Event
On the Strength: An Interpretive Focus on Women and Civilian Contributions at the Valley Forge Encampment
Fee:
Free.Location:
This event will be at the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts (Stop #2) and it is free to the public.Dates & Times
Date:
Time:
Duration:
Type of Event
Description
Colonel Ogden’s 1st New Jersey Regiment & On the Army’s Strength
On the Strength: An Interpretive Focus on Women and Civilian Contributions at the Valley Forge Encampment
Saturday May 11, 2019
Synopsis: This program is primarily designed to pay tribute to the estimated 400 women and children, who were part of the Valley Forge encampment during the winter of 1777-1778 through the lens of living history. Using available academic research and primary source material as a basis, interpreters will replicate the bustling community.
Educational and immersive activities will include the public market that was established in February of 1778 by George Washington, a Brigade sutler, laundresses, soap makers, tailors and seamstresses that mended the army’s clothing, bakers utilizing the earth ovens for bread provisions, and a nursing and medical display. A few of the known officer’s wives will be entertaining a state Congressman or high-ranking officer, and retelling the hardships of visiting their husbands while they were at war. There will also be a formal court martial of women and an educational opportunity to see how women were subject to military rules and order. Visitors will enjoy the expansive view of the winter encampment, and encouraged to interact with each activity. The program is welcome to all and suitable for all ages!
Program Timeline for the day
8:00 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
Followers and Soldiery: Arrival at Valley Forge National Historical Park at the Muhlenberg Hut Area.
8:45 a.m.-9:00 a.m.
Weapons Inspection: All military personal to report to park staff under commanding officer’s supervision for inspection.
9:00 a.m.
Followers and Soldiery: Summary Briefing on Day’s Activities by Samantha Vogeley, Program Leader, and Kenneth Gavin, overall commander of the Continental forces.
9:15 a.m.
Followers and Soldiery: Formation, Roll Call, and Issuance of Pay to All.
9:30 a.m.
Followers and Soldiery: Participants Proceed to Their Designated Demonstration Areas Division into demonstration areas. Fires to be lit and formal interpretive activities begin.
10:00 a.m.
Valley Forge Markets and Brigade Sutler: Ongoing demonstration of the difference between the Brigade’s assigned sutler, and the civilian markets that were established on February 8th, 1778. Using primary documentation as our basis, we will address how farmers and their wives would sell goods to supplement the army’s lack of provisions, and how the army used this method to provide farmers an alternative to selling to the British forces.
10:30 a.m.
Guard Detail: Stationary detail of the picket post at “Stone Chimney” and how the army tried to regulate theft from civilians as well as potential flow of goods to the British in Philadelphia.
11:30 a.m.
Tea with wives in the Officer’s Hut: Meet some of the known wives of famous Officers in Washington’s staff, as they entertain each other and talk about the hardships involved with traveling to visit their husbands in winter quarters.
12:00 p.m.
Followers to the Markets: All followers and soldiery will purchase provisions at the established market using pay that was issued to them in the morning.
12:30 p.m.
Nooning: The followers and soldiery will partake of the mid-day meal using on hand rations as well as supplemental foodstuffs purchased from the market.
1:00 p.m.
Laundry and soap making: Using primary documentation as its basis, this ongoing demonstration will provide an in depth look at the most common job that followers provided for Washington’s army. Learn about how the army tried to regulate pricing, the steps of the laundry process, how the weather affected this job, and more.
1:30 p.m.
Sewing, Mending, and shirt making: As a corollary to the laundry demonstration, this portion of the program will focus on those women tasked with mending garments prior to their laundering. Using primary documentation, demonstrators will educate the public regarding deficiencies in supply affecting clothing available to the army and it followers as well as the role of followers in abating these deficiencies in clothing supply.
2:00 p.m.
Court martial: 1st person interpretation using primary documentation to explain how women were subject to military law, rules, and orders. Officers and staff will hold court to determine if charges against two women are valid, as well as issue and execute sentencing for her crimes.
2:30 p.m.
Nursing, Medicinal Arts, and Camp Sanitation: Using the papers of George Washington, Dr. Benjamin Rush, as well as accounts from surgeons serving with the army at Valley Forge, this demonstration will discuss how sanitation methods and a lack of proper sanitation contributed to the condition of the army and impacted the lives of women. Examples of topics to be explored include sanitation relative to butchering as well as processing of human waste. An assortment of period medical and nursing artifacts will also be on display for viewing and discussion.
3:00 p.m.
Event Concludes
Participants Break-down Demonstration Areas
3:30 p.m.
Departure
Reservation or Registration: No
Image Gallery
Meredith Barnes