Upper Merion Township near King of Prussia in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Winter Encampment
December 19, 1777 – June 19, 1778
When the Continental Army wintered here, every acre was heavily used – for entrenchments, stock pens, an artillery park, and parade grounds. Fields turned to mud. Within decades after the war, the scene had returned to woodlots and farmland. The tour route circles the encampment, now marked by earthworks and monuments.
Erected by Valley Forge National Historical Park, National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Military • Notable Places • War, US Revolutionary.
Location. 40° 5.827′ N, 75° 25.516′ W. Marker is near King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County. It is in Upper Merion Township. Marker is on North Outer Line Drive, on the left when traveling east. Marker is in Valley Forge National Historical Park on the auto tour road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wayne PA 19087, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. An Essential Position on the Front Line (a few steps from this marker); Greene’s Division (within shouting distance of this marker); Road to Valley Forge (within shouting distance of this marker); Log City (within shouting distance of this marker); A City of Huts (within shouting distance of this marker); Soldiers’ Huts (within shouting distance of this marker); Transformation of the American Army (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Greene’s Division (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in King of Prussia.
More about this marker. The marker features a map of the Valley Forge encampment. Another map of the Outer Line Defenses appears on the upper right of the marker, with the caption “A natural triangle of defense: the Schuylkill River, Mount Joy, and the ridge with the Outer Line earthworks. This map was sketched by Brig. Gen. Louis Lebeque Duportail, Chief Engineer of the Continental Army. Duportail was one of several French officers who volunteered to help the patriot cause.”
The bottom right of the marker features a picture of soldiers digging entrenchments. It has a caption of “Extending into the distance, an almost continuous line of earthworks formed the Outer Line Defenses. If the British attacked from the south, they would have had to climb this open slope, while Americans fired from high ground. Assaults never materialized.”
Also see . . . Valley Forge National Historical Park. National Park Service. (Submitted on July 5, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,177 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 5, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 2, 3. submitted on March 20, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on July 5, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.