Valley Forge: The Second Battle Of Saratoga

Imagine if your a slave about the age of seventeen and fighting in a war against a gigantic army. What if you were outside in the cold with no food or meat with everybody thinking your not a free slave. What if people were taken from you because of a diseases. “Forge” by, “Lauria Halse Anderson,” is during the Revolutionary War in Valley Forge it was 1775 through 1783 and this is also the time where slavery was around. In the book Forge pg 13-14 curzon the main character hides behind a log and sees a young boy the same age as he is.

After all, they had more troops and they were better trained. There were many factors, though, that led to their defeat. Just like in the Revolutionary War, the British underestimated the Americans, and that was their main issue. Arrogance was a factor in this. Admiral Cochrane, for example, would not accept his men’s plan of how to move the barges from the bayou and instead wasted days executing his plan of how to do it (128).

Valley forge was a winter camp for the continental army who fought in the American Revolution for independence. It was 18 miles from Boston so they could keep a close eye on the British. As you may know, Valley Forge was a horrible place and I would quit. Deaths and illness were very high. At one point on February 1, 1778, more than half of the soldiers were unable to report for duty.

Staying at Valley Forge It is February 1st, 1778 and nearly 30 percent of Washington’s troops are ill and cannot report for duty (Document A). The Revolutionary War has been hard on the Continiental Army and after this year is over, many soldiers plan on leaving. But unlike them, I chose to stay. Tyranny, like hell is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph (Document D).

In 1777, winter takes over and causes many illnesses, but many brave soldiers stay at Valley Forge and train for the war. Valley Forge is a winter camp that was used in the American Revolution, about 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Valley Forge was smaller than a village and had small log huts that were 16’ by 14’. I would stay at Valley Forge. There are three different reasons that I have for staying.

In 1778 at Valley Forge you had a 15% chance of death and 50% chance of becoming ill, so what would you have done, quit or stay and fight for your country's independence as stated in Document A. Many people were leaving Valley Forge because they didn't like their chances of winning. Others thought differently and stayed to fight for their country's independence. Soldiers that stayed had patriotism and they were put through conditions that showed they wanted to have freedom. Not only were soldiers fighting for their own freedom but they were fighting to provide independence of their whole countrie and separation of Britain.

The battle of Saratoga was actually two battles that was fought in the summer of 1777, in Canada. This battle is key to the American and brought the French to the war. In fact it turn this war to a global war. In 1777 American forces met, they defeated and forced British army to surrender.

Britain practiced this style of fighting, as it had worked for them in the past. The Patriots had adopted an old, yet new to them, style of fighting from the Natives called Guerrilla Warfare largely inspired by Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion. Americans imposed surprise attacks or had riflemen in woods that could pick off British officers from a distance, although this went against “gentleman’s warfare”. In the Battle of Trenton, General Washington and his troops crossed the Delaware River into Trenton and attacked German Hessians based there on Christmas morning. The Hessians

First he had to reestablish his men's confidence to enlist more men to fight. Washington’s plan was to block off the escape of the British by taking the bridge over Assunpink Creek. The British commander, Colonel Johann Rall, had intelligence of this, but he believed that his men could defeat the American forces in open

With all of these soul-shattering, life-changing conditions, it is less of a war and more of a test of strength for the soldiers, here at Valley Forge. Some men were going home and not returning. Other men just completely deserted. Even George Washington’s position was uncertain, the members of congress didn’t trust him. Life at Valley Forge was obviously horrible, and the ugly truth is that it wouldn’t get much better.

The Battle of Gettysburg was key to the eventual Union victory over the Confederacy. There were many other things that had to fall into place around the same time, that are often overlooked, in order for this to be viewed as the turning point of the war. The victory proved that Lee was not immortal and could be defeated on the battlefield. This victory also left him without the ability to strike the Union offensively, leaving him to fight defensively and attempt to win a war of attrition with the Union who had more manpower. The Western Theater had all but been decided by the time the Battle of Gettysburg had occurred, allowing the Union to focus the majority of their major resources on the Eastern Theater and the defeat of Lee and capture of the Confederate capitol,

Even after losing the battle, American forces gained confidence to become stronger. The battle of Bunker Hill provided encouragement for the colonists and helped Americans gain independence. It helped the colonists send a clear message to the British that they were able to stand tall and strengthen their colonies to fight for their freedom. This battle was a very significant event in the Revolutionary War and had a direct affect on the outcome of the war and our history.

Bravery is the act of facing problems right away instead of trying to escape them for as long as possible. For example, the Lord did not completely abandon creation after Adam and Eve disobeyed Him. Instead, He dealt with the problem. At Valley Forge, George Washington confronted the problem set before him by going to the Lord with it. Being brave is not taking care of a situation independently, although that is a form of bravery.

On the twelfth month,, Washington marched his exhausted, beaten, starving and sick army to valley forge, a place about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, which was occupied by the british. From Valley Forge, Washington could look over General Howe's British army staying in Philadelphia. At Valley Forge, there were shortages of supplies. This was everything from food to clothing to medication. Washington's soldiers were sick from disease, hunger, and exposure.

The Battle of Valley Forge was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. Although no actual military battle was waged here, George Washington’s Continental Army faced some physical and mental battles of their own in this Pennsylvania town. It was here at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where the Continental Army Soldiers of the Revolutionary War chose to go after being defeated in the Battle of Germantown in October 1777. During this winter, Washington’s troops came to this encampment to recuperate and train for future battles with the British.