Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-02-22
cattle. grain and straw At tho muske,'s

cattle. grain and straw At tho musket's
muxxlc. a.r. .t s-sHs ra
with reference to these uncomfort-
able quarters for the men, Il may bc
said that Washington shared them
with his men until all had been housed
In huts. Then only did hc tako up
headquarters with tho old Quaker
preacher near tho mouth Of Valley
creek. Around his headquarters were
stationed tho members Of his iife
guard.
AibIsenes Waido's Diary.
Somewhere In this chilled. starved.
hnlfnakcsl camp was n genius who
may have added mirth TO its chccricxs
gloom. His name was AlbiHcnco
Waldo. surgeon. and In addition to
his ofiicini duties he kept diary.
which. after n hundred years. Il
strangely interesting. This diary
came to light In 1861 In tho old Penn.
syivanin Magazine. and read through
from tho first entry on Nov. 10 Il In.
dicatcs. ms nothin. else could. tho
wearing effect Of the times and cir.
cumstanccS. On Dec. II tho hardships
OF Valley Forge have begun to tell on
this surgeon to the continental army.
He writes: .....
Il am prodiHious sick and cannot get
anything comfortable. What In the
name of providence can I do with n
ht OF sickncss In this place. whcro
nothing appears pleasant to tho sick.
cncd eye and nnuscating stomach
But I doubt not providence will md
wny for my relief. only cannot cat
beef II starvc: for my stomach posi-.
can ! help that!'
Next day he is worse. and In worse
mood he scribbics: a....
Dec. l2.-Sunsct. wc are ordered
TO march over the river. II SHOWS
I'm sick-cat nothing-no whisky-no
Observation-Disclosures"
Twelve days later he begins with
tribute to the endurance and pa.
tIcnce OF the soldlory. followed with
loud protcstings for himself and his
condition. and winds up his memo.
randa by taking II all back:
Dec. 2i.-Prisoncrs and dcscrtcrs
are continually coming In. The army.
who have been surprisingly healthy
hitherto. have now begun to grow
sickly from tho continued fatigues
they have suffered In this campaign
Yet they still show spirit and alacrity
and contcntmcnt not to be expected
from 30 young troops. Why are we
sent here to starvc and freeze7 What
sweet facilities have left ut home
charming wife. pretty children. good
beds. good food. good cooking-all
agreeabic-all harmonious. Here all
confusion-cold. smoke. hunger. and
filthiness. Here comes a bowl OF soup
full of burnt leaves and dirt. Away
with II, boys-I1l live like chameleon
upon air!
".Poh. poh.. cries Patience within
me; you talk like fool! Your be.
Ing sick covers your mind with n mel.
ancholic gloom. which makes every.
thing about you appear gloomy. See
the poor soldier when in health-with
what cheerfulness he meets his foes
and encounters every hardship. II
barefoot. he labors through the mud
and cold with song In his mouth.
extolling war and Washington
But hearken, Patience. moment
There comes a soldier. His bare feet
are seen through his worn-out shoes:
his legs nearly naked from the tat
tered remains Of an only pair Of stock.
ings-his shirt hanging In strings
his hair disheveled-his face meager
his whole appearance picturing a
person forsaken and discouraged. He
comes and cries with an air OF wretch.
edness: Il am sick-my feet lame-my
legs are sore--my clothes worn out
my constitution broken-l fall fast-I
shall soon be no more. = And all the
reward / shall get will be: Poor
Will is no more.'' r- -.-,- q.
-r Christmas day enters only nominal.
ly into Surgeon waldo's diary as a
date; he gives a few professional OBJ.
servations in his diary for that day:
dec. 25.r Christmas-we are still
In tents when we ought to be In huts.
The poor sick suffer much in tents In
this cold weather, But vel now treat