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Lesser-Known Aspects – Philadelphia Campaign of 1777
The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides’ (APT) next monthly meeting will convene on Wednesday, September 10 at 7 pm with a presentation by Justin B. Clement on the “Lesser-Known Aspects of the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777.” The Philadelphia campaign of 1777 highlights an important irony. At the same time that the Continental Army increasingly professionalized (based on the European model), the British Army underwent a process of “Americanization,” adapting to the terrain and wooded conditions of North America. Eyewitness accounts dramatically demonstrate how this took place, when put into practice on the battlefield.
Local history buffs will know about Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown—critical battles of the campaign. However, less well-known is the four-day British occupation of Valley Forge in September 1777. This encampment of Crown Forces stretched from Fatland Ford to just past French Creek (beyond present-day Phoenixville). The brief military occupation ended with the destruction of Mount Joy Forge—the ironworks on Valley Creek giving Valley Forge its name. Only light skirmishing took place, but the four days had greater ramifications than previously thought.
Justin B. Clement is currently the Historic Site Supervisor at Pottsgrove Manor, a 1752 Georgian-style house that was the home of John Potts, a prominent ironmaster and politician. For nearly 30 years, Clement has also been a tailor of museum-quality historic reproductions. Clement’s background also includes serving as: a principal investigator of a study on African American participation at Valley Forge (1777-1778); a research associate on a Georgian Papers Project, transcribing and editing papers of King George III for Georgian Papers Programme; and an Adjunct History Professor at the College of William and Mary and Thomas Nelson Community College.
Clement has a Master’s Degree in Early American History from the College of William and Mary and a Ph.D. in United States History from the University of California, Davis.
PLEASE NOTE A NEW LOCATION: The meeting will be in-person at the Independence Visitor Center (6th and Market Streets), in the NPS theater on the main floor, and livestreamed on Zoom. You may bring food and eat in the IVC from 6-7 pm, but food is not allowed in the theater. The Zoom link will be available in the APT Tour Talk newsletter the week of the meeting; non-members should contact Marianne Ruane president@phillyguides.org no later than 5 pm the day of the meeting to receive the link. Please join us!