The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-20
Visit to Valley Forge: 9

About sixteen miles up the S.huyIkilf from Philadel.
ph'a, a small stream leaves the rich and beautiful val.
ley OF Chester, and winds its way through Il deep ravine
between two mountains, and empties lis clear water i into.
the river. The mountains are filled with iron ore, and
as the stream afforded water power, tire old inhabitants
OF the colony erected at it's mtuth IA mill and forge, and
'roundsthrn a few houses, and the place was known as
the : Valley Forge 4uIt g.. 'ses.
1T was after the disastrous results OF, the battles of
Brand wine and Germantown, in which the Americans
lost 1000 soldiers, whom in their already reduced state
they couldso poorly spare, that Washington was forced
TO give up Philadelphia to the emmy, and lead his
dropping and discouraged army to. this secluded spot,
which the suferings of that little band, while it lay aud
shivprcd there during the memorable winter Of &c, has
made immortal. A2 - 0H ia.
We approached the old encampment by a road lead
ing down il narrow deile which forms the bed of the
stream, and assembled to the summit where the army
lay, by a rugged pathway which is still to be traced
imong the rocks, an we're shown by our guide, us we
passed the different spots, where the cannon had been
painted to guard the entrance. When we rearhed the
summit We found it partially covered with trees and
underwood, yet eighty years had not been able 10 de-.
stroy the efforts that feeble band had put forth for self.
protection. There was still to be seen a ditch and en-
b%ankment, which at present is about three feet high.
extending more than two miles around the top of the
mountain. .t. +. i
Ut the more open and unprotected points are still tn
ne seen five different forts Of different forms. more or
NFH I"IfCct. IHtJ were pIODHDly bullt nrInclpalty OF
logs, bat they bave long since deca yed, an their forms
At present arc to be traced only by piles of dirt which
bad 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 Il dividing ridge
running diagonaliy from one corner to the other, form
ing two apartments Of equal size, with but vne narrow
entrance 1t all remains quite perfect, and the walls or
banks are covered with trees. The tents of the soldiers
wcr made of poles, which seem to have twelve or fifteen
feet long, built in the form of a pen, with dirt thrown
up on the outside to keep out the storm. Their re-
inalus are still to be seen. situated in little groups here
and there over the Enclosure. While down near the
old Forge we were shown an old stone house. about 20
by ~ feet, which served as head quarters, IN which
Washington lived, surrounded by his staff, during the
winter. 4 ers e4i. "a .s. leee -E wi.
We entered the venerable building with feelings of
the deepest emotion, and examined the room which
served the illustrious chief as bedroom and audie nee
chamber. 1t is very plain, and the furniture much as
he had left it. y small rough box in a deep window
>lli, Was pointed out as having contained his papers and
writing material. The hous. is occupied by a family
who take pleasure in showing to visitors the different
items Of interest The OH ced,r shingled roof which
protected the : Father Of his country eighty years ag ,,
had still sheltered the old headquarters until ii year or
two ago, when it was removed, aud its place occupied
by tin.
The graves of the soldiers are still to be seen in dis
tnct clusters over tie ground, bat are most numerous
in the northeast divisisnn, where the regiments from
the South were quartered, death having ripted most fear.
fully among tn NJ, they being less able to endure the
seventies Of a Northern winter. "'
= 1t 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. rs .agfrr !
!. And it is here that Washington is sail to have shed
tears like a father, while beholding their suAeriuss,
while they gathered round him and plead for bread and
clothing, and he had not the means ID furnish them
Yet, although everything seemed seGliscouraging, it wasi
near here that the Friend went home surprised, and
exclaiming, = the Americans, will conquer yet The !
Americans will conquer yet. for l heard a whisper in the
woods, and | looked and saw their chief upon his knees, /
and he was asking God to help them "1s d d
1t may be great'to lead q powerful army on to victory,
but surely 1T was greater to preserve the shattered REM
nants of IA discouraged bani together, when the enemy
was trampling over them, when their Congress. could do
nothing fer them, when starving families at home were
weeping for their return, and when there seemed no
before them but miserable defeat agar
Numerous graves have recently been opened, and the
bodies OF many Of the. officers have been removed by
their friends to other ~buryiug grounds in their native
sNa1es t'nt me Poor ard obseare s+slaiers wlse2stiM. re-
nlalu, have monuments more beautiful than art can form
erected theui, for nature has planted hundreds Of ce.
'lars as a silent tribute to their memory, which have
been watered by the pure and generous tears of night,
they are now forniug living wreaths Of cvergreens
above their graves -Ohio Nasr JparMaks %rala@
81. a-. --g4pNfeer j.