Valley Forge Dbq Essay

Another reason I must re-enlist is the fact that my government deserves my loyalty. The Committee of Congress has stayed with us through much of the winter after arriving at Valley Forge a few weeks ago and has given us hope (Document B). That hope has sparked within us a new flood of encouragement and will power. When George Washington was talking to the 5 members of Congress, he expressed the fact that we brave soldiers need help in our battle with Britain (Document B). Even though it’s cold, and we have threadbare clothing that are merely rags, and the Congress members are all dressed in their finest, our spirit is still strong (Document B). Even Dr. Waldo stated that while tending to our sick soldiers, he was surprised by the magnitude of cheerful willingness to proceed with fighting for our cause (Document C). Dr. Waldo expected us to be down on our luck for having to withstand the poor food, fatigue, cold weather, crowded huts, and smoky air quality which was due to poor ventilation, but most soldiers were able to persevere through all of that hardship (Document C). The Committee of Congress makes me feel like someone is listening to our needs. The general supports us and the government cares about us, so I must support my government.

One of the reasons I wouldn't quit Valley Forge is because 50% of the people were sick but only 15% died. In document A it says “3989 (about 4000) out of 8000 were sick or unable to report for duty.” By February 1st, about 50% of soldiers were sick. But sickness is common around this time. For example, in our classroom about half of our students were sick. (Doc A) “1800 out of 12000 died”. 1800 out of 12000 soldiers may sound like a lot but it is actually only 15%. That's only 15% of all the soldiers dying. That's pretty good for being the “UnderDogs” in a war. This still gives you an 85% chance of living. So I would stay.

In Document C a surgeon wrote a diary entry about how it was like to be in Valley Forge . He said how the smoke was unbearable, how many men were groaning for food from the poor conditions of the camp. From this document it proves that our houses were and buildings were filled with uninhabitable amounts of smoke, how our stomachs were churning with hunger, how we were angry, causing many of us to just want to go

To start off, I would have left Valley Forge because the conditions were miserable. In Document C, Doctor Albigence Waldo says, “Heartily wish myself at home. My Skin and eyes are almost spoil’d with continual smoke.” When analyzing the painting in Document B, I noticed that the houses in the background are very small and seem to be unable to support the twelve soldiers they are supposed to house. The housing at Valley Forge was not equipped to support these soldiers. The weather was too cold for the little insulation in the houses, and there was no ventilation for the smoke from the fireplaces. These conditions are unfit for the soldier, and this would’ve made me leave Valley Forge.

This page contains two excerpts from the diary of a doctor at Valley Forge named Dr. Albigence Waldo. He was a surgeon from Connecticut and helped out at Valley Forge along with other surgeons to care for the sick soldiers. In the first diary entry from December 14, 1777 he recalls all the horrible things that he hears the soldier cry out. “ I am sick - discontented - and out of humour. Poor food - hard lodging - Cold Weather - fatigue - Nasty Cloaths - nasty Cookery - Vomit half my time - smoak’d out my senses - the Devil’s in’t - I can’t Endure it - Why are we sent here to starve and Freeze…”. The fact that the doctor, that has seen nasty, horrible things in his career, is saying these things about the soldiers is appalling. Think about it, he is a surgeon and operates on people's bodies. He has seen gut wrenching sights but he still describes Valley Forge as a horrible place. He explains more on his thoughts about the winter of 1777 in his diary entry for December 21, 1777. “ Heartily wish myself at home, my Skin and eyes are almost spoil’d with continual smoke.”. He wishes that he was not at Valley Forge but at home because of the wretched living conditions. As for me I would want to leave also. I wouldn't want to live in a place that is so nasty and filled with disease that I don't know if I'll make it out

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

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.

“Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement,…” says Brennan Manning, is what most soldiers felt at Valley Forge. The year was 1777, eighteen miles out of Philadelphia. George Washington’s army, known as the Americans, were keeping an eye on the British, for any attack. There is war in Valley Forge, and illness all over the camp. Since I have already served my nine months, I want to stay homeland. I have decided to not re-enlist because for three reasons which are: lack of supplies, weather conditions, and illness/death.

About half of the people at Valley Forge are sick. The strong, non-sick people need to stay and help the sick people. If I leave, where will the sick people get there help? By staying, I may also encourage others to stay and help the cause. Most people cannot do anything themselves. They are without clothes, food and have minimal shelter. If I stay, I can contribute the little I have to help others.(Doc B,C) This reason is causing me to re-enlist because it shows how little they have and why I need to

Sickness is a problem because i have a family to get back to and if i get sick i do not want to die and leave them stranded without someone to provide the with food and shelter.”surprisingly healthy becomes very sick”(waldo)151. This quote shows that even if you think you will stay healthy There is a big chance you will get sick at Valley forge.” From Dec. to June 1800 to 2500 people died at valley forge” (Waldo)147. This shows people are dying off from sickness. This reason is causing me to not re enlist because I don't want to get sick and possibly die or suffer through the sickness that has been going around at valley forge. Sickness is making me very uneasy with all of the people around me I try to stay healthy by keeping clean but I don't know if it is working. Every morning I wonder I can make it any longer. The amount of people becoming sick keeps going

Soldiers walk through the snow, nearly barefoot, leaving bloody footprints behind. This is a picture of the camp at Valley Forge. It was the week before Christmas, 1777, and George Washington’s soldiers were miserable. The bleak winter provided many problems for the soldiers. Outside, it was bitterly cold, but inside the huts that served as shelter, poor ventilation systems led to smoke nearly choking people. In this situation, would you have quit the army, left and no longer participated in the fight for freedom, or would you have stuck it out? I have decided to not re-enlist for two reasons which are the severe lack of resources, and the miserable conditions and spirits of the soldiers.

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.

The first reason i would not re-enlist is because how much sickness there was, about 50% of men were sick and dying. 3989 out of 8,000 men were sick. (Doc A) Disease spread really easing in our little huts. 12 men per 12 by 16 hut, it's jammed packed with disease. Smallpox and Dysentery spread through the

In document A, a graph titled, “Death Estimates Due to Illness During Encampment”, reported that form December 1777 to June 1778, that about 2,500 soldiers died at Valley Forge. This stands out among other reasons, because the chance of survival in that camp was not a high chance. Also in document C, Dr. Waldo also quote, “Why are we sent here to starve and freeze.” This quote is from the mind of a soldier who has began to feel concern for his life, and knows his life could very well be taken. With the high chance of death, I certainly would have quit at Valley

The third reason I will not re-enlist is because there is poor medication and treatment. I see my fellow soldiers with no socks or shoes while they are out fighting the British. This reason is causing me to not re-enlist because I don’t want to get sick because I have no shoes or socks. I also wouldn’t like to die because they can’t give me good medication and treatment. If I get sick I would like to have medicine that works so I can get better faster.