George Washington: The Two Miracles of Valley Forge

​  After the miracle of Saratoga, British General William Howe struck back on December 19, 1777, and drove the 11,000 American troops out of Philadelphia into an encampment at Valley Forge for the winter. This is arguably the worst time of the war for the American forces. Without food or winter clothing, 12 Americans died per day! Incredibly, a total of 2500 men perished at Valley Forge from hunger, cold, and disease! The encamped army made up of primarily White men, some Blacks, and even a few Indians ranging in age from as young as 12 years old to as old as 60, all suffered immeasurably.
  Later, General George Washington wrote to Lt Colonel John Banister describing the scene:
“No history...can furnish an instance of an army’s suffering such uncommon hardships as ours has done, and bearing them with the same patience and fortitude -To see men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lay on, without shoes, by which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet, and almost as often without provisions...marching through frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winter quarters within a day’s march of the enemy, without a house or hut to cover them...and submitting to it without a murmur, is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be paralleled.”*
 
A committee of Congress also wrote of the event,
“Feet and legs froze till they became black, and it was often necessary to amputate them.”**
 
  How can these horrible sufferings be considered a miracle from God? In God’s plan of salvation for man through Christ, the just had to both suffer (Acts3:18) and die for the unjust (1Pet3:18). This is called Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice which was a one-time work for all time (Heb9:12; 1Pet3:18).  However, using this principle, there are times when God will require some to stand-in-the-gap, i.e.intercede for another, in order to win them, and it will require suffering. Philippians 3:10 calls this “fellowship of His sufferings”, where we must endure some of Christ’s sufferings on behalf of another to win him/her to Christ. 2500 brave, selfless men paid the ultimate sacrifice of their lives at Valley Forge…in our place!
 
This was the miracle of sufferings at Valley Forge!
 
  Hessian Major Carl Leopold Baurmeister noted the only thing that kept the American army from disintegrating was their “spirit of liberty.”*** In other words, only the power of God kept the soldiers of Valley Forge from quitting and abandoning the cause for freedom!
   On April 12, 1778, Washington issued the order from his camp at Valley Forge: “The Honorable Congress having thought proper to recommend to the United States of America to set apart Wednesday, the 22nd inst., to be observed as a day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer, that at one time, and with one voice, the righteous dispensations of Providence may be acknowledged, and His goodness and mercy towards our arms supplicated and implored: The General (Washington) directs that the day shall be most religiously observed in the Army; that no work shall be done thereon, and that the several chaplains do prepare discourses” (sermons).****
   The second miracle of Valley Forge happened with Shad. As I have already noted, the men of Valley Forge died of hunger, cold, and disease. However, Historian Peter Marshall***** tells the story of God’s supernatural provision even in the midst of grave suffering and death.
  Sentries were riding along the river when they discovered what they called “the waters boiling”. As they took a closer look at this phenomenon, they discovered that the waters were not boiling but were teeming with Shad. In other words, out of season, thousands of Shad swam against the stream and were thrashing around in the waters ‘waiting’ to be harvested. The riders rode into the river behind them and simply began tossing as many as possible onto the shore.
  Claire Willett****** offers her version, but cannot outright deny the hand of God in this provision.
  Later that year, on August 20, 1778, Washington wrote: “The Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this-the course of the war-that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more wicked that has not gratitude to acknowledge his obligations, but it will be time enough for me to turn Preacher when my present appointment ceases.”*******
  
 
 
*Susie Federer, Miracles in American History, Amerisearch, Inc., (P.O. Box 20163 St. Louis, MO 63123), pg60.
**Susie Federer, Miracles in American History, Amerisearch, Inc., (P.O. Box 20163 St. Louis, MO 63123), pg59.
***Susie Federer, Miracles in American History, Amerisearch, Inc., (P.O. Box 20163 St. Louis, MO 63123), pg59.
****Susie Federer, Miracles in American History, Amerisearch, Inc., (P.O. Box 20163 St. Louis, MO 63123), pg61.
*****Peter Marshall, Restoring America, 1993
******https://clairewillett.com/2018/03/21/shad-valley-forge/
*******Susie Federer, Miracles in American History, Amerisearch, Inc., (P.O. Box 20163 St. Louis, MO 63123), pg61.
 
The most famous image of Valley Forge is George Washington on one knee in prayer.
 
QuoteBit
We must learn to apply all that we know so that we can attract all that we want.- jim rohn