ipl-logo

Pros And Cons Of Re-Enlisting

539 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Thomas paine, common sense essay

Thomas Paine said in The American Crisis, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” (153). He was right. It is the winter of 1777-1778 in Valley Forge, 18 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and conditions are awful. We have little to no food, there are many diseases such as smallpox and dysentery, and frostbite is taking many limbs. Our doctors are ineffective and nearly blind from smoke. Many of my fellow soldiers are not re-enlisting when the end of their nine months comes. The question for those of us left is, are we going to be like those men and quit, or will we re-enlist to fight? My initial enlistment ends on March 1. I must decide whether I will re-enlist or not re-enlist. For me, it will not be that hard, because I have already decided. I will stay and help my comrades. I have a chance to move up in rank, they need every man, and General George Washington is staying. …show more content…

Thomas Paine said “he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” (153). If I survive through this, I will have much more respect and am more likely to get a higher position. Many men are leaving and dying(Background 141). In the Estimates of Illness and Deaths at Valley Forge, about 4,000 are sick, about 2,000 are dead, and about 2,000 left camp (Busch 147). If I am higher in rank I will get better housing, pay, and respect. Staying will improve my chances of getting promoted.
With only about 4,000 out of the original 12,000 able to fight, General Washington needs every man he can get (Busch 147). The force gets smaller every day due to sickness, death, expiration of enlistment, and deserting(Busch 147, Background 141). Washington is having trouble keeping his army intact. He is desperate (Background 141). If I quit, it will only decrease the numbers. It will also set a bad example for those who need to decide in the future. Staying will help the numbers stay strong and

Show More
Related
411 Words | 2 Pages

So would I have quit? I probably would have quit at Valley Forge. By December of 1777, there around 12,000 soldiers left in the Continental Army. By February of 1778, there were only 8,000 soldiers left.

Read More
556 Words | 3 Pages

The decision must be made. It would be so easy to leave and not have to deal with all the death. But it also would be hard because my freedom could rely on this decision and the Continental Army needs my help.

Read More
590 Words | 3 Pages

Why I Didn’t Stay At Valley Forge Ayush Zalawadia Winter of 1777, Valley Forge was a refuge for many soldiers like me. After retreating from Howe’s army, General Washington along with the half the Continental army had set up base for three months. The small camp with few necessities was 18 miles away from Pennsylvania. The camp was a snow covered area, with small wood lodges that were not ventilated, no meat, low food supply, tattered clothes and shoes, and injuries from walking. Consider being surrounded with all of theses atrocious circumstances, then ask yourself, would you stay at Valley Forge?

Read More
520 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1024 Words | 5 Pages

The praises that you receive shouldn’t be based on the mere fact that you join but maybe for those who actually wants to serve and protect. In contrast, he says “Make that choice without looking back to see the cheering faces of those who tell you your duty is to do what they are not doing for purposes you may not know nor share” (Gillman 680). None the less, the author let the reader know that these young men and women risk their own lives for purposes which may not be of any value to themselves or the country. As a result, those purposes doesn’t deserve the praises that are

Read More
545 Words | 3 Pages

In the winter of 1777 and 1778, George Washington and thousands of soldiers were in Valley Forge, a winter camp outside of Philadelphia. Where there was disease and terrible living conditions. I would stay because even though soldiers were sick, not a lot were dying, Washington was getting help from the congressional committee, and I would definitely not be a summer soldier, because freedom is actually worth fighting for. One of the reasons I would have stayed in Valley Forge is a lot may have been sick but only little died.

Read More
856 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
442 Words | 2 Pages

Valley Forge: Would I Stay or Would I Quit In the Revolutionary War, Washington and his army are going to stay at a place called Valley Forge. In December of seventeen-seventeenth in Pennsylvania it is a terrible for Washington 's army, they need to win the war. Should I quit or should I stay.

Read More
665 Words | 3 Pages

As much as I want to stay and help out the army, I’ve chosen to come back home. I have been homesick and don’t want to be so cold all the time. As good as it sounds to have freedom, I rather have a warm place to stay at and nicer clothes than I have now. Lots of sickness, too much death, and terrible conditions are the reasons why I am not going to re-enlist. One reason I am choosing to leave is that there is too much sickness.

Read More
543 Words | 3 Pages

I’ve been here for 8 months, and in 1 more month I can choose to re-enlist, or go home. My decision has already been made. Although George Washington is trying his best, his monotonous words will not be enough to keep me in this graveyard. I refuse to risk my health and in all likelihood die from the sickness and disease going around camp. I refuse to starve, be frigid, live in smolder-filled huts, and remain unclothed and unhealthy.

Read More
432 Words | 2 Pages

There is bound to be very hard fighting during the coming campaign and I think we 'll have our share of the hard knocks. I want to see some of the war business at any rate. I think it very probable that we will go to Nashville or Chattanooga before long. You need not look for me home very soon, furloughs are "played out" but I am very well contented. I am in fine health, I get stouter every day, the army seems to agree with me.

Read More
982 Words | 4 Pages

“The end of the draft also has dramatically improved commitment and morale in the armed forces. The difference is simple: recruits who want to serve and succeed are likely to perform better than draftees who want out, the sooner the better.” (Bandow). Individuals who voluntarily serve have officially occupied themselves with the thought of being able to step up to plate and defend their country are rationally the right people to serve in war. So when a person who does not have the courage or desire to serve is drafted they just become a danger to the rest of the group.

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
440 Words | 2 Pages

Imagine how hard it would be to miss the birth of one of your children. I appreciate all the things that they have done to help our country. Whether they fight in the army or work with the science or computers in the army. I can’t imagine the feeling of your family thinking and worrying about you every second of their lives. I would never have the guts to volunteer for the army.

Read More
294 Words | 2 Pages

I promised myself that I will hang on as long as I can muster and by that time we will already be living in a new home. But what happened today made me truly second guess my thought. I saw a women give birth, the selfish soldiers wouldn’t let her stop so she had give birth on a mule! A mule! Those arrogant, selfish, good-for-nothing soldiers wouldn’t even stop so she could welcome this baby into the world.

Read More

More about Pros And Cons Of Re-Enlisting

Related Topics

Open Document