Valley Forge

Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, during the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The encampment, located in eastern Pennsylvania along the Schuylkill River, lasted approximately six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. Three months prior to the encampment at Valley Forge, in September 1777, the Second Continental Congress was forced to flee the revolutionary capital of Philadelphia ahead of an imminent British attack on the city following Washington's defeat in the Battle of Brandywine, a decisive British victory that contributed to the British Army's goal of capturing Philadelphia. Unable to defend Philadelphia, Washington led his 12,000-man army into winter quarters at Valley Forge, located approximately 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Philadelphia. At Valley Forge, the Continental Army struggled to manage a disastrous supply crisis while simultaneously retraining and reorganizing their units in an effort to mount successful counterattacks against the British. During the encampment at Valley Forge, an estimated 1,700 to 2,000 soldiers died from disease, possibly exacerbated by malnutrition and cold, wet weather. In 1976, in recognition of the enormous historical significance of Valley Forge in American history, Valley Forge National Historical Park was established and named a national historic site, which protects and preserves nearly 3,600 acres (1,500 ha) of the original Valley Forge encampment site. The park is a popular tourist destination, drawing nearly 2 million visitors each year.