Putnam patriot., 1910-05-06

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 l The autumn of ITS, Inc year follow ing The encampnenf at Valley Forge was one os the darkest hours of tue Re- l yolation. An those Nho were faint hesned, those who feared tbe cause WAS losi, bad given up in despair. The enemy was in possession of New York city, the Jersies and the Hudson. Con- neetietIt seemed to De the hoibed ef re- volt from British power, and vas ex- posed to raFages of her armies nov 70 successful Her soldiers h the field were resolved to risk al fof this foflorn eause-tboagh unpaid. with families in poverty and distress. General Put nam in command, insisted that his Co., 1 I0ny be protected, and that his troops be so entrenehed that they might de 1 fend their own homestsads. Hence it sas that the western section Of the Co iony was examined go as to secure ibe best strategic position for camp foi two brigadss.
 Bedding appeared to be the best lo- cation possible, because from it the forces quaftered there could be marched io protect fhe Hudson valley, the een- fer Of tho Colony Of Connecticut, and lbe whole ef New England. including possible campaign against New York eIty.
 Here again the white oak logs were iaid in order 70 that cabins measuring ig If feet wefes erected along the acempany sfreels.a Al the back end of each cabin A huge stone ehimneywas erected, where big, oId-fashioned fire plaees were constructed, In which the cooking for its occupants could be done IN well as heating the place. From line lo line we can follow the sites of these cabins and find where each chim- ney was located. where they later have been reassembied. The location of \ powder magazine has been found where the earth was removed and fl cellar was dug. Old residents remember when the stones of the chimneys were lying in good order
 It is interesting to visit the restored log barracks, each of which was sup posed te shelter twelve soldiers, and observe The eramped quarters these pa- tflots occupied during winter when the snows were more than usually deep and the cold more than ever se- we're. Here, as at Valley Forge, the farmer had raised his crops upon the field of Mars, thus obliteratinp the very thought of war and bloodshed. "Ihe bird has built her nest in the cannon is month"; where again men were free from foreign dictation. Apple trees were planted on the location of the old chimneys, and cows have browsed on the sites of armed camps.
 At the approach Of the camp we crossed stone afched bridges, such as were built by the early Dutch settlers of the Hudson valley, where the Con tinentai soldiers fought for the High lands. Two block houses commanding the entrance were patterned after those used by the early settlers Of the West ta protect lheif occupants, by having the second story project beyond that below, both stories were pierced'so as to permit of the use of muskets by the defendersi In these, small par | ties in the old French wars were shel- tered from the tomahawk of a savage foe They were frequently erected al that time along the Connecticut river for the protection of pioneer settlers who were driven from their dwellings
 Upon rocky erag stands an ooelisk of native granite, ten feet square at the base, forty. two feel in height crowned hy ball two feet and q half In diame. ter The polished plinths are Of Ridge, field granite, five feet square. They bear these inscriptions: Front, Erect ed to commemorate the winter quar- ters of fntnam,s division of the Cont. mental Army, i55s.l7Ia.a
 Opposite ,s "rhc Men of '7o who | suHsttu itits t' Hfs"S'fN sN'tfe' their Memory the State of Connecticut has erected this Monument, AID. isss''
 The State honorcd Itself by honofing these mems sacrifices for the cause Of Liberty.
 On the north side Is: arhe World Is full of theif Praise. Pasteftty stands l astaatsha.i ui their tiexsiS h
 On the south, Putnam, Mcpoueal, Poofe, Parsons, Huntington. These were Colonels in command of Regt- mcnts, with Putnam AS General.tn. Chief. Names repeated from Valley Forge, where today you can 70 and find forts Putnam and Huntington, This monument perpetuates the mem- ory of those patriots who, in Noecm- Der, HTS, gathered here 10 pass win tcr's delay between campaigns, while suffering all the pTisations of Valley Forge, for they were determined io stick to the cause forever tiil freedom was won. Old residents of Bedding told their sons and their grandsons oi the hardships endured al Reading. the proef ot which Is found in the orders oi the General Assembly of the Colony which passed relief measures by order. Ing tue seleclmea of every town to pfo' cure for each soldier al tent, iron pot
 s,woesiea bowls, and three canteens. | In January, ITS, the Assembly or