The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-02-22


- young nation was tried
In bitterness and defeat, only to come
out OF it steeled for the work that in
that long, dreadful winter was ripen-
ing for 1t.
Through 1t all Washington, as COM
mander-in-chief, as soldier. and as an
individual sufferer with his men, was
the colossal figure that emphasizes
this supreme test Of patriotism.
Defeat at Germantown on Oct. 3,
1777, had sent Washington in retreat.
Fort Mif1in and Fort Mercer in quick
succession had been abandoned by the
continental army. At Whitemarsh
| Washington had made a stand so un-
expected and determined as to cause
the British general, Howe, to return
to his comfortable winter quarters in
Philadelphia. There, on Dec. II, Gen.
| Washington, with his suffering army
of 1900 men, took up the weary
march to Valley Forge, a sleepy de-
preston In the hills. % miles from
Philadelphia. On one side was the
Schuylkill river and on the north was
Valley creek.
Snow lay deep on the ground when,
on Dec. 10, the patriot army reached
the site of the winter camp. Tents
were stretched for as many as could
be housed, hundreds slept in the snow,
already Redeemed by their bleeding
bare feet. At once Gen. Washington
directed that work begin on log huts,
previously designed. To do this, men
were divided into squads Of IL, fur
nished with rude tools, and directed
to build huts large enough to house
each squad. According to speciica.
lions these huts were IA by 16 feet,
with sides, ends and roofs made of
logs. The roofs were made water
tight with bark, split slabs. or other
material. The cracks in the sides
were filled with clay. In the rear of
each hut was a fireplace made OF
wood. protected by clay. The door
was in the end next to the camp
street and was made of oak slabs.
In the rear of each line of huts for
troops were the huts for officers. Each
general officer got a hut to himself;
each field officer of a regiment got
one; the stan of each brigade shared
another; the staff of each regiment
was assigned one; commissioned off,
GERS for two regiments had one, while
for the non-commissioned officers and
men Of the army IL persons were al
loted to each hut.
The winter of 1777-7S was remark
oh1n for TIC cnuorttv ond tfC lan-
SHOWS, and when work was begun at
making camp. nearly 5000 men were
unfit for duty. British s~ympathizers
populated the surrounding country and
food and bedding were hard TO get,
even when the soldiers had the de-
preciated currency of the country I %
offer In exchange. AS an incentive to
hut-building, Gen. Washington offered
a purse of 500 to the officer or man
who would suggest the best substitute
for boards as a roofing material. hev-
ing especial reference to cheapness
and celebrity in building. Then. TO the
squad In each regiment which built its
hut quickest and In the best manner
he gave a purse of $12. So encour
aged, the tattered. emaciated army
W. s housed late In January.
twenty-five miles away was Howe's
arm Of Q $500 e In Philadelphia
paying British gold and silver for sup
plies. Washington's ~starveling army
had only the continental currency
worth $25 to the 800 of face value.
Even with the spirit Of Toryism alb
sent the army at Valley Forge would
have been handicapped. AS 1t was
they found farmers defending their
cattle, grain and straw at the musket's
muzzle.
With reference to these uncomfort-
able quarters for the men. 1t may be
said that Washington shared them
with his men until all had been housed
in huts. Then only did he take up
headquarters with the old Quaker
preacher near the mouth Of Valley
creek. Around his headquarters were
stationed the members Of his life
guard.
AlbIasncs Waldo's Diary.
i Somewhere in this chilled. starved.
thalf-nakNd camp was . genius who