“Why are we sent here to starve and Freeze…” (Diary of Dr. Albigence Waldo, December 14, 1777.) Dr. Waldo complained about the conditions at Valley Forge, he lived with the continental army with no money and little to no hope. In 1777, George Washington, the general of the Continental Army, decided to build a winter camp at Valley Forge. It was about 18 miles northwest of Philadelphia, quakers, people who believed in peace or pacifists, offered food for the soldiers. Washington wanted to keep an eye on the British army in philadelphia, but his army was not in its best shape. Many soldiers deserted or finished their enlistment, but Washington didn't lose his hope. The winter was cold, their huts were compact and smokey, and they had no money left. A soldier in the continental army should have left Valley Forge because of illness, living conditions, and lack of support by the congress. …show more content…
People were risking their lives, they were wasting all of their energy fighting to stay alive, instead of fighting for independence. There was 10% chance of getting sick, according to a chart from “Winter Quarters” by Noel F. Busch in 1974. About 50% of the soldiers were sick, and 1,800 to 2,500 estimated dead due to illness. The army had no money for medicine, people were dying like bugs, playing jeopardy with their life. The winter at Valley Forge was harsh, soldiers who choose to leave, saved their lives. Soldier who decided to stay, were fighting for independence that they would never live to
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
Valley Forge atop such a high plateau was near completely cut off from supply routes making food, clothing, and weaponry very scarce. Soldiers were treated to the worst conditions possible at Valley Forge. Many were near naked and many were starving to death. Also dieses such as Dysentery and Typhus ran rampant at Valley Forge. These conditions alone accounted for the lives of hundreds of American soldiers that winter.
I am a Colonist and I can’t stand it here anymore so I have decided I am going to leave Valley Forge. In Estimates of Illness and Deaths at Valley Forge (DocA). Not all of the soldiers were able to survive. A lot of the soldiers got very ill at Valley Forge because of the weather. In the Diary of Dr. Waldo (Doc C). The army starts to get sick. There is very poor food for us at Valley Forge. The American Crisis by Thomas Paine (Doc D). It is a very difficult time for us to be there. It gets very cold at Valley Forge that is why it is a difficult time to be there. There is illness, poor food, and it is a difficult time that is why I would leave.
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.
In 1777 Continental troops head toward Philadelphia to fight and take land from the British troops, but are stopped by a Tragic snow storm. Men stop and set up camp to get past the storm but sadly Men start dying from illness and weather. Some troops wanted to leave and other wanted to stay and fight. Here's is my three reasons why you should stay at valley forge. First and foremost about 12,000 men settled at valley forge and from December 1777 to February 1778 about 4,000 men died. These are tragic deaths but if you do the math you only have a ten percent of dyeing, and 90 percent of living. Also about only 50 percent of people get sick, so if you put both together you have a high chance of living. The second reason why to stay at valley
Valley Forge was a winter camp that was 18 miles northwest from Philadelphia that the American Continental Army spent the winter from 1777-78 during the American Revolutionary war. There were many soldiers at Valley Forge, Many of them died, but many of them also lived. An approximate amount of soldiers at Valley Forge was 12,000 in December 1777 and 8,000 in February 1778. While many soldiers were sick or heave died, the remaining soldiers that survived were being trained by General George Washington. Though staying at Valley forge may have not been the right idea. In the “Estimate of illness and deaths at Valley Forge (Document A)” it shows how many soldiers were sick and how many soldiers
The snow topples over your dry,scrawny skin. Your stomach is being buried alive from thin air. You need fuel and motivation, but you're not getting any. Your eyes slowly become more frail as the smoke scorches through them. Your teeth feel as if they are stuck in a pattern of repeatedly shivering. You try to be a loyal patriot, but are you going to choose yourself or your country? In the winter of 1777 and 1778, George Washington commanded several thousand patriot soldiers who spent the winter at Valley Forge, 18 miles outside of Philadelphia. It was not an easy time.If you had been a soldier in General Washington's army, would you have quit? I would not re-enlist for three reasons: I do not want to die, the living conditions were awful, and
Sick soldiers, horrible food, tough living arrangements and insufficient clothing made it very easy for Soldiers could tell if they wanted if they wanted to leave Valley Forge. A soldier would want to quit Valley Forge because of the struggles and the harsh weather during the winter at Valley Forge. The weather also affects how the soldiers lives in their living arrangements. In the freezing weather 12 men would have to sleep in a hut, In a hut included one door and no windows which made the air circulation very bad and hard to work with. Also there was not any bed just a muddy floor. And the harsh weather most soldiers would get frostbite.When saying frostbite, most soldiers will get frostbite from walking in bare feet in the winter when there was snow. soldiers would walk in bare feet because they didn't want anyone tracking them or following them. It was also very easy for the soldiers to get frostbite because they would have to walk a complete 18 miles to Philadelphia.
Dr. Waldo, a soldier at Valley Forge, says “They had poor food, hard lodging, nasty clothes, and nasty cookery” and he also said that he “Heartily wishes himself at home” ( Doc C). This would make me want to leave those are supplies that are necessary for you to survive in the winter. If I had to go without those supplies I would probably die, and I don't want to die at Valley Forge. If Dr. Waldo wishes himself at home I would too because the way he describes Valley Forge it was clearly terrible. To prove my point further rotten, nasty food can give you food poisoning, and being crammed together in the huts all the time can spread illness
To begin, the soldiers should have left Valley Forge because there were many soldiers who began dying of death and illnesses that spread across camp. Noel F. Busch states that, “by February 1, 1778, 3,989 out of 8,000 soldiers were sick”, which was approximately 50% of the total population (Busch, 1974). According to researchers, the low estimate of soldiers who were dying in that year (1778) was 1,800 out of 8,000 people, which was roughly 1 person dead for every 2 soldiers (10%). Finally, at the end
In addition to frostbite, winter illnesses also transpire within the army From December 1777 to February 1778, a third of the soldiers either left or died (Document A). Disease causes a portion of the deaths and the weather might be one reason why people deserts the army. Because soldiers are dress in tattered clothing (Document C), it is easier for them to become sick as result of skin exposure. This likely convinces many soldiers to leave the Continental Army in hopes of finding better living conditions. Unfortunately, quitting the army serves to devastate the Patriots; in other words, the British will outnumber Washington’s army. This does not even count those who are not able to report for duty, which is about ¼ of the total troops in Valley Forge during December but by February, the number increased to ½ (Document A).The likelihood of achieving independence diminished drastically and it will still continue. Furthermore, the freezing weather tests the troop’s endurance and in the end, some are losing their sanity. Dr. Waldo, a surgeon helping the Continental Army in Valley Forge, even claimed that the circumstance he faced is the work of the devil (Document C). He then starts to question why he is sent to the camp to freeze and wishes he was home (Document C). The weather is certainly disastrous, so a soldier is better to stay home comfortably then fighting a predetermined battle that is already a lost and risking their life to the bitter cold or to the
When Washington had his troops start building their shelter for the winter at Valley Forge it was already cold. In the Background Essay on page 53 it says “ It was the week before Christmas, 1777. The first job of the men was to build log “huts”.”. It goes on to describe what was in the huts. It was apparent that Valley Forge was not luxurious at all. In my opinion, when I think of the living conditions, the housing would be cold and I know that my body doesn't withstand
In document C, Dr. Albigence said ¨why are we sent here to starve and freeze...¨ That quote means that they were freezing over there at valley forge because of the cold. This is significant due to the fact that humans don't function in cold as well as in normal weather. But the soldiers still decided to stay.
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.
In the winter of 1777 and 1778 George washington commanded thousands of soldiers that spent their winter at Valley forge and I am one of them Many stayed for 2 years but many left at 9 months. If you were a soldier at valley Forge would you have quit? because of These three reasons I am not re enlisting, sickness, risk and conditions In Valley Forge the Huts were 16 by 14 feet and very cramped for 12 men to fit with all of their belongings. Winter was rough with the cold air in the sky and because of this many soldiers froze.