Any Valley Forge tour is going to be focused on the time George Washington and the Continental Army spent there during the American Revolution. When the American rebels arrived at Valley Forge in December 1777, they were tired, hungry, and demoralized, having just suffered a disastrous defeat at the critical Battle of Brandywine. Completely cut off from Philadelphia, the fledgling nation’s then-capital, the Continental Army seemed to be on the brink of total defeat.
However, by the time they left Valley Forge in June 1778, Washington had transformed the army into a properly trained and organized fighting force capable of going toe-to-toe with the British. This would prove to be a key turning point in the war, as well as one of George Washington’s finest achievements as a leader.
As the rebels settled in for a bitterly cold winter at Valley Forge, Washington had two primary concerns. The first was supplies, as the British held control over most of the area surrounding the encampment. Of the 12,000 men Washington led to Valley Forge, between 1,700 and 2,000 died of disease and malnutrition before leadership, including newly assigned quartermaster Nathaniel Greene, was able to find alternative ways of supplying the men with food and clothing. Washington’s other concern was training.
Most of the rank-and-file serving in the Continental Army were local militiamen, not professional soldiers, so their lack of training and discipline made them easy prey for the hardened British troops. For help, Washington turned to Prussian expatriate Baron von Steuben, an experienced military officer. Von Steuben, who many historians believe to have been an openly gay man, struggled to find employment in Europe and offered his services to the American revolutionary movement. Over a few short months, Baron von Steuben completely overhauled the Continental Army’s training and organizational scheme, transforming it into a European-style army that could face the British head-on.
To learn more about this pivotal moment in American history, check out our Valley Forge Self-Guided Driving Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 160+ tours for a single yearly price.
