Silver Medal Depicting the Defence of Chew's Storehouse by the 40th Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Germantown, 1777

After capturing Philadelphia in September 1777 during the American War of Independence (1775-1783), a large portion of Major General Howe's army encamped at Germantown to the north of the city. General George Washington attacked the British and Hessian encampment there on 4 October, but was repulsed after one of his four columns lost its bearings in the fog and smoke.

During the battle the Americans launched several fierce assaults on Chew's house, which was defended by about 120 men of the 40th Foot, but the defenders held out and more than 50 Americans were killed attacking it. This medal was probably presented as a regimental award by the regiment's Commanding Officer, Colonel Thomas Musgrave.

Copy and photos from National Army Museum.

Surrender of General Burgoyne, October 17, 1777

Surrender of General Burgoyne by John Trumbull, 1822;

This painting hangs in the United States Capitol Rotunda.

The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne led a large invasion army up the Champlain Valley from Canada, hoping to meet a similar force marching northward from New York City; the southern force never arrived, and Burgoyne was surrounded by American forces in upstate New York. Burgoyne fought two small battles to break out. They took place eighteen days apart on the same ground, 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York. They both failed. Trapped by superior American forces, with no relief in sight, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army on October 17. His surrender, says historian Edmund Morgan, "was a great turning point of the war, because it won for Americans the foreign assistance which was the last element needed for victory.

Portrait by Joshua Reynolds, c. 1766

John Burgoyne

On October 17, following a ceremony in which Burgoyne gave his sword to Gates, only to have it returned, Burgoyne's army (approaching 6,000 strong) marched out to surrender their arms.

Portrait by Gilbert Stuart, c.1794

General Horatio Gates

Daniel Morgan

Colonel Daniel Morgan and the newly formed Provisional Rifle Corps, which comprised about 500 specially selected riflemen from Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, chosen for their sharpshooting ability. This unit came to be known as Morgan's Riflemen.

A detachment of Morgan's regiment, commanded by Morgan, was reassigned to the army's Northern Department and on Aug. 30 he joined General Horatio Gates to aid in resisting Burgoyne's offensive. He is prominently depicted in the painting of the Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga by John Trumbull. Col. Daniel Morgan is shown in white, right of center.

Copy and images from Wikipedia: Saratoga campaign here. John Burgoyne here. Horatio Gates here. Daniel Morgan here.

The March to Valley Forge, December 16, 1777

The inspiration for William Tregos painting was from a passage in Washington Irving's Life of Washington: "Sad and dreary was the march to Valley Forge, uncheered by the recollection of any recent triumph....Hungry and cold were the poor fellows who had so long been keeping the field;...provisions were scant, clothing was worn out, and so badly were they off for shoes, that the footsteps of many might be tracked in blood."

Copy and photos from the American Revolution Center.

The Price of Freedom

Regimental Uniform Coat of Colonel Peter Gansevoort, Jr.

This Continental Army uniform coat was worn by Colonel Peter Gansevoort, Jr. of the 3rd Regiment of the New York Continental Line. He wore this coat during his command of Fort Stanwix, New York in 1777.

During the first few years of the war substantial stocks of uniforms were made in such centers as Philadelphia, Baltimore and Charleston. These uniforms were made with locally woven cloth or from cloth imported from France.

Superfine blue wool, lined with linen and faced with red trim. It has silver civilian patterned buttons backed with bone and a silver lace on the buttonholes.

American made composite musket, .75 caliber. This gun is assembled with a barrel bearing London proofmarks, a lock bearing French marks, and the trigger and stock of an American manufacturer.

Cavalry Saber

American made

Copy and photos from National Museum of American History.