Feeding Washington's Army: Surviving the Valley Forge Winter of 1778

In this major new history of the Continental Army's Grand Forage of 1778, award-winning military historian Ricardo A. Herrera uncovers what daily life was like for soldiers during the darkest and coldest days of the American Revolution: the Valley Forge winter. Here, the army launched its largest and riskiest operation—not a bloody battle against British forces but a campaign to feed itself and prevent starvation or dispersal during the long encampment. Herrera brings to light the army's herculean efforts to feed itself, support local and Continental governments, and challenge the British Army. Highlighting the missteps and triumphs of both General George Washington and his officers as well as ordinary soldiers, sailors, and militiamen, Feeding Washington's Army moves far beyond oft-told, heroic, and mythical tales of Valley Forge and digs deeply into its daily reality, revealing how close the Continental Army came to succumbing to starvation and how strong and resourceful its soldiers and leaders actually were.

About the Author :
Ricardo A. Herrera is professor of military history at the School of Advanced Military Studies at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Review :
"Herrera makes a compelling case that the 'Grand Forage of 1778' should be accorded more significance in the military history of the American Revolution."--Madison Notes "A concise, well-researched study of the planning and execution of the Grand Forage . . . . a valuable and welcome addition to the scholarship on the American Revolutionary War. It serves as an excellent reminder that some of the most far-reaching developments in a war do not take place on the battlefield."--American Historical Review "A concise, well-researched, and well-written addition to the historiography of the American War for Independence that dispels myths surrounding Valley Forge . . . .Herrera shows how this little-studied, but vital campaign at Valley Forge deserves more attention alongside the more popular narrative of the professionalization of the Continental Army."--Journal of Military History "A fine source of information for how the American force learned to hold its ground, fight and give a good account of itself in combat."--Pennsylvania Magazine "A much-needed volume on the real events of one of the war's iconic winters. . . . Herrera's work will provide the template for future works studying the less glamorous but indisputably important roles of logistics in campaigns and how we view the struggles at Valley Forge in particular."--H-Environment "Herrera does a quietly, no-nonsense fantastic job of fleshing out this Grand Forage, complete with personnel lists, inventories of equipment, and the interplay of every personality involved. Far from being yet another melodramatic rehash of soldierly stoicism, Feeding Washington's Army is an invaluable elaboration of a key footnote in the Revolutionary War."--Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Review "Impeccably researched, this is a needed addition to the story of the war for independence."--Library Journal "This is an excellent study, well researched, and clearly written . . . . Herrera's exploration into an otherwise insufficiently studied topic is highly recommended."--Journal of America's Military Past "Through his telling, Herrera is in command of the primary sources, which are disparate and separated by the Atlantic Ocean. His breadth and depth are so great that his introductory chapter, which sets the stage for Valley Forge, almost reads like a narrative conversation between Washington and various civilian officials, from the commissary general of the Continental army, William Buchanan, to the governor of Maryland, Thomas Johnson. The author accomplishes the rare feat of making logistics interesting and illustrates the specifics of how logistics was a critical component of the larger strategic picture for the Americans and the British."--H-War