6TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOSIAH HARMAR RAISED JANUARY 1, 1777; MUSTERED OUT JUNE 1, 1783 9TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL GEORGE NAGEL RAISED OCTOBER 25, 1776; MUSTERED OUT JANUARY 17, 1781 12TH REGIMENT INFANTRY, COLONEL WILLIAM COOKE RAISED OCTOBER 1, 1776; CONSOLIDATED WITH 3D REGIMENT INFANTRY, JULY 1, 1778 This was Conway's Brigade. His name is inseparably connected with Valley Forge on account of the dastardly intrigue in which he was engaged with Gates and others to supplant Washington. Gates had been successful in his efforts to displace Schuyler, and had taken to himself the glory of the victory over Burgoyne, and now sought Washington's office. He found favor in high places and a ready tool in Thomas Conway, an Irish adventurer, who had spent much time in France and who had been piqued at Washington's opposition to his undeserved rapid advancement in the army. Colonel Wilkinson, aide-de-camp to General Gates, told one of Lord Stirling's staff of a letter which Conway had written to Gates. Lord Stirling reported the matter to Washington, who promptly wrote to Conway as follows: "Sir,-A letter which I received last night contained the following paragraph: 'In a letter from General Conway to General Gates, he says, Heaven has determined to save your country, or a weak General and bad counsellors would have ruined it.' I am, sir, your humble servant George Washington.” The attempts of the principals to exculpate themselves blazoned abroad their perfidy and increased the prestige of Washington. The attempt to corrupt Lafayette failed, and the "Conway Cabal," as it was called, utterly collapsed after the fiasco of the much-heralded invasion of Canada. Conway's conditional resignation was unconditionally accepted by Congress. Later he was wounded by General Cadwallader in a duel, and under the impression that he would not live he wrote a letter of apology to Washington. His wound was not mortal, and on his recovery he returned to France. Colonel Malcom's regiment was added to the brigade by Washington on October 11th. This fact is of interest because it helps us locate "Little Burr," as he was called, the story of whose ruined life forms one of the saddest pages in American history. As lieutenant-colonel in Malcom's regiment he was encamped on this hillside, although much of his time seems to have been spent at Gulph Mills, in command of the picket, where he ruled with a firm hand and won the hatred of his men. He was strongly prejudiced against Washington, whom he disliked. Alexander Hamilton, whom he killed in a duel years after, was at this time one of Washington's aides. Here, too, we must place James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. He was a lieutenant in the 3d Virginia Regiment, and was among the wounded at Trenton. He took part in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and while the army was encamped at Whitemarsh he was made aide-de-camp to Gen. James Alexander, claimant to the earldom of Stirling, and commonly known as Lord Stirling. Major Monroe resigned on December 20, 1778, and his military services concluded with an assignment to duty by Thomas Jefferson. The Park Commission has located a blacksmith shop a few feet back of the marker. The Old Schoolhouse.-At the intersection of the Gulph Road and Washington Lane stand two schoolhouses, that to the east being the Camp School, used by the children of the district, while that to the left was used by the troops as a hospital. It was built in 1705 by Letitia Aubrey, the second daughter of William Penn. The Park Commission has restored the building to its original condition, and thus speaks of its work: "The desks and benches around the walls of the building with the Master's desk erected upon the platform, as in 'ye olden style,' have been placed in their proper positions, and thus the young of the present have an object lesson as to the manner with which the inculcation of the youth with the rudiments of education was imparted in earlier days." Since it was opened to the public, May 15, 1908, it has attracted large numbers of the visitors to the park, who have found it well worth seeing. Washington Redoubt is little more than a quarter of a mile beyond the schoolhouse, and between them was the artillery park. Those who have the time will do well to make a detour at the schoolhouse by the way of the Gulph Road and the Camp Road, instead of continuing by the Washington Lane. After seeing the schoolhouse return to the Gulph Road and turn to the left. A quarter of a mile from the lane turn to the left at the beginning of the Camp Road. Maxwell's Brigade. At the corner the Park Commission has placed a marker to show the location of the New Jersey troops which occupied this ground. The tablet gives the following information: SULLIVAN'S DIVISION MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SULLIVAN MAXWELL'S BRIGADE BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILLIAM MAXWELL COMMANDING IST NEW JERSEY INFANTRY, COLONEL MATHIAS OGDEN Col. William Maxwell was elected brigadier-general on October 23, 1776, to command what was known as the "Second Establishment," consisting of four battalions. Colonel Maxwell had entered the service of New Jersey upon the first call for troops issued October 9, 1775. At that time William Alexander, titular Lord Stirling, was made colonel of the First, or Eastern, Battalion, while Maxwell commanded the Second. It is interesting to read of the enlistment of the First Establishment, which served in the Hudson Valley and Canada. The men enlisted for a year, and were to be paid five dollars a calendar month. As a bounty each private was allowed "one felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, and shoes, 'the men to find their own arms.' A dollar a week was allowed for subsistence "whilst in quarters" and one and one-third dollars "whilst on march to join the army." It took so long to find arms and clothing for the troops that it was not until January that Colonel Maxwell could report at Albany to General Schuyler. At Ticon ووو deroga an inspection was made in October, when it was reported that the men were "destitute of many articles of dress, supplies of every kind they want, but shoes and stockings they are in the last necessity for, many having neither to their feet." Evidently this did not dampen the ardor of the men, for many re-enlisted and thus became the nucleus of the "Second Establishment," that which encamped here. As the troops were reported as "sadly in need of clothing" at the time of the Battle of Monmouth, their condition in this camp must have been deplorable. The sufferings which Maxwell's men endured at Valley Forge in common with the rest of the army were nothing new. Valley Forge only repeated their experiences at Morristown during the previous winter. Washington writing on his birthday in '77 to Commissary Irvine said: "The cry of want of Provisions comes to me from all Quarters. General Maxwell writes word that his men are starving." They were ready, however, to give a good account of themselves in the movements preceding the winter encampment. They formed the vanguard of the army which entered Delaware when the destination of General Howe was discovered, and occupied this dangerous position with honor. At Chadd's Ford and Birmingham Meeting House they made a gallant fight against overwhelming odds, and fought their way to Chester. From Chester to Valley Forge they followed the fortunes of the American army, leaving their quota of dead in the fields of Germantown. Site of Washington's Marquee.—A short distance beyond the New Jersey marker there is a road to the right, leading up to the Inner Line Boulevard. By continuing on the Camp Road another road is soon reached, having the same termination. Το the left of this point the Park Commission has located Washington's Marquee. Washington's First Headquarters.- When the army went into camp Washington did not establish his headquarters in any of the farmhouses in the neighborhood, but had his marquee placed on this hillside in close proximity to the artillery park. This seems to be borne out by the first of the Valley Forge orders "The Guards to parade near the park." His intention had been to make his permanent quarters with the soldiers, as he did until Christmas Day. Washington's quarters consisted of two tents, one a large banqueting tent, capable of seating forty or fifty persons, and a smaller tent for his personal use. The former is owned by the Government and the latter is now in the Valley Forge Museum, and is the greatest relic of Washington at Valley Forge. A description of this tent will be found in the account of the Washington Memorial Chapel and the Valley Forge Museum. These buildings lie to the northeast and are plainly visible from this point. |