In december of 1777, Washington’s army arrived at valley Forge, a small camp 18 miles from Philadelphia, in need of shelter, food, and supplies. As the encampment continues, conditions only worsened as illness and death began to plague the men leading may soldiers to secede the army. This was a time of difficult challenges for the Continental army. If you were a soldier in Washington’s army would you have left? If I were a soldier at Valley Forge I would have left the army because of the illness and death, lack of support, and hardships that would be faced
At Valley Forge many soldiers separate from illness and even death due to the poor conditions and lack of supplies. According to document A, statistics of people who had illnesses or died at Valley Forge “3989” people had illnesses and “1800 to 2500” in total had parish. In document see a journal entry, from the account of the soldier, that there was “No Meat, No Meat!” With this evidence, the fear of becoming ill or even dying would persuade anyone that Valley Forge it’s not equipped with the proper resources to alleviate what is wrong with the soldiers. Lastly, if the illness spreading to myself then how would I be able to fight the British.
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In document B the engraving by William Powell, of George Washington is in the middle greeting the committee, on the left, to the soldiers of Valley Forge, on the right, and explaining the conditions there are forced to live under. Also, with the soldiers desperate plea to better conditions the strike fear into the eyes of the committee which leads to little change in brings need resources to support the army. This engraving depicts how the Congress Stood by and did little to help aid Washington’s
To make matters worse they had to deal with smallpox more dangerously than that is Lice because they rarely bathed or washed themselves or had laundered clothing. Another horrible things that Martin and his soldiers had to deal with was typhus a potential killer disease characterized by usually high fevers and red sports on the skin. Typhus took the lives of most of the Valley Forge Martin was under the brigade command of General James M. Varnum but his actual commander was Colonial John Durkee of the 4th Connecticut regiment, since Varnum was elsewhere. Washington’s continentals fairly well- supplied with food, but in the months preceding a major reason for so much privation at Valley Forge. Martin’s statement about Washington’s main army was misleading about them residing in the White Plains as they crossed the Hudson River and established winter quarters in Middlebrooks, New
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.
• Valley Forge was among the last of true hardships of humanity during the war
As I walked through the snow with aching, raw feet, the blood, making a trail behind me, I soon began to realize how Valley Forge and this whole war in it’s entirety was driving me to the point where I wanted to quit. It was the winter of 1777 and the American Army was forced to set up camp 18 miles outside of Philadelphia, we call it Valley Forge. The question that keeps popping up in my mind while I sit miserably in my hut is, am I going to re-enlist? I am not going to re-enlist for 3 reasons: death and illness, harsh conditions, and the lack of support and supplies. 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.
According to Document A, there were 12,000 soldier in valley forge during December 1777. By February 1778 there were only 8,000 soldiers. From December to June 1,800 to 2,500 soldiers died. In December there were 2,898 soldiers sick and by February there were 3,989 soldiers sick. About 50% of soldiers were sick in February. They need help caring for the sick and dying. If I stayed I could help the sick and wounded instead of leaving all the fallen soldiers behind.
Thanks to them, the soldiers were so much improved in health that by the beginning of September they were able to go home. BIBLIOGRAPHY *Internet:www.montauklife.com/teddy98.html *Internet:www.smplanet.com/imperialism/splendid.html *Internet: www.lcweb.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/1898/ roughriders.html *World Book Encyclopedia. Vol. R *Encarta 95
The picture in Document B shows George Washington introducing the Congress men to the soldiers and their living condition. This picture shows that George Washington really cares about his soldiers and that he wou...
The day to day life for the regular soldier was not glorious. Many times the regiments were low on supplies such as food and clothing. They lived in the elements. Medical conditions were grotesque because of the lack of advanced equipment and anesthesia. “Discipline was enforced with brutality” as if all the other conditions were not bad enough.
Soldiers faced diseases like measles, small pox, malaria, pneumonia, camp itch, mumps, typhoid and dysentery. However, diarrhea killed more soldiers than any other illness. There were many reasons that diseases were so common for the causes of death for soldiers. Reasons include the fact that there were poor physicals before entering the army, ignorance of medical information, lack of camp hygiene, insects that carried disease, lack of clothing and shoes, troops were crowded and in close quarters and inadequate food and water.
The Confederate soldiers had a tough time living together for years with barely any food, bathing as a rarity and carrying around 40 pounds a day wherever you went.
At Valley Forge, December 1777- June 1778. Washington and his Continental army would be staying here for 6 months and it was a very difficult place to live because it was very cold, a lot people are sick, and low on supplies but some are leaving and others are staying. Would you have quit Valley Forge? I would have stayed at Valley Forge because only 15% of people are dying, there is help on the way, and because of the inspirational words of Thomas Paine.
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.
General George Washington led his Continental Army through the catastrophic winter at Valley Forge during the Winter of 1777 and 1778, 18 miles outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Would you re-enlist in the Continental Army after February 1st, during a time in which your country and your cause need you most? I would not stay in the army for many reasons, a few of which are because many people were sick and died, the conditions were very poor, and we had no support throughout the winter.
The trail of bloody footsteps in the white glistening snow, the soldiers vibrancy dwindled to its minimum. Washington is struggling to keep his army together. Soldiers with a 9-month enlistment are leaving, without return while others simply abandoned the army. Even the congress is having trouble seeing Washington as a leader. After we traveled roughly 18 miles away from Howe’s army, the challenges we would soon meet were much closer. In fact, they were already present. The question is though, will I re-enlist at Valley Forge? The 3 reasons why I am not going to re-enlist are: the amount of ill soldiers and the staggering death count, harsh conditions, and the lack of supplies and support.