The history of Valley Forge

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Preface

LARGE portrait of a plain, unassuming man was hanging on the wall of the old Camp School-house in Valley Forge park, when John U. Francis, Sr., publisher of this history, took charge. Father was born in Lower Providence township, just across the Schuylkill river from the Cradle of American Liberty. His great-grandfather. Captain Arnold Francis, had commanded the Providence militia and had rendered conspicuous service under Washington at Valley Forge. In the family, Valley Forge was sacred ground and to the name of Washington was rendered a homage hardly due to mortal man. In keeping with the suffering endured, a resentment toward British arrogance was developed which even to-day causes the eye to flash at the slightest semblance of the thing on our national horizon. A patriotism purer than father's we have never met. To tell the story of Valley Forge, than whom no man knows it better, and to provide for visitors to the park suitable souvenirs has been to him a labor of love. The publication of this history is a becoming climax of his labors.

But year after year the portrait continued to hang on the wall. When at times we visited the Park and inquired. Whose is that portrait? practically no light could be given. "It was sent down from Headquarters." Some one knew better than father. In the summer of 1919 a group of visitors entered the School-house. One of the ladies pointed to the portrait and said : "That is a portrait of my grandfather, Henry Woodman. He wrote the first history of Valley Forge." The lady was Mrs. Alice Woodman Smith of Wycombe, Bucks county. Pa. She promised a letter giving particulars, and in due time one was received. Miss Mary S., daughter of Henry Woodman, a lady now of some eighty summers, was the embodiment of the first commandment with promise. She had had a small portrait of her father enlarged and had sent it to the Headquarters at Valley Forge. As already stated, from there it was sent down to the old Camp School-house.

Henry Woodman, after many years of urging, wrote his history of \'alley Forge. His home was now near Doylestov-^n, Bucks county. Pa. It was in 1850 that he wrote, and for The Doylestown Intelligencer. It appeared in the shape of letters for thirty-two consecutive weeks, from April 30 to December 3. There is internal evidence that the history at that time awakened national interest. It seems to have been copied by other newspapers. A\'oodman was requested to print it in book form, but never did so. Through his granddaughter, Mrs. Smith, it was learned where the text of his history could be found. Invaluable service and utmost courtesy were received from the Historical Societies of Montgomery and Bucks counties; and acknowledgements for the same are herewith made. The book as now published is authorized by the Woodman family.

The advice of John W. Jordan, LL.D., historian of the Valley Forge Park Commission, seems to us to be good, viz., that we leave \\'oodman tell his own story, his whole story, and without any attempt at editing. Consequently no editing has been done. ^^'oodman himself in one of the last letters, says that if the history were published in book form, he would make some grammatical corrections. Evident errors of this nature have been corrected, but it is believed that in no way has the individuality of the writer been marred.

As to the unique fitness of Henr>-A\^oodman to write the history of \"alley Forge, we refer you to the sketch of him by his daughter. Miss Mary S. Woodman, p. 19, and then to the sketch of his father. Edward Woodman, p. II, also by Miss Mar>^ S. Woodman. But the book must be read to perceive his surpassing fitness. His mother is his heroine. She was nineteen 3'ears of age when the army encamped at \'alley Forge, and she resided within the lines of the encampment. She was recognized in her day as a living historv' of it.

It has been urged against Woodman that he received his information in his earlier years, that he wrote at the age of fifty-five, and after he had been away from \'alley Forge for a quarter of a century, that he wrote only from memory-, without am- official papers at hand. In reply we beg to say that he had been told the stories o'er and o'er in youth by his father, who had been a soldier in the camp here, who tramped with him over the old encampment grounds from his fifth year and upward, and the father's delight was to explain to his son. He had heard his mother ever and anon tell of "those times." Henry later took visitors over the grounds and acted as informant, reiterating the stories told him. He had heard the old ladies, lasses at Valley Forge in 1778, recount in conclave to each other encampment reminiscences. Bring up a child in the way in which he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Beside his mother lived up almost to the time that he wrote ; and his mother's sister was still living. This sister was nine years old at the time of the encampment and was a favorite of Baron DeKalb. At the time of writing Woodman interviewed others who had lived at Valley Forge during the memorable time. Also he had helped old soldiers who had been there to get pensions and had assisted others in securing money from the government for damages incurred through the encampment. Furthermore, he frequently discussed Valley Forge matters with men of intelligence, of patriotism, and of affairs. He had been a school teacher, a scrivener, a surveyor at Valley Forge, and a Quaker preacher, all of which tended to make him capable, exact and conscientious, and consequently more reliable. He wrote when he was mature and before his faculties were impaired. Who can doubt that Providence prepared him for his task? Surely his history may be received with confidence.

The Quaker has been stigmatized as pro-Tory. Valley Forge was a Quaker settlement. William Penn had given his daughter Letitia a manor here of more than 1000 acres; and she in 1705 built what it now known as the old Camp School-house, at present the quarters of the publisher of this history. Here Henry Woodman attended school ; and it is most fitting that his history should now go forth from its walls to educate the nation on Valley Forge, The Quakers were opposed to war ; as a class they were second to none in devotion to the interests of the colonies. H some were pro-Tory, this cannot be said of Henry Woodman. His father, an Episcopalian by birth, practically a Quaker or Friend at death, was through the Revolution from start to finish, from Carolina to Massachusetts. No purer American blood ever flowed than that which coursed through the veins of Henry Woodman. His was red blood, but not too red. His love for Valley Forge is exactly the spirit toward it that should be fostered in American homes. Valley Forge is our national center. Woodman is an expression lo The History of Valley Forge

of American life, not a superimposition upon it. His history should be in every American home.

He gives the history of Valley Forge from the time his ancestor Evan ap Bevan in 1696 took up here 2000 acres of virgin land, down through the Revolution to the time he wrote the history.. Some parts will be found of more interest than others. He not only introduces us to but causes us to form the acquaintance of the generals of Washingtons' army. Baron DeKalk was quartered at the home of Woodman's grandfather. H the Frenchman Lafayette was wounded for our independence, for our independence the Prussian DeKalb made the supreme sacrifice ; also Baron Von Steuben, another Prussian, made Washington's army strong unto invincibility. But we must uphold Poland for Kosciusko's sake. We can hardly forgive Lafayette for not coming to Valley Forge when he visited America. Every true American rejoices that we could pay our debts to France and Poland ; but read and answer to your own conscience whether we owe a debt to Prussia. The World War is over, and the words of Lincoln are suited to every American: "With malice toward none, with charity for all." We are sure that this is the spirit of Woodman's history of Valley Forge.

J. G. Francis.

Lebanon, Pa., Feb. 12, 1920.

The History of Valley Forge ii

INTRODUCTION EDWARD WOODMAN

A sketch by his granddaughter, Miss Mary S. Woodman, for his descendants.

EARLY LIFE

It may be said that Edward Woodman is the first one of the family we know 01 with any certainty. He was born in Chestertown, Md., on Christmas Day, 1749. His parents, whose Christian names are not known by the writer, were of Englisli origin or direct from England. But it is supposed they were descendants of the New England pioneers that settled at Newburyport, Mass., and were among the settlers. (A genealogy written by Cyrus Woodman, one of the New England Woodmans, gives a very interesting account of them down to the present day. They were a sturdy and upright people.)

His father, he was told, died in August, before his birth. His mother landed at Chestertown soon after the death of her husband, which occurred at sea. From what has been told the writer, it is safe to conclude his parents had previously established a home at Chestertown. His earliest remembrance of himself was living with his mother, an old negress and a negro lad at Chestertown. His mother died when he was quite young. He could remember his baptism in the Episcopal church. Whether his mother was living at the time is not known. After the death of his mother, he was taken into the family of William Clayton, also the two negroes. The old woman curled his hair and dressed him, besides other things needful in the care of a child. All the comforts of that early time were bestowed upon the little orphan boy. A pony was kept for his sole use. When the boy Edward was old enough to go to school, the pony was saddled and he rode it, the negro boy walking along side, carrying a basket with his dinner in it. When the school closed for the day, the negro came with the pony to take him back to the Clayton home. The negro boy often told him he owned the old woman and himself, and that they did not belong to Master William Clayton. From the care taken of him by the two slaves, and many other attentions he received, we suppose he was the owner of property, real or personal, and that William Clayton was the guardian.

Things went well with the boy while William Clayton lived. Judging from the many things he used to tell of boyish tricks and pranks of which he was guilty, not sinful but annoying to those who had to live with him, he certainly was not always a pleasure to the Clayton family. William Clayton and his wife were 've-v kind to him at all times, Mrs. Clayton often taking him with her when she went on horseback to visit her friends. He was on his pony, one or more of the daughters on their ponies, all going on a visit, where he was given a full share of all the pleasures of the table and household. How long William Clayton lived after he took his ward into his family I cannot say. He was a kind man to all his family and slaves. To his daughters and the orphan whom he sheltered he was over indulgent, at least so the boy thought after he came to the mature thoughts of manhood. He used afterwards to say sometimes, "What a spoiled, careless, disagreeable boy I must have have been !"

12 The History of \'allev Forge

FOUR YEARS WITH PIRATES

Time, which brings changes to all things, brought a great change to young Edward. When he was thirteen or fourteen years old, he did not remember the exact age at the time, he took life into his own management. Williom Clayton was dead but he was still with the widow and daughters. The girls scolded him so much and so often he got tired of it, so concluded to run away.

Claj'ton owned a ship tliat traded between Chestertown and the Island of Barbadoes. The ship was back from a voyage and loading for another. A good opportunity thought the boy, so off he went, the thoughtless, misguided little fellow. The sailors hid him from the captain, till tlie ship was so far out thjit he could not be put ashore. On the return voyage the captain thought to add still more to the profits, either for the Clayton family or for himself. So he sailed to Virginia, disposed of his cargo, reloaded and set sail again, bound for Halifax. The breezes may have been good, and the skies fair, but fortune was not so kind. When only a few days out, tliey were run down, captured and robbed of such things as were wanted by a ship that had sailed under letters of marque, authorized by the English government to prey upon the French during the French and Indian War in Canada. The war being over, the captain and the crew banded themselves into a perfectly lawless set, that lived by stealing on land and sea whatever they could without danger to themselves. What became of Clayton's ship, captain or crew, I am unable to say further than that they were allowed to go unhurt. But the young wayfaring boy was talien from it and put on board the pirate vessel. After getting enough for their wants awhile, they would go to some remote part of tlie W^est Indies or elsewhere. When it was consumed, out again for another voyage of plunder twice going south of the equator. Though theft was the means by which they lived, no murder or otlier outrage was committed. They were simply vagabonds on sea. Little Ned was not asked to do anything he did not wish to, was treated with kindness at all times, but the life of a half pirate did not accord with his nature. Nature will under adverse conditions, in part if not entirely, assert itself. So in tlie case of tlie captive boy a secret desire was ever present in his mind to get away from his dishonest captors. Four years passed before the opportunity came to escape.

The ship was sailing off the coast of North Carolina. In some way it became unseaworthy and put into one of tlie ports of that colony. Seeing his time had come, he made good his escape, and ran back into the thinly settled parts of the country, and worked for the settlers till he felt safe in going to the more populous parts of the colony. So far as there is any accoinit of his life in North Carolina, he lived in several different places. At one time he lived at or near New Garden, a settlement of Friends from New Garden, Chester county. Pa. On another occasion Col. Henderson (see history of North Carolina) was collecting supplies to fill a treaty with the Indians of the frontier. He took fifty men, each furnished with a horse to ride. The horse, in addition to carrying the rider, was loaded with a large saddle-bag, in each end of which was a little keg of rum and small trinkets for the Indians. Still more each man led two pack horses loaded with blankets, knives and other things. Edward Woodman was one of these men. Daniel Boone was the guide and assistant of Col. Henderson.

THE BATTLE OF MOORE'S CREEK BRIDGE

The family accounts of my grandfather are so fragmentary, I write with constant fear my history may not be correct or properly connected. At one time he lived in Tvrell eountv. On the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, his home was near Hillsboro, where, in company with many others of the patriots, he was drilling for whatever service they might be called on to perform. The officers under whom the patriots were enlisted were Gen. Moore and Col. Caswell. One day when they were at work in the fields, a company came saying they were organizing with all possible speed and were to repair to the home of Col. Caswell, near what is now Fayetteville, N. C. He ungeared "the critters" (horses), gave them to the charge of a black boy at work with him, at the same time telling him to go in the house and say to the women folks that when he came back he would bid them good-bye. Little did or could he foresee the many privations and hardships before him or that he would never see the women folks again.

The cause for the sudden calling together of the minute men was to intercept a body of Scotch and Irish settlers, together with the Tories to the number of 1500, under the command of Major Gen. McCloud and Brig.- Gen. McDonald. A correspondence had been carried on between Sir. Henry Clinton at New York and Gen. McCloud. Their plan was for Clinton to send a fleet that should sail up the Cape Fear river to Wilmington and there land. McCloud would there join Sir Henry's men, and the united forces were then to march throughout the colony and subdue the patriots and thus secure N. C. to the English.

The enemy met with no opposition till one day's march from Wilmington. Gen. Moore being apprized from the first, unknown to McCloud, was watching his movements from the rear. Caswell with 900 men went ahead and placed them in ambush on the opposite side of the bridge spanning Moore's Creek. The bridge was reached through a long narrow defile of hills on each side that prevented retreat. General McCloud, dressd in Highland, uniform, as were also his men, came riding on the bridge, waved his sword and called on his men to follow. Half the flooring of the bridge on the side on which the patriots lay had been removed. At that point McCloud halted. On the instant Col. Caswell opened fire, killing General McCloud and all who were on the bridge. Gen. McDonald rallied the men and fired, but with no effect, Caswell's men being so well protected by tall trees and underwood. Caswell returned the fire with such deadly effect and the enemy lost so heavily that Gen. McDonald soon made a complete surrender. Officers and men took oath not to engage again against the colonists. All were sent under guard to their homes except 300 Scotchmen, who were held as hostages and exchanged for our men who were confined on prison ships.

WOODEN PINS FOR FORT MOULTRIE

The battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Feb. 27, 1T76, marks the time when Edward Woodman entered the American army. The next active service he saw was when the British fleet appeared off Charleston, S. C, and attacked the fortifications on Sullivan's Island, June 4, 1776. Edward was one of the soldiers who helped build Fort Moultrie, the palmetto logs being fastened together with wooden pins which he and nineteen others had been detached to make. He was not given to boasting but was always proud of having been one of the twenty men who made the woodeh pins.

OFF TO THE NORTH

As soon as the British sailed away, the division to which he was attached was ordered to march north. After marching thirty days over bad roads, much of the way only horse paths, many of the men had died from heat and fatigue. The horses . became so lame that the men walked much of the way. They could get plenty to eat. "The time for empty stomachs," he used facetiously to say, "had not yet come," at the same time giving a merry wink with his bright blue eyes. When they had reached within one day's march of Boston, they were* turned and sent to Long Island, where Washington met a serious defeat. He saw much hard fighting and skirmishing on Long Island. The officers under whom he came north cannot be named, but they were now attached to Washington's army, and for the greater number" of the ensuing years shared all the hardships and privations of that heroic band of officers and men.

THE BATTLE OF TRENTON

In the late autumn of 1776 Washington was encamped on the bank of the Delaware river, upon Jericho Hill, near McConky's Ferry, in Bucks county, Penn. The army was much reduced in numbers, owing to much discontent among the soldiers, caused largely by their poor clothing and not having been paid money due them. Many whose term of enlistment had expired returned to their homes. Our brave grandfather remained firm and true to the cause of Independence. On that memorable night of Christmas, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware at McConky's Ferry, now known as Taylorsville. Of this crossing into New Jersey we all know the results "from the books we have read." Gen. Sullivan crossed ahead of his men. When his horse was over, he mounted and sat silently watching his soldiers till all were over. Then, taking a pinch of snuff, he said, "Come on, boys." And onward they went through darkness and snow.

An incident occurred that night which was the experience of one or more of Edward Woodman's friends (they had likes and dislikes among their comrades), a memory of whom held a place in his heart through life. Though the greater part of the army crossed at McConky's Ferry, two companies went up to Coryell's Ferry (New Hope), where they ferried across. Having first to go up the river and then down in the darkness and snow, daylight came" before they reached Trenton. At length they came upon a better road and all took to running. When nearing Trenton the officer called a holt and told them to slow and to form in line so as to be ready for action. After going forward a few hundred yards in good order, they saw and heard three fifers coming to meet them playing, "White Cockade and Peacock Feather, American Boys Fight Forever." The music told the victory, the line broke immediately. Every man felt tired and hungry, a feeling he had not thought of before he saw the fifers. A more limp and lazy set of soldiers never before marched into a place of victory. If any of their descendants desire to know in what part of the capture of Trenton grandfather participated, by consulting history and finding the part of Gen. Sullivan, it can be known. That was the command" he was under. After the capture of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton, he was still alive, still sharing the privations and hardships of his patriotic comrades.

A HORSE'S BREATH

There is another incident connected with his army life that may come in here, as I do not know where he was at the time it occurred. Winter was approaching. An officer with a small squad of soldiers was sent to examine a place which lay some miles distant from wliere the army was encamped, the object being to search for a good sitiiation for winter quarters. One blanket, a gun and some ammunition was all they carried with them. After a day of more than usual fatigue, they lay down on the ground with their guns beside them, all near together to keep warmer. It was already dark. The officer and men were sure there were no British in the neighborhood. So sure were they, no guard was placed over them, a great mistake, for one of the men awoke in the night and going a little distance from the others, found they were surrounded by British horsemen. The order was "Every man run and save his life as he can." Grandfather had not run far when he felt the breath of a horse against his face. Turning around he saw the rider bending forward to strike him with his sword. Being too quick for him, he ran his bayonet into his assailant's abdomen. The man gave a scream, turned his horse and rode away. Aunt Ruth said her father always spoke of the events of that time with sadness. He would say, "That poor man was the only person I ever knew to a certainty I killed." Running on he came to a woods and going into it a short distance he found himself on a steep hill. Knowing he could not be followed, he hunted for a big tree and sat down on the sheltered side with his back to the trunk, and was soon asleep.

On waking in the morning (as he thought) the sun was up. Looking around he saw only a few feet from where he had spent the night a high rocky bank with a deep creek at the bottom. Again his life had been spared by not falling over and drowning. Coming from another direction and leading down the hill was a well trodden path. Following it he saw two sets of farm buildings on the other side of the creek. After walking more than a mile he came upon foot-stones. The path led up to one of the farm houses, where they gave him his supper and shelter for the night. The sun was almost set. He had slept in the woods nearly the whole day. When the sun had risen in the morning, it had shone through the leafless trees and warmed him so he slept till after noon. The house was filled with women and children, the men of both families being in the American army. The women and children, from a grandmother to a nursing child, were living together to help each other as best they could. The other house was abandoned. Morning came and he was about to leave, when one of the women said: "Soldier, you are numbered with the dead. Stay and work for us; we need your help so much." He had told them how he came to be there and of the skirmish in the night. The offer was good, the summer campaign was over, so he stayed and worked hard in preparing material for a fence which the women and children could build in the spring. He was well clothed and fed, even had stockings and shoes, the only ones he ever got during his whole term of service in the Revolution. The shoes he had on when first sent north wore out on the march and he afterward went barefoot with the one exception. He did not suffer so much as many of his comrades, whose feet often cracked and bled. It was his practice often to wash his feet, which he thought was the cause of their always being so sound and well.

Spring came and the one v/hose life we are trying to follow turned his mind again to what he felt to be his greatest duty. Taking his gun one morning in March and bidding the family farewell, he trudged off to the army again. On reaching the encampment he asked to see Gen. Sullivan. The officer who received him asked many questions. What had he come there for? Why must he see Gen. Sullivan? etc., etc. Handing the officer his gun, he answered: "Search me well, see that I have nothing with which to injure the commander, and take me to him. I have something to say to him I can say to no one else." To Sullivan he was sent, and he told his story — how he had escaped in the night and where the winter was spent, and gave his reasons for not returning sooner. "Now the time is come I might be needed. Here I am, you see." The General listened quietly to all he had to say, then answered: "My boy, I am glad you are back and gladder yet you are alive." Then giving him a hearty handshake and a pinch of snuff", he sent him back to his place in the ranks of the army. The reason for insisting to see Sullivan was that if he reported to any other officer, the danger of being treated as a deserter was hanging over him. Sullivan was a man of such nobility of character, no fear was to be apprehended from that score.

It is to be regretted we do not know in what locality the foregoing i6 The History of \'alley Forge

occurrence happened, but suppose it somewhere in New England. It was so cold the milk froze in their living room. Nor do we know the date of the winter.

AT BRAND^^WINE AND GERMANTOWN

In August, 1777, Washington with his army was encamped in Warwick township, Bucks county, Pa. Wm. J. Buck states there were Nortli Carolina trotips among them. We suppose our grandfatlier was there. Family annals tell to a certainty he was in the Battle of Brandv«-ine, Sept. II, 1777; and also at Germantown, Oct. 3, 1777. In the death of Gen. Nash, which occurred in the latter battle, he suffered what he always felt to be a personal loss. They had been acquainted in Nortli Carolina, and throughout all the changes, hard or easy, that tlie fortunes of war brought to them. Gen. Nash was his firm friend. Our grandfather was near him when he fell. He was one to help bear him from the field and to bury him in the graveyard belonging to the church at Toamencin, Pa.

AT VALLEY FORGE

Throughout all his wanderings, far or near, tliere is no place around which so much interest centers or so great a desire is felt by his descendants to know all about him as Ms coming to ^'alley Forge, Dec, 1777.