Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge Development Decried

In late 1777, Gen. George Washington and several thousand of his beleaguered troops fled from Philadelphia, which had been taken over by the British, and trudged 20 miles west to nurse their wounds and try to stay warm during the winter.

Besides seeking sanctuary for the winter of 1777-78, Gen. Washington wanted to put his forces between the enemy and the Continental Congress, which had fled 90 miles west to York.