It was the winter of 1777 and 1778, about 18 miles outside of Philadelphia. Commander George Washington and his Continental Army set up a camp named Valley Forge. Nearly several thousand patriot soldiers were sent there to fight against the British. There were 18,000 comfortably quartered soldiers. Since there was no place for the many soldiers to stay, they made log “huts” There were no beds, just fragile straw on the cold, mud floor. They housed 12 men and had no windows. Cold was one problem, smoke was another. Since the “huts” had no windows, the smoke had nowhere to get out and made the soldiers hurt. There were many problems, and the first two years of the American Revolution had not gone well for the Continental Army. Washington was having problems keeping soldiers in the army. Even nine-month men decided to go home and not returning. Others simply deserted. Would you have quit Valley Forge? There are reasons to quit, like the poor conditions, but I would stay at Valley Forge because I am not a summer soldier or sunshine patriot and there is still hope. …show more content…
“...the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” (Document D) This would persuade me to stay because the possibility and the thought of winning my freedom back would be worth it when everything is over. “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” (Document D) I could be convinced to stay because the soldiers who quit when times are hard will make me want to finish the job and win my freedom back. I will be loved for finishing and working for my country's freedom and
In the winter of 1777 and 1778 George Washington and the Continental Army had a rough time at Valley Forge. Valley Forge was 18 miles outside of Philadelphia . Some of the soldiers left because all they did was work it was cold and they had bad clothing like worn out shoes and they were getting sick but not all left some stayed loyal and times got even harder but they were so devoted to stay and fight for their freedom. So I would not have quit because…..
Valley Forge, was the toughest obstacle the Continental Army had to face during the Revolutionary War. For about nine months in the cold winter, these soldiers stayed in this area for them to"... be close enough to Philadelphia to keep an eye on the British"(Background). By the end of the war, the colonists were victorious in gaining their independence. Regardless, I would abandon my position as a soldier at Valley Forge. My reasoning are due to the multiple hardship they endure such as living in a harsh environment, sickness that lead to death and lacked numerous resources.
Imagine, sick soldiers, small huts, vomit, smoke everywhere near you, people crying "No Meat! No meat!" the terror of seeing everyone suffer. During December of 1777, Washington decided to set a winter camp at Valley Forge for the next few months. They set up "huts" with cold hard straw to sleep on. March 1st is the end of my enlistment, and I would leave/ not re-enlist, because of the terrible conditions, the risk of dying, and if it was truly worth it or not.
"Dear Mom and Dad: The war that has taken my life, and many thousands of others before me, is immoral, unlawful, and an atrocity," (letter of anonymous soldier qtd. In Fussell 653).
One of these causes that make me want to quit is the amount of men we were losing due to the illnesses that spread around camp. In Document A, the table shows that in February there were 8000 total men and about half of those soldiers died. This evidence proves to show the numbers behind all the deaths we have had and how they got so sick to the point of death. If I had chosen to stay for 1 month longer until my enlistment is up, I would’ve been exposing myself to all the illnesses longer than I already have. The risk to stay is too great to even think about.
I walk into Valley Forge. Winter 1777-78. As I walk in, an overwhelming feeling of emotions comes over me. Sadness, anger, hope, unwillingness, and happiness. I walk in a little bit further and I am greeted with many huts. These huts have no windows and only one door. I decide to peek into one of them and see 12 men inside. The huts are hard to see in because smoke has filled them. From another direction there is many men talking. I walk towards the noise and am surprised to see men sitting around a campfire eating small amounts of food. The men are talking about various things. Some are talking about their family, how they are excited that their duty is almost over, and some of the strong willed patriots who are willing to fight for their country are talking about how they are going to stay longer than they were sent to. As I keep wandering around the camp I find myself at an area with many men. These men are different than the men at the campfire. These men were the unlucky soldiers who had gotten sick. There is a soldier who is crying over another soldiers still body. Again I hear talking but this time it’s about how they need help caring for the sick and the soldiers that want to leave shouldn’t leave so they can help the sick. I shake off what I just witnessed and made the tough decision of staying. I would stay because they would need my help,
One reason why I would re-enlist is because I want to set a good example for the younger troops as well as for the people back in the states. Document D stated “Yet they still show a spirit of Alacrity and Contentment not to be expected for so young troops.”. This sentence tells you that even through the hard times at this place, the young soldiers are still happy and are still willing to suffer through all of this and win the freedom that their country deserves; so why can’t we? If we quit now then slowly, the young soldiers will lose the determination they are having now. We are setting examples to all of the troops through everything that we do, so if all of us quit then they will quit as well because there will be no one here for them to look up to. George Washington is such a powerful and great leader so if I quit then I am not being a very good role model for the troops to follow.
The final reason I would have abandoned Valley Forge was because of the lack of food and poor living quality. When the soldier arrived at Valley Forge, they didn’t have a lot of resources because not a lot of people were supporting them. Therefore, they were all given very little food so they could ration it all out and were forced to live in small huts, according to Document C. I would have rather go home to my family and live in at least moderate comfort than have to fight and live extremely poorly. In conclusion, I would have abandoned Valley Forge because of all the spreading illnesses, Washington’s “discouraging” words at Valley Forge, and the lack of food and a nice living quality.
In December of 1777 George Washington made a winter camp in Valley Forge Pennsylvania. It was a very difficult place to live they had nast cookery no food or supplies. Would you have stayed in valley forge or would you have quit? I would not quit Valley Forge because a lot of people or sick but not a lot are dying, Washington is getting help, also I am not going to be a summer soldier because freedom is worth fighting for.
Imagine it’s the year of 1777 in cold Philadelphia at Valley Forge. It smells like fresh log from the huts. You see injured men and people starving for food. People crying from the pain and in the corner of your eye you see General Washington making Revolutionary War attack plans. We are here to fight for our freedom. The enlistment is over and you and the rest of the soldiers at Valley Forge have to decide whether or not you are going to quit. If I were you I would quit because of the lack of supplies, family issues, and illness/death.
Furthermore, the text also stated’’ Louise’s positive and patriotic spirit rings in these final words of her letter: If American soldiers can endure hardships, so can we!’’ This clearly shows the dedication and positive motivation she had towards enduring the pain and making the best of it. It makes it difficult for you to reach your goals in life. In the text, it stated ‘’The more you fantasize about your fabulous future, your happy life, your dream job, the loving people around you, and the huge amounts of money, the farther you get from making these dreams come true.’’
Also there was horrible food to start with and also lack of shelter so they we freezing in the cold. In the text it says “I am Sick - discontented - and out of humour. Poor food - hard lodging, Cold Weather - fatigue,Nasty Clothes,nasty Cookery,Vomit half my time,smoak'd out my senses,the Devil's in't,I can't Endure it.”. This can be used to argue against quitting because it shows a personal account of the rough life of the continental army. In conclusion, the men of the continental army had a right to not stay in the army even though they had a responsibility to protect their country.
It is ingrained in soldier’s minds that to die for ones country is a great and honourable sacrifice. However, in the poem Dulce et Decorum Est the speaker uses powerful words and images to portray that patriotic propaganda is an “old lie” (Owen 27). In the first stanza, the speaker explains the effects that war has on young soldiers: “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks/ Knock- Kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge” (Owen 1-2). Propaganda portrays soldiers as being young heroes, those who are strong, healthy and vigorous. However, based on the evidence expressed in the previous quotation soldiers are not all what propaganda
"The core of a soldier is moral discipline. It is intertwined with the discipline of physical and mental achievement. Total discipline overcomes adversity, and physical stamina draws on an inner strength that says drive on." - Former Sergeant Major of the Army William G. Bainbridge
Being loyal is one of the most important values of the Army.... ... middle of paper ... ... If each soldier takes the initiative to work just a little harder, we can accomplish the mission that much faster and to a better degree.