A hand-drawn sketch of the Stark’s Brigade site shows historians what the hutting pattern was like. Take a look at some of the details of the Jockey Hollow encampment and how it was built.
– Officer huts were constructed after the enlisted men’s huts were finished. Washington’s description of the organizing of officer huts for Valley Forge would be followed at Jockey Hollow as well:
“The Officers Huts to form a line in the Rear of the Troops, One Hut to be allowed to each General Officer, One to the staff of each brigade, One to the field officers of each regiment, one to the staff of each regiment, one to the commissioned officers of two companies, and one to every twelve non-commissioned officers and soldiers.”
General Orders for the troops beginning their encampment at Valley Forge, December 18, 1777. Writings of Washington, Fitzpatrick, ed.
– Washington’s directions for building huts at Valley Forge (1777-78) specify: “… The Soldiers Huts are to be of the following dimensions viz: fourteen by sixteen each, Sides, Ends & Roofs made with Logs and the roofs made tight with split slabs …” These would be followed at Middlebrook (near the Raritan River), and at Jockey Hollow: “The dimensions of the soldier’s Barracks to be given out and not departed from in the least particular, under pain of having those pulled down which differ from the Model. I think the form of the Penna. Hutts and mode of placing them at Rarition last Winter, may be established as a model.” Washington to General Greene, Nov.17, 1779
– In an encampment, the soldiers of the Continental Army camped together in brigades, constructing their huts in orderly lines and in a designated pattern, beginning with soldiers and working up to the officers in order of rank. A brigade was commanded by a Brigadier General and was made up of four regiments, each commanded by a Colonel. Each brigade was usually composed of troops from the same state. Sometimes regiments from different states were combined into brigades, named after their commanding general, as in the case of Stark’s Brigade.
– An array of tools were used to construct these crude dwellings such as cross cut saws, augers, adzes, drawing knives, mason trowels, shovels, iron square and chalk line and many other assortment of tools and devices.
Each hut was constructed by about 12 men, who would live in the Hut for the duration of the winter encampment. The dimensions of the soldier’s huts were 14 feet by 16 feet.
– Soldiers would take turns guarding the camp, some nearby and others further away. Just outside the camp, a small group of soldiers would be a picket guard (usually on a road leading to camp) to provide the first warning of any suspicious people. If the proper signs and countersigns (passwords) were not exchanged with someone approaching, an alarm shot would be fired by the guard, providing a warning to the rest of the camp. Regiments of the camp would take turns on outpost duty, living in towns closer to the enemy. They could keep a closer eye on the enemy forces, and be the first to try to stop an attack.
