Washington at Valley Forge: The Making of a Leader
Jonathan Klemens, MS, FSA-Scot Author and Historian The poorly trained and ragtag Continental Army, unable to prevent the British forces from taking Philadelphia, retreated to Valley Forge for the winter of 1777-78. It was selected for its strategic location between Philadelphia and York, along the Schuylkill River. This was the 3rd encampment of a total of 8 for the Continental Army. There were 200 – 450 women at the Valley Forge encampment plus a minor number of children. This was not R&R – not a winter vacation. This was intensive, disciplined, military training. Valley Forge had natural defensive positions, access to water, enough land to support the army, and was far enough from Philadelphia to prevent a surprise attack by the British. Due to freezing temperatures, Washington ordered the construction of 360 cabins or huts as expediently as possible. The Colonels, or commanding officers of regiments, with their Captains, are immediately to cause their men to be divided into squads of twelve, and see that each squad have its proportion of tools, to build huts for themselves. And as an encouragement, the General promised to reward the party in each regiment which finished their hut in the quickest, and most workmanlike manner, with twelve dollars. Boards for covering were scarce. Washington offered one hundred dollars to any officer or soldier, who in the opinion of three Gentlemen, he shall appoint as judges, shall substitute some other covering, that may be cheaper and quickly made. The Soldier’s huts were to be of the following dimensions, fourteen by sixteen each—sides, with ends and roofs made with logs. The roof was to be made tight with split slabs with the sides made tight with clay. The fireplace was to be of wood and secured with clay on the inside eighteen inches thick, to be in the rear of the hut, with the door to be in the end next to the street. The doors were to be made of split oak-slabs, unless boards could be procured with side walls to be six and a half feet high. The troops were trained by Baron von Steuben, a German-born American army officer and temporary inspector general. He played a leading role in reforming the Continental Army into a disciplined and professional fighting force that crossed the ice-laden Delaware to surprise the Hessian troops, in Trenton, on December 26, 1776.
