Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-25
Valley Forge To-day.

The conformation of the ground presents
the same appearance at Vally Forge to-day
us it did in 177S, except that the woods
whirh were all cut down for building tn,
huts and making fires. have grown agair
on the summit of the hills where tn,
breastworks were thrown up. Thes,
breastworks still remain. beginning on tn,
high bluff jutting out on the Schuylkill
and following the spur of hills to wher,
they meet the Valley Creek. But in sew,
eral places the earthworks are very indis-
tinct and hard to find. The most interest
ing object about the camp-ground, and the
one most accessible to the tourist, is til,
old stone house of Isaac Potts, occupied by
Washington us his headquarters. Thi>
ancient mansion has been in the possession
of the family Of James Jones for upwards
of half century Nathan Jones and his
sister, Mrs. Ogden, are the present occu-
pants. The writer was shown very cor
rect map Of the encanlpmcnt drawn by the
l;lte Caleb Jones, who took special inter
est in the antiquities and history of the
place.
Washington's room is preserved in ex
actly the same condition in which ne KEEP
it. In oae Of the deep window-ssats is
discovered secret depository, which he
used for his private papers. Several old
c;,nnon-balls were rolled out on the floor
by the young lady who showed us the room,
with the explanation that they were only
samples of ma ~ more which had been
plowed up in the fields. Photographs
of the house can be purchased there, at a
small price. and a book is provided to reg
ister the names of visitors. Although Mr..
Jones' family is private one. and they
are under no obligations to admit visitors,
yet they take pleasure in showing persons
the room where the father of his country
passed such trying time.
| From Washington's headquarters the
ground gradually rises toward the south,
and by gentle swells spreads out for oveI
n mile, forming the camping grounds
where the log-barracks were erected
Surrounding these rolling meadows on the
southwest are high bluffs, upon which was
posted the main portion of the army.
| Some of the views from the height are
remarkably fine. One could profitably
spend whole day here, wandering ovel
the bills and through the woods. The prin
cipal wagon-road running through the val
| lev is the Nurristown road, which strike:
out on the left from the village street ant
continues down the old camp-grOunt
toward Port Kennedy. This road passe:
through an old redoubt, now overgrowr
with underbrush. The riverside of Valley
Forge is covered by high, steep bluff, eX
tending from the railroad station, neal
Washington's headquarters, to the prom
ontorv at the southeastern limit of tn,
camp-grounds. Into this bluff. high above
the river, the railroad has cut u passage
One can readily see. by a glance at the steel
bank, that this side of the encampmen
could have been successfully defended, un
der ordinary circumstances, from any at
tack Pickets posted along the bank coult
easily discern the approach of the enem,
from their high position.
The little village of Valley Forge i
just what it was fifty years ago. A few
mills give employment to such OF the in
hahitants as are not engaged in farming
Everything about the place has an air o
antiquity. The woods are delightful,
shady and airy. and have of late year
become a popular resort for picnic par
ties.
A great many very wonderful and bloo
curdling traditions have been repeated 10
wears in the neighborhood, and hande
down from grandmothers to grandchildren
and from sire to son. of he;idless soldier
who are seen walking about the woods a
night, and of mysterious cannon-ball
which are heard rolling, in the dusk. owe
: the floors of the old houses in the valley
but no genuine traditions can be gathere
= from any of the present inhabitants. Ih
, real history of the place, however, Is e>
citing enough to compensate for the al
sence of vague and fabulous stories, and :
t long rs the world stands, no spot on cart
: will speak more eloquently of heroic er
| durance and of sublime suffering tina
| Valley Forge.-1o-Day.