Harpers’ Weekly

VALLEY FORGE. The celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the evacuation of Valley Forge by the Revolutionary army after the severe winter of 1777-78 took place on the 19th of June. It was a great success. Between thirty and forty thousand people were present on the grounds. The site of the old camp is one of the loveliest spots in the State; and looking on the softly rounded hills, bright with the fresh verdure of June, it was difficult to clothe them in imagination with snow, and people them with the half-frozen, half starved heroes of a hundred years ago.

The commemorative services were conducted under the direction of the Valley Forge Centennial Association. They began at sunrise with a Federal salute, and continued through the entire day. A tent had been provided, capable of accommodating ten thousand people, and the principal services were held beneath its shelter. There was a religious service at nine o’clock in the morning, after which there was a fine military review. As many as could gain admission then crowded into the spacious tent to listen to an interesting historical address by Colonel Theodore W. Bean, an oration by Henry Armitt Brown, and two commemorative End of page #14 (p.534)

534 [JULY 6,1878. HARPERS' WEEKLY. poems. Colonel Bean’s address was a graphic sketch of the privations and hardships which the patriot army endured with so much heroism during the memorable winter it was encamped there.

Our illustrations on page 529 give a view of the old house which served as Washington’s head-quarters during the winter, and a sketch of the military review at the recent celebration.