George Washington’s Continental Army remained encamped at Valley Forge for six months.
The army entered the Pennsylvania encampment on December 19, 1777, and departed on June 19, 1778. Valley Forge was about 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia, which British forces had occupied during the Philadelphia campaign. Washington chose the site because its elevated position offered strategic advantages and helped protect the countryside.
Approximately 12,000 people, including soldiers, artisans, women, and children, spent the winter there. The encampment faced severe shortages of food, clothing, and other supplies because the Continental Army’s logistics system had broken down. Nearly 2,000 soldiers died from starvation and disease during the winter.
Valley Forge is often remembered mainly as a symbol of hardship, but it also became an important training center. The Prussian officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben helped standardize drills and discipline. When the army left in June, it was better organized and soon fought the Battle of Monmouth.