DEVIL'S TOWER

Devil's Tower National Monument founded by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. The tower is 867 feet tall. Sitting in 1300 acres of woodlands, the tower is a frequent rock climbing location. The drive up to the ranger station goes through a prairie dog town. The kids loved the activity. The park is in Northeast Wyoming.

MORRIS HOUSE

The Morris House in Morrisville PA.
Washington used the house from 12/8-12/14 after leading his army from Fort Lee across the frozen fields of New Jersey and the Delaware. The march is what "tried men's souls".
The house sits on a hill opposite the City of Trenton. It was here that Washington started to gather intelligence that led to the attack on Trenton at Christmas and the surrender of the Hessian garrison staying there.

The house presently sits on the local school ground and is in fairly good shape.

The Moland House

In Hartsville PA, Washington used the home of Joseph Moland to prepare his army for the coming battles to defend Philadelphia. This was known as the Neshaminy Camp.

It was here that Lafayette and Pulaski joined the Continental Army.

















The house has been restored beautifully.

NEW YORK- Manhattan

From 9/16- 10/20 1776, Washington stayed here at the Morris-Jumel mansion. After the defeat at the Battle of Brooklyn, Washington and the Continental Army made a night time retreat across lower New York Bay into Manhattan. They continued their retreat up the length of Manhattan and held their ground. Their resolve surprised the pursuing British Army.

The rear of the mansion with it's unusual eight sided rooms. The house was one of many that dotted the hills of old New York. The owners came here to escape the heat of summer and to catch the breezes that swept over upper Manhattan. For Washington's purpose, the house on a hill gave him great views of the East River, lower Manhattan, and a view of the roads that led North. When old New York City burned down, Washington saw that too.

The view is obscured now, but you can still see the East River and Brooklyn in the distance. In 1776 Washington could see the camp fires of the British and Hessian armies. He also spied the British War Ships sailing up the East River.

The mansion still stands at 160th St. and Jumel Place. All the other houses are gone, but this one still guards silently the spot where Washington planned the war effort.

Middlebrook Encampment

In the area of Somerville New Jersey, Washington twice visited the ground and houses which became known as the Middlebrook Encampments. In the photo left and just below, Washington posted look outs to see what the British Army was doing up to 30 miles away. Here in the Watchung Mountains, the Continentals would look towards Manhattan, Staten Island and New Brunswick. British forces had New Brunswick as their base. They went out to gain forage or food for their army from January 1777 to July 1777. The Continentals would fight them to prevent the foraging activity.


Left, 30 miles distant is Staten Island.

In Bound Brook is the Van Horne
house used by American General's Lincoln and Wayne. Van Horne leaned towards Loyal sympathies, but was friendly to all who came to his door.

In Bedminster is the Vanderveer House used by General Henry Knox.
Knox used the grounds around the home to set up the first artillery training area for the Continental Army.

The Wallace House in Somerville. Wallace was a wealthy merchant from Philadelphia who just built this house in 1776. Washington used the home from 11/30/1778- 6/3/1779. He consulted with his General's. He was visited by Martha and reviewed his troops.

The library inside the Wallace House. It is easy to imagine the room used by the General and his officers.

In Boundbrook, next to the Raritan River is the Van Vegthan House. This was the headquarters of General Nathaniel Greene. Here during the winter, festivities included dances for the officers. One of the dances was a marathon between General Washington and Kitty Greene which lasted for 3 hours. The house is presently in rough shape and plenty of rehab.

In South Bound Brook is the Abraham Staats House. The Staats house was used by General Von Stueben in 1779.

All the houses are open to the public except the Van Vegthan house and have events to help raise funds to maintain them.

White Plains, New York

The Jacob Purdy's home in White Plains used by General Washington October 23-27, 1776. Washington pushed his army North from New York along the Bronx River. He chose Chatterton's Hill to defend and the British attacked.

The Ann Miller Farm house just two miles behind the battle line.

Washington pulled his army and crossed the North River or Hudson's River into the Jerseys.

George Washington's Headquarters- Cambridge

General Washington arrived at Cambridge and took command of the Continental Army. He stayed at the Dean's home below on the Campus of Harvard. He reviewed the troops on the Cambridge Town Green.

Continental troops stayed in the dormitories of Harvard University. Washington looked at the militia's that made up his army. They were brave, but had no discipline. He had a long way to go in molding them into an army.

The evidence of their bravery was everywhere as the grave of the soldier below shows.

Christ's Church is where Washington attended services. He attended mass with Martha to welcome in 1776.

The General left Cambridge- Boston for New York City on April 3, 1776. He had just forced the British Army out of Boston with the help of Henry Knox and the cannons from Ticonderoga.

Coming and Going

The Silas Deane Home in Wethersfield Conn. Washington visited June 29, 1775 and dined with Deane's wife. He was on his way to Boston and joining the Army in Cambridge. Deane was in France trying to gain aid for the new American cause.











The Webb Home next door was used by Washington on May 19 thru May 24, 1781. Washington met with General Knox, Gov. Trumbull, and Count de Rochambeau to plan an attack on New York. They all left moving towards New York City, but events were starting to unfold in the South.