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Valley Forge. Warm Up Question. How would you survive a winter, in the wilderness, without shoes, shirts, blankets, food etc.., for 3 months? Why has confidence in Washington’s leadership ability dwindled?
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Warm Up Question • How would you survive a winter, in the wilderness, without shoes, shirts, blankets, food etc.., for 3 months? • Why has confidence in Washington’s leadership ability dwindled? • If you were in Congress, would you remove Washington as commander in chief? Why or why not?
The Winter • “…you might have tracked the army from White Marsh to Valley Forge by the blood of their feet.” • George Washington • Camped here from 12/19/1777-6/19/1778 • 11,000 troops • The bulk of the Continental Army
Winter Cont… • Suffering was unimaginable • Poorly clothed (freezing to death) • Barley housed (wooden shacks) • Starvation (ate Fire Cakes) • Disease (many suffered and died) • “We want meat! We want meat!” • Supply system collapsed • Washington angry at Congress • Not doing enough to help the army
Winter cont… • Winter dragged on • Many officers resigned • Soldiers deserted the camps • Things not looking good at all!! • Yet, the army survived • Supply system was fixed by Nathanael Greene • France now entered the war • New men and fresh supplies • Well-trained officers
Good came from the Bad • Army banned together • Those who survived became a band of brothers • Fought not only for America, but for each other • Weather finally broke: training began • Vigorous, systematic training • Transformed amateur troops into a confident, military organization • Able to beat the red coats in an open field battle • Thanks to Baron von Steuben
Baron von Steuben • Prussian soldier; volunteered services • Highly recommended by Ben Franklin • Feb 23, 1777 arrived at Valley Forge • Did not speak English • Yelled and cursed at soldiers in German and French • Recruited a captain (who spoke French) to yell at the men in English • Chose a “model company” • Trained 100 men, who in turn trained brigades
Baron cont… • Trained in full, military dress: Why? • Soldiers barely had any clothes: tattered rags • Progressive training for new recruits • Would not be allowed to train with weapons • Worked them until they were ready for combat • Valley Forge became a rallying point for Washington’s army • BUT… Washington faced internal problems
Conway Cabal Plan • Cabal is a plot or a plan • First conspiracy in American history • Attempted to ruin Washington, and make Horatio Gates new commander-in-chief • The conspirators: • Horatio “Granny” Gates (General) • Benjamin Rush (father of American medicine) • Thomas Conway (foreign officer in Wash. Army) • Members of Congress (played a minimal role • Sam Adams • Thomas Mifflin • Richard Henry Lee
Conway Plan cont… • All these men had problems with Washington’s leadership • Sent letters calling him “weak” • His battlefield performance was poor • Handled his men in an unprofessional manner • Rush wrote a letter to Patrick Henry • Ripped Washington and recommended Gates • “The northern army has shown us what Americans are capable of doing with a GENERAL at their hand!”
Conway Plan cont… • John Adams, Rush’s best friend, agreed • “I am sick of overall cautious systems in all quarters.” • Conway attacked Washington’s reputation • “As for his talents for command of an army, they were miserable indeed.” • He is a “weak General.” • Wrote letters asking for his own promotion
Conway Plan cont… • A lot of anti-Washington chatter in Congress • “The people of America have been guilty of making a man a God.” • The plan collapsed Jan 19, 1777 • Congress reviewed the matter • Gates and Conway looked like fools • Letters of support for Washington (from his army) poured into Congress • Forced Congress to back Washington--he stays in charge • Conway challenged to a duel for Washington’s honor by General John Cadwalader • Was shot in the mouth • “I stopped his lying mouth!!” • Thought he was dying; wrote an apology to Washington, but cont.. To talk behind Washington’s back
