The advocate., 1897-11-17

teen miles from Whitemarsh. Here he
ordered huts to be constructed, assur-
ing the soldiers at the same time that
he himself would "cheerfully share In all
their hardships and partake or all the
inconvenience"
Hundreds of soldiers made that dreary
march with bare feet, and the pathway
of these suffering patriots might have
been traced all the way by their bloody
FOOTPRINTS in the snow. And yet at this
very time, according to a contemporary
writer, "hogsheads of shoes, stockings
and clothing were lying at different
places along the roads and in the woods,
perishing for want of teams or money
to pay the teamsters," so handicapped
was the commissariat by the interfer-
ence Of Congress-
The day on which the army arrived
at Valley Forge, Congress had ordered
set apart as one OF thanksgiving for the
victories at Saratoga, Washington and
his whole army engaged in religious ex-
ercises On the following day the SOL
diers began the construction Of their
huts. The commander, methodical in all
things, directed their operations, by CIV
ing orders that the parties should be
divided into twelve each, and that they
should have enough tools to build with.
He also promised reward Of $12 to the
party in each regiment that finished its
hut the soonest. A reward was also Of
fered Of $10O to the officer or soldier who
would substitute covering for the huts
cheaper and more quickly made than
boards.
Until his troops were all comfortably
settled in their huts, Washington re-
mained in his cheerless marquee. After
this he made his headquarters at the
house Of Isaac Potts, a Quaker, which is
the one standing now near the SChuyl-
kill, and not stones throw from the
| little railway station. This place was
the headquarters of Washington for six
months, from December 19, 1777, to June
| 10, 1878. Martha Washington, who was
such an unfailing support to her hus-
band, both at home and in camp, was
with him most of the time of his soiOurn
here 1t is said that she rode over from
Whitemarsh on pillion. They were
both mounted upon his powerful bay
charger, who carried them with perfect
ease. 1t appears that Martha did not
remain long upon this first visit, but she
returned to the headquarters again on
the 10th Of February.
In letter to her friend Mercy Warren,
written in March, she said: "The Gen.
erals apartment is very small. He has
had log cabin built to dine in, which
has made our quarters more tolerable
than they were at first"
This apartment is a small room. The
cavity in the window seat that Washing
ton had followed out to hold his papers
is still shown. 1t was covered by a
cushion, and no one would guess that
his most valuable possessions were con-
cealed there The old log cabin still
stands at the rear of the house.
In February the wives of several Of
Washington's officers came visit Mrs.
Washington. Lady Stirling and the wife
OF General Knox were Of the party. 1t
is said that they were not idle visitors.
They spent most of the time spinning
yarn and knitting stockings for the SOL
diers.
The winter Of ~ was one Of the dark
est and dreariest Of Washington's whole
life There was a conspiracy to sup
plant him and to put General Gates at
the head of the army. The Continental
Congress interfered with his military
operations, and there was dissatisfaction
among his troops, especially those of
foreign birth. The whole country that
surrounded him was filed with Tories.
Fortunately there was that In his per-
sonality that attached his men TO him
so strongly that no distress could
weaken their affection for him, nor Inn