What was the significance of Valley Forge?
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, was the site of the Continental Army’s military camp during the bitter winter of 1777–1778. General George Washington chose this site for his men to try to recuperate from the superior British forces who had taken over Philadelphia, less than thirty miles away. Many of the American forces barely survived the brutal weather and lack of adequate food supplies. But the men managed to survive and eventually prevailed in the conflict.
General George Washington leads the Continental Army to Valley Forge in this 1883 painting by William B. T. Trego. Their survival through the winter of 1777–1778 was a true test of the determination of Washington’s troops.
Who was appointed the first surgeon general of the Continental Army?
Dr. Benjamin Church (1734–1788) was appointed the first surgeon general of the Continental Army in July 1775. Church had been active in the Sons of Liberty movement and resistance in Boston. However, Church was court-martialed in October 1775 for “criminal correspondence with the enemy.” Church had sent a letter to one Major Cane of the British forces, which did not disclose military secrets, but did declare his allegiance to the British crown. He remained imprisoned until 1778.
What American diplomat sought aid for the Revolutionary cause from France and was later branded a traitor?
Silas Deane (1737–1789) served as an American diplomat to France when the Continental Congress appointed him to serve as a colonial representative to try to secure military and financial aid from France in March 1776. Deane, however, later revealed his Loyalist ties and support of the British government. Many branded him a traitor. After the war, when he traveled back to the United States, he died under suspicious circumstances.
Who was Thomas Hickey?
Thomas Hickey (d. 1776) was a soldier who originally came to North America as part of a British force to fight the colonial Revolutionary War forces. However, Hickey deserted to the colonial side, managing to serve as part of General George Washington’s Life Guard, or Commander in Chief Guard, a special unit tasked with the purpose of protecting Washington.
Hickey was later charged with treason for allegedly conspiring to turn over Washington to the British. He was hanged in public on June 27, 1776—the first person executed for treason in the United States.
Who was Henry Knox?
Henry Knox (1755–1806) was George Washington’s chief artillery officer during the Revolutionary War. Knox owned a bookstore in Boston at the beginning of the conflict. He directed colonial cannon fire at the Battle of Bunker Hill. While not a soldier by trade, Knox acquired a deep interest in artillery. George Washington was impressed with Knox’s bravery and mental acumen in artillery matters. When Washington became president, he named Knox his secretary of war.
Who was Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben?
Baron von Steuben (1730–1794) was a Prussian military leader who served as George Washington’s chief of staff during the last years of the American Revolutionary War. A military expert, von Steuben is credited with increasing the discipline of the American forces at Valley Forge. He also taught the men the art of fighting with bayonets. He authored the Revolutionary War Drill Manual and became a major general for his efforts. Washington learned of von Steuben from Benjamin Franklin, who met von Steuben in France. Paul Lockhart authored an aptly named biography of von Steuben The Drillmaster of Valley Forge.
What was the significance of the Battles of Saratoga?
The Battles of Saratoga are viewed as the key turning point in the Revolutionary War. There were two battles fought on September 19 and October 7, 1777, near Saratoga, New York. British General John Burgoyne (1722–1792) attacked American forces led by General Horatio Gates (1727–1806) and won the battle despite enduring heavy casualties. However, Burgoyne pressed his luck on the second battle, suffering an ignominious defeat. Historians consider the second Battle of Saratoga as the key event that caused France officially to support the colonial cause. France’s foreign minister Charles Gravier believed the colonists’ victory showed they could win the war.
General Gates claimed credit for the victory, but General Benedict Arnold (before he defected to the British) may have been more instrumental for the American victory.
What other American military leader participated in the Battle of Saratoga and later became the country’s secretary of war?
General Benjamin Lincoln (1733–1810) played a significant role in the Battle of Saratoga in addition to other major battles in the Revolutionary War. He also participated in the Battle of Charleston in 1780, losing many casualties to British forces. Lincoln had to surrender to British forces after this battle. Lincoln earned a measure of redemption later in the war, as he was one of the American leaders who surrounded British commander Lord Cornwallis (1738–1805) at Yorktown.
Who was John Paul Jones?
John Paul Jones (1747–1792) was the fiery naval war hero for the colonies during the Revolutionary War. Born in Scotland, Jones entered the British maritime service at age twelve. He served on numerous ships through the years, rising through the ranks. For his exploits, he earned the moniker “Father of the U.S. Navy.” He served as lieutenant, commanding the ship Alfred for the Continental Navy. He later commanded the ship U.S.S. Ranger into battle with British naval forces. During a naval battle, Jones and the Ranger captured the British ship HMS Drake. He then commanded the ship Bonhomme Richard as its captain. He famously proclaimed, “I have not yet begun to fight” during the Battle of Flamborough Head, a naval battle during the Revolutionary War. He earned a Congressional gold medal in 1787.
Scottish-born John Paul Jones became known as the “Father of the U.S. Navy.”
Who was Daniel Morgan?
Daniel Morgan (1736–1802) was an American Revolutionary War leader known for his tactical skills and victories in battle during the Revolutionary War. He led an elite fighting force known as Morgan’s Riflemen. He fought for the British during the French and Indian War. During that conflict, he punched one of his superiors and was severely punished. This left him with a bitter distaste for the British. After distinguishing himself at the Battle of Lexington with his riflemen, Morgan led a group of forces to repel British troops in Canada. Perhaps his greatest victory occurred at the Battle of Cowpens in January 1781 in South Carolina. In 1790, he received a medal from Congress for his battle planning and tactics at Cowpens. A few years later, he helped suppress the Whiskey Rebellion.
What country was a key ally for the colonists in the Revolutionary War?
France served as a key ally for the colonists during the American Revolutionary War. Benjamin Franklin worked his diplomatic skills effectively as U.S. Ambassador to France to produce the so-called French alliance. In 1778, France recognized the colonists as a sovereign nation and gave much monetary and military aid to the colonists in their battle with Great Britain. That year, France and the United States entered into something known as the Treaty of Alliance. Under this agreement between French King Louis XVI and leaders of the Second Continental Congress, France agreed to provide military support in case the colonists faced continued military attack by the British.
Who was the Marquis de Lafayette?
Marquis de Lafayette (1756–1834) was a French military officer who earned fame for his valiant service for the American Revolutionary War effort, beginning in July 1777. Lafayette was motivated in part by a desire to avenge the death of his father, who had died at the hands of the British