ined to keep the field, despite the
winter's cold, which had now set in, and he selected a strong piece of
ground, thickly covered with wood, at Valley Forge, on the west side
of the Schuykill, and about twenty-five miles from Philadelphia. This
position was chosen in order to keep Howe in check, and Philadelphia in
great discomfort, and he was allowed to take possession of it without
any molestation. The way in which Washington executed his plan does
honour to his perseverance. He had but few tents, and, even if there had
been an abundance, mere canvass would not have protected his men from
the rigour of an American winter. Under these circumstances he imitated
the backwoodsman's practice of hutting. Trees were felled, and log-huts
wore erected, the interstices of which were filled up with earth, moss,
and a rude kind of mortar, in order to render them warm and comfortable.
Around them, for defence, two redoubts were erected and an intrenchment,
drawn with a ditch six feet wide and three or four feet deep. His left
was covered by the Schuylkill, and his rear, for the most part, by an
abrupt precipice; but his right was somewhat accessible, and the centre
of his front was weak, notwithstanding his intrenchments. There was,
however, no cause for fear: Howe was in snug winter-quarters, and had
no disposition to move till the flowers of the earth reappeared, and his
men might be animated by the cheerfulness of the spring. He seemed to
forget that there was such a place as Valley Forge, and such a resolute
commander on that spot. For resolute indeed must have been the man who
could thus defy the winter's cold, and resolute also must have been his
troops to submit to the hardships which they had to encounter on Valley
Forge. Hundreds of them, it is said, had not a blanket to cover them
in the night season, while the winds blew, and the storm beat, and the
snows drifted over and around their huts. There they lay, naked and
shivering on the bare ground, none murmuring at their lot. Those that
lived endured their miseries patiently; those that died expired with
silent resignation. And hunger was added to their lingering tortures;
for congress failed to procure them needful supplies. Of this Washington
bitterly complained; but as the evil could not be obviated without
creating distress in other quarters, no effectual assistance could be
rendered. The chief thing which congress did to afford the troops relief
was to authorise Washi