The daily sentinel., 1907-02-21

s2a---t 7----7-'S~ 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 it,
Through it all Washington, as com
.manderin.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,
IVY. had sent Washington in retreat
Fort Mimin and Fort Mercer in quick
succession had been abandoned by the
continental army At Whltemarsh
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 1000 men. took up the weary
march to Valley Forge. sleepy de-
preston in the hills. % miles from
Philadelphia On one side was the
Schuylkil 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 12, fur.
nished with rude tools. and directed
10 build huts large enough TO house
each squad. According to specihca-
tions these huts were IA by I6 feet.
with sides, ends and roofs made of
logs The roofs were made water
light with bark. split slabs. or other
material The cracks in the sides
were filed with clay In the rear OF
each hut was 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:
ach field officer of regiment got
me; the stan of each brigade shared
mother; the stan of each regiment
vas assigned one; commissioned Off
ers for two regiments had one. while
or the non-commissioned officers and
men of the army IL persons were al.
loted to each hut.
The winter of 1777-7S was remark.
able for its severity and its deep
SHOWS, and when work was begun at
making camp, nearly 1000 men were
unfit for duty. British sympathlzers
populated the surrounding country and
food and bedding were hard to get.
even when the soldiers had the de
preciated currency of the country TO
offer in exchange. AS an incentive to
hut-huilding Gen. Washington offered
a purse of sl0O to the officer or man
who would suggest the best substitute
for boards as roofing material. hav.
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 St2 So encour.
aged. the tattered. emaclated army
was housed late In January.
Twenty-Five miles away was Howe's
army Of 1880 men in PhiladelphIa
paying British gold and silver for sun.
plies. Washlngton's starveling army
bad only the continental currency
worth SIS to the 500 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 uneomfort.
able quarters for the men. it may he
said that Washington shared them
with his men until all had been housed
u huts. Then only did he take nm
esdquarters with the old ouni,er
reacher near the mouth Of valley
s Around his adquarters were
tadoned the members OF his life
sdard.
Albi5enee Wslde's Diary.
Somewhere In this chilled. starved
aaif-nahed camp was 4 genius who