Valley Forge

The morning dawned clear and crisp (fall is in the air back here) so we headed to Valley Forge about 40 miles from here to visit the national park there. Valley Forge is the location where the Continental Army spent the winter of 1777-1778. It's just 20 miles Northwest of Philadelphia which at that time was a stronghold of British troops.

The soldiers built "huts" like these as shelter from the cold, rain and snow. Each hut housed 12 soldiers and at the peak the population of soldiers numbered some 16,000. 2,000 died from disease before the winter was over.

Initially, Gen George Washington was housed in a tent but shortly he rented this house from the owner, a man named Potts for the sum of 100 pounds. Here he made his headquarters on the first floor and slept on the second floor. He and 25 of his staff spent the winter here along with his wife, Martha. It was a lot more comfortable than what his troops endured.

The National Park has a 10 mile road that describes the conditions and locations of the various troop quarters in the area. It was a great day spent learning more about our forefathers.
One more day and it's off to WDC.