“Nothing can be more detrimental to the service than neglect of discipline; because this discipline, more than numbers, gives one army superiority over another.” These words spoken by the famous General George Washington could never have rung truer than during the winter of 1777-1788 in American history. The Valley Forge encampment in the colony of Pennsylvania had a monumental impact on the fight for American independence. Three major forces emerged during Valley Forge: (1) the leadership of George Washington, (2) the success of smallpox vaccination, and (3) the improved military tactics taught to the troops. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay When history experts hear the words “Valley Forge,” they usually think about the harsh conditions endured by our fighters during that fateful winter of 1777-1778. in the middle of the revolutionary war. The result of this struggle is what is often called the birthplace of the American military. We are familiar with George Washington, our first president of the newly formed United States of America. Before his presidency, George Washington was chosen as commander of the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, during the Revolutionary War. Before his appointment, Washington had never commanded a large army in the field. After his appointment, George Washington won only three of the nine major battles he oversaw and was often seen withdrawing from battle. Prior to his encampment at Valley Forge, Washington's Continental Army suffered defeat at the Battle of White Plains and later at Fort Washington in New York in November 1776. Driven from New York, Washington searched for a place where his troops could retreat and recover. Times were extremely dark and discouraging for Washington and his men; so much so that Thomas Paine wrote his famous quote around this time: “These are times that try the souls of men…the summer soldier and the patriot of the sun will, in this crisis, retire from the service of their country; but he who stands firm now deserves the love and gratitude of man and woman.” George Washington had several options after his defeats in New York. He could have complained and blamed others for the defeat or simply left his position as head of the army, trying to secure the independence of our newly formed colonies. Many senior leaders were ready to get rid of Washington as leader and replace him with Major Horatio Gates who had just become the hero of the Battle of Saratoga. George Washington chose to strive for excellence and continued to lead his troops. Thus retiring to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, for the winter of 1777-1778. The location of Valley Forge was chosen strategically because it would allow American soldiers to challenge British control of the countryside around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, General Washington was also seeking a safe place for his weary troops, numbering approximately twelve thousand, who needed respite and recuperation. He also authorized nearly 500 women and children to accompany the troops. Martha Washington, George's wife, was even allowed into the camp. The admission of women and children was a motivating factor for the troops. Valley Forge would be an optimal place for renewal and combat preparation. With little food and proper clothing, the troops built wooden huts and searched the countryside for straw due to insufficient blankets for all those housed there. Nearly a third of peoplepresent in the camp reportedly had no shoes and their bloody footprints were visible in the snow as they walked. Washington threatened lashes and death by shooting anyone who tried to desert the camp. He expressed his deep gratitude to the soldiers who supported him and supported them to the best of his ability. Washington's tough-as-nails approach in training its soldiers helped the revolution obtain mentally unbreakable and physically tough soldiers. Many soldiers marched without shoes, with bloody feet in the snow, during that legendary winter. George Washington never gave up and added several leading men to his group. As Wayne K. Bodle writes in The Valley Forge Winter: Civilians and Soldiers in War, after their six months of training in the mud and snow of Valley Forge, Washington's troops imbued themselves with "a more deep and pride in their profession. The destruction of the Continental Army was first caused by smallpox. Smallpox…death, destruction, infection and pandemic; These are different words that people associate with the deadly disease caused by the variola virus, smallpox. This disease has been a scourge against humanity for centuries, dating back to the third century AD. This disease caused massive destruction and killed thousands of Continental Army soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Throughout the Revolutionary War, smallpox killed approximately sixty-three thousand soldiers during the conflict. In the 16th century, European explorers introduced the disease smallpox to America. It is believed that George Washington lost more of his troops to disease than casualties in battle. It was such devastation that John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail in 1777 that "for every soldier killed in battle, disease killed ten." Even Washington fell victim to the disease at the age of 19 while traveling in Barbados in 1751. His case was thought to be mild, with just a few scars on his nose. During Washington's lifetime, smallpox was one of the most feared diseases of the century, and at its peak, it spread like wildfire through the Continental Army. Disease threatened to bring about the fall of the Continental Army and thus cause the colonies to lose their fight for independence from Great Britain. During the Revolutionary War, Continental soldiers were far more likely to “succumb to disease than to the bullets or bayonets of their enemies.” Early in the revolutionary period, smallpox broke out en masse due to non-ideal living conditions. People were crowded into besieged cities, military encampments were filled with men living nearby, and fleeing citizens and traveling soldiers often transmitted the disease unintentionally and more quickly than if the colonies were in peacetime. This was largely due to the disease's "two weeks of incubation" before symptoms appeared, so those carrying the germ "continued to spread the disease during their travels." Additionally, the colonists were at higher risk of contracting smallpox than the British, because "they had been much less exposed to it." Additionally, many American colonists suspected their personal enemies and the British of attempting to wage "bacteriological warfare by deliberately infecting the civilian population." Like most communicable diseases, smallpox was most often found in highly concentrated, high-population centers, Philadelphia in particular: "Several [former] members of the Continental Congress contracted the disease during their tenure in the City of brotherly love.” InAs a result, George Washington's leadership led to the decline of smallpox in the Continental Army and the eventual victory of the Continental forces over the all-powerful British Empire. During the winter at Valley Forge of 1777 to 1778, George Washington's dream of vaccinating the entire army and helping to eradicate smallpox within the army was in jeopardy. Valley Forge's soldiers, who were long-term enlistees, to Washington's surprise, "always included susceptible men who had somehow escaped smallpox vaccinations." The number of these men was between three and four thousand. As a result, the men of Valley Forge were inoculated throughout the harshest winter of the Revolutionary War. According to Washington, it was essential that these men be inoculated "with all possible secrecy" to avoid revealing the ever-increasing presence of the British army in nearby Philadelphia. At the end of this inoculation period, most of the men were tolerant and resistant to smallpox, like the rest of the Continental Army, and capable of helping the American colonists win their freedom. Smallpox, the scourge of the colonies during the revolutionary period, a silent killer that threatened to dismantle the American Revolution. Without George Washington's leadership, ingenuity, and courage in fighting this horrible disease, the colonies would likely have lost to the British Empire and never gained the power to determine their own destiny. Earlier military tactics at Valley Forge during the American Revolution are generally remembered as soldiers standing in straight lines with bayonets fixed to attack. The troops advanced 50 to 100 meters from the enemy, fired and then charged with bayonets. While standing side by side in a straight line without protection, many men were frequently beaten. George Washington had the foresight to provide aid to Valley Forge's leaders through Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, who established standards for the camp's layout and troops. The Baron spoke no English, but the knowledge he passed on to the troops through interpreters was invaluable. He trained troops in Prussian-style drills, such as marching in rows of four instead of a straight line and loading, firing and reloading weapons efficiently. Steuben also wrote training manuals. George Washington was so impressed by von Steuben that he appointed him inspector general. He set high standards and troops had to progress through certain regiments in order to fight in battles. Von Steuben also taught troops how to attack more effectively with bayonets. He even wrote a “blue book” on new combat tactics; demonstrating the success of this manual, it was used by the United States Army until 1814-1815. New troops appeared in June 1778. Although Washington lacked tactical knowledge, he was known as a great rallyer of troops. His detractors were proven wrong after seeing the well-trained and action-ready men he had led during the horrible winter of 1777-78. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayIn summary, “Perseverance and wit have worked wonders in all ages.” These words were probably George Washington's motto to his soldiers at Valley Forge during that terribly legendary winter of 1777 to 1778. The perseverance demonstrated by George Washington in these unfathomable events, The Dark Times helped the soldiers of Valley Forge and all.