At Valley Forge, Americans Spent The Winter Of 1777–1778

Valley Forge was the third of eight winter encampments for the main body of the Continental Army, commanded by General George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. In September 1777, as Philadelphia was being taken over by the British, Congress fled the city. After failing to retake Philadelphia, Washington's 12,000-man army spent the winter in Valley Forge, which is located about 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Philadelphia. They stayed there for six months, from December 19, 1777, until June 19, 1778. At Valley Forge, the Continentals battled a serious supply shortage while reorganizing and retraining their regiments. The number of soldiers who died from illness, which may have been exacerbated by malnutrition, ranged between 1,700 and 2,000.

Washington met with his officers to decide which location would be best for his troops. Around 12,000 soldiers, craftspeople, women, and kids made up the Continental Army that marched into Valley Forge. Patriot leaders and legislators struggled to feed a populace the size of a colonial city over the whole winter. More than 1,000 soldiers and maybe as many as 1,500 horses perished that winter due to famine and sickness. The men experienced constant, agonizing cold and hunger. The Continental Army had trouble keeping things clean. The encampment's unsanitary environment led to the outbreak of scabies and other, more deadly diseases. Water for bathing, washing, and cooking was scarce in the army. Dead horse carcasses were frequently left unburied, and Washington disliked the scent in some spots.