The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-02-04
Visit to Valley Forge.

~"e SSou1iut NaItcy VI OHCstSTs auo Wluus
its way through 4 deep rnvine between the
two mountains and smptles its clear waters
into the river. The mountains are filIet
with iron ore, and as the stream sfFords wa
ter power, the old inhabitants of the colony
erected at its muu'h mill and around then
. few houses, and the place was known as IN,
"Valley Forge"
Ii was alter the disastrous results of tn,
battles of Brandywine and Germantown, il
which the Americans lost 1000 soldiers
whom in their already reduced state the,
could so poorly spare, that Washington wal
forced to give up Philadelphia to The enemy
and lead his dropping and discouraged arm,
to this secluded spot, which the sufferugs o
that little band, while it lay and shveret
there during the memorable winter Of '76
has made immortal. We approached the olc
ehcaTiprhent by a road leading down mar
row defIe which forms the bed Of the stream
and ascended to the summit where the arm,
lay. by u rugged pathway which is still to b,
traced arhong the focka, and were shown b,
our guide as we passed the different spots
where the cannon had been planted to guar,
the entrance. When we reached the sum
NIT we found it partially covered with treel
and underwood, yet eighty yeurs had no,
been been able to destroy the efforts tha
feeble band had put forth fof self protect on
There was still! to be seen a ditch and EN-
bankment, which at present is about three
feet high, extending more than tho mile
around the top Of the mouhtsin.
At the more open and unprotected roin,
are still to be seen FIVE different forts 0
differen. forms, more or less perfect. Tie,
were probably built principally Of logs, bu
they have long since decaycd. and thei
forms at present are to be traced only b.
piles Of dirt which had been thrown up {,
strengthen them. The most perfect one
present is still sbout ten feet high, aud pro
bably one hundred feet square, with divid
ing ridge running dingonaly from one cor
ner to the other, forming two apartments O
equal size, with but one narrow entrance.
II all remains quite perfect and the wall o
banks are covered with trees. The tents @
the soldiers were made Of poles, which seer
10 huVe been twelve or fifteen feet Ions
built in the form Of pen, with dirt tArow
Up on the outside to keep out the Storm
Their remains are still to be seen, situate
in little groups over the enclosure. Will
down near the old Forge we were shown .
old Stoiie hohse; about 10 by 80 feet, whic
served as head quarters, in which Wsshing
ton lived surrounded by his staff during tn
winter. ....
We entered the venerable building wit
feelings Of theileepest emotion, and exsmin
ed the room which served the illustriou
chief as d,room and audience chamber. =
Itis very plain, and the furniture much a
he had left it. A small rough boz in dee
window sill, was pointed out as having cor
TUNED his papers and writing Materials =
The house is occupied BY family who .ak
pleasure in showing to visitors the diferel
items Of interest. The old cedar shingIe
roof which protected the " Father Of hii cour
try" eighty years ego, had still sheltered tn
old headquarters until year or two ag'
when it was removed; and i,s place occupie
by tin.
The graves Of the soldiers are still to /
seen in distsnt clusters over the ground, bl
are most numerous in the northeast divisio
where the regiments from the South wei
quartered, death having rioted most fesrfu
Iy among them. they being less able to Ell
dure the severities Of Northern winter.
II was during their encampment here tn
the tracks OF the soldiers could be traced
their blood, as they gathered wood to war
their miserable hits.
And it is here that Washington is said
have shed tears like father, while behol
ing their suferings, while they gather
round him aud plead Tor bread and c.othin
and he had not ,h$ medns to furnish them.
Yet, although everything seemed 60 discou
aging, it was near here that the "Frien
went home surprised, and exciaiming, "t
Americans will conqler yet the America
will conquer yet, for heard Z whisper
the woods, and | looked and saw their chi
upon his knees and he was asking God
help them" ..'.....
1t may be great to lead a powerful srn
on to victory, bit surely i. was greater
preserve the shattered fragments of a d
courased band together, when the enen
was trampling over them, when theft Go
gress could do nothing for them. when star
ing families at homo were weeping for th'
return, and when there seemed no prospe
before them but miserable defeat.
Numerous graves 6avs recently be-
opened. and the bodies Of many Of the Office
have been removed BY their frieuds 70 9th
burying grounds in their native States.
But the poor and obscure soldiers who sl
remain, have monuments more Isau.i
than art can form erected over them. for !
ture has planted hGAdteds Of cedars as
lent tribute to ,heir memory, whieh b.
been watersd BY the pure and generous 70,
of night. and Trey sfhe now forming llvl
wreaths Of sveFstsseni,sI above their graves,