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| Winter at Valley Forge |
This week the letter “I” is devoted to our struggle
for independence from British rule that occurred subsequent to the signing of
the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The actions of the Continental
Congress would forever change and define a continent that Europeans had only
begun to colonize less than 200 years prior. Events preceding the Revolutionary
War including the French and Indian War had created tensions between the
colonies and the British government. Britain
was struggling under the financial burdens of war and enacted a series of taxes
against colonists who had already rallied together for a number of causes, each
time gaining confidence and a growing sense of independence.
At the dawn of the American Revolution, Pennsylvania
was the third largest colony and contributed abundant supplies and labor,
essential to the development of our new nation. Philadelphia was the largest
city in North America with a population of nearly 30,000 residents. It served
as our nation’s capital during most of the rebellion and as an important ocean
port to the Delaware Bay. The city’s location was important for the shipping of
supplies destined for the military. The British recognized its strategic significance
and, after taking New York in October of 1776, moved quickly and decisively to
capture Philadelphia.
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| Cheval de fries undergoing conservation treatment. |
Attempts by Pennsylvania to halt the advance of
British forces included the installation of a line of defense in the Delaware
River between 1776 and August 1777. A series of chevaux de frise were sunk between Fort Mercer and Fort Mifflin. General George Washington’s
successful crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776, buoyed the morale of
patriots which aided in securing guns and supplies for American troops. The
Philadelphia Campaign of 1777 by British forces resulted in Washington’s
ill-fated battles at Brandywine and Germantown and forced his retreat to Valley
Forge for the winter of 1777-1778.
After being forced out of Philadelphia by the
British, George Washington’s Continental Army spent the harsh winter of
1777-1778 at Valley Forge along the Schuylkill River, about 25 miles northwest
of center-city. Although the field of Conflict (Battlefield)
Archaeology has only evolved during the last twenty years or so, its new
methodologies have greatly assisted the work at this site. Archaeological investigations conducted by the
National Park Service for more than a half-century included large-scale
excavations. More recently, technology has provided us with equipment for
remote sensing, such as ground-penetrating radar along with sophisticated metal
detectors to locate concentrations of artifacts, and architectural foundations
of buildings and structures used by Washington’s soldiers.
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| Excavated huts at Valley Forge |
The arrival of troops to Valley Forge in
December was poorly planned, supplies such as tents had been directed further
west to avoid capture by British forces and food provisions were almost
non-existent. Politics, weather and logistical breakdowns contributed to the
hardships endured at this site. Even though Washington ordered living quarters
to be neatly laid out in rows, archaeology proved that the huts were
haphazardly placed in groups by battalion. Two Pennsylvania brigades from
General Anthony Wayne’s division were on a rise toward the southwestern edge of
the outer line of defense. The second, Conway’s Brigade was positioned towards
the center of the inner line of defense. Archaeology has revealed that instead
of the 14 by 16 ft. hut stipulated by Washington, some of the huts were 16 by
18 to accommodate twelve men.
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| Artists rendition of hut construction at Valley Forge. |
Excavations in the area of Wayne’s Woods
revealed huts terraced into the hillside, fireplaces primarily constructed in
stone and oriented to the east. The size of the floors varied, one structure discovered
was 12 by 22 ft., and was generally oriented in rows parallel to the crest of
the hill along the outer line. Trash pits yielded additional evidence of diet
and activities amongst the troops.
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| Recovered bone from refuse pits at Valley Forge provide evidence of a diet which included beef and pork. |
Analysis of the dietary evidence indicates the
soldier’s diet included beef and pork in somewhat better conditions than
historians often describe. Evidence of the camp kitchen or hearth area yielded
evidence of a round raised cooking area with ports or ovens for small cook
pots. Individuals could prepare stews and soups that would feed multiple people
with just a small amount of meat.
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| Excavations of the kitchen, note the dark circular stain. |
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| Artists depiction of camp kitchen. |
Troops endured harsh winter conditions, as
well as disease and breakdowns in the supply system. In addition to the
Pennsylvania forces at Valley Forge, Virginia and New Jersey troops were also
present. Historic documents provide
evidence of the politics associated with supplies and provisions associated with
the various brigades which can be supported by the archaeological record.
The shortage of clothing is well documented in
the historic record and archaeology has provided some additional documentation
to support this information. The sources of buttons recovered from the site
indicate that soldiers were removing buttons from uniforms worn by British
forces that were killed or wounded. Anthony Wayne personally contracted with a
Lancaster manufacturer for coats, breeches, shoes and hats, but buttons for
these garments would have to come from local sources and may have
been a wide variety of forms. Bone
buttons were produced in cottage industries, including the prisoner of war camp
at Camp Security http://twipa.blogspot.com/2009/12/camp-security-artifacts-revisited.html and have been recovered in excavations at
Valley Forge.
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| USA Button excavated at Valley Forge. |
We close with an artifact that perhaps best
symbolizes this desire for independence and the creation of a new nation. The
recovery of pewter USA uniform buttons from these excavations is further
evidence of the daily lives of these soldiers and their willingness to
persevere and endure incredible hardships so that we may enjoy our freedom as an
independent nation. We hope you will be inspired to learn more about the
important role that Pennsylvanians played in the Revolutionary War and check
your family heritage for connections to these brave soldiers. Enjoy your
Independence Day celebrations and help us to preserve our past for the future!
Bibliography
2013
Orr, David G., Ph.D.
Presentation at Workshops in Archaeology, The State Museum of Pennsylvania.
1996
Parrington, Michael, Helen Schenck, Jacqueline Thibaut
Images of the Recent Past; Readings in Historical Archaeology. The Material World of the
Revolutionary War Soldier at Valley Forge, Chapter 4. AltaMira Press, CA.
1976
Trussell, John B.B.,Jr.
Birthplace of an Army, A Study of the Valley Forge Encampment. Harrisburg; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
1969
Walsh, Richard
The Mind and Spirit of Early America; Sources in American History 1607-1789. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York.
For more information, visit
PAarchaeology.state.pa.us or the Hall of Anthropology and Archaeology at
The State Museum of Pennsylvania .
