Podcast

American Guerillas Part Three: The Old Wagoner’s Revenge

In the year 1780, South Carolina was in the grip of violence and turmoil. On December 3, 1780, General Nathanael Greene assumed command of the southern department from General Horatio Gates. Gates, the hero of Saratoga, had struggled in the Carolinas most notably at the disastrous battle of Camden. The Continental Congress relented to General Washington’s preferred commander: Nathanael Greene. Thus, Greene left his post at West Point and traveled south.

General Greene had a series of challenging decisions in front of him. How was he going to rebuild a nearly destroyed army? How was he going to recruit and train his forces to eventually challenge General Cornwallis? The task ahead of him was daunting. In the face of overwhelming odds, he made a militarily unorthodox decision: He split his army.

In command of the other half of his army was General Daniel Morgan, a brawler from the Virginia backcountry. Morgan was a veteran of the French and Indian War. He was captured and held as a POW after the failed invasion of Quebec. He later distinguished himself as one of the heroes of the Saratoga campaign. In January 1781, Morgan was also faced with improbable odds. As he commanded General Greene’s “flying army”, Cornwallis sent Lt. Col. “Bloody Ban” Tarleton to pursue Morgan.

On January 17, 1781, General Morgan made a stand in a local cow pasture in northwest South Carolina. We know this location as Cowpens. It was here that Morgan achieved one of the most tactically brilliant victories in American military history. We know Morgan as the “Old Wagoner”, but he could just as easily be called the American Hannibal. Check out part three of the series and learn more about what happened at the Battle of Cowpens!

Also, check out the MP3 link.

American Guerillas Series

Check out the previous episodes.

• American Guerillas Part One: War in the Carolinas
• American Guerillas Part Two: The Sword of the Lord and Gideon

Sources and Further Reading

• A Devil of a Whipping 
• William Washington, American Light Dragoon: A Continental Cavalry Leader in the War of Independence
• The Road to Guilford Courthouse
• Daniel Morgan: A Revolutionary Life
• Kings Mountain and Cowpens
• Nathanael Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution
• South Carolina and the American Revolution
• To the End of the World: Nathanael Greene, Charles Cornwallis, and the Race to the Dan
• The Cowpens Staff Ride and Battlefield Tour by Lieutenant Colonel John Moncure

 

Washington’s Marines: A History of the Marine Corps

Most Marines know the history of the Marine Corps from boot camp or Officer Candidate School. These raw recruits or officer candidates shout “Tun Tavern” and “Samuel Nicholas” at screaming drill instructors. But, what happened at Tun Tavern in 1775? Who was Samuel Nicholas? Most Marines do not know that he was technically not the first commandant. In this podcast interview, General Jason Q. Bohm (Maj. Gen., USMC) tells the definitive story of the Marine Corps’ origins.

General Bohm is the author of a recently published book entitled Washington’s Marines The Origins of the Corps and the American Revolution 1775- 1777. In this interview, we discuss why and how the Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775. General Bohm explains that General Washington did not initially support the Marines. However, the Marines played a pivotal role during the “Ten Crucial Days.” This was the period from December 25, 1776, through January 3, 1777. It included key battles at Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton. The Marines’ heroic actions and fighting spirit helped General Washington during one of the lowest points of the Revolutionary War. Furthermore, it firmly established the Marines’ reputation as America’s premiere fighting force.

Topics Discussed

• The Marines were supposed to be used for a naval campaign against the British in Halifax, Nova Scotia. General Bohm tells us why it never happened.  
• Samuel Nicholas. We know him as our first commandant. Was he really commandant though? Who was this Philadelphia Quaker?
• Recruiting and retention. Who were the young men that came to Tun Tavern? And why Tun Tavern?
• The first Marine Corps deployment was to the Bahamas. Sounds like a nice deployment! But did the Marines know anything about amphibious operations in March 1776?
• The New York campaign and the events that led to the Continental Armies’ low point in December 1776.
• The “Ten Crucial Days” included the Battles of Trenton, Assunpink Creek, and Princeton. The Marines played a critical role in helping Washington’s army snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. 
• Implications for the current Marine Corps. What lessons can we learn from our Marine forefathers?

General Bohm’s book is a must-read for all Marines to learn about the history of their Corps. For Americans, it is an important reminder of the courage and sacrifice of the Revolutionary War heroes, who fought for America’s independence.

The book can be purchased here through Savas Beatie or on Amazon

About the Author

General Jason Q. Bohm (Mag. Gen., USMC) is a Marine Corps infantryman with over 30 years of experience. General Bohm has served at every level from platoon commander to commanding general. His past assignments include strategic planner with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Director of the Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfighting School (EWS). He holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing as well as master’s degrees in military studies and in national security studies. General Bohm has written award-winning articles for the Marine Corps Gazette. He is also the author of From the Cold War to ISIL: One Marine’s Journey (Naval Institute Press, 2019). Get the book on Amazon.

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Revolutionary War Tours in Alexandria, VA

Check out our Revolutionary War Tours in Alexandria, Virginia. For Revolutionary War history and George Washington history buffs, my company Alexandria History Tours provides guided tours of Old Town Alexandria. See where the wheels of the American Revolution started turning in Alexandria and check out the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution. Yes, it is located in the heart of Old Town!

War in the Carolinas Heats Up!

As war in the Carolinas intensified, the British kicked up a “hornet’s nest” near present day Charlotte, NC. On General Cornwallis’s left flank was a Scotsman named Patrick Ferguson. Since age 15, Ferguson had served in the British military for two decades. He was called the “bulldog” by his fellow soldiers. In September 1780, he sent an ultimatum to the American militiamen. Ferguson warned them:

If they did not desist from their opposition to the British arms, he would march over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country to waste with fire and sword.

News of Ferguson’s threat reached Colonel Isaac Shelby. Shelby wasted no time telling his fellow Patriots about the loud barking Scotsman. An army of American militia mobilized west of the Blue Ridge mountain range in the heart of present-day northeast Tennessee. This army is known historically as the Over Mountain Men. On September 26, 1780, a Presbyterian preacher, Samuel Doak, delivered a fiery sermon to the men. At the height of Doak’s sermon, he shouted, “The Sword of the Lord and Gideon.” The militia shouted the words back to him and then crossed the line of departure in the direction of Kings Mountain, SC.

American Guerillas (Part Two): The Sword of the Lord and Gideon

In part two of the American Guerillas series, we cover the battle of Kings Mountain in detail. Kings Mountain helped turn the tide of American misfortune in South Carolina. The battle was a complete American victory. It remains one of the most remarkable mobilizations of forces in American military history. Over the last two years (2022-2023), the American military specifically the Army has had recruiting shortfalls. Colonel Shelby did not have that problem. As we discuss in the podcast, the Over Mountain Men were joined by over 1,000 militiamen from the Piedmont. By the time the combined force reached Cowpens, SC, they numbered 2,000. For the assault on Kings Mountain, the combined force attacked with 900 hand-picked militiamen.

Kings Mountain stands out because of the totality of the victory. A force of 1,1000 British Loyalists and Provincials were killed or captured. We say British Loyalists and Provincials only to distinguish the fact that they fought for the British. However, the Loyalists and Provincials were from the American colonies. The Provincials were the equivalent of regulars and many came from New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina. The Loyalist militia were part-time soldiers. They were the modern day equivalent of reservists. Many of them were from South Carolina.

The Over Mountain Men

Who were these legendary men that defeated Major Patrick Ferguson? To begin, they are called Over Mountain Men because they had migrated west of the Blue Ridge Mountain range. They were on the frontier of westward American expansion. As a result, it is misleading to say they were from the “backcountry.” How can someone be on both the frontier and in the backcountry at the same time? The term backcountry merely categorizes the region they inhabited as being wild and lawless. It was a rugged, tough place with the threat of violence prevalent in all aspects of life. This was a savage world, and the settlers survived through hard work, family, faith, and skill with a rifle.

Most of these settlers were Scots-Irish. In the podcast, we begin with a discussion about the Scots-Irish. Why are they called Scots-Irish? Where did they come from? The short answer is that they had emigrated from the lowlands of Scotland to the Ulster region of northern Ireland. From 1717-1775, nearly one quarter of a million Scots-Irish settled in colonial America. They came through Philadelphia and pushed west. Many of them continued to travel down the Shenandoah Valley along the Old Wagon Road. This brought them into Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia.

The Scots-Irish were mostly Presbyterians. They were very much reformed in their theology, and had no interest in the Church of England. The Church of England was still the established church in colonies like Virginia. Presbyterians were some of the most vehement supporters of American independence. Twelve of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Presbyterians including the President of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), John Witherspoon.

War in the Carolinas: Early American Wins

Prior to the American victory at Kings Mountain, there were a few battles that the American militia won. First, the Battle of Musgrove’s Mill was a battle in which an outnumbered Patriot militia was able to defeat a British Loyalist and Provincial force that was twice their size. The Battle of Musgrove’s Mill offered an early glimpse of how American forces were able to use “guerilla” style tactics in the Carolinas. Guerilla tactics are used by smaller units to overcome larger conventional units. The style of fighting relies on tactical creativity, knowledge of the enemy, and understanding of the terrain. Furthermore, it relies on setting traps and ambushes against the enemy.

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War delivers timeless maxims on how this style of fighting works. In many ways, the term “guerilla tactics” is misleading. The tactics are simply good tactics. Conventional units can use them too. Any good military commander should be familiar with them. We say that they are guerilla tactics only when smaller, unconventional forces use them in cases of rebellion and insurgencies.

At Musgrove’s Mill, the Patriot forces baited the British into an attack using a small party on horseback. The British chased after them and charged up a hill into a planned American engagement area. The British advanced into a clearing and crossed into the effective range of American rifle and musket fire. At that point the Patriot militia fired a coordinated volley which had devastating effects on the British forces. The British attempted a counterattack, but their commander was shot dead. American militia counterattacked and the British began to withdraw from the battlefield after taking heavy casualties.

The Swamp Fox

Francis Marion was a South Carolina native. He was a man of French Huguenot descent. He was a farmer and worked on his families plantation in Berkley County, South Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, he served as an officer in the Continental Army. He served at Fort Sullivan and then remained in Charleston through a period of relative quiet in South Carolina. He was absent when Charleston fell due to the fact that he had injured his foot while escaping from a dinner party with heavy drinking.

After the British took Charleston and pushed into South Carolina, Marion commanded a militia unit in the low country where he began using guerilla style tactics against British Loyalists. He had early success after the Battle of Camden when his militia unit set 150 Continental prisoners free at Nelson’s Ferry. Marion followed up his success with a victory at Blue Savannah, Black Mingo Creek and Tearcoat Swamp. At Blue Savannah, Marion used similar tactics to what the Patriot militia used at Musgrove’s Mill. He baited the enemy into an ambush. During the other two battles, Marion attacked at night and struck the enemy in three columns.

After these victories, General Cornwallis had had enough and sent Banastre Tarleton after him. Tarleton nearly sprung a trap on Marion. However, a timely piece of intelligence came to Marion through Mary Richardson and her son. Thus, Marion withdrew to avoid the trap and Tarleton pursued him for nearly 30 miles. When Tarleton realized he was not going to catch Marion, he said, “Come my Boys! Let us go back, and we will find the Gamecock.” And then he concluded, “But as for this damned old fox, the Devil himself could not catch him.”[1]

Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation

In part two of the American Guerillas series, we cover the Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation. We talk about Thomas Sumter, who was known as the Gamecock. The University of South Carolina’s mascot comes from Sumter’s nickname. Sumter was a hard charging militia commander. He was very skilled at recruiting new men to take the field. He also never gave up even when he was defeated.

The Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation was one of the first battlefield victories where a Patriot militia defeated British regulars. Although the British claimed victory, their numbers told a much different story. Sumter’s militiamen bloodied Tarleton, who suffered heavy losses that he could not easily paper over. More importantly, the Battle of Blackstock’s Plantation showed how American militia might be used against the British to maximum effect. As the militia withdrew, the British pursued them straight into the teeth of an American engagement area. When the British entered the engagement area, sharpshooters used cover and concealed positions to fire at them. British losses piled up, and many of their officers were killed and wounded. Eventually Tarleton withdrew his unit two miles from Blackstock’s. When they returned in the morning to attack, the Americans had slipped away in the night and were gone from the plantation.

Sumter was wounded in the battle. He was out of action for the next few months. During this time, several key leaders made their way south. Among them were Daniel Morgan and Nathanael Greene. Both were seasoned officers and great leaders. As the year 1780 came to a close, events were shaping up for 1781 to be a bloodbath. The following year was a test of wills and the stage was set for several of the most important battles of the war.

Works Cited

• American Battlefield Trust
• Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1997. The Road to Guilford Courthouse
• Brown, Robert W. Jr. Kings Mountain and Cowpens: Our Victory Was Complete. Charleston, SC, The History Press, 2009. Kings Mountain and Cowpens
• Maass, John R. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse: A Most Desperate Engagement. Charleston, SC, The History Press, 2020. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse
• Babits, Lawrence E. A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens. Chapel Hill & London, The University of North Carolina Press, 1998. A Devil of a Whipping
• Gordon, John W. South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Battlefield History. Columbia, SC, The University of South Carolina Press, 2003. South Carolina and the American Revolution
• Tzu, Sun. The Art of War. New York, NY, Barnes and Noble Classics, 2003. The Art of War
• Presbyterian Historical Society

[1] Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse (p. 242). Turner Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.

If you haven’t heard part one of the series. Be sure to listen to it.

New Enterprise

My company, Alexandria History Tours, provides history tours in Old Town Alexandria, VA. We have a George Washington tour, a Revolutionary War tour, plus Civil War stops on our tours! Check out the website and learn more.

Support the Show

If you like the show and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth. Also, check out the show on Twitter and Facebook

With any feedback or to connect, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

Revolutionary War Series: “American Guerillas”

Revolutionary War history is dominated by studies of what happened in the north. It makes sense because George Washington spent most of his time in the middle and northern departments. Famous battles such as the Battles of Trenton, Princeton, and Lexington and Concord took place in the middle and northern departments. Also, there has been a strong focus on Valley Forge (and for good reason). In fact, the PME Podcast recently did an entire episode on Valley Forge.

However, the campaign in the south is worth studying. First, a lot happened in the south specifically in South Carolina. It is estimated that 1/3 of all Revolutionary War battles and skirmishes happened in the South Carolina. Second, the battles that took place were some of the most remarkable battlefield victories in American military history. Finally, the campaign in the south shows military leadership at its finest.

I am proud to launch a series called “American Guerillas” that focuses on what happened in the Carolinas from 1780-1781. The name of the series will make sense as we study the tactics and styles of fighting. This series will also focus on many of the leaders on both the American and British side.

British Strategy Shifts South

In part one of the series, we discuss the events that led to Britain invading Charleston, SC in March 1780. The British had previously tried and failed to take Charleston in 1776. After this failure, the northern campaign became the British focus of effort. Much of the south including Charleston went into an uneasy period of calm. But, all of that changed as the British shifted their strategy.

After the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse in June 1778, British strategists took steps to implement a new campaign. The southern strategy was predicated on a belief that there were more Loyalists in the south than the north. After all, New England and specifically Massachusetts had been the epicenter of the American insurgency. The south seemed to be more supportive to the Crown. At least that was the theory.

In attempting to take Charleston again, British military commanders such as General Henry Clinton learned their lesson from the first attempt. They landed infantry units south of the city and had them work northward. Ultimately, they used classic siege tactics to slowly degrade and destroy the forces within it. On May 12, 1780, American forces under General Benjamin Lincoln surrendered Charleston and were taken prisoner.

After Charleston’s Fall

The British had the momentum and went on the offensive. They fanned out through South Carolina and set up a system of posts from the Ninety-Six district to Camden, Cheraw Hill, and Georgetown. General Charles Cornwallis commanded troops in the field. Under him were Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Tarleton was an aggressive cavalry officer, who had gained a reputation in the northern theater for his capture of American General Charles Lee. Tarleton also led a series of attacks around Charleston that cut off American supply lines, and led to the city being captured.

In South Carolina, Tarleton earned an even more notorious reputation after a bloody massacre at the Waxhaws. The story is that the Patriot forces under Abraham Buford had been denied quarter as they tried to surrender. Thus, the phrase “Tarleton’s Quarter” or “Buford’s Play” became synonyms for enacting revenge on the British.

Not long after the Waxhaws massacre, General Horatio Gates took command of the Continental Army in the southern department. Despite the advice of his subordinate commanders, General Gates decided to go on the offensive. This decision led to the Battle of Camden on August 16, 1780. The Battle of Camden was another major setback for the American military in the south. Gates’s right flank was mostly comprised of poorly trained and inexperienced militia. These militiamen fled the field when they were confronted by highly trained British regulars.

Conclusion

As the summer of 1780 came to a close, the British had the upper hand. As we will cover in part two, there were a few victories that took place on the American side. But, these victories occurred between Patriot and Loyalist militias. The British regular army handily defeated their American counterparts under Horatio Gates. As a result, Cornwallis set his sights on moving further north and planned to launch an invasion into North Carolina.

Check out the podcast series to learn more about the key leaders in the south on both the American and British side.

Resources and Works Used

• • • American Battlefield Trust
    • Buchanan, John. The Road to Guilford Courthouse: The American Revolution in the Carolinas. New York, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1997. The Road to Guilford Courthouse
    • Brown, Robert W. Jr. Kings Mountain and Cowpens: Our Victory Was Complete. Charleston, SC, The History Press, 2009. Kings Mountain and Cowpens
    • Maass, John R. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse: A Most Desperate Engagement. Charleston, SC, The History Press, 2020. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse
    • Babits, Lawrence E. A Devil of a Whipping: The Battle of Cowpens. Chapel Hill & London, The University of North Carolina Press, 1998. A Devil of a Whipping
    • Gordon, John W. South Carolina and the American Revolution: A Battlefield History. Columbia, SC, The University of South Carolina Press, 2003. South Carolina and the American Revolution
    • Tzu, Sun. The Art of War. New York, NY, Barnes and Noble Classics, 2003. The Art of War

New Enterprise

My company, Alexandria History Tours, provides history tours in Old Town Alexandria, VA. We have a George Washington tour, a Revolutionary War tour, plus Civil War stops on our tours! Check out the website and learn more.

Support the Show

If you like the show and want to hear others, subscribe in iTunes, Spotify, or Audible. Support the show with written reviews, share on social media, and through word of mouth.

Check out the show page on Twitter and Facebook

With any feedback or to connect, e-mail me: tim@professionalmilitaryeducation.com

On December 19, 1777, Washington led his army to a high plateau 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was not the coldest winter during the Revolutionary War. However, soldiers lacked shoes and clothes. The army was ravaged by diseases like yellow fever, typhus, scabies, and smallpox. Desertion was high. Men were not getting paid. Soldiers shouted, “No meat! No soldier!” The army was on the brink of dissolution.

Over the next six months, General Washington did everything in his power to hold the army together. George Washington’s leadership held the army together. It was a testament to his strength as a commanding officer and a leader. The challenges piled up from day one in camp.

At Valley Forge, the army established an area defense. The primary orientation was southeast toward Philadelphia. The terrain was high with good visibility, which made it easily defensible. The drawbacks of the terrain included no natural shelter. The army had to build 2,000 huts to house up to 12,000 soldiers.

Valley Forge was a good position where the army could monitor the British in Philadelphia and also protect Congress located in York, PA. The Continental Congress fled Philadelphia after the British threatened the city. British forces invaded and occupied Philadelphia on September 26, 1777.

 

Five Paragraph Order

In this podcast, I decided to think about what order Washington would have issued to his commanders. What would the planning process have looked like using O-SMEAC? How would Washington think through key strengths and weaknesses?

The orders process is known as O-SMEAC. This stands for “orientation, situation, mission, execution, administration and logistics, and command and signal.” Here is a simple overview of each paragraph.

Orientation: The orientation provides a high level snapshot of the area of operations (AO). It is a detailed overview of the key terrain features and orients everyone to the important points in the AO.

Situation: The situation provides an overview of the enemy and friendly situation. This will analyze the enemies key strengths and weaknesses. It will also analyze the enemies most likely course of action (EMLCOA).

Mission: Contains the mission statement. Within the mission statement is a tactical task as well as the “why” behind the mission. It typically includes the 5 W’s of “who, what, when, where, and why.” For example, a mission statement for Valley Forge might have read as follows, “On December 19, 1777, the Continental Army will defend at Valley Forge in order to prevent the British from attacking Congress.”

Execution: Includes the Commander’s Intent, Concept of Operations, Tasks, and Coordinating Instructions. There are a lot more details in execution and this is just an overview of the major items.

Administration & Logistics: Includes the casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) plan and enemy prisoners of war (EPW) plan. It also discusses plans for resupply of food, water, and ammunition.

Command & Signal: Discusses a signal plan for communication. The command lists a succession of command plus location of key leaders such as the commanding officer.

Housing at Valley Forge

Washington’s army worked hard to build housing for 12,000 soldiers. Washington’s orders on December 18, 1777 provided detailed instructions on how the huts were supposed to be built. The orders also incentivized soldiers to build their huts quickly. The fastest party in each regiment was awarded $12 for the quickest and most “workmanlike” hut construction.

Valley Forge Defenses

The defenses included a system of trenches and redoubts. Redoubts integrated indirect fires from artillery cannons. Furthermore, they were located along key terrain features with good visibility.

Below are pictures showing engineering tools. Also, there is a view from Redoubt 5 and looking up at Redoubt 5. Looking southeast toward Philadelphia, Redoubt 5 was on the left most flank of the defense. Today it looks out on Valley Forge Casino and a Top Golf driving range.

 

 

The Grand Parade and Von Steuben

An unlikely resource entered camp to help Washington’s army to serve as Inspector General. An unemployed Prussian Captain, Friedrich Wilhelm Baron Von Steuben, whipped the soldiers into shape on a drill field known as the Grand Parade. He might not have been a Baron. His background was less impressive in fact. But, the man clearly knew what he was doing.

Von Steuben authored one of the first army training manuals called the “blue book.” His influence was important to standardize soldiers movements in and out of formations. Additionally, Von Steuben brought discipline to the army in terms of hygiene and camp conditions. Soldiers could no longer pee wherever they felt like it. As Inspector General, Von Steuben’s job was to assess the conditions in camp and the state of the army.

George Washington’s Leadership Challenges at Valley Forge

Conway Cabal

Washington faced a challenge to his command from within the army and from parts of Congress. There was an effort to undermine him and replace him with Horatio Gates. However, Washington kept his cool and moved deliberately to let the conspirators follies and loose lips work against them.

Preventing Mutiny

As he rode through camp, Washington was greeted with cries of “No meat! No soldier!” He had to deal with soldiers stealing from the local population. Up to three quarters of the army attempted desertion. The orders of the day included the details of court-martials. Soldiers were put on trial for crimes ranging from assault, desertion, theft, and cowardice. Punishments included lashes on the “naked back” ranging from 30 to 100.

Political Wrangling

Washington petitioned Congress for more troops and supplies. He also took his appeal directly to the states. Furthermore, a Congressional Committee arrived in January. Washington was ready to receive them with a 13,000 word report written by Alexander Hamilton. Francis Dana from Massachusetts led the committee. This was an opportunity for congressional representatives to see first-hand the hardships that the army endured at Valley Forge.

As the committee inspected camp. They witnessed the dysfunction that Washington had been writing about. They also recognized the need to recommend several of the changes that Washington was advocating in terms of pay and promotions.

Furthermore, the Committee recommended that the quartermaster position be immediately filled. This position had been vacated by Thomas Mifflin in October 1777. Congress allowed Washington to fill the position. Washington appointed one of his best field commanders, General Nathanael Greene. Greene wasted little time implementing necessary changes.

Medicine

The state of medicine was rough. Like many aspects of the army, there was little standardization in terms of care. Most doctors did not have formal training and education. Hygienic practices were not common. The hospital conditions were unsanitary.

There were three echelons of care. There were flying hospitals, regimental hospitals, and general hospitals. During the winter at Valley Forge, Washington’s medical department continued to build a network of 30 general hospitals from Lititz to Bethlehem, PA. The main hospital for Valley Forge was at Yellow Springs.

Smallpox continued to be a problem. A year prior Washington had authorized a plan to inoculate all soldiers that had not been exposed to smallpox. The inoculation process carried a lot of risk too.

 

Breaking Camp

The Continental Army broke camp on June 19, 1778. Washington held a council of war to determine whether the army should attack the rearguard of General Clinton’s forces marching overland to New York City from Philadelphia.

Despite most of the officers being against the plan, Washington decided to attack. The battle occurred on June 28 near Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey. A series of human factors made the battle exceptionally difficult. The temperatures swelled above 100 degrees. Both British and American soldiers passed out and even died from overheating.

Washington ordered General Charles Lee to lead the attack. Lee had been recently released from British captivity. He was not a supporter of the attack. During the attack, he ordered his division to retreat. Washington fired him on the spot.

Ultimately, the Battle of Monmouth ended in a draw. It was not the overwhelming victory that Washington hoped for. But, it was a strategic victory due to the fact that it boosted morale and proved the army was capable of fighting the British as equals.

Washington’s HQs

Washington stayed at the home of Isaac Potts. His HQs was located near the intersection of Valley Creek and the Schuylkill River. While he was in camp, Washington’s wife, Martha, came to stay with him in February 1778. Many wives of officers stayed in camp. When the army first marched into Valley Forge, there were at least 400 women and children with them. Valley Forge became the fourth largest city in Colonial America.

Here is a picture of the HQs and the Schuylkill River behind it.

Visiting Valley Forge

Valley Forge is operated by the National Park Service. It is on the outskirts of Philadelphia, PA near King of Prussia. Despite the malls and trappings of modernity in the area, the experience inside the park is great. There are several miles of trails to hike, bike, and run. The visitor center at the park is well done and helps provide an excellent introduction to what happened at Valley Forge. Additionally, the park is set up for a self-guided driving tour. At each stop on the tour, you can listen to what happened at the different locations.

Sources and Additional Resources:

• • • • • Library of Congress
        • MountVernon.org
        • American Battlefield Trust
        • Founders Online
        • Von Steuben, F.W. (1985). Baron von Steuben’s Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition. Dover Publications. Garden City, NY. Get the Book
        • Greenwalt, Phillip S. (2021). The Winter that Won the War. Savas Beatie LLC. El Dorado Hills, CA. Get the book Book
        • Stewart, David O. (2021). George Washington: The Political Rise of America’s Founding Father. Dutton. Get the Book
        • Chernow, R. (2010). Washington: A life. Allen Lane. Get the Book
        • Martin, J.P. (1962). Private Yankee Doodle. George F. Scheer. Get the Book
        • Langguth, A.J. (1988). Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution. Simon & Schuster. New York, NY. Get the Book
        • Chadwick, Bruce. (2004). George Washington’s War. Sourcebooks, Inc. Naperville, Illinois. Get the Book
        • Ellis, Joseph J. (2004). His Excellency: George Washington. Vintage Books. New York. Get the Book
        • My latest essay called “How Would George Washington Approach the Russia-Ukraine War”