Washington Slept Here

We used the two beautiful sunny days we had in Bucks County to visit Washington’s Crossing of the Delaware and Valley Forge. The Crossing is a state park which lies along a stretch of the Delaware incorporating what is thought to be the location of his crossing to Delaware and subsequent surprise attack on Trenton. This Christmas night attack in 1776 was a turning point for the Revolution and motivated colonists to join the dwindling Continental Army and continue the fight against the Brits. The Brits were completely surprised; over 500 Hessian soldiers were captured with little loss to the Continental Army. After two more successful crossings and encounters with the Brits, Washington and his troops moved to Valley Forge to set up the winter encampment. The Brits did not follow because they had already started their winter encampments and Washington had taken almost all the boats on the New Jersey side of the river.

My 4^th great-grandfather, Lewis Boyer, was a Light Guard for George Washington (a personal bodyguard) and he served with Washington for the whole war. He was at the Crossing and Valley Forge.  I find it incredibly exciting to be at a spot where my ancestor participated in a key event for this country. Add to it, Russ’ 5^th great-grandfather, Johann Casper Dilling, was a Hessian solder who was captured in battle, escaped while being transferred back to the Brits and subsequently settled in Pennsylvania. We aren’t sure if it was Trenton or Yorktown, but I like to imagine that my ancestor may have had interactions with Russ’ ancestor, although on opposite sides. These two lines of our family, as they wove their way through time and generations, may have managed to interact with each other at least three times: way back in the Revolution era, in the early 1900s when my mom and Russ’ mom grew up together in Canton, South Dakota, and Russ and I meeting in California (having no idea of our mothers’ connection.)

Valley Forge is a National Historical Park and is in a beautiful rolling hills countryside. You can’t camp in the park but there are over 35 miles of hiking and biking trails and several places to picnic. Russ and his family visited when he was young and all he remembers are the bees that kept bothering them while they were picnicking.  We also encountered a few bees while we had our lunch at a picnic table, so I think he experienced some deja vue. There are several places to visit along a driving/walking tour, including memorials, facsimiles of the cabins/encampments, and a beautiful chapel. There were several beautiful views along the tour. It was a wonderful peaceful way to spend a lovely day and some compensation for the many grey days we’ve had since entering Pennsylvania.

Now on to Philadelphia!

A monument at the entrance to the Visitor Center honoring George Washington.

Washington, contemplating the Delaware River.

Such a peaceful scene, hard to imagine the drama wrapped around the attack on Trenton. The two other groups that Washington was counting on to support the attack didn't show because of the snowstorm. So he and his motley crew, ill and malnourished pulled off the coup.

Per

Perhaps my ancestor saw the receiving end of this weapon.  There is nothing reported about him being injured, so he was one of the lucky ones.

The Visitor Center at the Crossing had an excellent orientation film but the rest of the center was a bit disappointing.  The main exhibit focused on the furniture of the time. I really like this style and enjoyed checking the pieces.

This home, as well as the others on display, were all built in the 1830 timeframe, way after the Revolution.  The area was a prosperous village for many decades, before becoming a state park. This was believed to be owned by a blacksmith.  Interpretations and demonstrations are held several times a year.

Thank goodness this home is not occupied.  Russ was playing peeping tom everywhere.

In the month preceding Washington's raid, boats up and down the Delaware were collected and brought to the Pennsylvania side. These Durham boats, used to transport pig iron down the Delaware, were used to transport the troops over to New Jersey.

On the night of the attack, 2400 troops were transported over the river.  Every year, the event is observed, weather permitting, by reenactors. 

On the day we visited, the Delaware River was calm, unlike the turbulence on the night of the attack when the army had to contend with a terrible snow storm and ice on the river. The river is high due to all the rain, flooding has occurred in places.

The canal and its towpath follows the river.  The canal was used for moving goods up the river.

We crossed the river, using the bridge and had lunch in New Jersey at a pub on the Delaware canal.

A group of geese kept watch over the invaders.  Lots of honking met our arrival.

Valley Forge is a large area of fields and hills with 26 miles of trails, several picnic areas and many monuments and displays of life during the winter encampment of the Continental Army.

These are replicas. The originals held 12 soldiers, were constructed by the soldiers using standards. This was part of the effort to change the Continental Army into a disciplined group. Competitions were held on the construction of the cabins and the soldiers took great pride in the quality of their work.

Reenactors answer questions for the tourists.  During the winter of 1776-77, 12,000 soldiers occupied the Valley, making the encampment the fourth largest city in America at the time.

This is a baking oven. A representative from each cabin would make the flour dough and bring it to the baker to make into bread for the week.  The baker was responsible for this oven.

One benefit from the rains is the lovely greens in the fields.

The National Memorial Arch celebrates the arrival of Washington and the Continental Army to Valley Forge.

Two of these eagles flank the road leading to the National Memorial Arch.

Washington and his staff took over this original stone house for their headquarters during the winter. Exhibits inside include one about Washington's private guards.

Washington may have lived rougher than he did at Mount Vernon, but it wasn't bad.

The Washington Memorial Chapel is an active Episcopalian parish. It honors Washington and soldiers of the American Revolution.

The Justice Bell is a replica of the Liberty Bell built in 1915. It was created to support the cause of women's suffrage. It traveled throughout the country on behalf of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.  When the Amendment was ratified, the bell was rung 48 times, for the number of states at the time.