Putnam patriot., 1910-05-06
DHiliFA. within three fI0nlflst Weak.ies. within One Year
Valley Forge and Puiasm Encamp
 al Bedding.

A soldier Of the cfsil Var, who was h the artillery service, gives a bfisf ae- count of Il visit to Valley forge tn Pennsylvania, and its counterpart al Redding, Connecticut, and presents fl through the PUTNAM PATRIOT because if k named after the sterling patriot who, next to Washington, made inde- pendenee possible by persistence in forlofn hope in the darkest days Of the American Revolution.
 As WAS in the heavy artillery ser vice along the line of the defepees on the Virginia side of the Potomac River during the Civil War. perhaps have a more vivid interest in the eampso of Val- iey Forge and Bedding than the casual visitor who may not know anything from personal experience Of the hard ships these sadly historic places repre- sent.
 In warm weather we had our big Sibley tent pitched in the ordinary way. and here We slept on the ground tHu> sHtitfttus ishifts NnfH toib VI" ther came on, and we were reasonably sure We were to remain Tn the forts all winter, we secured the necessary logs, which we erected in the ground, and placed the tent upon the upper end of them. thus securing more room for sbunks, - on which we slept above ground. These were secured 10 the logs on which The big tent rested-thus fur nlshlng accommodation for eighteen soldiers together. With m army stove in the middle of the tent we were made comfortable hy fire during the eoldest days.
 Having rcgimental bakery, the quota of flour N as drawn from the com missary department. and good bread coffee, beans and meat, with other ar my supplies, were furnished, so that nc real hardship was fell in these winter quarters. The climate there WAS mol severe.
 Some years ago the writer, when visiting comrnde of the war, in Phil. atielphia, he found that he had half | holiday at his disposal and suggested that we visit the most historically pa thetie location In all America assoeia ted with the Revolution alley Forge The proposition was accepted, and soou wr wefe on our way.
 The day was onc of the most charm. Ing of the lovely month of June. Right here, where we realized that bare bleed. Ing feet were sleaying trail ot blood upon the frozen ground, II was covered today with a glorious cloth woven ol butiercups, 50 that nothing else ap- peared in many fields. In contrast the dark green of many wheat fields, gave no hint that here our patriots actually starved for want of food enough tc sustain life in wasting bodies, which were so poorly covered they were anfil 10 le seen outside oi the log huts which were supposed only to be used as sleep ing quarters, and even then only on straw which vas insufficient for bed ding Of beasts. Here, where the ground today was covered with iuxuriant Alsa tan clover, then it's rugged surface for bad the approach of soldiers whoss shoes were 70 worn that the frozen soi tore their feet to the bone. Here today great fields of corn proved that even the beasts would fatten on the product, of the soil, which then were destitute of enough to sustain life.
 Why did not these men revolt from such state of neglect, privauon, ana destitutionr Why did they go on dut, each day as obedienl soldiers and dfil SC ss Ia become proficient in arms thai they might overpo~ef an enemys
 There is but one sns~er;l They wer' free men now. They knew If they los the cause of freedom for which the, were battling, foreign force wouls oserpowef them Ia the extent that al powers of government would hc remo ved from .nelr hands, and they woul, be ruled hy despolie foreign force, s' thss sesssr or later another WAT aoals have to be fought out and more hioos shed. Right here they resolved to Ugh IL out to the bitter end at whatever cos of present hardship. Valley Forge ist to Monmouth--which ought to hay' ended .ihe war--but finally to York town and acknuw wledeed freedom.
 Recently have been enabled to to cate the rugged esrth~orks on cas.h Heieh hts, beyond White plains--~ofk co strcngsthai Lord Howe did not st tempt to force them, knowing that an other. Bunker Hiii would he his fate and disastrous campaign would eas his command--fof your own Putnam was in command of men who were k be ss Valley Forge and the Rsddin1 camp.
 ss~ Two yearu 20 vss able to sisi' Camp Putnam. q Bedding, Conn., which was . smaller Valley fosgs, whore sons cf thss Coloay campsd fos ehe psspsss = pssesseinG thsas Assssa