Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-03-26
A REvoLUTIoNART "REMINISCENCES

/ From some sketches Of Valley Forge
we take the following account Of th
army in its winter quarters:
"Haying decided on his winter quar-
ters being here, Washington arrives
With the army at Valley Forge on th,
I19th of December, 1777. The voic,
of praise and prayer was heard through
out the camp next day, in accordanc'
with the appointment Of Congress for
day OF thanksgiving aud praise. L
was . glorious triumph Of patriotism
over suffering and want of principle
over neglect Of virtue. over starvation,
TO exhibit such 9. spectacle on tie bor-
der of winter forest, whose SHOWS
we're stained vita their blood tracked
march.
Next day they began to build their
huts, the marks of which are still visi-
bic in one or more places. Those most
visible are by the side Of road towards
the river. half way from Valley Forge
to Port Kennedy. Each regiment was
divided into parties of twelve, and each
party was to build log hut IA feet BY
Is. and l64 feet high, and sides made
tight with clay, and the roof to be
formed Of split slabs or anything that
would serve as a substitute. Gen.
Washington offered dollar to each man
of the party which completed the first
and best hut, and one hundred dollars
to the man who would substitute bet
ter and more available roofing than
slabs. r'
Out Of | /, 900 men who arrived here,
5000 were unfit for duty. Groups of
fifty and one hundred were seen here
and there in their nakedness, huddling
around fires to keep from freezing
Others we're sick from exposure, and
sadly presaging their fate.
Rapidly the trees were felled. To
bring the logs to their places men har-
messed themselves to them like beasts OF
burden. Hut after hut rose till there
were over a thousand all in sight Of
Washington's tent. These huts were
ranged in parallel rows, with spaces
between, like the streets of a town.
Those OF the same State were together.
The huts Of the officers were in the rear
of the soldiers, one to each Of the Of
fcers. The intrenchments were out
side of the whole. In these huts was
placed a bed Of straw on the ground,
and these "ISons of Liberty" as Colonel
Barre called them in the English Par
crept In to suffer, starve apd
die. The farmers around were many
Of them Tories whom large offers to
pay, and threats, we're alike powerless
to move. Washington, acting un-
der a resolution from Congress, or
dered them to thresh out one-half their
grain by the first of February, and the
other half by the first of March, un-
der penalty Of its being seized as straw.
But ,they refnssd; and while some
fought with desperation, others burned
their grain. About this time the whole
army passed week without pound OF
meat in the camp. They had but one
to purchase provisions in
the camp, and be reported mot hoCf
to slaughter, and not more than twen-
ty-fve barrels Of -four" In communi-
eating this fact to Congress, Washing
ton said, "Frorh my heart pity those
miseries. which it Is neither In my pow
er to relieve nor prevent"
Mrs. Washington Joined her husband
in February, and not only shared his
privations but did all In her power to
mitigate the suffering Of the soldiers"