The Jabez Rockwell Powderhorn

Jabez Rockwell joined the 8th Connecticut Regiment early in our County's fight for independence. One of the items carried by riflemen was a powderhorn, which carried that all important ingredient of war, black powder. Somewhere during the campaign, before entering the encampment at Valley Forge, Private Rockwell lost his powderhorn. During the encampment, as cattle were slaughtered for food, their horns were saved by the Quartermaster Department and eventually "lotteried"� off to the soldiery. Rockwell won a horn from one of the lotteries and inscribed the following:

Jabez Rockwell
Ridgebury, Conn. His Horn
Camp at Valley Forge, first used at
Monmouth, June 28, 1778
Last at Yorktown, 1781

This unique American powder horn, with verified provenience, is a true artifact of the historic Valley Forge Encampment of 1777-1778. The horn maintains an honored place within the historic collections of Valley Forge National Historical Park.