"I could not Refrain from tears", Writings from the Valley Forge Encampment of the Continental Army, December 19, 1777-June 19, 1778, Volume VII

Hundreds of letters and documents written at Valley Forge have been published in collections that represent the best-remembered men of the Revolution. There are also documents of uncounted numbers by lesser officers and staff functionaries that have never been published, or have been printed long ago and are no longer readily available. The intent of this effort is to present a selection of these, in the seventh of such volumes, to allow greater understanding and appreciation of the Valley Forge Encampment. The six month encampment of the Continental Army at Valley Forge has long since entered the realm of American myths. Some of the stories that have become legendary are reinforced in the letters herein. There are a number of references to the lack of shoes, blankets and clothing. Food was in desperately short supply. Efforts to rectify these difficulties are represented in these pages. Documents are arranged chronologically, and the original spelling and punctuation has been retained. A descriptive note at the foot of each entry gives the source location of each document, and identifies the writer and recipient the first time each individual appears. The author scoured the National Archives and more than twenty other state archives, university libraries, and historical societies in his search for these rare papers. An index to full-names, places and subjects adds to the value of this work.