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
Top Related