#469: How Valley Forge Turned the Tide of the Revolutionary War

The Art of Manliness

Society & Culture, Education, Philosophy

4.7 • 14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 23 December 2018

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Eighteen months after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Continental Army was on the ropes and the American Revolution was on the verge of being snuffed out. Battered, demoralized, and half-naked, 12,000 American troops marched into a small, poorly supplied encampment in British-occupied Pennsylvania to hunker down for the winter. They called the encampment Valley Forge. Despite the terrible conditions and circumstances there, something happened at Valley Forge that would change the tide of the Revolutionary War, and the entire course of history. My guest today is a co-author of a new book, entitled Valley Forge, about this historic crucible. His name is Bob Drury, and I last had him on the show to discuss his stellar book Lucky 666. Today he explains the dire obstacles General George Washington and the Continental Army were up against at the time of Valley Forge, from coming off a string of strategic defeats to weathering political infighting. He then offers a vivid description of the squalor soldiers lived in at Valley Forge, as well as a rundown of the common myths people have about this historical episode. We end our conversation discussing how the situation at Valley Forge got turned around, and why the men who survived this crucible ended up stronger because of it. This show will give you some fresh insights and new appreciation for this pivotal event in American history. Get the show notes at aom.is/valleyforge.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Brat McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness podcast.
0:18.6	18 months after the Declaration of Independence signed, this continental army was on the ropes
0:23.0	and the American Revolution was on the verge of being snuffed out.
0:26.0	The battle, demoralized and half naked, 12,000 American troops marched into a small,
0:30.1	poorly supplied encampment in British occupied Pennsylvania to hunker down for the winter.
0:34.7	They called the encampment Valley Forge.
0:36.5	Despite the terrible conditions and circumstances there, something happened at Valley Forge that would change the tide of the Revolutionary War and the entire course of history.
0:44.0	My guest today is a co-author of a new book entitled Valley Forge, about this historic crucible.
0:47.8	His name is Bob Druey and I had him last on the show discusses stellar book Lucky666.
0:52.5	Today explains the dire obstacles general George Washington and the continental army were up against at the time of Valley Forge from coming off a string of strategic defeats to weathering political infighting.
1:01.0	He then offers a vivid description of the squalor soldiers lived in at Valley Forge as well as a rundown of the common myths people have about this historical episode.
1:07.8	We in their conversation discussing how the situation at Valley Forge got turned around and why the men who survived the crucible ended up stronger because of it.
1:14.2	This show will give you some fresh insights and new appreciation for this pivotal event in American history.
1:18.1	After it's over, check out the show notes at aowm.is slash Valley Forge.
1:22.1	Bob joins me now via clearcast.io.
1:37.8	All right.
1:38.5	Bob Druey, welcome back to the show.
1:40.9	Right.
1:42.0	It's great to be back.
1:43.2	Thanks.
1:44.0	I had a fun time with you when we did Lucky666 and looking forward to the same for Valley Forge.
1:49.2	That's right.
	...

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