Charlie Zahm sings the Blacksmith of Brandywine

Washington Tour - Day 4 Valley Forge

Washington Tour - Day 6

The first thing we went to on Day 6 was Yorktown. We walked to Redoubts 9 and 10, and Joshua talked about the battle and the importance of capturing them. After that we drilled the boys into a company so that we could charge the "British" and capture the redoubt. The "British" were the fathers on the tour. After Yorktown we went to Surrender Field. We did not get any pictures of Surrender Field, because our camera's memory card was full. After that we had our closing lunch at Golden Corral, where Joshua talked about the rest of the War for American Independence after Yorktown.

Joshua speaking about the Battle of Yorktown

The boys marching towards the redoubt

The Charge

The battle re-enactment, where the Americans were victorious

Washington Tour - Day 5

The first thing we went to on day 5 was the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Here is a link to the last time we went to Washington Monument. Almost everyone that wanted to was able to go up to the top of the monument. Next we went to Mt. Vernon, where George Washington lived. Mr. Brown did a talk about Washington's Manhood, and Daddy did a talk on biographies of Washington. After we left Mt. Vernon, we went to St. John's Church for a reenactment of the meeting of the Virginia Convention where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech for Liberty.

The Washington Monument

The Mount Vernon Mansion and Surrounding Buildings

The Mt. Vernon Mansion

Mr. Brown Speaking Behind Mt. Vernon

Daddy Speaking

The Inside of St. John's Church

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