Product Description

Newbery Award-winning author Russell Freedman offers up this powerful account of the survival of American soldiers while camped at Valley Forge during a crucial period in the American Revolution. George Washington's army almost perished during the winter of 1777-78. Camped at Valley Forge, about twenty miles from Philadelphia, the revolutionaries endured severe hardship because the army's supply system had collapsed and they were without food, clothing, and blankets. The army was at its most vulnerable; but when the harsh winter drew to a close, the soldiers had survived, and marched away from Valley Forge more determined than ever. The British were defeated in 1783, and Washington, for the rest of his life, said that the credit for the Amrican victory belonged to the soldiers who had braved the horrific conditions at Valley Forge.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #252501 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 100 pages

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 4–8—Another stunning work from the nonfiction virtuoso. In a gripping, gritty account of the months that General Washington and his troops spent camped at Valley Forge, Freedman deftly brings to life this storied, nearly mythic period of the Revolutionary War. Vivid depictions of the harsh realities, not just the difficult winter weather, but also the lack of food, supplies, and clothing, all came together to create a perfect storm of misery that led to low morale, desertions, and death. Using first-person accounts from a variety of sources, Freedman offers a stirring portrait of a man who not only demanded that Congress step up its support of the troops, but who also brought in military experts to help transform the ragtag militia into a unified, trained military force. Everything—from quotes to images—is impeccably sourced, and a thorough, annotated bibliography is appended. Interwoven throughout are sepia-toned images that range from photographs of historical sites to reproductions of period artwork, which help to immerse readers in the era. Pair this with Thomas B. Allen's George Washington, Spymaster (National Geographic, 2007) and the man behind the legend becomes more intriguing and real to budding historians. An excellent choice for every collection.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA
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From Booklist
*Starred Review* With most of the presidential-history attention this year directed at Abraham Lincoln, Freedman turns instead to the man whose remarkable display of leadership during the direst of times helped to found the Union that would eventually need preserving. The winter of 1777 was a bleak one for the Revolutionary army—though, as Freedman points out, even calling it an “army” is generous. A relatively inexperienced Washington made the decision to camp his ragtag bunch of irregulars at Valley Forge, a defensible location close to the British holed up comfortably in Philadelphia. With his usual clarity of focus and keen eye for telling quotations, Freedman documents how Washington struggled to maintain morale despite hunger, near-nakedness, and freezing conditions; as well, he managed to reconstruct failed supply lines, evade political maneuverings from within the Continental Congress, and train his troops to win a war. Throughout, high-quality reproductions depict Washington among the men, and with the numerous other influential people who played critical roles. While Washington is certainly the center of this book’s cosmos, it is less a look at one venerable figure from history than it is a tale of the triumph of endurance. Lacing facts and history into a winning, if not always tremendously exciting, narrative, this solid book will dispel any fogginess children may have about why that winter in Valley Forge was such a pivotal time in our country’s founding. Grades 6-9. --Ian Chipman

About the Author
Russell Freedman grew up in San Francisco and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. Russell Freedman (born 1929 in San Francisco) is a biographer and author of nearly 50 books for young people. He is most notable for receiving the 1988 Newbery Medal with his work Lincoln: A Photobiography. In 1998, he received the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for his lifelong contribution to children's literature. He currently lives in New York City. He received one of the 2007 National Humanities Medals.

Customer Reviews

This is a fantastic, powerful and outstanding book about Washington and Valley Forge!
More than 11,000 Continental soldiers were weary, cold and hungry, but they persevered and continued to march on to Valley Forge, a place where they would encamp for a long, cold winter. Their commander, George Washington, had chosen this location because it would provide an area where they could defend themselves against the enemy. It was a place where men would become almost desperate from hunger and thirst. It was now the third year of the war and Washington "needed a winter camp where he could rest and reorganize his bedraggled Continentals, a place close enough to Philadelphia to maintain pressure on the British, yet far enough away to guard against surprise attacks."

Even the horses began to perish, but Washington and his troops held on. "Secret enemies" plotted to damage his reputation and replace him. African Americans served in the regiments, hopeful that they would gain their freedom if they won the war, while their comrades hoped for "land bounties and monetary bonuses." All wanted to take part in the quest for liberty and justice. This "skeleton of an army" would build their camp and make it through the harsh winter. Even Martha Washington would travel to Valley Forge in February to join her husband and support him and the soldier's cause.

The first hand accounts from men like Private Joseph Plumb Martin brought this book to life and gave it enough momentum to make this book a page turner. This book is liberally illustrated and their captions add even more tidbits of history to this fantastic book. The book has a map of Valley Forge, one of the battles of the mid-Atlantic states, a time line, excellent source notes, a bibliography and a thorough index. Books like these will spur young historians into wanting to read more and more books just like this one!