The Continental Army at Valley Forge

In the winter of 1778 George Washington led his troops which were like down because all the defeats and the battles lost, to Valley Forge. there he planed to camp during winter, and prepare for the battle with the return of the warmth weather. Since the British entered Philadelphia now, the Washington forces wanted to take out the British out of their main city.


The conditions in the camp were not the best, they were living in crowded quarters, and the 12,000 members of Washington's army were suffering from having not the adequate clothing and food.  Abut 2,000 died and the army of George Washington was disintegrating. However as time passed a transformation occurred, under Washington's leadership conditions improved, and new helps reached the camp lifting spirit. Baron Von Steuben helped the army a lot by discipline the troops, he was a member of the General Staff of the Prussian army. Steuben arrived in camp in February with a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin whom he had met in Paris

Washington assigned Van Steuben to train his army, which helped the army bring confidence with all the schooling that Steuben taught.

Out of this terrible winter emerged a new Army, confident and ready to do battle. On June 19, 1778 the British abandoned Philadelphia and marched back to New York City. Washington led his Continental Army in pursuit. w. The War for Independence would last another five years, but a major victory of the spirit had been won during the winter at Valley Forge.