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The winter of 1777-78 was the low point of America 's struggle for independence. General Washington led his weary and demoralized army to Valley Forge a few miles away where they would camp for the winter and prepare for battle with the return of warm weather. An estimated 2,000 died. Under Washington's inspired leadership, conditions improved: more food, equipment and new recruits reached the camp lifting spirits. He read the troops the Crisis, by Thomas Paine, which also helped to inspire them. Most importantly, the training efforts of Baron von Steuben increased discipline and reinvigorated pride among the troops. What had been a ragtag and undisciplined collection of individuals became a cohesive fighting force. On June 19, 1778 the British abandoned Philadelphia and marched back to New York City. Washington led his Continental Army in pursuit. The subsequent battle at Monmouth, New Jersey ended in a draw. The War for Independence would last another five years, but a major victory of the spirit had been won during the winter at Valley Forge.
That war kasted for seven years. In the span of seven years it was hot/cold, wet/dry, sunny/snowy.
They couldn't understand how they could possibly lose. The colonists didn't have the military training that the British had. They were not well armed and had no uniforms. How could such a ragtag bunch of men defeat one of the most powerful armies in the world?
I can whip this ragtag crew into shape pretty quickly. The ragtag band impressed all who were present.
One definition is: A ragtag army is a disreputable or disorganized group.
Francis Marion, the swamp fox, was important because once Charleston was captured he fought the British single handedly till more rebels could come. He and his ragtag militia used guerrilla warfare tactics to harass the British and destroy communication and supply lines. He is the reason Americans did not lose the south.
There is no anagram. The letters can spell "this gag arm" or "ragtag shim."
I assume the phrase refers to the Colonial army. As the war progressed the army became better trained and somewhat better equipped, but perhaps "ragtag" still applied. They were certainly a band of rebels.
His novel is a ragtag, piecemeal work.
We must unite our ragtag forces if we are to succeed against the imperialist army!
This was because at that time, the colonies had no professional full-time army to do battle; it was made up of civilian volunteers, most farmers and uneducated.
airbag, beflag, defrag, gasbag, jetlag, kitbag, padnag, ragbag, ragtag, reflag, seabag, stalag, tagrag, unsnag, wigwag, zigzag
disorderly, disordered, unorganized, jumbled, muddled, untidy, messy, chaotic, topsy-turvy, haphazard, ragtag, shambolic, unmethodical, unsystematic, undisciplined, inefficient, careless, slapdash, sloppy, hit-and-miss.
This quote from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" refers to a person ruined or diminished in power and influence. It suggests a figure who was once powerful but has since been reduced to a fragmented, insignificant state.