Valley Forge was the site of the military camp of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777–1778, in the American Revolutionary War. Nathanael Greene, George Washington's quartermaster general, named Valley Forge in his General Orders" from May 12, 1778. Valley Forge is located approximately 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Philadelphia. It is the site of the Valley Forge National Historical Park which preserves the site and interprets the history of the Valley Forge encampment."