In December of 1777, the 12,000 man army of General George Washington marched into Valley Forge to build a winter encampment. In addition to the soldiers, more than 400 women were in the column. They were not only the wives of senior officers but the wives of soldiers who had followed the army since it was assembled. We learn about these women, as well as others who nursed, cooked, sewed, washed and otherwise helped keep the army together from Nancy K. Loane, author of Following the Drum: Women and the Valley Forge Encampment.