George Washington Diary
Dear Diary, February 16th, 1778 I’m writing to you from Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. Life here is horrible. There’s a lot shortages of everything from food to clothing to medicine. My men are sick from disease, hunger, and exposure. Right now, were camped in crude log cabins and have endured cold conditions while the Redcoats warmed themselves in colonial homes. Naked and starving as they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery. My men are suffering, but they are so loyal, and even though they are naked and hungry, they will do their best to fight for their country.
With me, I brought 11,000 men along with approximately 500 women and children. I brought them for several reasons. First, the lay of the land made Valley Forge a natural fortress. My camp sat high on a plateau at the top of a series of hills that protected it. Secondly, Valley Forge was far enough away from the rich farmland north of Philadelphia to prevent the army from becoming a burden on the local population. Lastly, Valley Forge was close enough to the occupied capital of Philadelphia for my army to keep an eye on the British and prevent any surprise attacks on settlements in the countryside. Well, let’s hope that life gets better soon.
-George W.
Dear Diary, June 21st, 1778 Today is a GREAT day! We won the war! I’ll start from the beginning. So, six months after we arrived in Valley Forge, on June 19, 1778, my army and I left Valley Forge. Nine days later, we were in Monmouth, New Jersey where we were victorious in battle against the British! Our army then marched to Yorktown where the British Major General Cornwallis and his troops surrendered to me and the Valley Forge survivors. This was the final battle of the war. Throughout this whole journey, I would pray for my troops, and this was my most famous prayer,
Tis Pride with these old men
To tell what they have seen.
Twill be Pride, when we are old,
To say
With me, I brought 11,000 men along with approximately 500 women and children. I brought them for several reasons. First, the lay of the land made Valley Forge a natural fortress. My camp sat high on a plateau at the top of a series of hills that protected it. Secondly, Valley Forge was far enough away from the rich farmland north of Philadelphia to prevent the army from becoming a burden on the local population. Lastly, Valley Forge was close enough to the occupied capital of Philadelphia for my army to keep an eye on the British and prevent any surprise attacks on settlements in the countryside. Well, let’s hope that life gets better soon.
-George W.
Dear Diary, June 21st, 1778 Today is a GREAT day! We won the war! I’ll start from the beginning. So, six months after we arrived in Valley Forge, on June 19, 1778, my army and I left Valley Forge. Nine days later, we were in Monmouth, New Jersey where we were victorious in battle against the British! Our army then marched to Yorktown where the British Major General Cornwallis and his troops surrendered to me and the Valley Forge survivors. This was the final battle of the war. Throughout this whole journey, I would pray for my troops, and this was my most famous prayer,
Tis Pride with these old men
To tell what they have seen.
Twill be Pride, when we are old,
To say