Valley Forge

Chapter XIII

All Uncommon word definitions are at the bottom

Saturday, February 7th - Thursday, February 12, 1778

No, I did not tell them who stole my boots. Yes, that was a mistake, for it leads to evil. But no, I would not go back and change that if I could.

My friends woke to find me sitting in front of the fire trying to warm my toes and dry my stockings. I explained my lack of boots but gave few details of the attack. Claimed I'd been knocked senseless at the start of it. I had hoped they'd be too tired or hungry or cold to pay much heed to my misfortune.  Instead, they clustered around me and weighed the matter carefully 

Benny sat on the log seat next to mine. "My stockings are dry," He said, tugging at his boot. "Put them on" They are much larger than my feet but it was genuine and comforting.

"You need to tell the Sargent" Mumbled Edwards 

"Don't be a half-wit" Benny said "Sargent Aaron doesn't give a bastard fig for her"

"Then find a lieutenant," Edwards said "Tell the new captain or report it to the brigade headquarters. The officers need to know this kind of thievery is afoot" He paused and cleared his throat "Beg Pardon. Ali, for saying afoot"

"Ha," I put my left foot on my right knee and rubbed the bottom of it. "There's no point in telling anyone. The officers know we're desperate for Boots blankets-"

"And everything else" Aaron Barry interrupted I glared him in his dumbfounded eyes

"Their time is best spent finding supplies for all of us" I continued "Not chasing after thieves they'll never find." 

Benny picked his teeth with a splinter of wood "I'll mention that they need to mark you 'Present but unfit for duty' at roll call." 

"So she can sleep all day whilst we work in the cold?" Aarons face scrunched up in disgust "That's not fair" 

"Clearly" I hissed venom at him "I agree" and continued on "We have Four pairs of boots and 5 pairs of feet, We should take the turn being barefooted. On your day you get to stay in the hut"

"We should report as unfit for duty every day until spring" Muttered Aaron "All of us"

"That is unfunctional" I retorted "Do you actually want to win!" My voice rose with every word

The loudest shout came from the meekest of all of us: Benny. He stepped up to Aaron and stuck his finger in his chest "Go on! Take your poxy bone down to the redcoats. You're just the sort they deserve. You are an idler and a traitor! Aaron Barry, you don't deserve your position!"

Everyone started shouting then, Accusing, A'cussing, and venting their spleens with fury. The winds outside blew fiercely, but could not match the storm of discontent in our hut. Benny poked Aarons chest one more time. Aaron swatted away the lad's hand. We all tensed, expecting Aaron to throw a punch, but he stood still, swallowing over and over his fist shaking by his side

Finally, Aaron gives a mighty sniff. To my astonishment, he blinked back tears. "Next time you call me a traitor, you shall regret it, runt." He said, "If the rest of you mangy lot can withstand this encampment, I cant too!"

I was filled with rage by the statement 'Runt'

Eben pulled a louse from his stocking and pitched it into the fire. "That what passes for an apology from the Barry side of your family" 

The blizzard ambushed all conversation after that.

For the first two days of the storm, we received no rations, but we had to continue building the abatis and other fortifications. I wore Benny boots the first day and Ebens on the second. both gave me blisters that popped n bled

Towards the end of the second day, snow fell faster than any of us had ever seen and we were sent back to our huts early. Messengers sent to the Congress in York rode only a few miles before turning back, afraid they would die of this bitter and blistering cold. Wagons could not pass through the thick snow. The ice-choked the river and stopped all boats pausing the racing world.

The third day began with a heavy knock on the door. "No roll call today!" Shouted Aaron "No work details. Stay in your hut."

We ate firecake for every meal that day and the next and we were grateful for it. On the fifth day and the sixth, we had only water flavored with bark bone chips and a piece of leather.

We later heard that a fellow in General McLane's brigade grew so hungry in that storm, he stole a tallow candle from an officers hut and ate it. Never heard what happen after they took him to the hospital tent. There were whispers that some companies had cooked the meat of the dead horse, but no one ever admitted it.

There were also whispers of petitions being written by common soldiers like us begging their officers, General Washington, and most of all, the Congress to ease our suffering. We talked about writing too. But we had no paper to write upon

(A/N): I'm considering writing a contuation of this, Idk when I'm going to wrap this book up Ik how I'm going to I'm already starting on the final chapter. But idk when that chapter is going to be but I got an Idea

Word count: 918

*Heed;  Pay attention or take note of'

*Half-wit; A stupid or foolish person

*FireCake; A mixture of hot water and flour