Washington and Lafayette at Valley Forge. After the Battle of Black Hill, Washington lead his troops to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for the winter, 1777-1778. With limited resources and difficult weather the soldiers of the Continental Army suffered greatly during the six months at Valley Forge. 2,500 men died that winter from sickness and diseases such as typhoid, jaundice, dysentery and pneumonia. In June of 1778 the army marched north in pursuit of the Britishs who were moving toward New York.