Author Archives: Phill Greenwalt
Washington’s First Valley Forge Abode Location
As the Continental Army marched into Valley Forge on December 19, 1777, staff officers under the commanding general had scoured the local area for a residence suitable for George Washington that winter. While discussions and negotiations were taking place, since … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Bus Tour, Battlefields & Historic Places, Continental Leadership, Emerging Revolutionary War, Monuments, National Park Service, Personalities, Photography
Tagged 1778, 2022 Bus Tour, American Revolution, Emerging Revolutionary War, George Washington, Phillip S. Greenwalt, Valley Forge, Valley Forge National Historical Park
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The March from White Marsh
From November 2, 1777 until early-December, General George Washington and the Continental Army occupied a defensive position at White Marsh, approximately 13 miles northwest of Philadelphia. In early December, a series of small skirmishes erupted along the American lines in … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Bus Tour, Battlefields & Historic Places, Battles, British Leadership, Continental Leadership, Emerging Revolutionary War, Memory, Revolutionary War
Tagged 1777, 2022 Bus Tour, British, Continental Army, Emerging Revolutionary War, George Washington, March to Valley Forge, Phillip S. Greenwalt, Valley Forge, William Howe
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“Rev War Revelry” The Battle of Princeton
On January 3, 1777, George Washington’s forces struck the British outside the town of Princeton, New Jersey. The battle culminated a ten-day period that would be crucial to the survival and eventual victory of American independence. As Emerging Revolutionary War … Continue reading
“No body ever heard of a quarter Master, in History”
In the spring of 1778, General George Washington chose Major General Nathanael Greene to be the quartermaster general of the Continental army, replacing General Thomas Mifflin who had resigned the previous November. Greene was hesitant and wrote the quote that … Continue reading
“Father of Modern Military History”
As soon as one reads the title of this post, I am willing to bet a handful of names pop into your mind. This initial thought is most likely followed by a quick passing of puzzlement that the “Father of … Continue reading
Marching Out of Valley Forge
On this date, in 1778, the Continental army, under the command of General George Washington broke winter camp and began the spring campaign. Their objective was to catch the British army, under Sir Henry Clinton, retreating across New Jersey to … Continue reading
Review: To The End of the World, Nathaniel Greene, Charles Cornwallis, and the Race to the Dan by Andrew Waters
Writing over thirty years after the fact, Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee summed up the events of February 14, 1780 with the line, “Thus ended, on the night of the 14th of February, this long, arduous, and eventful retreat” (190). … Continue reading
Posted in Book Review, Emerging Revolutionary War, Memory, Revolutionary War, Southern Theater
Tagged 1781, Andrew Waters, Battle of Cowpens, Battle of Guilford Court House, Book Review, Daniel Morgan, Emerging Revolutionary War, George W, Lord Charles Cornwallis, Nathanael Greene, Race to the Dan, Southern Theater, Yorktown
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“I gave my parole once…”
On the morning of August 27, 1780 there was a knock on the door of the Charleston, South Carolina residence of Christopher Gadsden, lieutenant governor of South Carolina. He had stayed when the city capitulated to British forces in May. … Continue reading
Posted in Battlefields & Historic Places, Civilian, Continental Leadership, Emerging Revolutionary War, National Park Service
Tagged 1780, British, Castillo de San Marcos, Charleston, Christopher Gadsden, Emerging Revolutionary War, Lord Charles Cornwallis, National Park Service, Phillip S. Greenwalt, South Carolina, St. Augustine
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Inspiration
Merriam-Webster’s two two definitions of inspiration are “an aspiring agent or influence” and “the quality or state of being influenced.” Being a military historian that has spent a portion of his graduate school and adult life studying the American Revolution, … Continue reading
Emerging Revolutionary War Era 