Would anyone really want to go back to a place where there is barely any food, the living conditions are horrible, the risk of getting sick so great, and a high probability of dying even without the war beginning? Would anyone give up the comfort of a warm bed, the warmth of a cozy fire, the shelter of a home, and plenty of delicious food? This is the question that many faced during the terrible winters of 1777 and 1778. This is the choice that many young men who were forced to become soldiers to fight for their country had to make in those days. The time was the Revolutionary War, when Americans were fighting the British for freedom. George Washington’s army was camped at Valley Forge, eighteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. …show more content…
Document A shows that many soldiers had already gotten sick and died because of the sickness. There must have been a severe lack of medicine to heal the soldiers. Some of the diseases might not even have cures yet. And many of the diseases in the camp were highly contagious. If I had re-enlisted, I am pretty sure that I would have gotten sick and died from sickness myself. I would not be a good soldier at all, since what good is a sick soldier in a battle? I would be doing more harm than good. I would just be another soldier who would pass a sickness on to another soldier. If I even made it through the sickness, I would be so weak that I would surely lose to a British …show more content…
It was either horrible conditions or nothing at all. Document C, the diary of Dr. Albigence Waldo, shows evidence of one of the soldier’s experience of all the bad conditions at Valley Forge. The diary described the hard lodging that did not give much protection from the cold, harsh weather (Waldo). Many soldiers died because of the lack of shelter. How are we supposed to win the war if we are not even given a place to sleep? I could not be a good soldier if I were sick because I did not have a good place to rest. I would have been too weak to fight the British soldiers, like many of the others at Valley
“Now begins to grow sickly from the continued fatigues”(Dr.Waldo,151). Because soldiers are sick, then who is going to fight against Britain. “Cold weather - fatigue - nasty cloaths-nasty cookery-”(Dr.Waldo,151). If this is the reason people are getting sick stay and fight Britain, so you can get better food and clothing.“These are the times that try men’s souls”(Paine,153). When things try you, you should want to pass the test. “Summer soldier and sunshine patriot”(Paine,153). If they want everything to be perfect and do not want to die then they shouldn’t have signed.I am healthy and my cause for enlisting has not changed.You can’t just leave when things get
Most of the reason people got sick is because of fatigue, poor food, hard lodging, nasty clothes, nasty cookery, cold weather and more (Document C). That is pretty accurate to how life is at Valley Forge at the point in history all because we didn’t have good medicine to heal it. If we had medicine then maybe I would like to help the soldiers but without medicine I probably wouldn’t be able to help
In November 1777, the Continental Army miraculously retreated and escaped the clutches of the British army and paced towards a winter camp-Valley Forge. Afterwards, George Washington, the Commander-in-Chief of the army, wrote to George Clinton, conveying the severity of their situation, "For some days past, there has been little less than a famine in camp. A part of the army has been a week without [food], and the rest for three or four days. Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery, that they have not been ere this excited by their sufferings, to a general mutiny or dispersion." The soldiers were without soap, consequently, horrible itching rashes arose. Brought from countless miles away, water was to be saved and drank sparingly, flour was soon to be gone and the soldiers could only imagine the juicy taste of meat. Poorly constructed huts
At Valley Forge there was little to no food which led many people to starve. In document B many American soldiers are on the ground starving, weak with no energy even to stand. Soldiers in the painting where all halted in group begging for food from the other soldiers and the Congressional Committee. The Continental Army at Valley Forge had very little food, definitely not enough to feed an entire army.
The cold, harsh winter in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania dejects the soldiers who continue to starve, freeze, and remain ill. The Continental Army doesn’t even know whether they will survive due to these bad conditions, and most of the soldiers start to lose their hope, strength, and willingness. It all started when George Washington was granted the general of the American army by the Continental Congress in 1775. His soldiers have been struggling day and night to fight for their independence and freedom. However, Washington’s troops were forced to retreat to Pennsylvania by the British army, and are now stuck in the winter camp at Valley Forge. It is cold, the air is smokey, and there is no supplies or goods left for the soldiers. Also, there is a disease spreading around the camp like a virus that continues to infect the Continental Army. How will they ever
There were a lot of sick people but not many people died. In document A It says that 3989 out of 8000 soldiers were sick in February 1778 that is a lot of sick people but the chances are so would get sick no matter where you are in February. That means about 50% Of the army were sick. Thats a lot of people!!! 1800 out of 12000 soldiers died at Valley Forge(Document A). That means there is only a 15% chance of dying so you have an 85% chance of survival so the odds are in your favor you have a better chance of living then dying so I would not quit.
Soldiers fight for their lives against the harsh cold in Valley Forge. Many of them catch sickness and pass away. (Doc A) To be precise, nearly 4,000 catch an illness and 1,800 to 2,500 die. Originally, there were 12,000 soldiers staying at Valley Forge. One of the doctors stationed there, Dr. Waldo, wrote a diary about the general state of the encampment. (Doc C)He wrote how he felt and how the soldiers must have felt. He states it is easy to get sick and most, if not all, soldiers are already ill. William Henry Powell painted George Washington presenting the Congressional Committee to soldiers at Valley Forge. (Doc B) The soldiers at Valley Forge are very sickly and have ripped up clothes. The Congressional Committee looks fine. If soldiers
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.
The wind howls in the treetops, and the biting cold sears into your feet. Nothing but bandages shields them from the Pennsylvanian winter, and the only source of comfort for your everlasting hunger is Firecake, made of flour and water. The American Colonies are now at war with the British to gain their independence, and Washington’s army is camped at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778. Provisions are scarce and the army is in poor conditions. The soldiers are malnourished, terribly sick, and are suffering from lack of protection from the elements. Due to the time spent at Valley Forge, the Continental Army became weaker from the hardships it faced.
In the winter of 1777 and 1778 George washington commanded thousands of soldiers that spent their winter at Valley forge and I am one of them Many stayed for 2 years but many left at 9 months. If you were a soldier at valley Forge would you have quit? because of These three reasons I am not re enlisting, sickness, risk and conditions In Valley Forge the Huts were 16 by 14 feet and very cramped for 12 men to fit with all of their belongings. Winter was rough with the cold air in the sky and because of this many soldiers froze.
Imagine the year is 1777, and you are a soldier in the continental army. You are serving time at Valley Forge. The conditions of the camp where you live are horrible. There is very little food and disease. Your family is at home and you have an aging mother that needs assistance. Would you abandon your duty as a soldier and return home to help? “Victory seemed a long way off ; in fact for many it seemed unlikely.” Would such a long shot at victory and survival change your mind and send you home? I would not have stayed at Valley Forge because the death rate was high, there was a lack of basic provisions and the living conditions of the camp were in shambles.
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
My first reason for not re-enlisting is that there are miserable conditions. I overheard General Washington talking to a doctor, and he estimated that about half of the few thousand soldiers here are sick, and a quarter are dead (Busch 147)! Approximately one
“These are the times that try men's souls” wrote Thomas Paine on Valley Forge in his book “American Crisis”. Valley Forge is the camp that George Washington and the Continental Army stayed at during the winter of 1777. Valley Forge is located 18 miles away from Philadelphia. The conditions that the soldiers had to face through the tough winter is the worst they have ever experienced. If I was a soldier at Valley Forge I would choose to reenlist.