Valley Forge

Chapter I

‎|Thursday, ‎December ‎3, ‎1778|                        |Chapter I|                                             |Part I|

The shoes on my feet. The British shoes on my feet pinched my toes, It was better then no shoes as most, There toes were amputated in these conditions of this camp. Barely any food, Most nights mornings and afternoons we ate fire cake a mixture of Flour and Hot water we sat over the fire

Eat Fire Cake

Chop down the trees on the mountain Misery

Dig the floor of our cabin

Eat Fire Cake

Build up our walls

Create our Cabins

At sundown we eat

And sleep

Its repeated like this for weeks, The days were hell and the nights freeze over the cold air bit at my skin leaving marks of fever scars and frost bite. I kept silent, bit my tongue, never complained while the other eleven men cried as there feet froze over. My pants were torn to bits to where it was difficult to be able to call them pants.

Benny shouted crying I could barely understand him though his sobs 

"Its uncle, Hatchet"

 My heart sank to the thought, He only said words though his loud sobs and gasp;s for air 

"Hatchet, Blood. Ankle." 

I shook him by the arm and shook him yelling at him to get his self together and lead me to the incident. He ran I ran after him the blisters on my feet telling me to stop but I followed. There laid Sargent Belling-ham. Blood stained the delicate white snow and ice I shouted at Benny to get the nurse;s and doctors he nodded running faster then I've ever seen a man run. I placed my hand on his left ankle to stop the bleeding it didn't help. It only caused him more pain I could feel the bone it was splintering the litter came with shouting and crying and even more pain. As they carried him off Benny followed. All I could think though out these events 'Benjerman, Belling-Ham. Orphan. Like me. Uncle.'

I soon returned to the medics tent, where he laid by candle light they gave Benny so he could see his uncles face. Our Uncle. They gave him a bottle of rum as the doctor sharpened his saw.

I tried to pull Benny away from the Horrific Noises but he never left his side he fell asleep at his side. Uncle was giveny a blistering fever

They sounded the drums to honnor his death

The next day they brought in theives stealing rations from others Burns was one of them. I mummbled at the news. Three exact theives, Two get lashes and branding I didnt know there names. Burns was to be hung for treason

~-~-~-~-~

"The rope broke"

I took a few steps forward just to be barked at by the sargents

"That's the sign of gods mercy" Mumbled Benny "He should get lashes instead"

"The rope broke because of over use" I replied quietly in hopes he didn't hear me

I never believed in god let alone Christianity but I never said that Id be beat, Hung, Maybe even shot. And the possibility of a mark on the cheek or back showing i was a non-believer and I shall be shunned in the community no matter where i went

He bowed his head in mercy as they took a new rope and tightened it around his head,

"He's crying" Benny gasped

"Of-course hes crying hes about to die" Mumbled ash

There was a large crash as the wooden floor fell under the thief.

this time the rope didn't break

They still don't know that I am the daughter of Philip Belling ham. My uncles dead. And I'm not supposed to be here. . .