Middletown transcript., 1881-10-21
For The Middletot0R Transcript.
A TRIP TO PAOLI AND WHAT 1
SAW

Germany ana switzerland, come nom
weary and fatigued to rave about th
beauties of the Rhine and the Alps
where just here at home we have scener.
Of the sublimest description and ever.
inch hallowed and baptized by the bloot
of those who fought to secure to us tn,
blessings Of liberty. An hours rid'
from Philadelphia brings US to Paoli
where we are surrounded by the mos
beautiful scenery, lovely drives through
shaded paths along streams identified
as they all are, with the Revolution
Going in a northeasterly direction
through prosperous country, brings
US to one of the most beautiful drives
along the romantic Brandywine, OF
about mile in length, between two
hills which reminded me of our lovely
WissihickOn. On the left is Mount
Misery and on the right Mount Hope ;
so named by the soldiers under Wash
ington, who were here encamped; far
in the distance is seen Washington IS
Headquarters, and this is Valley Forge.
The air was very balmy and the trees
very green the day spent there. Very
different was it all when the American
army was camped here in II and '76,
for the pitiless snow, showed their foot
steps for miles in marks of precious
blood, the keen winters blast sought
their bodies relentlessly through their
ragged clothes, and though half shod
and frost bitten there was no murmur
of discomfort or a sign Of insubordina-
tiOn. Here, we were shown Washing
toms Headquarters, small, neat, stone
dwelling, with a small entry through
the center. The first room on the right
was kind of reception room. It con-
tained the wide open fire place, on one
side of which was closet and on the
other apparently another one, but was
in reality a secret passage, in case of
surprise. The room back was similar
to the one front, also containing secret
passage way. In one Of the wide win
dow sills was a stationary box, in which
the guide said Washington kept his pri-
vate papers, though 1 hardly credit it |
asst would have proved rathera bad place
if the enemy had come. There were
no relics here Of any account, few can
non balls, an old sofa, and an iron plate
which had evidentally been an oven
door on which were two strangely
dressed figures drawing water from a
well, and inscriptions in German which
led me to believed it had reference to the
changing Of water into wine. We
climbed the steep hills to view the for
but the lapse of years and
new underground had almost obliter-
ated the lines of the entrenchments.
The encampment was about two miles
ong and was under the command of
such heroic spirits as Washington, La
Fayette, Wayne, Scott, Woodford and
Mcintosh. A few miles west of Paoli
s the ground which was the scene of
he Paoli massacre, during the Revolu-
ion, when so many brave soldiers were
'rutallyc cut down in thenight. Through
he kindness of the son of my host,
Frank Schofeld, whose -grandfa-
her, Lieutenant Schofeld, fought for
he holy cause and whose defendants ,
re well know and numerous in the /
eighborhood, was fortunate enough .
o be present at the anniversary of the .
The ceremonies took place 8
n the grounds which belong to the +
Military organizations of Chester and .
Delaware counties, and the spot where q
he victims fell is marked by a hand s
ome monument. 1t is the second Of q
le kind, the first having fallen prey G
curiosity hunters of certain species, n
hose sacrilegiouS hands SAVIOR more of y
lieVing than patriotism. The first f
lonument was erected by the Republi- =
IN artillerists, aided by the citizens, in s
'17, and the second by the citizens of n
elaware and Chester counties at the j
anniversary, Sept. Goth, 1877. +,
he old and new monuments are en- q
osed by neat iron railing. The a
estern face of the new monument con- q
.ins the following inscription "Sa- 4
ed to the memory of the Patriots Z,
no, on this spot, fell sacrifice to !,
ritish barbarity on the night of Sept. T
)th, 1777." The northernfa face e The q,
rocious massacre which this stone .,
was peTpetrated under r.
lie immediate command Of Major-Gen- II
al Grey" The southern side: g Here re
pose the remains of 50 American SOL II
ers, who were the victims of cold n
CODED cruelty in the weIl-known mas II
ere of IPaoli, while under the com 4,
and of Gen. Anthony Wayne, an off a,
r whose military conduct, bravery and w
were equally conspicuous 1.
roughout the Revolutionary war. . n
be eastern face Erected by the cit !.
ems of Delaware and Chester counties "
pt. Goth, 1877, being the centennial %
lniversary Of the massacre of Paoli.', 1,
ne other inscriptions on this monu- h,
ent were copied from the one formerly !,
anding here, which was erected by "a
e Republican. artillerists and the citi- Il,
MS of Chester county, Sept. 2Oth, u
u. On the anniversary of that year a.
ere was several hundred people on the u
ouHds but the military display was j
owing to the death of Presi- -
Mt Garfield. About fifty cavalrymen y j
mt through their drill, as also did a -
mber Of boys from the Soldiers Or - -
ans Home at Chester Springs. The =,
ter also had brass band, composed -
boys, who performed most excellent j,
A band in the neighborhOod also =,
lped to while away the time. There =, =
q IN have hoan enoab;no, 4,,o,D, e.. -