The Road to Valley Forge: How Washington Built the Army That Won the Revolution

"The fact is that their army is broken all to pieces, and the spirits of their leaders and their abettors is also broken . . . one may venture to pronounce that it is well nigh over with them." -Lord Rawdon In the late fall of 1776, few people on either side would have disagreed with this young British officer's assessment of the Continental Army-least of all, the commander of that army, George Washington. After four months of disastrous defeats, narrow escapes, and punishing marches, Washington knew only too well that his rag-tag assemblage of inexperienced officers, poorly trained regulars, and hastily gathered militiamen was no match for a professional army of more than thirty thousand seasoned, well-equipped British and Hessian troops. Yet General William Howe had missed three golden opportunities to crush Washington's army and thus end the rebellion. With each reprieve, Washington became a wiser, craftier, more prudent commander, one capable of turning an undisciplined rabble into a capable fighting force. The Road to Valley Forge traces the painful education of Washington and his army through the most critical period of the American Revolution, from August 1776 through the winter of 1777--1778. Citing communications from Washington and dozens of other civilian and military leaders, as well as many rank-and-file soldiers, it debunks myths about how the early stages of the war were fought, challenges the assertions of previous authors, and provides a stunning you-are-there view of some of the war's most dramatic events. From a sobering defeat in the Battle of Long Island and the tragic and unnecessary loss of the entire garrison of Fort Washington in upper Manhattan to his brilliant victory at Trenton after crossing the Delaware, Washington is revealed as an inexperienced commander who nonetheless showed from the outset that he had the makings of a great leader. Author John Buchanan examines his command style and reveals a man capable of both immersing himself in the endless logistical details of running an army and delegating considerable authority to trusted subordinates. Most important, he was a man who learned from his mistakes, listened to his advisors, and took full responsibility for his decisions, whatever their outcome. Complete with insightful portraits of the sluggish General Howe, the aggressive Cornwallis, and such important American figures as Nathanael Greene and the brilliant, fatally flawed General Charles Lee, The Road to Valley Forge offers more than a few surprises. This gripping, entertaining history offers a unique view of America's most revered hero as he struggled to keep the newborn nation alive.