‘ R HAR M . C D L H M . S D . I , ITT . .

ADDR ESS DELIVER ED AT VALLEY FOR GE AT THE N N ' L M IN G OF THE SO I Y A A EET C ET ,

N V MB R 2 O 1 1 6 . E E , 9

LA A ER N C ST , PA. I 9 I 7

VALLEY FORGE AN D THE PENNSYLVAN IA

GERMANS.

O~ DAY our feet' rest o n ground w hich has been m a d e h o l y t h r o u g h t h e suff ering of men who endu red mu ch so that m i ht en we , coming after them , g joy the bles sings of freedom in a free

country . The battle of Bra ndywine had been fou ght and lost ; a delu ge of rain pre vented a su cceeding engagement at

u the Warren Tavern , and an nforeseen fog robbed the

- American Army of a hoped for Victory at Germantown .

F u u s l shed with s cces , and in all their showy panoply of war , the Briti s h and Hessian troops had marched into Phila

' o f - F us d h a hoped for Victory at Germantown . l he wit u the s ccess , and in all their showy panoply of war, British and Hessian troops had marched into Phila

3 The P enns lva nia - Germ a n o cie t y S y . d elphia , the capital city of the nation , behind their ex

u u ulting m sic , to find for themselves lux rious quarters ,

i er with abundance of supplies , for the com ng w mt . Even

Go d o ut , himself , whose very plans were being carried by those who had been defeated , seemed to have tu rned His face away from them .

u 1 1 8 8 r - On J ne 9 , 7 , a little more than thi ty eight years o ag , was here celebrated the centennial of the evacuation V F e C of the alley org encampment by the ontinental Army .

r A grand oration was delivered by Henry A m itt Brown . After portraying the glittering and triumphant entry of P the enemy into hiladelphia , in eloquent words he drew L t another picture . e us try to imagine what he saw b e a fore him , as vision , when he said

The d is d and the o l win col piercing on d Gulf road, and the

h u h snow flakes ave beg n to fall . W o is this that toils up yonder

s s s d h d ? i hill , his foot tep taine wit bloo H s bare feet peep throu gh

-o t sh s i his worn u oe , h s legs nearly naked from the tattered rem ains

s s his h of an only pair of tocking , breec es not enou gh to cover his

d ss his sh h s s his h sh hi nake ne , irt anging in tring , air di evelled, s face

hu h h wan and thin , his look ngry , is w ole appearance that of a ' n n O n his h u d e t m a forsaken a d neglected. s o l er h carries a rus y

n n h h h the i u h is gu , a d t e and t at grasps s tock s bl e wit cold. H

m o he ho s h co rade is no better ff , nor w follow , for bot are barefoot , and the ruts of the rou gh cou ntry road are deep and frozen hard.

m n h d z s h . A fou rth co es into View, a d still anot er. A o en are in ig t See Twenty have reached the ridge and there are m ore to com e . them as they m ou nt the bill that Slopes eastward into the great

h u h but he u d valley. A thou s and are in s ig t , b t t ey are t vang ar of the m otley com pany that winds down the road u ntil it is lost in h Y d the clo ud of s now flakes that have hidden the G ulf ills . on er

m an h d h m um r are horsem en in tattered u nifor s , d be in t e cannon l be

ha a d h ush d b m en. ing slowly over the frozen road, lf dr gge , alf p e y They w ho appear to be in au thority have coats of every m ake and Va lle F o r e a nd the P enns lva nia - er m a n y g y G s .

color. H ere is one in a faded blu e , faced with bu ckskin that has

h i h u h once been bu ff ; t ere s anot er on a tall , ga nt orse , wrapped in a s ort of dressing-gown m ade of an o ld blanket or woollen bed

m n - cover . A few of the e wear long linen hu nting shirts reaching

he but the s d ss d — h h to t knee, of re t no two are re e alike not alf ave

N o r h m h s h d m are s . s s irt , a t ir are barefoot, any in rag are t eir ar he s m - h s and x s h t a e . Cow orn tin bo e t ey carry for want of

M u s u h . f h s. po c es A ew ave swords , fewer still bayonet sket ,

- carbines , fowling pieces and rifles are to be s een together s ide by s ide . Are these soldiers that hu ddle together and bow their heads as ? they face the biting wind Is this an arm y that com es straggling ? throu gh the val ley in the blinding snow N o m art ial m usic leads them in trium ph into a captu red capital ; no city full of good cheer and warm and com fortable hom es awaits their com ing ; no sou nd keeps tim e to their weary steps save the icy wind rattling the l eafless branches and the du ll tread of their weary feet on the

z u d . In s m us h h h and fro en gro n yonder fore t t t ey find t eir s elter, on the northern slope of thes e inhospitable hills their place of n refu ge . Perils shall soon assau lt them m ore threatening than a y ’ they encou ntered u nder the W indows of Chew s hou se or by the

s B d s h h he bank of ran ywine . Trial t at rarely ave failed to break t

u d m en h m h fortit e of await t e ere . Fals e friends shall endeavor to u nderm ine their virt u e and secret enem ies to shake their faith ; the o ss h m h s shal h ss h m C ngre w o t ey erve l prove elple to protect t e , and their cou ntry hers elf seem u nm indfu l of their s u ff erings ; cold shall share their habitations and hu nger enter in and be their con stant gu es t ; disease shall infes t their hu ts by day and fam ine stand guard with them throu gh the night ; frost shall lock their cam p with icy fetters and the snow cover it as with a garm ent ; the

m s h ss — u h stor of winter s all be pitile , b t all in vain . Danger s all m h not frighten nor te ptation ave power to s edu ce them . Doubt shall not shake their love of cou ntry nor s u ff ering overcom e their

u fortit de . T he powers of evil shall not prevail against them , for

h the m and h s the h s V t ey are Continental Ar y, t e e are ill of alley

Forge . ‘ The Penns lva nia- erm a n o ie y G S c ty .

C ould the mind o f man conceive a darker picture , one l s fi led with more trials , miseries and wretchednes , and yet , ? T withal, one more true hey were , indeed, the gloomy

bu t u o u r days of our struggle for freedom , , beca se fathers t - never faltered in their du y, we are here , to day, rejoicing

in the happines s which their sufferings have brought us . ‘ bu t We are here , however, as an integral part of the de , scendants of those w ho were identified with the events s P s which have j u t been recorded . Did our enn ylvania

“ German ancestors have any share in them , and to what ? extent Were they, perchance , to any considerable de

n u gree , i str mental in averting the disaster which then

o u r u ? threatened co ntry Did they, in short, do their full du ty in and for the motley remnants o f the patriotic army encamped amids t the sno w of bl eak Valley Forge during the terrible winter of 1 7 77—7 8 ?

The su f at V F i s f erings alley orge, because of t exposed

u e position , were navoidabl , and the position was likewise u unavoidable , as it was absol tely necessary that the enemy shou ld be confined to their winter qu arters in Philadelphia and prevented from ravaging the rich farm ing districts in

. L the interior , Here in the cities o f Reading, ancaster ,

s u s and elsewhere , Wa hington had collected s ch store as he s could . Were he to withdraw his troop from the vicinity of Philadelphia this material wou ld‘ become exposed to e capture . Wors than that , the fertile cou ntry from whence thes e supplies were derived would have been lost

u e to him , and with this loss wo ld have followed, in du ff time , the failure o f his e orts to hold together the army and to prevent the enemy from' then and there accomplish ing his desired purpose of bringing the war to a speedy

s and succe sfu l end . P -G S Gentlemen o f the ennsylvania erman ociety, the

Va lle F o r e and the P enns lva nia - er an y g y G m s .

w ho men who owned these farms , and lived in these towns , Penns l were our ancestors , and, like ourselves , not only y vania Germans but pa triots as well . If the Continental Army at Valley Forge had been obliged to depend upon C ongress alone , for its care and sustenance , its soldiers would have been either dead or dispers ed long before the cruel winter was over and the warm days of spring had u ' P ca sed its snow to disappear . nder rovidence , how P n ever , it fell to the lot of the ennsylva ia German to take u e C u p the work wher ongress had so woef lly failed , to s care for the a rmy in it day of greatest need , and thus , d even thou gh in irectly, to save the country and the cause of freedom then hanging in the balance . Committees were appointed which were on continual D . a duty du ring the entire encampment y after day, and week after week, they went almos t literally from. door to

u u u door thro gho t the co nties in which our fathers lived, accompanied by wagons into which the donations were loaded and , as filled , forwarded to the army . Greatly impoverished as he had already become because of visits and encampments of troops during the man e uvering jus t

u u Penns l s bseq ent to the battle of Brandywine , yet the y vania -German farmer still willingly gave of the produ cts

u P - o f his gro nd, while the ennsylvania German matron u sacrificed the fr its of her labor at the loom , in the form of

P n - blankets and clothing, and the e nsylvania German theo Sophic commu nity at Ephrata supplied the paper for car

r d e u u t i g s when the nbo nd leaves of their great work, the “ '

. The Martyr Book, were seized for that purpose P -G flou r for the troops came from ennsylvania erman mills ,

- while the cannon , with their cannon balls , were largely the

- product of Pennsylvania German fou ndries and furnaces .

u They supplied q antities of powder , flints , shoes and car The Penns lvania - Ger m an So ie t y c y .

id e- tr g boxes . Merely to carry the articles which were furnished necess itated the employment of many hundreds o o f wag ns, with their horses and accompanying drivers . Are we not j u stified in believing and stating that it was becau se of the patriotic sacrifices made by the Pennsyl vania Germans that the continu ed encampment at Valley

Forge became a possibility . i t More than that, we claim that , were not for the Penn sylvania German s there cou ld have been no encampment at

Valley Forge . Why w as the battle of Brandywine fought ? Becaus e the country demanded it , as an unreasoning public , in all

u f tu re wars , have demanded advance movements at most

u The F inopport ne times . people were tired of a abian

. E e 2 policy ven John Adams wrot , on August 9 , com plaining that other commanders had been able to strike t aggressive blows , and wondering why Washing on did not

u ' I act . He ended p by saying am weary, I own , with u I F s so m ch insipidity . am sick of abian sy tems in all ’ s he o flicers e quarter . T drink A long and moderat war ; my toast is ‘ A short and violent In ’ the face

u o f s ch sentiments, and with the capital of the nation B rand w m e a threatened, the battle of y bec me a political necess ity . E ven then , Washington would probably have hesitated he m to meet t ene y at that time , with the troops at his co m r Penns lé mand , ha d it not been for the einforcements of y vania militia which were hurried to his assistance in re sp o ns e to his urgent call for the same . It is well to re member that a large proport i on of these emergency troop s

- came from o u r Pennsylvania German counties . Had there been no Brandywine there would have be en F no Valley orge . - TH E PEN NSYLVAN I A GERMAN SOC I ETY .

GE N ERAL GEO RGE WASH I NGTO N .

C M 1 4 1 7 9 9 . F ' A Y 2 2 1 7 3 2 . I BO R N E B R R . D E D D E E B E R .

e r e n t e n a nia - r a n Vall y F o g a d h Pe nsylv Ge m s . 9

And , as a corollary to this statement we assert that had the battle of Brandywine become the u tter rou t which the surprise fl ank attack of the British came near making it , the Continental Arm y wou ld have been too dem oralized to have dared to face the enemy within striking distance V F at alley orge , but would have been forced to retire into h f su the interior to recuperate . T e e fect of ch action upon the stru ggle for independence is to o evi dent to need any argument . We may well take pride in the blood which flows throu gh o u r veins when we recall that it was the Penn sylvania German who was largely instrumental in prevent ing this misfortune . In the early part of the eighteenth centu ry the German settlers , along what was then the inhabited frontier of P V ennsylvania , began to push forward into irginia where they made their homes at the foot of the Blu e Ridge and n in the fertile She andoah Valley . I need not tell you the familiar story of Peter Muhlen the P berg , eldest son of the atriarch , Henry Melchior u s M hlenberg, who became the pastor, at Wood tock, of a portion of these settlers , and who , when the time to serve u r d his co nt y had arrive , threw aside his clerical gown for

u s . 8 th the niform of a oldier His then regiment , the V s P G irginia , was compo ed entirely of ennsylvania ermans , “ ' The G m O f and called er an Regiment . Many others u V e the same race were fo nd in other irginia regim nts . When Co rnwalli s suddenly appeared upon the right ’ flank of the Am ericans Sullivan s divi s ion was rus hed for “ ' ward to meet him . In it were the German Regiment P s P G I th of enn ylvania , all ennsylvania ermans , the 3 P e ennsylvania , composed of the remnants of thos brave ’ ’ troops , Atlee s Musketry Battalion and Miles Rifle Regi The P enns lvania- er m an So ci t y G e y .

P ment , of whom some thirty per cent . were ennsylvania G C ’ ermans , and onway s brigade , also largely of the same T s blood . heir de perate resistance gave a brief time o f needed preparation to Washington , but when they had L been dispersed , when a fayette had been wounded, and

u s when , forced back by greatly s perior number , the retreat o f the Continentals was rapi dl y becoming a demoralized G rout , then reene , with the brigades o f Virginians under

Muhlenberg and Weedon , gallantly threw himself into th nns l e breach , and by the nobl e sacrifice of these Pe y G vania ermans , with their other comrades , the day was saved E ’ V ven though the irginians did save the right flank, ’ had the enemy succeeded in piercing Washington s center C ’ F h at had s ord t e catastrophe might have been as bad . ’ T w as s P his ford held by Wayne ennsylvanians , who u to o ne were outnumbered three or fo r by the British . The n h Ge . the I s 2 d division of Wayne consisted o f t, , 4 t , th th 8 l o th I 1 P L e n s , 7 , th , and th ennsylvania in regime ts , all o f which contained quite a percentage of Pennsylvania G I st l o th ermans , the and regiments to a large extent . F the re It was the splendid irst regiment , made up from ’ '

f Co l . enlistment o Thompson s gallant First Defenders ,

P -G Rifle en the ennsylvania erman Battalion of m , which covered the retreat o f the artillery at Brandywine under a s terrible fire , and saved the e necessary guns to the army .

Besides all that has been said hereto fore , the encamp C ment , for the winter, of the ontinental Army, at Valley F orge , would never have taken place save for the patriot ism o f the Pennsylvania Germans . Washington would not have dared, with a strong and disciplined enemy at

a . his front, to risk having secret foe in his rear Because he knew that there were no tories amongst the Penfisyl

e r e n t e en nim er a ns Va ll y F o g a d h P nsylva G m .

s ~ vania Germans , and that they, of all the people in Amer ca ho u h u u un i f t g freq ently ridic led and maligned , were m l u sw erv g y loyal to the ca se of independence , he did not to s u u hesitate face his foe , at clo e q arters , along the o ter limit of their habitation . u S u a With the British pressing p the ch ylkill Valley, p p arently for the p u rpo s e of getting pos s e ss ion of his stores d s as m o ve o f munitions at Rea ing, Wa hington w forced to

Sir su after them , when William Howe , by a dden feint , P h got between the Americans and hiladelp ia , the city

tu they were trying to protect . Its cap re promptly fol in . B ut s s m anmuv er lowed week , and even month , of g

u s and took place d ring the e operations , , in nearly all this m r time , the enca pments of the American A my were made

- n r s d sa on Pennsylvania German s oil . Whe the t oop i p p eare d from one camp to occu py another with them went everyt hing which represented m o nths of weary toil on the

P -G s part of the ennsylvania erman owner , whether crops s s already harve ted , or tho e still in the field ; whether grain and vegetables for food, hay for forage , or straw for

And u s bedding . this was not beca e soldiers , in all wars , b u t are accus tomed to prey upon the property of others , beca u se the soldiers of the Revolu tion were hu ngry men

u s and the horses of the Revolu ti on were h ngry animal ,

u s ss . witho t even , at time , the nece ities of life The plagu e of locu sts w as bu t a trifle to the vi sitation

The s b ut of the American Army . former left omething,

as sm s the latter nothing, and it w no all acrifice which the Pennsylvania Germans made when they thu s su stained the ’ soldiers of Washington s army du ring the summer and

1 V F . fall of 77 7 , and , later , kept them alive at alley orge It is well that the people of this cou ntry s hould espe cially keep bright in memory the awful s cenes of that ter The Penns lva n a- er n i y i G m a So c e ty .

rible encampment , but it is equally well , at times , that they should look beyond and consider the loyalty of tho se who not only made the encampment at this spot possible , bu t also shed u pon it the few bright gleams of light which prevent it from being utt er darkness . After what has been written does any one s ti ll question the patriotism of the Pennsylvania Germans in connection with Valley Forge

What then shall be the verdict as regards good, honest

C L - G hristopher udwig , the B aker eneral of the army, then already nearly sixty years of age , who had not been con

to u t 1 6 tent only risk his life , while a vol n eer in 77 , by going into the Hessian camp and indu cing many of these m s s o f ercenarie to desert , but he must need see that bread proper weight and good quality be furnished those who e were fighting for their country, the valu of which action we of to - day can hardly appreciate ? to What are we say with regard to Dr . Bodo Otto , whose remains rest in the graveyard of old Trinity Chu rch d tw o r at Rea ing , and who , with his sons , faithfully labo ed in charge of the camp hospital at Valley Forge ? T hink of the aged Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the L C u in m patriarch of the utheran h rch A erica , whose home

‘ a bu t f e w s a w miles distant , whose eldest son was one of ’ t s Washing on generals , at whose board sat more than one

o u r ho f o r of highest officers , w had been obliged to flee m P m his his life fro hiladelphia beca e of patriotism , and whose loyalty and knowledge made his sou ght- for advice invaluable . How little is ever said of that staunch and noble Penn sylvania German , Michael Hillegas , the first treasurer of ' S b the nited tates , and of the many sacrifices made y him , a as such , both in time and money, during this d rkest r period in the history o f his count y . - TH E PEN NSYLVAN I A GERMAN S OC I ETY .

. B R EV H EN RY M . M ' H LEN ERG .

S O CT B E PT D .

A M G M Y CO A T R P PE . O NT O E R . . PE N N

Va lle F o r e a nd the P nns a nia - er m a n y g e ylv G s .

u C u n a m as It was Daniel H nter, of Berks o nty, the p y te t h P s r of e enn ylvania militia , who devoted his time to procu re blankets for the freezing Continentals .

F u s u C u rederick Aug t s onrad M hlenberg , another son of the patriarch , and who , like his father , was obliged to

- n- flee to the Trappe for safety, and whose father i law , F d re erick Schaefer, had all his property wantonly de stroyed by the British upon their occu pation of Philadel

u phia , because of the o tspoken loyalty of both , also was of mat erial aid to the cause in many ways . Family tra dition has it that the great- great-grandfather of the writer of this paper, Benedict Garber, living close to

f u r the encampment , himself a soldier at a later period, nished u u u t many s pplies witho t rem nera ion , and that his

s d wife , Dorothea , carried me sages for Washington secrete u bu t in bags of flo r . I believe this to have been one of the many unrecorded instances of loyalty at this period

r amongst the people of o u blood . One instance of patriotic service rendered du ring the V F P alley orge encampment , with which the ennsylvania

G do o u s ermans had to , and which pertained to the n torio

C C and onway abal , is but little known has been told only too sparingly, especially in View of its interesting character . d th errnan o n Ami st e gloom of Brandywine and G t w ,

u P d u w as electri and the capt re of hila elphia , the co ntry ’

fi ed 1 u u . , on October 7 , by the news of B rgoyne s s rrender d Here , at last, was a ray of light penetrating the arkness , and with it a glittering star rose above the horizon which d u d temporarily blinde all to the tru th , and ca se those who were discontented to rally around Gates with the view o f d having him super sede Wa s hington . It mattere not that Wa shington w as then at the front straining every nerve to his e o u save his country, and , by absenc fr m York, nable to The Pe nns n er m e t ylw i a n So ci y .

defend himself ; it mattered not that he had just given an a dditional proof of the depth of his patriotism by the way é e in which he spurned the suggestion of Rev . Duch to b come a traitor ; it mattered not that Gates was bu t a weak ineflicient and tool , who had reaped the benefit of the work

‘ of other and better men whom he had superseded ; it mat ere d C t not that onway was but a selfish adventurer who ,

u in the co rse of a few brief months , would be forced to leave the army against his own free will ; it mattered not L ee that had , doubtless , even then , within his heart the m e bryo seeds of that treason which was , later, to prove his ruin , nothing was considered save the success of the moment . A part o f the scheme o f Conway looked towards the sep i L L arat on o f afayette from Washington , and when afa yette loyally spurned the suggestion we are led to believe

u c . that this , and this only, bro ght the conspira y to an end

T bu t . his is true , in part Others were working to the

u f same p rpose , and it is probable that their e fective plans had even more to do w ith the desired result . Amongst F Co m these was the Masonic raternity, of which the

- - mander in chief was a member .

S - Dr . achse , ex president of this Society, who is an emi u nent a thority on the subj ect, has shown that the historic

L . 8 C odge No , of Montgomery ounty, holding its meet

t - ings in Norristown , of which ci y we are to day the guests, i s t then I n ex tence , and the mo her lodge o f the present

C . 1 0 harity, No 9 , was the one , because of its proximity V F a to alley orge , which dispensed M sonic light during the dark days of the encampment , and that, in all prob “ ability, it was the brethren o f Lodge N o . 8 w ho played so important a part in sustaining Brother George Wa sh ingto n against the plotters and conspirators o f the no

a lle o r e a nd the nns lva nia- er a n 1 V y F g Pe y G m s . 5

to rio us Conway Cabal . By a comparison of the list of ffi members with the o cial records , it will be seen that many, i L 8 ac if not a maj or ty o f the brethren of odge , were in F ' tive service in some capacity at Valley orge . It goes withou t saying that many members of this

P bu Lodge were ennsylvania Germans , t it may be of espe cial interest to mention that Frederick Au gu stus Muhlen a F berg, likewise reemason , was , at times , a visitor to it ,

u - and that, of the n mber, was my grand uncle , John Rich P 6 1 ards , appointed Justice of the eace , June , 777 , for P C u hiladelphia o nty, which position he held practically all ’ his life ; Ju dge of the Court of Common Pleas f o r Mont C u 1 1 8 gomery ounty, pon its organization , November , 7 4

F u C 1 6— P member of the o rth ongress , 79 97 ; ennsylvania S S 1 8 0 1 —0 P Co n tate enator, 7 ; member of the ennsylvania ventio n F C 1 8 on the ederal onstitution of 7 7 , and, during u the Revol tion , one of the magistrates before whom citi zens were requ ired to take the oath of allegiance to the

American cause . To specify, or to attempt to specify, the soldiers of Pennsylvania -German origin who were of the number that uff V F s ered and died at alley orge , is an impossibility with E s the incomplete lists now in existence . ven were the li ts u all that co ld be desired it would still be an impossibility, as there would be nothing to guide him who searched them and save the general character of the name , we know how little reliance can 'b e placed upon thi s featu re and ho w un

‘ j u st it wou ld be to ou rselves to be obliged to leave o u t many whose names ha d become so anglicized as to make them unrecognizable . With much labor I have gone over su ch records as are obtainable , and have considered the character of each s e 10 name , and have e pecially noted , where possibl , the The P e nns lvan a - er m e t y i G a n So ci y .

alit c y from whence the companies and battalions came . I have thu s arrived at an approximate percentage of Penn

sylvania Germans in each regiment , and will specify the regiments which participated in the encampment at Valley Forge with my estimate of Pennsylvania-German member in the re ship them , begging the reader, at same time , to member that it is an estimate which is more than likely no t s to do ju tice to those of whom we write . h T e regiments in which we are more or less interested, P with their percentages of ennsylvania Germans , are

P er Ce nt. ’ s — l s d l st Penn ylvania t briga e, Wayne s dw isxon 30 — m d ’ 2d Pennsylvania t briga e , Wayne s division 1 8 — ’ 3d Pennsylvania Conway s brigade 1 0 — ’ 4th Pennsylvania 2d brigade ; Wayne s divis ion 1 0 ’ t s — 2d d s h Penn ylvania briga e, Wayne s divis ion 1 5 — ’ 6th Pennsylvania Conway s brigade 20 ’ th s — d s 7 Penn ylvania mt brigade , Wayne s ivi ion 6 ’ h a— 8 t Pennsylvani 2d brigade , Wayne s l ISl Ofl 1 0 — ’ 9th Pennsylvania Conway s brigade 1 5 ’ o h s — ’ l t Penn ylvania I st brigade , Wayne s l l SlOll 2 5 ’ s — 1 1 th Penn ylvania 2d brigade , Wayne s division 1 0 — ’ 1 2th Pennsylvania Conway s brigade 1 5 — ’ 1 3th Pennsylvania Sullivan s division 30 ’ ’ ’ ’ - C0 1 h s H s R I st d s d s . . sm . T o artley eg t . briga e , Wayne ivi ion all m m — D ’ ’ Ger an Regi ent e B arre s brigade , Sullivan s division . l oo ’ ’ o 1 Pr ctor s Penn a Artillery . 5 ’ ’ th V — s t oo 8 irginia M uhlenberg s brigade , Greene s divi ion h m wit any scattered in other Virginia regim ents .

h he T e position at Valley Forge w as well chosen . T S h chuylkill River, flowing from t e Blue Hills , bends here s d toward the eastward, with rapi current and precipitous

. The u banks Valley Creek, cutting its way thro gh a deep defile at right angles to the river, forms a natural bound - TH E PEN NSYLVAN I A GER MAN SOC I ETY .

a lle F o r e a nd the P nns a nia- er m a ns V y g e ylv G .

. The en ary on the west hill called Mount Joy, at the o f r trance this defile , throws out a spur which , unning to parallel the river for about one mile , then turns north in ward and meets its banks . On the one side this ridge closes a rolling table-land ; on the other it slopes sharply

The u to the great valley . engineers , nder Duportail , marked out a line o f entrenchments four feet high , with a V C ditch six feet wide , from the entrance of the alley reek defile along the crest of this ridge u ntil it j oined the bank S o f the chuylkill , where a redoubt marked the eastern angle of the encampment . to On the extreme left of the army, and just the right

‘ ’ u of this redo bt, was stationed Muhlenberg s brigade of V irginians , making their post the one most advanced to ’ V wards the enemy, with Weedon s irginians adjoining to the right . Wayne ’s Pennsylvania regiments lay on the right flank ’ S o f V s along this ridge , with but cott s brigade irginian

between them and its extremity . 1 High on the shoulder of Mou nt Joy a second line girdled the mountain and then ran northward to the river, broken only by the hollow through which the Gulf road

descended to the Forge . This hollow place was later de

fended by an abbatis and a triangular earthwork . ’ Behind the center of thi s abattis was stationed Conway s brigade comprising the remaining infantry regiments o f P w the ennsylvania Line , between the brigades o f Max ell

'New Jersey) and Hu ntington 'Connecticu t) . A redoubt on the east side of Mount Joy comma nded

the Valley road, in front of which, and between the two P s r to lines of entrenchments , lay the enn ylvania artille y ’ the rear of Wayne s troops .

Another redoubt, behind the left flank of the abattis, The P enns lvania- Germ an o e t y S ci y .

commanded the road w hich came from the rear and w as u s pported by the brigades of Huntington , immediately in f front o f it , with those o Conway and Maxwell in front and to its right . A star redoubt on a hill at the bank o f ‘ the river acted as a te te -de -p o nt for the bridge that w as he thrown across the Schuylkill at this point . Along t ’ Varnum s road, and in front o f it, were encamped Rhode

Islanders . ’ Washington s headquarters were in the rear of his com C and mand , where the Valley reek empties into the river, right here it is well to remember that his body-guard w as P a G composed entirely of ennsylvani ermans , mainly from L t Berks and ancaster counties , a proof of the absolu e con fi denc e which he had in their loyalty and steadfa stness, and selected by him during the encampment at a time when traitors were trying to ruin him. and our cause . Impossible as it has been to specify the Pennsylvani a r F the Ge mans at Valley orge who served in the ranks , yet historian is able to mention some of those who occupied

s o flicers . E n higher positions , that is the commi sioned ve this task is o f a most unsatisfacto ry character for reasons already given . b e ff it Imperfect , however, as may our e orts is but just s that the names hould be given of such as are known .

While it is true that his life , after the war, was passed in our sister state , New York, yet his noble and valuable ’ serv ice to his adopted co untry w as largely performed in our m ids t when b e transformed the motley m o b o f un trained soldiers at Valley Forge into a drilled and disci n d e pli e army, whose arms and accoutrements wer kept in e proper condition , and whos bearing and movements at

' Monmouth , the first engagement fought after leaving their th é ite he winter encampment , won e a dmiration of the l of t

The Pe nns lvan a- erm o y i G an S cie ty .

- in . chief He , with Weedon , saved the day at Brandy wine ; he distinguished himself in a brilliant bayonet charge G d at ermantown , divi ing the right wing of the enemy ; fou ght at Monmou th ; commanded the reserve at the storming of Stony Point ; when Leslie invaded Virginia in 1 7 8 0 he was opposed to him with the chief command ; acted under Baron Steuben against Benedict Arnold ; led the American storming party which carried the British u as redoubts , by assa lt , at Yorktown . He w promoted to

- S 0 1 major general on eptember 3 , 7 8 3 , and returned to civil life after the army had been disbanded , when he further served his country in various prominent capacities . ’ ’ Associated with Mu hlenberg s operations was Weedon s brigade of Virginians . It is not generally known that fli e r this distinguished o c was also German , his correct name der being Gerhard von Wieden . He was born in Han in S 1 2 over ; served the war of the Austrian uccession , 74 1 74 8 ; distinguished himself in the battle of Dettingen ; C u F served with olonel Henry Bouq et in landers , and as a lieu tenant in the Pennsylvania German Royal Am erican Re giment in its operations du ring the French and Indian

F ~ . War When the war was over. he settled at redericks

u V P G b rg, irginia , amongst the ennsylvania ermans , and,

u at the outbreak of the Revol tion , became lieutenant O f T V colonel the hird irginia militia , then colonel of the 1 First Virginia Continental, and, finally, in 777 brigadier general , taking a leading part in the battles of Brandy e wine and Germantown . He left the serv ice for a tim , in 1 8 0 reéntered then , 7 , it under Muhlenberg and com m anded the Virginia militia before Glou cester Point at the siege of Yorktown 'Rosengarten ) P P Abraham Bowman and eter Helfenstein , ennsylvania G - ermans , were , respectively, lieutenant colonel and major N S Y LVAN lA- O TH E PEN GER MAN S C I ETY .

B RO . GEN ERAL PETER M ' H LEN B ERG .

. A A C I 1 7 4 6 B T R P PE . P E N N O TO B E R .

. H ILA L H IA C I 1 8 0 7 D P D E P . O TO BE R . .

lle F o r e a nd the Penns lva nia - er m ans Va y g y G .

’ E V in Muhlenberg s ighth irginia , the former having he served with him on the cou nty Commi ttee of Safety. T writer regrets that he has not had access to the names of

o e r h the various flic s in t at regiment , all of whom were

Pennsylvania Germans . Ph el Captain John Markland , born and buried in ilad phia , his parents having removed to New York , began his ’ serv ice as a member of Colonel La s her s regim ent O f New as L York volunteers and w warmly engaged at ong Island, 1 Trenton and Princeton . In 777 he entered the Conti mental service in Captain Jacob Bower ’s company of the

n u S t Sixth regiment , as ensig ; capt red at the battle of hor m Hills , N . J . , but escaped im ediately a fter ; fought at

G u Brandywine and ermantown , where he was wo nded ; V F 1 rejoined the army at alley orge , in April , 77 8 , thou gh not yet fit for service ; served faithfu lly u ntil the close of and r the war, then retired with the brevet ank of captain ; in 1 8 2 3 elected a County Comm iss ioner of Philadelphia . Reference has already been made to the valu able services rendered in the camp hospital at Valley Forge by Dr .

o S Su his . . Bod Otto , enior rgeon , and son , Dr John A Otto , d Pa both of Rea ing , . PARTIAL LIST OF PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN COMMIS SION ED O F FI CER S IN PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENTS WITO SAW SERVICE D' RINGTH E ENCAMP MENT AT VALL EY FORGE

H IS list does not include such o flicers as were

wounded in the preceding battles , or taken

prisoners , and so not with the troops at the

encampment .

r e Fi s t P nnsylvania .

Ca tai n' ' p David iegler , born in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1 74 8 ; served in the RussIan cam paign against the Turks under the Empress Catharine ; settled in L Pa 2 1 ad ancaster, . ; commissioned , June 5, 77 5, ’ jutant of Colonel Thompson s Battalion of Rifle 2 1 6 men ; wounded August 7 , 77 ; first lieutenant , u 1 6 1 I st P Jan ary , 777 , of ennsylvania ; promoted 8 1 8 captain , December , 77 ; resigned, and went to C incinnati , Ohio , becoming its first mayor,

e S 2 1 8 1 1 . wher he died, eptember 4 , ir ieutena nt ' F lieuten F s t L rederick Hubley, from second

Pa . and quartermaster ; died, Harrisburg, , Decem

2 1 2 2 . ber 3 , 8 ’ r e s il o r h Su g o n M ate ' John H sd p .

Seco nd Pennsylv ania .

r er e Gene al ' John Philip de Haas , s y d in the French and 1 Indian War as ensign , December, 7 57 ; adjutant, ’ C t A 0 1 8 olonel Armstrong s ba talion , pril 3 , 75 N SY LVAN IA- TH E PEN GER MAN S OC I ETY .

J O N B MA R GE ERAL AR O N STE ' B EN .

B MA GDE B ' R G N OV

S ' VILL Y N OV . 2 8 1 7 9 4 D TE B E N E . N ,

The Pe nns lva nia-Germ an So c et y i y .

Th r Penns ni i d ylva a .

Lieutenant Co lo nel ' u Rudolph B nner, from maj or,

1 1 i 6 1 August , 77 7 ; from capta n , January , 776

2 8 1 8 . killed at Monmouth , June , 77

' Firs t Lieu te nants ' G f r 1 1 . eorge Hof ner, Janua y , 777 E Andrew ngle , from second lieutenant, December 20 1 8 1 6 1 6 d , 77 ; ensign , October , 77 ; to secon lieutenant in 1 2th Pennsylvania and transferred to

P 1 1 8 1 . 3d ennsylvania ; retired , January , 7

E ns i n' E S b 20 1 6 . g James ngle , eptem er , 77

r t enn lvania F o u h P sy .

a tain' r . C p Henry Bicker , J , second lieutenant , January 8 1 6 d 1 1 , 77 , in 3 battalion ; captured , November , th P L 1 7 7 6 ; promoted to captain , 4 ennsylvania ine,

1 1 8 . M ay 5, 77 , a fter his exchange

Fif th Pennsylvania .

o o nel ' F M ent es Lieutena nt C l rancis g , on March 2 2, ’ 1 6 u s r 77 , adj tant of Atlee Musket y Battalion ; pro u 1 6 moted first lieutenant , Aug st 9 , 77 ; major 1 1 th P 1 6 'old) ennsylvania , October 7 , 77 ; lieu th P 1 8 tenant colonel , 5 ennsylvania , October 9, 77 1 1 e retired , January , 7 8 3 ; later appointed th

- first inspector general o f the ' nited States army .

Ca ta in' m Van L p Willia ear, from captain lieutenant of th Pe 1 0 1 9 nnsylvania , October , 779 ; from second

u 2 1 I SE lie tenant, January 9 , 779 ; brigade major, Pennsylvania brigade ; transferred to 5th Pennsyl 1 1 8 1 vania , January 7 , 7 .

a lle F o r e a nd the Penns lv nia- er m a ns V y g y a G .

t Six h P e nnsylvania .

a tains ' i u 1 C p Jacob Bower , entered the serv ce , J ne , 77 5, ’ C Geo as sergeant of aptain . Nagel s company

F s s C from Reading ' ir t Defender ) , in olonel ’ Thompson s Battalion of Riflem en ; promoted u 1 8 1 6 qu artermaster ; first lie tenant , January , 7 7 , ’ C Ger in apt . Benj amin Weiser s company of the

i 6th P s Feb ru man Reg ment ; captain enn ylvania , 1 1 d 2 d P ary 5, 777 ; transferre to ennsylvania ,

u 1 1 8 . Jan ary , 7 3

‘

F 1 1 . Jacob Moser, ebruary 5 , 77 7

u 1 1 6 1 John Nice , J ne 5, 77 , transferred from 3th P u 1 1 1 ennsylvania , J ly , 77 8 ; captain , March 5 , ’ 1 s u d 776 , in Atlee s M u ketry Battalion ; capt re , u 2 1 6 D 1 6 A gust 7 , 77 ; exchanged , ecember 9 , 77 ,

for Captain Gordon .

Ens i ns ' L F 1 . g Herman eitheiser, of Reading, ebruary, 777

P S u 2 1 1 u u hilip nyder, A gust , 777 ; s pern merary,

2 1 1 . June , 77 8

en n E ighth P nsylva ia .

Ca ta ins ' E p liezer Miers . ' H uflna le S 1 6 u Michael g , eptember 7 , 77 ; from adj

tant .

Te nth P e nnsylva nia .

Co lo nel ' G u F eorge Nagel , served d ring the rench and

s s i n Indian War as an en ign , tat o ed for a time at

F a R evo lu ort Augusta . At the ou tbre k of the h s a n Pa . tion he ra i ed a comp ny at Readi g , , w ich ’ w as attached to the celebrated Colonel Thomp son s Riflem en and the u B attalion of , , of all vol nteers , h C d was the first to reach Was ington at ambri ge , The Pe nns lva nia - Germ a n So ciet y y .

“

. b F Mass , thus ecoming the irst Defenders .

u 2 1 His commission was dated J ne 5, 775 . P th i romoted to major of 5 battal on , January 5, 1 th P 776 ; to lieutenant colonel o f 9 ennsylvania , 2 1 6 2 1 1 6 October 5, 77 , to rank from August , 77 l o th P F 1 8 to colonel of ennsylvania , ebruary 7 , 77 ,

1 1 . becoming supernumerary July , 77 8

te n o o nel ' u r . Lieu na t C l Adam H bley, J , from major, 1 2 1 1 6 March , 777 , ranking from October 4 , 77 ; lieutenant colonel commandant of the new 1 1 th P 1 Feb ennsylvania , June 5, 779 , to rank from

ru ar 1 1 I st 6 y 3 , 779 ; from battalion , December , 1 6 r 1 1 8 1 77 ; retired , Janua y , 7 Ca tains ' D 1 6 p William Wirtz , ecember 4 , 77 ; resigned,

1 . March , 77 8 to t f ro Harman S u , rn first lieutenant, Feb uary 1 2 , _ _ r 1 d 1 1 6 777 ; from 3 battalion , June 3 , 77 ; ensi gn , 8 1 6 1 1 8 0 January , 77 ; resigned, March , 7 . S David chrack, from first lieutenant , October 1 7 , 1 m 1 777 ; first lieutenant , Dece ber 4 , 77 6 ; super 1 1 numerary, July , 77 8 ; from New Providence 'Montgomery County) S Jacob take , from first lieutenant, November 1 2 ,

' 1 ’ 777 ; from third lieutenant, Miles Rifle Regi

1 . ment , December 4 , 776 m F Willia eltman , also paymaster, from ensign , No vem b er 1 I s P 7 , 777 ; transferred to t ennsylvania , 1 1 8 1 1 January 7 , 7 ; ensign , December 4 , 776 . E e 1 1 0 Michael verly, from nsign , April , 7 8 ; from 1 sergeant, October, 779 . V — TH E PEN NSYL AN I A GERMAN SOC I ETY .

MAJ O R GEN ERAL BARO N VO N STE' B EN . E RE CTED 1 9 1 6

The Pe nns lva nia- erm o e t y G an S ci y .

Indian War, and probably served in the previous F G . 1 1 campaign under eneral orbes On November , 1 6 co mm 13sw ned I st 7 3 , he was captain in the bat P talion , ennsylvania regiment , having distin uished g himself in the battle of Bushy Run , under u 1 6 he Bo quet . During the summer of 7 4 was stationed on the frontiers in Heidelberg town ship L L o f ebanon County . His residence became eba Pa non , . In the Revolutionary War he was made th P major of the 4 ennsylvania battalion , January 1 6 4 , 77 , and shared in its fortunes and privations C during the Canadian campaign . ommissioned colonel of the G erman regiment to rank from 1 1 6 July 7 , 77 ; retired from the army, doubtless us 1 8 beca e of advanced years, in 77 , and died on

L 1 8 6 . his farm near ebanon in July, 7

Lieutena nt Co lo nel ' L eltner u 1 1 6 udwig W , J ne 7 , 77 ; 1 from major, April 9 , 7 77 . M a o r ' B urchardt u 8 1 6 j Daniel , J ly , 77 ; from captain , 1 April 7 , 777

a tains ' 8 1 6 . C p George Hubley, July , 77 8 1 6 r 1 Jacob Bunner, July , 77 ; retired , Janua y ,

1 7 8 1 . o el er 1 1 6 John D . W pp , July 7 , 77 ; transferred to

C 1 1 1 8 . Invalid orps , June , 77 u 1 2 1 6 Peter Boyer, J ly , 77 ; from first lieutenant ,

1 r 1 1 8 1 . May 9 , 7 77 ; retired , Janua y , 7 u 1 2 1 6 Frederick William Rice , J ly , 77 ; from first 1 8 r 1 lieutenant , January 4 , 77 ; retired, Janua y ,

- 1 7 8 1 . u 1 1 6 Bernard H bley, August 5, 77 ; from first lieu F 2 1 1 8 1 tenant, ebruary 4 , 77 8 ; retired, 7 ; brigade

inspector of Northumberland County, etc . He Va lle F o r e a nd the P enns lva nia - er m a ns y g y G .

p ublished his first volume o f the Hi s tory of the u 1 8 0 1 0 Revol tion in 7 , and died 8 8 . Ca tain L ieutena nt' P S 1 1 p hilip hrawder , May 3 , 7 77 ; u F u 1 8 from first lie tenant , ebr ary 8 , 77 ; retired,

1 1 8 1 . January , 7 Firs L ieu ten n s t a t ' F Ro w l a en u 1 2 1 6 . rederick w g , J ly , 77 1 2 1 6 Jacob Bower, July , 7 7 . u 1 2 1 6 s John Weidman , J ly , 77 ; from en ign , May 1 1 d u 1 4 , 777 ; a j tant of the regiment in 77 9 ; previ o u sly served in one of the Associated Battalions ;

1 1 8 1 . retired , January , 7 C u 1 2 1 6 r s lieuten Jacob remer , J ly , 77 ; f om econd 8 1 8 1 1 ant , January , 77 ; from ensign , May 5, 7 77

u 1 1 1 . retired , Jan ary , 7 8 C Go df rie d S 1 2 1 6 hristopher wartz , July , 77 ; from u F 1 2 1 8 en second lie tenant , ebruary , 77 ; from

u 1 1 1 . sign ; retired, Jan ary , 7 8 Seco nd Lie ten n u a ts ' H a b ecker u 1 2 1 6 . George w , J ly , 77 L u 1 2 1 6 . John andenberger, J ly , 77 h fl G Sc a er u 1 2 1 6 . eorge , J ly , 7 7 F d 1 2 1 6 . re erick Yeiser, July , 77 E ns i n' C g hristian Helm . P a m as ter ' E 1 6— L ancas y berhard Michael , 77 7 ; died in

P . a u 1 6 1 . ter , , J ly , 77 8

Here comes to an end o u r list , merely from the lack of h s d recorded data of which the writ er of t i has knowle ge ,

ha d ss u h and to which he has acce . Wo ld it were ot er s h wi e , and that we might be able to do onor, at this day, the d s s to scores of other heroes of o u r bloo who e name ,

u n un u u . fort ately, now res t forgotten and ns ng We need not blu sh to be known as Pennsylvania Ger d mans . Had it not been for them , and their blood she u u nder the folds of the British flag, this great co ntry of The Pe nns lva nia- er m n o et y G a S ci y . ours would have been a colony of France and not of

Great Britain . Had it not been for them there would e D o f never hav been a eclaration Independence , and with out their sacrifice o f blood at Long Island and of material

F - n for Valley orge , the Revolution would to day be writte in history as a mere rebellion of a comparatively few brief ’ months du ration . They suff ered all the miseries of their F comrades at Valley orge , but, beyond that , they were pre eminently the martyrs of the horrible British prisons of

lM an 1 77 6 . y a sick and dying soldier has blessed them s t when they ministered to him in their ho pitals . Whe ever and whenever their country has needed them , whether in peaceful acts or in righteous warfare , there they have T i been . hey are not only Amer cans but Americans of

Americans , not newcomers but the founders and pre E servers of the nation from its birth . ver faithful , ever

s loyal , ever patient, may the time peedily come when , at e o last , they will take the plac in hist ry which they have earned and to w hich they are entitled, and , to that end , F m may our Heavenly ather, in who we ever trust , give us , their descendants , courage to w ork .

PPE ' A NDI .

We wo u ld fail in o u r eff ort to render justice to the

u subject, which has j st been treated, were we to omit the

- s names of the following prominent Pennsylvania German ,

u . s ggested by Dr . John W Jordan , who , while not per so nally present at Valley Forge d uring the Encampment, were so actively identified with all the issues pertaining to it as to have had more or less influence in making it a suc

cess and preventing it from becoming a failure .

TH E PEN NSY LVA N I A - GER MAN SO C I ETY . e r e n t e n ni - e n 1 Va ll y F o g a d he P nsylv a a G rm a s . 3

C C aptain Joseph Hiester, o f Reading, Berks ounty, was of the very first to respond to the call of the patriotic C u onvention , of which he was a member, which met , J ne 1 8 1 6 in C P , 77 , arpenter Hall , hiladelphia , and adj ourned e 2 1 6 reco m Jun 5, 77 , after, in addition to other action , “ ' mending the formation of a Flying Camp of volunteer “ ' Associators , to consist of men .

H is di battalion was spee ly organized , took part in L u s 2 1 6 the battle of ong Island , on A gu t 7 , 77 , where he was captured and lingered in imprisonment in New York

C 8 w as Ca ity until December th , when he exchanged for p tain Strong of the 2 6th British Regiment ' ndeterred by the recollection of his suff erings during

d u this time , and har ly recovered in health beca se of them , when the British a dvanced up the Ches apeake B ay to cap ture Philadelphia he made every eff ort to speedily place in the F u field the ourth Battalion , Berks Co nty Militi a , of

- which he had been commissioned Lieutenant Colonel , and

a u n s with it , s commander , s cceeded in j oi ing Wa hington

e in time to take part in the battle of Germantown , wher he was wou nded in the head bu t rema i ned with his men until the Continental Army went into camp at Valley Forge when his battalion was mu stered o ut .

‘ H is OV later distinguished career in Congress , and as G erno r P 1 2 0 1 2 is of ennsylvania from 8 to 8 3 , a matter of

- well known history .

d is the . h Dr Bo o Otto , in addition to labors in camp

s V F e as du t 1 8 ho pital at alley org , w on y, in April , 77 , at

s the ho pital in Bethlehem , and , after the removal of its

P Su 1 2 sick and wounded which began on alm nday, April ,

1 8 s 77 , was ordered to the ho pital at Yellow Springs

e where he was on duty in Jun of that year . - The P enns lva nia Ger m an So ciet , y y .

As a German printer , entitled to equal praise in the art F with Benj amin ranklin , and to mention in connection Philadel with Michael Hillegas , was Henry Miller, of

n ull phia , who printed i f the Declaration of Independence his Staa tsb o te rs t P in , fi of all the hiladelphia newspapers ; whose presses the Britis h carried o ff when they evacuated C the city ; who , when ongress sat at York, translated their proclamations from Engli s h into German for distribu tion in the German districts of the State . L A friend of all the three mentioned was ewis Weiss, h P . T e of hiladelphia , lawyer , scrivener and patriot As sem bly u sed to employ him to draft thei r Acts in legal form .

. . R CH RDS. H M M . I A

ovem b 1 N er 2, 1 91 6.