Valley Forge
Page 46
To emphasize the importance: Ibid., “General Orders, 6 September 1777.” Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 157–58.
Now, with their “arms cleaned”: Ibid., “General Orders, 26 August 1777.”
the Continentals were, in the words: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 7.
Despite his lack of formal education: Chernow, Washington: A Life, p. 203.
Whenever possible, Washington instead intended: “From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 June 1754,” in The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Vol. 1, 7 July 1748–14 August 1755, ed. W. W. Abbot (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1983), pp. 129–40.
Now, however, the majority of Sullivan’s soldiers: http://www.wtj.com/articles/brandywine/)*.
This afternoon they made deadly use: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 10, citing Reed, Campaign to Valley Forge, p. 128.
“Fighting is a new thing”: Billias, George Washington’s Generals and Opponents, p. 111.
Washington’s officers, grasping for: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 9.
That night, in a letter: “George Washington to John Hancock, 11 September 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 200–201.
At least he could take solace: Vowell, “Join the Army, Love the Constitution and Pray to Whomever You Like.”
♦ CHAPTER THREE: The French Connection
One night at a dinner party: http://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-marquis-de-lafayette.
The ambitious Lafayette: Ibid.
As the inestimable biographer of Lafayette: Vowell, Lafayette in the Somewhat United States, p. 50.
When Deane introduced him: “Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, 25 May 1777,” National Archives.
Perhaps feeling last-minute pangs: Idzerda, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution, Vol. 1, p. 108.
He had given his word: Ibid.
Writing years later: Memoirs, Correspondence and Manuscript of General Lafayette, Vol. 1, Published by his Family, New York, Saunders and Otley Ann Street and Conduit Street London, Entered According to the Act of Congress in the Year 1837 by William A. Duer in the Clerk’s Office in the Southern District of New York.
“The happiness of America”: http://moland.org/lafayette/.
He also informed both Hancock: “Lafayette to John Hancock, 12 August 1777,” National Archives.
“If Congress meant”: “George Washington to Benjamin Harrison, 19 August 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 4–5.
In this instance: Ibid.
But Lafayette’s self-effacement: Vowell, “Join the Army, Love the Constitution and Pray to Whomever You Like.”
Moreover, their ubiquitous demands: “George Washington to Benjamin Franklin, 17 August 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 10, ed. Grizzard, pp. 647–49.
Although thankful for hardened warriors: Ibid.
He went so far: Ibid.
Although Lafayette lacked: Chernow, Washington: A Life, p. 296.
♦ CHAPTER FOUR: Burned Forges
Their attitude was reflected: Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. 1, p. 321 (September 1, 1777).
Nathanael Greene went even further: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 12, citing “Nathanael Greene to his wife, 14 September 1777,” Andre deCoppet Collection.
Only 14 months earlier: http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/07/04/americas-first-soldiers-12-amazing-facts-about-the-continental-army/.
“Swarms of Officers”: Declaration of Independence.
Instead they hoped to throw: http://militaryhistorynow.com/2014/07/04/americas-first-soldiers-12-amazing-facts-about-the-continental-army/.
By 1777, as reality set in: http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Autumn04/soldier.cfm.
Yet the civil authorities: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 56, citing “Samuel Hay to William Irvine, 14 November 1777,” Draper MSS, Series AA, Irvine Papers, State Historical Society of Wisconsin (SHSW), Madison.
Even if an infusion of militiamen: Ibid., p. 63, citing “Louis Lebeque Duportail to St. Germaine, 12 November 1777” (copy), Andre deCoppet Collection.
It was well understood by combatants: Freeman, Washington, p. 356.
As the historian Ron Chernow: Chernow, Washington: A Life, p. 208.
The remaining 40 percent constituted: Taylor, American Revolutions: A Continental History, 1750–1804, p. 214.
Still, Washington sensed: “To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, [21 September 1777],” Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. 1, pp. 330–31.
“I feel, and I lament”: Ibid.
“The business you are upon”: “To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 22 September 1777,” in Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. 1, pp. 332–33.
♦ CHAPTER FIVE: Fix Bayonets
Although he had no formal: McGuire, The Battle of Paoli, p. 46.
As Grey’s second in command: André, Major André’s Journal, “20 September, 1777,” p. 34.
Moments later, on the cry: McGuire, Battle of Paoli, p. 104.
This was accomplished by: Ibid., p. 115.
As Capt. André laconically: Commager and Morris, The Spirit of ’Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants, p. 621.
The American colonists: Major André’s Journal, “20 September 1777,” p. 50.
Describing the engagement: McGuire, Battle of Paoli, p. 144.
Perhaps deeming that euphemism: Ibid.
♦ CHAPTER SIX: A Perfect Scribe
Cornwallis’s triumphal entry: McGuire, Battle of Paoli, p. 1.
While the rest of his mounted: Lee, Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States, pp. 19–21.
“Aid de Camps are person’s”: From George Washington to John Hancock, 23 April 1776, in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 4, ed. Chase, pp. 112–13.
As the biographer Joseph Ellis: Ellis, His Excellency, p. 12.
By the time the British marched: Chernow, Washington: A Life, p. 292.
Like the prickly John Adams: Vowell, Lafayette in the Somewhat United States, p. 125.
The great propagandist Paine: Ibid., p. 126.
“No,” he quipped: Murray, Atlas of American Military History, p. 30.
Such were the perils: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 22, citing “Jedediah Huntington to Colonel Williams, 29 September 1777,” Williams Papers.
But even this peace offering: Ibid., p. 23, citing “Samuel Holden Parsons to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 30 September 1777,” Andre deCoppet Collection.
On September 28, Washington summoned: Ibid., p. 22, citing “Council of War, 28 September 1777,” in Fitzpatrick, Writings of George Washington, Volume IX, p. 277–91.
It was often noted: https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/age-jefferson-and-madison/resources/john-adams-describes-george-washington%E2%80%99s-ten-tale.
As the Valley Forge historian: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 25.
♦ CHAPTER SEVEN: A Bloody Day
“The term of mercy”: “General Orders, 3 October 1777,” National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel.
Gen Howe, he added: Ibid.
It was later reported: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats, p. 245.
To Gen. Armstrong: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 56, citing “John Armstrong to Thomas Wharton, 5 October 1777,” Gratz Collection, Case 4, Box 11, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Armstrong hi
mself later equated: Ibid.
Washington’s old friend: Ibid., p. 29, citing “George Weedon to Washington, 4 October 1777,” Weedon Papers.
His Virginians, he wrote: Ibid.
And Tench Tilghman: Tilghman, Memoir of Lieut. Col. Tench Tilghman, pp. 160–61.
One American surgeon wrote: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 30, citing “Jonathan Todd to his father, 6 October 1777,” RG 15, M-804, Roll 1561, National Archives.
A New York company commander: Commager and Morris, The Spirit of ’Seventy-Six: The Story of the American Revolution as Told by Participants, p. 631, citing “Lt. Will Heth to Col. John Lamb, October 12, 1777,” Lamb Papers, New-York Historical Society.
Even Washington’s chief intelligence officer: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 30, citing “Benjamin Talmadge to Jeremiah Wadsworth, 5 October 1777,” Jeremiah Wadsworth Papers, Correspondence.
He had been in the thick: Ibid., p. 29, citing “Lord Stirling, 5 October 1777,” Dealer’s catalog, American Art Association, 1926.
Like the others: Ibid.
But in the aftermath: “From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 18 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 551–53.
To John Hancock he described: Ibid., “From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 October 1777,” pp. 393–401.
He later sent an addendum: Ibid., “From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 October 1777,” pp. 416–20.
And in a letter: Ibid., “From George Washington to Thomas McKean, 10 October 1777.” pp. 478–79.
Putnam could only sputter: Ibid., “From George Washington to Major General Israel Putnam, 1 October 1777,” pp. 363–64.
In a typical understatement: Wood, The American Revolution, p. 304–5.
As two historians of the American Revolution: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats, p. 253.
As the general pleaded: Ibid., p. 254, citing “William Duer to Philip Schuyler, June 19, 1777,” in Burnett, Letters, Vol. II, p. 385.
“His manner was ungracious”: Ibid.
Now, nine months later: Ibid.
“He behaved, as I then thought”: Scheer and Rankin, Rebels and Redcoats, p. 281.
By nightfall nearly half: “George Washington’s General Orders,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 512–14.
♦ CHAPTER EIGHT: The Idealist
From as far away as Saint Croix: Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, pp. 365–67.
Once integrated into Washington’s main force: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 48, citing “Jedediah Huntington to Colonel Trumbull, 27 October 1777,” Joseph Trumbull Collection.
Less than a month after: Ibid., p. 138, citing “Nathanael Greene to his wife, 2 November 1777,” Manuscript Division, Princeton University Library.
Despite publicly urging his own: “General Orders, 15 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 512–14.
In the face of this dual burden: Gruber, The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution, p. 257.
At this Howe dug: Marshall and Duane, Extracts from the Diary of Christopher Marshall, pp. 133–34.
Marshall, a former Philadelphia chemist: Ibid.
Washington’s chief artillery: “To George Washington from Brigadier General Henry Knox, 3 December 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard, and Hoth, pp. 524–25.
In a bitter letter to John Adams: Butterfield, Letters of Benjamin Rush, Vol. 1, p. 137.
“I have heard several”: Ibid.
Upon receiving news: Smith et al., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, Vol. 8, p. 187.
When informed of the British victory: Flexner, George Washington, p. 294.
Adams’s fellow Massachusetts congressman: Smith et al., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, Vol. 8, p. 302.
And even Lafayette: Idzerda, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution, Vol. 1, p. 121.
By mid-October Henry Laurens: Chesnutt and Taylor, The Papers of Henry Laurens, Vol. XII, p. 227.
Though Washington seemed to take: “From George Washington to Richard Henry Lee, 28 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, pp. 40–42.
More overtly—and quite out of character: “From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 596–97.
Washington had officially congratulated: “From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, pp. 59–60.
In a letter to his friend: Ibid., “From George Washinton to Richard Henry Lee, 28 October 1777,” pp. 40–42.
And in his one public hint: “From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 596–97.
“I can never”: Willcox, The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 26, March 1 through June 30, 1778, pp. 478–89.
Naturally, his decision: Massey, John Laurens and the American Revolution, p. 72.
Henry made it clear: Ibid.
Yet what stirred Washington most: “George Washington to William Gordon, 8 March 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives. Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, Vol. 1, ed. Twohig, pp. 1–5.
Washington preferred that: Massey, John Laurens and the American Revolution, p. 73.
As his biographer Gregory D. Massey: Ibid., p. 79.
“I would willingly risk”: Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. 1, p. 4. (Letter of November 11, 1769.)
“Every lad had a lover”: Massey, John Laurens and the American Revolution, p. 81.
As he wrote to his father: “John Laurens Letter to Henry Laurens, November 5, 1777,” in Simms, The Army Correspondence of John Laurens 1777–1778, p. 62.
In a postscript he added: Ibid.
♦ CHAPTER NINE: An Eerie Foreboding
Every recruit was theoretically entitled: Martin, Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier, p. 84.
The son of a prominent: Busch, Winter Quarters: George Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge, p. 57.
In a rare instance of public: McCullough, 1776, p. 190.
“It gives me pain”: “From George Washington to John Hancock, 13–14 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 11, ed. Chase and Lengel, pp. 497–501.
The return Washington: Ibid.
“It is impossible”: Ibid.
As he vowed: McGuire, The Philadelphia Campaign, Vol. II, Germantown and the Roads to Valley Forge, pp. 125–80.
“At the same time.”: “From George Washington to Major General Horatio Gates, 30 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, pp. 59–60.
At this, Hamilton slyly wrote: Syrett, The Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Vol. I, p. 353.
♦ CHAPTER TEN: Blood on the Delaware
The fort’s 10 cannons: Waldo, Account of the Ordeal at Valley Forge, entry of November 10, 1777.
The waterborne show: “From George Washington to Commodore John Hazelwood, 28 October 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, p. 39.
“I have seen”: Martin, Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier, p. 75.
Martin witnessed: Ibid., p. 80.
while he himself: Ibid., p. 74.
This persistence eventually broke: “From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1–3 November 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, pp. 78–85.
Washington advised the senior
Laurens: Ibid., “From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 26–27 November 1777,” pp. 420–22.
Moreover, in the wake: Ibid.
“The Marquis,” Washington added: Ibid., “From George Washington to Henry Laurens, 1–3 November 1777,” pp. 78–85.
More impressive, Lafayette’s own précis: Idzerda, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution, Vol. I, p. 157.
Sensing a final opportunity: “John Laurens Letter to Henry Laurens, 3 December, 1777,” in Simms, The Army Correspondence of John Laurens 1777–1778, p. 90.
“We wished nothing”: Martin, Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier, p. 86.
“Two battles he has lost”: Lender, Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle, p. 27.
As Jedediah Huntington wrote: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 55, citing “Jedediah Huntington to his father, 11 November,” Jedediah Huntington Letters, Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.
Or, as the historian Wayne Bodle observed: Ibid., p. 51.
General Lord Stirling’s was the lone voice: “From George Washington to Joseph Reed, 2 December 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, p. 500.
On the other was the political reality: Bodle, Valley Forge Report, Vol. 1, p. 71, citing “Thomas Wharton to Elias Boudinot, 13 December 1777,” Frame 0258, Reel 13, PA, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg.
As the French foreign minister: Carrington, Battles of the American Revolution, 1775–1781, p. 400.
He had personally journeyed: “John Laurens Letter to Henry Laurens, 3 December, 1777,” in Simms, The Army Correspondence of John Laurens 1777–1778, p. 89.
Young Laurens was equally direct: Ibid.
As he wrote to his old friend Patrick Henry: “From George Washington to Patrick Henry, 13 November 1777,” in The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, Vol. 12, ed. Grizzard and Hoth, pp. 242–43.