The Washington herald., 1913-02-14
NO. 35.

Washington and his army were starv-
ing the while at Valley Forge, in desper-
ate straits to get anything TO eat or
anything to cover them in that bitter
season-not because there were no sup
plies. but because Congress had disor-
ganized the commissary department. and
the supplies seldom reached the camp.
The country had not been too heavily
stricken by the war. Abundant crops
were everywhere sown and peacefully
reaped and there were men enough TO
do the work OF seed-time and harvest.
The Army Chief Sufferers.
1t was only the army that was suf-
fering for lack of food and lack OF
men. The naked fact was that the
confederacy was falling apart for lack
OF a government. Local selishness had
overmastered national feeling, and
only a few men like Washington held
the breaking structure together.
Washington's steadfastness was new
er shaken: and Mrs. Washington.
stanch lady that she was, Joined him
even at Valley Forge.
The intrigue against him he watched
in stern silence till II was ripe and evil
dent. then he crushed it with sudden
exposure, and turned away in con-
tempt hardly so much as mentioning
It in his letters to his friends. Their
own artless zeal to advance their views
has destroyed then," he said.
The Idol of His Men.
His soldiers he succored and supplied
as he could, himself sharing their pri-
vations, and earning their love as he
shared them. Naked and starving as
they are" he wrote, we cannot sufff-
ciently admire the incompatible pa
thence and fidelity of the soldiers"
And even out of that grievous winter
some profit was wrung. Handsome
sums of French money had begun OF
late to come slowly into the confed-
crate treasury-for France. for the
nonce, was quick with sympathy for
America, and glad 10 lend secret aid
against an old foe. Presently, she
promised, she would recognize the in
dependence OF the United States and
herself grapple once more with Eng
land.
Foreign omcers Volunteer.
Meanwhile French, German. and Pol
ish officers hurried over sea to serve as
volunteers with the raw armies OF the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. some of them
Others sober veterans. gentlemen OF
fortune, men of generous and noble
duality-among the rest the boyish La
fayette and the distinguished Steuben.
Baron Won Steuoen had won himself
a place on the great Frederick's staff in
the Seven Years War, and was OF that
studious race of soldiers the world was
presently to learn to fear
steubep at Valley Forge.
He Joined Washington at Valley
Forge, and turned the desolate camp
into a training school OF arms, teach
ing, what these troops had never
known before, promptness and preci-
sion in the manual Of arms, in massed
and ordered movement. In the use of
the charge and of the open field.
Neither Washington nor any OF his
officers had known how to give this
training. The commander-in-chief had
not even had a properly organized stan
till this schooled and thorough German
supplied 1t, and he was valued IN the
camp as he deserved.
Baron Admires Americans.
you say to your soldier, DO this
and he doeth It." he wrote to an old
comrade In Prussia; "I am obliged to
say to mine, This Is the reason why
you ought to do that and then he
does It."
But he learned to like and to admire
his new comrades soon enough when |
he found what spirit and capacity there |
was in them for the field Of action.
The army came out of Its dismal |
winter quarters stronger than II had |
ever been before. alike in spirit and dis |
cipline; more devoted to Its commander |
than ever, and more At to serve him.
An Emcient Army.
At last the change to a system OF |
long enlistments had transformed 1t |
from q levy of militia into an army