Valley Forge Cell Phone Guide Transcript

Introduction

Welcome to the Valley Forge National Historical Park Cell Phone Tour, sponsored by the Friends of Valley Forge. To begin your tour, enter the tour stop number followed by the pound key.

If you are visiting Brandywine Battlefield, check out prompts 215 through 217. Enjoy your tour.

Enter the item number, followed by the pound key.

1# - Visitor Center: General Visitor Information

The visitor center. Start your tour of Valley Forge National Historical Park at the visitor center located at the intersection of North Gulph Road and Route 23. The visitor center is open daily from 9AM to 5PM, and during the summer season daily from 9AM to 6PM. The visitor center is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. To help plan your visit, the front desk provides park information, maps, program guides, and referrals to local visitor services. The visitor center is home to the park museum gallery which contains exhibits and artifacts from the Revolutionary War and the Valley Forge encampment. Many of our guided and self-guided tours start at the visitor center. Learn about our self-guided audio tour, including the audio guide available for purchase in the encampment store, which is located inside the visitor center. You can watch the park’s featurette orientation film played every hour next door in the park theater.

11# - The Museum Collections

Valley Forge National Historical Park commemorates the 1777-1778 winter encampment of General George Washington’s Continental Army during America’s war for independence. During this historic six-month encampment, the young American army underwent extensive training which changed an undisciplined, poorly equipped, and ill fed collection of men into an effective army proficient in the skills needed to meet the British Army on more equal terms. The lessons learned at Valley Forge would carry the Continental Army for another three years of fighting and final victory at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781.

To help visitors understand the importance of the historic encampment, Valley Forge National Historical Park maintains an extensive museum collection of eighteenth-century historic objects. The focus of the park’s museum collection is the George C. Neumann collection of eighteenth-century weapons and personal accessories.

Consisting of 1600 historic objects, the Neumann collection helps visitors understand the everyday life of the common soldier who served not only at Valley Forge, but throughout the war.

The park also maintains an extensive archaeological collection of excavated artifacts. This rich collection of military items, as well as architectural and decorative arts, is valuable for understanding both the Valley Forge encampment and everyday life in eighteenth-century America.

Samples of eighteenth-century American furniture and decorative arts used to furnish Washington’s Headquarters and Varnum’s Quarters complete the park’s extensive museum collection.

Many of the artifacts can be seen in the museum exhibits at the Welcome Center. The collections are also available for scholarly research by reservations only. Please contact the park’s Superintendent’s Office at 610-783-1037.

For general information on the park’s historic collections you may contact the park’s museum staff at 610-783-1020.

12# - Park Archives & Library

The archives and manuscript collections at Valley Forge Historical Park serve an important function. They contain the park’s memory. The information they hold is essential for understanding Valley Forge’s natural and cultural resources, events as they change over time, and the human impact on Valley Forge.

These records include personal letters, business correspondence, financial records, and printed reports. There are land records, deeds, maps, postcards, photographs, as well as architectural drawings and plans. These records span everything from the Valley Forge encampment itself, to over one hundred years of research and management of the encampment site, the historic structures, and cultural landscapes within the national park.

The park also preserves an extensive library collection. Known as the Horace Wilcox Memorial Library, it is housed in the Philander Chase Knox estate near the Knox Covered Bridge. The library contains more than 7,000 books and other reference materials relating to the American Revolution, with an emphasis on the Valley Forge encampment. Of special interest are the genealogical and microfilm references, of use when tracing Revolutionary War military records. This library also contains publications on natural resources, as well as numerous National Park Service studies and reports on the administration and history of the park.

Valley Forge National Historical Park archives and library are a wonderful resource for those researching the American Revolution, Valley Forge’s role, the history of the park, or even the identification of the flora and fauna within the park.

Access to the archives and library is available by appointment.

13# - The Encampment Store

Whether you are a frequent or once-in-a-lifetime visitor to Valley Forge, you don’t want to miss The Encampment Store located in the Welcome Center, featuring books, games, collectibles, and reproduction toys. This wide selection of educational items are available to enhance your visit and provide a memorable memento.

The store’s canteen snack bar located in the Welcome Center lower parking area, is open each day of the summer season, as well as weekends in the spring and fall, weather permitting.

90-minute trolley tours are offered through the store during the summer season and select fall and winter weekends.

Additional information about the canteen and the trolley tours is available at the Welcome Center.

The Encampment Store is a proud partner to the park. Proceeds from the store, a nonprofit corporation, supports the mission and goals of Valley Forge National Historical Park.

14# - The Friends of Valley Forge Park

Transcript coming soon! The Friends of Valley Forge Park is now called the Valley Forge Park Alliance.

15# - Volunteers in Parks (VIPs)

Transcript coming soon!

2# - The Muhlenberg Brigade: Log City

These cabins represent the area at which General Peter Muhlenberg’s brigade of Virginia and Pennsylvania soldiers were encamped. As soon as the Continental Army arrived here in December of 1777, soldiers began to build log cabins, or huts, ultimately completing about 2,000. Each had a fireplace, chimney, and rough bunks. Mud and clay were used to chink in between the logs to keep the winter wind out. Each hut housed anywhere from 2 officers to 12 enlisted men. To us, the huts may seem primitive. Yet for 18th century soldiers, the huts provided welcome warmth and shelter from the elements.

Rows and rows of cabins were built all along this ridge, packed closely together as a defensive measure, so that an attacking enemy would have to pass in between them. The huts were occupied according to the rank of the occupants, with the lowest ranking enlisted men quartered close to the front lines, and the officers several hundred yards to the rear. The areas for food distribution and cooking were placed close to the officers. As the rainy winter progressed, the men found and laid stones to create rows to keep them out of the mud. Many observers describe the encampment as a log city.

While you are here at the site of Muhlenberg’s Brigade, look to your north to the Washington Memorial Chapel, which stands on a ridge similar to the one where you are standing now. These ridge lines, as well as Mount Joy to the west, provided areas of high ground with good visibility and long views in all directions to see any approaching enemies. The valley enclosed by these ridges was called the Grand Parade. Completely open and tree-less at the time, it provided a protected area where the Continental Army could drill and maneuver, unobserved by the enemy.

21# - Oneida Indian Nation

Transcript coming soon!

22# - Topography & Industry

The grand parade is lower than the surrounding areas because of the type of rock that underlies it, dolostone. Dolostone is similar to limestone, something you may be more familiar with, in that it slowly dissolves in water. Over millions of years, the rocks beneath the grand parade dissolved or eroded away, creating a valley. You won’t see any streams in this valley because the streams run underground through solution channels in the dissolved rock.

The valley also contains numerous caves and sinkholes. A sinkhole forms when the roof of one of these caves or underground channels collapses. If you see a sinkhole, be sure to stay well back from the edge. One ancient sinkhole was a death trap for hundreds of Pleistocene era animals that fell into it. In 1870, local workers discovered what came to be called the Port Kennedy Bone Cave, an ancient sinkhole containing many fossils of plants and animals dating to the great Ice Age. Over 1,200 fossil specimens were recovered, including bones from a mastodon, sabertooth cat, ground sloth, and an Ice Age horse. You can see some of these fossils on exhibit in the Park Welcome Center.

Dolostone was heavily mined here in the 19th century. The line of pines you see at the center of this large valley bordered some of the old quarries. When the quarry industry died out in the late 19th century, other industries moved in. An asbestos product manufacturing plant was built in one of the abandoned quarries, and for over 75 years, dumped toxic waste into the quarries. 112 acres of land are contaminated and closed to public use. Remediation of these areas and restoration of the historic landscape will begin soon. The brown safety fences and warning signs will come down, and the area will be restored to public use.

Today, reminders of Port Kennedy in the era of mining and quarrying map the eastern portion of the grand parade. Near the Welcome Center, these quarry walls left behind by the excavation of stone give a peek into the geologic history of the area.

23# - Bake Ovens

The large mound here at the Muhlenberg Brigade is a representative copy of a Revolutionary War bake oven. Bake ovens were built in each brigade area camp, and used to efficiently produce bread for the Continental soldiers. Bake ovens generally were built away from the defensive line. The oven for this brigade might have been located 100 yards down the hill. This replica was sited here so that it would be easier for visitors to see it.

The army developed a portable oven made of iron plates for the war. The plates were transported flat on supply wagons and then assembled in fixed (?) camps, such as Valley Forge. Soldiers screwed the plates together to form the oven box, built a mound of earth around it for insulation, and attached a chimney to the back. Once the ovens were installed, they could produce thousands of loaves of bread in ovens like these. About a month after the army arrived, the smell of baking bread spread throughout the camp, and no doubt contributed positively to morale, as the soldiers knew their labors would be rewarded.

24# - Redoubt 2

This mound of earth is a redoubt, a four-sided defensive fort that was dug into the ground and also extended several feet above the ground level. Redoubts were large enough for soldiers to be able to stand inside, exposing only the tops of their heads and their guns as needed to shoot at an oncoming enemy. Redoubts often were constructed at the end of lines of defense to protect against flanking during an enemy attack. This redoubt protected the Valley Forge encampment’s outer line of defense, which extended all along the ridge line.

There are five redoubts in the park. All of them are reconstructions. After the encampment ended and Washington’s army marched out, the farmland on which the encampment had taken place was reclaimed by its owners, and the huts, trenches, and earthworks were plowed over or rotted away. The precise location of this redoubt was discovered during an overflight by the airport in 1948. Early morning patterns of dew on the grass clearly showed the square outline of the fort. Following an archeological excavation to confirm the dimensions, the fort was reconstructed.

There was never a battle at Valley Forge. Some believe that the presence of defenses, such as this redoubt, discouraged the British from attacking the encampment. But you can put yourself in the place of the soldiers who pulled duty here. Please feel free to enter the fort, look down the hill and imagine as the soldiers must have, defending this line against the steadily advancing and well-armed army.

3# - National Memorial Arch

The National Memorial Arch, completed in 1917, is a tribute to George Washington and the Continental Army. This richly decorated monument reflects not only the time in which it was built, but also looks back to the winter encampment and forward to all the generations who would visit and respond to the arch’s symbols and text.

The site chosen for the arch is symbolic in itself. This intersection of Gulph Road with the outer line of defense is one of the highest points in the park. Gulph Road was a road on which the soldiers marched into camp on December 19, 1777. The outer line, over a mile of defensive earthworks, was built by the soldiers. On this site and with its great size, the arch was meant to be a beacon. Before the area surrounding the park was so densely developed, the arch was visible from quite a distance away.

The design of the arch was inspired by the Triumphal Arch of Titus in Rome, a monument erected to commemorate a great victory. Certain features of the National Memorial Arch are modeled on the earlier one, such as the female winged figures and goddess of war over the arch itself. Other features directly reflect the encampment. On the west side are the words from General Washington as he expressed his tribute to the soldiers: “Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery.” A verse from the Bible also is inscribed as it relates to the soldiers’ triumph over the exceptional hardships of the winter: “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more.” On an interior wall of the arch is a list of the generals who served here. Text that was written in honor of the dedication of the arch serves to tie the sacrifices and aspirations of the Valley Forge troops to all succeeding generations.

Still more symbols reflect the period of uncertainty and nationalism during which the arch was designed. Just as the nation was being pulled into World War 1, important national symbols are chosen to represent unity and strength. Do the medallions on either side of the interior walls look familiar? These comprise the great seals of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1782, shortly after the surrender of the British at Yorktown. You see the seal everyday: it is on the dollar bill. On the north interior wall, the seal’s shield is composed of 13 stripes that represent the several states joined into one new nation. The motto, E Pluribus Unum, or From Many, One, alludes to this union. On the opposite wall, the pyramid signifies the strength and longevity which the seal’s creators hoped the new nation would enjoy. The eye and rays over the pyramid represent providence. The motto over it, Annuit Coeptis, means, “Providence favors our undertakings,” and refer to revolutionary leaders’ feelings about the revolution and its outcome.

Below the pyramid is seen the date 1776 in Roman numerals. This, of course, is the date of the Declaration of Independence. The words under the date, Novus Ordo Seclorum, signify the beginning of the new American era which commenced from that date. On the arch’s coffered ceiling is a pattern of lotus flowers. Below this is an ancient symbol of darkness and light, because the flower closes at night and sinks underwater, and at dawn rises and opens again. Interspersed with the flowers are brawn (?) stars, also a symbol of the United States.

Perhaps because of the wonderful descriptions and symbols, the National Memorial Arch is one of the most popular features of the park and the subject of thousands of photographs. However, one of the most intriguing carvings is not yet explained. It is the set of four masked faces with ancient helmets. There are many interpretations of the meaning of these symbols.

31# - The Pennsylvania Columns

The Pennsylvania Columns flank Outer Line Drive near Wayne’s Woods. They were erected by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1912 to honor Pennsylvania soldiers who served in the Continental Army during the Valley Forge winter encampment. The columns mark the location of the Pennsylvania line under the leadership of Brigadier General Anthony Wayne.

Henry Kirke Bush-Brown of Newburgh, New York was the sculptor. He also was the sculptor of the nearby equestrian statue of General Wayne, and also the well-known bust of Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Each bronze plaque on the columns contains bas-relief busts of two military officers, with their name and rank listed at the bottom. The Pennsylvania line officers include Brigadier General John Armstrong and Brigadier General J. Peter Muhlenberg; Colonel William Irvine and Adjutant General Joseph Reed; Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Harman and Major General Thomas Mifflin; and Major General Arthur St. Clair and Brigadier General John Cadwalader.

These granite columns with bronze bas-relief and eagles were designed to create the feeling of a gateway across the drive. Each column rises to over 30 feet.

32# - Women in the Revolution

Most everyone has heard of women such as Deborah Sampson, who hid their gender and enlisted in the army, or Molly Pitcher, who took over for her husband on his artillery piece when he was wounded. What most people have not heard of are the women who did not serve on the front lines, but who are no less a vital part of the army. These women, called camp followers, served behind the scenes to keep the army together. As wives, sisters, and mothers of soldiers, many of the women had a personal stake in the outcome of the war. Women enlisted for a mix of reasons. Some had been displaced from their homes by British activities. Others had to follow their men to war for monetary concerns. Some even brought their children.

In traditional European warfare, women followed the army to keep spirits up and work on domestic tasks. This was reflected in the status and duties of the women in the Revolution. Many women worked as laundresses, keeping the men’s clothing as clean as possible. Others served as bakers, or nurses for ill or wounded soldiers. Many of these women were listed on the muster roll as receiving half rations and half pay. Some even drew pensions after the war.

Many times, the people who work in the background of the situation are the unsung heroes of the conflict. These unsung heroes of the Revolution are actually heroines: women who endured all the hardships alongside the soldiers.

33# - Yellow Springs Hospital

The hospital and medical department at Yellow Springs. The medical department of the Continental Army lacked knowledge and experience in military medicine. Confusion and corruption was rampant. With no precedent in place, General George Washington reorganized the medical system, calling for the construction of a permanent hospital. This permanent hospital was built at Yellow Springs in 1778 to bring support to an army that suffered from exposure to extreme temperatures, lack of clothing, malnutrition, and few medical supplies.

Washington Hall became the only permanent hospital erected for the soldiers of the Continental Army. It was to serve as the Yellow Springs Medical Department headquarters and principal hospital for the encampment at Valley Forge. The commissary depot there packed medicine chests for the field and the first pharmacopoeia in North America was written there, listing medical preparation from herbs and plants indigenous to the colony.

Some of the earliest inoculations for smallpox were carried out. Disease was better prevented than cured, and preventative measures at the hospital would include well-cooked food, pure water, and washing and airing bedding. The hospital at Yellow Springs remained open after the march-out in June, and closed in 1781.

In addition to an organized army, the long, dark winter at Valley Forge also produced an organized, cohesive, and proficient medical department whose legacy included sanitation, cleanliness, preventative medicine, and hospital management. The Yellow Springs Hospital played a key role in this legacy. You can visit the ruins of the general hospital and the 18th century medical herb garden at historic Yellow Springs. Visit the website at www.yellowsprings.org.

34# - George Washington’s Visit to Yellow Springs

George Washington at Yellow Springs. Following the Battle of the Clouds in Malvern on September 16th, 1777, when storms damaged arms and ammunition of both the British and Continental armies, General George Washington and his men marched through water and mud to Yellow Springs where they camped the night of September 17th.

From his headquarters there, he wrote the Continental Congress that he would “move the baggage and ammunition from the place where we are at present to Warwick Furnace.” He intended to put the arms and ammunition into proper conditions, and to refresh the men whose health had suffered.

Consequently, when the army marched into Valley Forge in December, Washington knew of a site at Yellow Springs and, due to the increasing illness of the army, petitioned that a general hospital be built there. Washington Hall was the only specially designed permanent hospital erected for the Continental Army.

General Washington was to visit the sick soldiers at Yellow Springs during the encampment. He arrived to bid each farewell before the march-out of Valley Forge in June. You can visit the ruins of the general hospital and the 18th century medical herb garden at historic Yellow Springs. Visit the website at www.yellowsprings.org.

4# - General Wayne Statue

The man depicted in the equestrian statue, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, was the commander of the Pennsylvania troops. General Wayne earned the nickname Mad through his fiery temper and aggressive attitude. Washington described him by saying, “In Wayne, the spark of daring might flame into rationless, but it was better to have such a leader and occasionally cool him to caution, than to be forever heating the valor of men who feared they would singe their plumes in battle.”

Wayne served as a capable and respected officer throughout the war. His home, Waynesborough, is located just five miles from here and in this statue, his figure is seen turned in the saddle to gaze toward it. Wayne’s familiarity with this area was useful to Washington during the Philadelphia campaign and the Valley Forge encampment.

After the Revolution, Wayne was appointed the commanding general of the Legion of the United States. This military group was successful in defeating Indian forces and in opening up the northwest territory to settlement. Anthony Wayne died in 1796 at the age of 51 in Erie, Pennsylvania.

41# - Pennsylvania Regiments

During the Valley Forge encampment of 1777 through 1778, there were more troops in the Continental Army from Pennsylvania than any other state. They came from areas such as Philadelphia, Lancaster, Bethlehem, and the western frontier. Majority were infantry comprising the 1st through 13th Pennsylvania Regiments. Some of these units were consolidated during the reorganization of the army, here at Valley Forge. All of these regiments, except for the 13th, were in the Pennsylvania Division commanded by General Anthony Wayne.

There were also many other Pennsylvania troops serving throughout the army in Hartley’s Regiment, Patton’s Regiment, Spencer’s Regiment, the German Regiment, and Morgan’s Rifle Corps. Pennsylvanians who served in the Rifle Corps were different than the regular line infantry troops, as they were armed with more accurate but slower firing rifles. These riflemen were known for their accuracy, and served as scouts and snipers for the army.

The 4th Continental Artillery Regiment, commanded by Colonel Thomas Proctor, was made up of mostly Pennsylvanians. Also, the 4th Continental Light Dragoons had horsemen from Pennsylvania. In addition, the Provost Corps, or military police, which was formed here at Valley Forge, was predominantly Pennsylvanian chairmen.

After the Valley Forge encampment, many of the Pennsylvanian soldiers continued to serve throughout the rest of the Revolutionary War. Some remained with the army until their units were disbanded in 1783.

42# - Historic & Present Forests

This is Kristina Heister, Natural Resource Manager at Valley Forge National Historical Park. The Valley Forge area was largely forested prior to arrival of European settlers, and was progressively cleared through the mid-1700s for agriculture. About 30 percent of the area was wooded when the Continental Army arrived in December 1777. During the encampment, to establish and sustain the camp, every tree within several miles of the area was cut and used for hut construction and earthworks, or burned as fuel. Removal of the trees also provided clear defensive views of the river and surrounding area. A few trees managed to escape this devastation and still survive today. One, called the Lafayette Sycamore, is over 350 years old and was alive when William Penn first landed in Philadelphia in 1682.

In 1893, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania established Valley Forge State Park. During the early 1900s, the commonwealth reforested some areas of the park. Wayne’s Woods, where you are now standing, was planted in 1927 with white pines, red oaks, elms, and white ash seedlings. Today, the park is again about 30 percent forested.

Many of the types of trees that were present here historically can still be found in the park, such as oak, hickory, tulip poplar, elm, ash, maple, and dogwood trees. Others are missing. The dominant tree species in the forest during the time of the encampment was the American chestnut, many growing over 100 feet tall. In the early 1900s, this tree was attacked by a fungus that killed almost every American chestnut in the eastern United States by 1950.

Today, Park staff are working toward healthy forests through management of disease, browsing, and exotic plant species.

43# - Mount Joy Trails

Mount Joy. Hi, I’m Ernestine White, Trail Supervisor here at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Millions of visitors come to Valley Forge National Historical Park each year to enjoy the solitude and natural beauty that the park trails have to offer. The trails of today are heavily used by trail enthusiasts, such as hikers, runners, bikers, and equestrians. However, during the American Revolution encampment period, 1777 through 1778, these same trails that are enjoyed everyday by recreational users, may have been the same routes used for travel by military personnel under the leadership of General George Washington.

1777 through 1778, during the encampment period, existing local roads and the Schuylkill River remained important transportation routes for military personnel, supplies, and equipment. The region’s hard pecked earth roads were often difficult to navigate during the encampment period because of conditions. They were muddy when wet and crusty when frozen. The Continental Army appears to have established two secondary roads, including a route paralleling the outer line entrenchment and other access routes to the fortification, but otherwise depended on many of the existing routes for transportation by horse.

The present trail system on Mount Joy on which you stand was established in 1908. However, portions of the trail date from earlier and later periods. (?) used to serve the local (?), possibly predates the encampment period. The oldest trails at Valley Forge National Historical Park may be a part of the Mount Joy trail system. One section of trail on Mount Joy is noted in 1777 as a part of a road that began near Washington’s headquarters and ends where it intersects with the Gulph Road and Baptist Road. Another trail system on Mount Joy is noted on the post-encampment period plan, 1777 through 1893. Also, it is not indicated as to what purpose the road served during the period.

To learn more about current trail systems at Valley Forge National Historical Park and their history, speak with a park ranger.

5# - Washington’s Headquarters

This is Thomas Fleming, author of Washington’s Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge. “Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery.” General George Washington wrote these heartbreaking words in his headquarters at Valley Forge. They record our most familiar image of the Continental Army in this winter camp. But those words only tell us a small part of the drama of Valley Forge. General Washington did far more than express his sympathy for the soldiers’ hardships. He took on critics in the Continental Congress and the Army who were blaming him for the soldiers’ plight. He fought a secret war with them to rescue his reputation and prevent the army’s total collapse.

Congressman James Lovell of Massachusetts wrote to Samuel Adams that he had “little to say about our grand army. This is a subject very sickening to even a strong stomach.” When Congress sent a five man committee to Valley Forge to investigate the army’s situation, Lovell predicted they would “rap a demigod over the knuckles.” Congressman Abraham Clark of New Jersey was another nasty critic. “We may talk of the enemy’s cruelty as we will,” he sneered, “but we have no greater cruelty to complain of than the management of our army.” At the bar of a local tavern, Brigadier General Thomas Conway called Washington an “old woman.” Another savage critic was General Thomas Mifflin, the army’s quartermaster general. He claimed Washington’s pretentions for being a “great man” made it impossible to work with him. Mifflin quit his job without bothering to tell Washington. The resulting chaos in the quartermaster department had not a little to do with the food shortages at Valley Forge.

Washington’s abusers assumed he would consider it beneath his dignity to answer these smears and slanders. They expected a humiliated Washington to resign his commission and go home to Mount Vernon. Instead, Washington stunned his opponents by fighting back. When one of his friends reported an especially insulting comment on Washington’s generalship that Thomas Conway had sent General Horatio Gates, Washington wrote Conway a blunt letter, asking if it were true. That threw his military critics into a panic.

Next, Washington formed a political alliance with Henry Laurens of South Carolina, the President of Congress. That helped him deal with his Congressional critics. When the five man committee arrived at Valley Forge, Washington presented them with a masterful report on the army’s problems. Overnight it turned the politicians into Washington’s allies. In little more than two months, General Washington had his critics on the run. Congressmen rushed to assure their constituents that they had never harbored a negative opinion about that great and good man George Washington. They approved his choice for a new quartermaster general who soon had the army eating well.

This emergence of Washington as a tough, shrewd politician is one of the most important and least appreciated stories of Valley Forge.

51# - The Village of Valley Forge

The village of Valley Forge takes its name from an iron forge that was located along Valley Creek, between the two hills known as Mount Joy and Mount Misery. This forge, originally known as the Mount Joy Forge, was constructed in 1742. Its chief product was wrought iron, formed into bars, which could then be used by blacksmiths or melted down and molded into useful objects. The iron ore was obtained from extensive mines just west of this area. Charcoal to fuel, the forge was produced by clearcutting many acres of forest all around the forge and reducing the wood to charcoal during lengthy, controlled burns. As a result, the area looked very different from the green landscape you see today.

By 1757, the forge and associate property was purchased by John Potts, a prominent Quaker industrialist from whom Pottstown and Pottsville, Pennsylvania are named. More structures were added, including a gristmill, a sawmill, and new housing for the men who worked in the mills and forge. Potts used free workers, and also indentured servants and slaves in these industries.

Later owners continued to expand the industry here. A second iron forge and sawmill upstream from the Mount Joy forge, along with necessary storehouses for charcoal and finished products were added. Valley Forge was a typical rural industrial village, a self-sustaining economic community where local farmers and businessmen traded goods and services.

In March of 1777, the forge and its many outbuildings drew the attention of the Continental Army’s Quartermaster General Mifflin as a place to store large quantities of materials, including food and supplies such as tomahawks, camp kettles, horseshoes, and axes. Despite the concern of the forge’s owner that these supplies would attract the attention of British troops, the quartermaster, who would shortly quit his job, assured him that the site was defensible and the stores would be moved prior to any threat. When the British landed on the Chesapeake Bay and began to march northward, the owner, who had suspected the unreliability of the quartermaster, desperately tried to move out the stores, as well as his own belongings.

(X)’s supplies did, in fact, attract the British army who marched to Valley Forge in September shortly after winning the Battle of Brandywine. They captured and burned the forge and many of the other structures in the village. Much needed materials for Washington’s army were therefore lost despite the desperate attempts of workers and a small Continental force to load them onto rafts and transport them across the Schuylkill River to safety. There was not enough time, however, and the men barely saved themselves, let alone the provisions. The British fired some parting shots across the river at the fleeing rebels, killing one man and wounding another. The small skirmish was the only fighting that took place at Valley Forge.

After the war, a new forge was built along Valley Creek by the Potts family. At different times, works included a hardware factory, a steel mill, and a rolling and slitting mill that produced muskets. The ironworks stayed in business until 1824, changing hands several times. By this time, the availability of coal for mines up the Schuylkill meant that the ironworks could be located in more urban areas, away from forests and closer to large numbers of workers. The heyday of rural ironworks had ended.

52# - Martha Washington

This is Dr. Nancy Loane and I lecture and write on the women who came to the Valley Forge encampment. I’m also a board member of the Friends of Valley Forge, and I’d like to share some information about Martha Washington with you. Information that you may not know.

Martha Washington arrived at camp at the forge in the valley in early February. Valley Forge was the third of the eight winter encampments of the Revolutionary War, and Martha traveled to every one of them. She remained in camp until June 8th, just days after her 47th birthday. When she married George Washington in 1759, Martha Custis was a wealthy woman, perhaps the wealthiest widow in all of Virginia. Theirs was a happy marriage that lasted for almost 40 years. George and Martha Washington were a study in contrast. He was quiet; she was a talker! The General stood 6 foot 2 inches tall; Martha was 5 feet tall. She had dark hair, light eyes, a beautiful complexion, lovely teeth, a hooked nose, and was possibly left-handed.

At Valley Forge, Lady Washington cared for her husband, received the many visitors that came to camp, made sure that the household ran smoothly, and visited back and forth with the other ladies. She attended the production of Cato, one of General Washington’s favorite plays, at camp. Charles Wilson Peale, the famous portrait painter, completed three miniatures of General Washington for her, charging his usual price of 56 dollars for each. Martha was also hostess for many dinners at headquarters, dinners that some describe as elegant in their diaries. She attended several worship services at camp. On May 6th, the whole encampment celebrated the joyous news of France entering the war against the British, and General and Mrs. Washington received the officers and their ladies in the middle of a large tent.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, was almost 71 years old when she died on May 22nd, 1802. Two husbands, four children, and all seven of her brothers and sisters had preceded her in death. Yet she once wrote, “that I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposition, and not upon our circumstances.” Martha Washington’s bright outlook was an inspiration during the Valley Forge winter.

53# - Washington’s Aides-de-Camp

The Commander in Chief’s guard was an elite corps of soldiers dedicated to protecting General George Washington and to safeguard his important papers and equipment. At Valley Forge, the guard stayed close to the General in huts near Washington’s headquarters. The guard was initially organized in 1776. To be a guard, a soldier needed to stand between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches, to be clean in appearance, and have been born in Virginia, General Washington’s home state. Originally, there were approximately 50 members.

Here at Valley Forge, the guard became a model of the American Army under the direction of Baron Friedrich von Steuben. The Baron focuses his initial training on the guard, who later increased their numbers and sequentially trained all the soldiers at the encampment. Within a month of beginning training, the guard displayed their newly learned accuracy and effectiveness to the officers, demonstrating the potential benefits of training at Valley Forge.

Steuben commented, “We marched together and in a fortnight my company knew perfectly how to bear arms, had a military air, knew how to march, to form in column, deploy and execute some little maneuvers with excellent precision.”

Towards the end of the war, the number in the guard shrunk to approximately 70 officers and men. Caleb Gibbs of Rhode Island served as the guard’s Commander for the majority of the time. Through their diligence and training, the life guard (?) played a notable role in the Revolution, as evidenced by Washington’s adequate security throughout the war.

54# - Water Resources: Valley Creek

This is Kristina Heister, Natural Resource Manager at Valley Forge National Historical Park. The stream located in front of Washington’s Headquarters is called Valley Creek. Historically, this stream provided drinking water and power for forges, mills, and other industrial operations in the village of Valley Forge. Today, Valley Creek is a Class A trout stream and also an Exceptional Value stream, providing it the highest level of protection. 18 types of fish can be found in Valley Creek. Brown trout, white suckers, and blacknose dace are common. The creek is a catch-and-release fishery only due to certain kinds of pollution.

You may notice severe erosion, or soil loss, along the stream in front of headquarters. Loss of soil and stream banks here is caused by poor management of storm water upstream of the park. As more pavement is laid down for housing and commercial development, more rain water runs off the pavement and into storm drains. Storm water eventually ends up in Valley Creek, making flooding more frequent and severe. These increasingly severe floods have caused the banks along the stream to collapse, and the soil to drop into the water. The park works with a variety of partners to help protect and restore the entire Valley Creek watershed.

55# - The Story of Hannah Till, George Washington’s Enslaved Cook

Good day to you. My name is Hannah and I am a cook here in the General’s household. And might I inquire why you are standing idly by in the doorway of my kitchen? You must be here to inquire about the position of day servant. We need every hand we can hire. Mrs. Thompson, our most worthy housekeeper, hires and fires the help here. She, at the moment, is at the camp market with my husband Isaac, also a cook, purchasing the fresh vegetables and meats we require. They should return soon.

His Excellency is most particular in his demands that dinner be served to his company at 3 P.M. We in the kitchen are all busy, chopping, stirring, boiling, roasting, to prepare a meal for as many as 30 this day. That is the way it has been every day since I joined His Excellency’s family. For almost two years now, I have been a part of the General’s household. From the day I was hired out from my master in New York to serve as cook. I have been at all the celebrated battles and witnessed the near victory that this army has experienced.

I have cooked in households of privilege before, since I was a young slave of fifteen. But I must admit that the experiences of war make serving the General far different. There are privileges, of course. The General makes certain that his staff is well clothed, and his military family well fed, paying for expenses from his own pocket. As commander-in-chief and a gentleman, he has a standard to uphold. We help him maintain a semblance of civility and order in these times.

However, there are also the hardships. When there is no food to be had in camp, there are none for private or general. There are times our household has been reduced to mere rations, and we have had to barter for food for His Excellency’s table. Those times, fortunately, have rarely lasted long. And though another crisis usually arrives, short on the heels of the first, we have come to see it as suffering as usual.

And then there is the constant movement. Due to the uncertainties of war, we have moved 49 times in 12 months, from the time we first engaged the enemy at Trenton and Princeton, to the time we settled here at Pottstown in December. 49 times! Conditions varied at each quarter. I never knew whether I would have a spacious, well acquainted kitchen or a cramped, crowded one as here. And always, we were prepared to go at a moment’s warning.

Yet, we persevere. His Excellency inspires his men, staying here among them, not going home during the winter campaign. There is a longing, very strong, to do whatever is necessary to secure our injured country’s freedom. I, a slave, know how it is to dream and strive and hope for freedom. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is as the tree of life.” We all, master and servant, slave and free man, must strive to serve and do our part.

Well, that meal is not going to cook itself with me here talking to you. I must return to my duties. Good day to you!

This has been Ajena Rogers, Park Ranger, portraying Hannah Mason Till, who cooked for Washington’s household from 1776 until she earned her freedom in 1781.

6# - Redoubt 3

Redoubt number 3, also known as Fort Washington, stands today partially reconstructed upon its original remains. It is the best preserved of all the redoubts. This fully enclosed mini fort, surrounded by a trench, could hold both cannons and infantry. Its sides consisted of ramparts, the above ground portion of a fortified wall. The parts of these walls include the parapets, the uppermost portion which was fired over by the soldiers; the banquette, a platform for the soldiers to stand upon while firing; and the terreplein, the level ground behind the platform which permitted the movement of troops and cannons.

This redoubt’s design includes two internal diagonal bisecting walls. These walls divide the redoubt into sections so that the whole work wouldn’t be taken out by one shot. If any section was hit or demolished, the others would hopefully remain relatively intact and continue to provide defense. Exits and entrances were made by way of openings towards the rear of the redoubt. Fort Washington was strategically located and served as both a look out and for defensive purposes. From here, there were clear views to all edges of the encampment. Today, this spot still offers an impressive view eastward over the center of the park.

61# - The Inner Line of Defense

After the encampment, the land at Valley Forge is returned to agriculture. The inner line of defense, the series of defensive earthworks and fortifications stretching all along Mount Joy, had been built on land unsuitable for farming and it was not disturbed. As a result, you can see a long line of small mounds, about a foot or so tall, extending along the Inner Line Drive. These are the remains of the trenches of the inner line of defense.

The inner line of defense is defense in depth. It extends along the high grounds from the base of Mount Joy to the Schuylkill River. The left flank is anchored on the river, and the right on Mount Joy at a place where the Valley Creek enters the valley. Historic Gulph Road bisects the inner line of the defensive perimeter. Just forward of the line on the left and the right stand fortified positions called redoubts. Redoubt 3 is to the right of the road, and Redoubt 1 to the left.

Also forward of the inner line is the Artillery Park. The park was located near the road so that guns, particularly those used in direct support of the infantry, could be moved forward or where needed quickly. The large pieces used for general support would most likely stay grouped at the Artillery Park. Should a retreat be ordered, they would be sufficiently near the inner line infantry, who would provide retrograde protection.

The most likely direction of attack on the encampment would have come from the southeast along the Gulph Road. Should the outer line have been breached, the redoubts forward to the inner line would break up or slow down the assault. The inner line itself would either contain the assault or provide cover for a retreat to the west, up the corridor that extends for miles between the river and the high ground.

62# - The New Jersey Monument

New Jersey was the fourth state to honor the troops who served at Valley Forge with a monument. Completed in 1913, this monument honors the New Jersey brigade that was encamped on this site. It is the only monument in the Park that includes a statue of a common soldier. You can see that he is carrying a musket, and that he is wrapped in a thin blanket drawn tightly around him. He is perhaps standing on guard duty trying to stay warm, an example of just one of the many hardships endured by the Continental soldiers.

The sculptor of the figure of the Continental soldier was John Horrigan of Quincy, Massachusetts. Besides this Continental soldier, his work included The Volunteer, a Civil War soldier for a Holbrook, Massachusetts monument. Other works include carvings for the World War 1 memorial for Hole, Massachusetts; the Robert Burns statue in Quincy, Massachusetts; and the Titanic Memorial in Washington D.C.

The overall shape of the memorial is approximately 35 feet. The base and tapered column on which the statue stands is a warm gray granite. The 3,000 pound bronze casting of the soldier measures 8 feet in height. This memorial, which evokes both sadness at the suffering of the troops and awe at their endurance, is the epitome of a work of art that has achieved the goal of displaying, in material form, both emotion and abstract thought.

63# - Wildlife at Valley Forge

This is Kristina Heister, Natural Resource Manager at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Valley Forge is home to over 1,000 types of plants and animals. 17 of those are listed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as endangered, threatened, or rare. Historic information of the types of animals living in the Valley Forge area and how abundant they were during the time of the encampment is scarce, and comes mostly from letters and other writings of the time. For example, Samuel Whittaker Esquire of nearby Phoenixville wrote in 1872, “At the time of settlement, wild turkeys were very abundant and Penn wrote home to England that they weighed from 40 to 50 pounds each. Wild pigeons were so numerous that they could be knocked over with clubs. And stones, thrown into the flocks, could not fail to strike some of them.” He also mentions the presence of bears, wildcats, and wolves.

Wild turkeys, wild pigeons, bears, and wolves now are gone from the Valley Forge landscape. Other species are still here, but tough times in much greater or lesser numbers. For example, white-tailed deer, rarely encountered during the 1700s, are frequently observed at Valley Forge today. In 2006, the total number of deer within the Park was 1,218 individuals, or 244 deer per square mile. The increasing number of deer over the last few decades is attributed to the elimination of predators such as bears and wolves, and the creation of ideal deer habitats in the mix of fields and forests typical of the suburban Philadelphia area and the Park. The impacts of abundant deer can be observed in the forests of Mount Joy right next to you. As you look or walk through the woods, notice that the understory of groundcover and shrubs is completely missing. This is commonly referred to as the browse line. It is widely accepted that deer have played a major role in altering the type, location, and number of plants in our forests. Changes in vegetation affect the wildlife dependent on those plants such as ground and shrub nesting birds.

The Park has begun to develop a deer management plan, scheduled for completion in 2008.

7# - Artillery Park

Hi, my name is Bill Lange, I’m a Park Ranger here at Valley Forge and I’d like to talk to you about Artillery Park. This central encampment location was used to keep cannons at the ready in case of a British attack. If there was a threat, the artillery crew in Artillery Park would hear the alarm call made with fife and drum from anywhere within the encampment. The cannons as seen here mounted on steel carriages, would be brought to where they were needed together with the tools, the gunpowder, and the ammunition used to fire the cannon.

Several various styles of carriages, shot, and artillery were used during the Revolutionary War. Steel carriages like the ones at Artillery Park have large wheels to make them easier to move from place to place. Step carriages with smaller wheels are used for a more stationary gun, such as those at forts or on ships. Anti-personnel shot is usually many small balls in a canister or strung together instead of a single cannonball like you may be used to seeing. These cannons at Artillery Park are capable of firing up to a three-pound solid cannonball. This gave them the nickname of “three-pounders.” Other shot is also fired out of guns of the eighteenth century. The choice for shot depends upon the circumstance and availability. Cannon are the most common artillery, however mortars and howitzers that fire exploding shots are also used. Artillery officers need many technical skills. They need to be able to figure out the various angles or trajectories used to hit a target.

George Washington chose Henry Knox to be the commander of artillery for the Continental Army. General Knox was a bookseller in Boston before the war, and often times British officers would order military books through him. Henry taught himself from books he read before selling them. He was very interested in the military arts, especially artillery and associated himself with a group of people of similar interests, like the Ancient Order of Artillerists.

Protection of the army happens in part because General Henry Knox was up to a huge task with the command of the artillery at Valley Forge.

71# - Henry Knox

Henry Knox and Knox’s Quarters. It is believed that Artillery Commander Henry Knox established his quarters during the Valley Forge encampment in a small farmhouse in this area. When the Revolution began, there wasn’t much American artillery to command, until 1776 when Henry completed his daring, and many said foolhardy, plan to transport 59 captured British cannons and mortars 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga, New York, to Boston during the winter. The arrival of these weapons at the heights overlooking Boston in January 1776 enabled the Americans to prevail in their siege of the British occupied city.

Before the war, Knox had been a bookseller in Boston, and he was well read, in other words, self-trained, in military topics. Often British officers would order military books from him, and he taught himself about artillery and other military parts from books he read before selling them. He also associated himself with a group of people with mutual military interest: the Ancient Order of Artillerists. Realizing that artillery skills were sorely lacking in the Continental Army, Knox proposed that an academy be established. He envisioned the academy to be a place where the whole theory and practice of fortifications and gunnery should be taught. This would become the basis for the United States Military Academy at Westpoint, established in 1802.

Because Knox had more academic and less practical experience with military, foreign officers who desired themselves to be in command of the artillery challenged his authority. The Commander-in-Chief adamantly defended him, however, and later the Congress upheld his authority.

The siege of Yorktown, Virginia, was General Knox’s best show of his ability. Here he advanced the artillery, broke the lines, and penetrated several British fortifications. General Washington promoted Henry Knox as the youngest Major General in the Army. It was Henry Knox who took over command of the United States Army upon Washington’s resignation in 1783. Henry was later selected by President Washington to become the first Secretary of War in the new federal government.

72# - Park Meadows

This is Kristina Heister, Natural Resource Manager at Valley Forge National Historical Park. Valley Forge contains the largest area of meadows in southeastern Pennsylvania, covering approximately 30 percent, or 1,000 acres of the Park. Meadows are reminiscent of the agricultural landscape that existed here before and after the encampment, and support a wide variety of plants and animals. For three centuries, the Valley Forge area provided an ideal location for agriculture because of prime soils, the availability of water, and accessibility to transportation on the river.

At the time of the encampment, 18 landowners had established farms within what is now the Park. As you look out from the Baron von Steuben statue, you are observing property owned by David Stephens during the 18th century, and covering much of the Grand Parade. Imagine that the tall grass meadows are actually fields of wheat and hay ready for harvest.

Open fields at Valley Forge were not always managed as meadows. For many years after the Park was established in 1893, all open areas were mowed as lawns. Mowing was first accomplished by sheep! And later by mechanical means. Fields also were cultivated for periods of time to grow crops such as corn. Both of these management styles provided very poor habitat for wildlife and did not reflect the historic scene. The establishment of meadows offered an opportunity to improve visitor understanding of the contribution of agriculture and also to provide excellent wildlife habitat. Tall grass is particularly important to certain kinds of grassland birds that can now be observed in the Park. These include the eastern meadowlark, grasshopper sparrow, and field sparrow.

Meadows represent one of the most threatened habitats in southeastern Pennsylvania, and the Park has become a refuge for grassland dependent animals across the entire region.

73# - Quartering During the Encampment

Quartering during the encampment at Valley Forge. While the Army itself suffered a great deal during the winter encampment at Valley Forge, its presence here also created a difficult challenge in the lives of the local inhabitants. One of these many trials was the practice of quartering, as civilians were persuaded and often forced into housing men, livestock, and supplies, frequently at their own expense.

When a ragged Continental Army dragged into the area on December 19th, 1777, their arrival came as a complete surprise to the citizens living near Valley Forge. Within roughly two weeks, the troops had nearly settled in, establishing what Army Surgeon Albigence Waldo described as a “spacious city of over 1000 huts.” This city was constructed on the fields of local farmers and built with timber and boards taken from their fences and outbuildings.

Although most soldiers lived in the huts, many of the higher ranking commissioned officers occupied the homes of local civilians for the six month encampment. General George Washington rented a stone house from a woman named Deborah Hughes. She and her children were able to leave, most likely staying with nearby relatives. As a result, she did not have to share her home with the General and his large military family. However, many of the families who were compelled to quarter officers had no choice but to remain in their homes alongside the military officers and their staff. The crowding and unequal status created problems.

A local landowner and prominent Anglican named William Moore wrote to Congress, complaining that he was allowed but two rooms in his own house, with the rest being occupied by Colonel Biddle, General Greene, and their staff, who “had the use and wear of all the bedding, linen, and other (?) he could spare, together with his barn, stables, firewood, and whatever other articles were on the plantation.”

In a similar manner, General James Varnum and his staff took over the farmhouse of the David Stephens family. The family retreated to a single room, while the officers occupied the rest of the house. When Lord Stirling occupied the home of Reverend William Currie, he brought his wife, daughter, several servants, and reportedly 412 articles of clothing.

Some landowners in the region were forced to house not only the officers and their assistants, but horses and supplies as well. As a teenager living during the Revolutionary War, Sally Wister of Philadelphia witnessed such an event and wrote the following in her journal: “The idea of having light horse quartered at the farm was disagreeable; the meadows just fit to mow and we had heard what destruction awaited their footsteps.”

Henry Pawling, whose property located north of the Schuylkill River contained a commissary department, must have had similar concerns when, in February of 1778, 135 head of cattle were kept on his land. By late winter, the number of cattle had increased to a total of 400.

Throughout the Revolution, under direct order from the General, soldiers took private homes in order to quarter their officers. They took steel, meadows, and outbuildings as means of providing for livestock and storing supplies. They even forcibly entered churches so as to convert them into hospitals.

In many respects, the Continental Army’s treatment of the civilians was similar to that of the British. As both sides seized private property for their own use, the local inhabitants must have longed for protection against these acts. Such protection came just fourteen years later, as the ratification of the Third Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibited the quartering of soldiers without consent. No more would civilians be required to support the army as those living in the Valley Forge area had been compelled to do.

8# - Varnum’s Quarters

The Stephens Farmhouse, known today as Varnum’s Quarters, had been here years before the Continental Army first arrived at Valley Forge in 1777. Local tradition and some documentation place Brigadier General James Varnum of Rhode Island at Stephens Farm during the encampment. It is believed that General Varnum may have used a room in the Stephens Farmhouse as his quarters or may have held meetings for officers here. Varnum’s quarters is often used to interpret the effect of the war on civilians, as it is probable that the Stephens family still resided in the house as the army conducted its business. We do not know precisely what the building looked like at the time of the encampment since it has gone through many changes and renovations. What you see today is primarily a restoration based on historic architectural research.

81# - General von Steuben

On December 1st, 1777, Baron Friedrich von Steuben, then aides-de-camp in Frederick the Great’s Prussian Army, arrived in the United States. Just a few months later in February of 1778, von Steuben arrives in York and meets with the Continental Congress. During this time, von Steuben possesses no desire for rank or pay, just a willingness to serve and the cause of American independence. He will abide by whatever rank the Congress chooses to give.

Congress, very impressed with Steuben, directs him to report to Valley Forge. He arrives here on the 23rd of February, 1778. General Washington, immediately recognizing his ability, assigns von Steuben the task of inspecting the encampment and the army as a whole. While noting some problems in the encampment, he is still very impressed with the desire of the Continental Army to persevere.

Knowing the administrative challenge that von Steuben possessed, Washington begins the process of appointing him to the position of Inspector General, with the pay of a Major General. As an Inspector General, Steuben became the architect of the drill manual. He also helps a great deal in uniforming the Army as a whole.

Imagine if you can this area, which is the Grand Parade: the shouts of command, the firing of muskets. This area was a living, breathing spot where the birth of the American Army and the shape of things to come because of Baron von Steuben.

82# - Soldiers on the Grand Parade

This large valley stretching from what is now Route 23 to Outer Line Drive is called the Grand Parade. During the encampment it was the scene of much of the drilling and training of the troops. This was improvised by the Prussian military officer Baron Friedrich von Steuben, who came to America to serve with General Washington in the Revolution.

Arriving at Valley Forge, von Steuben was shocked to see the reduced condition of the Army, and how little prepared it was to begin campaigning in the spring. With Washington’s approval, he took over the direction of military training. In the 18th century, battles were fought by groups of close-range troops firing in unison. Success in battle depended on synchronization and speed in loading and firing. Up to this point, however, Continental soldiers from the thirteen states used very different methods of marching and maneuvering, and found it difficult to fight the highly trained British. Von Steuben chose and trained what he called a “model company” of 100 men who in turn trained more men, and who then successfully worked their way through the ranks. He standardized the cadence of marching and simplified the steps of reloading and firing in order to increase speed. He also drilled the troops in the use of the bayonet, an essential weapon which some had previously discarded or used for cooking meat.

The quick tempered baron learned that Americans did not respond to harsh European style leadership. He noted that he had to change the style of command, noting that, “You say to your European soldier, “Do this” and he do with it. But at Valley Forge, I am obliged to say, “This is the reason why you ought to do that” and then he does it.”

Von Steuben spoke no English when he first arrived. He would bellow out his orders to the men in French and a junior officer would translate them. When he became frustrated, his orders would be littered throughout with swear words in both German and French, which the men had no trouble understanding, even without a translation.

Von Steuben showed these independent minded troops the positive results that came from order and discipline. He noted how quickly the men progressed, observing that it normally took two years to properly train a soldier. As spring came on, entire brigades marched with newfound precision and quickly executed commands under his critical eye. The result of many months of hard work by von Steuben and the troops was that the Army became a more cohesive, proficient, and professional fighting force. The success of this training was one of the most important accomplishments of the Valley Forge winter. Many regard Valley Forge as the birthplace of the American Army.

83# - Geology & Paleontology

Transcript coming soon!

9# - Washington Memorial Chapel and the Patriots of African Descent Monument

At the top of the ridge that defines the northern edge of the Grand Parade, you can see the Washington Memorial Chapel. Construction on this ornate and patriotic chapel began in 1903. The founder, Reverend Dr. W. Herbert Burke, believing that George Washington drew upon his religious faith to overcome the despair of Valley Forge, resolved to build a cathedral in his honor. The cathedral was never finished but powerful symbolism is found in the chapel’s soaring gothic revival architecture.

The imagery inside the chapel incorporates symbols of both the Episcopal Church and also the founding of the nation. The stained glass windows illustrate the life of Christ, as well as the lives of heroes from the American Revolution. Choir stalls, pews, and ceiling murals all honor important persons from revolutionary history.

We encourage you to take some time out to visit this unique chapel, but please respect that this is an active church where weddings, baptisms, and funerals take place, in addition to regular service on Sundays.

91# - Details of the Chapel

The Washington Memorial Chapel is an active Episcopalian parish in the Diocese of Pennsylvania. The cornerstone was laid in 1903 and the chapel was dedicated in 1917. The chapel was built as a tribute to George Washington and the American patriots of the Revolution. It was designed by Milton B. Medary Jr. who was selected by the University of Pennsylvania in a competition for that purpose.

The windows throughout the chapel have alternating red and blue predominate stained glass designs. Each window commemorates a patriot; there are 13 in all. Over the door is the George Washington window, with 36 scenes from his life, beginning with his baptism and ending with him reading his Bible at Mount Vernon. The ceiling is called the Roof of the Republic and bears the hand carved state seals of all the states, placed in order in which they came into the Union.

Keys to the seals are found in bronze plaques embedded in the floor of the central aisle. The choir stalls are hand carved oak standing 19 and half feet high, each named for a different brigade. The altar is a solid block of Indiana limestone weighing approximately six tons. The cross on the altar is hand carved wood and adorned with small statues of the four Evangelists. The cross was donated by members of the Abraham Lincoln family. In the niche in the right front of the chapel is a statue of Washington made after his death and is called Valley Forge. It shows him bearing the burdens of war, anxiety on his face, determination in the grip of his sword, confidence and hope in the pose of his figure. It is the work of Franklin Simmons, sculptor from Maine, and was constructed in Rome, Italy.

The National Patriots Bell Tower of Valley Forge has 58 bells: the National Birthday Bell, one for each of the 50 states, and the seven territories. The size of each bell was determined by the population of the states and territories in 1920. The weights range from Illinois’s 4 ton bell and (the?) Wake Island’s 13 and a half pound bell. Also located in the tower are the copper plates bearing the names of patriots and soldiers of the Revolutionary War to World War 2, the Justice Bell, and the Veterans Wall of Honor.

92# - Patriots of African Descent at Valley Forge

This is Noah Lewis. I am honored to share with you the Black contribution to this country’s freedom. Over 770 men of African origin were at Valley Forge. When Washington took over the army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he issued orders that Blacks were not to be included. Later, Washington would change his orders to allow free Blacks to fight. Washington would have the most integrated army until 1953. Washington would have three majority Black regiments under his command from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island; they would play an important part in the Revolutionary War. In the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, Black sailors would help to rescue Washington’s trapped army in New York. At the Battle of Yorktown, where the Rhode Island regiment would be given an assignment to capture a critical fortification, allowing Americans to gain the advantage.

Three to five thousand people of color would fight for the American cause. Seven to ten thousand would fight for the British. Blacks would serve as soldiers, sailors, spies, leaders of slave revolts, and social activists. Some of the most notable people with African ancestry during this time would include Prince Estabrook; Peter Salem; Salem Poor; Minutemen who would fight at Lexington and Concord, Breed’s Hill, and Bunker Hill; James Forten, who would later become one of the richest men in Philadelphia; Phillis Wheatley, one of the first women to have her writing published in America; Benjamin Banneker, who would help to design the layout of Washington D.C.

The existence of Blacks during the Revolutionary War was a multifaceted experience. There was at least four ways those with African ancestry would have to view their life from: as a free person, as a runaway enslaved person hoping for freedom at the end of the war, as an enslaved person sent as a substitute for his owner or his owner’s son, or as a person from another country coming here to aid in the war.

Now standing before you is the monument to Patriots of African descent. While contemplating the significance of what these people did, many wonder about the symbolism present in the illustration on the monument. The following is the interpretation by Cal Massey, the artist who conceived this image: “Step close. Run your fingers along the images that will be described to make this experience as real to you as the lives of these people were. The red ring is embraced by a crestong arch, symbolic of spirituality. Three reinforcements are symmetrically fastened to the arch, representing service, suffering, and sacrifice. A bust of three fully-uniformed soldiers personify dignity. The soldiers are faced in three distinct directions, symbolic of their pointed and particular plights: free men who fought and hoped for an honorable existence; slaves who were granted freedom but later on sought acceptance; forsaken slaves whose promise of freedom was abandoned. Surrounding the patriots is a flock of doves in flight which manifest a zealous yearning for freedom. The lower wreath below signifies victory and honor. The seven leaves on each side express a noble cry for equality.

This was Noah Lewis. I bring Ned Hector, a heroic free Black teamster and artillerist, who fought in the Battle of Brandywine and Germantown, to life. For more information, go to www.nedhector.com.