Education

Valley Forge was a defining moment in American history and helping educate others remains a key goal of the Valley Forge Muster Roll. 

 

Home School Day

 

Below are documents from Home School Day intended to help students learn how to research a soldier who encamped at Valley Forge. 

 

What Does a Muster Roll Show?

Question Sheet

Answer Sheet

Search for Captain McHenry

Muster Roll Card for Captain McHenry

 

Glossary

Absent Without Leave Missing from his regiment without permission.
Brigade Hospital In January 1778, each brigade was ordered to build a log hut to serve as a hospital for the men of the brigade.  
Cashiered The term applied to an officer who was dismissed from the Army for incompetence or misconduct.  
Command/ On Command On assignment outside of camp for periods of a day to months at a time for a military assignment.  Most of the where or what does not appear in the records.  
Deserted/Deserter   A man who left his regiment without authorization and may have gone over to the enemy or left for his home.
Discharged Released from the army either due to the end of his term of enlistment or occasionally for medical reasons.
Enlisted The man has joined the army as a private or non-commissioned officer.
Ensign The lowest ranking officer who carried the colors or ensign into battle.
Furlough/on furlough Given leave to be absent from military duty.
In inoculation Under inoculation for smallpox. 
Joined The date the man reported to his regiment at camp.
Omitted Left off the paymaster’s roll.
On guard The men detailed to protect the encampment.
On detachment A variable number of men sent out of camp on a particular task or assignment. Detachments could last for days or months.
On roll without comment Soldier was present in camp with no remarks on the muster roll.
On duty                           In camp on some undifferentiated military assignment.
Prisoner A soldier held captive by the enemy.
Resigned Only officers could resign from the army and could do so without completing a specific term of service.
Sick absent Sick in an unspecified location outside of camp.
Sick in camp or quarters Sick in a hut or tent in camp.
Time out/ time is out The period for which a man enlisted has ended.
Under confinement/ Under guard Under guard for violating regulations.

Sources:

Boyle, Joseph Lee.  “Virginia makes the Poorest Figure of any State”

The Virginia Infantry at the Valley Forge Encampment 1777-1778. Maryland: Clearfield Company. 2019

 

Word Search

 

Valley Forge Muster Roll

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AIDE DE CAMP                                        

ANCESTOR                                               

BRIGADE                                                  

CAMP FOLLOWER                                 

CAPTAIN                                                 

COLONEL                                               

CONTINENTAL ARMY                        

DISCHARGED                                       

DIVISION                                              

DRUMMER                                           

ENLISTED                                             

FIFE                                                        

FURLOUGH                                          

GEORGE WASHINGTON

HUTS                                                      

MATROSS                                             

MUSKET

MUSTER ROLL

ON COMMAND

ON GUARD

PATRIOT

PAYMASTER

PAYROLL

PENSION

PRISONER

PRIVATE

RANK

REGIMENT

SICK ABSENT

SICK IN CAMP

SOLDIER

VALLEY FORGE

 

 

 

Visit the Valley Forge Muster Roll, a project of the Valley Forge Park Alliance, at

www.valleyforgemusterroll.org.