The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-05
Valley Forge at the Present Time.

A correspondent writes from Valley
Forge: "rhe conformation of the
ground presents the same appearance
at Valley Forge to-day as It did In
1778, except that the woods, which
were all cut down for building the
huts and making fires, have grown
again On the summit of the hills
where the breastworks were thrown
up. These breastworks still remain,
beginning on the high bluff jutting
out on the Schuylkill, and following
the spur of hills to where they meet
the Valley Creek. But In several
places the old earthworks are very
indistinct and hard to find. The
most interesting object about the
camp-grOund, and the most acces-
sible to the tourist, Is the old stone
house of Isaac Potts, occupied by
Washington as his headquarters.
This ancient mansion has been in the
possession of the family of James
for upward of half q century. Ma
than Jones and his sister, Mrs. Og-
den, are the present occupants. The
writer was shown very correct map
of the encampment, drawn by the
late Caleb Jones, who took special
interest In the antiquities and history
of the place.
Washington's room is preserved in
precisely the same condition In which
he kept 1t. In one of the deep win
dow-seats is discovered secret de-
pOsitory, which he used for his pri-
vate papers. Several old cannon
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 many more
which had been plOwed up in the
fields. Photographs of the house
can be purchased there, at small
price, and a book is provided to reg
lister the names of visitors. Although
Mr.. Jones' family is a private one,
and they are under no obligations to
admit visitors, yet they take pleasure
in showing persons the room where
the father Of this country passed such
a trying ordeal.
From Washington's headquarters
the ground gradually rises toward the
south, and by gentle swells spreads
out for over mile, forming the
camping grounds where the log bar
racks were erected. Surrounding
these rolling meadows, on the south
west, are high bluffs, upon which was
posted the main portion of the army.
Some of the views from the heights
are remarkably fine.' One could pro-
fitably spend a whole day here, wand
ering over the hills and through the
woods. The principal wagon road
running through the valley Is the
NOrristOwn road, which strikes out
on the left from the village street,
and continues down the old camp
ground toward Port Kennedy. This
road passes through an old redOubt,
now OvergrOwn with thick under
brush. The river side of Valley
Forge is covered by a high, steep
bluff, extending from the railroad
station, near Washington's head
quarters, to the promOntory at the
southeastern limit of the camp
grounds. Into this bluff, high above
the river, the railroad has cut a pas
sage. One can readily see, by q
glance at the steep bank, that this
side of the encampment could have
been successfully defended under
ordinary circumstances from any at
tack. Pickets posted along the bank
could easily discern the approach of
the enemy from their high position.
The little Village of Valley Forge
is just what it was fifty years ago. A
few mills give employment to such
of the inhabitants as ale not engaged
in farming. Everything about the
place has an air OF antiquity. The
woods are delightfully."- shady and
airy, and of late years have become
a popular resort for picnic parties.
A great many very wonderful and
blood-curdling traditions have been
repeated for years in the neighbor-
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 night, and of mysterious cannon
balls which are heard rolling, in the
dusk, over the floors of the old houses
in the valley;' but no genuine ira
ditions can be gathered from any of
the present Inhabitants. The real
history Of the place, however, is eX-
citing enough to compensate for the
absence for vague and fabulous
stories.