His soldiers, steadily dwindling in numbers, marked their road to Valley Forge by the blood from their naked feet.

They were destitute and in rags.

When they reached their destination they had no shelter, and it was only by the energy and ingenuity of the General that they were led to build huts, and thus secure a measure of protection against the weather.

There were literally no supplies, and the Board of War failed completely to remedy the evil.

The army was in such straits that it was obliged to seize by force the commonest necessaries.