President's Day Reflection on the Starvation of George Washington & His Troops

The story of George Washington and his troops surviving for 12 days at Valley Forge on Slippery Elm bark is detailed on numerous websites but with no reference to the origin of this dramatic account. The National Geographic’s Guide to Medicinal Herbs, reiterates what is presented on numerous websites dedicated to the use of herbs for pets and humans: George Washington and his troops ate slippery elm porridge for 12 days during the American Revolution. 

Another account describes the incident vaguely and suggests the eating of bark as desperation at Morristown:

"Washington noted that the soldiers sometimes went “5 or Six days together without bread, at other times as many days without meat, and once or twice two or three days without either.” According to some sources, soldiers were so desperate for food that they ate tree bark, leather from old shoes, or even dogs, a situation made worse by the fact that Morristown was located amidst numerous local farms."

That referenced letter was auctioned off in 2019 for $14,000. 

"Dated "Morris town Feby 20, 1780", and signed by George Washington as "Go. Washington""

Slippery Elm bark is often referred as "emergency food" because the substance beneath the bark can be eaten, as they did 200 years ago. Mother Earth News explains:

"When dried and ground into a coarse meal, the sweetly fragrant and creamy white or pinkish inner bark of the slippery elm can be boiled into a porridge that looks and tastes very much like oatmeal."

Although, no commercial source has surfaced for slippery elm porridge, even as beneficial as it might be for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Disease.   The wood of the tree has no commercial use and careless removal of the bark will destroy the tree, which has happened to the extent some are working to protect the trees from unsystematic cultivation.

 The Slippery Elm tree easily grows in Canada and 38 of the States in America; but is not naturally found in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. 

While there is a debate over the Elm Tree commemorating where Washington took command of the American army 7/3/1775 there is no doubt of the consumption of tree bark, Slippery Elm, by soldiers at a pivotal point of history in that winter of 1780.

California has no museums or artifacts associated with either of the Presidents most associated with President's Day, Washington and Lincoln.  There are two Presidential libraries in Southern California, which offer incredible historical documents for public viewing. The ease of repeating a story, with no reference to its origin, is cause for greater protection of historical documents and the museums which house them. 

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum https://www.reaganlibrary.gov

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum  https://www.nixonlibrary.gov

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