Valley Forge conjures images of the birth of our nation and larger than life heroes such as George Washington, Lafayette, and Henry Knox. Valley Forge holds a special place in the heart of all Americans because it was here that the foundation of American Freedom was built.Valley Forge started out as an iron forge on Valley Creek in the 1740s. A sawmill and gristmill were added by the time of the Revolutionary War, making Valley Forge an important supply center for the Colonists. However, it did not escape the notice of the British, who destroyed it in 1777. Only ruins remained when George Washington chose Valley Forge as his winter encampment. In contrast to Gettysburg, Valley Forge escaped the mêlée of the Revolutionary War. Yet it stands out as the turning point in the fortunes of those fighting for independence from England.
Traveling through Valley Forge during the spring, one notices a profusion of dogwood blossoms adorning the softly rolling hills. In winter, however, it is a cold, barren landscape, attesting to the bleak conditions that Washington had to confront during that turbulent 1777-78 winter. Despite illness, exposure and adversity, those who survived emerged to carry on the conflict. Valley Forge, therefore, remains a compelling symbol of what the most beleaguered troops and their leaders can accomplish under duress. |
