The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1876-06-08
VISIT TO VALLEY FORGE.

About sixteen miles up the Schuylkill from
Philadelphia q small stream leaves the rich and
beautiful valley of Chester, and winds its way
through deep ravine between two mountains
and empties its clear water into the river. The
mountains are filed with iron ore, and as the
stream afforded water power, the old inhabitants
Of the colony erected at its mouth a mill and
forge, and around them few houses, and the
place was known as VALLEY Forge"
1t was after the disastrous results of the bat
ties of Brandywine and Germantown, in which
the Americans lost two thousand soldiers, whom,
in their already reduced state, they could SO
poorly spare, that Washington was forced to give
up Philadelphia to the enemy, and lead his dis
Outraged and dropping army to this secluded
spot, which the sufferings of that little band,
while it lay and shivered there during the mem
orable Winter of '76, has made immortal.
We approached the old encampment by road
leading down a narrow defile which forms the
bed of the stream, and assembled to the summit,
where the army lay, by rugged pathway which
is still to be traced among the rocks, and were
shown by our guide as We passed the different
spots, where the cannon had been placed to
guard the entrance. When We reached the sum-
init, we found it partially covered with trees
and underwood, yet a hundred years had not
been able to destroy the efforts that feeble band
put forth for selfprotection. There were to be
seen q ditch and embankment which at present
is about three feet high, extending more than
two miles around the top of the mountain.
At the more open and unprotected points are
still to be seen five different FORTS of different
forms, more or less perfect. They were built
principally of logs, but they have long since de-
cayed, and their forms at present to be traced
only by piles of dirt which are thrown up to
strengthen them. The most perfect one at pres
emit is still about ten feet high, with diagonal
ridge running from one corner to the other, form
ing two apartments of equal size, with but one
narrow entrance. 1t all remains quite perfect,
and the walls or banks are covered with trees.
The tents of the soldiers were made of poles
which seem to have been twelve or fifteen feet
long, built IN the form of pen, with dirt on the
outside to keep the storm out. The remains are
still to be seen situated in little groups here and
there over the enclosure.
While down near the old Forge, we were shown
an old stone house, about twenty by thirty feet,
which served as headquarters, in which Wash.
ington lived, surrounded by his staff, during the
Winter.
We entered the venerable building with feel
ings of the deepest emotion, and examined the
room which served the illustriOus chief as bed
room and audience chamber. 1t is very plain,
and the furniture much as he left it. small
rough box in deep window sill was pointed out
as having contained his papers and writing ma
terial. The house is occupied by family who
take pleasure in showing to visitors the different
items of interest The old cedar shingled roof,
which protected the Father of his country"
nearly one hundred years ago, had still sheltered
the old headquarters until year or two ago,
when it was removed and its place occupied by
tin.
The graves of the soldiers are still to be seen
IN distinct clusters over the ground, but are most
numerous IN the northeast division, where the
regiments from the South were quartered, death
having riOted most fearfully among them, they
being less able to endure the effects of q north
ern Winter.
1t was during their encampment here that the
soldiers. could be traced by their blood, as they
gathered wood IN THAR mi la hnta