New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
HISTORIC VALLEY FORGE.
THE MOVEMENT TO MAKE THE OLD
CAMP GROUND A NATIONAL PARK


child there is probably none that appeals
strongly to the sympathy for the Revolutionary
heroes as the winter scene showing WashinS-
ton at Valley Forge. The story of the bitter
winter of 1777-'7S, when Washington and his
gallant men camped there. has been told over
and over again, and has served to inspire the
American youth with admiration for the men
OF that day. For over twelve decades the old
field on which the soldiers of the Continental
Army for six months endured the trials and
privations of cold, misery and starvation;
where death stalked through their ranks In
the form of famine and pestiIence; where men
died like heroes, steadfast ever to the cause
they had vowed TO uphold has been unmarked
by monument commemorative shaft, save a
hastily gathered pile of field stones which show
where John Waterman, of Rhode Island, lies
buried. The. ground has lain neglected for
nearly a century, except for the care bestowed
upon it by the farmer.
But there is hope that the Valley Forge
camping ground will soon be National park.
Powerful interests are at work to secure the
passage of bill in Congress which provides for
the acquisition of the ground. the formation of
a commission to care for it and make it a
National reservation. like many of the battle
fields of the Civil War. In Its prospectus the
Valley Forge National Park Association says:
1T is the object of the association to arouse
public sentiment in the preservation of the
historic camp occupied by General George
Washington and the Continental Army from
December 10. 1777, to June Is, 177S. A small
part of the ground, 2171a acres in all, has been
acquired by the State of Pennsylvania. The
headquarters of Washington have been rescued
and are being well cared for by patriotic body
formed at the Centennial of Valley Forge, but
the really historic part of the field. on which
pIxad he off soldiers.
in the hands of private owners.
What this association plans to do is to Sc
cure the passage of a bill now before Congress,
which provides for the acquisition of the enti-e
field, its restoration to the condition in which
it was during the occupancy of the Continental
Army, and its construction as a military park
under the control of the War Department"
The association held its first meeting at Inde
pendence Hail. Philadelphia. on December ID
the anniversary of the entry of the army
under Washington into encampment at Valley
Forge. There were present, besides many dis
tinguished citizens who had shown an interest
in the movement representatives from the
following patriotic organizations: The Cincin-
natl Colonial Danes, Sons of the Revolution,
Daughters of the Revolution Sons of the
American Revolution, Daughters of the Ameri-
can Revolution Mayflower Descendants, New
England Society. Patriotic Sons of America.
brotherhood of the Union, Junior Order of
American Mechanics. Patriots and Founders,
Daughters of the Cincinnati, Society of the
War of 1912, Society of Colonial Wars. Grand
Army of the Republic and Daughters of
Liberty.
GREAT DEMONSTRATION PLANNED.
Another meeting will be held at Valley Forge
on June IS, 1901. at which President Mckinley
will deliver the Grafton. Edward Fairfax
Naulty, the secretary of the association, has
received, in addition to President McKinley's
promise to perform his part in the patriotic
demonstration, the assurance that the Gov
ernOrs OF the thirteen original States with
their respective staffs. will be present One of
the features of the meeting will be review by
the President and Governors of the military
bodies which will come from all parts of the
United States. The troops will parade over the
route used by the Continental Army when ii
entered Valley Forge, and will pass before the
President at Washington Lane. by which road
the troops evacuated their winter quarters
when they marched away to begin the series Of
battles which ended in the victory of York
town and the establishment of the Republic
Valley Forge is only twenty-fOur miles from
Philadelphia. The smoke from passing railroad
trains Obscures the view from the wood road
which runs parallel with the river and young
trees have taken the place of the great forest
giants under which the Continental soldiers
ehaA laf 9th rnlIi,