Leslie and David's Wanderings: 9 September 2022 Valley Forge

On December 3 1777, units of the Continental Army began arriving in Valley Forge. Soon over 12,000 men and thousands of followers had covered the hills and ridges and began the task of cutting down trees and building almost 2000 log cabins to house the horde. General Washington had picked this location for strategic reasons. In late September 1777, the British Army had captured Philadelphia and the Continental Congress moved to York to avoid capture. Valley Forge is only 20 miles outside Philadelphia. Far enough to prevent a surprise attack by the British yet close enough that the Continental Army could keep an eye on the British. It also put the Continental Army in a position to block the British from attacking York and Lancaster. The area was originally family farms. But the fields were soon turned into churned mud as the Continental Army cut down all the trees to be used to build log houses, cook, heat and build defensive positions. The Army built extensive defensive position on the ridge tops and learned to be an army instead of disparate units in the large Grand Parade Ground in the depression between the ridges. The Continental Army occupied Valley Forge until June of 1778 when the British abandoned Philadelphia. Upwards of 2000 soldiers died in Valley Forge due to disease and starvation. But the army learned to be a disciplined force which significantly helped in the future battles. The drive over took us on US30 again. We have driven stretch of US30 from Oregon to New Jersey. Maybe one summer we will drive it from coast to coast. After going to the visitor center to view the park movie, collect our passport stamp and review of the exhibits, we decided to do the auto tour around the park. Very little of the original battlements are still viewable. After the army left in June 1778, the farmers reclaimed their land, tore down the cabins and plowed under the majority of the battlements. Several reproductions of the cabins built by the soldiers are spread around to be viewed. There are multiple monuments to individual units spread around the park. We then sought out a local brewery (La Cabra Brewery) for an adult beverage and a late lunch before the 1.5 hour drive back to the Wanderer.