What was the low point of the Revolutionary War for the Continental Army?

Answer 1

It is pretty universally agreed that the lowest point of the US Revolutionary War was the winter at Valley Forge. The term of enlistment was coming close to expiration for many of the soldiers. Supplies were very short. The campaign had been marked by striking defeat after defeat. Most critically, however, morale was at an all time low.

Answer 2

The autumn of 1776 was the lowest of several very bad times for the Continental Army. The year had begun well. Cannon dragged by Henry Knox from Fort Ticonderoga placed on commanding heights above Boston in March forced the British to evacuate the town, and when they sailed away, there were no redcoats in any of the colonies. Congress Declared Independence in early July.

But then, the redcoats returned, to New York City, as Washington had anticipated. Washington had his Continentals there, and called for militia from the governors of states in the area. A gratifying number turned out and Washington had the largest force he would ever command, around 25,000 men, militia and Continentals.

It was a mistake to even try defending New York. The British had all the ships and complete command of the waters. New York is a city on islands. Washington made it worse by going on to Long Island, and he was lucky to escape after the battles there. Several more battles brought autumn and the Continental Army was retreating across New Jersey, with the British in pursuit. The British weren't pursuing very hard, because they were sure the war was over and they had won. A tired James Monroe stepped out of the column and stood by the side of the road and counted the passing troops, and they numbered no more than four thousand. Had this handful not remained steadfast, the war would indeed have been lost then and there. Thomas Paine was in the column and borrowed a drum and used it as an impromptu desk to pen "The Crisis", heaping scorn on the "summer soldiers" and "sunshine patriots".

Bad as matters were, they were about to get even worse. Charles Lee thought himself slighted and believed it should have been he, and not Washington, in command of the Army. Lee had a few thousand Continentals who had been in the Hudson Highlands and had not been involved in the disaster in New York. Lee ignored Washigton's orders to bring his force and unite with Washington's remnant, until Lee himself was captured spending a comfortable evening at an inn a few miles away from the camp where his men shivered in the cold. All the Continentals had been enlisted for one year, and their enlistments would expire at the end of the year. The army would be dissolved.

In this extremity Washington knew he must do something to retrieve the situation or the cause was lost. He recrossed the Delaware and captured a Hessian garrison at Trenton. The British were so contemptuous of Washington's little band that they had scattered their force all over New Jersey and were going about terrorizing the population into submission. Washington sent to Philadelphia and insisted he must have hard money - actual coins. The soldiers had not been paid. Washington assembled the army and spoke to the men. At first none responded. Washington spoke again, from the heart. He promised all men who would stay six more weeks $10 in actual money, not worthless Continental paper shinplasters. He assured the men that they had a chance to render such service to their country as they never would have again. In the end, almost all of them did stay. Washington fought another small battle at Princeton, and won, and the British pulled out of New Jersey except for a base at Brunswick, and the Revolution was saved. It never came closer to failure than in those dark days of the autumn of 76.

Answer 3

the low point of the revolutionary war for the continental army was?

Answer 4

The winter of 1777-1778 at a Valley Forge military camp in Pennsylvania, was the lowest point for American fortunes. Food, supplies, and morale were all low.

Answer 5

Valley forge

Answer 6

Right before the Battle of Trenton