Women in Camp
Although we often hear about the men who served at Valley Forge, women and children were also present. Women especially played an important role in the encampment.
Throughout the American Revolution, women traveled with the army to be with their husbands, and they contributed actively to the cause. The women at Valley Forge included hundreds of enlisted men's wives who followed the army year round, and some general officers' wives on extended visits. The army compensated full-time women followers for rendering such valuable services as sewing, laundering, and nursing.
In addition to women, the camp included enslaved African Americans, who enlisted with both the British and Continental armies in the hopes of earning liberty and wages. American Indians were also at the camp-- members of the Oneida nation played a significant role at Valley Forge, offering items for trade, aid, and a contingent of warriors.
Martha Washington
The Women Present
at Valley Forge
.jpg "Image of Powder Horn")
