Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-17
Maine at Valley Force.

in PENNSYLVANIA there will be dedicated
shaft of Maine granite erected as
memorial to the men from this State
who We're there under Washington
throughout the hardships OF that
memorable winter of Hits. The
exercises will be held in the presence
with a party of distinguished Name
people who accompanied them on the
trip. Valley Forge is one of the most
sacred spots on American soil and yet
the people of our country have been
tardy in honoring the memory of the
patriots who suffered there. Maine is
the first State to erect a monument
there, and it was not until 1898 that
steps were taken by Pennsylvania to
preserve the place as public park and
historic landmark. a few years ago
monument was unveiled by the
Daughters of the American Revolution
in memory of the men who died there.
Though Maine is the first to erect a
State monument doubtless it will soon
be followed by others.
Every American schoolboy is
familiar with the story of Valley Forge
and it is one of the most deeply inter-
esting of the spots associated with the
pendence No great battle was fought
there, but the heroism with which the
and want was a very important factor
in winning Americas liberty. 1t was
in the winter of HITS that the
American army under Washington
when driven from Philadelphia went
into camp where Valley creek empties
into the Schuylliill river There We're
about 1000 of the soldiers and the
story of the following months is one of
suffering almost beyond belief
1t was an intensely cold winter and
there was dire lack of both food and
clothing so that hundreds of the
soldiers actually died from their suffer-
ings. The unfortunate soldiers" SAID
Lafayette, who was there and after
want of everything: they had neither
coats hats, shirts nor shoes. their feet
and their legs froze till they became
black, and ii was often necessary to
amputate them. The army frequently
remained whole days without provi-
sions, and the patient endurance of
both soldiers and officers was a miracle
which each moment served to renew"
Baron Steuben was also there, and lie
has recorded his observations. The
men were literally Naked" he said,
some of them in the fullest extent of
the word. The officers who had coats
had them of every color and make I
saw officers. at a grand parade at
Valley Forge. mounting guard in
sort of dressing gown. made of an old
blanket or wooden bed cover
That was 1870 years ago in a time
that indeed tried mems souls beyond
the conception of the people living IN
these comfortable twentieth century
days. Too much honor cannot be paid
to those Revolutionary patriots and it
is certainly matter of State pride
that between 400 and 500 men from the
District of Maine We're with the
Massachusetts troops who suffered the
hardShipS of that winter at Valley
Forge. 1t is to the memory Of these
men that the State has erected the
monument which was dedicated vest T.
day with appropriate exercises. The
site of the camp, which is now a State
park Of about 1000 acres and which has
remained in much the same condition
as when occupied by Washington. with
the trenches still showing and tine
stone house occupied by Washington
still standing in a good state of
preservation, will always be a national
shrine. and to all Maine people who
visit it it will be cause of just pride
that our state has not forgotten it's
brave sons who suffered and died there