periences here: "Most of the officers gave to their almost naked soldiers nearly the whole of their clothing, reserving only that they themselves had on. Slaughter was reduced to a single shirt. While this was being washed, he wrapped himself in a blanket. From the breast of his only shirt he had wristbands and a collar made to complete his uniform for parade. Many of his brother officers were still worse off, having no undergarment at all; and not one soldier in five had a blanket. Washington daily invited the officers, in rotation, to dine with him at his private table; but, for want of decent clothing, few were enabled to attend. Slaughter being so much better provided, frequently went in place of others, that, as he said, 'his regiment might be represented.""

On the hillside above the boulevard can be seen the low line of earthworks. These become more plainly visible as the boulevard approaches their western limits. At this point, where a guardhouse has been erected, the boulevard makes a sharp turn, and passes above the earthworks. Three-eighths of a mile from the end of the earthworks the boulevard is crossed by the path to the observatory and just beyond this is the observatory road to the left.

The Observatory. The Park Commission has won the gratitude of visitors to Valley Forge by the erection of the Mount Joy Observatory, whose platform is 500 feet above the sealevel. From this vantage point there is a magnificent view of the surrounding country. To aid visitors to the appreciation of the strategic value of the site selected by Washington and his generals, a cast-iron plate has been placed on the platform, giving the direction and distance of each important place in the vicinity of Valley Forge.

The boulevard from its junction with the observatory road makes a sharp descent toward Valley Creek, whose waters gleam in the sunlight far below, while the Valley Creek Road, like a narrow pathway, follows its meanderings toward the Schuylkill. Beyond the woodland are the houses of Valley Forge village, standing on the outskirts of the rich farmland which stretches away until lost in the blue of the distant hills. Within a short distance the earthworks are again approached, and through the

opening on the right are seen the Washington Memorial Chapel, the Waterman Monument and the Soldiers' Hut. The path to the left leads down to Washington Spring on the Valley Road, making a shorter route to Washington's Headquarters. A short distance beyond there is a road to the right by which one can reach the Camp Road near the site of Maxwell's Brigade, or at

the site of Washington's Marquee. Most persons will prefer to follow the main line of the boulevard to Huntington Redoubt. The line of intrenchments on the right is a reconstruction. Fortunately, the Commission will not permit any more work of this kind, being determined to preserve the earthworks unaltered save by the elements.

The Earthworks.--As one traces the line of earthworks as they appear to-day the question naturally arises, "What has

been the effect of the elements upon the original work?" Fortunately we can answer that question satisfactorily, for in December of 1778, only a few months after the army left here, Capt. Thomas Anbury, formerly of Burgoyne's army, passed through here as a prisoner of war on his way to Virginia. He says: "Our troops slept in the huts at Valley Forge, which had been constructed by the Americans, and we remained till late next day for the delivery of provisions before we marched. I had a full opportunity to reconnoiter the whole camp. On the east and south sides were intrenchments, with a ditch six feet wide and three deep, the mound not four feet high, very narrow and easily to have been beat down with a cannon; two redoubts were also begun, but not completed. The Schuylkill was on the left, and, as I before observed, hath a bridge across it; the rear was mostly covered by an impassable precipice formed by Valley Creek, having only a narrow passage near the river. This camp was by no means difficult of access, for the right was attainable, and in one part of the front the ascent was scarcely to be perceived. The defenses were exceedingly weak, and this is the only instance I ever saw of the Americans having such slight works, these being such that a six-pounder could easily have battered down. The ditches were not more than three feet deep, and so narrow that a drummer-boy might with ease leap over."

One much higher in authority had a different idea of these works. In response to the demand of the British Government for the reasons for the inactivity of the army, General Howe replied that he "did not attack the intrenched position at Valley Forge, a strong point, during the severe season, although everything was prepared with that intention, judging it imprudent until the season should afford a prospect of reaping the advantages that ought to have resulted from success in that measure; but having good information in the spring that the enemy had strengthened the camp by additional works, and being certain of moving him from thence when the campaigns should open, he dropped thought of attack."

The plan for the fortifications at Valley Forge was made by General Louis Lebeque Duportail, a graduate of the military

school of Mezieres. He was an able engineer and one who is remembered for the valuable services which he rendered the American people throughout the war, and especially at York

town.

The path on the left beyond the line of intrenchments leads to the lonely grave of an unknown soldier of the Revolution. It was this grave that suggested to Vice-President Fairbanks those thoughts which he so beautifully expressed in his

address in the Washington Memorial Chapel. The grave is only a short distance from the boulevard.

Beyond this the Gulph Road is seen. Between it and the boulevard and the Camp Road were the huts of the New Jersey troops.

Valley Forge is so inseparably connected with Washington that everything which is commemorative of his personality

has the greatest interest here. We associate these hills with his heroic endurance and patient suffering. It is good to have them reminiscent of his joy.

The French Alliance.-At 6 o'clock on May 5, 1778, the following order was issued: "It having pleased the Almighty Ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the cause of the United States of America, and finally, by raising us up a powerful friend, among the Princes of the Earth, to Establish our Liberty and Independence upon lasting foundations; It becomes us to Set apart a day, for gratefully acknowledging the Divine Goodness, and celebrating the Important event, which we owe to his Benign interposition-The Several Brigades are to be assembled for this purpose, at 9 o'clock To-morrow morning, when their Chaplains will communicate the intelligence contain'd in the Postscript from the Pennsylvania Gazette of the 2d instant; & offer up a thanks giving, and deliver a discourse Suitable to the Occasion-"

At 9 o'clock on the happiest day at Valley Forge Washington came here to worship, and the private prayer beneath the leafless trees had its antiphon in the public thanksgiving on this green clad hill. The Rev. Andrew Hunter, a Presbyterian minister, the brigade chaplain, preached the sermon, but of it we have no record.

From the point where the boulevard crosses the Gulph Road there is a fine view of the Schuylkill Valley with PhoenixIville in the distance. The staff at the foot of the hill marks the site of Washington's headquarters, whose red tin roof can be seen to the left of it. Those whose time is limited should take this road, turning to the right at the Washington Inn. To the right one can trace the Gulph Road as far as the Right Line Boulevard. In the open space on the other side of the Gulph Road from Maxwell's Brigade were the huts of Conway's. A better view of the site can be had farther along the boulevard, opposite the Camp Road, which can be traced almost its whole length as it skirts Mount Joy. The best point from which to see the sites of Conway's and Huntington's Brigades is the Washington Lane.