Road to Valley Forge

Road to Valley Forge. . During the American Revolution, General George Washington and the Continental Army camped here at Valley Forge for six months in the winter of 1777-1778. This was the third year of what would be an eight-year war. The British landed at the head of the Chesapeake Bay in summer 1777 and marched north with the intent of capturing Philadelphia, the patriot capital. Although the Continental Army tried valiantly to save the city, their defeats at Brandywine and Germantown sealed its fate., In those days, armies ceased major operations during the winter because of the difficulty of moving on poor roads and of finding food for themselves and forage for horses and draft animals. With the British occupying Philadelphia, General Washington needed a safe place for the army to rest, retrain, and prepare for the war to heat up again. He chose Valley Forge., Why Valley Forge? Location Matters , Just 20 miles from Philadelphia, Valley Forge was close enough to spy on British activities but far enough away to prevent a surprise attack. Washington used this hilly terrain to his advantage, building defensive lines on the ridges overlooking the approach from the city and nestling the camp against the Schuylkill River to prevent attack from the north. From here, he also could protect lands to the north and west, where Congress and thousands of patriot refugees had fled. Valley Forge had abundant fresh water, trees for shelter and firewood, and limited food and forage from farms., Caption: Campaign for Philadelphia in 1777