...shington's army encamped at Whitemarsh, in a beautiful valley about 14 miles from Philadelphia, where he remained until Dec. 11, 1777, and proceeded with his half-clad, half-bare- footed soldiers to Valley Forge , about 20 miles northward from Philadelphia. These numbered about 11,000 men, of whom not more than 7,000 were fit for field duty. The place was chosen because it was farther from the danger ...