Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-08-01
Old FORT WASHINGTON.
Charms OF tho pot where the Cont

Charms OF tho pot where the Cont.
mental Army wns shattered.
A visitor who walks out the road leading Il
North Wales, In Montgomery county, viii SC,
on the brow of the hill which commands TIL,
road the remains Of the fort. says The Ph1a
ddphia Press. All that Is left In these days
40 years since Washington, forewarned
directed the building Of the fort that bear
hia name-is . grass covered mound Of Garth
forming three sides Of q square, twenty BY
twenty two yards, seven feet In height at the
south angle.
The sun wss beating holly down on the I'M
dulsting spread Of rich farming country
Yesterday, when the visitor climbed the
grassy hillside. All traces Of the ditch that
once surrounded the fort have been effaced
by the elements and by the tramplIng Of the
feet Of the Thousands Of visitors who have
climbed the hillside to see the place where
Gen. Washington's army, weak and demon
allied from the defeat at Germantown, were
saved from surprise and capture at the then
most critical period in the history Of the young
republic.
Near the highest points on the earthworks
there 10 q great cherry tree. The fruit had
'ipened, and hung In crimson clusters a
the visitor sat In its shade yesterday and
looked OF over the fertile lowlands. To the
east the top OF Camp Hill can be seen, where
the regular army was encamped. A hand
sone residence now crowns its summit.
Then there IL stretch to the southwark oil
fields rich In growing crops. Edge Hill and
the big furnace greet the eye as It looks still
further south, and like threads OF silver the
rails Of the North Pennsylvania railroad stretch
away In the distance. Orcland valley Is also
seen. -Four miles further of are the spires
Of churches and the turreted roofs Of hand.
some country residences. This Is Chestnut
Ill., Philadelphia most beautiful suburban
town.
To the left Is Barren hill. marked by a sim
gle church spirc. This they call Lafayette
hill now, from the fact that Marquis dc Lafa-
Tctte and his vision Of the army once occu-
pied 1t as a lookout station. Here 1t was that
be was nearly captured by the Britt sh, and
had II not been for Capt. Story, who lived at
Whitemarsh. Lafayette's career would have
had = sudden termination. Story saw the
British troops marching at night along the
Skppack road leading TO Barren bill. With
out hat or coat, he started to warn Lafaye tie.
Another minutemsn to whom story told the
| tale carried the warning Just In time for the
American troops 10 be Withdrawn across the
| schuyikill at Matson's ford now Conshocken.
Rising sharply from the edge Of the romatic
| Wissahickon Is Militia hill, where are the ru-
ins Of an old limekiln, where the first lime
,tone was burned in Pennsylvania two hun
ired years ago. St. Thomas Episcopal church
crowns the top Of Church hill just before us,
whilst down In the valley Is an old farm
| house, built In the English style, part stone
and part imported brick. The place has wide
halls and open freplaccs and Is owned by ar
English gentleman who has given II the name
II Hope Lodge. During the Revolution the
pretty daughter OF the tory owner Of this
house had for u lover an officer OF the Conti-
nentsl army. HI suit discouraged. he, like q,
knight OF the olden time, kidnapped his pref
scendants yet live In the beautiful valley.
Past here the road leads that once resound-
ID With the rumble OF the Conestoga wagons.