Valley Forge is a camp built in the winter in Pennsylvania and has very low food, supplies, poor clothing and on have huts. In Valley Forge, a lot of people got sick and died or got sick and survived. There were a lot of diseases at Valley Forge. Some people gave up on Valley Forge but some didn’t and they became more trained soldiers.
Valley Forge, Leave it There were no beds just straw on the mud floor. Cold was one problem; smoke was another. I would leave Valley Forge during the winter due to several reasons. Document A states, “Death estimates due to illnesses during encampment December-June: 1,800-2,500.” This shows that many people died during the Winter at Valley Forge.
Soldiers that are living at Valley forge are tempted to pack up their things and leave because of the deaths and illnesses spreading through the “camp”. George Washington is the leader and he is urging people to stay and fight, having men say motivational speeches to the people. I would stay and fight at Valley Forge. The deaths and illnesses were never over 50% and the people who got sick only half of them died, I’d rather die for my freedom than die without a cause. Only about 6,887 illness records were recorded out of 20,000 people.
I did not re-enlist because of brutal conditions, sickness, and very little food. I could not re-enlist because those three factors were essential to surviving a harsh winter during a very hard war. “ The devil is in it,” ( Waldo 151). Valley Forge was a brutal, sick, and starving winter camp. Some soldiers told me at camp that George Washington did not care for his soldiers.
Therefore, I choose to stay at Valley Forge, for there is a chance for me to not die of sickness because of the medical care, there is also patriotism, and people are willing to fight for our freedom. The documents A and C prove that only 14% died of sickness. there were about 12,000 of us to start with, and only about 1,800- 2500 died from December to June. Therefore, that leaves just about 9,500 of us left. However, with all the people that abandoned the Continental Army leaves us with just about 8,000 of us.
Valley Forge was a winter camp for Washington’s soldiers. During this time many died and got sick, but they also trained and got stronger as an army. Even though the colonists had a rough time at Valley Forge, I would have stayed. First off, in the engraving by William Henry Powell, Washington presented his soldiers to the Congressional Committee. Washington is telling the Committee about how he trained the colonists while at Valley Forge.
Third, the cold weather has caused me to freeze and the smoky air has messed up my senses. According to Document C, the air inside the huts is very smoky, but cannot be let outside because of the lack of opening and the cold air. This means that soldiers are constantly breathing in smoky air, which is not good for their health. The cold weather itself also causes a threat because without the proper clothing the freezing temperatures can cause sickness.
Others survived to learn how to be better soldiers and become heroes. In my opinion I would leave Valley Forge if I was in that time period. One reason is that many researchers estimated grand deaths and illnesses.(Doc A) The total estimates of deaths made by the researchers was estimated to be about 2,898 to 3,989 deaths in a short period of time. By February 1778 there were about 8,000 deaths and illnesses together.
In the winter, Washington took his troops to Valley Forge, which was 18 miles from Philadelphia. At this time, Valley Forge was a difficult place to live for the Patriots. It was a struggle but if I were a Patriot in Valley Forge fighting for Washington’s Army, I wouldn’t quit. I won’t quit for three big reasons; yes I know there were a lot of sick soldiers but not as much as dying soldiers, another thing is the conditions were horrible, but there were many brave soldiers who stuck with it, and stayed with Washington, lastly I do not want to be a “summer soldier” because freedom is valuable so it is worth fighting for.
Valley Forge was a camp in the late 1700th century during the Revolutionary War. It is often recalled that soldiers at the camp endured cruel and harsh living conditions that took the lives of many. Although the living conditions were rough, it is thought that a lot of stories about Valley Forge are exaggerated to an extent. Stories and books unraveled about how those poor soldiers were frost bitten and starving. So are the myths and tales true, did the soldiers at Valley Forge suffer in a horrid daily battle for survival?
In 1777, winter takes over and causes many illnesses, but many brave soldiers stay at Valley Forge and train for the war. Valley Forge is a winter camp that was used in the American Revolution, about 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Valley Forge was smaller than a village and had small log huts that were 16’ by 14’. I would stay at Valley Forge. There are three different reasons that I have for staying.
There comes a Soldier, his bare feet are seen through’ his worn out Shoes, his legs nearly naked from the tattered remains of an only pair of stockings..,” (1777). This is compelling because even though the doctor had an unfavorable involvement at Valley Forge he still continued to live there and wrote about how some soldiers stayed content and cheerful, he explained the bad condition in Valley Forge. He wrote about the sickness and how he vomits all the time. This shows the doctor's bravery to live in the poor condition of the camp. Even the soldiers who could have quit, still stayed because they had a cause to fight for.
Being in the snow isn’t always fun. It is January 1, 1778 and I have been serving my term at Valley Forge. I have been very miserable which has made my experience here dreadful. I’ve finished my time as a soldier but I have the option to re-enlist or come back home.
I’ve already risked my life for this country; now it is someone else’s turn. In conclusion, I am happy to be leaving Valley Forge in one month. I do not want to risk getting sick and dying. I am weary of the starvation, bitter cold, and lack of decent clothing.
Cold was one problem, smoke was another. Hopefully, the soldiers will have the courage to make it through this devastating time. Lack of food, living conditions, and horrid climate are some reasons of why a soldier would quit Valley Forge. One reason a soldier would quit Valley Forge is the lack of food.
