Washington Tour - Day 4

The first thing we went to on Day 4 was Chadd's Ford at the Brandywine Battlefield. This is where part of the British army held the American army while the rest went around to attack them in the rear. After going through the visitor center we moved on to the Birmingham Quaker Meeting House & Cemetery. There is a monument to Lafayette, Pulaski and a few other soldiers who fought at Brandywine. Joshua talked about the rest of the battle there.

Daddy speaking at the Lafayette Monument

Lafayette Monument

Joshua talking about the battle

Then we drove to Cliveden, a house that was central in the battle of Germantown. A group of British soldiers barricaded themselves in it and the Americans sent several regiments against it, but were unable to capture it. While we were eating lunch were, some boys decided to try to climb a tree. (see a video here) After lunch and tree climbing Joshua spoke about the battle.

Tree climbing

The front of the Cliveden house the Americans charged

Our last stop was Valley Forge. We walked 4-5 miles there because the buses had to leave and the shuttles were not running. Valley Forge was where the army spent the winter and were retrained under Von Steuben. Daddy and Joshua did various talks on the way about important generals and events.

The "Grand Parade" where the men trained

Leaving one of the encampments

Some huts like they lived in

Washington Tour - Day 3

Our first stop on day 3 was Washington's Crossing. This was where Washington crossed the Delaware before attacking Trenton. I spoke about the crossing there, and my father talked about Charles Lee, one of the American Generals who was not useful because he was too prideful.

Where Washington crossed the Delaware

A monument to Washington

Next we went to Trenton where the actual battle took place. There is a monument where the artillery was placed that destroyed the Hessian formation. We had never been there before, and the monument was very impressive. Unfortunately we were not able to go up it because the elevator is broken.

Trenton Monument

After Trenton we went to Princeton Battlefield, where George Washington next attacked the British. I talked about the battle, and how this was Washington's greatest strategic victory. Also we saw the tree that General Mercer was killed under. It fell down a few years ago, but they planted a sapling from it on the same spot.

Joshua speaking at Princeton

After the battlefield we went to Princeton University. My father talked about its history and problems. It was founded before the Revolution by great men like John Witherspoon and Jonathan Edwards but later became very unbiblical. We walked around there for a while, and went in the chapel. It was very much like a Roman Catholic church, with the idols etc. I am fairly sure that the founders would not have approved of the chapel today. Then we went to Princeton Cemetary where many of the preachers of the great awakening are buried, including Samuel Davies, Jonathan Edwards, Arron Burr Sr., John Witherspoon and many more. Mr. Brown spoke about the family life of Jonathan Edwards and some of the other great pastors buried there.

Daddy Speaking

The Chapel at Princeton

Mr Brown at the Cemetary

For dinner Charlie Zahm, a folk musician, joined us at the Spaghetti Warehouse. After dinner he sang some songs, and then my father spoke on the Declaration of Independence, followed by some more songs. It was very good, and we will probably post some video clips in the future.

Charlie Zahm singing

Daddy speaking about the Declaration of Independence

Washington Tour - Day 2

On the second day we visited a bunch of places in Philadelphia. We started off at Christ Church. Christ Church was attended by many of the founding fathers. George Washington visited there, Benjamin Franklin, and many others. Charles Lee and John Forbes, Generals in the Revolution and French and Indian War, respectively, were also buried there, along with Robert Morris the financier of the Revolution.

Walking to Christ Church

The Steeple at Christ Church

Listening to the tour at Christ Church

After Christ Church we went to Carpenter's Hall.Carpenter's Hall was the sight of the First Continental Congress. Washington was a delegate to that Congress. My father talked about Washington as a politician in front of the building.

Speaking in front of Carpenter's Hall

After Carpenter's Hall, one group went to Christ Church Burying Ground. Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush are buried there. My father spoke on both of those men there. After that and lunch we went to Independence Hall. Independence Hall during the Revolution was called the Pennsylvania State House. It was used as the sight of the Continental Congresses. It was there they signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. After Independence Hall we visited the Liberty Bell.

A grave of an forgotten soldier.
This grave of a Revolutionary War soldier had either sunken into the ground or been broken off

Liberty Bell

Independence Hall

Then I gave a speech on the battles of the Revolution up to Trenton where we went the next day. My father talked about why the Constitution is distinct from other Constitutions. Then we walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War soldier. There we talked about how the soldiers went for days without food, marching many miles and all of the sufferings that they went through to give us freedom.

Speaking on the battles

Washington at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Washington Day 1 - Fort Necessity

Our next stop was Fort Necessity. After Washington's victory at Jumonville Glen, the French came and surrounded Washington in a small fort that he built, Fort Necessity. After a short battle, Washington surrendered for the only time in his career.