Summary Of His Excellency: George Washington At Valley Forge
Sankalpa Pahari
Professor Donald Charlton
FIQWS
10/13/2015
George Washington at Valley Forge
In his “His Excellency: George Washington,” Joseph J Ellis argues that the winter at Valley Forge was one of the most crucial events during the war for independence. After the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, General George Washington marched his weak and defeated soldiers to Valley Forge. However, the freezing weather of Valley Forge during winter bedeviled the soldiers and General Washington. The soldiers also faced a shortage of daily necessities such as food, clothing, and medicine. According to Ellis, all of the challenges Washington and his soldiers faced during their march to Valley Forge contributed to it being one of Washington’s …show more content…
General Washington understood that the winter at Valley Forge transformed the war for “independence” into a war for “nationhood”. (112)
While Ellis argues that the winter encampment at Valley Forge completely transformed the attitude of the soldier’s towards the war, he further asserts that Washington was an inspirational leader who experienced horrendous hardships alongside his soldiers. The fact that the leader of a new nation remained with his soldiers even in miserable condition led soldiers to view Washington as an idol. Although I agree with Ellis, I can further argue that George Washington cared and valued the people he led. He shared every moment of hardship and struggle with his soldiers. Washington gave his utmost to the Continental Army as he believed that the war for independence was more important than anything else. He always marched with the motto “war before me”. The only thing he could envision in the future was winning the war and gaining independence. Although he lost more battles than he won, he always learned from defeat and marched with the winning strategy that led to the victories at the Battle of Trenton in 1776, and the Battle of Yorktown in
Professor Donald Charlton
FIQWS
10/13/2015
George Washington at Valley Forge
In his “His Excellency: George Washington,” Joseph J Ellis argues that the winter at Valley Forge was one of the most crucial events during the war for independence. After the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, General George Washington marched his weak and defeated soldiers to Valley Forge. However, the freezing weather of Valley Forge during winter bedeviled the soldiers and General Washington. The soldiers also faced a shortage of daily necessities such as food, clothing, and medicine. According to Ellis, all of the challenges Washington and his soldiers faced during their march to Valley Forge contributed to it being one of Washington’s …show more content…
General Washington understood that the winter at Valley Forge transformed the war for “independence” into a war for “nationhood”. (112)
While Ellis argues that the winter encampment at Valley Forge completely transformed the attitude of the soldier’s towards the war, he further asserts that Washington was an inspirational leader who experienced horrendous hardships alongside his soldiers. The fact that the leader of a new nation remained with his soldiers even in miserable condition led soldiers to view Washington as an idol. Although I agree with Ellis, I can further argue that George Washington cared and valued the people he led. He shared every moment of hardship and struggle with his soldiers. Washington gave his utmost to the Continental Army as he believed that the war for independence was more important than anything else. He always marched with the motto “war before me”. The only thing he could envision in the future was winning the war and gaining independence. Although he lost more battles than he won, he always learned from defeat and marched with the winning strategy that led to the victories at the Battle of Trenton in 1776, and the Battle of Yorktown in