1777 At Valley Forge

Valley Forge was the Continental Army’s winter camp. Valley Forge was located in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania by a creek. It wasn’t the best place to set up camp because they were unable to defend southern Pennsylvania at the time and it was also in striking distance of the British Army. The Continental Army wasn’t worried about the British surprise attack because Valley Forge was far enough away. The leaders encharged of Valley Forge where George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette.

Valley Forge was a winter camp full of sickness, death, and misery. There is no reason why anyone should’ve stayed. Estimate of Illness and Death (Document A) shows how Over a period of two months the total number of soldiers went from 12,000 to 8,000. Four thousand soldiers died in two months. Imagine how many people died during the whole camp! Also, 50% of soldiers were sick and were unable to train and fight. In the Diary of Dr. Waldo (Document C) he states, “Poor food-hard lodging-cold weather-fatigue-Nasty clothes-nasty Cookery-vomit half my time-smok'd out of my senses.” A man who participated in Valley Forge was miserable and sick which proves how bad this was. They had no food and freezing weather. The Committee of Congress Engraving

What were the conditions like for the soldiers at Vally Forge? Their conditions were not the best, which had some even suffering. Desertion from the Continental Army encamped at Vally Forge in the Winter of 1777 and 1778 was completly acceptable. The conditions the soldiers experienced were extreamly difficult from lack of supplies, many illnesses, and very poor living conditions.

“I am sick - discontented - and out of humor. Poor food - hard lodging - Cold Weather - fatigue - Nasty Cloaths - nasty Cookery - Vomit half my time - smoak’d out of my senses - the Devil’s in’t - I can’t Endure it - Why are we sent her to starve and freeze…” (Waldo, 1777) The American soldiers spending the winter at Valley Forge suffered in the bad conditions. During that winter, the disease “small pox” attacked a large percentage of the soldiers in Valley Forge, causing them to die. As a result, many soldiers left or fled from Valley Forge. Would you have quit? An American soldier at Valley Forge should not have quit. This is because they should fight for their independence,realize that they have a high chance at survival, and both Washington

During the winter of 1777-1778, the Continental Army (consisting of about 11,000 men), with General George Washington, resided at the headquarters of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The American soldiers suffered from a lack of resources and housing throughout these months. The army made huts for shelter from the cold season, but with the deprivation of blankets and food, more than 3,000 men passed away. On the other hand, the British army, with the help of the Loyalists, received a healthy diet, warm housing, and engaged in many social activities. Valley Forge was the most disheartening time in the Revolutionary War for the Patriots, but with the help of the French and a hopeful spirit, they emerged stronger than before.

In December of 1777 through June of 1778 in Valley Forge 18 miles west of Philadelphia is where Washington created a camp for his soldiers to stay during the winter. These times were really difficult. Would you have quit the continental army in Valley Forge? I would not have quit Valley Forge because conditions were terrible but there were still loyal soldiers who stayed with, I don’t want to be a sunshine patriot/ summer soldier, and Washington gets help.

During the winter of 1777, George Washington’s soldiers camp at Valley Forge, around 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Although some of the soldiers enlisted to stay in the army for one or two years, the most frequent enlistment was nine months. Some of these soldiers were leaving the army before their term was up. However, it was reasonable why the soldiers would have deserted the army. The soldiers should have left due to their poor conditions as they did not have proper clothing nor quality food and the spreading illness only made matters worst.

With tough conditions, soldiers at Valley Forge were struggling to survive. In October 1777, George Washington hadn’t been able to stop General Howe and his troops march their way into Philadelphia. Washington was having difficulties keeping his soldiers hopeful. Men who had been there for nine months were going home and not coming back. In fact, people were questioning Washington’s leadership, and some Philadelphians even welcomed the British. With Howe’s army of 1800 staying happily in Philadelphia, Washington decided to build the dreadful winter camp, Valley Forge. Housing at this winter camp was terrible; men were assigned huts that slept 12 other men and had no beds. It was freezing cold and smoke filled their homes. A soldier would have

The Winter at Valley Forge- George Washington thought he was doing the right thing when he picked a spot that could effectively be defended in the event of a british attack but in reality he picked a spot that his entire army was attacked… by the weather. The brutal winter at Valley Forge is a famous one because it tested the Continental Army so much. Many people died to disease. The remaining troop who weren’t dying were put into even more training by Baron von Steuben to keep them busy. At the end of the winter, the army left Valley Forge an even more experienced and strong

“There comes a soldier, his bare feet are seen thro’ his worn out shoes, his legs nearly naked from the tatter’d remains of an only pair of stockings…” (Dr. Albigence Waldo, 1777) Dr. Waldo was one of the thousands of soldiers barely scraping themselves through this mess. Sick soldiers, small huts, poor ventilation, and vomiting. These are only some of the poor conditions at the American Revolution winter camp known as Valley Forge. In the winter of 1777, soldiers were living under ruthless predicaments with a 10% probability of death. Smallpox was spreading fast and many would never see their family again. Washington’s position as a general was being doubted by members of congress, instead assuming that his leadership efforts will lead the Americans to retreat. A soldier in the Continental Congress should leave, because of the rapid increase of death and illness, living conditions in camp,

“For success, attitude is equally as important as ability.” (Walter Scott). Valley Forge was a fort for the patriots to stay as they fought in the revolutionary war. Britain sent many soldiers and the some of the colonist adapted scarlet fever. Those colonists did not know that their own soldiers would go and fight those British soldiers. In 1775, George Washington took control and made an army of patriots called the Continental Army. A year later the Declaration of Independence was written. This really gave the colonists something to fight for. Located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Valley Forge housed many sick soldiers. The conditions were poor and many colonist were miserable, but some still kept their positive attitudes. If I were

In the winter of 1777 and 1778, George Washington commanded several patriots to spend the winter at Valley Forge, and I was one of them. With the hard lodging, cold weather, and vague ventilation the living conditions were not easy. Valley Forge was a military camp 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia during the American Revolutionary War. (Doc A.) Starvation, disease, malnutrition, and exposure killed more than 2,500 American soldiers by February 1777. George Washington desired huts for his men with winter almost setting in. At Valley Forge I quit because of the extreme conditions of the lodging along with illness and death. I also knew that my family needed me back home.

Should the soldiers at Valley Forge have quit the Continental Army? Why wouldn’t they have done so? The conditions at the camp were horrid and despicable. Nearly half of the soldiers there were sick according to Winter Quarters by Noel Busch. On top of that, many of the soldiers’ enlistments were about to expire as well. Some soldiers even considered deserting, which was treason. Of course, who were they to blame? The conditions weren’t fit for any human.

In the Winter of 1777 and 1778, the soldiers of Valley Forge had gone through years of blood, sweat, and tears. Knowing what the tough soldiers had gone through, I would have not re-enlisted, and have left. The army may have had the support of George Washington and the spirit of Alacrity, but there are many horrible things that have occurred during that time in Valley Forge. The fighters’ have had plenty enough experience that they would need a break, and return home back to their families where there are no dangerous or extensive things going around getting people ill. I would have re-enlisted because of the poor clothing, weather conditions, and the sicknesses/diseases that were spreading throughout the camp.

In the winter of 1777 and 1778 Washington’s winter camp was in Valley Forge 18 miles from Philadelphia. The Continental Army is the official army of the 13 colonies who helped Washington. Would you have quit Washington’s winter camp at Valley Forge? No I would not quit Washington’s winter camp at Valley Forge because there are a lot of sick people but not a lot of dying, I don’t want to be a “summer soldier” because freedom is worth fighting for, and Washington is also getting help from the Committee of Congress.