Why Valley Forge?

Valley Forge lay just 20 miles outside Philadelphia, close enough to monitor British army activities but far enough away to prevent a surprise attack. Washington used the hilly country to advantage by building defensive lines on ridges overlooking Philadelphia to the east and placing the camp against the Schuylkill River to prevent attack from the north. From there he could also protect outlying regions, including York, where the Continental Congress had fled. The area offered abundant fresh water, trees for shelter and firewood, and food and forage from local farms. After landing at the Head of Elk on the Chesapeake Bay, the British army marched north to capture Philadelphia. Although the Continental Army tried valiantly to save the city, losses at Brandywine and Germantown sealed its fate. The move to Valley Forge prevented the British from making inroads into Pennsylvania’s interior, which still held heavy supplies.

Schuylkill, Pennsylvania · United States