Today we visited what is perhaps the most famous military encampment area in the United States, Valley Forge. This was the location that Washington’s Army spent the winter at in 1777. Washington chose this location because it was close enough to observe the British troops in Philadelphia, but far away enough to prevent a surprise attack. As we learned previously and today the common myth is that soldiers died of starvation and freezing, but that’s not the case. The deaths were due to disease – dysentery, pneumonia, tuberculosis.
After a presentation at the visitor’s center we took a bus tour around the park (because it’s so unbelievably huge). We stopped and visited the Muhlenberg Brigade. These are replicas of the 400 or so wooden huts that the soldiers at Valley Forge built over a 3 mile area. I was shocked at what a huge area this covered, as well as what sturdy “huts” they had built. This was shocking to me because I always pictured crummy little tents in feet-deep snow.
The last site that we stopped at was the Isaac Potts House which Washington rented as his headquarters during the encampment. It was a small, small building that housed George (and for a short time Martha) and his staff.
The highlight of the day was going behind-the-scenes to view some of the museum’s collection. We viewed a number of military pieces (it kind of freaked me out to be so close to a bayonet which had seen “action”). One item which intrigued me was a hand-written note by George Washington.
Classroom application: Valley Forge never meant much to me before, but I can’t wait to tell my kids about it now! My class reads a novel partially set in Valley Forge and I’ve never really been able to get into it before. But I believe after seeing this sight I will be able to express my newfound enthusiasim for the subject. Also I will have the academic background to assist them in expanding their research and understanding.
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