CHAPTER XVI 



The "Old Washington Tree"— The "Big Chestnut Tree" of VMey 

 Cottage— The Cedarcroft Chestnut— Indian Trails and Trail 

 Trees. 



The "Old Washington Tree" 



The spreading chestnut tree at New Hope, Penn., long knoAvn 

 as the "Old Washington Tree," was not only directly associated with 

 the Father of his Country, but also marked a spot of great strategic 

 importance in the struggle for American Independence. 



Coryell's Ferry at New Hope, was the best ferry on the Dela- 

 ware River north of Trenton, N. J., and both the British and 

 American armies were desirous of controlling it, the former failing 

 more than once to effect a crossing from New Jersey to the Pennsyl- 

 vania shore. 



During December, 1776, a large part of the Continental Army 

 was encamped at New Hope. A month previous, Washington had 

 evacuated Fort Lee on the Hudson, opposite New York City, and 

 retreated across New Jersey to Trenton, where, there is little doubt 

 Cornwallis confidently expected to find the Americans an easy prey 

 on accoimt of the difficulty of escaping across the Delaware. 



Thanks, however,, to the patriotic efforts of two young men, Jerry 

 Black and Daniel Bray (later known as General Bray), who were 

 acquainted with every boatman on the river, a large enough fleet was 

 secured to carry the Continental troops safely across, at the historic 

 point just above the present town of Taylorsville, N. J., known to 

 history as "Washington's Crossing." 



■'Coryell's Ferry" on the Pennsylvania shore, now became a busy 

 military centre. 



"Within the limits of this ancient borough," says Richard Ran- 

 dolph Parry, "the eye rested everywhere upon the valley, hillside and 

 fields dotted with the tents of the Continental soldiers. At the Neeley 

 (Thompson) farmhouse were quartered Lieut. James Monroe, after- 

 ward President of the United States, and other officers. Nearby at 

 'Chapman's' were General Knox and Captain Alexander Hamilton." 

 General Greene was at a neighboring farmhouse, and General Sulli- 

 van only a short distance away. General Washington's headquarters 

 were at the Keith farm. 



The "Old Washington Tree" stood in a field opposite General 

 De Fernoy's and Lord _ Stirling's headquarters, and under its 

 branches, Washington and his Generals, Knox, Sullivan, Greene and 

 Stirling, first discussed plans for the Battle of Trenton which was so 

 soon to occur. 



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