geekyBefore he was President, George Washington was of course the commander in chief of the colonial troops. This small army was first billeted outside Cambridge, Massachusetts before the real intense fighting began. Martha Washington and George’s stepson and his wife, Jack and Nelly, along with several friends joined him at his winter quarters just two weeks before Christmas, 1775. It appears that his first Christmas as a general was the last cheerful one spent for several years.
Christmas 1776
While commander of the colonial forces, Washington boldly crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania into New Jersey with 2,400 men on Christmas Day of 1776. They marched to Trenton and captured almost 1,000 Hessian troops stationed there. (Another future President, James Monroe, was wounded at the Battle of Trenton on Christmas Day of 1776.) After taking what supplies they needed, Washington and his troops retreated back across the Delaware for a few weeks and in early January made another successful surprise attack on Princeton.
The famous painting by Emanuel Letuze, Washington Crossing the Delaware, is probably the most well-known depiction of the American Revolution. This painting has been used as a patriotic Christmas card. Many people overlook the inaccuracies and accept the heroic painting as fact. The flag depicted in the painting was not created until a few years after the crossing and the boat depicted is not one that would have been used for transporting troops. According to one historian, "if Washington stood up during the crossing, he would have fallen in the river."
Washington at Valley Forge 1778-8
During the harsh winter of 1777-78, American spirits had reached a low point. British troops had marched triumphantly into Philadelphia the previous autumn. At the time, Philadelphia was the largest city in the Colonies and the seat of political power. After the British swept into Philadelphia, the Continental Congress had fled west, first to Lancaster then to York.
The Continental Army, led by General George Washington, had spent the summer of 1777 fighting a string of losing battles. The Americans harassed the British army in skirmishes and minor battles for much of the fighting season. In the fall, the army had shown its fighting spirit at the Battle of Brandywine in September and the Battle of Germantown in October, but in spite of this, the Americans were unable to keep the British out of Philadelphia.
On December 19, 1777 (238 years ago today), Washington marched his tired, beaten, hungry and sick army to Valley Forge, a location about 20 miles northwest of British-occupied Philadelphia. From Valley Forge, Washington could keep an eye on General Howe's British army ensconced in Philadelphia. At Valley Forge, there were shortages of everything from food to clothing to medicine. Washington's men were sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. The Continental Army camped in crude log cabins and endured cold conditions while the Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial homes. The patriots suffered food shortages while the British soldiers ate well. Terms of enlistment were ending for many soldiers in Washington's army and Washington wondered if he would even have an army left when the spring thaw finally arrived.
Washington was upset that local farmers were hoarding much-needed food waiting to earn higher profits in the spring. Some farmers even sneaked grain into Philadelphia to feed the British army, who paid in gold or silver. With each passing night came more desertions.
Then there was the grumbling of some in Congress and among some of Washington's own officers. Washington's leadership skills were openly questioned. Many said General Horatio Gates was better-suited to leading the army. Gates had scored a major victory in October at the Battle of Saratoga.
On January 24, 1778, five Congressmen came to Valley Forge to examine the conditions of the Continental Army. Washington pressed upon them the urgency of the situation. Washington also informed them that he wanted Congress to take control of the army supply system, pay for the supplies, and replenish them when necessities were scarce. By the end of February, there were adequate supplies flowing throughout camp after Congress gave full support to monetarily funding the supply lines of the army, along with reorganizing the commissionary department (which controlled the gathering of the supplies for the army).
Increasing military efficiency, morale, and discipline were also vital to the army's well-being. The task of developing and carrying out an effective training program fell to Baron Friedrich von Steuben. This skilled Prussian drill master, who had recently arrived from Europe, drilled the soldiers, improving their battle and formation techniques greatly.
Martha Washington arrived at the camp on February 10, 1778. She visited soldiers in the huts and in the camp hospital. She also organized a sewing circle of women who knitted, crafted, and patched socks, shirts, and trousers. Camp followers at Valley Forge consisted of the wives, children, mothers, and sisters of the soldiers. These camp followers often served as laundresses, cleaning and mending the uniforms of the soldiers. Washington understood a soldier would die quickly from disease if his uniform was dirty and threadbare. These camp followers also provided the emotional support to the army, encouraging them to remain at camp and continue on training and soldiering during the winter months. Women were relegated to the back of the column when marching and were forbidden to ride on wagons. Camp followers faced the issues of disease along with the soldiers. Some women lost their lives on the battlefield trying to obtain goods from wounded or dead soldiers. At Valley Forge women averaged 1 to every 44 men, adding up to around 500 women.
After the harsh winter, the Continental Army learned that France was going to aid their cause by sending military and monetary donations to the army. France had signed an alliance pact, on February 6, 1778 with the 13 colonies. A celebration of French alliance was organized on May 6, 1778, at Valley Forge. Word of the British departure from Philadelphia brought a frenzied activity to the ranks of the Continental Army. On June 19, 1778, exactly six months after the soldiers arrival at Valley Forge, the tested army marched away from Valley Forge and retook Philadelphia. They later charged in pursuit of the British, who were moving toward New York. The Battle of Monmouth, which occurred on June 28, 1778, resulted in an indecisive victory, though Congress and many newspapers treated it as an American victory (since the British retreated and left the battlefield first). This result demonstrated that the colonists were now able to withstand a strong British army after the intense training at Valley Forge under von Steuben.
Washington would later claim that the perseverance gained by the soldiers at Valley Forge was what made the Continental Army bind together even stronger and eventually win the war.
Today Valley Forge National Historic Park commemorates the perseverance, sacrifice, and dedication of the soldiers of the Continental Army. The site of the encampment became a Pennsylvania state park in 1893 and, on the July 4, 1976, it became Valley Forge National Historical Park. The modern park features historical and recreated buildings and structures, memorials and a visitor center, which shows a short film and has several exhibits. Washington Memorial Chapel was built in 1903 as a memorial to Washington and his army.
Christmas 1787
George Washington was a slaveholder, although many historians believe that he was personally opposed to the institution of slavery. He was the only prominent Founding Father to arrange in his will for the manumission (freeing) of all his slaves following his death. Washington would remember his slaves and servants at Christmas, as evidenced by the following contract made in 1787 with a new gardener the amount of time for Christmas celebrations:
"In Consideration of these things being well and truly performed on the part of the sd. Philip Bates, the said George Washington doth agree to allow him…four Dollars at Christmas, with which he may be drunk 4 days and 4 nights; two Dollars at Easter to effect the same purpose; two Dollars also at Whitsontide, to be drunk two days…"
In the same year (1787) Washington spent 18 shillings to bring a camel to Mount Vernon for the Christmas holidays. According to some biographers, the Washingtons spent lavishly on festive occasions and would send hand written invitations to friends and family to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas.