Last updated: February 28, 2025
Place
McIntosh's Brigade Monument
NPS Photo / B. Dhunjisha
Quick Facts
Location:
On the north side of Route 23 between Inner Line Spur / West Inner Line Drive and North Inner Line Drive. Close to the Joseph Plum Martin Trail.
Significance:
Marks the encampment location of McIntosh's Brigade.
Designation:
Brigade Monument
Amenities
3 listed
Cellular Signal, Information, Pets Allowed
Monument Description
This monument was donated by the Valley Forge Park Commission under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1908 to mark the encampment location of McIntosh's Brigade. Lachlan McIntosh was given command of a battalion of troops in his home state of Georgia early in 1776. In May of 1777, McIntosh shot and killed Button Gwinnett, his political rival and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, in a duel. In August, Georgian congressman George Walton feared that Gwinnett’s allies would target McIntosh, and asked Washington if he had a role for him in his army which was operating in Pennsylvania at the time. Washington informed Walton that his army had need of a brigadier general, and could use McIntosh in that capacity. McIntosh was appointed to command the North Carolina Brigade at Valley Forge on December 20th of 1777.
Sources:
Dodd, C., Dodd, J. (1981) List of Classified Structures Reports. Volume VI: Monuments. Valley Forge National Historical Park.
“To George Washington from Colonel Lachlan McIntosh, 16 February 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-03-02-0232.
“To George Washington from George Walton, 5 August 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-10-02-0532.
“From George Washington to George Walton, 6 August 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-10-02-0539.
“General Orders, 20 December 1777,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-12-02-0584.
Inscription
CONTINENTAL ARMY
VALLEY FORGE DECEMBER 19 1777 JUNE 19 1778
SULLIVAN'S DIVISION
MAJOR GENERAL JOHN SULLIVAN
McINTOSH'S BRIGADE
BRIG. GENERAL LACHLAN McINTOSH
COMMANDING
1st North Carolina Infantry | Colonel Thomas Clark
2nd North Carolina Infantry | Colonel John Patton
3rd North Carolina Infantry | Colonel Jethro Sumner
4th North Carolina Infantry | Colonel Thomas Polk
5th North Carolina Infantry | Lieut. Col. William L. Davidson
6th North Carolina Infantry | Colonel Gideon Lamb
7th North Carolina Infantry | Colonel James Hogun
8th North Carolina Infantry | Colonel James Armstrong
9th North Carolina Infantry | Colonel John Williams