The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-02-22

Washington slept in tent in the open,
thus by his own example to show acour
agement to his men. Later he changed
his headquarters to the stone house Of
Isaac Potts. How he came to do this is a
story worth telling again.
Isaac Potts, ike many Of the Friends
Of his time, remained neutral in his views.
He sawwith bit ofunrest the encampment
had pitched near his home. One day he
walked to the path along Valley Creek,
which runs back to Mount Joy, and cut
across the hin to look at the Cont;nentals
As he came down on the opposite side
facing the camp he saw horse tied to a
tree. He proceeded cautiously and soon
heard an earnest voice. He halted and
saw General Washington on his knees
praying Washington spoke lowly, but
with his whole heart seemed to be max
ing fervent appeal for his men, tears
meantime streaming from his eyes. The
Quaker quietly withdrew and returned
home. Much agitated, he told his wife
what he had seen, and said that if there
was any one on earth that the Lo.d would
listen TO it was George Washington, adj
ding that he felt presentiment that un
der such commander there could be no
doubt Of the colonies gaining indepen
dence, and that God in his Providence
had willed it So His wife and he then
espoused the patriotic cause openly and
invited Washington to use their home as
his headquarters.
Never did a commander face such diff
culties as did Washington at Valley Forge.
All that was vital to the American Repub
lie beat in the hearts of the IL 900 men
huddlsa .niserably there on bleak and
ice bound hillside and valley Starvation
and sickness decimated his patriots, he
had little or no powder, his artillery was
practically useless, he was forced to deal
with congress "that had deprecated as
much as the Continental currency" treai
son and cabal raised its venomous head
in camp, intrigue plotted agaist him un-
der Gates, the people of the region were
lukewarm or apathetic, the British held
Philadelphia, and in overwhelming, well
equipped numbers might have destroyed
his army at any time. But his own brave
spirit never faltered, his own constant
belief in successful outcome never fail
ed
The outlook was gloomy and the future
black Had Washington failed under his
great burden Valley Forge would have
been the sepulcher of American liberty.
But his robust heart of oak held true, and
then when all seemed hopeless hope and
comfort came.
Congress walked from its lethargy and
an efficient officer provided needed sup
plies and munitions; conspiracy and cab
al were crushed; news came OF the al
lance and help Of the French King; Won
steuben wrought disciplined army out
of the ragged and unschooled regiments;
the winter moderated, and with spring
came recruits and a revival of patriotic
enthusiasm in the hearts of the people at
large, who were much impressed by the
steadfastness Of Washington and his men
at Valley Forge.
June came, and with its middays came
news to Washington that the British had
resolved to evacuate Philadelphia. The
Continentals were full of hope and cour
age and anxious for test of mettle with
the redcoats. The crisis of the Revolu-
tion had passed.
The men who had endured the miseries
and privations of Valley Forge we're soon
to set out on a series of campaigns which
were to end gloriously in the surrender
of CORVALLIS.
On the 18th day of June Pennsylva-
nian Paul Revere rode from PhiIadelphia
to Valley Forge with the tidings that the
foe were leaving Philadelphia and strik-
ing northward. The next day the le-
gions of Washington left Valley Forge
and its trails behind, and, overtaking the
British at New Jersey, fought the battle
Of Mammouth.
Nearly two score years later, in the
afternoon Of late summer day in 17o6, a
farmer, who had been in the Continental
Army, saw a gray-haired, dignifed man,
accompanied by black servant, riding
toward Valley Forge, on the road from
Philadelphia
The stranger dismounted, greeted the
farmer cordially and said be had come to
see the place and to make some inquiries
about families who had lived at Valley
Forge
The stranger asked many questions and
noted the formers replies in notebook
he carried. The farmer, who thought his
face familiar, asked him who he was. The
quiet reply was, George Washington"