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Valley Forge What is often referred to as "Valley Forge", though it is a actual location, is often referred to mean the place where George Washington and his troops spent the winter of 1777-78. This could be called on of the worst, if not the worst period of the Revolutionary War. Morale was low, as well as supplies and munitions. It could be said that George Washington's prayers were the only thing that kept the army on its feet during that winter.The worst part about the encampment that winter was the lack of adequate shelter. Because George Washington's troops arrived late, no sooner than December 19th, (well into the bitter cold of winter) there was no previous shelter available. The troops had to build the houses they would spend the winter in. The first priority was the building of huts. An order issued by Washington spelled out the style and size of the Spartan quarters. The living conditions were less then desirable. Every 12 men would share a 16x14 foot log hut with walls six and a half feet high. Each would have a stone fireplace. The roof would be of wood board. Most huts were built in a pit about two-feet below the ground. Generally, there was only a dirt floor and some sort of cloth covering for a door. The huts were drafty, damp, smoky and terribly unhealthy.1 The troops left the army in droves. Not only did they leave out of desertion, but many of the troop's enlistment expired that January. Expired enlistments, coupled with terrible conditions, on top of having hardly any clothes at all, much less clothes that were suitable for the harsh winter, caused the troops to leave. Another hardship for Washington during that winter was trying to twist the arm of Congress to give them money for supplies. Washington rarely got any help from the newly formed government body. Sources Cited 1. Independence Hall Association, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded in 1942 <http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/history/vstory.html>
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