The Unknown Soldiers

    Many men died in their huts, and were so quickly buried that adequate records were generally not made of their deaths. A lot of men were buried at Valley Forge that no one really knew about or were accounted for. In our modern times, we couldn't imagine even one soldier not being accounted for after a battle, during the Revolutionary war there were hundreds. These men died for America and for us to be free.

     Health issues had a major impact during the Revolutionary War. A soldier had a two percent probability of dying in combat, but when admitted to a crowded army hospital, the likelihood of death increased to 25 percent. Another source reported that six out of every seven soldier's deaths were due to camp illnesses. Doctors' knowledge of medical issues was very basic (and often flawed) compared to the knowledge of today. The war was long before the discovery of the causes and treatments of common ailments and even simple bacteria. The only operation that could be done to fix a mutilated limb was amputation, and often without painkillers or antiseptic. Though the concept of germs did not exist in the 18th century mind, they did know that diseases could be transferred from one person to another. Towns of civilians would often be subjected to these horrors unsuspectingly.
    
     Who were they? Who were the men that fought and died creating a new nation called America? Forging a nation will most likely be something none of us will ever experience. We are living with the fruitfulness of other's suffering, our liberty was not free. We must never forget how many men suffered agonizing deaths for a new nation that they never got to see. My hope is that one day we will get a chance to thank these men for what they did.

Sources- (Google Images)
http://www.tehistory.org/hqda/pdf/v41/Volume41_N1_025.pdf

http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/history/hospitals.htm

http://maass.nyu.edu/resources/r1/lesson_plans/health.html