The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-20
Cele bration of the First Centenary
Anniversary.
A GRAND MILITARY DISPLAY.
Eloquent and Patriotic Address by
Colonel Bean.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


tionary army after the OF 1777-7s grand
success. Between thirty and forty thousand people
were present on tho grounds to-day. The old camp
ground Is one OF the loveest gems oil natural beauty
In the State, and IL was difficult to imagine that
the charming hisides, to-day 80 green and warm in
the summer sun, had been marked with bloodv loot
prints on the frozen snow by General Washington's
suffering army oil nalt-naked ana shoeless horoes.
Tho commemorative services Of the anniversary,
which began at with a federal salute. con-
tnued until sundow6. and were principally held IN
large tcnt holding 10000 people, but, spacious as 1t
was II could not contain the crowds OF men, women
and children, and after the shelter was flied
moro tnan twice many remained outside the
hills and In the valleys.
The Valley Forge Centennial Association, under
whose auspices the celebration took place is u worthy
organization which was recently described In tho
HERALD, together with tho means by which they hope
to accomplish tho purchase OF the famous old farm
house used as Wasnington's winter quarters,
and which still STANDS The central point OF interest
Of the grounds.
OFFICERS OF THE DAY.
The. officers oil tho day Governor John f.
Hartrants, presiding officer; Major General David
New. Gregg, oil Reading, marshal: II. Armitt Brown,
OF Philadelphia orator; Colonel Theodore W. Bean,
Norrislown, historian; Mrs. Al. T. Thropp Conc, Of
Valley Forge, poetcss; Rev. j. Garrett Walker Of
Philadelphia, poet; Jonn o. X. Roberts. Of Phonix-
viile MUSICAL director.
THE RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
The hrst ceremony o. tue day was The religious me-
mortal scrv nlne O'clock under the dlreoton OF
Rev 200 +. AaIscy D. D., consisting OF sacred III usic
prayer responsive service oil praise and the reading
Of tho Scriptures.
THE MILITARY DISPLAY.
Aitor this service The large body Of military tho
ground formed IN procession aud passed IN review be-
held Scott Hancock and s,alL aud o,hor dlstln-
guished visitors This display was very
nno one tho Sair ae ,n
n. g., chief marshal, and stan. Eleven cavalry men,
IN Continental uniform; Philadelphia City Troop Is
men, under Captain Matlack Boston Fusilesrs rs men,
including Uand, Captain Il A. snow; Ksading Rifles
Wilmington. Del, 40 msn; Washington Grays
Az men, Captain Elliot; Wcstchestcr Grays, 50
men, Captain J. T. Mcfarland; 9 company,
men; company, Eleventh reg iInent, PN.G.. Coats-
viie. 81 men, Captain Brown; Wayne FenclbIes
regiment, PN.G., Philadelphia, Captain Mudoon, 375
men; Third regiment. P:N.G., Delaney Guards, Of
phans 70 boys; Grliin battery, Of Phonixville, 9
guns, 80 men. Captain Denithorn; Montgom-
cry pioneer Corps, o. Sorristown, 20 men. Captain
H.. twenty men, oil Philadelphia Ph9nx Iron Com
pany's MINERS, from Boyertown, tnlrty men; Pn9alx
Iron Company's workmou, IRON Fh@n,xvilie, 500
men; Post ~, q. A. X, keading forty men; Post Is
g. A. r., OF Reading. forty men; Post 8, G. a. r.,
ION OF Pairiarchs; l. o. y. H., oil Pbade!phiu lor,v
tour mon Hiswatha Council and Ashland Council
J. U. A. ~, thirty men.
rIiR PRINCIPAL SERVICES.
After the rcv.sw the principal scrvccs OF the day
took place under the big tent, consisting of patriotic
and religious music Tho meeting was called order
very interesting historical paper by Colonel Thco-
dore W. Bean, Of Ncrr,stown. was read; two posms,
Que by Rev. j. q. Walker. and tho other by Mrs
NJ. f. Thropp Gone, were read, anu an grafton was
delivered W Henry Armnt Brown, Of Pniladolpnia.
COLONEL BEANS Address.
The following S III extract from Colonel Bcan,s
dress:"rhe situation In May, l777, critical and
called into activity magnificent horoscope 81 ina
Command in Chief VINO was IN camp Ia Morris,owo
with elective RANK and file, excluding cavalry and
artillery, OF loss than SIX thousand men, after a
winter OF ceascless anxiety In camp and field
and vain cndcavors 10 secure accessions 10
his army, the enemy certain TO assume
warrant the movement OF troops; Howe In posses
sion OF New York city, with an army twice the num-
ber Of his own; with navy ~ command, he thought
10 transpor, II with the speed OF the wind to any
point the coast deemed vulnerable; General
Burgoyne with 10 900 veterans ana volunteer troops
operating army OF veterans, tories and smvaces
In tho MOHAWK Valley, waiting orders to march
| ut tho earliest practicable moment. Colonel
| Bean then went on TO describe the move
| meuis OF the Continental army In thwar,ing
Howe's schemes for It's destruction. ana followed
closely every march until Washington had strength
ened willing hanas OF Gsneral Schuyler by bring.
ing the field the militia OF New York State ren.
dcring the victory AT Bennington AMI other MINOR
points posi- bic and witnessing depar rro Of Lord
Howe from New York Bay, ne turned the head OF his
devoted columns toward The Delaware: mgssIuy ula
army at Germantown carly IN the month vi August,
1877. Tho work Of marshaliing new trovps
| collecting supplies and making other military
PREPARATIONS was graphically painted, and the grow
Ing evidences OF popular apprehension 70 success
hui result at this period abundantly proved. The
speaker skctchou with a master hand the military
operations NJ tins time, described with minute.
and accuracy the battle hciis OF Pennsylvania;
The battle OF Brandywinc. on september H. 1777
sulting In tho disastrous repuise OF tho patriot
| forces; the difficulties Of Wsshington's position
tho disasters which had dishcartencd Ihe Continental
auull haiti
resulled the retreat TO Valley Forge. The orator
read the remonstranccs Of tho supreme Executive
Council and General Assembly Of this state against
the proposed cantonment Of the army OF the United
States under the command of Washington and
| added:-Aier breaking camp on the l1,h Of Deem
| Der at whitcmarsh ana after a paiufui narcn
over rough and frozen roads In tho direction
| Of the Gull hills, crossing the schuyL
| XIII River at Swcdcs and Watson's Fora on
| improv,sed bridges camp established Tor
some days on Tho Gull Hiils four miles distant
from Philadelphia, whore the army remained until
The lstn whcn IL retired TO Valley Forge going into
position with the right resting upon tho base OF Mount
Joy, near tho acute angle of the Valley Creek the
left flank resting upon and protected by tho schuyl-
XIII River, about one hall mile below Fiatlsnd lord
or suliivan's bridge" Tho speaker next read
and panied the following vivid picture OF tho
pending scenes OF that terrible winter mt Valley
he i,pe OF derencs indicated by The skilled oicer Who
drew It the pitless winter winds swept the hills and
valley With unccasng Jury as the December sun sank
into banks oil snow; clouds presa2ing tho coming
storm. the poverty OF suppIsr Of food AND raj.
ment was bitterly and proianely bewaiitd by
shiyerIng, unpaid officers ana half nakoi
men as they crowded around tho comfortless
cump nrc Of the bvouac, wncn suddenly the
appearanrc OF the Horse Guard, announced the ap
prosch OF The Comman Chief The officer CON.
manding tho detachment choosing the most iavora-
BILE ground paradcd his men 10 pay tner General tho
honors OF passing salute AS Washington rodo
slowly up he was observed TO be eying very ear
nestIy something that attracted hs attention on tue
frozen surface Of tho road Having returned tho
salute with that native grace ana Zig.
niGod manner that won the admiration OF
tho soldiers OF the Revolution tho chief refined IN his
charger aud ordering the commanding ciliocr OF tho
dct cbmcnt TO his side, addressed him foilows:-
How comes II, sir, thai have tracked the march OF
your troops by the boodssins OF their icet upon tho
frozen proundf We're there shoes In the com mis-
sares siorcs, that this sad spectacle 10 70 be
along tho public highNayp"
"rhc oiicer replied Your kxcclsncy may rest
assured that this sight IL as PAINFUL 10 my feelings
IL eau be 20 yours, but there Is no remedy within
our reach; when shoes issued the different req.
ments we're served IN turn; u was our misfor-
tune TO be among the last to be served, aud The
stores became exhausted before We could obtain even
tho smallcst SUPPLY