Stueben played the other large role. he came over because france came and he wasn't accepted there because being homosexual. Washington, knowing if he didn't have his help they would lose, asked him to come and help train the troops. the soldiers became very disciplined and mature. before, they were a bunch of normal people who wanted freedom, now, they were a fighting machine ready to stop the british. they became disciplined soldiers and learned how to use a bayonet. 180 words
ReplyDeleteThe winter at Valley Forge was a big eye opener for the solders. They found out at their camp what war will bring you to and what it will give you. The winter had brought the soldiers to such a low point that most of them barely even had clothes to cover themselves with. Then came the small pox epidemic. This killed most of the men at the camp. The lack of sanitation at the camp drove them to this to where they had basically given themselves the fatal disease. Thankfully someone had the guts to actually put the virus inside of their body hoping that their body would become immune to it before it can harm you. Then there was Von Stueben he came to discipline the soldiers to be able to fight the war with an effective way. When he came he taught them new battle techniques gave them a way to fight and new weapons. It was said that during this extremely fatal time that Washington did not have an officer’s tent he stayed in the same place as all of the soldiers. Without the winter at Valley Forge we might have been British today.
ReplyDeleteWords- 200