American Revolution: Arrival at Valley Forge

December 19, 1777 - Bruised and battered, General George Washington's Continental Army arrives at Valley Forge, PA to begin their winter encampment. Following the disasterous 1777 campaign, Washington's army retreated to Valley Forge approximately 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia. From this location they remained in a position to observe the British in the city while also preventing them from raiding deeper into Pennsylvania. Within days of entering camp the snow started to fall beginning a winter of starvation and privation. Suffering from the bitter cold and meager rations, the 12,000 men of the Continental Army were also plagued by disease. While at Valley Forge an intense program of drilling and military training was begun under the watchful eye of Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. This transformed the Continental Army into the effective military force that fought at the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Yorktown. After six months of misery, the army departed Valley Forge on June 19, 1778, in pursuit of the British who were withdrawing to New York.

Photograph Courtesy of the National Park Service