I had wanted to visit this historic site for many years. I finally made it there last year. I won't say I was disappointed, but, frankly, it was far less than I expected to see as far as evidence of what was there during the 1777 - 1778 period when it served as the Winter encampment for Washington's army. There were five huts there, one original and 4 accurate re-creations. The was only one period -correct cannon. There was a large, nice memorial structure. That's about it. The one thing that did surprise me was the scope of the encampment area....I don't know the acreage, but it was HUGE.

Approximately 12,000 troops and a few family members spent a brutal Winter there. Over 2,000 of them died. Quite a few died from starvation...food was very scarce. Freezing weather got many. The few huts could handle only so many, tents had to handle the rest. But the main cause of death was from a variety of diseases.

I'm glad I went there. What transpired over that Winter turned the war around for the patriots. They got training that was desperately needed, so that when fighting resumed they functioned as a cohesive force. Having walked the same grounds that they walked, in a most critical time for our country, greatly enhanced my appreciation of the sacrifices so many made that I can walk around today as a free man.