"A light snow fell as 12,000 weary men
made their way up Gulph Road to the area selected only days before
as winter quarters."
"Lewis Hurt, age 17, a private from Connecticut. Benjamin
Blossom, age about 31 years, a soldier from Massachusetts. George
Ewing, age 23, an Ensign of the Seventh Company in the Third
New Jersey Regiment. Joseph Plumb Martin, age 15 when he enlisted
in Connecticut's Third Company on July 6, 1776; age 16 when he
arrived at Valley Forge. They came from Virginia, North Carolina,
Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
New Jersey...They represented every state in the new union."
"Some were still boys -- as young as 12 -- others
in their 50s and 60s. They were described as fair, pale, freckled,
brown, swarthy and black. While the majority were white, the
army included both Negroes and American Indians."
"Each man had few possessions and these he carried
with him. His musket -- by far the most popular weapon -- a cartouche
or cartridge box. If he had neither, the infantryman carried
a powder horn, hunting bag and bullet pouch. His knapsack or
haversack held his extra clothing (if he was fortunate enough
to have any), a blanket, a plate and spoon, perhaps a knife,
fork and tumbler. Canteens were often shared with others and
six to eight men shared cooking utensils."
"The first order of business was shelter. An
active field officer was appointed for each brigade to superintend
the business of hutting. Twelve men were to occupy each hut.
The officers' hut, located to the rear, would house fewer men.
Each brigade would also build a hospital, 15x25 feet. Many of
the Brigadier Generals used local farmhouses as their quarters.
Some, including Henry Knox, later moved into huts to be closer
to their men."
"The huts provided greater comfort than the tents
used by the men when on campaign. But after months of housing
unwashed men and food waste, these cramped quarters fostered
discomfort and disease. Albigence Waldo complained, 'my Skin
& eyes are almost spoil'd with continual smoke.' Putrid fever,
the itch, diarrhea, dysentery and rheumatism were some of the
other afflictions suffered by the Continental troops."
"Little is known about the women but there were
women at Valley Forge. Junior officers' wives probably remained
in the homes of their husbands and socialized among themselves.
The enlisted men's wives lived and labored among the troops,
some working as housekeepers for the officers; others as cooks.
The most common positions were nurse and laundress. A washerwoman
might work for wages or charge by the piece." |