US HISTORY-VALLEY FORGE, PA. NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Valley Forge,Pa. was the site of the 1777-1778 Winter Encampment of the Continental Army from December 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778 and is one of the Most Sacred Spots in American History.

George Macaulay Trevelyan (1876-1962) a noted English Historian, has declared in his writings that "VALLEY FORGE is the MOST FAMOUS MILITARY CAMP in the WORLD".

Valley Forge National Historical Park is now in the (U.S. National Park Service) under the ( U.S. Department of the Interior). Valley Forge was Pennsylvania's first State Park, established in 1893. President Gerald R. Ford, while visiting Valley Forge State Park in 1976, on the occasion of the Bicentennial Year of the Declaration of Independence, accepted from Pennsylvania the transfer of Valley Forge State Park into the National Park System as ( Valley Forge National Historical Park ).

Valley Forge is located in King fo Prussia, Pennsylvania, 19406, 1400 North Outer Line Drive.

The National Memorial Arch was authorized by an Act of Congress on June 25, 1910, and erected in honor of the officers and private soldiers of the Continental Army. THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARCH, was designed by Paul P. Cret, and the monument was erected with Federal Appropriation on the grounds of Valley Forge, Pa. Inscribed on the very top of the arch is George Washington's widely quoted praise of the soldiery, written at Valley Forge,Pa., February 16, 1778: and reads: " Naked and starving as they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery"

The AMERICAN REVOLUTION began on April 19, 1775 in Lexington, Massachusetts, when a small band of colonists under Captain John Parker engaged the British Army under the command of Major John Pitcairn. Major John Pitcairn then moved on to Concord, Massachusetts, where he destroyed much of the military stores. On June 17, 1775, the battle of BUNKER HILL, in Massachusetts,was fought. It was very evident after the battle at Bunker Hill that the 13 original colonies were determined to resist the British, regardless of the price.

The 13 Original Colonies were as follows: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. On June 15, 1775, the Continental Congress appointed George Washington as COMMANDER-IN -CHIEF of the American forces. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania issued the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, formally announcing separation from Great Britain.

After defeating Cornwallis on Christmas night at Trenton, New Jersey, in a surprise attack, George Washington then moved on to Princeton, New Jersey and again defeated the British Army. The American Army then suffered a series of defeats which lead George Washington to take his troops to "VALLEY FORGE, Pa. for the WINTER ENCAMPMENT of the CONTINENTAL ARMY.

George Washington brought about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pa.. Washington's troops were the Most Racially Integrated of any army our country fielded up to the Vietnam War. An estimated 5000 soldiers of African decent served in the continental army. Native Americans also played a role in the continental army. Members of the Oneida Indian Nation in particular, had a crucial impact during the Valley Forge encampment.

Over 3000 soldiers died during the six months of encampment, mostly from sickness and starvation. On June 19, 1778 the Continental Army evacuated camp at Valley Forge, Pa with 10,000 men who were well trained by General Friedrich Baron Von Steuben, the drillmaster.

In the summer of 1778 land forces from France arrived to aid the Continental Army and assisted in defeating Cornwallis at Yorktown. Cornwallis' surrendered on October 19, 1781. The surrender of Cornwallis, ended the AMERICAN REVOLUTION. The treaty of piece was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783.