Thomas Paine Talks About Fighting to the End

“Think about it. The winter at Valley Forge. He’s not sleeping on the ground. He’s not wet. And he’s got air above him. Is he really freezing” (Christian W. Overland)? How true is this quote? It’s a week before Christmas and the American soldiers aren’t doing so well, they have horrible living conditions and camps that oppose the British. The Americans are stationed at valley forge and opposing the British hasn’t been easy. The soldiers nine months is almost over and many are thinking about quitting and going home.

However reenlistment is the most honorable thing a soldier can do as it leaves the continental army with the support of congress, honor, and healthy men.

The foremost reason to stay is congress is trying to help and conditions in theory will be better than before. While they were living-in comparison-in luxury the congressional committee is now trying to help and get them better conditions to make up for all this time of hardship.

According to the caption at Document B, “…the committee of five congressmen stayed several weeks and was helpful in getting more food and clothing to the soldiers”(149). This reason alone shows us that their words that are cheaper than dirt are becoming as rich as golden as action by making promises come reality.

Subsequently, reenlistment will give you the honor you deserve from fighting for so long. Not the summer soldier vibe you will receive upon arrival back home. As stated by Thomas Paine in Document D, “…the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country”(153).

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These soldiers have to of had the willpower to keep going even when the battles uphill. Henceforth, going home now would leave the soldiers with nothing more than their own sense of defeat and everyone’s torrid judgment.

Finally, reenlistment leaves the continental army with the healthy men they so desperately need. Along with the numbers already so low just from the pure fact they are lesser force Document A states nearly 3,989 men were sick of February 1,1778. That’s nearly four thousand men and if American would have any chance at all, will power won’t be enough against the British. While they had had some victories on the way such as Trenton places like Valley Forge make battles for the Americans that the British don’t even have to fight. Therefore, even one person can make the difference between a new nation or a ruined one.

Heathermore, to stay at valley forge gives the continental army with the numbers, support, and merit they need. Those reason alone can and are the difference between winning and losing the war. The congress’s support will help them with supplies. The merit will help them march, and hopefully with the men to march. Consequently, these soldiers reenlistment is vital to war because without it there wouldn’t be a war much less a country.