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Valley Forge was the winter headquarters of George Washington and the Continental Army in 1777–1778, where they faced supply shortages, disease, and British raids. Learn about the history, significance, and preservation of this national historic site and park.
- December 19, 1777-June 19, 1778
- Battle of Valley Forge
- Where Is Valley Forge?
- Winter at Valley Forge
- Life at Valley Forge
- Disease at Valley Forge
- Baron Von Steuben at Valley Forge
- Battle of Monmouth
- Sources
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
On September 18, 1777, General Wilhelm von Knyphausen led British soldiers on a raid of Valley Forge, where American troops had built a handful of storage facilities. Defending the site were Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamiltonand Captain Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee. The British succeeded in stealing supplies and burning a few buildings. This mi...
Washington and his weary troops occupied Valley Forge, located in eastern Pennsylvania along the banks of the Schuylkill River some 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, six days before Christmas in 1777. The men were hungry and tired after a string of losing battles that had resulted in the British capture of the patriot capital, Philadelphia, earli...
Within days of arriving at Valley Forge, troops constructed 1,500 to 2,000 log huts in parallel lines that would house 12,000 soldiers and 400 women and children throughout the winter. Washington directed that each hut measure approximately 14 feet by 16 feet. Sometimes the soldiers’ families joined them in the space as well. Soldiers were instruct...
Popular images of life at Valley Forge depict tremendous suffering from cold and starvation. While it was cold, the National Park Service says there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary about the conditions at Valley Forge, characterizing the hardship as “suffering as usual" since the typical Continental soldier experienced a perpetual state of hard...
Cold and starvation at Valley Forgewere not even the most dangerous threats: diseases proved to be the biggest killer. By the end of the six-month encampment, some 2,000 men—roughly one in six—died of disease. Camp records indicate that two-thirds of the deaths happened during the warmer months of March, April and May when soldiers were less confin...
Despite the harsh conditions, Valley Forge is sometimes called the birthplace of the American army because, by June of 1778, the weary troops emerged with a rejuvenated spirit and confidence as a well-trained fighting force. Much of the credit goes to former Prussian military officer Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben. At the time, the Prussian Ar...
The British soon tested the Continental Army’s newfound discipline at the Battle of Monmouth, which took place in central New Jersey on June 28, 1778. While many historians consider the Battle of Monmouth a tactical draw, the Continental Army fought for the first time as a cohesive unit, showing a new level of confidence. The Americans used artille...
What Happened at Valley Forge. National Park Service. "The Prussian Nobleman Who Helped Save the American Revolution," by Erick Trickey, April 26, 2017. Smithsonian Magazine. Letter From George Washington to Henry Laurens, December 23, 1777. National Archives. 10 Facts: Valley Forge. American Battlefield Trust. Monmouth. American Battlefield Trust.
Learn about the six-month encampment of George Washington's Continental Army at Valley Forge in 1777-1778, where they faced harsh conditions, disease and British raids. Discover how the army transformed under the leadership of Prussian officer Baron von Steuben and fought back at the Battle of Monmouth.
6 days ago · The park features 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, and monuments commemorating the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation and honoring the power of people to pull together and overcome adversity during extraordinary times.
Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army led by General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War.
Aug 24, 2023 · Valley Forge National Historical Park is open year-round, has no entrance fees, and welcomes around two million visitors each year. Historic buildings, statues and monuments, and 35 miles of trails can be found in this beautiful 3,500-acre landscape. Let us help you plan your visit!
Valley Forge, in the American Revolution, Pennsylvania encampment grounds of the Continental Army under General George Washington from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778, a period that marked the triumph of morale and military discipline over severe hardship. Learn more about Valley Forge.
May 23, 2024 · Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army from 19 December 1777 until 18 June 1778, during one of the most difficult winters of the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783).
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