United States History Student Edition

The Colonists at War As Britain’s American colonies grew, disagreements between the colonists and their home country developed. When the Americans sought independence from the British, the resulting war brought hardships and eventual glory to a new nation. 01 Introducing The American Revolution

PHOTOS: (t)PRISMA ARCHIVO/Alamy Stock Photo, (b)©Birgit Reitz-Hofmann/Getty Images. TEXT: (t) Waldo, Albigence. "Valley Forge, 1777-1778. Diary of Surgeon Albigence Waldo, of the Connecticut Line." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 21, no. 3 (1897): 299-323. (b)Cornwallis, Charles. Correspondence of Charles, First Marquis Cornwallis, Vol. 1, edited by Charles Ross. London: John Murray, 1859.

“ . I am Sick . . . Poor food—hard lodging—Cold Weather— fatigue—Nasty Cloaths—nasty Cookery—Vomit half my time . . . I can’t Endure it—Why are we sent here to starve and Freeze—What sweet Felicities have I left at home; A charming Wife—pretty Children—Good Beds—good food—good Cookery—all agreeable—all harmonious. Here all Confusion—smoke & Cold—hunger & filthyness . . .” — Albigence Waldo, Continental Army Surgeon of the Connecticut Line, December 14, 1777

» When the American colonies rebelled, they did not have a professional army. American soldiers often lacked adequate food, supplies, and shelter.

Rations for Patriot Soldiers Daily • 1 lb. beef (or 3/4 lb. pork or 1 lb. salt fish) • 1 lb. bread or flour • 1 quart beer or cider • small amount of molasses • milk or butter Weekly • 3 pints peas, beans, or vegetables • 1/2 pint rice • 1 pint Indian (corn) meal

“ I will not say much in praise of the militia, but the list of British officers and soldiers killed and wounded by them . . . proves . . . they are not wholly contemptible [without skill]. ”

— letter from British General Cornwallis speaking of the American volunteer soldiers, 1781

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