Documents and Publications

Valley Forge National Historical Park is in the process of converting documents and reports into digital formats. When possible, we make these documents available to the public. Below are a sampling of documents and NPS reports. You can also find more than 100 digitized documents relating to Valley Forge National Historical Park by searching the National Park Service's Electronic Technical Information Center.

The Valley Forge Report

The Valley Forge Report is an extensive, three volume NPS document about the Valley Forge Encampment. When Valley Forge became a National Historical Park, the North East Region employed five historians to compile the data for this report. This report is still used today by rangers at the park.

• Vol I. The Vortex of Small Fortune: The Continental Army at Valley Forge, 1777-1778 - An in depth review of the events of the Philadelphia Campaign and the Valley Forge encampment.

• Vol II. This Fatal Crisis: Logistics and the Continental Army at Valley Forge, 1777-1778 (PDF 21.19 MB) - Information about the commissary, clothier department, and military stores at Valley Forge.

• Vol III. In the True Rustic Order: Historic Resource Study and Historical Base Maps of the Valley Forge Encampment, 1777-1778 - A study including information about historical maps used to define the encampment, troop strength of brigades, and historic structured used during the encampment.

March-In Readings

Participating in the March-In event? Check out these readings below. Included you will find accounts of the Dec. 19, 1777 March-In, as well as primary documents illustrating some of the responsibilities and duties to be demonstrated by park interpreters.

• Readings for All Participants (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Primary Sources for Brigade Sutlers (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Primary Sources for Regimental Tailors (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Primary Sources for Sentries, Women Passing & Repassing (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Primary Sources for Tour Guides (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Primary Sources on Brush Huts and Hurdled Wedge Tents (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Primary Sources on Fortifications (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Readings for Flying Hospital Interpreters (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Readings for "Washwomen on the Strength" (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

• Readings on Hut Construction (updated Nov. 26, 2019)

Other Documents

• They Passed This Way (PDF 8.2 MB) - An account of the many long forgotten marches and fatigues of the Continental Army from the Battle of Brandywine to the winter encampment at Valley Forge.

• Training the Army (PDF 11 KB) - A brief description of the Steuben drill including the musket firing drill.
• The Philadelphia Campaign- A map of the locations of the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777.

• Valley Forge: Making and Remaking a National Symbol (Online Text) - In this lively book, Lorett Treese shows how Valley Forge evolved into the tourist mecca that it is today. In the process, she uses Valley Forge as a means for understanding how Americans view their own past.

• Administrative History of Valley Forge National Historical Park (PDF 9.4 MB) - An official National Park Service history of the park by Harlan Unrau.

• Valley Forge Quick Facts (PDF 190 KB) - A brief description of the Valley Forge Encampment.

• Continental Army Garrisons and Expeditions (PDF 489 KB)- A map of the Continental Army's Garrisons and Military Expeditions during the Valley Forge Encampment.

• Hospitals & Supply Centers During the Valley Forge Encampment (PDB 319 KB)- A map of the Continental Army's Hospitals and Supply Centers.

• Military Engagements During the Valley Forge Encampment (PDF 480 KB)- A map of the Military Engagements During the Valley Forge Encampment.

• Duportail and Brigade Locations (PDF 382 KB)- A map of the locations of the Brigades and Fortifications During the Valley Forge Encampment.