Valley Forge stay or go
Lien Hoang
Grade 8
Dec. 2015
“Would You Have Quit?”
“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.”
(Thomas Paine) In history class, students were given an assignment to write an essay on whether
to stay or go at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. Staying would be a better choice for
me personally. I chose to stay at Valley Forge because why quit when you can help serve your
country honorably instead of leaving cowardly. Sources such as a painting, a diary, a list of
deaths and illnesses at camp, and essays were used support the claim of staying.
One source to convince why staying is the better option is from The American Crisis by
Thomas Paine. General Washington had essays from The American Crisis read aloud to his
soldiers hoping they would stay at Valley Forge. For example, a section in one of the essays
states “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the
harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Tyranny is not easy to face, but with the
comfort that the harder the problem is, the more honor and triumph. Paine used many words in
order to describe his strong emotions for independence. For instance, “What we obtain too
cheap, we esteem too lightly…”. Also, “...and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then
is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth.” These inspirational quotes were used to give
many soldiers who stayed courage. Even though there are hard times that come during the period
of Valley Forge, there were still many soldiers who showed their support by staying and fighting.
Another source provided was a list of estimates of illness and deaths at Valley Forge by
researchers of the University of Michigan. To prove why staying would be a better choice, this
source was made. For instance, there were a total of 12,000 soldiers during December 1777 and
8,000 by February 1778. Approximately 70 percent of these soldiers survived. About 3,000 to
4,000 soldiers were reported sick on December 23, 1777 and February 1, 1778. These numbers
are average but considering that most people get sick anyway during winter because of the cold.
Between December and June, the number of soldiers estimates due to illness during encampment
was 1,800 to 2,500. Illness was one of the main cause that lead to deaths, but seeing that more
people are alive than death, more than 50 percent, by the end of encampment. These statistics
shows camp at Valley Forge is not as bad as people make it out to be. The estimates show that
staying at Valley Forge would be better than leaving.
One may argue that leaving will be a smarter choice. Even though there are many
benefits to quitting such as no food and protective clothes, staying would have had better results.
A diary of Dr. Albigence Waldo said “Yet they still show a spirit of Alacrity (cheerful
willingness) and Contentment not to be expected from so young Troops.” This shows that these
young soldiers had options of quitting or running away from these critical conditions but decided
to stay instead. Dr. Albigence Waldo also mentioned that there were horrible and inedible foods,
cold weather with soldiers not having enough clothes or shoes to protect themselves with, and
great amount of fatigue and tiredness. These hard conditions were included as a part of camp yet
there were still soldiers who stayed and showed support by fighting for their country’s
independence. Another source is an engraving of a painting by William Henry Powell. This
painting shows angry soldiers with no shoes on and a dead horse. George Washington is
presenting the Congressional Committee to the soldiers. Many may interpret it as a bad thing and
see that staying at camp would not be a good idea. One may also see that the Congress is here to
help as much as possible to make the Campaign easier for these soldiers. They are very calm and
serious trying to think of ways to help them, for example better clothes and foods. Quitting
might’ve been tempting but staying would have been better in the long run.
In conclusion, I would’ve stayed at Valley Forge rather than leaving because if so, I can
be a part to helping our country gain its independence. Supporting this are sources such as a
diary to describe what camp was like, a list of deaths of soldiers, a painting showing the
Congressional Committee helping the soldiers, and inspiring quotes from Thomas Paine that
gave many soldiers courage. The Revolutionary War matters to today’s average American
because they are an important piece of our history showing how this country becoming what it is
now
Grade 8
Dec. 2015
“Would You Have Quit?”
“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.”
(Thomas Paine) In history class, students were given an assignment to write an essay on whether
to stay or go at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. Staying would be a better choice for
me personally. I chose to stay at Valley Forge because why quit when you can help serve your
country honorably instead of leaving cowardly. Sources such as a painting, a diary, a list of
deaths and illnesses at camp, and essays were used support the claim of staying.
One source to convince why staying is the better option is from The American Crisis by
Thomas Paine. General Washington had essays from The American Crisis read aloud to his
soldiers hoping they would stay at Valley Forge. For example, a section in one of the essays
states “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the
harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Tyranny is not easy to face, but with the
comfort that the harder the problem is, the more honor and triumph. Paine used many words in
order to describe his strong emotions for independence. For instance, “What we obtain too
cheap, we esteem too lightly…”. Also, “...and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then
is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth.” These inspirational quotes were used to give
many soldiers who stayed courage. Even though there are hard times that come during the period
of Valley Forge, there were still many soldiers who showed their support by staying and fighting.
Another source provided was a list of estimates of illness and deaths at Valley Forge by
researchers of the University of Michigan. To prove why staying would be a better choice, this
source was made. For instance, there were a total of 12,000 soldiers during December 1777 and
8,000 by February 1778. Approximately 70 percent of these soldiers survived. About 3,000 to
4,000 soldiers were reported sick on December 23, 1777 and February 1, 1778. These numbers
are average but considering that most people get sick anyway during winter because of the cold.
Between December and June, the number of soldiers estimates due to illness during encampment
was 1,800 to 2,500. Illness was one of the main cause that lead to deaths, but seeing that more
people are alive than death, more than 50 percent, by the end of encampment. These statistics
shows camp at Valley Forge is not as bad as people make it out to be. The estimates show that
staying at Valley Forge would be better than leaving.
One may argue that leaving will be a smarter choice. Even though there are many
benefits to quitting such as no food and protective clothes, staying would have had better results.
A diary of Dr. Albigence Waldo said “Yet they still show a spirit of Alacrity (cheerful
willingness) and Contentment not to be expected from so young Troops.” This shows that these
young soldiers had options of quitting or running away from these critical conditions but decided
to stay instead. Dr. Albigence Waldo also mentioned that there were horrible and inedible foods,
cold weather with soldiers not having enough clothes or shoes to protect themselves with, and
great amount of fatigue and tiredness. These hard conditions were included as a part of camp yet
there were still soldiers who stayed and showed support by fighting for their country’s
independence. Another source is an engraving of a painting by William Henry Powell. This
painting shows angry soldiers with no shoes on and a dead horse. George Washington is
presenting the Congressional Committee to the soldiers. Many may interpret it as a bad thing and
see that staying at camp would not be a good idea. One may also see that the Congress is here to
help as much as possible to make the Campaign easier for these soldiers. They are very calm and
serious trying to think of ways to help them, for example better clothes and foods. Quitting
might’ve been tempting but staying would have been better in the long run.
In conclusion, I would’ve stayed at Valley Forge rather than leaving because if so, I can
be a part to helping our country gain its independence. Supporting this are sources such as a
diary to describe what camp was like, a list of deaths of soldiers, a painting showing the
Congressional Committee helping the soldiers, and inspiring quotes from Thomas Paine that
gave many soldiers courage. The Revolutionary War matters to today’s average American
because they are an important piece of our history showing how this country becoming what it is
now
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