Last visited: 8/23
More information can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/valley-forge-history-and-significance.htm
Cost: Free!
What makes Valley Forge cool? Well, for one it is the over wintering site of Washington and his troops during 1777-1778. While the British were occupying Philadelphia, only about a day's march away, Washington and his kick ass force bedded down and started to train approximately 12,000 men to become part of the army that would defeat the British and gain us our independence. Along with these men, about 400 women and children, mostly families of these soldiers (and a couple floozies) , and including Martha Washington, joined to form the fourth largest city in America at that time. Think about that.
The romanticized version of this states that the men were underfed, under clothed, and had to endure one of the worst winters of all time. Which, according to the National Park Service, isn't quite true. There was a beef shortage in February, which made men go without beef for a couple days, but for the most part food was not in short supply. Most men had full uniforms, but in March the army listed only about 3,000 men fit for duty based on their clothing. Those that had full uniforms, and could weather the...well, weather, took lead on procuring staples for the rest. Log cabins were built for enlisted and lower ranking soldiers' shelter (re-enactments can be see on property) sleeping up to 12 a cabin. Latrines were mandated, and failure to use them accrued consequences. Dysentery was not your friend in this circumstance, if it ever can be considered one.
This is merely one story of a long tail that stretched over 8 1/2 years of fighting for our independence. Visiting today it is hard to imagine what it was like in and around 1777. Today the park is used by many for running, biking and dog walking. It is peaceful and quiet despite being so close to Philadelphia.
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