Always news at Valley Forge

 Have been to Valley Forge a number of times, but the nice ride on Sunday to the national park and friendly and knowledgeable rangers made the day a worthwhile trip. No matter how many times I visit, there's always something new. That Valley Forge has a York connection is an added plus.

It was the fall of 1777 when George Washington and his troops stopped at Valley Forge to make winter camp. The Continental Army had just been whipped badly at Brandywine and Germantown, after which the British took over Philadelphia.

  Fortunately, the young U.S. government had a safe place to which it could move-- York, Pa.  While in York, the government signed the Articles of Confederation here, using the words "United States of America", apparently for the first time, making York the first capital of the U.S.   Philadelphia would argue, and has, but that's York claim.


Washington's troops built more than 1,000 log cabins for the winter,  but when the army left Valley Forge the next summer, the cabins were all torn down and used for fences, other buildings. The park service put together some replicas in the 1940s.  Looking over the rise from the Muhlenberg line, it's hard to imagine that the turnpike, Interstate 476, hotels, shopping malls, convention centers were all someone's front yard or back 40 to be farmed.


Mark Brier was most helpful during the ranger's camp life afternoon. He and two other rangers were dressed in period costumes and explained the camp, its history and the men in the camp. At General James Varnum's headquarters, Robert Gleason, with Historic Philadelphia Inc., portrayed General Von Steuben, saying how the men loved George Washington, and in a more lighthearted tone,  explained that his dog caught fleas from the soldiers-- not the other way around.