Valley Forge Enlistment

In the freezing December of 1777, George Washington and twelve thousand men built huts in a very small area, Valley Forge. They would have to last there until winter ended, with barely any supplies, and just fire and smoke to keep them from freezing to death. Soldiers died from illness, and many deserted or quit after their contract was over. Many had this chance to quit, but if you were a soldier, would you continue fighting? I would re-enlist, because George Washington has called for help from Congress and will probably receive it, the British might win the war if all the soldiers quit, and the soldiers of the Continental Army shouldn’t be summer soldiers.

In the year of 1777 and 1778, the Continental Army stayed at Valley Forge (Washington’s Winter Camp). Valley Forge was only 18 miles from Philadelphia, and was a difficult place to live since it was during the winter. Some soldiers stayed at Valley Forge. While others were tired of staying at the camp and started to quit. If you were a soldier, would you have quit Washington’s Winter Camp? If I was a soldier, I would not quit because there was not a lot of dying people, Washington is getting help from the Committee, and valuable things like freedom is worth fighting for so I don’t want to be a “ summer soldier.”

The harsh winter has fallen upon Valley Forge with all 12,000 soldiers in the Continental army. They are all freezing or dying. They need more healthy men to win the army. Will you re-enlist and serve your country, or sit and watch them die fighting against Britain? Valley Forge was a small fort for the Continental Army 18 miles outside of Philadelphia from the winter of 1777 to 1778. The army is starving, suffering from smallpox, and freezing to death. If you were a soldier at Valley Forge, Would you have quit? To quit means to not reenlist back into the Continental Army. I have decided to re-enlist back to the army for three reasons which are, the army needs more healthy men, There are fires to keep us warm through the winter months, and I want to serve my country to show my loyalty to my country.

Many soldiers dead, and many dying, the Continental Army was weak and sorely losing. It was 1777; the troops were camped at Valley Forge. The British army was only 18 miles away. The question for many of us is, will I quit? By quit, we mean to not re-enlist.

Some congressmen did not trust Washington because they thought he did a grand retreat. Even though they thought so they helped the soldiers. Washington showed the congressmen to the soldiers at Valley Forge. After the congressmen saw how bad the conditions were, so they decided to help the soldiers. Congressmen helped by giving the soldiers food, clothes, and shoes. They also got help from other people like Quakers. The Quakers would give some food to them. The more help the soldiers got from other people the more they got stronger. My evidence for this is in Document B and in the first paper Valley Forge: Would you have quit? Background

Between the span of three months nearly a quarter of the soldiers of the Continental army died, but this time the enemy was not the British, instead it was the terrible winter at Valley Forge. General Washington wanted to keep an eye on the 18,000 British soldiers at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. So they set up the winter camp at Valley Forge around 18 miles from Philadelphia(BE), they hoped the nearby Quaker farms were going to supply food, but the Quakers were peaceful people and they refused to help the meager supply of the Continental Army. Soon the Soldiers at Valley Forge realized that this winter was going to be a string of deaths and suffering. If I were a soldier at Valley Forge with a nearing end of my enlistment, then I wouldn’t re-enlist because of disease, scanty supplies, and the bad condition of camp.

Battle is a struggle by itself, which I expected, but the brutal conditions and the yearning in my heart to see my family are only making the war worse. George Washington has lead us to Valley Forge. This is where we set up our winter camp. Most of the six and nine month men have decided not to reenlist. I have decided to join them. In case I am questioned I have three very clear reasons to not reenlist. These being, my chances of survival are slim to none, the whole army lacks clothes and food, and there is almost no protection from the elements.

It is time for war with bullets flying pass you. Will you continue and try your hardest to win your country’s freedom or not. It’s the year of 1777 at George Washington’s winter camp, Valley Forge. I chose to re-enlist because of three reasons, the first reason is healthy men, like me are needed. I also need to think about others and help win this war, unlike others who don’t think about others. The Congress Committee is also finally starting to listen to us soldiers, they are doing their best to provide us food, like meat and some clothing. These are the three main reasons why I have chosen to stay.

I am not going to stay at Valley Forge to fight because I do not like the conditions at camp. “ Poor food … cold water … nasty cookery … starve and freeze,” (Waldo 151). Assuming that Washington wanted us to stay and fight, then we need better circumstances. “ My skin and eyes are almost spoil’d with continual smoke,”

This is the worst winter ever. It is winter in Philadelphia, 1777 to 1778 and you are at Valley Forge in miserable brutal conditions. If you were at Valley Forge would you have re-enlisted or gone home? If I was at Valley Forge I would not have re-enlisted because of the harsh conditions and not being supported, lack of supplies, and death and illness.

Valley Forge Essay In the Winter of 1777, Washington created a winter camp 18 miles outside of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania called Valley Forge. This camp was for his army, the Continental Army, to stay over the Winter and it was a very difficult place to live in. If you were here as part of Washington's army, would you have quit on Washington and your fellow troops? I would not have quit on Washington because Washington is getting help, I'm not going to be a “Summer Soldier,” and there is still a “Spirit of Alacrity” throughout the camp in these difficult times.

You enlisted in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War nine months ago. Now it is December, nearing Christmas and you are at Valley Forge with the rest of the army. There is sickness, death and the conditions are miserable. Even though your time is up and you want to return home, your army and George Washington are counting on you to stay. Would you have returned home, or reenlisted?

Soldiers exist to fight, Men exist to love. Soldiers live in the cold, Men with whom they can protect. The first two years of the American Revolution had been cruddy for America. George Washington (The general of the Continental Army) has been having trouble keep soldiers from leaving. Had you been a soldier at Valley Forge, would you have left and gone home? I would want to leave Valley Forge because I don’t want to risk my health, live in terror, and I would want to protect loved ones.

Things are terrible at Valley Forge for the past couple months. I don’t think I can stand it any longer! Right now it is winter in 1777. I have served my time as a soldier in Valley Forge, but now I have to decide if I will quit or not. In this case, quit means to not re-enlist. A lot of soldiers are considering not to re-enlist. I have decided not to re-enlist for three reasons which are, the bad conditions, half of the soldiers are sick, and very cold/snowing.

George Washington and his continental army were staying at a winter camp in Valley Forge in very bad conditions from December 1777 to June 1778. These “summer soldiers” are leaving, but some are staying loyal. If you had been at Valley Forge would you quit? I would quit because only 15% of people are dying, there is help on the way and because of the inspirational words of Thomas Paine from the “American Crisis”.