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Day 7, Dec. 19, 1777 — Washington’s Army marches out of Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills and on to Valley Forge
On December 19, 1777, at 10 a.m., George Washington and his Continental Army marched out of Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills, past the Hanging Rock, and on to Valley Forge. As one historian wrote, “These grounds were the threshold to Valley Forge, and the story of that winter–a story of endurance, forbearance, and patriotism which… Continue reading
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Day 6, Dec. 18, 1777 — George Washington’s Army celebrates the new nation’s first Thanksgiving at Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills and prepares to set up camp at Valley Forge
On December 18, 1777, General George Washington’s army celebrated the first national Thanksgiving in Gulph Mills and on Rebel Hill. The celebration caused a one day delay in the army’s march to Valley Forge, which General Washington had decided a day earlier, was to be where the army would make its winter quarters. The purpose… Continue reading
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Day 6, Dec. 18, 1777 — George Washington’s Army celebrates the new nation’s first Thanksgiving at Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills and prepares to set up camp at Valley Forge
On December 18, 1777, General George Washington’s army celebrated the first national Thanksgiving in Gulph Mills and on Rebel Hill. The celebration caused a one day delay in the army’s march to Valley Forge, which General Washington had decided a day earlier, was to be where the army would make its winter quarters. The purpose… Continue reading
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Day 5, Dec. 17, 1777 — Gen. Washington issues inspirational orders announcing the move to Valley Forge and prepares for nation’s first Thanksgiving celebration on Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills
December 17, 1777 was a momentous day on Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills. After weeks of debate, General Washington decided on Valley Forge as the site of the Continental Army’s winter quarters. As hard as it is for us to believe today, armies at this time generally did not fight in the winter. It was extremely… Continue reading
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Day 4, Dec. 16, 1777 — Tents arrive and British soldiers captured at Gulph Mills
On a cold and rainy December 16, 1777, the 11,000 soldiers in George Washington’s Continental Army at Gulph Mills and Rebel Hill had one solace — tents had arrived. They had been exposed to the snow and cold since the army arrived at the Gulph on December 12, and they had sought shelter under the rocks and… Continue reading
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Day 3, Dec. 15, 1777 — The Continental Army settles down at Rebel Hill and Gulph Mills
On December 15, 1777, the Continental Army has been at Gulph Mills and Rebel Hill for two days, so they are able to settle down and recoup a bit of their strength. As Dr. Albigence Waldo, Surgeon General to the Army writes of his condition, improved as of the past two days, “Quiet. Eat Pessimmens,… Continue reading
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Day 2, Dec. 14 — Hardship plagues the Continental Army at “the Gulph”
On December 14, 1777, the condition of the 11,000 members of the Continental Army at Gulph Mills and Rebel Hill was one of extreme hardship. The soldier’s tents were not to arrive for two more days. There was little, if any food. Dr. Albigence Waldo, Surgeon General to the Continental Army and a member of… Continue reading
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Day 1, Dec. 13, 1777 — Washington’s Army at Rebel Hill
This blog post is in honor of the six days in December that General George Washington and the Continental Army spent in my home, Rebel Hill in Gulph Mills, Pa., starting on this day in 1777. I am commemorating that by posting a blog for each of the six days. I’ll also share a post… Continue reading
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My talk on “The Road to Valley Forge”, 2/8/14, 2pm, King of Prussia Historical Society Meeting, Christ Church (Old Swedes), Swedesburg, PA
My talk on “The Road to Valley Forge”, 2/8/14, 2pm, King of Prussia Historical Society Meeting, Christ Church (Old Swedes), Swedesburg, PA Please join me on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2 pm, as I talk about “The Road to Valley Forge” to the King of Prussia Historical Society meeting, Christ Church (Old Swedes), 740 River Road,… Continue reading
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Six Days in December talk, 12/9, 2 p.m., Upper Merion Township Bldg.
Please join me on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 pm at Upper Merion Township Building, Freedom Hall, 175 W. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, when I talk about Six Days in December: General George Washington’s and the Continental Army’s Encampment on Rebel Hill, December 13 – 19, 1777. See flyer below. I hope to… Continue reading
Sheilah Vance
Musings from and events for Sheilah Vance, author of the award-winning books: Threshold to Valley Forge: The Six Days of the Gulph Mills Encampment, Becoming Valley Forge, Land Mines, Chasing the 400, and Creativity for Christians
