Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-01-15
VALLEY r
Its ApreNr as Ncc ~ the lsrcsont ri

Valley FORGE
Its ApleNrN ssCc ~ the Present Tln,e.
A writer in tho PHILADELPHIA "To.
day" says Of Valley Forge: "The con.
formation of the ground presents the
sanl appearance mt Valley Forge to-
day As it did i'll ITS, except that the
woods, which were all cut down for
building tho huts aud making fires.
have grown again on the summit of the
hills where the b,eastworks we're thrown
up. These breastworks still remain, be-
ginning on the high bluff jutting out on
the Schuylkill, and following the spur
OF hills to where they meet the Valley
Greek. But in several places the old
earthworks r very indistinct and hard
to find. The most interesting object
about the camp ground, AMI the one
most accessible to the tourist, is the
old stone house of Isaac Potts, G
pied by Washington as his hcadquar-
tcrs. This ancient mansion has been
in the possession Of the family of james
Jones for upwards of, half u century.
Nathan Jones and his sister, Mrs. Og-
den, are the present occupants. The
writer was shown a very correct map of
the encampmcnt, drawn by the Lutte
Caleb Jones, who took a special inter-
est in the antiquities and history of the
place.
Washington's room is in precisely the
same condition in which he kept it. In
ono of the deep window.seats is discov-
cred Il secret depository, which he
used for his private papers. Several
old cannon-balls were rolled out on
the. floor by the young lady who showed
rs the room, with the explanation that
they were only samples of many more
which had been ploughed up in the
fields. Photographs Of the house can
be purchased there, ut a small price,
and n book is provided to register the
names OF visitors. Although Nj. jones'
family il a private one, and they are
under no obligations to admit visitors,
yet they take pleasure in showing the
room where the father of his country
passed such n trying ordeal.
From Washington's headquarters
tho ground gradually rises toward the
south, and by gentle swells spreads
out for over a mile, forming the camp
ing grounds where the l0g-barracks
we're erected. Surrounding these roll.
ing meadows, on tho southwest, are
high bluffs, upon which was posted the
main portion of the army.
Some of the views from the heights
are remarkably tine. One could profit
ably spend q whole day here, wander
Ing over the hills and through the
woods. The principal wagon road
running through the valley is the Nor.
ristOwn road, which strikes out on the
left from the village street and contin-
ues down the old camp ground
toward Port Kennedy. This road pass.
IS through au old redoubt, now over.
grown with thick underbrush. The
river side of Valley Forge il covered
by a high, steep bluff, extending from
the railroad station, near Washington's
headquarters, to the promontory at the
southeastern limit of the camp-grounds.
Into this bluff, high above the river,
the railway has cut a passage. One can
readily see, by o glance at the steep
bank, that this side of the encampment
could have been successfully defended,
under ordinary circumstances, from
any attack. Plckets posted along the
bank could easily discern the ap-
proach Of the enemy from their high
position.
The little village of Valley Forge is
just what it was fifty years ago. 4 few
mills give employment to such of the
inhabitants as are not engaged in farm
ing: Everything about the place has
an air Of antiquity. Ille woods are
delightfully."- shady and airy, and of
late years have become apopular resort
picnic parties.
A great many very wonderful and
blood curdling traditions have been
repeated for years in the nelghbor-
hood, and handed down from grand |
mothers to grandchildren. and from
sire to son, of headless soldiers who
are seen walking about in the woods at
and of mysterious cannon balls
which are heard rolling, in +he dusk,
the floors of the old houses in the
village; bnt no genuine traditions can
be gathered from any Of the present
The real history of the
place, however, is exciting enough to
compensate for the absence of vague
and fabulous stories.