Life of Washington Tour - Day 4

Posted by Gabrielle

The fourth day of the Washington Tour was a very full day, but enjoyable nonetheless. Our first stop was at Brandywine battlefield. This was the site of another of Washington's numerous defeats. In his talk here, Joshua Horn outlined three reasons why Washington was defeated here:

• Washington did not adequately study the grounds.
• He did not have enough cavalry.
• He did not use the cavalry the way he should have.

Even though this was only one of Washington's numerous defeats, he didn't give up, and ended up winning the war. What an inspiring role model for us!

Part of the group at the officer's headquarters building at Chad's Ford on the Brandywine

The Brandywine Battlefield

The bridge over the Brandywine

Mr. Horn talking at the Brandywine Battlefield Monument. He climbed up to read the writing on the side.

Elliot and friends listening to the talk. From left to right: Matthew, Elliot, Armando, and Ethan

The building in which the British barricaded themselves. It looked like a beautiful old building from the outside and I'm still regretting we were not able to go in.

Joshua Horn gave a short talk here on what happened in this short battle and the implications. This battle was also called the Battle of the Clouds (if I'm deciphering my scrawled notes correctly). The British regiment that had sheltered in the building was the same 140th regiment that had barricaded themselves in Nasa Hall in the Battle of Princeton. Col. Henry Knox, Washington's fellow strategist, opted to attack the house as doing otherwise would be seen as unmilitary-like. Washington, with Generals Sterling and Sullivan led the attack against the house with two brigades after an unsuccessful truce.

In spite of their seeming advantage, the Continentals were forced to retreat and flee, for several possible reasons:

• They were confused from the fight
• Disordered from the fog
• They were running out of ammunition

Following the retreat, the Continental troops went into winter quarters at Valley Forge.

Our next stop was lunch stop! During the lunch break, a number of boys made several attempts at a human ladder up the side of one of the huge trees growing in the park. They provided entertainment and much laughing.

Our next stop of the day was Valley Forge, where the Continental troops wintered after the Battle of Germantown. Touring Valley Forge occupied the rest of the day. We definitely did a lot of walking and were very grateful for the bus ride back to the hotel!

The beautiful meadows and hills in the distance...so lovely and relaxing!

Our first stop at Valley Forge was at the replication huts that the soldiers would have lived in during the winter.

Jedidiah...

and Tobias enjoyed the bunks!

Personally, they don't look that comfortable! :)

From there, we walked to the monument that the Masons built in honor of George Washington, and here, Mr. Horn gave a short talk on the history of the Masons and how Washington was involved.

Washington was a Mason at some point and time in his life. Even though members were required to profess Christ, this does not mean that the masons were a Christian organization. We have mixed views regarding Washington being a mason. While it seems out of his character that he would join them, he did refuse to pose for a picture in his mason's uniform which seems to intimate he did not wish to be known as a mason. Now,the new-age masons are trying to claim Washington as one of their members.

Tobias showing off a bird's nest he found

Our next stop was at the "Mad" Anthony Wayne Statue. Unfortunately, I did not get any notes at this talk because I was frantically trying to fix my camera which had stopped working, so I have just the highlights that I remember.

Anthony Wayne was one of Washington's trusted Brigadier Generals and he earned the title "Mad" Anthony Wayne from the interesting and often eccentric ideas and strategies he proposed.

From the Anthony Wayne statue, we spent the rest of the day touring the rest of Valley Forge on foot and visiting a few other highlights as time permitted, including Washington's Headquarters, the Baron Von Steuban statue, Redoubts 3 and 4, and the Artillery Park.

Arianne (left) and friends Anastasia and Merisa at the Artillery Park

Wordless Wednesday: Does This Scare You?

Posted by Gabrielle

Pictures with Oma

Posted by Gabrielle

This morning, Oma left after a week-long visit of fun and great memories. I have pictures and lots to write about, but no time right now to do it in, so I shall leave you with a few of the many pictures from her visit.

Of course, not to be forgotten: our family picture with Oma!!!

We three girls after our trip to the mall to purchase boots as late and early birthday gifts. :)

Meme, Oma, and Timothy waiting to begin the gift-giving festivities at Arianne's 16th birthday party

Someone goofing around while preparing for pictures with Oma

Our happy little boy at the restaurant!

What Happened when Little Boys...

Posted by Gabrielle

Asked me to take pictures of them! A couple evenings ago, the little boys asked me to take pictures of them, and then started hamming up for the camera. How could I resist?! :) I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I will set My bow in the cloud

Posted by Gabrielle

After enjoying the rainy day all day yesterday, I was called outside to see this magnificent double rainbow. It lasted only a few minutes.


"I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be fore a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." Genesis 9:13-16

What a sweet promise this is that allows us to enjoy the rainstorms and know He will always keep His word!

Life of Washington Tour - Day 3

Posted by Gabrielle

Our first stop on Day 3 of the Washington Tour was Washington's Crossing. 

This was where Washington crossed in the middle of the night to attack the Hessians camped at Trenton before they could attack him. The troops crossed the Delaware River with Henry Knox in charge of the crossing and successfully surprised the Hessians as they were not expecting him to attack. This was the victory that the young officer Washington needed to establish his military renown.

 

Washington's Crossing

 Young men at one of the canons at Washington's Crossing

Our next stop of the day was at Trenton Battlefield, the site of the attack on the Hessians after Washington crossed the Delaware. We had lunch at the monument.

Examining more closely the entrance to the monument

It was a long ways up!!!

Our next stop was Princeton Battlefield.

This was a crucial battle in the war; one, which if Washington had not fought it, we would not have won the war.

Mr. Horn brought out several crucial points that Washington accomplished in winning this battle:

• The British were not allowed to capture Philadelphia. In spite of this, they later captured it in 1777.
• The ragtag continental army gained more experience and prowess in fighting.
• This improved Washington's military reputation as he had won three battles by now.
• This improved the general morale of the soldiers and made them more willing to fight.

Playing frisbee on Princeton Battlefield

From Princeton Battlefield, we went on to Princeton University where Mr. Horn gave a talk about how this college was founded.

Princeton University was a split from Christ Presbyterian Church during the Great Awakening. At this point, pastors who did not have a degree, namely pastors of the Great Awakening called New Lights, such as George Whitefield, were not allowed to preach in the pulpit. Princeton University, which had a predecessor called Low College, was founded as a conservative university to give New Light pastors a degree so they could preach from the pulpit again.

 

Timothy reading the plaque before one of the two great lions guarding the entrance to the university hall.

From Princeton University, we walked to Princeton Chapel and visited two highlights:

A statue of John Witherspoon in the chapel courtyard, and

The Princeton chapel. It had gorgeous stained glass windows on all three walls as you walked in. The dimly-lighted interior enhanced the solemnly majestic effect as the organ-player played.


Some of the quaint shops along the streets of Princeton

From Princeton Chapel, we walked to Princeton Cemetery where Mr. Brown gave a brief talk on the Jonathan and Sarah Edwards, whose graves we stopped at.

As our last stop of the day, we headed to the Spaghetti Warehouse in Philadelphia. There, we enjoyed a delicious dinner and time of singing and reading the Declaration of Independence with Charlie Zahm.

They're Here!!!

Posted by Gabrielle

After much anticipation and preparation, Pepe and Meme arrived home in North Carolina this afternoon. They are adjusting to life here right now, but we hope things will soon even out. Here are some pictures of the house I took this morning as we cleaned and arranged for their arrival.


A picture on the fridge, drawn by their grandchildren, to make it feel more like home. ;)

Life of Washington Tour - Day 2

Posted by Gabrielle

The second day of the Washington tour was a full day, but not as full as the first. The buses dropped us off at the one stop in our area and we walked from place to place that day.

Incidentally, it happened we were dropped off right across from the United States Mint.

Walking along the cobble-stoned streets of Philadelphia to Christ Church

The steeple of Christ Church. This is the church that many of our country's founding fathers attended, and George Washington visited. Benjamin Franklin and Benjamin Rush, contemporaries of Washington, are buried in Christ Church Burying Ground which we visited afterward.

At the Christ Church Burying Ground, Mr. Horn gave a short talk on Benjamin Franklin's life and how he impacted us today, although he was what we would call a secular puritan. Surprisingly, I also learned that he was raised a calvanist and most likely died an unbeliever.
Franklin was responsible for:

• First battery
• Almanac
• Founding the first fire station, library and philosophical society
• Mile Markers
• Weekly Postal Delivery
• Franklin Stove
• Lightning Rod

Though he was not a believer, we can still learn from his character and life. Franklin was a successful writer and a successful printer because he printed his own writings. Being successful and following our calling in God go hand in hand.

Our next stop was Carpenter's Hall, the location of the first Continental Congress. Washington was a delegate at this convention.

Before we toured the building, Mr. Horn gave a short talk on Washington as a Politician.

(Thank you, Bekah, for the picture!)

Timothy and Benaiah outside Independence Hall

After touring Independence Hall, we visited the Liberty Bell

After visiting the Liberty Bell, we walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington's Court.

Joshua Horn gave a talk on the hardships that the soldiers endured during the Revolutionary War. It made me appreciate even more the simpler of our luxuries here.

We got back to the hotel around eight and were able to get to bed on time and rest for the next day.