Joseph Plumb Martin (1760–1850)

I've had this book for awhile, but was inspired by a recent Father's Day trip (thanks to my children!) to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia to read it. The museum has a rare first edition of the book, as well as a life-size figure of the author on display.
The author was 16 years old when he enlisted in a Connecticut regiment, and he stayed for the duration of the war (1776-1783). This book gives a very fine story of the life of a private (later a sergeant) in the Revolutionary War. He did not perform any notable heroics or deeds, and doesn't write about the history of the battles that he participated in. He only gives a story of what he saw and did. When Joseph was 70, he wrote this book from a journal that he kept (sadly, now lost). His story is filled with humor, sarcasm, sadness, and heroics. At times he does silly (and dangerous) things, but remember, he was a teenager at the time.
Reading the book, you wonder why the soldiers stayed with the army. Only paid a couple of times throughout the war, hardly given any clothing, treated poorly, going days without food, and when fed given bad food that wouldn't even be considered enough to live on. Marching for hours on end. And then facing battles! Sadly too, the soldiers were never given the pay they earned, nor the 100 acres of land that they were promised when enlisting.
It was interesting to me when Joseph traveled through my home state (Delaware), and mentions towns and places that I am familiar with. And surprisingly he encounters a multiracial family in Wilmington (DE), something he had never seen before (and I'm sure very unusual at that time). A funny event-when at Yorktown (near the end of the war) he meets George Washington, but doesn't recognize him! It is dark, and Washington is just walking by himself talking to the soldiers. Not until some officers address Washington does he realize who it is!
This book is now considered a classic memoir of the war. There are many histories of the American Revolution, but not very many from a soldiers point-of-view. It is well written, very enjoyable, interesting, and is not dated. And you don't have to be a hard-core history buff to enjoy it.
Note: Do not buy a "CreateSpace" edition, like I did. There are typos, and one chapter ends in the middle of a sentence.
And if you live near Philadelphia, make it a point to visit the Museum of the American Revolution-it is well worth it!… (altro)

I was a little worried this book would be difficult to read, but it was surprisingly well-written, funny, and had a lot of attitude! (Of course I realize much of it had to have been "edited" for spelling and the like.)

Having spent the last few years reading biographies of our Founding Fathers, books on the Constitution, and books on the Revolution in general, it was clear that this book is heavily referenced by other authors, certainly when it comes to the plight of the Continental soldier. And what a plight it was. I've no doubt that much of what Martin describes is accurate, most especially when it comes to the lack of "victuals," clothing, and shelter from which these men suffered.

The anecdotes Martin offers are both harrowing and amusing. He's not above poking fun at himself when he's done something questionable (like climb up a shear mountain face only to get hundreds of feet up before realizing he can't reach the summit).

If you've avoided this book because you're afraid of its perceived 18th century language differences or that it would be boring, I assure you that's not the case at all.… (altro)