The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-05-23
VALLEY FORGE.
Historic Description Written for the
Readers of the News" by Rev.
Baugher, Formerly Of Needmore.
HORSE AND BUGGY GIVEN PREACHER.

10 huOWu w ONCt OhO viz "OtAN
over.
On the 10Th day of December,
l777, the Americans went into
position at Valley Forge. 1t is
said on that cold winter journey
TO VALLEY Forge, Mrs. Washing
ton rode behind her husband on
pllllon. General Washington
occupied Valley Forge headquar.
ters for six months, or until June
10Th, 177S. The headquarters
we're erected by John Potts in
1859; and when selected by Cen
eral Washington for his head
quarters, was the home of his son,
Isaac Potts, then the proprietor
Of Valley Forge. The house, from
cellar to attic, is IN good form,
aud appears to dav almost as it
did when Washington lived IN 1t.
The doors, with bolts and locks,
are the very same Washington's
hand had moved; the floors, ex-
ceYt part of the one In the Office
room, are those over which Wash
ington walked in many weary
hour; the window glass are not
changed sin ,e the days when
anxious eyes looked through them
at the soldiers hutS upon the hill.
In the woods above Port Kenne
dy, on the river side of the road,
the foundations of huts are still
plainly visible, though covered
with a growth of underbrush.
The shallow ,llars seem to be in
lines or streets running north ar d
south, and can be easily traced.
The place where Baron Steuben
drilled his soldiers was also in
this woods. There is but one
plainly marked grave now to be
seen upon the camping ground.
TITS IN a field opposite this piece
of woods. A common river stone
with the letters 81. W." cut upon
it marks this spot. This grave
has always been well preserved.
Not far from this locality upon
the same road, is the home OF
VIM. Stephens. At The time OF
the encampment it was occupied
by Abijah Stephens, and was
made the headquarters of Gener'
al Whedon or General Vernon,
and later by Baron DeKalb.
Near the orchard opposite this
residence, on the river side, is
what appears to be a cone shat ed
hill. This was their star redoub bi
and com manded the river cross
ing. The entrenchments which
Washington and his men built are
still to be seen, but they are MOI
as high now as they were wher
first built. All persons are for
hidden to walk. on the entrench
ments, as they are considered sa
cred ground. The forts called
Fort Washington and Fort Hunt
iugdon are marked by large signs
There are several graves of tn,
soldiers who died of fever or star
vation to be found here and ther,
through the Woods. These ar,
marked by stones. Senator Kno.
lives near Washington's head
quarters. These headquarter
are the most interesting thin,
to be seen at Valley Forge. The,
sell books describing the suffer
ings OF our army while encaml +
ed there during the winters G
1777 and 1873. In one of lh
rooms on the lower floor, there j
q large book in which all visitor
are requested to register thel
names and addresses. Tnev kee
a record in these books to see ho'
many people have visited Vale
Forge during the year. On th
upper floor, the doors OF th
rooms have wire over them to pr
vent the visitors from disturbin
the old relics. In one of the room
there is a bed, bureau, clock, +
BILE, lamp, and few chairs. I'll
watch that Washington carrie
was on the table by the bed. H
glasses were also there. This
the room where Washington sIe]
while at Valley Forge.
The winter that Washingtt
spent at Valley Forge was teri
bls one. The men were starvln