Hardship and Perseverance

This monument looks alot bigger in person (click the picture if needed for a better view or to read the inscription)

This is the North Outer Line, the British would have had to come up the hill into canon and musket fire.
The Continental Army was in this area during winter of 1777-78.
This is a very historic place, it's called Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It's about a 40 minute drive from my house. It's beautiful and very peaceful now, but during the winter of 1777-78 it was bitter cold and covered with snow. It's the place where the tired, poorly supplied and poorly clothed Continental Army camped for the winter and held their ground against The British Army. By this time the Americans had already lost two key battles, as well as Philadelphia (which is 20 miles northwest) to the British. The Americans under General George Washington used their time wisely at Valley Forge, drilling, building cabins,forts, bridges, etc and maturing as a fighting unit.

The monument in the top photo was dedicated in 1917 and commmemorates the "Patience and fidelity" of the soldiers who wintered here in 1777-78

Valley Forge is a large and fascinating National Historical Park. I've been there twice, but I figure it will take several more trips to soak it all in. Yesterday's photo was also taken at Valley Forge Historical Park.

The hardships that were indured by the Continetal Army have become ledgend.

"To see the men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes...without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled."
-George Washington at Valley Forge, April 21, 1778

My World Tuesday