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Valley Forge Dbq Analysis

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The Reenlistment Dilemma
“I can’t endure it. Why are we sent here to stare and freeze?”(Waldo 151) The year is 1778. The Continental Army has set up a winter camp at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, about 18 miles from the British who are camped in Pennsylvania. General Washington is struggling to keep his army intact. Some of his men's reenlistment dates are quickly approaching and they are not returning. Others are simply deserting because conditions are terrible. My reenlistment date is March 1. It is mandatory that I must leave Valley Forge on that day. Some may say I am deserting my country, but I say that sometimes the best movement of action is walk away.
Even though I love my country, I can’t stand these conditions we are given. They cram …show more content…
(Doc A) I can’t gamble my life by staying with the chance of death very high. I need to leave before I join my fallen comrades.
I received a letter some time ago from my family. My family needs me. My mother who has been sick for some time is losing memory of people, places, and ideas. The time is soon coming where I’m going to say goodbye. I need to see her before I need to say my last farewells.My wife wants me to stay and continue serving. She thinks I haven’t served my time, but I know that in my 9 months as a soldier, I helped my cause more that I hurt it. I don’t want it to seem like I’m deserting my cause, but I know that there are issues here at this camp that I can’t overcome. People think that I am a deserter. They think
I am a summer soldier.(Paine 153)Truth be told, I am a summer soldier, but I served my nine months. My family needs me. The conditions are terrible enough that I ought to leave. I don’t want to die like the 2000 men that I saw die. (Busch 147) I don’t want to die. People may say that sounds cowardly, but it’s the truth. I strongly desire to see my family again. They mean everything to me. I am certain that we will win the war, but they will need to win it without

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