Everywhere I go, I see dead soldiers littered all over the ground like blocks of ice. As a soldier in the Continental army, General George Washington has led us to set up a winter camp at Valley Forge, eighteen miles northwest of Philadelphia, where the British army had set up camp. I have made a decision that answers the question that haunts me: Will I quit or will I re - enlist? I have decided I will quit next month, when my nine month enlistment is over. To quit in this situation is to go home after serving as a soldier in Valley Forge and the vast number of deaths and illnesses. Despite the words of Thomas Paine in “ The American Crisis ”, I will quit after my nine month enlistment. To many soldiers, the words of Thomas Paine are
Valley Forge December year of 1777 Washington and his army arrived at Valley Forge. Valley Forge was used for a winter camp for Washington and his army. Valley Forge was a cold place to live, not a lot of food, and not a lot of clothes, bad housing all these things are bad but soldiers stay with their army. Valley Forge would you have quit me I would not quit because There were a lot of people sick but not a lot of dying, Washington is getting help, and I’m not a summer soldier freedom is worth fighting for.
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.
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.
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”.
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
Victory does not come cheap. The soldiers who joined Washington in Valley Forge in December of 1777 learned that very quickly. While we camp here for the winter, we endure very harsh conditions. Many soldiers leave once their terms come to an end, and some even desert before then. Though some decide to stick it out and reenlist. The question is: which group will I join once my term is up? My response is that I will stay and fight for my country. There are three main reasons that I have come to this conclusion; The army is in need of people, I do not want to spread sickness to my family, and we are fighting for our freedom.
Thomas Paine’s, American crisis, was such an inspirational essay to the soldiers and other undecided patriots. Paine reveals that, “The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” In this quote Paine was referring to soldiers alike to myself and the group of the soldiers who quit. I believe that I am no summer soldier. I am a winter soldier and should continue to fight even considering the
Though trouble and doubt we will prevail. This happened in the winter between 1777-1778. Valley Forge is a place about eighteen miles northwest of Philadelphia. A lot of soldiers are leaving when we need them to fight. Victory seemed a long way off; in fact for many, it seemed unlikely. Even though that has happened I have decided to not re-enlist for three reasons which are: conditions, health, and results of war.
I am one of those people who would quit Valley Forge. Valley Forge is a winter camp that was developed in the year 1777 to prepare Washington’s army for war. The 18,000 soldiers would have to train for 7 months in the cold weather with limited supplies. I would leave Valley Forge, because from 18,000 healthy soldiers, soon became 7,000 soldiers getting ill, and 2,500 end up dying (Document A).
“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.
Would you fight for independence in the harsh conditions or stay home and hope for independence. During December 1777 George Washington led an army called the Continental Army of 12,000 men to take base at Valley Forge, PA which was 18 miles Northwest of Philadelphia. The question that I have to answer is; Valley Forge: Would you have quit?. This basically means that if you had to make a choice to not re-enlist or stay, which one would you choose. I am not re-enlisting or quitting valley forge because of the shortage of food, the terrible illness and dreadful accommodations.
There is no food, I am cold, and have little humor, I want to go home. This is only some of the horrible things happening. It is 1777 and George Washington has several 1,000 troops settled at Valley Forge. We are here to fight for are freedom from the british. It is winter here and us men are not doing well. The real question is: Will I Quit? I have served my time.Things have been so bad, I am deciding to quit and not re-enlist. The 3 reasons I want to leave are so many are sick, awful living conditions, and I don’t want to die.
Valley Forge is a winter camp for soldiers. It was about 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia that had the not so clean items. If I had a choice to quit or stay at Valley Forge I would choose to quit. Showing the amount of estimates of illness and deaths is one of the main reasons why I would quit. During February 1778 the estimated amount of soldiers is 8,000. The estimated amount of illness during the encampment was 3,989 which is about 50% of the people get sick. (Doc A). Also, 1,800- 2,500 is the estimated number of people who die due to illness. (Doc A). The diary of Dr. Waldo wrote about the conditions of the troop and huts. Many reasons why soldiers are dying because of the harsh conditions such as sickness, poor food, cold weather, fatigue,
From the winter of 1777 to 1778 Valley Forge was in very harsh weather conditions. During this time we took command with George Washington and after a while war started. Some interesting facts are that in 1773, 310 street lights were installed. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, and in 1782 the writing of the Constitution was in progress. I have decided not to re-enlist for these three reasons which are, sickness, conditions and clothing, and congress/ leadership.
My nine month term has ended for serving in the war and I have the option to re-enlist or not to re-enlist. Furthermore, after putting some thought into it, I have decided to re-enlist because more people will suffer if I leave. “Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but ‘to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,’ and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth (Paine 153).” I’m fighting for my country's freedom, if I leave George Washington it’s less likely we’ll win, and Britain will have forever control over us and they will tax and makes us slaves if we do not cooperate they could even put us in jail . “Congress came to help because of the bad conditions (Powell 149).” Many of us have no shoes and tatter’d clothes if I leave more people will have these conditions even with congress help. “ The summer