Continental Army in Montco

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Continental Army in Montco

The Continental Army in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

September 1777 - June 1778

George Washington, 1776 by Charles Wilson Peale (Courtesy Brooklyn Museum)

War, in the form of the American Revolution, came to Montgomery County in September of 1777. When George Washington and an army of 10,000 – 14,000 soldiers camped in your neighborhood, they left quite an impression. This story will trace the movements of the 10,000 Continental soldiers through the county. There was also a large militia presence that totaled as many as 4,000 soldiers. We will refer to these units, but not follow their every movement. Army accounts, as well as those of wide-eyed civilian witnesses, tell us about the army’s travel through the county. Washington’s correspondence and his expense accounts tell us some fascinating details about where he stayed, often in a civilian house where he paid for room and board. [1]

[1] https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw5.117_0414_0548/?st=gallery&c=160

Some of the houses that Washington used as headquarters still stand; a few in public ownership can be visited. One can still drive on some of the historic roads that the soldiers traversed and pass by some of the historic milestones and monuments to the Continental Army’s passage. We invite you to use this itinerary to explore Montgomery County’s unique past.

Into Montgomery County, September - October, 1777

After the Battle of Brandywine, the Continental Army crossed into Montgomery County (then a part of Philadelphia County) on September 19 at Parker’s Ford (Limerick Township).

The Continental army crosses the Schuylkill River..mp4

The Continental Army crosses the Schuylkill River.

Henry Muhlenberg House

(Courtesy of Historic Trappe, photo by Gavin Ashworth)

The Henry Muhlenberg House is owned and operated by Historic Trappe, and open to public for tours by appointment.

The army would take up a position on the north side of the river (from Trappe Borough to the Village of Evansburg) to oppose the British crossing to the Philadelphia side. Washington took this position to protect his supply depot at Reading and keep the British from capturing the Patriot capital lying at Philadelphia.

Reverend Muhlenberg watched the procession of the troops, which included his son John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, a brigadier general, and wrote this passage in his journal:

The American troops then marched through the Schulkiel, four miles from us, and came out on the road to Philadelphia at Augustus Church. They had to wade through the river up to their chests. His Excellency General W[ashington] was himself with the troops who marched past here to the Perkiome. The passage of the troops lasted through the night and we had all kinds of visitors, officers, etc. To get wet up to one’s chest and then to march in the cold, foggy night while enduring hunger and thirst, etc. is hard for the poor men.

On September 21, the British positioned their forces in the vicinity of Valley Forge and placed four large cannons (12 pounders) on the Gulph Road heights overlooking the Fatland Ford (Valley Forge National Historical Park). Washington also learned that some Hessian troops and cavalry had crossed at fords further upriver. In response, Washington moved his army northwestward to oppose them and to protect his vital supply depot at Reading. This move reflected his experience of having been outflanked by General Howe three times previously. However, when Washington shifted the American troops, it left the way open for the Crown forces to cross at Fatland Ford. In the late hours of September 22 and into the 23rd, the British crossed to the east side of the Schuylkill River at the ford. They next marched on to take the city unopposed.

The army moves to protect the depot at Reading.mp4

The army moves to protect the supply depot at Reading.

The Reverend Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, pastor of the Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe, witnessed the army passing by his house on Ridge Pike, their clothes apparently still wet from crossing the Schuylkill and recorded the incident in his diary:

“The American troops then marched through the Schulkiel, four miles from us, and came out on the road to Philadelphia at Augustus Church. They had to wade through the river up to their chests. His Excellency General W[ashington] was himself with the troops who marched past here to the Perkiome. The passage of the troops lasted through the night and we had all kinds of visitors, officers, etc. To get wet up to one’s chest and then to march in the cold, foggy night while enduring hunger and thirst, etc. Is hard for the poor men. It takes courage, health, etc.”

John Potts' mansion (Courtesy of Montgomery County)

The Continental Army next rested at "Camp Pottsgrove" - a name that led some to believe (falsely) that General Washington made his headquarters at Pottsgrove Manor. However, historians have long since dismissed the tradition.

The Continental army next rested at "Camp Pottsgrove" - a name that led some to believe (falsely) that General Washington made his headquarters at Pottsgrove Manor. However, historians have long since dismissed the tradition.

Wealthy and influential, the Potts family controlled an extensive empire of Pennsylvania forges and furnaces. With the notable exception of John Potts Jr. (a Loyalist) most Potts family members actively supported the revolutionary cause. One brother, Dr. Jonathan Potts, served as a physician in the Hospital Department of the Continental Army. He helped establish the vital smallpox inoculation (variolation) program for the army, implemented at Valley Forge in 1778. Dr. Potts also served as Deputy Director of the Hospital Department and purveyor of medicines, alleviating supply problems that plagued the army in 1777-1778. His brother, Colonel Thomas Potts (1735-1796) owned Pottsgrove Manor during the American Revolution. Active in politics, he served in the Pennsylvania Assembly and Philadelphia Committee of Safety. Colonel Potts also commanded a regiment of Philadelphia Associators in 1775 and 1776. He retired the following year, and Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Frederick Antes (1730-1801) took over command of the 6th Battalion of Philadelphia County Militia, in Potts's stead.

Henry Antes House (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

During the Pottsgrove encampment (west of Fagleysville) Colonel Antes may have hosted Washington's headquarters. Built in 1736 by his father, Johann Heinrich "Henry" Antes (1701-1755) the house sits in Upper Frederick Township.

Confirmation for Washington being at an Antes-owned house is found in the general's household accounts book. Washington paid William Antes (another of Henry's sons) for meals, food stuffs and lodging. When a family hosted the general's military household, his account book often expressed the charming 18th-century phrase: "for the trouble of the house." "For the trouble of the house" could mean the use of the house for lodging or other inconveniences such as taking over the home's kitchen. Alternatively, Washington could have headquarted at the nearby William Antes Inn (since William, not Frederick, signed the bill). Supporting this theory, Washington's bill listed prepared meals such as dinner and breakfast, rather than just raw food stuffs usually purchased from families that relied upon Washington's household cooks.

The Henry Antes House is owned and operated by the Goschenhoppen Historians, a local preservation group.

If there was room, the headquarters staff generally stayed with the commander-in-chief. The staff, which Washington often referred to as his military family, consisted of a military secretary and five aides-de-camp. They managed the general's correspondence and other important functions. The fact the Antes provided supper and breakfast for eleven indicates other persons beyond the official staff were guests. It was common for Washington to host officers and local officials at his table. But household staff also included free and enslaved servants, acting as cooks, laundresses, waiters, or horse grooms.

This image of William Antes' bill shows meals provided to Washington's military family. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)

Washington’s daily expenses showing charge to Antes to the trouble of the house (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

Approach and Retreat from the Battle of Germantown, October, 1777

The army shifted from Camp Pottsgrove to Camp Perkiomen (Schwenksville) on September 26 in order to be able to stage a possible attack on the force that General Howe had occupying Germantown. The British had split their forces. General Howe ordered some 3000 troops to occupy Philadelphia and stationed the other 9000 troops in nearby Germantown. Washington saw this division of forces as an opportunity to attack.

Washington moves his soldiers east to Camp Pennypacker..mp4

Washington moves his soldiers east to Camp Pennypacker.

Pennypacker mansion (Courtesy Montgomery County)

The Continental Army encamped in the Schwenksville vicinity on both sides of the Perkiomen Creek. The heights above the creek offered good defensive positions. The general likely stayed in the home of Samuel Pannebecker (The Pannebecker name was later anglicized into Pennypacker.) at this encampment. Washington’s household expenses show that on September 29 cash was paid to an unknown person “at Pawling’s mill (part of the Pennypacker complex) for sundries used in the house and & extra trouble.” Entries in the Pannebecker family bible and the diary of artist Charles Wilson Peale who had Washington sit for a miniature portrait during this encampment help place Washington in the Pannebacker house.

The house owned by Samuel in 1777 is contained within the Governor Samuel Pennypacker mansion. Inspired by his family’s association with Washington and his army, Governor Pennypacker wrote a history of the “Mills” that includes many accounts of that time.

Maria Keely, a young girl of 13 who was an eye witness to the army’s arrival from Pottsgrove described in her memoirs how the army came to their place, remembered seeing General Washington and General Muhlenberg’s marquee tent, and recalled how the soldiers initially scared her and her 6-year-old brother when they were gathering in their horses.

then on Friday Sept 26, 1777 at about 3 o.Clock PM Washington and the generals and the whole army came From Pottsgrove . . .

I Remember very well on the Friday Sep 26th 1777 at about half past 5 o.Clock P.M. I and Brother Sol went to fetch the horses in the very field this house stands (Isaac Grimly 1846 now Sol K. Grimly in 1879) The soldiers came on us right at once me and sol [her six-year-old brother] had just had catched the horses Sol was afraid he was quite young But the horse he rode was quite old and tame But Sol was so afraid and cried. Then three soldiers came up to us they were officers and Said Sol should not cry they would not hurt him and lifted me and Sol on the horses we then started of [off] . . . [2]

[2] Maria Keely. Statement of Maria Keely, as told to her grandson, Solomon K. Grimley 1846, recopied in 1879, in “The Goschenhoppen Historian Newsletter,” (September 2017): 4.

On September 29th, the army marched 5 miles down the Skippack Pike (Route 73) to establish a camp at Skippack.

Wash

Washington placed his headquarters in the Joseph Smith house from September 29 to October 2. The house is gone; it stood near the intersection of Forty Foot Road and Skippack Pike. Smith received £11.19.6 (11 pounds, 19 shillings, 6 pence) “for Sundries” supplied to the headquarters from 29 Sept. to 1 Oct., plus £2.5 more for “the trouble of the house &c.”

The army continues moving east to Camp Skippack..mp4

The army continues moving east to Camp Skippack.

Skippack Pike milestone (Marc Brier)

Skippack Pike milestone reading “25 M P” meaning 25 miles to Philadelphia located in the Village of Skippack, PA. Original milestones started at mile 15 from Philadelphia, were composed of red shale, and sometimes substituted J for the numeral 1. Workers often whitewashed the milestones so that they could be seen by travelers at night.

While at Camp Skippack, General Washington penned a letter to the governor of Connecticut John Trumbell, Sr. in which he lamented the loss of Philadelphia

General Washington was looking for a place to observe and launch a possible attack on the British at Germantown. From Camp Skippack scouts had identified the Methacton Hills as a location close enough to be able to spring an attack as well as form a defensive position to fall back on, if needed.

Taking the High Ground..mp4

Taking the "High Ground."

Roads about Skippack and Germantown (Courtesy of Historical Society of Pennsylvania)

A map drawn up for the army by an unknown author, but possibly by a Mr. Thomas identified in one of Washington’s letters as a mapmaker, shows Camp Methacton (circled in red) as well as the other camps used by the army in Montgomery County from October 2 to December 11.

Peter Wentz house (Courtesy of Montgomery County)

While the Continental Army was stationed at Camp Methacton, General Washington headquartered at the Peter Wentz house a mile and a half west of the camp. Peter Wentz II had this large house built in 1758. The Wentz's housed the general and possibly some of his staff. Some orders written from the house are titled “Head Quarters, at Peter Wentz’s.” Washington paid Peter’s son Mathias Wentz for food stuffs such as butter, milk and cabbages and for housing the general on October 4.

On October 3, Washington apparently held a council of war near General Nathanael Greene’s headquarters on the Supplee farm on the northeast side of the Methacton Hill. The summit was evidently witnessed by 10-year-old Hance Supplee who said that he saw “[Washington and his officers go] into the meadow, and [form] a semi-circle, facing Washington, holding their swords in front of their faces. They stayed in this position a considerable time and then each officer went to his command.” [3]

Preparations for an attack on Germantown commenced.

[3] Thomas R. Supplee, Narrative of Hance Supplee as Told to his Grandson, 1844. Cited in The Philadelphia Inquirer, 13 January 1893, 2.

Battle of Germantown (Courtesy of U. S. Army Center of Military History)

The attack plan called for a complex and ambitious assault (see map above). Four columns of troops were to assail the British position from different directions.

The attack initially succeeded and put the British on the run. Foggy conditions, an ill-timed halt in the attack caused by trying to dislodge British troops occupying the Chew House mansion, and two other American divisions colliding with each other were the main causes of defeat. However, the formidable performance of the American troops at Germantown, and the victory over the British at the Battles of Saratoga (September and October, 1777) made a strong enough impression on the French to commit to coming into the war on the American side.

Although the Battle of Germantown took place outside the current boundary of Montgomery County, the Continental Army used the Peter Wentz area for its pre-battle encampment, and the Perkiomen Creek area for its retreat.

Attack!.mp4

Attack!

Retreat!.mp4

Retreat!

Monument to the camps on the Perkiomen Creek (Courtesy of Montgomery County)

The American troops who had left Camp Methacton at 9 pm on October 3 to launch the attack retreated all the way back to the Perkiomen camp location, arriving at 9 pm on October 4. Lieutenant McMichael recorded in his diary that he had marched 45 miles in those 24 hours, calling the travail “an almost unspeakable fatigue.” “. . . we then marchd up the Skippack road to Pennybeckers Mill where we betook ourselves to rest – by this time it was 9 oClock at night."

Section of Roads About Skippack and Germantown showing camp on west bank of Perkiomen Creek.

Lieutenant McMichael reported that the army shifted across the creek on October 5, which is corroborated by the map on the left. There is also evidence that some of the troops continued to occupy the east side of the creek.

Just like in his first stay in the Perkiomen region, it is problematic to determine for certain which resident housed the general. The headquarters household expense book says that on October 8 Washington paid an unidentified person “at Picaomin for necessaries used in the house . . . &c. & trouble.” Orders written from camp say variously “Camp Near Pennibeckers Mill, Perkiomy, Pennypackers Mill and Pawlings Mill,” all located along the Perkiomen Creek where the troops were spread out. Joseph Pawling owed both of the gristmills on the creek in this area. He owned “Pennypacker Mill” located on the Pennypacker site and “Pawling’s Mill,” also known as the “Old Mill House,” that once stood downstream of Pennypacker Mill at the Central Perkiomen Valley Park. Most historians using oral traditions place Washington in the house of Maria Grimley Keely’s future father-in-law Henrich Keely in the general’s second stay in the area. The Keely house was located on the west bank of the Perkiomen and is no longer standing.

Two casualties from the Battle of Germantown, Colonel John White and Major Edward Sherburne were buried near the army’s camp. Many of the soldiers who perished in the battle were buried along the retreat route from Germantown in church graveyards, and at locations on both sides of the creek at the Perkiomen Camp.

Washington's note to General Howe (Courtesy of George Washington Papers)

In the midst of all the hardship and casualties of the battle, an amusing incident took place at the camp. Apparently, in the chaos of the battle, a dog had wandered back with the Americans in retreat. On its collar was the inscription “General Howe.” Washington, a dog admirer himself, sent the dog back to the British general under a flag of truce with a civil note.

Move to Camp Towamencin.mp4

Move to Camp Towamencin

Section of Roads About Skippack and Germantown showing Camp Towamencin

General Washington ordered a shift to a new camp on October 8. While it is uncertain why Washington ordered the move, it might have been for morale reasons – to leave an area where numerous soldiers had been buried – and to find fresh supplies.

Washington’s headquarters at the farmhouse of Frederick Wampole is actually indicated on the historic map. The household account book says that Wampole received payment for various provisions supplied to the headquarters family and for “trouble of the house.” The Wampole house and barn where soldiers took shelter are no longer standing. They were located near Detwiler Road and Delp Drive, Kulpsville.

Memorial to General Nash and other officers (Marc Brier)

During the Towamencin encampment, General Nash and other officers who died as a result of their wounds from Germantown, were buried with full military honors.

Keeping the Pressure on the British, October - December, 1777

Camp Methacton.mp4

Camp Methacton

Washington's bed chamber at the Peter Wentz House (Marc Brier)

After a period of recuperation and rest, the army moved east to keep pressure on the British in Philadelphia. They would return to the already established Camp Methacton and Washington returned to the Wentz house.

Mathias Wentz again received payment from General Washington for food and lodging. The full headquarters family occupied the house and environs with the general. This included military staff such as the Military Secretary, Robert Hanson Harrison, and Aides-de-Camp, John Fitzgerald, Alexander Hamilton, John Laurens, Richard Kidder Mead, Tench Tilghman, and Caleb Gibbs. Gibbs was in charge of Washington's Lifeguard company and kept accounts. The general was also accompanied by a number of enslaved individuals - his personal servant, William Lee, and two cooks - Hannah and Isaac Till. Hannah Till, who reportedly lived to 105 years old, gave an interview describing some of her Revolutionary War experiences to John Watson for his book Annals of Philadelphia, published in 1830.

Moving East.mp4

Moving East

Section of Roads about Skippack and Germantown showing Camp Whitpain

Washington ordered the army nearer to Philadelphia to keep an eye on British and more closely monitor the defense of river forts, Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer. The forts on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey sides of the Delaware River, respectively were key to keeping the Crown forces from fully securing Philadelphia. Despite the defeat of the Hessians (British allied troops) at Mercer on October 22 and the valiant defense of Mifflin by American troops, the forts eventually fell by mid-November. After their abandonment, the British were able to support their army from the fleet and completely secure the city.

Washington placed his headquarters at Dawesfield, the home of James Morris. Dawesfield is privately owned. No household expenses mention a person receiving funds for food or housing at this time, but a letter Washington wrote on November 2 from the camp is headed “Whitpin—Morris’s [Pa.].”

Soldiers fording. (Courtesy of Bob Study)

The "Whiskey Scrape" October 21-23, 1777

Some of the most trying experiences of the Continental army infantryman did not occur at famous battles, but rather during the course of normal duty. We seldom commemorate such service. Luckily, Private Joseph Plumb Martin of Connecticut recorded one such incident in his memoirs. Because this adventure ended with a humorous encounter with spirituous liquors, Martin dubbed the experience the “Whisky Scrape.” On this occasion, Martin and his comrades were sent from Camp Whitpain to check a British exploration force that had come out from Philadelphia. During this forced march, the men plunged several times through the frigid waters of the Schuylkill River and tramped about thirty-five miles in less than forty-eight hours.

The expedition left camp on the evening of October 21. They moved down Butler Pike, turned left onto Germantown Pike, proceeded to Barren Hill, and then crossed Schuylkill River at Rees ap Edward’s Ford, (Miquon). Once across the river, the troops marched over Young’s Ford Road (Gladwyne). In the early morning hours of the twenty-second, they returned without having sighted the British. On the evening of October 22, Martin and his companions set out on another fruitless search for the enemy. This time they marched as far as Upper Darby, returned, and crossed the river a final time at dusk on the twenty-third. The “Whiskey Scrape” occurred when they returned to the east bank of the Schuylkill River at Matson’s Ford (Fayette Street Bridge, Conshohocken). Most of the men had very little to eat during these days. Martin felt lucky that he foraged some walnuts and turnips on the march back to camp on the 22nd.

Martin recorded that:

In the dark and confusion that ensued, many men drank much more than the gill (4 oz.) share allotted them, and as “our stomachs being empty, the whisky took rank hold and the poor brain faired accordingly.” As the troops marched on, a comical pile up of man and musket occurred when they attempted to cross a rail fence. Martin mused that if the British had happened upon them at that time, “there would have been an action worth recording.”

Whiskey Scrape.mp4

The Whiskey Scrape

Section of Roads About Skippack and Germantown showing Camp Whitemarsh

General Howe led an expedition out from Philadelphia in early December of 1777 to attempt to defeat Washington’s army before winter fully set in. For his part, General Washington placed his army in a strong defensive position in the Whitemarsh/Fort Washington area. The encampment was formed into a half-moon shape connecting Militia Hill, Fort Hill and Camp Hill. After three days of maneuvering, the British could find no weaknesses in the American positions and Washington would not risk his army by engaging in a full-scale battle. During this time, local inhabitants recorded a number of incidents of the British destroying property.

Camp Whitemarsh.mp4

Camp Whitemarsh

Hope Lodge (Courtesy of Wikiwand)

On December 8, 1777, Robert Morton, a Philadelphia loyalist who kept track of events in and around the city, recorded in his diary that the British “committed many other depredations, as if the sole purpose of the expedition was to destroy and spread desolation and ruin, to dispose the inhabitants to rebellion by despoiling their property . . .” To a loyalist like Morton, it was a shock to see the British who were supposedly restoring order to Philadelphia and its environs behave in this way. Washington in contrast was paying his hosts and as is indicated by his accounts, compensating civilians in hard currency, not the less valued Continental paper money.

During the Whitemarsh Encampment, (2 November - December 11) Washington stayed at the Emlen house, a summer house built by George Emlen, a Philadelphia Quaker around 1745 and owned at the time by Emlen Devereux. The Emlen house is privately owned. The household account books record says that 22-1-2 was remitted to Mr. “Emlins” in December. Hope Lodge, a beautiful example of Georgian architecture was the headquarters of the army’s Surgeon General John Cochran and served as an army hospital during the Whitemarsh encampment.

After a long and arduous campaign, the troops needed shelter and rest. Washington and his officers would soon select Valley Forge as their winter encampment site. Even if the exact location of the permanent winter encampment site wasn’t yet determined, it was going to be on the south side of the Schuylkill River, on the opposite side from the British in Philadelphia. Moving the army across the river would be complicated by a British sortie.

Ford Street Marker (Marc Brier)

'While attempting to cross the river on a bridge of wagons, the Americans saw a British force under Cornwallis moving into position. The army hastily withdrew back across the river. Washington ordered the army west on the Ridge Road, (Ridge Pike) to Swedes’ Ford in present-day Norristown. The army spent the night of December 11 on the heights above the ford.

Opposing the British on the south side of the river was only a contingent of the Pennsylvania militia. They put up a bit of defense then crumbled. Unfortunately for the Continental Army and Washington, the local militia though fairly numerous was undependable. Pennsylvania, a Quaker colony had little use for a colonial militia force. An independent force inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s privately formed Associators rose to fill the void in 1775. Though the Associators fought well in the Trenton and Princeton campaigns of 1776/77, they would not repeat the feat in the autumn of 1777. Continental Army Adjutant General and Massachusetts native Timothy Pickering would say of them: “No militia can be more contemptible than those of Pennsylvania and Delaware.” The next day when it was established the threat was gone, the crossing resumed.

Heading for Valley Forge.mp4

Heading for Valley Forge.

There is no documentation that Washington occupied any structure at the Gulph. He and his staff most likely sheltered in the general’s tents. The soldier’s tents remained on the opposite side of the Schuylkill with the baggage as they often did when the army made a rapid movement. Lieutenant McMichael related on December 12:

“At 6 oClock P. M. we marched to the Bridge which we past in Indian file and at 8 oClock in the morning we Encamped at the Gulph where we remained Without Tents or Blankets whilst An incessant Snow continued till Dawn . . . “

Camp Swedeland.mp4

Camp Swedeland/Gulph Mills

Thanksgiving Marker, Gulph Mills (Marc Brier)

At the camp at the Gulph, the army occupied the heights on either side of Gulph Creek, with the more projecting height to the east, now known as Rebel Hill providing a lookout for the British if they came out from Philadelphia. While at the Gulph, the Continental Congress proclaimed a day of public thanksgiving on December 18, 1777, to commemorate the progress made up to that point in the fight to establish independence. Some of Washington’s soldiers such as Joseph Plump Martin recorded the menu of their Thanksgiving “feast” in their diaries:

“We had nothing to eat for two or three days previous, except what the trees of the fields and forests afforded us. but we must now have what Congress said, a sumptuous Thanksgiving to close the year of high living we had now nearly seen brought to a close. And what do you think it was? ...it gave each and every man half a gill of rice and a tablespoonful of vinegar!”

One half-gill equals two ounces. The commissary often issued vinegar to the soldiers for use as a purifier and scurvy preventative. The men mixed the vinegar with canteen water rather than drinking it full strength. A gill of rum or whiskey, often given to soldiers as a reward for hard service or on special occasions would have been much preferred by many of the men.

Winter at Valley Forge, December, 1777.mp4

Winter at Valley Forge December 1777

Milestone 15 on South Gulph Road (Marc Brier)

Back of milestone 15 showing William Penn crest (Marc Brier)

On the march along Gulph Road, many soldiers had nothing to eat or drink besides water. When the men were distressed they often foraged on their own. Local farmers’ chickens and turkeys were frequently targeted. One of the troops said that on the march to Valley Forge, they encountered a turkey and as it “failed to give the countersign (to the day’s password), it was tried by fire and found to be delicious.”

Valley Forge Winter Encampment

Huts provided shelter for the men in camp. (Marc Brier)

The Continental Congress and the Pennsylvania authorities insisted that Washington place the army within 25 miles of Philadelphia to protect the citizens and government from the British. The army selected Valley Forge because of its strong defensive position within the 25-mile range of the city. The camp formed a triangle with the long side being a ridge the army would make its outer line of defense, a short side with the high hills Mount Joy and Mount Misery rising above Valley Creek, and the other long side running along the Schuylkill River.

While the camp was strong from a defensive standpoint, a myriad of difficulties would plague the soldiery. Disease would claim the lives of approximately 2,000 men due to typhus, typhoid, dysentery and pneumonia. A smallpox inoculation (variolation) campaign carried out during the encampment helped the army nearly eradicate that deadly disease that decimated the army early in the war. Supply problems meant that food and clothing were scarce but Nathanael Greene was able to turn around the quartermaster department after February. Despite the hardships, the men built over 1,000 log huts, miles of fortifications and a bridge over the Schuylkill River.

The army put the time at Valley Forge to good use as Prussian Baron von Steuben trained the army into a more professional force. The French also announced while the army was stationed at the camp that they were coming into the war against the British as our ally, giving a major boost to the Continental effort and a move that would force the British to evacuate Philadelphia without a shot being fired.

The Isaac Potts House, Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge (Courtesy of National Park Service)

Before leaving Valley Forge, Caleb Gibbs paid £100 in Pennsylvania currency to Deborah Hewes, “being in full of all demands agt his Excellency Genl Washington for the Use of the House, Furniture &ca” (Deborah Hewes was apparently renting the house from its owner, Isaac Potts during the time that Washington used it.) The payment in Pennsylvania currency is a first since Washington entered Montgomery County. He had been paying in hard currency or its equivalent. Diarist Christopher Marshall opined in October of 1777 that only hard and old Pennsylvania money was passing. “Old” Pennsylvania money was what was in use before the 1776 Revolutionary War government was established.

Washington's Grain Proclamation (Courtesy of National Park Service)

One of the ways that General Washington, Nathanael Greene, and commissary official Clement Biddle overcame food supply problems at Valley Forge was to enforce the proclamation that Washington issued for every person living within 70 miles of the camp to thresh their grain by certain dates and provide it to the army.

Interior of Sunrise Mill (Courtesy of Montgomery County)

The Sunrise Mill in northwestern Montgomery County, owned operated by Michael Krause and Yost Bitting at the time of the Revolution was almost certainly one of the mills drafted into service to grind this grain. The grain magazines Quartermaster Greene established in New Jersey and north and west of camp contained thousands of bushels of grain when full.

Mill Grove mansion (Courtesy of Montgomery County)

Mill and miller's house, circa 1900 (Montgomery County)

Mill Grove

Before becoming the home of the famous naturalist John James Audubon in the early 19th century, the property witnessed some of the devastations that 18th-century armies brought to local farms and businesses. During the Revolutionary War, Rowland Evans and his family lived at Mill Grove, in the stone house that James Morgan built in 1762. Evans leased the property, which lies on the banks of the Perkiomen Creek in the former Providence Township (Audubon, PA), from its owner, John Penn. The property featured acres of farmland, along with a grist and saw mill that were the foundation of the family’s income. The Evans family had the misfortune to be in the path of both the British and American armies, and they suffered severe damages that hurt the family financially. In a series of letters to Edmund Physick, the agent for the Penn family, Mr. Evans explained how he could not meet his rent because of the destruction brought by first the British, then the American army.

The British stopped at Mill Grove after they crossed the Schuylkill River at Fatland Ford in September of 1777 on their way to capture Philadelphia. In one of the letters, Mr. Evans states that the Crown forces took about Three Hundred Bushels of Oates, trampled and ruined Five or Six Acres of Buckwheat, besides potatoes, apples, etc. for which I never received any compensation. They likewise tore the bolting clothes [out of the mill] . . .

The bolting clothes (essentially sieves made of special cloth) sorted the grain into progressively finer and more valuable grades of flour. Without them, the mill could only produce coarse flour, rendering the operation nearly worthless. It is likely that the British disabled the mill to deny the Continental army a valuable food source and not to purposely hurt Mr. Evans’ livelihood.

The American army, during its stay in Valley Forge from December of 1777 to June of 1778 was desperate for food and other supplies. Mill Grove, which sat across the Schuylkill River from the main encampment had fields of wheat, rye, hay, and other crops that the army needed. Late in 1777, the Continental Army commandeered almost 400 bushes of Rowland Evans’ wheat, offering him little in compensation and leaving him with no way to pay his rent. In May and June of 1778, the American forces requisitioned wheat and hay for their horses, again paying little for it, reducing Mr. Evans’s finances to a near state of collapse.

Rowland Evans left Providence Township for Philadelphia in 1784. Leaving farming and milling behind, he sought a more prosperous future as a conveyancer, preparing deeds, mortgages, and facilitating real estate transactions for the citizens of Philadelphia. He died in Philadelphia in 1789.

Neither army conducted major operations during winter quarters, but officers did send out foraging parties and patrols and some fighting did occur. In fact, regular British troops and loyalist militia units headed out from the occupied city of Philadelphia regularly. They aimed to keep trade open with citizens in the countryside, seize Continental Army supplies, and capture patriot soldiers and politicians if they could. Between February and May of 1778, several British raids penetrated deep into Montgomery County (then a part of Philadelphia County).

General Washington at Valley Forge wanted to stop the forays, but the beleaguered Pennsylvania militia assigned to protect vast areas of Philadelphia and Bucks Counties could do little militarily to prevent the invasions. Peter Wentz, who hosted Washington in Worcester was apparently a victim of one of these raids as he was one of the county residents who put in for compensation for depredations caused by the British.

Peter Wentz's claim for damages by the British (Courtesy of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania)

While there is no date associated with Wentz's damage claim, Reverend Muhlenberg did take note of a raid in the area where British troops caused some destruction: “Today [Feb 17] we heard that on last Saturday [Feb 14] a company of horsemen (Tories) from Philadelphia made a sortie as far as Wentz’s tavern on the Shippach pike and Pawling’s mill and did some damage only about ten or six miles from us.”

A cattle raid conducted by Loyalists and British Troops on February 23-24, 1778 may also been the time that the British damaged the farmstead as the raiders passed right by the property.

Major Simcoe of the Queens Rangers reported that “Mr. Washington drew his supplies of fat cattle from New England: a drove of this kind was met about thirty miles from Philadelphia, . . , by a friend of Government, who passed himself upon the drivers for a rebel commissary, then billetted them at a neighbouring farm, and immediately gallopped to Philadelphia, from whence a party of dragoons were sent for the cattle . . .”

Crooked Billet Monument (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

Battle of Crooked Billet

While not a major expedition, the largest British incursion into the county in the winter and spring of 1778 occurred at Crooked Billet. A British force consisting of infantry, dragoons (cavalry), and Queens Rangers (American Loyalist troops) left Philadelphia under the cover of darkness. Their mission was to disrupt the communication and supply lines maintained by the Pennsylvania militia under the command of General Lacey. They attacked a contingent of Lacey’s troops near Hatboro (originally named Crooked Billet after an early tavern) at daybreak on May 1, 1778. The militia sentries failed to give a proper warning to the American camp and the British routed the force and destroyed valuable supplies. American eyewitnesses attested to the British atrocities of the day which included bayoneting surrendering troops and setting fire to American wounded with buckwheat straw.

Graeme Park (Courtesy of Graeme Park)

The story of Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson and the loss of her estate Graeme Park tells us something about how difficult it could be for loyalists or even one suspected of divided loyalties during the Revolution in Pennsylvania. To find out more about this complex story please visit Graeme Park.

Leaving Valley Forge

Leaving Valley Forge..mp4

Leaving Valley Forge

On June 10, 1778, the main Continental Army, nearly 17,000 soldiers and approximately 2,000 women camp followers and support personnel moved to a new camp location on the north side of the Schuylkill River, where their commissary had been. General Washington ordered the move to improve the health of the men by shifting from the former camp that was the source of so much disease. He also wanted the army to be in campaign mode and ready to march in anticipation of a British move out from Philadelphia. In the new era of the French Alliance, the fear of being trapped by a French fleet in the Delaware Bay pushed the Crown forces out of the city. There were many loyalist citizens who feared for their safety upon the return of the Patriots to the city, so the British authorities had to provide safe passage for them to New York and beyond on their fleet. The army would have to march overland to New York, presenting Washington with a target that he intended to strike. The British left the city on June 17-18. Washington and his men would march from Valley Forge on June 19.

Shannon Mansion (Marc Brier)

The army marched as far as Norriton, setting up camp on at least part of the current Norristown Farm Park. General Washington spent the night at Dr. Shannon’s residence, which stands at the entrance to the Farm Park. Headquarters correspondence for June 19 is labeled “Head-Quarters Doctor Shennons.” The headquarters account book shows that the general paid Dr. Shannon’s servants and purchased pineapples and roasting pigs. A feast may have been in the offing.

George Washington’s aide James McHenry wrote, “The whole army in motion—March to Norring-town Town-Ship—Encamp on Stoney run—Head Quarters at a Dr Shannons—a good Farm House—good Cheer—& a pretty situation”

While we do not know exactly where the army camped, presumably it was on the heights above Stony Creek, which are farm fields in the park today. One clue is that the army posted guards on Germantown Pike, which runs on the east side of the park, as the general orders for June 19 say, “The old and new Guards will parade in the road opposite Mr Shennon’s precisely at half past three ôClock in the morning [of June 20].” The troops were also ordered to cook their provisions for the next day and be ready to march out on June 20 th early in the morning. Washington’s aide James McHenry said that they stepped off at 4 am.

The troops would leave Montgomery County and cross the Delaware River into New Jersey at Coryell’s ferry. They would catch up to the Crown forces and fight a major battle at Monmouth Courthouse on June 28. Monmouth was the last major battle in the north. The Americans fought well that day, showing some of the training that they had received under Baron von Steuben. Although Monmouth was considered a draw, the British did the retreating and the Americans could take pride in their performance. The fighting in the fall of 1777 at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown, as well as the marches and travails in Montgomery County had toughened them into combat veterans.

On to Victory!.mp4

On to Victory!

All animated maps generated by Montgomery County GIS

If you have any questions, please contact Marc Brier at the Montgomery County Parks, Trails, & Historic Sites at mbrier@montcopa.org

Visit the Sites

Today historic milestones, monuments and historic houses mark the trail of history that Washington and his soldiers made. We invite you to use this guide to explore these sites that were witness to a fascinating time in our shared past.

Henry Melchior Muhlenberg House, Historic Trappe

http://historictrappe.org

Historic Trappe was formed on January 1, 2020, by the merger of the Trappe Historical Society and The Speaker’s House. Together, we offer a research library, archives, and exhibition galleries at the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies located in the Dewees Tavern as well as two historic houses open for tours–the Henry Muhlenberg House, a fully-furnished museum interpreting the families of Lutheran pastor Henry Muhlenberg and his son General Peter Muhlenberg, and the Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg and an ongoing restoration project. Historic Trappe is also the owner of the Muhlenberg parsonage, built in 1745 and currently undergoing architectural investigations in preparation for restoration.

Pottsgrove Manor

https://www.montcopa.org/930/Pottsgrove-Manor

Built in 1752 for the Potts family, the home showcases the elegance of early Georgian architecture and tells the history of John and Ruth Potts, their 13 children, and the paid, indentured, and enslaved people who lived and labored here.

Guided tours share the stories of successful ironmaster John Potts- the founder of Pottstown, Justice of the Peace, Judge on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, elected representative of both Berks and Philadelphia Counties to the Pennsylvania General Assembly- with engaging and researched interpretation of Pottsgrove Manor as the family's home and headquarters. Visitors to the museum will discover the experience of the Potts family alongside all the people who labored in the home.

Pottsgrove Manor sits on four acres which are part of the County of Montgomery's Division of Parks, Trails, and Historic Sites. When the Potts first purchased the property, they held 995 acres that ran along the Schuylkill River which eventually came to include Pottsgrove Manor, two grist mills, a forge, and the town of Pottstown. The Potts family continued to live and develop the town for generations, seeing it grow from less than 20 homes to a thriving borough.

Special programs, workshops, and exhibits continuously highlight the mission of Pottsgrove Manor to connect everyone to 18th-century history. Digital resources including educational videos and online collections can be found throughout our website and social media. Customized school, homeschool, scout, and adult group tours are available to bring history alive to any age.

The Henry Antes Plantation

https://goschenhoppen.org/museums/

Designed and built by Henry Antes in 1736, the Antes House is an excellent example of early German colonial construction and design.

As early as 1963 an informal assembly of interested persons that would later incorporate as The Goschenhoppen Historians, Inc., took an active interest in the house and began working cooperatively with the Girls Scouts of Philadelphia who owned the property, and the Antes Family Association. The Goschenhoppen Historians acted, in large part, as stewards of the house until, after twenty-five years of endeavor, they became owners and immediately undertook stabilization of the structure and planning for its restoration. The Henry Antes House, notable for its remarkable state of preservation and unusual features such as the massive central fireplace, the two-story attic and the liegender dachstuhl trusses, was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 27, 1992.

This living history museum was developed to interpret the lifestyle and tradition of a prosperous mid-eighteenth-century plantation. At the annual Folk Festival, women prepare traditional Pennsylvania German foods in the massive fireplace of the home. Bread is baked, and apples are dried, in the restored bake oven which is between the house and the large Pennsylvania German garden.

The Henry Antes House is open for tours during the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival which is held each year on the first full weekend in August.

The house is also open for special tours by request

Pennypacker Mills

https://www.montcopa.org/928/Pennypacker-Mills

Pennypacker Mills is a well-documented historic site of what life was like in the early 1900s. With a unique original collection, the mansion is fully furnished with antiques collected and documented by former Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker reflecting his interests in early Pennsylvania history, German and Dutch settlers, Native Americans, the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. The collection also includes Governor Pennypacker’s political (1903 - 1907), genealogical and personal papers. Research by appointment.

The serene country estate was landscaped by Thomas Meehan and Sons to highlight the Colonial Revival mansion and surrounding farmland of 170 acres. Originally constructed about 1720, the mansion was redesigned and enlarged by architect Arthur Brockie in 1901 to enhance a country gentleman’s lifestyle.

Activities throughout the year include guided tours, exhibits, nature walks, workshops, and special events. Picnic facilities are available. Large group and school tours are requested to call in advance to schedule visits. Part of the first floor of the mansion and the restrooms are handicap accessible.

Skippack Pike/Skippack Historical Society

https://www.skippack.org/skippackroad.htm

The Skippack Historical Society is a non-profit organization formed in 1967 for the purpose of researching and documenting the many historical sites and rich history of the Skippack Valley, the site of the second inland settlement of the Pennsylvania German people.

In the year 1706 Gerhardt and Hermanus Indenhofen purchased 440 acres of land from Mathias Van Bebber. This property over the next 100 years was divided and sold off becoming the village of Skippack. Gerhardt and his brother built a house on their land around 1720. It is the first house built in the village and perhaps in the Township. The Skippack Historical Society has been studying and restoring the Indenhofen house and farmstead over many years.

The Skippack Historical Society currently meets throughout the year at the Indenhofen Farmstead, located at the corner of Evansburg Road and Skippack Pike in Evansburg State Park.

Peter Wentz Farmstead

https://www.montcopa.org/929/Peter-Wentz-Farmstead

Peter and Rosanna Wentz settled here in 1744 and by 1758 had built their English Georgian style house with many features reflecting their German heritage. The American Revolution moved into the area during the autumn of 1777 and the Wentz home became temporary headquarters for General George Washington and his staff. After the war Peter Wentz sold the farm to Devault Beiber and in 1794 Schwenkfelder Reverend Melchior Schultz and his family bought it.

Generations of the Schultz family continued to live and farm here until 1969, when the County of Montgomery purchased the property. The County restored the house to the era when it served as Washington’s headquarters. The farm buildings, livestock, and kitchen garden represent early Pennsylvania German farming culture and practices in the region.

Worcester Historical Society

https://hsp.org/history-affiliates/affiliates-membership/worcester-historical-society

The mission of Worcester Historical Society is to preserve the history of Worcester Township and immediate surrounds that includes the earliest inhabitants to the present through the acquisition, preservations and interpretation of historic resources and artifacts. The Historical Society will promote public education to tell the story of the people, events, organizations, industry and agriculture that shaped the history of our community.

Wissahickon Valley Historical Society

https://www.wvalleyhs.org/

Headquartered at the 1895 Public School in Blue Bell (at 799 West Skippack Pike on the corner of School Road), the Wissahickon Valley Historical Society works to promote and preserve the history of Ambler Borough, Whitpain Township, and Lower Gwynedd Township (the Wissahickon School District). The society sponsors frequent programs, free and open to the public.

The WVHS owns the Franklinville School, the last remaining one-room school in the area, located at 1701 Morris Road in Blue Bell. Both schools reflect a 19th-century classroom and both appear on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 1895 Public School, mostly original inside and out, also contains a museum and library. The building was designed as a high school for grades 9-11, and as a consolidated school for lower grades when the one-room schools in the area were closed. The building is Moorish in design with Gothic lettering. The turret once served as a bell tower.

Fort Washington State Park

https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/FortWashingtonStatePark/Pages/default.aspx

Rich in modern recreational facilities and historical significance, Fort Washington blossoms with flowering dogwood in the spring.

Fort Washington State Park consists of 493 acres in eastern Montgomery County. It takes its name from the temporary fort built by George Washington’s troops in the fall of 1777, before heading to Valley Forge.

The park is popular with hikers and picnickers. Birders enjoy the seasonal migration of raptors from the Observation Deck.

King of Prussia Historical Society

http://www.kophistory.org/

To preserve and interpret the history of Upper Merion Township, and to stimulate public interest and to support the township’s heritage through educational programs and public events focusing on preserving the past and shaping the future.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

https://www.nps.gov/vafo/index.htm

Valley Forge is the location of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army under General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Here the Continental Army, a collection of disparate colonial militias supported by hundreds of camp followers and allies, emerged under Washington’s leadership as a cohesive and disciplined fighting force.

In late 1777 while the British occupied the patriot capital of Philadelphia, Washington decided to have his troops winter at Valley Forge, only a day’s march from the city. Valley Forge was a naturally defensible plateau where they could train and recoup from the year’s battles while winter weather, impassable roads, and scant supplies stopped the fighting. With the British occupying Philadelphia, Washington decides to encamp at Valley Forge for the winter.

Sunrise Mill

https://www.montcopa.org/931/Sunrise-Mill

Sunrise Mill is a 220-acre site located along the Swamp Creek, straddling the Townships of Upper Frederick, Lower Frederick, and Limerick, PA. The centerpiece of this park is the building complex, featuring a sawmill, gristmill, house, barn, dam, and bridge. The earliest building, the gristmill, was constructed in 1767 by Michael Krause and Yost Bitting, and then enlarged several times, to its current size in 1870. The sawmill was added a few years after the mill as more land needed to be cleared and lumber was needed for buildings.

The barn was built in 1795 and still bears the initials of owners Jacob and Mary Shoemaker above the bay door from that era. The house, added to the site circa 1828, looks out over the beautiful Swamp Creek valley to the unique hemlock groves on the south banks. Downstream, the 1845 stone arch bridge was once a part of Old Nieffer Road that brought traffic directly through the property. Together, these structures create a sterling example of agriculture and industry in Southeast Pennsylvania, with elements representing 250 years of rural life in the region.

Mill Grove/Audubon

https://johnjames.audubon.org/

The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove is situated on a historic 18th-century site, the farm where 18-year-old John James Audubon lived when he first came to America from France in 1803. Here, he developed a technique for drawing birds "from life" that would allow him to become one of the world's best-known wildlife artists. The hundreds of life-size portraits of birds contained in his seminal work The Birds of America helped inspire the formation of the National Audubon Society. The site includes the original three-story farmhouse, built in 1762, miles of nature trails along the Perkiomen Creek, and a brand new building, featuring indoor and outdoor exhibits focused on birds, art, and conservation.

The Visitor Center is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Trails and park are open every day during daylight hours.

Graeme Park

https://www.graemepark.org/

Graeme Park (pronounced GRAM) is a 42-acre historic park, featuring the Keith House, the only surviving residence of a Colonial Pennsylvania Governor. The mansion has remained virtually intact since the late 18th century. A visit to Graeme Park is nature trails, a picnic lunch, and a visit with the politicians, physicians, patriots, loyalists, poets, and writers who frequented the Keith House

Norristown Farm Park

https://www.montcopa.org/874/Norristown-Farm-Park

Norristown Farm Park has a variety of buildings and open fields that represent a diverse history of farming, manufacturing and institutional associations. The buildings date from the mid-18th century through the early 20th century and at various times were part of mills, a tannery, farms and the Norristown State Hospital. The unique and breath-taking beauty of the woods and agricultural fields, combined with a stocked trout stream, the Norristown Farm Park has it all.

Where else can a visitor bicycle, walk, hike, run, jog, picnic, fish in a stocked trout stream, walk their dog, or view wildlife in their natural habitats? The Park has over eight miles of paved trails and there are several rustic nature trails available for the adventuresome. Norristown Farm Park is right where you can do all of these pleasurable pastimes and more!

The Farm Park is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is operated and maintained by Montgomery County. This unique relationship blends recreational opportunities and agricultural activities.

Driving Directions to Follow the Continental Army in Montgomery County

(Please be careful driving when following directions below)

After the Battle of Brandywine, the Continental army crossed into Montgomery County (then Philadelphia County) on September 19 at Parker’s Ford (Limerick Township).

From Parkersford

They marched along the Linfield Road, turning right onto Ridge Pike (Main St.), then forded the Perkiomen Creek.

Camp Providence (Evansburg) September 19-22

From Evansburg and the Schuylkill River Fords

In their withdrawal from the fords, the Continental army marched west on Ridge Pike to Limerick and turned right onto Swamp Pike to Fagleysville.

Camp Pottsgrove September 22-26

From Camp Pottsgrove

The march took the army down Swamp Pike to Limerick, then northeast on the Limerick Road (North Limerick Road/Perkiomen Avenue). They forded the Perkiomen Creek and encamped on the east side of the creek.

Camp Pennypacker September 26-29

From Pennypacker

The army marched 5 miles down the Skippack Pike (Route 73) to establish a camp at Skippack.

Camp Skippack September 29-October 2

From Skippack

The army marched 5 miles down the Pike to take up a position on the Methacton hill.

Camp Methacton I October 2-3

Battle of Germantown October 4

From Methacton, most of the army marched along Skippack Pike and Morris Road to Germantown for the battle, then in retreat along the Skippack Pike on the return to the Perkiomen.

Camp Perkiomen October 4-8

From Perkiomen

The army proceeded eastward on Skippack Pike across the Perkiomen and Skippack Creeks as far as the Forty-Foot Road at Skippack Village, then took Forty-Foot Road as far as Sumneytown Pike to Kulpsville, encamping in Towamencin and Lower Salford Townships.

Camp Towamencin October 8 – 16

From Towamencin

The army took two routes, part returning down the Forty-Foot Road to the Skippack Pike, marching east to Camp Methacton, and part marching directly east on the Sumneytown Pike to North Wales Road where it turned south to Camp Methacton.

Camp Methacton II October 16-20

From Methacton

In their next move the army marched 5 miles down the Skippack Pike to Whitpain.

Camp Whitpain October 21- November 2

Whisky Scrape

The expedition left Camp Whitpain on the evening of October 21. They moved down Butler Pike, turned left onto Germantown Pike, proceeded to Barren Hill, and then crossed Schuylkill River at Rees ap Edward’s Ford, (Miquon). Once across the river, the troops marched over Young’s Ford Road (Gladwyne). In the early morning hours of the twenty-second, they returned without having sighted the British. On the evening of October 22, Martin and his companions set out on another fruitless search for the enemy. This time they marched as far as Upper Darby, returned, and crossed the river at Matson’s Ford (Fayette Street, Conshohocken) a final time at dusk on the twenty-third, where the Whiskey Scrape occurred.

From Whitpain

The army marched in double columns. Half the army, Wayne’s, Sullivan’s, and Stirling’s divisions moved via Skippack Pike. The rest: McDougall’s, Greene’s and Stephen’s divisions, proceeded down Morris Road then crossed the Bethlehem Pike via Pennsylvania Avenue.

Camp Whitemarsh November 2 – December 11

From Whitemarsh

The army marched from Whitemarsh along Bethlehem Road, then west on the Skippack Pike to Broad Axe, then moved south on present Butler Pike to Matson’s Ford, where they intended to cross the river.

When they couldn’t cross due to the British presence on the other side of the river, Washington ordered the army west on the Ridge Road, (Ridge Pike) to Swedes’ Ford in present-day Norristown. The army spent the night of December 11 on the heights above the Ford.

Camp at Swedes Ford (Norristown) December 11-12

From Norristown

On December 2, the army crossed on another bridge constructed of wagons at Swedes Ford and traveled over the Swedeland Road to the Gulph and encamped on the heights above Gulph Creek.

Camp Gulph Mills December 12-19

From Gulph Mills

On December 19, the army marched 7 miles over Gulph Road to reach their winter encampment at Valley Forge.

Valley Forge December 19, 1777 – June 19, 1778

From Valley Forge

Army marched on Pawlings Road made a right on Egypt Road, then right on Ridge Pike, and left onto Whitehall Rd towards Germantown Pike.

Camp Norriton June 19-20

From Norriton

The army marched down Swede Road then east on State Road (Dekalb Pike) generally following along modern Route 202 into Bucks County on their way to New Jersey.

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