Valley Forge Research Paper

Words: 902
Pages: 4

“No!” I scream. I watch helplessly as my best friend slowly dies. He was dying from the awful disease smallpox. “Please, make sure that you escape from this terrible camp,” he whispers. Tears stream down my cheeks as he gradually stops breathing. I want to go home to my cozy house and family. I am here with 12,000 other soldiers that are in the Continental Army.(Busch 147) We are staying in a winter camp called Valley Forge that is 18 miles northeast of Philadelphia.(Background Essay 141) The question that all the men are debating, is whether we would rather possibly die but fight for our country, or leave and go home to our families. The first reason that I will not re-enlist most of the men are getting sick. Illnesses like dysentery and smallpox have been spreading through our camps. I overheard our commander saying that in December 1777, 2898 men became sick. Later in February 1778 the doctor and general George Washington were speaking in hushed tones and the doctor said …show more content…
I found a piece of paper laying in the snow which had the death counts on them. All of the death and sickness counts have been hidden from us. They have been hidden because George Washington is scared that we will see how many soldiers have gotten sick or died and leave the camp. I stared fearfully at the damp, yellow paper in my hands. If I read it, I might be tempted to secretly leave. The paper said that through December and the beginning of 1800 soldiers died.(Busch 147) All of us that are alive are in a 3/20 chance of dying too. I also overheard that smallpox kills 40% of those who are infected with it.( Jane Ruth) If we don’t get more food and clothes soon, we will find our selves with the rest of the fallen men. The Congress has not helped us until the beginning of 1778. They showed up in nice, warm clothes and horses. (Powell 149)We are the ones who are fighting, and we are freezing in the snow with rags