George Washington’s Continental Army occupied Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778.
Valley Forge was a military encampment in Pennsylvania, about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Washington selected the location after British forces captured Philadelphia in September 1777. The army arrived in December and remained until June 1778, using the site to monitor British movements and protect important approaches.
The winter became famous for shortages, disease, poor shelter, and difficult supply conditions. The army suffered thousands of deaths, though later popular accounts sometimes exaggerate the scale and attribute every hardship to a single cause. Soldiers built log huts and endured severe cold while the Continental Congress struggled to provide supplies.
The encampment also became a major training ground. Prussian officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben helped standardize drills, discipline, and battlefield procedures. When the army left Valley Forge, it was more organized and prepared for sustained campaigning.