Student+2+1st

2

Dear Mary,

Here at Valley Forge, it is horribly cold, even so that some have died in their freezing blankets; that is if they even have one. The lucky ones get a hard cold blanket to sleep on at night, but for us healthier soldiers we usually have to sleep outside because most of our huts are not yet built, and our small tents did not shield us from this rechid cold. The snow here is stained blood red from the soldiers that are having to go without shoes; I asked one man who was shivering with no shoes how he could do it, and he replied, "Dear child, how I wish I could tell you, but I feel nothing! I lost the feeling in my feet about two days ago." I guess my face must have been one of horror, because he gave me a smile (at least thats what I think he was trying to do). Our rations are extremely small, and usually, if we even get anything that day, its stale bread, or we have to shoot a horse to get a few men's meals. Some even eat the leather off their clothing. Many get food poisoning, or they just end up getting sick from some raw meat. For clothing we wear what we can get our hands on, a few men even go without shirts, or with ripped, tattered pants. Thankfully I was able to find some a good shirt, and even some cotton pants with a few holes; we wouldn't want them to find out I was a woman, now would we dear sister? Since becoming a soldier, I have leaarned how to shoot a gun. We don't have many supplies, as you might have already guessed. I remember at one point, we only had enough musket balls for each soldier to fire nine shots. Some, like me, who had never used a gun before, would probably miss, and shoot one of our own with all nine shots, so I was very happy when the French finally decided to help. I am also glad to say that I have never had to use the cannons we have here, I would be worried about not refilling them fast enough. I am shocked I have sevived the battle at New York City, the Battle of Saratoga, and the Battle of Trenton, but compared to the conditions here at Valley Forge, seeing fellow soldiers fall dead next to me is nothing. Oh Mary, how I long to be home with you and mother, but I shall not run away like some other soldiers did. Now that I feel the bitter cold of the wind, the sharp needles of the freezing snow, the pain and fatige of going without food for days at a time, the sorrow brought by seeing brave men (and women) risking their lives to save all of you back home. As the great Nathan Hale said, "My only regret is that I have but only one life to give for my country."

From Your Loving Sister, Adalia