Washington’s Letter to Governor George Clinton
MODIFIED
(1778)
Headnote: The new American government did not have enough money to
purchase enough supplies for the troops. The winter of 1778 was the worst
that General George Washington and his men had to face.
To Governor George Clinton
Head Quarters, Valley Forge, February 16, 1778
Dear Sir: It is with great reluctance, I trouble you … For some days…,
there has been…a famine in camp. A part of the army has been a week,
without any kind of flesh, and the rest for three or four days. Naked and
starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience
and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been [led]…by their
sufferings, to a general mutiny…
…I am, on my part, putting every engine to work, that I can possibly think
of, to prevent…fatal consequences…. I am calling upon all those, whose
stations and influence enable them to contribute their aid upon so
important an occasion; … I expect every thing within the compass of your
power, and that the abilities and resources of the state over which you
preside, will admit….
Source: Excerpt from “Washington’s Letter to Governor George Clinton.”
Historic Valley Forge. USHistory.org by Independence Hall Association
accessed via http://www.ushistory.org/ValleyForge/washington/letter.html.
Note: Some of the language and phrasing in this document have been
modified from the original.
Created by the Bridgeport Public Schools TAH Making History Grant
Focus Question:
What were the conditions like at Valley Forge and what was General
Washington trying to do about them?
Word Bank:
reluctance – not willingly
trouble – bother
famine – extreme hunger
flesh – meat
incomparable – without equal
fidelity – loyalty; devotion
soldiery – the soldiers
mutiny – rebellion
engine – means or method
prevent – stop
‘fatal consequences’ – deadly results
stations – positions
‘influence enable’ – power allows
contribute – give
aid – help
compass – range; area
ability – skills
resources – possessions or wealth
preside – are in charge of
Created by the Bridgeport Public Schools TAH Making History Grant