The year of the French

1
1778

• The year of the French

2
Winter at Valley Forge (PA)

• Winter 1777-78
• A time of suffering
• Americans lost 2,000 due to disease, lack of
  clothing, food, etc.
• 2,000 deserters
• A time of rejuvenation
• Intense training, drilling
• Foreign Blood
• Marquis de Lafayette
• Baron Von Steuben

3
Marquis de Lafayette

• 20 year old, wealthy French officer
• Inspired by the Patriot cause, he
• volunteered for the Continental Army
• Requested no pay
• First arrived in June 1777, fought at Brandywine
• Would give 200,000 of his own to support army
• Would become close friends with Washington
• Would be promoted to Major General and play a
  large part in the American army

4
The Baron Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard
Augustin von Steuben

• Baron Von Steuben
• Spoke no English
• Supposed high ranking Prussian officer
• Offered his services for no pay
• Demanded respect feared
• Washington made him Inspector General of the Army
• In charge of training and sanitation
• Later found out to be a fake
• Didnt matter

Baron Von Steuben Drilling Troops at Valley
Forge  by Edwin Abbey
5
George Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge
by John Ward Dunsmore
6
French enter the War

• On Feb 6, the French would formally ally with
  America pledging support
• Recognized new nation, trade, military alliance
• Ally with each other until Britain is defeated
• Neither side would negotiate peace without the
  other
• Due to Ben Franklins diplomacy
• efforts in Paris throughout 1777
• Impressed by Saratoga, Washington

7
British leave Philadelphia

• William Howe would resign command
• Replaced by Henry Clinton
• After the French enter the war, Clinton decides
  to abandon Philadelphia to reinforce New York
• Now open to French navy, attack
• Washingtons troops shadow British on their march
  

8
Battle of Monmouth, NJ

• June 28, 1778
• Washington (13,500) attacks British (15,000) on
  their march to New York
• Charles Lee in charge of initial attack
• retreats prematurely
• Had rejoined army in prisoner exchange earlier in
  1778
• Washington meets Lees retreating army
• Disgusted with Lee, rallies troops himself
• Molly Pitcher
• Mary Ludwig Hayes
• Delivers water to soldiers on hot battlefield
• Mans husbands cannon when he falls wounded
• After a full days fighting, British continue on
  their retreat during the night
• No clear winner, but the British withdrew first
• Casualties
• British - 300
• Americans - 350

Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouthby
Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze
9
Mary Ludwig Hayes a.k.a Molly Pitcher
Molly Pitcher at the battle of Monmouth