40
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN. PORTLAND. JULY 1, 1906.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY, 1906, sees
bloodstained, historic Valley Forge
restored, and not only restored, but
greatly beautified, improved and
turned into a public park for the en
joyment of the people.
It Is a fortunate thing that the time
has passed when the pilgrim to Valley
Forge in search of sights and relics
of the historic camp, perhaps the most
hallowed of our Revolutionary remind
ers, was obliged to tramp over fields
Of none too friendly farmers and be
constantly annoyed by signs warning
off trespassers. Apart from which,
the fatigue of such a trip was great,
as there were no roads leading over
the campground and no signs mark
ing the way to historic spots, only
fields of waving grain or woodlands
overgrown with underbrush. Conse
quently the hardest kind of walking
over the steep hills was required to
view but a few of the sights. Only
the young and physically robust were
therefore able to enjoy the pleasures
of Valley Forge.
Through the untiring efforts of a
number of patriotic men, prominent
amongf them Governor Samuel W.
Pennypacker, all this has 'been
changed, and the State of Pennsylva
nia has been induced to assume and
complete a task which was first of
fered to and refused by the Federal
Government, although the undertaking
was clearly within its province, as the
campground of Valley Forge is a relic
which should belong not only to Penn
sylvania, but to the entire Nation, as
every patriotic American must wlffh for
Its preservation and would feel proud
In being part owner.
But whether by Pennsylvania or the
National Government, it must be at
least gratifying to the Nation to learn
that the neglect of a century has been
atoned for, and under the able and
enthusiastic direction of the newly
formed Valley Forge Park Commis
sion, . work of almost incalculable
historical value has been done on the
bleak heights above the Schuylkill, to
which Washington's barefoot army
crawled when the defeat of German
town left them no other refuge.
Fort Washington and Fort Hunting
ton have been restored. An iron tower
105 feet in height for observation pur
poses is beiug finished on Mount Joy,
uid from this tower not only a blrd's
MH view of the entire campground and
beautiful surrounding country can be
had, but also Philadelphia, 20 miles
distant, can be made out. A beautiful
commemorative chapel of the Episco
pal Church has been built oil the spot
where Washington, in his direst hour
of distress, knelt in prayer. The head
quarters of the commander in the
Isaac Potts house have been purchased,
completely restored and turned into a
revolutionary museum. Roads have
built which make possible quick com
munication between all points of the
park, besides which, lawns and flower
beds have been laid out and planted
and even a guardhouse has been built
to further heighten the park effect.
What a wonderful work this is can
be readily appreciated by anyone who
made a pilgrimage to Valley Forge
before tho process of restoration began.
Then, barring perhaps the Washing
ton headquarters, the points of histori
cal Interest were not to be found by
any save students of thje period and
the vicinity.
' Where arc the Intrenchments?"' was
a question asked hundreds of times in
the old days. There was no one to an
swer It, for then the region was un
polled and the rustics, with that fa
cfliarily which breeds contempt, lacked
interest to give proper direction. There
were no guides or officers to point out
places of interest or stop the vandals
In their destructive work. Nor was the
usual recourse of taking, a carriage,
and being driven through this region,
possible, for there were no roads cut
through. m
Where the tourist expected to see
the forts and line of intrenchments.
were nothing but piles of leaves and
underbrush. Solving the plan of en
campment was out of question, for
there was no point from which to
study the surrounding country, and
even had there been, the heights were
eo overgrown with trees and littered
with debris, that the landmarks were
all but obliterated.
The utter negrlect of a spot of such
xreat historic Interest as Valley Forge
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for so long is a riddle hard to explain,
and not creditable to the lawmakers
at Washington or to patriotism of the
Nation.
It was 50 yeafs. from the time of
the encampment, before any stop
whatever was made to hold a public
celebration, or to mark the sites that
had witnessed such grand devotion,
and by that time unfortunately much
had been destroyed which might have
been preserved.
Theti a semi-centennial was held at
which it was proposed to purchase
some of the ground, and convert it Into
a National park. Nothing practical
came of it, however. Fifty years more
pas.ed, and thouph Valley Forge is
only -0 udd miles from Fhiladelpaia.
the project slumbered until lili, then
Just at the moment when the head
quarters of George Washington were
about to be sold as the site for a fac
tory, a body of men and women banded
together and bought- the old stone
mansion. In this project they were
ably seconded by the Patriotic Order
of the Sens of America. Shortly after
this, Henry Armitt Brown delivered at
Valley Forge his great oration, which
did much to arouse public interest in
the historic campground.
The National Government continued,
however, to Quietly slumber, and, al
though repeated efforts were made, ft
seemed hopeless to arouse sufficient in
terest in Congress to pass the necessary
legislation for the comparatively small
appropriation sufficient to acquire the Val
ley Forge campsite nd turn the same
into a National park.
It was at thu stage that Samuel W.
Pennypacker, then a Judge of the. Court
of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, realiz
ing that nothing could be expected from
Washington, took hold of the matter, and
largely through his influence, tentative
bills were introduced in the Pennsylvania
Legislature, which finally resulted in the
creation of the Valley Forge State Park
Association. Thirty-five thousand dollars
was appropriated for the purchase of
Mount Joy and the Inner line of intrench
ments. Though these were bought, not
enough money remained to put them In
shape, and after years of delay, It is only
within the last few weeks that the work
has been completed.
The election of Pennypacker as Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania gave a new im
petus to the work.
Whatever faults may be charged to
the Chief Executive of Pennsylvania, and
many have been, it cannot be denied that
he has a deep and abiding love for all
that relates to the history of his native
state.
The deplorable condition of Valley
Forge, ground that should be hallowed to
every American, be he from North, South,
East or West, appealed to him, and with
energy he addressed himself to the task
of restoration. No expense was spared
by the State of Pennsylvania, when once
fully pledged to the matter. What ground
was needed was bought. In one Instance
many thousand dollars were paid in order
that the star redoubt, a piece of ground
worth perhaps a few hundred, should not
get away from the commission.
In years to come Americans will speak
gratefully of how Pennypacker saved Val
ley Forge to the Nation. It is quite safe
to venture the prophecy that long after
political policies are forgotten, the restor
ation of Valley Forge will be regarded as
the chief monument to Governor Penny
packer. And it Is certainly a grand, patri
otic memorial, of which any man should
be proud.
The first spot In the new Valley Forge
Park to which the tourist directs his steps
Is the Washington headquarters, as it is
close by the railroad station. Here he
finds an altered condition of affairs. Dur
ing the days before the state acquired the
historic building, it belonged to the Cen
tennial and Memorial Association of Val
ley Forge, who, with the assistance of the
Patriotic Order of the Sons of America,
kept it in most admirable condition. But
as their funds were limited, they were
forced to make a small charge for admit
tance. Under the new regime this is done away
with, and admission Is free to this build
ing, as well as to the entire park.
The Washington headquarters house
was originally the property of Isaac Potts.
He being a Quaker, was opposed to the
war, and when Washington came to Val
ley Forge he made no effort to offer suc
cor. Thus for a time the Commander was
compelled to sleep In a tent In the open.
One day Potts walked up the path along
Valley Creek, which runs back of Mount
Joy, and cut across the hill to look at the
Continentals. As he came down on the
opposite side facing the camp he saw a
horse tied to a tree. He proceeds cau
tiously and soon heard an earnest voice.
He halted and saw "General Washington
on his knees praying. Washington spoke
lowly, but with his whole heart seemed
to be making a fervent appeal for his
men, the tears meantime streaming from
his eyes.
The Quaker quietly withdrew and re
turned home. Much agitated, he told his
wife what he had seen, and said that if
there was anyone on earth that the Lord
would listen to it was George Washing
ton, adding that he felt a presentment
that under such a commander there could
be no doubt of the colonies gaining Inde
pendence, and that God in his providence
had willed it so.
His wife and he then espoused the
patriot cause openly, and Invited Wash
ington to use their home as his head
quarters. This famous prayer of Washington's is
most fittingly commemorated by a beau
tiful chapel now in the course of erection
on the exact spot where Potts heard him
appealing for divine aid.
It stands on the Bridgeport road, and
the cornerstone was laid by Rev. W. Her
bert Burk, and fellow enthusiasts of the
Protestant Episcopal persuasion- Mr.
Burk is the present rector of the church.
It was in this chapel that President
Roosevelt attended services when on a
visit to Senator Knox, who lives not far
distant. Although there are but few
dwellings in the Immediate vicinity, the
services are popular and well attended,
worshipers coming for miles around every
Sunday.
On the left of the church is the woods
before which Steuben drilled the raw Con
tinental recruits into good soldiers.
Before the spot, across the road and in
full view of the chapel, is the pure white
shaft that tops. In Its railed lnclosure. the
grave of John Waterman, of Rhode Island,
who gave his life there for the holy cause
of liberty. The monument is not intended
for him alone. It is dedicated to all those
who died at Valley Forge. The monu
ment rises prominently in the center of a
magnificent landscape, and can be seen
from any point of the intrenchments.
It was recently erected by the Daugh
ters of the Revolution. These same ladles
have lately added. Just a stone's thro
from the monument, another Jnteresting
attraction to Valley Forge. They have re
stored in -every detail one of the huts of
the Revolutionary soldiers. It faces the
Bridgeport road, standing near the chapel.
In a wood that was once filled with such
huts, the foundations of which can still
be plainly seen, each a wretched retreat of
starving, freezing men.
Having Inspected these places at close
range, the visitor can retrace his steps
along the Bridgeport road half a mile,
when on the site of a hill about 500 feet
off the road he arrives at Fort Hunting
ton. It has been almost restored to its
former condition. It was a long, tedious
task, and the members of the commission
deserve the greatest credit.
The trenches around the fort have been
shaped so that now. Instead of having to
imagine a fort while actually looking at a
mass of dead leaves and rubbish, the vis
itor sees the redoubt before him, and noth
ing is left to the Imagination except to
picture the Ill-clothed and half-fed senti
nel pacing the parapet and the shivering
patriots trying to keep warm over a
scanty wood fire within the fort.
Directly In front of the fort the grave
of an unknown Revolutionary soldier has
been restored and marked with a simple
headstone.
On the side of the same hill, close by
Fort Huntington, the Park Commission
has caused to be worked out In large let
ters, made from rough blocks of stone
found In the neighborhood, the words
"Valley Forge Park." This title can be
plainly seen from the distant road, and
serves to attract visitors.
The Washington redoubt is perhaps the
most Interesting of the restored Intrench
ments. because it is the largest, and the
wisdom that prompted its selection is now
made clear.
Every corner of the structure can be
seen from the platform provided for visit
ors The magazine in the center of the
fort remains as it was in the days of the
Continentals, the treuches have been
shaped, restored and sodded, and the
shelves of the Interior made trim and
businesslike. A really herculean task.
A road from this redoubt leads through
that part of the park where General Scott
and the Virginians camped, where Wayne
and the Pennsylvanians had their quar
ters, where General Poor's New York
troops kept their line. Following the In
terior line of intrenchments the visitor
successively passes the encampments of
General Glover's Massachusetts troops.
General Learned's New Hampshire
troops. General Patterson's Vermonters.
General Weedon's Virginians and General
Muhlenberg's Pennsylvania and Virginia
troops.
Nowhat Valley Forge Park has become
a reality, it is hoped that the states will
mark with monuments the places where
their troops were located.