Continental Army enters winter camp at Valley Forge
With the onset of the bitter winter cold the Continental Army under General George Washington still in the field enters its winter camp at Valley Forge 22 miles from British-occupied Philadelphia.Washington chose a site on the west bank of the Schuylkill River that could be effectively defended in the event of a British attack.During 1777 Patriot forces under General Washington suffered major defeats against the British at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown Philadelphia the capital of the United States fell into British hands.The particularly severe winter of 1777-1778 proved to be a great trial for the American army and of the 11000 soldiers stationed at Valley Forge hundreds died from disease.
However the suffering troops were held together by loyalty to the Patriot cause and to General Washington who stayed with his men.As the winter stretched on Prussian military adviser Frederick von Steuben kept the soldiers busy with drills and training in modern military strategy.When Washingtons army marched out of Valley Forge on June 19 1778 the men were better disciplined and stronger in spirit than when they had entered.Nine days later they won a victory against the British under Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey.
