Ursinus College - Ruby Yearbook (Collegeville, PA)

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the flash of guns. In 1777 the American Army encamped on both banks of our beautiful Pcrkiomen, the lines reaching from Trappe to Kvansburg. General Washington himself had his quarters in the house now occupied by Mr. Casselberry, of Kvansburg. Here in this latter place, in the I episcopal Cemetery, is to be found a vault bearing the inscription, “One hundred Revolutionary heroes lie buried here. The epitaph tells its own tale- -a hundred patriots under Captain Howard, of Maryland, laying down their lives for liberty. Such incidents as these have clothed these old, gray hills in glory. From Evansburg the army marched to Schwenksville. and here, at Pennypacker’s Mill, the commander-in-chief matured the plans for the battle of Germantown How tl'.at battle ended is well known. How the army deployed and attacked the enemy with the greatest daring, lias gone down into history. How the accident of a heavy fog aided the British in their defense and lost the battle to the American Army is well known. Defeated but not broken — for liberty can never be broken the troops marched back to their old bivouacs at Schwenksville, and on the 12th of December, 1777. in the dead of winter. Washington ami his army went into winterquarters at Valley Forge What scenes of hardship this wilderness witnessed has been told again and again. Could the hills but speak, they would tell of anquish and suffering that would chill the blood of men; and all for liberty. Around these highlands, studded with bracken and bush, there are scattered the breastworks and the forts where the soldiers dwelt, but the patriots themselves have gone. And yet we need them not to tell the hardships and the glory of the past; their bones and flesh and blood have commingled with this dust, and the soil is eloquent with their praise. Von mounds, which they built upon the mountain side, saw it all. “ Dumb witnesses of the heroic past, you need no tongue! Face to face with you we see it all. This soft breeze changes to an icy blast; these trees drop the glory of the summer, and the earth beneath our feet is wrapped in snow. Besides us is a village of log huts ; along the ridge smoulders the fire of a canip. The sun has sunk, the stars glitter in the inky sky, the camp is hushed, the fires are out, the night is still. All are in slumber save where a lamp glimmers in a cottage window, and a passing shadow shows a tall figure pacing to and fro. The 16

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approval all over the world ; a colonel in the war of 1812 and an adjutant-general an I attorney-general of Wisconsin ; a governor of the State of Pennsylvania ; a Congressman and two State Senators; a president of Girard College, and an auditor-general of the State of Pennsylvania. In it there lived the ancestors of the Todds, of Kentucky, and the maternal ancestors of General Grant, besides another general of the Revolutionary Army. I challenge any community in this broad land from Maine to Texas to show that with the same population they have produced an equal number of people of like distinction in public life.” Situated in this interesting village, which calls forth such a tribute of eloquence. stands the most remarkable monument erected by pioneer zeal and piety. Indeed, the very walls and old worm eaten pewsof theTrappe Church almost whisper of scenes hallowed bv patrotism. which were enacted within their sight. With this sacred old building is insoluble linked the name of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, its founder, whose body rests under the shadow of the dear old building that he loved so well. The old Trappe church was built in 1743, was dedicated in 1745, and is the oldest standing Lutheran Church in America. To te'l the story of its building and the heroic struggle of Muhlenberg and the early settlers in erecting this temple of God would occupy too much space. Suffice it to say that with great sacrifice they accomplished their object, and in 1750 had the pleasure and honor of entertaining the General Synod of the Colonies within its walls. During the Revolutionary War it was used as a hospital, and in it our first President worshiped. But Trappe was not only the birthplace of the Lutheran faith, she was also the cradle of the Reformed ; for here in a little log church, built where the Reformed Cemetery is now located, Michael Schlatter and his little flock gave of their poverty to God. The Reformed faith was planted in this soil one year earlier than the Lutheran, Michael Schlatter founding the Reformed Church in 1742 and Muhlenberg doing the same for the Lutheran in 1743. However, the little log church of the Reformed was not built until 1735. ten years after the dedication of the Lutheran. The present structure, known as St. Luke’s Reformed Church, is the legitimate successor to the log temple of Schlatter. When the dark days of the Revolutionary War hung like a pall over the new-born colonies, these hills and valleys were lit up by the gleam of saber and 5

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WASHINGTON'S MONUMKNT. SCIIWKXKSVII.I.K. The snot where Washington laid the | lnns for the battle of Germantown. I-OKT WASHINGTON. VAI.I.KV FOR OK. Tlie redoubt which guarded the approach to Va'iey Forge fioni Philadelphia.' WASHINGTON’S 11 HADijl'ARTJvRS. VAU.IvY l'ORGli.