Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-03-04

Our Strap 8ooh,
Visit to Valley Forge.

VISIT TO valley Forge.
About sixteen miles up the Schuylkill
from Philadelphia, a small stream leaves
the rich and beautiful valley, and winds
its way through asdeep %ravine, between
two mountains, and empties lis clear wa
ter into the river. The mountains are
filled with iron ore, and as the stream
afforded water power, tie old inhabitants
OF. the colony erected at its mouth a mill
and forge, and around them q few houses,
and the place was known as the Valley
Forge"
1t was after the disastrous result ofthe
battles of Brandywine and Germantown,
in which the Americans lost 1000 sold
iers, whom, in their already reduced state,
they could SO poorly spare, that Washing,
ton was forced to give up Philadelphia
to the enemy, lead his dropping and dis
couraged army to this secluded spot,
which the sufferings Of the little band,
while it lay and shivered. there during the
memorable winter of IT, has made i'm
mortal.
We approached the old encampment
by a road leading down a narrow defl
which forms the bed of the stream, and
ascended to the summit where the army
lay, by a rugged pathway which is still
to be traced among the rocks, and were
shown by our guide, as we passed. the
different spots, where the cannon had
been planted to guard the entrance
When We reached the summit we found
it partially covered with trees and un
derwood, yet eighty years had not been
able to destroy the efforts that feeble
band had put forth for self protection
There was still to be seen a ditch and
e~mbankment, which at present is about
three feet high, extending more than t o
miles round the top of the mountain.
AS the more open and unprotected
points are still to be seen in five different
forms, more or less perfect. They were
probably built principally Of logs but
they have long since decayed, and there
forms at present are to be traced only by
piles Of dirt which have been thrown up
to strengthen them. The most perfect
one at present is still about ten feet high,
and probably one hundred feet square,
with q dividing ridge running diagonally
from one corner to the other, forming
two appointments Of equal size, with but
one narrow entrance. 1t all remains
quite perfect, and the walls or banks are
covered with trees,
The tents Of the soldiers were made Of
poles, which seem to have been Il or Is
feet long, built in the form Of o pen, with
dirt thrown upon the outside to keep out
the storm. Their remains are still to be
seen situated in little groups here and
there over the enclosure. While down
neal the old Forge we wers shown an
old stone house, about twenty by thirty
feet. which served as head quarters, in
which Washington lived, surrounded by
his staff, during the winter.
We entered the venerable building
with feelings Of the deepest emotion, and
~exau;aed the room which served the il
lustrious chief as a bed chamber. 1t is
very plain, and the furniture much as nc
had left it. A small rough box, in .
deep window sill, was pointed out as hav-
ing contained MS papers and writing ma
t%erials. The house is occupied by @ fam
lily who take pleasure in showing to yisi
tors the different items Of interest. The.
old cedar singled roof, which protected
the Father Of our Country eighty
years ago. had still sheltered the old
head quarters until a year or two ago,
when it was removed, and its place eccu-
pied by tin.
The graves Of the soldiers are. still to
be seen in distinct clusters over the
ground, but are most numerous in the
northwest division, whore the regiments
from the south CHARTERED, death hay
ing rioted most fearfully among them,
they being less able to endure the severi
ties of a nothern winter.
It was during their encampment here
that the tracks of the soldiers could be
traced by their blood, as they gathered
wood to warn their miserable huts.
And it is here that Washington ia said
to have shed tears like q father, while
beholding the sufferings, when they gath
cred around him and pleaded for bread
and clothing, and he had not the means
to furnish them. Yet, although every
thing seemed 50 d~iscouraging, it was near
here that the " Friend" went home sur
prised, exclaiming, !" The Americans will
conquer yeti The Americans will con.
quer yet for | heard o whisper in the
woods, and I looked and saw their chief
upon his knees, and he was asking God
to help them.p
1t may be great to load a powerful ar,
my on to victory, but surely it was great
er to preserve the shattered remnants of
a discouraged band together, when the
enemy were ~trampliag over .thems when
their Cnnrrasa cnnld do nnthinr fnr