The Winter at Valley Forge: Survival and Victory

Adventures in Colonial America

by James E. Knight, George Guzzi (Illustrator)

A soldier chronicles the harsh winter colonial soldiers, led by General George Washington, spend at Valley Forge during the American Revolution.

Genres: History, American History, Picture Books, School, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Historical

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1982

Reviews

[Daniel Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm here from The Cabin Faced West, which took place a few years after Valley Forge. I remembered we used to have this book about it, from its cover especially. Don't think I'd read it before. Think I've visited the area, though.

It's a nice quick spin-up on the events of the winter of 1777. The Americans lost Philadelphia to the British and have just been defeated at Germantown. The American troops have retreated across the Schuylkill River to Valley Forge. (The Continental Congress fled from Philadelphia even further to York.)

But conditions are not good. There's little food and no real way of getting more, the men are not dressed for the cold weather, and General George Washington has ordered the camp to build cabins instead of flimsier tents for shelter. Diseases like typhus and smallpox run rampant. (Have heard a lot recently about vaccines and force readiness. I guess that's been a concern for the military pretty much since day one! Don't know how inoculations worked back then, but I think I'd take those over another mentioned remedy... a cabin that smelled like burning sulfur!) All told, 3000 lives were claimed.

This book is written like a logbook by Corporal Toby Grimes of Connecticut, from 20 Dec '77 to 6 May '78. It talks about how the men braved the fierce winter and started formal training in the spring under Baron von Steuben (Prussia). I liked learning about how several foreign officers (from France, Poland, and Germany) joined forces with the Americans. Each page has some really neat and detailed black-and-white illustrations to accompany the text.

Would like to learn more about the time period soon.

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical picture book is written as a series of journal entries from the perspective of a soldier who winters at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. We read it for 3rd grade history, and my 5-year-old listened in as well, though she was a bit upset when it talked about horses dying. Overall the book gives a good overview of what was going on at Valley Forge and the difficulties the soldiers faced, in a way that's age-appropriate for middle-upper elementary ages. The pictures are line drawn without color, but depict some of the historical figures mentioned in the text, as well as soldiers working and items that they would have used.

[Stacy Atherton Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8-year-old daughter didn't find this book very interesting, though I thought it was great. I had to stop reading it verbatim and sort of paraphrase it, while adding in other facts and tidbits and questions for discussion. Once it came "alive" a bit more for her, she enjoyed it.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this non-fiction book aloud to my children.

The book is told in epistolary fashion as a series of diary entries from December 1777 to May 1778. It relates the harsh conditions that the soldiers had to endure through the winter at Valley Forge. The soldiers suffered in the bitter cold and had little sustenance. Diseases, such as typhus and smallpox, were rampant in the unsanitary camp. Their clothes were threadbare, and many men had limbs amputated due to frostbite.

General Washington remained with his troops and gave them encouragement, and he suffered along with his men.

The black and white illustrations depicted the different types of tents that were constructed, tools and weapons that were used by the soldiers, how they dressed, a surgeon's instruments, and some important historical figures including Marquis de Lafayette, Count Pulaski, Baron De Kalb, and Baron von Steuben.

We really enjoyed this book and intend to read more of this series! It is a good addition to your American History studies.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, short book about the winter at Valley Forge. The author handled the harshness without being gory. It was told in a journal format so it seemed to bounce around a bit, but I think it helped the boys feel like someone was really talking to them about their experiences.

The illustrations are nicely done, and are black and white, no color.

Overall a book we enjoyed and will use again. They actually groaned when I stopped after reading half and didn't want to wait for the next day.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, written in diary format, had a lot of first-person information and experience to share about the struggles our soldiers experienced over the winter at Valley Forge. The issue was that it didn't really set up how this particular event during the Revolutionary War fit within the rest of the war nor was it very engaging. So, this book can be used as a supplement, however, is not a good stand-alone book to create an understanding.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! What a fantastic resource for educators! While the story length was small, only 32 pages with illustrations, the message was clear. The conditions the soldiers had to endure at Valley Forge the winter of 1777 was perilous. Written in journal format, you can see how quickly a person can loose hope when hunger and fear sets in. Great vocabulary words and engaging conversations you can have with your child or student to see their comprehension.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is one of my favorites. I have read it over and over to my children. They love it, too. It is a great reminder of what so many people went through so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. It is also a great reminder that faith and passion are so much stronger than anything else.

[Jeannine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice descriptive look at that winter without getting into gory details.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the first-person account. What a tough time! I wouldn't have survived!!

[Babymouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short little book with good illustrations written like a journal - gives the young reader a good idea of what that winter was like for our Colonial army.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob rates this 5 star, Ellie says 3 1/2 stars, Mom says 4 stars