Why I Want To Reenlist Essay

Reenlist

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” is what Thomas Paine said to encourage us all to stay. Why not fight ‘till death for freedom from Britain in my eyes. I’m a Revolutionary War Patriot soldier at Camp Forge in Valley Forge and it’s December 23,1777 and General Washington has asked of us to consider reenlisting on March 1st he asked us if we want to reenlist for the freedom of America. Do I want to really quit? I have decided to reenlist for three reasons which are that General Washington needs me, General Washington is working on getting supplies from the Continental Congress, and because reenlisting would be to keep going for the better of America.

For the Continental Army, the first two years of the revolution have not gone so well. Ever since General Washington took command we had withdraw from Boston and retreated to New York City. We were unable to stop the British in October 1777 when General Howe’s army settled in Philadelphia. With Howe’s army of 18,000 soldiers in Philadelphia, Washington, General Washington decided to build a winter camp at Valley Forge 18 miles from Philadelphia with 16’ by 14’ huts containing 12 men and there are no beds. General Washington is now having trouble keeping the men together with their terms ending and men dying. I am one of the few men who’s lucky to still be alive which is why I’ve

decided to stay.
The first reason I will enlist is because the Continental Army needs me. Dr. Waldo has shown me the Estimates of Illness and Death at Valley Forge in between the time through December 1777 through February 1778. The illness estimates for December 23, 1777 is 2,898 men and the illness estimates during encampment in February 1, 1778 is 3,989 men. Death estimates December through June are 1,800 to 2,500 men. By December 1777 our total amount of soldiers will be 12,000. By February 1778 it will be roughly around 8,000 soldiers. These numbers scare me and like any other person I don’t want to die, but I’d rather die trying than not trying at all.(Doc A) Dr. Waldo has also shown me one of his fascinating journal entries. It is from December 14, 1777 talking about his health and living conditions which are by the way terrible. From the journal entry he says I’m sick, have poor food, hard lodging, that there is cold weather, nasty clothes, that he vomits half his time, and that he is smoked out his senses. He also says he sees soldiers with worn out shoes or no shoes and that they’re left here to starve or freeze at Valley Forge.(Doc C) These things should not be used to quit but to show just how much the Continental Army needs me. That reason is causing me to enlist.
The second reason I will enlist is because General Washington is working for supplies.

I’ve seen the General Washington talking to the Congressional Committee and then showing them the conditions at Valley Forge. I saw one man taking notes making me hopeful of getting supplies soon enough to last us through the winter. The Committee of five stayed several weeks in getting more food and clothing for the soldiers. This is a good reason to stay. This reason causes me to reenlist because I believe those supplies will help last us through the winter. Many men complain about lack of shoes but 80% of the men have shoes.(Doc

B)
The third reason I will enlist is because the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. Those are the words Thomas Paine published December 23,1776. Those words put me to sleep at night and make me dream of an independent country named America. “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.” ”British declares she has the right to tax us and bind us in all cases and if being bound in that manner is not slavery, then there is no such thing as slavery upon earth.” Me and Dr. Waldo have stayed loyal to the Continental Army as we’ve suffered through the hard winter. You’ve got to be willing to pay the price for freedom or else you wouldn’t have been here in the first place. So make it worth your while. (Doc D)
Again, I have decided to reenlist for three reasons which is that General Washington needs me and the Continental Army as a whole needs me, Washington is working on getting supplies, and because the harder the conflict the more glorious the triumph. The point is if we stay loyal to the Continental Army it will be worth it. We’ll be beloved American heroes. We’ll be free from the British and establish an amazing country named America. It ‘s important to know whether or not a soldier would abandon their country for his or her own selfish comforts. It matters where a person stands in times of discomfort. It’s important to know whether or not a friend of yours will walk out on you in times of danger.

Works Cited
Busch Doc A: The Numbers of Deaths and Illness Winter Quarters Liveright, New York, 1974

Powell Doc B: Washington at Valley Forge Committee of Congress at Valley Forge, National Archives, 1866

Waldo Doc C: Diary of Albigence Waldo, a Connecticut surgeon, 1777.

Thomas Paine Doc D: The Sunshine Soldier The American Crisis, December 23,1776.