Life @ Valley Forge

2 1/2 years into the American Revolution, British forces occupy Philadelphia and continue to outnumber and defeat General George Washington's army. December of 1777, Washington's army is now seeking refuge to recover from the failed attempt at a surprise attack in Germantown, PA and to prepare for the upcoming winter. ​The location at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania provided high grounds for the depleted army to defend themselves at a safe enough distance of 20 miles from the British army occupants in Philadelphia.

Although the presence of Washington's army at Valley Forge was less than a year, the area offered a chance for Washington and his men to prepare for an American turning point in the Revolutionary War. But life at Valley Forge came at a cost. More men died at this encampment than at any single battle during the war. With the freezing temperatures and lack of resources, the army builds just 900 huts, each housing a dozen men. Soldiers live without adequate food, clothing & water. As food supplies run out, men can only survive off of a mixture of flour and water, called Fire Cakes. (see recipe below)

"...it is very certain that half the army is almost naked, in a great measure bare-footed."

--Johann de Kalb, Valley Forge, Christmas Day 1777

But what the Continental army did have, was General George Washington. Washington was able to use his time at Valley Forge to reorganize and restructure his army and war tactics, with the help of General Baron Von Steuben. The Inspector General offered the soldiers extensive firearms training and physical exercises in February 1778.

With the introduction of spring, the army began seeing an increase in food, clothing & other supplies. Surgeons on site developed the Smallpox Inoculation Program, a procedure that allows the victim's white blood cells to fight the virus's slower rate of growth within the body. Thousands of new recruits reported to the encampment and new weapons & equipment were issued. On June 19, 1778, Washington's strengthened army left Valley Forge with 20,000 men. The Continental Army would go on to engage and conquer the British army at the Battle of Monmouth, NJ, just nine days later.

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And for those of you interested, I decided I'd make my own firecake with the recipe below and sit on a drift wood bench in the damp 50 degree Alaskan weather. It's the best I could do to embrace the life at Valley Forge in my own current conditions.

Revolutionary War FireCake Recipe

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Revolutionary War FireCake Recipe

Prep Time: 60 seconds

Serving Size: 2-3 cakes (if you can even finish one...)

Ingredients:

• ​2/3 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup water

• 1/4 tsp salt (if the soldiers were lucky)

Instructions:

1. ​Prepare stove or open flame to medium temperature

2. Combine ingredients to a "pancake batter" consistency

3. Pour mixture into a pan or on flat rock and cook 1 minute on each side, or until golden brown

4. Try to enjoy...