Washington's army encamped at
Whitemarsh, in a beautiful valley about 14 miles from
Philadelphia, where he remained until Dec. 11, 1777, and proceeded with his half-clad, half-bare-
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3]
footed soldiers to
Valley Forge, about 20 miles northward from
Philadelphia.
These numbered about 11,000 men, of whom not more than 7,000 were fit for field duty.
The place was chosen because it was farther from the danger of sudden attacks from the foe, and where he might more easily afford protection for the
Congress sitting at
York.
Blood-stains, made by the lacerated feet of his barefooted soldiers, marked the line of their march to
Valley Forge.
There, upon the slopes of a narrow valley on the borders of the winding
Schuylkill, they were encamped, with no shelter but rude log huts which they built themselves.
The winter that ensued was severe.
The soldiers shivered with cold and starved with hunger, and there their genuine patriotism was fully tested.
The
British under
Howe had full possession of
Philadelphia and of the
Delaware below, and
Pennsylvania was divided among its people and in its legislature by political factions.
General uneasiness prevailed; and when
Washington sought refuge at
Valley Forge, the
Pennsylvania
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4]
legislature adopted a remonstrance against that measure.
To this cruel missive
Washington replied, after censuring the
quartermaster-general (Mifflin), a Pennsylvanian, for neglect of duty: “For the want of a two-days supply of provisions, an opportunity scarcely ever offered of taking an advantage of the enemy that has not been either totally obstructed or greatly impeded.
Men are confined in hospitals or in farmers' houses for want of shoes.
We have this day [Dec. 23] no less than 2,873 men in camp unfit for duty because they are barefooted and otherwise naked.
Our whole strength in Continental troops amounts to no more than 8,200 in camp fit for duty.
Since the 4th inst., our numbers fit for duty, from hardships and exposures, have decreased nearly 2,000 men. Numbers are still obliged to sit all night by fires.
Gentlemen reprobate going into winter-quarters as much as if they thought the soldiers were made of sticks or stones.
I can assure those gentlemen that it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable room by a good fireside than to occupy a cold, bleak hill; and sleep under frost and snow without clothes or blankets.
However, although they seem to have little feeling for the naked and distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly for them; and from my soul I pity those miseries which it is neither in my power to relieve nor prevent.”
At the same time the
British army was
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5]
made as weak by indulgence in the city as were the
American soldiers by physical privations, and
Franklin was justified in saying, “
Howe did not take
Philadelphia;
Philadelphia took
Howe.”
At
Valley Forge Baron Steuben entered upon his duties as inspector-general of the
Continental army.
There the joyful news reached the
American army of a treaty of alliance with
France.
It was promulgated by
Washington in general orders on May 6, 1778.
He set apart the next day as one of rejoicing and grateful acknowledgment of the divine goodness in raising up a powerful friend “in one of the princes of the earth.”
It
was celebrated with tokens of delight.
The several brigades were drawn up to hear discourses by their respective chaplains.
The men were placed in specified positions to fire a feu de joie with muskets and cannon— three times three discharges of thirteen cannon.
At the first the army huzzaed, “Long live the
King of
France” ; at the second, “
Long live the friendly
European powers” ; and at the third there was a shout, “The American States.”
Washington and his wife, and other officers and their wives, attended the religious services of the New Jersey brigade.
Then the commander-in-chief dined in public with all the officers.
Patriotic toasts were given, and loud huzzas greeted
Washington when he left the table.
As the season advanced comforts abounded at
Valley Forge, the army increased, and on June 18 the encampment broke up and the army began a chase of the
British across
New Jersey when the latter had evacuated
Philadelphia.
A patriotic movement has been started to have the site of the
Valley Forge encampment preserved as a public reservation, and on Oct. 19, 1901, the Daughters of the Revolution dedicated there a monument to the memory of the revolutionary soldiers who died during the encampment.
The monument is a handsome obelisk of granite, 50 feet high, and at its base appear two bronze panels, one containing the seal of the society and the other representing a scene of camp-life at
Valley Forge.
Above these the original colonial flag with thirteen stars has been carved in the shaft.
The inscription reads: “To the Soldiers of
Washington's Army who Sleep in
Valley Forge, 1777-78.”
