Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge, John Ward Dunsmore

With the winter of 1777 approaching, Washington sought winter quarters for his bedraggled troops. He selected Valley Forge, located 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The location was considered the easiest to defend. The area was named for an iron forge on Valley Creek. The Pennsylvania encampment was occupied by the American army from December, 1777, to June, 1778.

Lafayette was a junior officer in the French army when in 1777, he defied his family and the orders of King Louis XVI and sailed to the American colonies. He volunteered to serve in the American army at his own expense and at the age of 20, received the rank of Major General from the Congress. In December, 1777, Lafayette received command of the Virginia light infantry. Despite his youth, he served with distinction in many campaigns that culminated in his leading his brigade against the British at Yorktown. He gained the trust and confidence of Washington, with whom he remained good friends after the Revolution.

In February of 1778, Baron von Steuben arrived with a letter of introduction from Benjamin Franklin. von Steuben had served on the General Staff of Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, and was skilled in training and drilling the soldiers to establish discipline and confidence in themselves and their ability to be victorious against the professional British soldiers.

The winter was very difficult and harsh and there was a general shortage of all the necessary supplies to keep an army going. Short of food, clothing, and supplies, they hung on and embraced the von Steuben training and believed in the leadership of Commander-in-Chief George Washington.

On June 19, 1778, the Continental Army under the command of General George Washington marched away from Valley Forge and fought the British to a standstill just nine days later at the Battle of Monmouth.

Medium : 1 photomechanical print : halftone, color

Created/Published : John Ward Dunsmore. c1907