Valley Forge sheltered George Washington’s Continental Army during the harsh winter of 1777–1778.
The army established its winter encampment at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania after British forces captured Philadelphia in 1777. The site was roughly 20 miles northwest of the city and offered a defensible position near the Schuylkill River.
The winter brought shortages of food, clothing, shelter, and medical supplies. Many soldiers became ill, and thousands died during the encampment. Despite the hardship, the army remained together rather than dissolving.
Training under the Prussian officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben improved discipline and battlefield readiness. When the army left Valley Forge in June 1778, it was better organized and soon fought the British at the Battle of Monmouth. Valley Forge therefore represents both severe suffering and military transformation.