Student+20+8th

Student 20 period 8 Tessa Whiteside

Dear Marylin, I don't know where to start. It all happened so fast. One day I'm sitting at home with you and the kids, the next I'm sleeping in mud up to my knees. With little protection, the whole army ,which isn't very big compared to the redcoats, sleeps outside in the rain and snow. Rarely we get a dry night. With the winter coming it gets colder and colder with no blankets or mats to lay on. Not even my uniform offers good protection. It is full of holes and rips everywhere. The color dulled and stains of mud cling to the bottom and back. I wish we could just skip winter and head into spring. Food is beginning to disappear. Our little part of the army of 150 men devoured what little food we had. Most men go on a short hunting trip for some rabbit for a meal now. I hope we can restock soon. Our muskets are always wet from rain or snow. Gun powder is low from hunting and we have a barrel left. Musket balls are disappearing as well. We persuade each other to try and salvage balls from hunting if it's still in the animal. If we had more weapons instead of just our muskets and hunting knives, we could possibly win our first battle. A shotgun with a one of those spears on the end would do us good. I pray we will scarcely see battle, just hear it from a distance. Most of the men in our squad are under age and only have hunting training with guns. In fact all the men here have never been to a real battle, just have relatives who have bragged about it. Our force could use some real help. A crash course of war battles 101 would really help. Over all my experience in the line of duty has been tough. Living conditions are poor and most men are getting sick from the cold. We have been walking for about two months I guess it to be. I miss you all and wonder if we will ever reach the rest of the army in New York. The only thing we have to go on for is our rights against England and our families depending on us. God help the kin when we whip the redcoats butts. He'll be surprised I'm sure. Miss you all dearly, Fredrick Grual, your loving husband and father