Valley Forge Essay - 902 Words

Valley Forge: Quit or Stay When a person is in a stressful situation on instinct they have two options, fight or flight. In war the same is true. War is not always bayonets and bullets, it’s the decisions you make during times of hardship. A soldier has to make the decision whether to keep fighting for what they believe in no matter what the stakes or to flee. In December of 1777, George Washington and his troops arrived at Valley Forge. Since the summer of 1775, all has gone well for the Continental Army. More recently Washington was presumably unable to stop General Howe and his British soldiers from claiming the national capital of Philadelphia. With Howe and his army of approximately 18,000 comfortably quartered in Philadelphia,†¦show more content†¦I am no longer fighting for myself, but for my nation and for my fallen comrades whose death must not be in vain. Another reason I must re-enlist is the fact that my government deserves my loyalty. The Committee of C ongress has stayed with us through much of the winter after arriving at Valley Forge a few weeks ago and has given us hope (Document B). That hope has sparked within us a new flood of encouragement and will power. When George Washington was talking to the 5 members of Congress, he expressed the fact that we brave soldiers need help in our battle with Britain (Document B). Even though it’s cold, and we have threadbare clothing that are merely rags, and the Congress members are all dressed in their finest, our spirit is still strong (Document B). Even Dr. Waldo stated that while tending to our sick soldiers, he was surprised by the magnitude of cheerful willingness to proceed with fighting for our cause (Document C). Dr. Waldo expected us to be down on our luck for having to withstand the poor food, fatigue, cold weather, crowded huts, and smoky air quality which was due to poor ventilation, but most soldiers were able to persevere through all of that hardship (Document C). The Committee of Congress makes me feel like someone is listening to our needs. The general supports us and the government cares about us, so I must support my government. Lastly, I am re-enlisting becauseShow MoreRelatedThe Drum Women At Valley Forge1841 Words   |  8 Pages The book Following the Drum Women at the Valley Forge Encampment gave a very good incite to not just what it was like for the men at Valley Forge, but what it was like for the women who were there. â€Å"In the winter of 1777-8 at Valley Forge there were about one woman of every forty-four men† (Loane 133). I think book stressed that these women were incredibly helpful in the effort to rebuild this army through the rough winter, no matter what their job were. 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Martha arrived inRead MoreValley Forge : Forging Men Into Soldiers1203 Words   |  5 PagesRunning head: VALLEY FORGE Valley Forge: Forging Men into Soldiers Jason Rollins Mountain View High School VALLEY FORGE Introduction In September of 1777, British Major General William Howe marched on Philadelphia with fifteen-thousand troops. General Washington and his untrained continental army attempted to cut them off but were outnumbered and outmaneuvered. After several more failed attempts to stop the British Army, Philadelphia was taken and Washington retreated. With winter