The complete overhaul of Continental Army tactics at Valley Forge saved the Revolution

The mythical image of the musket-wielding Minuteman employing Indian-fighting techniques to devastate the squared ranks of Redcoats that most of us see today is unfortunately just a fictitious fancy. Prior to Valley Forge, the American soldiers had a tendency to cut and run at the first glint of a British bayonet charge. It was only after the Prussian soldier of fortune Baron Friedrich von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge to completely overhaul the Continental Army through a series of intense, non-stop drilling and training exercises that the American Army became a match for the military might of the British Empire.

Baron von Steuben (September 17, 1730 – November 28, 1794; full name: Friedrich Wilhelm August Heinrich Ferdinand von Steuben), was a Prussian military officer who played a leading role in the American Revolutionary War by reforming the Continental Army into a disciplined and professional fighting force. His contributions marked a significant improvement in the performance of US troops, and he is subsequently regarded as one of the fathers of the United States Army. Thanks to his dedication at Valley Forge, the American Army was physically and mentally prepared to take part in the fights against the British Empire and gain many victories for the American side, which contributed greatly to the victory of the American Revolutionary War.