Washington at Valley Forge by Russell Freedman

I love reading about the Revolutionary War for many reasons:

1. 1) My family fought in the American Revolution and for a long time after the war, our Philadelphia based family named children "George."


2. 2) I grew up in Philadelphia, so we whenever we drove around the city, there were constant reminders of the role it played in the history of our country.

That being said, to me Valley Forge was just a really big park that was right outside of town. Yes, I knew that George Washington and his army spent a winter there, and I read about their hardships in history, but this book really solidified what these soldiers endured and just how far away 20 miles can be!

This book covers the six months that General Washington and his troops were camped at Valley Forge.

Russell Freedman is one of my favorite nonfiction writers. He is one of those rare authors who can make learning new things painless. His narrative voice draws you in as no history text book can...."Private Joseph Plumb Martin leaned into the icy wind, pushing one sore and aching foot ahead of the other and kept on marching." One of 11,000 soldier marching on foot through the brutal winter of Pennsylvania, these half starved and tattered men walked even when their shoes fell apart..."on bare and bleeding feet." (p.1)

While the language and words transports you to another time and place, copies of original sketches and artwork, like a page from a American Manual of Arms, depicting the drill exercises of Continental soldiers. (p. 55)

A clear and concise timeline heads up the back matter of the book, along with excellent source notes, a bibliography, picture credits and an index.

An informative and touching look at the founding of our nation and the men who suffered and died for this cause.

(reviewed by Marianne Follis)