After a series of defeat and the loss of Philadelphia, General George Washington ordered the Continental Army into encampment at Valley Forge on 19 December 1777. What began as another difficult winter resulted in a revitalized army that was put to test during the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778. Washington’s strategic leadership drove this transformation, with support of Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene’s organizational attributes and Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben’s training regimen. Although the Battle of Monmouth ended in a draw, the Continental Army demonstrated a new level of discipline and resilience resulting from its transformation at Valley Forge. Strategically, Monmouth proved that Washington’s army could stand its ground British regulars in open-field combat. The battle also highlighted themes of army reform, leadership under pressure, and the evolving professionalism of the American forces.
Trail author: Dr. Stephen G. Harlan
