Threshold to Valley Forge, with Sheilah Vance

·53 min·5 clips

Sheila Vance reveals the overlooked six-day Gulf Mills encampment that changed Washington's strategy before Valley Forge.

The subject is a narrow passage. Sheila Vance joins the American Revolution Roundtable to look at the six days at Gulf Mills, just before Washington's army settles into Valley Forge. It is a short window, but the problems are very practical. Where is the army? Which road matters? Who has seen the British, and how fast can that warning travel? The roundtable starts with placement. The host frames the book as a study of roughly a week before winter quarters at Valley Forge, then Vance tightens the view around Matson's Fort, Gulf Mills, Philadelphia County, and the roads out from Philadelphia. The crossing carries most of the tension. A temporary bridge, built from wood, scavenged materials, and pieces of fence, has to do more than get tired soldiers over water. Eight hundred soldiers make it across, and the army still has carriages and equipment to move. Meanwhile, Potter sees trouble forming closer to Philadelphia. His men notice British forces leaving the city, but the purpose is not clear. Are they coming for Potter, trying Washington again before winter quarters, or applying the same pressure seen before? Potter's force, maybe a few hundred men and maybe as many as 600, is facing several thousand British. Falling back is the only workable move. His men retreat over the hills toward Matson's Fort as warnings move along the road and crossed soldiers see British troops above them.

As heard by us

A narrow stretch of road, bridges, and alarms frames the run-up to Valley Forge.

This American Revolution roundtable centers on the week-plus before Washington's army settled into Valley Forge, with Sheila Vance, author of Threshold to Valley Forge, guiding the discussion through the Gulf Mills encampment.

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Why you'd press play

You get a tense pre-Valley Forge week: crossings at Matson's Fort, British movement, and plenty of uncertainty.

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