Dbq Essay: Staying At Valley Forge

The Battle of Valley Forge was the turning point of the Revolutionary War. Although no actual military battle was waged here, George Washington’s Continental Army faced some physical and mental battles of their own in this Pennsylvania town. It was here at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania where the Continental Army Soldiers of the Revolutionary War chose to go after being defeated in the Battle of Germantown in October 1777. During this winter, Washington’s troops came to this encampment to recuperate and train for future battles with the British. The winter of 1777-78 was terribly cold, bitter, and harsh. These conditions made things very difficult for General Washington’s military unit. The unit’s morale and physical strengths were severely tested throughout this challenging and historical time.

Through December 1777 to June 1778, George Washington led the Continental Army through winter camp. The Continental Army was an army of Patriot soldiers who fought against Britain. The Patriots hated Britain for their taxes and laws. So they went off to war. There was just one problem, they did not know how bad the conditions were going to be. 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.

As the American Revolution was in full swing, soldiers were being recruited and fighting for their freedom from the British. However, the fight for freedom took more than just fighting skills. The men fighting had to endure the harsh conditions and the little help and supplies they received. The American army went to Valley Forge in hopes of spying on the British army. However, the winter at Valley Forge was harsh with the cold seeping into their poorly built shelters and the little amount of supplies they had was not enough to keep everyone alive and healthy. Much of the time, soldiers were dying not from the honor of fighting, but by choosing to remain fighting after their enlistment and dying from illnesses. The soldiers at Valley Forge

I’m standing in the center of our camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The British are 20 miles away in Philadelphia. Men surround me, shivering, starving, and covered in their own vomit. I know I do not want to be a part of this madness. The winter of 1777-1778 has been rough enough already. 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. I refuse to die under these circumstances. I am going to leave Valley Forge in one

The Battle of Gettysburg was the first and last battle fought in the North. All the other battles were fought in the South so the Confederate’s people and towns were constantly in danger. Document A illustrates that the General Lee were tired of being on the defense and wanted to be on the offense for a change. Document A states that even though the Confederates tried their hardest they were pushed back onto the defensive and ultimately lost the war (273). Overall, Document A shows that The Battle of Gettysburg was the one battle in the entire war that was fought in the North, and this is significant because the Confederate army was always on the defensive and the southerners were continually in danger from the warfare happening around them.

Our men our dying off and I don’t know if we can bare these conditions much longer. It is the winter of 1777, and General Washington has quartered us at Valley Forge. Many of our men are deserting us or their re-enlistment point is arriving shortly. My decision point of March 1st is approaching quickly too and many of my fellow soldiers are asking me if I am going to re-enlist for another 9 months. I was a tough decision, but I have decided to reenlist. I want to re-enlist because the my country, General Washington and the Army need help, we have shelter, and I, like almost everyone else, want freedom from Britain.

People get sick and die at the camp and I appreciate my life so there is a good chance that I can be one of the people that die. At Valley Forge there was multiple reasons for the army's numbers dropping. For example, people who deserted, when men’s contracts come to an end, and death. According to Document A written by varying people, including Noel F. Busch and researchers at the William Clements Library of the University of Michigan I have reasonable estimated to how the Continental Army numbers plummeted. At the camp Valley Forge there was about 12,000 soldiers in December 1777 and then in February 1778 only 8,000 were left. That’s about a 4,000 soldier decrease. That's just the beginning on December 23, 1777 about 3,000 soldier were sick and in February 1, 1778 about 4,000 men were sick. Finally the deaths due to illness were horrific from December-June 1,800 to 2,500 died due to illness, according to Document

In December of 1777, American General George Washington and his men took shelter at Valley Forge for the winter. It was 18 miles northwest of the British camp in Philadelphia, and Washington thought it was a perfect spot. But that was not the case for the soldiers. The soldiers had it rough, and many did not want to enlist for the army after. Today, many people wonder if they would stay with George Washington, or not enlist and go home back to their families. Like many soldiers, I would have quit for many reasons. For example, I would quit because of the harsh weather conditions, the many diseases and sicknesses throughout the camp, and the poor supplies.

On “Feb. 1, 1778, 3989 people were sick so they are going to leave so more food for us.(Bush 154). If people leave, that mean that we get more food. We also have “huts” to live in.(background). We can be warm instead of freezing in the winter night. We also have chimneys and a fireplace in the huts.(background). We have even more warmth in the huts. We at least survived the winter, the hardest time of the year.(background). The winter is the harshest time of the year and we obviously survived through the winter. This is causing me to re-enlist because there are good conditions in the camp.There are some great conditions at the camp so that is why I am staying.

Valley Forge was the a winter camp for the continental army. This winter was one of the toughest winters the army faced. They lacked enough food and supplies that they need most. Washington had the toughest job: keeping the army together. It was difficult to get the supplies due to the snow storms. They had an ingenious idea; they would attack the British when they least expected it. Christmas night. They paddled across the river to Where the British were staying. They knew all the British would be drunk and they were right. They won the battle and know people thought they had a

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.

The final reason I would quit from Valley Forge because of the jealousy and overworking of the soldiers and animals. In the picture on Document B it shows a dead horse, a man going insane, and another man being helped from the ground after he fell over.. In Document B it says, “George Washington presenting Congressional Committee to soldiers at Valley Forge.” People were probably jealous of the congressman and many of them were overworked this caused them to get sick or die.

In 1780 I see myself as a free American living without British rule. My decision is to not re-enlist in the Continental Army. Over the fall of 1777, General Washington set up a camp for the winter called Valley Forge. I am leaving Valley Forge for three reasons which are: there is a lot of sickness, I want to go home, and most of all, I do not want to die. Just because I am not re-enlisting, it does not mean that I have lost all hope for the Continental Army. They still can win the war, even if all they are is just a group of barely trained farmers. The soldiers in Washington’s army are dedicated. They believe that they have a chance at winning.

Valley Forge was a camp that the Continental Army stayed at during the winter for about 6 to 7 months. They stayed there with little food and supplies, while disease was spreading. I would stay at Valley forge even through the hardships. These are the times that tests men souls. The soldiers who leave, shrink from crisis and stop serving their country (Doc D). People that leave now are weak and stop supporting their country. If i leave, then there would be one less soldier that is needed for the war. If we lost then the colonists and patriots would all go through hell. The congressional committee is trying to help us (Doc B). They are giving us supplies and funding us. There are people that are trying to help us. About half of

Bravery is the act of facing problems right away instead of trying to escape them for as long as possible. For example, the Lord did not completely abandon creation after Adam and Eve disobeyed Him. Instead, He dealt with the problem. At Valley Forge, George Washington confronted the problem set before him by going to the Lord with it. Being brave is not taking care of a situation independently, although that is a form of bravery. Instead, bravery is simply pressing on and working through a problem. There may be a need for help, but just acknowledging the problem and trying to take care of it is bravery. In most situations we will need help; during these times, we need to come to the Lord with our