Valley Forge Priorities: Food Water Clothing Supplies Poem by Terence George Craddock

action is needed Washington
must act Act now cannot wait
cannot wait for help supplies
from Continental Congress

Washington acts appointed
a new resourceful talented
Quartermaster General

as Quartermaster General
Washington appoints
resolute Nathanael Greene

to take charge of supplies
Washington's ablest most
supporting trusted general

in doings thus Washington
signaled severe supply situation
was a more serious threat
to his army's survival than Howe's

army Greene finds
caches of food clothing
desperately needed

determinedly hauled
supplies to Valley Forge
for troops horses

Valley Forge severe
shortages of food water
clothing supplies

clothing wholly inadequate
in need of survival clothing
many suffering soldiers died
soldiers wounded in previous

battles from exposure died cold starving
long marches had destroyed shoes blankets
were scarce need was great tattered garments

seldom replaced uniforms
clothing supplies depleted
worst shortages crisis caused

nearly 4,000 men to be listed
as unfit for duty in testing times
extreme emergency sometimes

nature provides as nature will
in the spring of 1778 according
to records locals fisherman lore
fish shad spawning migrations

in spring early summer up Schuylkill River
provided desperate troops Valley Forge
with moderate food supplies an army survives

thrives with not just weapons but food supplies


Terence George Craddock (Afterglows Echoes Of Starlight)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock