General Wayne's Camp Bed on page 141 in The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date 1917, on Archive.org. General Anthony Wayne's Field Bed is still on permanent exhibit at the The History Center. Wayne used this camp bed during the Revolutionary War and in the Northwest Territory from 1792-1796. Folding camp beds were used by military officers such as Anthony Wayne and George Washington in the eighteenth century. Copied from page 141 above: Probably the most Interesting and valuable Item in the exhibit of historic mementos in the relic room of the Allen county court house, is the camp bed used by General Wayne during his western campaign. The bed, which is made of walnut and hinged in such manner as to permit It to be folded and placed in a small box, has an interesting history. After his Revolutionary war service, Wayne, who had used the bed during his campaigns, took it to his farm home near Waynesboro. In 1792, he brought it on his western expedition and used it until the time of his departure from Greenville where the famous treaty was effected. He then gave the bed to Major Ambrose Whitlock, who had served through Wayne's western campaign and had assisted in the building of the fort. After the death of Major Whitlock at Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1863, the bed remained in the home until some time after the death of the widow, Elizabeth Whitlock, when it came into the possession of the nephew of the widow, James W. Binford. then living at Paris, Illinois. In 1890, Mr. Binford removed with his daughters to Washington. D. C. Two years later, Mrs. Amy R. Seavey, of Fort Wayne, while in Washington, learned of the relic and visited the Binfords. This resulted in the loan of the bed to the local Sons of the American Revolution for exhibition purposes during the centennial celebration in Fort Wayne, in 1895. Again, in 1902, through the efforts of the members of the Mary Penrose Wayne chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the daughters of the late James W. Binford loaned the relic, with the understanding that It should remain on exhibition in Fort Wayne until such time as a proper place could be made for it in the National Museum In Washington. It is considered a permanent feature of the Fort Wayne historical exhibit.
“Anthony Wayne Slept Here” could first be proclaimed at the Confluence of the Three Rivers 225 years ago today when General Wayne and his Legion of the United States occupied Kekionga on September 17, 1794. The Legion arrived that day on orders from President George Washington to construct a permanent military fortification that would one day bear the name Fort Wayne. Wayne used this folding camp bed, also known as a field bed, during the Revolutionary War and later during his campaigns in the Northwest Territory from 1792–1796. Camp beds of this type were commonly used by military officers such as Anthony Wayne and George Washington in the eighteenth century. The bed supported a canvas mattress and a canopy hung on the upper frame to keep out mosquitoes and drafts. The removable canopy structure and hinges on the legs and bed frame made it quite portable. The bed collapses to 42” x 23” x 11,” which is about the size of a large suitcase, for easy transportation. When Wayne completed his work in the Northwest and was preparing to return home, he gave the bed to his friend and aid Ambrose Whitlock. It was borrowed from a descendant of Whitlock for the Fort Wayne Centennial celebration in October 1895, and again by the Mary Penrose Wayne Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for the “Relic Room” display during the dedication of the Allen County Courthouse on September 23, 1902. It remained in possession of the DAR and was subsequently donated to the Historical Society in 1933. From the Relic Room to the Society’s Swinney House and Old City Building Hall, General Anthony Wayne’s field bed has remained an important feature of our organization’s permanent exhibitions. More recently, the bed was used in 2013 as a model by Colonial Williamsburg to recreate a replica of George Washington’s own field bed for a display entitled “The First Oval Office” and was also one of three exceptionally significant artifacts loaned to the Indiana State Museum during its “Indiana in 200 Objects” temporary exhibit during the state bicentennial celebrations of 2016. #sociallyhistory
Two staff members from Colonial Williamsburg spent time in Fort Wayne recently, taking measurements of the Anthony Wayne...
Two staff members from Colonial Williamsburg spent time in Fort Wayne recently, taking measurements of the Anthony Wayne camp bed so they could re-create it for an exhibit on George Washington. Here's some more of the story:
Washington’s tent was made in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1777, but we know that artificers and other tradesmen who worked for the army sewed plenty of tents in Williamsburg during the Revolution, so operating such a shop in the city fit well with the Foundation’s interpretive goals.
Today marks the final day for our Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent special exhibition! ⛺️ Thank you to everyone who visited to explore the exhibition, which brought to life the stories of individuals from all walks of life who saved Washington’s tent -- on permanent display at the Museum -- from being lost over the generations and who ultimately fashioned this relic into a symbol of the fragile American republic. Witness to Revolution: https://bit.ly/4136uCr
Today marks the final day for our Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent special exhibition!
Thank you to everyone who visited to explore the exhibition, which brought to life the stories of individuals from all walks of life who saved Washington’s tent -- on permanent display at the Museum -- from being lost over the generations and who ultimately fashioned this relic into a symbol of the fragile American republic.
What Does Washington's Tent Mean to You? | Witness to Revolution February 15, 2024 Museum of the American Revolution on YouTube.
Since 2017, over one million people have seen George Washington’s headquarters tent here at the Museum of the American Revolution. Viewers find the tent to be emotional, thought-provoking, and inspirational. We asked a range of people, from educators to descendants to caretakers, what does the Washington's tent mean to you?
This video is featured in our newest special exhibition, Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent, that brings to life the stories of individuals from all walks of life who saved George Washington’s tent and fashioned this relic into a symbol of the fragile American republic. Learn more: Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington's Tent
