Page 64 - ASM Book 9/2020
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Washington’s Headquarters Marquee
W
hen on the battlefield, George Washington used marquees for his headquarters: office, dining and sleeping accommodations. Several of the 20' x 15' oval-shaped tents were needed during the war.
The marquees were made of duck canvas with red scalloped edges. Transportable floors were made of wooden slats that provided protection from water and mud.
They were used whenever private homes or other structures were not available. Sometimes those homes were large enough to provide working and sleeping space for some of his staff.
This original headquarters tent can be seen at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
It has been carefully preserved.
This 13 star flag flew at Washington’s headquarters during the war. The 6 pointed stars are similar to the three silver stars on his uniform.
AWashington Returned General Howe’s Dog
fter the Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania on October 4, 1777, a small dog was seen running around the battlefield. The dog followed the Americans at the close of the battle.
Some battle weary Americans captured the dog and saw from his collar that he belonged to British General William Howe. They took the dog to Washington’s headquarters, who welcomed the dog and his guardians.
After examining the dog and reading the inscription on the collar, Washington directed Alexander Hamilton, his aide-de-camp, to write a note to General Howe and arrange for the dog and note to be delivered.
Written in Alexander Hamilton’s hand, the note was copied into Washington’s letter book that his aides- de-camp kept for his archives.
On October 6, the dog and note were delivered to General Howe’s battlefield headquarters. The two- sentence note read: “General Washington’s compliments to General Howe. He does himself the pleasure to return him a dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe”.
It was reported that General Howe was grateful to General Washington for returning Lila, his fox terrier.
