army of Northern Virginia, whose final, supreme effort failed at the stone wall, on Cemetery Hill, on that July day, now forty-one years ago.

"But, after all, hard as it is to rise to the supreme height of self-sacrifice at a time of crisis that is brief; hard as it is to make the single, great effort, it is harder yet to rise to the level of a crisis when it takes the form of a need of constant, patient, steady work, month after month, year after year; when, too, it does not end after a struggle in a glorious day of victory; when, too, triumph is wrested bitterly away at the end.

"Here at Valley Forge, Washington and his Continentals warred, not against foreign soldiery, but against themselves; against all the appeals of our nature that are most difficult to resist; against discouragement, discontent, the mean envies and jealousies and heartburnings sure to arise at any time in large bodies of men, but especially when defeat and disaster have come to them; when the soldiers who carried our national flag had suffered from cold, from privation, from hardship, knowing that their foes were well housed, that things went easier with the others than they did with them; and they conquered because they had in them the spirit that made them steadfast, not only on an occasional great day, but day after day, in a life of endeavor to do their duty well."

The other speakers on this occasion, one of the most memorable in the history of Valley Forge, were the Rt. Rev. Leighton Coleman, Bishop of Delaware; the Hon. Wayne MacVeagh, and the Hon. Irving P. Wanger.

On September 10, 1905, the little chapel was again honored when Vice-President Fairbanks made an eloquent address on the "Value of Prayer," instancing the prayers of Washington, Lincoln and McKinley. The last noted speaker heard here was the Rt. Rev. James Heartt Van Buren, D. D., Missionary Bishop of Porto Rico, who spoke of Valley Forge as "the Holy of Holies of the American people."

The chapel was first used for service on September 27, 1903, when the sermon was preached by the Rev. Herbert J. Cook, Dean of the Convocation of Norristown. Since February

22, 1906, the building has been used by the Sunday School of the Mission.

The Grounds.— The “Betsy Ross" flag is one of the most popular memorials at Valley Forge, and was first raised on the morning of June 19, 1903. On the staff has been placed the following inscription:

THIS

FLAG AND STAFF

ARE A MEMORIAL OF

BETSY ROSS

A MEMBER OF

CHRIST CHURCH

PHILADELPHIA

WHO MADE THE FIRST FLAG

OF OUR NATION

PRESENTED BY

ALL SAINTS' SUNDAY SCHOOL

NORRISTOWN, PA.

From the happy suggestion made by the late Mrs. W. Herbert Burk came the practice of flying the flag at the times of service. At first this was the only form of announcing the services, but even since the bell was given by St. Andrew's Sunday School, Philadelphia, the practice has continued and is now the established custom.

The cannon at the entrance to the grounds have seen service. The larger one is a King George piece, bearing the broad arrow and the rust-covered monogram.

An attractive picnic ground will be found back of the Chapel, and is free to the public. Beyond the grove is a baseball field, usually used on Saturday afternoons by the Chapel clubs, but free at other times.

The River Road below the chapel affords beautiful views of the river, the rich farmland, and in the far distance, Norristown. Rising above the trees beyond the bridge are the red tile roofs and tower of the summer residence built by the late John F. Betz, of Philadelphia. The picturesque boathouse at the dam is also a part of the estate. On the right in the valley are

quarries and lime kilns and the large building used by the "Asbestos and Magnesia Manufacturing Company."

The Provost Guard.-The only other point of interest on the road is the site of the provost guard. The guardhouses stood back of a small stone house on the right of the road, but nothing marks their location. During the encampment these houses were crowded with those who had broken the laws, many of the offenders being led out to receive their punishment in stripes, disgrace or death. The punishments were brutal in the extreme, "one hundred lashes on the bare back" being an ordinary penalty for theft.

In the diary of Lieutenant McMichael we have this description of one of the distinctively camp punishments: "March 15. I this morning proceeded to the grand parade, where I was a spectator of the drumming out of Lieutenant Enslin, of Colonel Malcolm's regiment. He was first drum'd from right to left of the parade, thence to the left wing of the army; from that to the center, and lastly transported over the Schuylkill with orders never to be seen in the camp in the future. This shocking scene was performed by all the drums and fifes in the armythe coat of the delinquent was turned wrong side out."

It is a little over a mile from the chapel to the entrance to the Right Line Boulevard. The distance is almost the same to Betzwood, the station on the Pennsylvania Railroad, and somewhat less to Port Kennedy, on the Reading. Το reach the stations, turn to the left at the track, which runs to the quarries, and pass through the village. The Port Kennedy Station adjoins the Port Kennedy Inn. Betzwood is on the other side of the river, and to reach it turn to the right near the inn and cross the bridge. The River Road makes a pleasant route to Bridgeport and Norristown. Those intending to make the tour of the camp should turn to the right at the track at the foot of the hill and follow the road toward King of Prussia. The distances as given on the signpost are Bridgeport, 6 miles; King of Prussia, 2 miles, and Valley Forge, 2 miles.

TH

THE RIGHT LINE BOULEVARD.

HE Right Line Boulevard.—Just beyond the village, at the top of the hill, the boulevard is reached. This follows the line of the encampment, which was defended

by a breastwork, of which now there are few traces. In the field to the left may still be seen the depression which marks the site of a redoubt, and another will be passed on the line of the boulevard.

The house beyond the boulevard and near Trout Creek is the residence of W. H. Keech. It was the office of the commissary and at times the headquarters of Col. Daniel Morgan, whose military history is a series of brilliant achievements. He took part in the defeat of Burgoyne, who being introduced to him is said to have exclaimed: "My dear sir, you command the finest regiment in the world!" Morgan and his men reached Whitemarsh in November, Gates only allowing them to come to the support of the main army after Washington had sent Hamilton to him with a special message. During the months here Morgan and his men were actively employed in scouting and foraging.

Muhlenberg's Brigade.-This entrance to the Valley Forge Park will be marked by the erection of the “Steuben Memorial Arch," if Congress makes the appropriation which is expected.

Within a short distance of the King of Prussia road are the remains of what was locally known as "Mordecai Moore's Fort," so called from being on his land. The commission has placed a battery on the faintly marked redoubt, over which the plow had so often passed. At this point the first huts of the encampment stood, being those of Muhlenberg's Brigade of Virginia and Pennsylvania regiments. Their brave commander, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg was born only a few miles away, at Trappe, and was the son of the famous Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. He was prepared for the ministry and served as pastor of Lutheran congregations. In 1772 he went to Virginia,