"I am now convinced," the general wrote to Congress, "that unless some great and capital change suddenly takes place, this army must inevitably be reduced to one or other of these three things: starve, dissolve, or disperse in order to obtain subsistence in the best manner they can." Before the winter was over 2,500 had died and more than 2,000 deserted until the 11,000 were down to 6,000, nearly half of whom were unfit because of lack of shoes and clothing. How the army survived can never be adequately explained--sheer determination and something called discipline and military spirit instilled by a Prussian officer, Baron Von Steuben, who drilled and marched themen beyond all physical endurance.

What came out of Valley Forge was something different--an army that was better prepared for the enemy, perhaps better than at any time in the war. Today Valley Forge has become a national shrine to the endurance of the Continental soldier. Forgotten is the fact that the suffering was dur in great part to American mismanagement and to the indifference of a public still not convinced that armed rebellion was the way to oppose the Crown; Pennsylvania farmers sold their produce to the British in Philadelphia; British troops in New York City received New York grain.

The early months of 1778 were good for the Continental Army. While it slowly recuperated from the winter the British command changed from Howe to Sir Henry Clinton, and with it came the evacuation of Philadephia. As the enemy moved across New Jersey and back to New York, Washington left Valley Forge and followed. On June 28 Gen. Charles Lee struck the British at Monmouth Court House. The battle was so poorly executed that Washington took personal command, narrowly averting a disaster and beating back a British counterattack. Clinton moved on to New York, Gen. Lee was court-martialed, and the army went on to positions at White Plains, N.Y.

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