The army that entered camp on December 19, 1777 was weak, poorly supplied, and ill. They were reeling from defeats at Brandywine and Germantown[?]. The British had occupied Philadelphia.
The departed on June 19, 1778 to again pursue the British forces across New Jersey. The Battle of Monmouth, a needed victory for the main army, was only days away.
wikipedia.org dumped 2003-03-17 with terodump