Valley Forge
The Continental Army that marched into Valley Forge in December 1777 was broken. The campaign season had ended in defeats at Brandywine and Germantown. The British occupied Philadelphia. Congress had fled. Food was scarce, clothing inadequate, shelter nonexistent. Washington chose Valley Forge for winter quarters - defensible terrain, close enough to watch the British but far enough to avoid surprise attack. Over the following six months, approximately 2,000 soldiers died, mostly from disease. But the army that emerged in June 1778 was transformed. Baron von Steuben had drilled it into a professional force. New supplies had arrived. The French had entered the war as allies. Valley Forge became the crucible where the Revolutionary cause nearly died and instead was reborn.
The Arrival
On December 19, 1777, approximately 12,000 soldiers marched into the Valley Forge encampment. Many were barefoot; some left bloody footprints in the snow. Supplies had broken down after the defeats of fall. Congress couldn't or wouldn't provide adequate food, clothing, or equipment. The men built log huts in the bitter cold, twelve men to a cabin roughly 14 by 16 feet. Officers fared little better. Washington himself lodged in a stone house nearby, sharing the privations when he could. The first task was survival.
The Suffering
The winter of 1777-78 wasn't exceptionally cold, but the army was exceptionally unprepared. Food shortages were severe - Washington wrote of men going days without meat. Disease spread through the crowded, unsanitary camp: typhus, typhoid, pneumonia, and dysentery. The sick had no hospitals; many lay in their huts until they died or recovered. Approximately 2,000 soldiers died over the winter, roughly one in six of those who arrived. Desertion was constant; many men simply walked away. The army that had been 12,000 in December was fewer than 6,000 fit for duty by February.
The Transformation
In February 1778, Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge. A Prussian military officer (his credentials were exaggerated, but his skills were real), von Steuben was given responsibility for training the Continental Army. He started with 100 men, drilling them personally in European military techniques: how to march, how to load faster, how to use bayonets, how to maneuver as a unit. He worked dawn to dusk, cursing in German and French when English failed him. By spring, the entire army had been trained to his standards. The ragged militia that had arrived at Valley Forge became a professional army that could face British regulars on equal terms.
The Alliance
While the army suffered and trained, diplomacy succeeded. On February 6, 1778, France signed treaties of alliance and commerce with the United States, recognizing American independence and committing to military support. The news reached Valley Forge in May, celebrated with artillery salutes and parade. The French alliance changed everything - Britain now faced a European war alongside the American rebellion. When the British evacuated Philadelphia in June to concentrate forces against the French threat, Washington's army pursued. At the Battle of Monmouth, the newly trained Continentals fought the British to a standstill. Valley Forge had done its work.
Visiting Valley Forge
Valley Forge National Historical Park is located 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The park preserves the encampment site, with reconstructed log huts showing how soldiers lived. Key sites include Washington's Headquarters (Isaac Potts House), the Memorial Arch, the National Memorial Chapel, and the parade ground where von Steuben drilled his troops. A driving tour with audio guide connects major sites; hiking and biking trails cover 26 miles. The visitor center provides orientation through exhibits and a film. The Valley Forge area is now suburban Philadelphia - the contrast between the manicured park and surrounding development underscores how thoroughly the region has changed. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is 25 miles southeast. Allow half a day; longer for hiking.
From the Air
Located at 40.10°N, 75.44°W in Chester County, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia. From altitude, Valley Forge National Historical Park appears as a preserved green space amid suburban development, with the Schuylkill River along its northern edge. Reconstructed huts are visible as small structures dotted across the landscape. The surrounding area is heavily developed; the park's boundaries are clearly defined.