Valley Forge Dbq

After arriving at Valley Forge Martin and his fellow soldiers were about to go through the famously long cold winter that awaited them. Martin wrote, “Our prospect was indeed dreary. In our miserable condition, to go into the wild woods and build us habitations to stay (not to live) in, in such a weak, starved and naked condition, was appalling in the highest degree” (Martin 89). He talks about lying there “two nights and one day, and had not a morsel of any thing to eat all the time” (Martin 90).

Valley Forge is where George Washington and his troops sent camp for the winter. During camp the colonists trained hard and gained the confidence they needed to win the war. Unfortunately the lack of food and spread of disease caused many deaths during this harsh winter. If I had the choice to leave or stay at Valley Forge I would leave. I would not want to risk my life or have to suffer through the cold and sickness. According to Estimates of Illness and Deaths at Valley Forge (Doc A), during the encampment about 2,500 soldiers died. That is about ⅓ of the colonists fighting in the war. About 49% of the soldiers get sick. “I am sick-discontented-and out of humour. Poor food - hard lodging - Cold Weather - fatigue - Nasty Clothes - nasty

Valley Forge problems, there problems were one third of their army was sick to where they couldn’t even report for roll call. Some lost toes because they didn’t have shoes for their feet so there feet got frost

“Every thought is a battle, every breath is a war and I don’t think we are winning anymore”. The depressing thoughts in which were made up of dying and not surviving were going through the minds of all the soldiers at Valley Forge as well as mine. The need of food, clothes, and weapons were needed. The wanting to win and return home to our families were mutual between all of us as well. Since the summer of 1775, George Washington has withdrawn from Boston and retreated to New York City after the American Revolution. Recently, he had been unable to stop the British when Howe marched his army into the capital of Philadelphia. Washington had a very hard time trying to keep us in his army. Some of them had signed on for one year or two, but others left or simply deserted us. The question is simple, whether or not you would stay and fight for your country or leave with honor and your dignity. My choice was obvious, staying to fight for my country. There are many reasons surrounding my choice, including the fact that the supplies were provided for us in order to live and fight through the terrible seasons, the encouragement we needed, and the conditions we faced.

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

Many, throughout the winter, had many hardships due to unfortunate disease and death of many of our men. In document A the data table shows that about 3989 of us grew sick in Valley Forge and about 1800 died due to illness. From this evidence it shows that only about 6000 of our men had gone through the winter without any illnesses but even those of us that didn't die of get sick still had to endure many other misfortunes.

“Valley Forge is 18 miles from Pennsylvania.’ (background essay,141). I was there from the summer of 1775 through January 1778 with about 2 months to go.They declared independence from Britain, then, they started a war

Sick soldiers, horrible food, tough living arrangements and insufficient clothing made it very easy for Soldiers could tell if they wanted if they wanted to leave Valley Forge. A soldier would want to quit Valley Forge because of the struggles and the harsh weather during the winter at Valley Forge. The weather also affects how the soldiers lives in their living arrangements. In the freezing weather 12 men would have to sleep in a hut, In a hut included one door and no windows which made the air circulation very bad and hard to work with. Also there was not any bed just a muddy floor. And the harsh weather most soldiers would get frostbite.When saying frostbite, most soldiers will get frostbite from walking in bare feet in the winter when there was snow. soldiers would walk in bare feet because they didn't want anyone tracking them or following them. It was also very easy for the soldiers to get frostbite because they would have to walk a complete 18 miles to Philadelphia.

A common soldier like me will wear tattered clothes; worn-out stocking with beat-up shoes (if we’re lucky) and maybe has some kind of thin jacket (Doc B) to shield me from the frigid weather at Valley Forge. Already, soldiers have lost their toes to the biting cold, and animals are dying from the arctic weather. The food here is very limited and also very poor, it seems like we were sent out here to starve and freeze (Doc C). Our ranks are sure to dwindle from starvation, hypothermia, or food poisoning if we don’t die from disease

Valley Forge was held from December 1777 to February 1778. Most people got sick and died but some lived. If you were in Washington’s army, would you continue at Valley Forge or give up and go home?Before this there was the French and Indian War. After the colonists helped the British win the war, the king taxed the colonists in anything he could get his hands on. After fighting battles and fighting for independence, the colonists end up at Valley Forge. After all this, what would you do? If was a soldier in Washington’s army, I would leave Valley Forge because many of the soldiers got sick and died, the conditions in and outside the huts were terrible, but if I was to stay I would because Britain taxed us and I would help continue fighting

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

“Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have war then let it begin here.” - John Parker. In winter 1777, George Washington and his troops went to Valley Forge about 18 miles from Philadelphia, where the British were staying. Valley Forge: would you leave? I will re-enlist despite the three reasons for quitting.

Winters in Pennsylvania can be unfavorable, but can easily turn deadly if you are not equipped with the necessary supplies. In the “Engraving of a painting by William Henry Powell, Committee of Congress at Valley Forge, National Archives, 1866” (Document B), Powell depicts Valley forge as a snowy forest with men dressed in ripped, thin, and tattered clothes. The Continental soldiers had very few supplies, as most had no more but one uniform. By this time, most of their garments were either ragged or

“Thump, thump, thump,” the sound of his heart beating erratically rang through his ears. He saw flashes of gunshots, dead companions, muddy grounds, and diseases spreading. Sweat started to trickle down his forehead and memories of battles swept through his mind as he became restless once more, unable to sleep. In the year of 1777, about 18,000 men stayed at Valley Forge during the ceaseless winter. Many men were waiting for independence from Britain as they trained and suffered in the dirty camps.

The Revolutionary War was an emotional and crucial battle for most men because they wanted to stop fighting due to conditions in the field. “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer solider and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and women.” These lines in “The Crisis No.1” mean that the men wanted to run away from the military so they don’t end up dying, but for those men that stay deserve a thanks. The conditions during the war were cold with snow, damp due to rain, and sometimes in between a dash of warmth. The winter was the worst part of the war because most men died from disease or they would freeze to death. Even though the men stayed in tents with a fire that wasn’t good enough because most didn’t have shoes to wear, they had lack of food, and medical attention. The reason the Revolutionary War happened was for the Americans to fight the British for American Independence. At the end of the war the British surrender and the Americans gain there Independence back. “Howe, it is probable, will make an attempt on this city; should he fail on this side the Delaware, he is ruined.” This line is talking about George Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware to attack British in the middle of the