Session One: There is But One Option for the Winter—Valley Forge—Why did the Continental Army encamp its main force at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778? What was the impact of the choice of this physical location on the army? Rather than focusing on what transpired during the winter and the hardships faced by the army, these questions will be examined revealing a complex set of social, political, economic, and strategic factors dictating that Valley Forge would be the only viable option for the army’s encampment at that time. This geographic choice proved to be of great value to the patriot cause from strategic military and foreign policy perspectives.
Session Two: Naked and Starving as They Are—The Experience of the Continental Army During the Valley Forge Encampment—What was the actual experience of the Continental Army during the winter encampment at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–1778? How was the army that departed Valley Forge in June of 1778 different from the one that arrived there in December of 1777? The physical and the mental hardships endured by the Continental Army during the Valley Forge winter will be examined. The efforts undertaken to supply, care for, and train the army during its six-month encampment will be detailed in order to demonstrate how the Continental Army was transformed into a professional fighting force in a European sense. Care will be taken to examine the diverse constitution of the army during this time period.