George Washington "Among His Troops"

        Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution unveiled a new exhibit on January 13th. The exhibit, “Among His Troops: Washington’s War Tent in a Newly Discovered Watercolor ”, will be on view until February 19, 2018. The Civil War was the first American war to be widely photographed and prior to that war strategists and newspapers depended upon drawings and paintings. This painting is the only known depiction of this politically impactful encampment and provides a snapshot of this event.
The most renowned artifact in the museum’s collection is General Washington’s Headquarters, his original sleeping and office tent. Washington’s first tent wore out and was replaced in 1778 by a second tent. 

         Both marquee tents were purchased from Plunket Fleeson, an upholsterer whose business was located at 4th & Chestnut in Philadelphia. The exact size of the oval tent remains a mystery. Washington’s tent can be seen on the second floor, as well as an 11-minute movie introduction. 
          Credit is given to Selena Gray for saving the tent, handed down to Robert E. Lee’s wife, great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, from destruction during the Civil War. Gray, Mary Lee’s personal slave, was left as caretaker of the Lee Mansion when the family left in May of 1861. Gray gained her freedom the following year.

The newly opened exhibition is designed around the 7-ft. panoramic painting of the Continental Army’s encampment at Verplanck’s Point in 1782. Pierre L’Enfant, a French-American military engineer and designer of Washington, DC, painted it. 

         Washington’s tent can be clearly seen in the foreground. Additional artifacts in the 2,500 square-foot gallery include a portrait of the general by John Trumbull and pieces of Washington’s headquarters tent that are rarely placed on display.
A menu of special programs was created to enhance understanding of the exhibition specifically and the American Revolution in general. Scheduled Twenty-minute gallery talks are included with admission and during MLK Day weekend the stories of African American service in the Revolution will be interpreted. Information is available on the website. www.amrevmuseum.org