Quitting Valley Forge would be the best decision to do at the time of the winter storm. The first reason to believe leaving would be smart is the fact that there was an extraordinary amount of illness and deaths.(Document A) Fifty percent of the soldiers staying at Valley Forge caught sickness and more than an estimate of twenty-five hundred soldiers died. The camp was not safe in any way besides protection from The Lobster Backs but still you would have to guard the camp in case of intruders. The second possibility to why you might leave the winter camp was the convincing journal entry made by Dr. Albigence Waldo.(Document C) He claimed the bad hygiene was a huge disappointment in the camp, soldiers rarely got to shower, change clothes
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.
Next, in Document C (Diary of Dr. Albigence) there was bad food and it was getting very cold causing soldiers to freeze. Also, they ran out of meat and everybody was throwing up, this was a vary disturbing time. Last, in Document B(Painting by William Henry Powell) the painting shows that the people staying in Valley Forge aren 't doing so well. Also, they look ready to fight because
Valley Forge Document Based Question After a detailed analysis of the documents, it is very clear that if I was a soldier in the continental army I would stay in the army for the following important reasons: first, the urgent need of healthy and strong soldiers to fight against the British (Document A and Document C), second, the visit of the Congressional committee and hope for support (Document B and External Source 1) and finally, the last reason I would stay in the army because of Paine’s great words and I wouldn’t want to be a summer soldier (Document D and External Source 2). During the American Revolution, it is very important to notice that in the town of Valley Forge the illness and death estimates increased. This resulted in a rapid decrease of the total amount of soldier in the town. According to the statistics in Document A, it is very clear that the total number of soldier enrolled in the Valley Forge camp decreased in a period of approximately three months.
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 18 miles away from Philadelphia, where George Washington took his troops during 1777 and 1778. The British army is comfortable in Philadelphia, while Valley Forge has harsh conditions with the cold weather and the lack of supplies. I will not reenlist when my 9-month enlistment is over. I will not reenlist for these reasons, diseases, lack supplies, and cold weather and smoky air.
It is stated in document A that only 3,989 were sick out of 8,000. That means only 50% of the soldiers were sick, also the weather would be the same everywhere else too and you would probably be sick at home or anywhere else, some soldiers did not really realize that when they left. Also it is stated in document A that 1,800 out of 12,000 died. Which is only about 15%, and in those odds I would have definitely stayed.
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.
Since it was so bad some of the soldiers were leaving, but others were staying loyal. Now, if I was a soldier at in Washington’s army and I had to ask myself the question: Would have I quit at Valley Forge? My answer is no, I wouldn’t have quit at Valley Forge because only 15% of all people there died, there is help on the way, and because of the inspirational words of Thomas Paine. The first reason I have for staying is that just 15% of all people at Valley Forge actually died, that is not enough to make to quit.
The Battle of Vicksburg and the War did not only affect the lives of men, but the women were majorly affected. Before the war women were only allowed to take care of the home, the husband, children, and work in mills and farms (Encyclopedia Britannica). Women were not given a tenth of the respect or rights that men received, but as the war progressed that started to change. During many battles including the Battle of Vicksburg women were doing the household jobs, taking care of children, and doing the work that their husbands, fathers, and/or brothers would be doing if they were not drafted. Some women even disguised as men and fought in the war or acted as spies.
Harsh Winter Motivation is the only key to succeed in obtaining one’s goals. In December 1777, George Washington mandated an inconsiderable number of soldiers who spent their winter in Valley Forge. Quitting is not an option if you are loyal to your homeland. Soldiers considered the option of excluding themselves from a torturous moment they were in, but some thought of the motivation behind of what war is meant for, so the three main reasons soldiers had in mind for remaining in the battle included the rates of all ill soldiers, the depiction of George Washington’s motivation, and their beliefs in the war cause. The reasons listed above had an impact on the soldiers staying to fight until the end of a tortuous winter.
I believe I would quit and not renew my enlistment in the Continental Army. My reasoning for this is that there were very bad conditions that the soldiers had to live in. One of the conditions that the soldiers in the Continental Army had to suffer through was their shelter situation. The soldiers were sleeping and living in log “huts”.
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.
Life for the Union Soldier was not only brutal on the battlefield, but the camp life for a Union soldier was just as cruel. With the lack of personal hygiene, unsavory and repugnant food, and the shortage of clothing made living, a very difficult thing to do. Growth in the number of people with diseases was also a contributing factor to the massive amounts of death within the camp and as well as the post-battle wounds that often left either a man with one less limb or put in a mental institution. A Union Soldier’s life during the Civil War was cruel and horrific during their stay at the camps.
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.
