Supporting the Winter Camp
The land just across the Schuylkill River played a vital role in the winter encampment. Provisions and armaments from throughout the region were brought there, and the army built a bridge for access across the river just downstream of this point. The commissary and a hospital were established there, and a farmers? market was set up to sell goods and food to the soldiers. From that side of the river, the army could better monitor British movements to the north and east. When the camp on this side of the river became too foul General Washington ordered the army to move to the north side.
After the Revolution, the area flourished with the introduction of new scientific farming methods. Crop rotation, liming of fields, manure application, and cultivation of soil-improving crops transformed the region from small farming to commercial agriculture. The Schuylkill Navigation Canal, the Reading Railroad below you, and the Pennsylvania Railroad on the north side brought a vital connection to markets in the burgeoning city of Philadelphia.
(captions)
(lower left) After nearly six month occupation, the army encampment became increasingly unhealthy as hot weather came on. On June 9, Washington ordered the army to move out of their huts to fresh campgrounds with "good air and good water." While most of the army camped in front of the old encampment. Sergeant Jeremiah Greenman from Rhode Island wrote that on June 10 "at the beat of the Genl. struck our tents. marcht about a mild over Schoolkills River & Piched our tents in a field in providance town Ship."
Archibald Robertson Maps, The New York Public Library.
(upper right) This 19th century painting of the Pawling Farm was made at a point just east of here and shows what a successful enterprise it was. Fertile meadows stretched from the barn (still standing) and house (now a ruin) to the Schuylkill River.
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