Washington began to set up his winter encampment at Valley Forge. The soldiers built rows of log cabins and in a short time the Valley Forge Encampment became the second largest city in the United States with the population of 12,000 men. They had a hard winter, because they lacked food, shoes, and clothing and by spring 2,000 soldiers died. Baron Von Steuben was  an important person during this period. He drilled and trained the American troops until they became a much more discipline and determined fighting force.