Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-04-20

neighboihood of 2O0.oo0 persons will
take part. making this celebration the
most magnificent testimonials. to the
heroes oil li7G in the annals of our
history.
Many prominent Philadelphians will
serve on the reception committee, and
nothing but sickness or death Will de
ter the governors of the thirteen orig
inal states from taking part in this
observance. so they have written.
After an address by President Roose-
welt, followed by splendid review of
the large numbers of military present.
which. will occupy the morning. Sena'
tor Henry Cabot lodge will. in the al
ternoon, deliver an oration on the en-
campment at Valley Forge. Public
speaking will follow and other pleas
ing features will make up the hours
of a truly eventful day.
To every American citizen these
grounds at Valley Forge. where the
brave Continental troops endured their
frightful sufferings and privations,
which will again be called into public
view by this monster celebration, are
idllbNFu ny lHt ultoL Sd'l ti dooo'id
tions of the struggles at that vital
period OF our country's history.
The battle at Brandywine opened
the way to Philadelphia for the Brit
ish. who entered the city on the 26th
Of September, l777. The nineteenth
of December following the American
army went into position at Valley
Forge. .
On that cold winter journey to Val
ley Forge Mr.. Losing. the historian,
relates how Mrs. Washington rode
behind her husband on a pillion. He
was on his powerful gray charger, and,
accompanied by single aid-de-camp,
followed the last remnant of the army
that left the encampment at White
Marsh
Washington occupied the Valley
Forge headquarters for six months, un-
iii June 10, 177S Undoubtedly these
were the most trying and memorable
days OF the Revolution.
The building selected by General
Washington for his headquarters and
which now remains as al the time he
took possession of it, was erected by
John Potts in 1863 and occupied then
by his son Isaac He and his son had
4 forge upon the creek, about half a
mile above its mouth, and made their
home there. The name, which has be-
come historic, had its origin in the
craft of its owners. About two
months before the American army
cncamped there the British burned
The forge,
After the close of the Revolutionary
war. the wooden factory which now
stands there, was built. Before the
Revolution William Penn used to land
right about where the American army
was encamped. To his daughter Le
titia he gave grant of manor close
by.
To be sure it was barren ofshelter
and comforts. and though a town
would have offered both. no town was
available The army would have been
useless in Wilmington. 1t would have
been in constant danger in Trenton.
There were Reading and Lancaster.
But both were SO far off that the
choice Of either one would have left a
large district open to the enemy.
At Valley Forge, the army, while
distant enough from Philadelphia to be
safe from surprises or attacks, was
near enough to protect the country
that lay between. being constant
menace to the city.
Then again the spot had its natural
advantages. which the military genius
Of Washington was equal to turning to
account The banks of the Schuyl-
Kill, which bend here to the eastward,
were deep and precipitous, the Valley
| creek cutting its way through deep
defile at right angles with the river,
forming natural boundary on the
west.
AT the entrance to that defle was
Mount JOY, which threw out spur
that, running parallel TO the river
about "A mile, turned at length north
ward and met its banks. On the one
side this ridge enclosed a rolling Ia
Bile land, on the other it sloped sharp
ly to the valley. Along the crest of
this ridge line of entrenchments was
thrown up and on the shoulder of Mt.
''' "a '''Nphih illl' ulti NHc
and ran northward to the river. A
redoubt on the east side commanded
he valley and other redoubts com
manded the approaches of the Schuyl-
kill.
There We're 11,O9S soldiers in the
field at the time Washington establish
ed the encampment. But because of
destitution and illness, 2,S9S were un.
tit FOR duty.
Weeks and months of terrible suf-
lering We're spent in the dreary huts
which the men erected to shelter
them. They were sadly in want of
load. clothing. blankets and fuel. And
worse than all else. disease AIDED its
',rrurs to those of famine and cold
smallpox being one of the dread visi-
tors that invaded The camp.
Facilities for transportation being
scarce, such supplies as could be pro-
ar had either to be carried on the
backs OF the men or else hauled in
carts which they improvisod.
Things became so disastrous that
Washington finally wrote congress
saying that unless some change took
place in the commissary's department
his army must inevitably be reduced
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