"Valley Forge" Topic

I am off to Valley Forge, Brandywine and hopefully Trenton if I can fit it in this weekend, just completed my first service repair and don't have to be in Atlanta until Monday morning!

Well, Colonel Tavington, with a name like that, I would travel with a heavy escort of Dragoons.
Keep an eye peeled for Chas Lee, would you? You can tell Howe he can keep him.

If you drink wine, stop by Chaddsford winery – sehr gut!

Plan is to spend all Saturday at Valley Forge then fit the rest in, have to complete here first then drive back to Phili tomorrow! In Altoona Pa, at the mo! nice countryside! I tried to get to Valley Forge before but didn't fancy the drive from Richmond Va, apart from Boston (thats April next year) I think I have been to all the NPS RevWar parks now! And my company pay me to do this! Back to blighty mid week!

Your explanation of travel in the Pennsylvanian countryside is somewhat confusing. If you are in the Hershey area on the weekend of the 30th, we are playing Regimental F&F, in the Carlisle area, stop by, and play!

There will be an AWI reenactment on Sunday. The Assault on Ft Mercer. Located in National Park, NJ.

My only visit to Valley Forge was in the winter of 1988. I was there after a recent snow storm, and the temperatures had risen well above freezing. The ground was covered with a thick blanket of snow, while the warm air created a light fog. I found the effect to be quite moving; it was a memorable visit.

There is nothing much in Trenton to see. Also, be careful walking around in that city.

There is a park at Brandywine, but if I recall correctly it may have recently been closed due to budgetary issues in Pennsylvania. Also, the park is pretty small. Almost all of the land on which the battle was fought is now privately owned.

Sorry to be such a downer, but thought you should know before you trek all over.

Col. Tavington – Welcome. I'm a Philadelphian and grew up hitting the Rev. war sites around here. I agree with Bede – nothing much to see in Trenton except the Trenton Barracks. The Princeton battlefield is OK – but it may be out of your way.
Valley Forge is nice – and at least the park itself is open and leafy. Fall is fantastic here and the trees are starting to turn. Unfortunately, the rest of the area around VF has been developed to the point of dreck.
Bede is also mostly right about Brandywine. I think the park is open – but it is very small. It is located closer to the crossing on the Brandywine where the Hessians were diverting the Americans. The real fighting took place to the north and much of that land is privately owned – and already developed. The non-preservation of the Brandywide battlefield is terrible – but fodder for a different post.
If you have time – I stongly advise you find a way to get to the Clivedon mansion in Germantown (now part of Philadelphia). It's in the city but it's a fantastic site. The house itself still shows battledamage – Germantown avenue still runs where it always has so you can guage distances. The docents typically won't let you into the 2d floor but perhaps if you beg they'll let you up. There, you can find rings pounded into the floors around the windows where the English soldiers were pounding their muskets. At least that's the story :) There is also a bloody portrait painted on a wall – supposedly by a wounded English soldier. Can't say I buy that one… but I've seen it and it's a cool story. Up the Germantown avenue you can find the house where Gen'l Agnew was brought – to die on the floor from his wounds. The bloodstain in the wood is still there. Very interesting stuff.
BC

I'll second BC's Germantown suggestion. Unfortunately you're just a bit too late to see the annual battle reenactment (1st weekend in October) which is usually pretty well attended.

On a different subject, hey, BC, where are you in Philadelphia? Why aren't we gaming AWI? :)

I went to Brandywine, Clivedon House (we had a full tour of the house), Trenton (The Old Barracks, "awesome" building)and Princeton in 97, as well as Gettysburg, that year was my first visit to the US, came over suited and booted to do some AWI re-enacment we hit so many place and did two weekend events that year(Fort Niagara & Bordentown), have been back a few times since, I normally visit the Richmond area with work, had thought about coming up from there to Valley Forge but never really made it as I felt it to far to drive for a day, did Guilford Courthouse from Richmond that was a long drive.

Originally I was going to fly into Pittsburgh but found out the Fort Pitt museum has shut down owing to running costs, hope Brandywine is open, I know there is not much there but I have a few hours to spare Sunday before I fly down to Atlanta, Valley Forge tomorrow though as I am just up the road now in a hotel waiting fot the morning!

Paoli battlefield is very close to VF and recently well marked with plaques. The trick to finding the battlefield is that it is in Malvern, PA not Paoli.

Apologies for the thunderstorms tommorrow, usually our weekend weather is alot better.

Col. Tavington:
Enjoy Valley Forge. I was a reenactor for years (43rd Foot / 2d PA). Doing the Germantown event as the 43rd was always a highlight of the year, as we could fire out of the same windows as the 40th. Kind of frightening when you realize how close you are to the poor Jonathans on the lawn. Likewise, if I suited up as a rebel, – pretty daunting to be looking up at Clivedon. Too bad you missed that reenactment by a few days.

Bede – I'm in Abington ("Battle" of Edghill – anyone?) Where are you?
BC

Enjoyed walking around today even if I did get a bit wet! Must admit to being a bit disapointed in the visitors centre as I thought it would be on a par with Yorktown (I like it, some don't) and Guildford Courthouse, the latter being top-notch in my opinion.

After the visit I see why Washington camped here, the terrain is defendable and commanding. The huts were open with interpreters where Mulhanbergs brigade were camped, Valley Forge 3* out of 5!!

Picked up a leaflet for Paoli so may head there in the morning!!??

BTW….. I got this wet at Cullodon about 4 years ago, but it was much, much colder there!

Go to the Brandywine Park if you can. The thing there is to get the driving map tour to see the battlefield. Not all of it is developed, including (I believe), Birmingham Hill.

Yes, Fort Pitt Museum is closed, pending resolution of the state's budget. It was one of the few state parks closed that they didn't turn over to the friend's association. Guess that hasn't worked out too well (sacastic that).

Fort Mifflin is still by the airport in Philly, but is representational of a later period, I believe. If you have time, you might want to drive over to Monmouth Battlefied, which isn't too far away. It is largely preserved, and I hear the park just bought more land too. Funny, as it almost closed last year.

There are some re-enactments coming up, but I am not sure you will still be here. Hope Lodge is Nov 7, 8, and is in the Philly area. Fort Mifflin is the weekend after. Hope Lodge will be the bigger of the two events.

Good luck in your travels. :-)

FYI: The Swann Historical Foundation Museum of AWI artifacts is located at Washington Crossing, NJ inside the state park visitor center. That's off Cty Rte 546 (in between Cty Rte 579 and St. Hwy 29. The map or GPS may say "Titusville" -- there is a narrow bridge at Washington Crossing connecting NJ with PA.

Those of you at Brandywine should go to Chadd's Ford for a small museum about 200' from Rte 1 bridge. It's on the north side, down a small road heading west off Rte 1. There's a small 5 or 6 car parking lot on the river side of the road, with the small museum across this street. Brandywine artifacts, plus a lot of Americana on its two floors. Neat little place.

Dennis

Are you talking about the Brandywine museum across from the Battlefield State park! I did see this place but did not have enough time to pop owing to my flight, the State Park was open but there are many items missing from the display cabinets. If there had been time I would have gone in! I did walk round at Paoli though.