HOW TO SEE VALLEY FORGE. Those who have only a limited time should visit the intrenchments, Huntington Redoubt, the Star Redoubt, Varnum's Headquarters, the Soldiers' Hut, the Waterman Monument, the Cloister of the Colonies, the Washington Memorial Chapel, the Valley Forge Museum, Washington's Marquee and Washington's Headquarters. This can be done hurriedly in two hours. Those who can spare more time should turn back after visiting the Museum, turn to the left at Washington Lane, visit the Old School, go up the Gulph Road to the Camp Road, follow this to Washington Redoubt, go over the Inner Line Boulevard, and then to Washington's Headquarters, either by the River Road or the boulevard. This book describes the tour of the entire encampment and a visit to Lafayette's Headquarters. This is all that can be done in one day, as the other headquarters lie too far afield. CARRIAGES. As there are five miles of boulevard and three miles or so of other roads over which one must pass to see all the points of interest in the encampment, most people will prefer to make the tour in carriages. These may be ordered through the hotels or from stables in Norristown, Phoenixville, or points on the Main Line. With a driver a carriage for four will cost from three to four dollars for the morning or afternoon, according to the time and distance. AND STRAFFORD RAILWAY. THE PLACE OF VALLEY FORGE IN AMERI T CAN HISTORY. HE year 1776 was a disheartening one for the American patriot, despite the boldness of the Declaration of Independence. The British had seized New York, and Washington, unsupported by Lee, was compelled to retreat through New Jersey. Congress, terror-stricken at the thought of the approach of the British army, had fled to Baltimore, and it seemed to many as if the cause of Liberty had been lost. Washington felt that "no man had a greater choice of difficulties, and less means to extricate himself from them." Certainly no man could do more with little. In ten days by a master stroke he wrested from Howe almost all the fruits of a long summer campaign. With only a portion of his small army he crossed the Delaware and pierced the British center, eluded Cornwallis at Trenton and struck another blow at Princeton, forcing the British to evacuate New Jersey, reanimating his disheartened troops, giving new courage to Congress, reviving patriotism and discouraging Toryism. The British plan of action for 1777 was to subdue New England by separating it entirely from the other States. To this end Burgoyne was to lead an army down from Canada, capturing Ticonderoga on the way, St. Leger was to seize Fort Stanwix, and to march down the Mohawk Valley, and Howe was to ascend the Hudson, all finally concentrating at Albany for a descent upon the Eastern States. The plan was not carried out. St. Leger's expedition was an absolute failure, largely due to Herkimer's bravery and Arnold's strategy, and Burgoyne, deprived of the support of St. Leger and Howe, lost his army at Saratoga. For Howe, instead of ascending the Hudson, as planned and as Washington expected, sailed for the Delaware, then on to the Chesapeake, and landed at Elkton, August 25th, to advance against the "rebel capital." On the last day of July, Washington learned that the fleet was off the Delaware capes and at once hurried to protect Philadelphia, passing through that city on his way to the Chesapeake. The first engagement took place at Chadd's Ford, on the Brandywine, where one division was routed, and the main body of the American army was compelled to retreat, the defeat being largely due to Howe's Tory guides, whose intimate knowledge of the country made it possible for him to make the detour by which he surprised Sullivan's right wing. Washington fell back to Philadelphia for one day's rest, and encamped at Schuylkill Falls. Howe attempted to cut off his retreat, but Washington moved up the Schuylkill Valley and crossed the river at Matson's Ford (Conshohocken), on the 15th of September. The next day he hurried along the old Lancaster road in order to prevent Howe from taking a position between him and Swedes' Ford (Bridgeport). That night the army encamped between Warren Tavern and White Horse Tavern. Here a battle was imminent. The American picket was driven in by the British, and this seemed to be the prelude to a sharp engagement, as the enemy had marched from Concord with the evident intention of turning the American right flank. The rain, which began about the time of the first fire, increased in violence, and the American ammunition was soon useless. Washington, therefore, retreated to Yellow Springs and Warwick Furnace, at which latter place cannon were cast for the army, leaving Wayne at Paoli. Wayne was surprised, and sustained such a brutal attack as to win for it the title of the "Massacre of Paoli." Recrossing the Schuylkill at Parker's Ford, the Americans passed through Trappe on the Reading turnpike, to Perkiomen Creek. On the 21st the British made a feint of marching against Reading, a depot of supplies, so Washington hastened to Pottsgrove (Pottstown), near which place the army was encamped for several days. Instead of doing what Washington expected they encamped along the road from French Creek (Phoenixville) to Valley Forge. It was at this time that the Valley forge was destroyed. On the 23d the British army crossed Fatland Ford |