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Valley
Forge
by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin allows readers to go back
in time and journey with the American revolutionaries in their
attempts to defeat the British. It delves into the Continental
Army’s six-month stay at Valley Forge, which enabled
them to transform from undisciplined militia men to a professional
army.
“We wrote howour Founding Fathers sacrificed for future
generations. The spirit they had is in our DNA. Washington
showed that Americans have a steely backbone with a steely
composure. After spending time with a Valley Forge historian,
we realized there is so much we did not know about it, including
that it was the turning point of the Revolution.”
The authors delve into Baron von Steuben’s ability to
use the knowledge he gained on the Prussian battlefields,
drilling dedication, discipline, and proficiency into the
Colonist army. While George Washington’s aides were
fighting the British, disease, starvation, and the elements,
he and Alexander Hamilton were combating those in the Continental
Congress. His political enemies were calling for the General
to be replaced. They saw him as unqualified after the humiliating
loss of Philadelphia. Washington is able to hang on and after
defeating the British at the Battle of Monmouth Court House,
the momentum is never again with the Redcoats.
Drury explains, “Washington had to groom his generals
and have them mature into their role, especially Pennsylvania’s
Anthony Wayne, Boston’s Henry Knox, and Rhode Island’s
Nathanel Greene. They basically learned on the job. He trusted
them but did not trust the colonists’ British born generals
Charles Lee and Horatio Gates. Both these men were extremely
jealous of Washington and were inept. As the war progressed,
it showed Washington’s instincts were correct.
He was astonished that Lee wanted to retreat during the Battle
of Monmouth Court House at the sound of gunfire. Every time
Lee was put in charge of something he showed his incompetence.
The 10,000 elite British troops were driving hard for a counterattack,
determined to crush the colonists’ rebellion here and
now. They thought the mere sight of an endless wall of British
‘cold steel’ would send the Continental rabble
fleeing in disarray. But Washington knew that having endured
the mud and elements at Valley Forge he could use his presence
to spur the troops to fight. Because this was the critical
juncture of the war, Washington knew he had to exude a sense
of urgency and inspiration, which he did. As Lafayette said,
‘His presence seemed to arrest fate with a single glance.’
Washington dismissed Lee and took command of the troops himself,
turning the tide to a victory.”
This
book show how Washington emerged as fallible but indispensable;
succeeding in the face of so many hardships. With extensive
documents, they capture the iconic characters that instilled
the energy needed to defeat the British empire leading to
America’s independence.
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