Valley Forge served as the winter encampment for the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War.
The encampment lasted 6 months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778.
During this period, the army faced severe hardships, including disease and starvation, yet it also became a site for preparation and training for future military engagements.
The winter encampment saw approximately 12,000 soldiers, along with women and children, constructing 2,000 log huts and two miles of defenses.
Over the course of the winter, thousands of troops died from disease and starvation.
This period is often characterized as a pivotal moment for American perseverance and resolve.
Valley Forge was a transformative turning point for the army, where it was disciplined and strengthened.
Valley Forge is often mythologized as a turning point where the Continental Army transformed from a disorganized group into a disciplined fighting force, which then deployed new skills at the Battle of Monmouth.
The army emerged from Valley Forge with ordered ranks, revived spirit, and fighting skill, indicating a tremendous transformation during the harsh conditions.
Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian military officer, provided important training, teaching soldiers how to use bayonets and re-form lines quickly in battle.
Valley Forge was not the darkest hour of the Revolutionary War, but a place where an already accomplished group of professionals honed their craft and thwarted a major British offensive.
