And here we have another journal entry! I've said before that this was based on a school project, where I had to write 5 journal entries, at 400 words each, but I've been editing and expanding the project so much while turning them into fanfiction, that it's going to end up having several more chapters than that. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy!

March 1, 1778

I'm not really sure where to start, a lot has happened since I last wrote here. I suppose it makes sense to get business out of the way first.

It hasn't been a week since Baron von Steuben arrived in camp, yet already he's begun to make changes. Although many of his changes make a degree of sense - such as relocating the kitchens and the latrines at opposite ends of camp – none of them have been of a military nature, so I am still uneasy. He was brought here to train us to fight the British, yet except for giving us a few simple, basic drills to run every day, all he's done is inspect the camp's paperwork.

I am forced to admit that I would be more comforted if von Steuben were able to speak English, instead of just German and French. Even being able to read or write in English would ease my mind some. Although it's just a rumor, the word around camp is that von Steuben's and Washington's aides have to work through the night just to translate all of von Steuben's paperwork from English to French, then from French to German, just so the baron will be able to read it. And of course, any changes or orders he issues about the paperwork, have to be translated back in the other direction. As I said, this is just a rumor, but it is a fact that you can see the lights burning in Washington's headquarters all night.

Although most of the camp – including my own men – have been charmed by the Baron, thankfully I was not alone in my unease. I met with my friend Ben, the other day, and it turns out that he's as uncertain about the Baron as I am. Although we belong to different militias, and he's an officer while I'm enlisted, we both joined around the same time. After running into each other several times, in different camps, we became friends, and I trust his opinion. Therefore, I was comforted to learn that many of my concerns were his as well.

In more personal news, Baron von Steuben's decision to relocate the kitchens has had some happy consequences. When she caught sight of the kitchen being moved, my mother volunteered to lend her considerable skill at cooking to help feed the hungry army, and she was welcomed with open arms! It has been ages since I've had one of her homecooked meals, and they are just as good as I remember! I was happy to learn that everyone else in camp enjoys her cooking as well. Every time she makes a new dish, I can always here my fellow soldiers loudly asking each other "What in the heck did I just eat!" Since so many people are interested in her recipes, I'm going to ask my mother to let me copy a few of them into my journal, so they can still be made after we move on from Valley Forge, and my family returns home.

Despite this wonderful news, it has had some… confusing results. Apparently, my mother's cooking seems to have earned me a new nickname around camp, though I'm not quite sure I understand the meaning behind it… "The Cast Iron Stomach."

My mother isn't the only one volunteering around camp however. My sister Kari, and my dear friend Sora have joined the ranks of the nurses, and spend their days assisting one of our army surgeon's, Doctor Joe Kido.

Although I try to steer clear of doctors as much as I can myself, I do try to make it a point to stop by and visit with Sora and Kari as often as I can. When I heard they were becoming nurses, I was admittedly a little hesitant. My sister was always a bit sickly growing up, and after seeing how… ladylike Sora appeared when she arrived, I was afraid that seeing how tough things were in the medical tents would be too much for them. I am happy to say though, that all of my fears were baseless. Kari practically floats around the beds, speaking kind words to all of the injured men, even as she treats them. Indeed, some of the men have even mistaken her for an angel. Interestingly, the only thing that seems to stop them from fully believing that she really is an angel, is meeting me. I'm not sure why my presence is so reality inducing, but I feel like it might have something to do with my mother's cooking. They always seem to whisper something along the lines of "The Cast Iron Stomach's sister… her food…" in a tone of disbelief, turn pale, and occasionally even faint. Although both Kari and I grew alarmed the first few times this happened, once we saw Dr. Kido have the same reaction without any consequences, we became used to it.

What pleased me even more than seeing how Kari took to her duties, was seeing how Sora handled them. Although she was just as kind and caring as my sister when walking among the patients, when things get tough, she is just as fierce and fiery as she was when we were children. There was one time during one of my visits, that a gangrenous patient needed an immediate operation. Dr. Kido needed an extra pair of hands to help with the procedure, and I was volunteered. Despite being roped in to assist Sora and Dr. Kido with the difficult procedure, it was all I could do to take my eyes off of Sora, and focus on the task at hand.

Although I wouldn't call it life changing, I must admit that I am a little concerned that I might have caught some strange sickness after assisting with that surgery. Ever since that time, I've been getting an odd feeling in my chest every time I see Sora afterwards… I don't quite know how to describe it, but it's like an odd tightening in my chest, and my heart starts racing. I'm assuming I must just be getting excited about the idea of helping with another surgery, so I'm not really worried yet. If the feeling keeps up though, I may have to talk to Dr. Kido about it.

A third woman named Mimi became a nurse at the same time as Sora and Kari. She seems nice enough, but I haven't had a chance to talk to her much. The patients seem to like her well enough though, and she always keeps fresh flowers spread throughout the tent, to improve everyone's "dreary" moods. In her own, somewhat unique words, "Your mood is the most important part of the healing process. People with dreary moods never get better, but people with cheery moods always do!" I'm not quite sure I agree with her, but she does make an odd sort of sense.

There is one thing that does bother me a bit though, but I don't really know why. The Ishida brothers have started accompanying me, almost every time I go to visit Kari and Sora. Whether it was a minute, or several hours, no matter how long it's been since I saw either of them, the moment I start heading towards the medical tents, the Ishida Brothers will pop up seemingly out of nowhere, and volunteer to join me. Although they keep claiming that all they want to do is to "get some fresh air," considering how cold it still is, I have a hard time believing that excuse, especially given how they behave when we get there. I know I may not be the most experienced when it comes to romance, but not even I can miss the way T.K. has been looking at my sister when he thinks no one is watching.

I would try having a talk with Matt about his younger brother, but his behavior is even more puzzling. Back in camp, Matt is one of the coolest, most confident people you've ever seen, and is never afraid to stand up to me when he thinks I'm in the wrong. In the medical tents however, he suddenly becomes nervous. At first, I thought he might just be the type of person who grows faint around the sick and injured, but I remembered the time almost a month ago when we had to carry Izzy to the medical tents. He hadn't been nervous at all back then, so I can't blame Matt's recent behavior on that. I really don't understand it.

Either way, I have a feeling that I may have to have to take T.K. aside soon, and have a talk with him, regarding his intentions towards my sister.

March 2, 1778

Yuuko Kamiya's Recipes

Skunk Stew

Ingredients:

1 Skunk

1 Bucket of Goat's Milk

2 Bushels of Brussel Sprouts

Historian's Note: Several pages, presumably containing the recipes provided by Sergeant Kamiya's family mother, seem to have been torn from the journal after this, so the rest of the recipes are lost. Whether they were torn out by the Sergeant himself, or they were torn out by one of his descendants is unclear, and the reason for doing so is unknown.