"To see the men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes... without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralelled."
- General George Wahington at Valley Forge on April 21, 1778
Valley Forge was by far the hardest winter for the rebels during the American Revolution. The troops arrived at Valley Forge on December 19, 1777. George Washington was having problems getting supplies for his troops, and when winter came around it became even harder to get the supplies he needed. There were of 12,000 men to feed, and without the Congress's support there was little they could do. It was extremely hard to get just bread and meat. Clothing was also a huge problem for the men, with their uniforms being made for warmer weather, they did not have much to shield them from the cold. Long marches destroyed their shoes. Garments were soiled and often irreplacable. Over 4,000 men were considered "unfit for duty". Blankets were very scarce. Sanitation was worse than usual. Disease killed more men than cold and starvation did. Typhus, typhoid, dysentry, and pneumonia killed about 2,000 men. Wives, sisters, and daughters tried to help the men by doing laundry and what little nursing they could. The biggest thing that kept the men going was constant training that kept them hoping the war would be won and over soon.
- General George Wahington at Valley Forge on April 21, 1778
Valley Forge was by far the hardest winter for the rebels during the American Revolution. The troops arrived at Valley Forge on December 19, 1777. George Washington was having problems getting supplies for his troops, and when winter came around it became even harder to get the supplies he needed. There were of 12,000 men to feed, and without the Congress's support there was little they could do. It was extremely hard to get just bread and meat. Clothing was also a huge problem for the men, with their uniforms being made for warmer weather, they did not have much to shield them from the cold. Long marches destroyed their shoes. Garments were soiled and often irreplacable. Over 4,000 men were considered "unfit for duty". Blankets were very scarce. Sanitation was worse than usual. Disease killed more men than cold and starvation did. Typhus, typhoid, dysentry, and pneumonia killed about 2,000 men. Wives, sisters, and daughters tried to help the men by doing laundry and what little nursing they could. The biggest thing that kept the men going was constant training that kept them hoping the war would be won and over soon.