Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1914-06-25

|MIHv starving and clothed the naked.
pMRMT are left unrecOgnized There are
WaaaaA@ no public records of them. even
their quarters that had been the shelter OF the
needy, the stage of the Conway cabal chat was
one of the remarkable and dramatic incidents of
the war; the cradle of the first aid to the in
Jured and the setting for love affair of one OF
the first presidents of the United States, was
not included in the state reservation and taken
under its protection but is fast falling into decay,
to the shame and dishonor of the guardians who
are neglecting one of the two houses at Valley
Forge that are historically noteworthy, and for
puerile reason unworthy OF a great common
wealth.
This little farmers house was the headquarters
of Major General Lord Stirling, of the most
gallant and loyal American soldiers Born and
bred In New York, he had inherited title from
his Scotch ancestors, just at the breaking out or
the Revolution. He had served as major and aide
ldecamp to General Shirley at the time of Gen
jeral Braddocks defeat. He had been in every
battle fought against the British in New York
and New Jersey and General Washington's
most trusted general, as is proved by the numer-
GUS letters still preserved In the New York His
torical society. The headquarters of this gentle
man was shared by his brave wife and daughter,
who abandoned their beautiful home at Basking-
ridge on the hills of New Jersey. and with the
men contended with the discomforts and trials
of the celebrated winter spen> n the wind-swept
valley on the outskirts Of civilization as braVely
as any soldier, officer general.
To these heroines of Valley Forge history
points no cenotaphs raised, even their deeds
ARE only traditional and crystallized in the memo
Ties of few lovers Of bravery, self-sacrihce and
feminine devotion.
It was early in the season when 1t was decided
to camp near Philadelphia, and the army under
General Washington collected at Valley
Forge when Lord Stirling wrote to his wife en-
treating her to join him there, as his duties de-
TIT =. hut hO hnd
Used comfortable quarters, and he had no idea OF
the smallness of the house and its numerous dis
comforts For it was great demand TO make
of the delicately nurtured women, who mad Deen
reared at the luxurious Livingston manor house.
An tbs Hudson river, or in Mr.. Livingstons COM
portable house in New York. But Lady Stirring
wisely determined that her place was by her
husbands side so with full staff of servants
(for she foresaw the demands that would De
made on her hospitality she and her daughter
Catherine started in the great family COACH
drawn by four gray horses, for the long urlVe
over the Jersey hills to Pennsylvania.
When thew reached their destination they found
"a small farmers cottage had been assigned 10
Lord Stirling for his quarters. IL was the
farthest house from General Washlngtons mead
quarters under hillside and near creek IL
was a damp and lonely spot, and quite inadequate
for the accommodation of family and servants
Tut with unfailing good humor and the capablhty
of splendid housewives, the ladies' coped WIN
the situation and made the mouse ready LOT VIII
ter They filed long flannel bags with earth anu
placed them against the door sllla ana the loose-
" ettino sashes to keep out the wind, so the
honse could be more readily kept warm lneS
,nosted muslin on the walls and hung curtains
hefore the windows for the same purpose lhen
thew sent to Baskingrdge for many loaus OIL
hickory wood before the roads became chokeo
with snow for fuel scarce, and the soiuleIs
requistioned all that there was " 10 i0 "
the neighborhood ,
cenaral Washington welcomed them gladly ana
Of once requested that they would assist him 10
entertain the various people VINO dally Vlslteu
the camp, either for political purposes business
or curiosity.
hueband and his aide DR.. Enoch Edwards, whose
mama will be recognized by many of his descend
ants in Philadelphia today. Then there was
Tadv Kitty and her friend, Miss Nanny Browne
the orphaned granddaughter of Governor Brock
hoist and these DANES may well be cahed the
beroines of valley Forge, although their minister
ino. ord gatherings found no recognition in the
man.written chronicles of that fearsome winter
christmas passed sadly with little merrymaking
or good cheer, and daily the suHerlhgs OF the III
clad badlyhoused soldiers were forced on th9
attention of the women, for the reports OF the
medical men became more and more distressing.
Thora were no comfortable hospitals, trained
nuraes or even necessary clothing, bandages and
lint for the poor fellows. Lady Stirring ana her
dou0bter were no strangers to the sick room;
both we're capable nurses and had learned from
an old Indian woman many salves and remedies
made from herbs or simples, not the least OF
which was the celebrated Seneca OIL 81 1ohh
,ort lotion and ratt]esnake grease all or when
thew had provided themselves with before leaving
home without hesitation these brave women
arranged division Of work among them for It
Ell entirely on their individual efforts. since the
whole country was overburdened and there was
no relief to be obtained from an organized sam
~ aorroiseion or red cross association Quiet
- ord unostentatiously the three ladies divided
che work among them to do what was possible
80 alleviate the increasing horrors about tnem'
~ I.adv Kitty was assigned daily visit to the
.oomn while the delicate Miss Nanny seWeu OF