The fight for American independence did not end with early victories or dramatic battles; it evolved into a protracted struggle that tested the limits of courage, strategy, and endurance. Drawing on primary sources, historian Christopher Hamner continues exploring the pivotal turning points and strategic choices that shaped the course and the conclusion of the war.

Session Information

Valley Forge: Soldier’s Life in the Continental Army

When war erupted in 1775, the patriots possessed no professional army—only local militias suddenly facing the highly trained soldiers of the British Empire. If the rebellion were to survive, the colonies would have to build a disciplined military force capable of meeting British regulars on the battlefield. That force became the Continental Army.

Hamner examines the realities of military life in this new army: who these soldiers were, why they fought, and how they were trained for the brutal conditions of 18th-century warfare. He begins with the famous winter encampment at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, where thousands of soldiers endured bitter cold, disease, and severe shortages of food and clothing. By the spring of 1778, the army that emerged was far more disciplined and prepared for the long war ahead.

Additional Sessions of the American Revolution, Part 2 Series

• September 24: Turning Point: The Battle of Saratoga
• October 22: Cowpens and Yorktown: The Final Campaigns of the Revolution
• November 19: The Newburgh Conspiracy: Civil–Military Tensions in the Early Republic

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