Valley Forge Letter

February 17, 1778

Dear John,

Today I was thinking about you and thought I would write. Life in Valley Forge has been tough. It has been damp and cold and I think I may be sick. I've been in some battles that I wish I was never in and I've seen some things I wish I have never seen. I am very glad that this is now over and I will be coming home to Maine. I can't wait to see you, Mom, and Dad. Living in a 16x14 foot hut with 11 other men is like torture. The huts that we live in are very damp, and usually very drafty. Although there is a stone fireplace in our hut the dirt floors don't help the cold out at all. The supplies that we were supposed to have couldn't get here until spring because of the terribly rutted roads. Also a diet on Fire cake and cold water for this long is barely keeping me alive. Fire cake is only a bit of flour and watter mix fried on the griddle. Our biggest killer of our troops is not the killing with muskets just the dying of illnesses, as we don't have the medical supplies we need. Many of the men have been going to the bathroom anywhere and everywhere so the smell was unbearable. Washington had made a rule that if the solders do not use the "proper necessary" they were to receive five lashes. So not only have I had tough living it is just very unhealthy living in the huts. I am glad you did not have to go through what I went through.

Remember when I was so happy to be one of Washington's men? I've been through allot with Washington from Brooklyn Heights to Valley Forge. I thought being with Washington was going to be better than it was. Washington is very unorganized and not a very good leader. We could tell that Quartermaster General Thomas Mufflin hated his job from the first day I got here. He never did what he was supposed to do which was military transporter. Washington didn't do anything about it either. Some of the people tried to replace Washington with General Horatio Gates but it never worked. When they tried to get rid of Washington I believe he came back quite strong. But Washington wasn't who I expected.

When I enlisted I thought I was doing something good for everyone, but no that I am here I don't know if I will ever re-enlist. The war was hard on my body and mind. When I get home I will be happy so see you all. I am never going to re-enlist ever again and I hope that you don't either.

Love Always,
Your Brother, Billy