The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-06-30

KLk3AN1& are left unrecognized. There are
nAD no public records Of them
their quarters that had been the shelter Of the
NEEDY, the stage OF the Conway cabal Chat
one OF the remarkable and dramatic incidents Of
the war; the cradle OF the first aid to the in
1ured and the setting for love affair of one OF
i the first presidents of the United States
not included in the state reservation and taken
under its protection but is fast falling into decay
to the shame and dshonor of the guardians who
are neglecting of the two houses at Valley
Forge that are historically noteworthy and for a
puerile 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 Of
the Revolution. He had served as major and aide
necamp to General Shirley at the time Of Gen.
eral Braddocks defeat He had been in every
battle fought against the British in New York
and New Jersey, and was 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 the hills Of New Jersey, and with the
men commended with the discomforts and trials
of the celebrated winter spent In the wind-swept
valley on the outskirts of civilization as bravey
as any soldier, officer general
To these heroines of Valley Forge no history
points, cenotaphs raised, even their deeds
only traditional and crystalzed in the memo
res of few lovers of bravery, selfsacrifce and
feminine devotion.
1t early in the season when 1t was decided
to camp Philadelphia, and the army under
General Washington was collected at Valley
Forge when Lord Stirling wrote to his wife en-
treating her to join him there. his duties de-
tanned him with his men, but he had been prom
Used comfortable quarters and he had no idea of
the smallness of the house and It's numerous dis
comforts. For it was great demand to make
of the delicatey nurtured women, who had been
reared at the luxurious Livingston manor house,
,on the Hudson river, G. in Mr. Livingston's
Portable house in New York. But Lady Stirling
wisely determined that her place was by her
husbands side. with full staff of servants
(for she foresaw the demands that would be
made her hospitality she and her daughter,
Catherine started in the great family coach,
drawn by four gray horses, for the long drive
lover the Jersey hills to Pennsylvania.
When they reached their destination they found
IA small farmers cottage had been assigned to
Lord Stirling for his quarters It the
farthest house from General Washingtons head
quarters, under hillside and near a creek. 1t
was damp and lonely spot and quite inadequate
for the accommodation of family and servants.
But with unfailing good humor and the capability
lof splendid housewives. the ladies COPIED with
the situation and made the house ready for win
ter. They filled long flannel bags with earth and
placed them against the door stills and the loose
ily atting sashes to keep out the wind so the
house could be readily kept warm. They
pasted muslin on the walls and hung curtains
before the windows for the same purpose. Then
they sent to Baskingridge for many loads Of
hickory wood before the roads became choked
with snow, for fuel was scarce, and the soldiers
reauisitioned all that there was to be found in
the neighborhoods
General Washington welcomed them gladly and
at once requested that they would assist him to
entertain the various people who daily visited
the camp, either for political purposes, business
or curiosity.
Lady Strings household was composed of her
husband and his aide DR. Enoch Edwards, whose
name viii be recognized by many of his descend
ants in Philadelphia today. Then there was
Lady Kitty and her friend Miss Nanny Browne,
the orphaned granddaughter of Governor Brock
hoist and these danes may well be called the
heroines of Valley Forge although their minister
ings and sufferings found no recognition in the
man-written chronicles of that fearsome winter
Christmas passed sadly with little merTymaking
or good cheer, and daily the suferings of the III
clad badly-housed soldiers forced the
attention OF the women for the reports Of the
medical men became more and more distressing.
There we're comfortable hospitals, trained
nurses or even necessary clothing, bandages and
lint for the poor fellows. Lady Stirling and her
daughter were no strangers to the sick room;
both were capable nurses and had learned from
old Indian woman many salves and remedies
made from herbs or simples. not the least of
which was the celebrated Seneca OIL St Johns
wort lotion and rattlesnake grease, all Of which
they had provided themselves with before leaving
home Without hesitation these brave women
arranged division of work among them, for 1t
fell entirely on their individual efforts, since the
whole country overburdened and there was
no relief to be obtained from an organized sani-
tary commission red cross association. Quiet
" and unosten tatiously the three ladies divided
the work among them to do what was possible
to alleviate the increasing horrors about them.
To Lady Kitty assigned q daily visit to the
camp, while the delicate Miss Nanny sewed or