Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-12-12
NEW NATIONAL PARK
VALLEY FORGE WANTED BY THE
PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.
TERRITORY ALMOST SACRED
Here Washington Wintered and
Here His Soldiers Left Bloody
Footprints in the Snow as They
Marched AWay-Some Historical
Facts of Interest.

Philadelphia, Dec. SIN a very
few days now occurs the an
niversary of the entrance Of the con.
tinental army into it's historical winter
camp at Valley Forge. Interest in
the anniversary is greater this year
than usual from the fact that. con-
gress has been asked to make an ap-
preparation Of 100000 for the pur-
chase of this camp site for a national
military par.. At the last session of
congress similar bill was presented
but, owing to other large approprla
lions for military purposes, it was not
passed.
The friends Of the measure have
organized the Valley Forge National
Park association, composed of many
other associations, among them the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, the Philadelphia Chapter H. of
the Pennsylvania Society of Colonial
Danes, Colonial Danes Of America,
the Chester County Historical Society
the Brotherhood of the Union; the
Junior Order of American Mechanics,
the Patriotic Order Sons of America
the Sons of the Revolution, the Della
ware Historical Society, the. Sons OF
the American Revolution, the Site and
the Relic Society of Germantown.
These societies will vigorously
press the passage of the bill at che
present session, and the officials say
there is a gratifying PROJECT of sue
cess. The proposal to make
national park at Valley Forge has
met with the approval of historical
societies in every part of the land
Many letters expressing sympathy
with the movement have been re
ceived, and every congressman has
been asked to give his support to the
measure
1t was on December 10, 1777, that
Washington led to Valley Forge his
1000 men, scantly clothed, poorly
fed and with few tents and blankets.
Here through bitter winter these
men camped and passed what is con-
sidered one of the most critical
periods in the Revolutionary war.
Valley Forge is only 20 miles from
Philadelphia but that 20 miles sep
arated two armies on very different
footings-the comfortably provided
British soldiers, under General Howe
safely housed amid the plenty of
Philadelphia, and the raw, undis-
ciplined and starving American
patriots.
The battle Of Germantown, which
had been fought a short time before.
where every calculation of Washing
ton had been thwarted, had served
still more to depress the spirits of
men already but ill-equipped for the
cruel tasks of war. This depression
of spirit and the disrupting influences
at work among the army. added TO the
rigors Of the weather, tested The
mettle OF the men who were allied in
cause the success of which hung IN
the balance
1t is literal fact that the con-
tinental soldiers left bloody foot
prints in the snow as they dragged
themselves about the camp. 1t is
known that officers and men dragged
the logs for the camp fires by means
Of grape vines for want of ropes
Hundreds of men died of exposure
and insufficient food
In Philadelphia, On the contrary
Howe and his officers and men spent
| the winter in revelry entertained by
some Of the most conspicuous of
| Philadelphia citizens, and entertain
| ing themselves when other entertain.
| ment failed. There grew up a spirit
of Indifference to the war and hos
tility to Washington, which, despite
| the lines of the armies did not fail to
| reach and to add to the discourage
ments felt at Valley Forge. Yet
Washington made no sign and, In.
deed, it was Mt Valley Forge that the