On December 19, 1777, General George Washington led his army of over 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to camp for the winter during the American Revolutionary War. This grueling six-month encampment became a defining moment of endurance and resilience for the Continental Army. Despite harsh conditions, disease, and limited supplies, the army emerged stronger with the help of rigorous training led by Prussian military officer Baron von Steuben, whose drills significantly improved their discipline and effectiveness. Washington’s encampment at Valley Forge marked a pivotal turning point in the Revolutionary War, increasing the army’s ability to withstand adversity and succeed in future battles.
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In 1972, Apollo 17, the final mission of NASA’s Apollo program, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. This mission was notable for bringing astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt to the lunar surface, making them the last humans to walk on the Moon. Schmitt, a trained geologist, collected invaluable rock samples that advanced our understanding of lunar geology. Apollo 17’s successful mission ended humanity’s first era of lunar exploration, leaving a legacy of scientific discovery and technological achievement.
In 2011, North Korea announced the death of its leader Kim Jong Il, who had passed away two days earlier. Massive public displays of mourning ensued as state media confirmed his youngest son, Kim Jong Un, as the nation’s new leader. This transition marked the beginning of Kim Jong Un’s regime, which would later be defined by heightened nuclear ambitions and global tensions. The death of Kim Jong Il and the rise of Kim Jong Un reshaped North Korea’s leadership dynamics and its role on the world stage.
In 2022, the House Jan. 6 Committee urged the Justice Department to pursue criminal charges against the former U.S. president for inciting the violent Capitol insurrection of 2021. This recommendation underscored a historic effort to hold a former sitting president accountable for actions threatening democratic institutions. The committee’s work called for a national reckoning on the fragility of democracy and the rule of law.
𝗪𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝘀-𝗧𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗜𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼l
When George Washington led 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge in December, 1777, the soldiers were battle-weary, hungry, exhausted, and many were shoeless. This was true. But this was all they taught us in school. They also said the soldiers were downtrodden. That was not true.
Worn out as they were, the soldiers were patriots and in high spirits. They were as committed as Washington, himself, to winning the war, which was already in its third year when they went to Valley Forge.
The location itself was a strategic place to spend the winter. Less than 50 miles from Philadelphia, the valley offered a broad view across the landscape, and gave the army an advantage in protecting their border.
The army camped for six months. The first order of business was to make life survivable. Accompanied by hundreds of women and children plus non-combat service staff, the army went to work to clothe all personnel, and provide shelter. To the latter purpose, Washington had a team of architects design a cabin that would accommodate the men and keep them warm.
The army built some 1500 such cabins in straight rows, military style. They were said to be quite comfortable. Essentially, Washington’s army built the 4th largest city in America at that time.
Though they braved through periods of food and supply shortages, usually rations were adequate or better. Washington used these six months to stock up on equipment and ordinance, while putting the soldiers through advanced training and discipline.
It took five more years for Washington and the armies of the colonies to achieve their objectives, but they achieved them. They defeated King George’s forces. The winter at Valley Forge can be seen as a pivotal milestone in the campaign, when Washington’s army became the fighting force that was needed.
Today in History: December 20
A Look Back At Today, December 20
The Louisiana Purchase was completed.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause.
The United States Space Force was established.
Today in History: December 18
Today in History: December 18
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was proclaimed in effect.
In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.
In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. (It was taken out of service in 1982.)
In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nearly nine-year war.
Today in History: December 17
Today in History: December 17
In 1903 The Wright brothers’ flight redefined the possibilities of travel and opened the skies to human exploration.
In 1933 The first NFL championship laid the foundation for professional football’s evolution into a national pastime.
In 1989 “The Simpsons” redefined animated television, blending humor with social commentary to leave an indelible mark on entertainment.
In 1992 NAFTA reshaped North American trade, fostering economic ties while sparking debates on globalization.
In 2014 The U.S.-Cuba rapprochement signaled a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War world, rekindling hopes for reconciliation.
Today in History: December 16
Today in History: December 16
On Dec. 16, 1773, the Boston Tea Party took place, as American colonists boarded a British ship, and dumped more than 300 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, to protest tea taxes.
In 1907, 16 U S Navy battleships, known as the Great White Fleet, set sail on a 14-month, round-the-world voyage to showcase America’s growing naval strength, and signal its emergence as a global power.
In 1944, the World War II Battle of the Bulge began as German forces launched a surprise attack against Allied forces through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and Luxembourg.
In the year 2000, President-elect George W Bush selected Colin Powell to become the first Black secretary of state.
In 2014, The Peshawar school massacre occurred when Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar, killing at least 148 people, including more than 130 schoolchildren.
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