Rating: 
Summary: The Revolution from Ground Zero
Review: An invaluable primary source. There are few first hand accounts of the American Revolutionary War and of those few, Martin's is the most famous. And justly so. It offers many insights into the attitudes of the day, for example when he describes the enmity that existed between the 'Yankees', such as himself, and the Pennsylvanians with which he served and says that he would as happily serve with a tribe of Western Indians as with those 'southerners'. Such comments remind us how concepts of race and nationhood evolve through the generations. There is much humour too, sometimes rather grim, such as the description of the 'tricks' that the men play on an unpopular officer, that come close to killing him. If the common soldiers' greatest enemies were hunger, cold and disease, it seems that the officers' greatest enemies were sometimes the men they commanded. It is important to remember that these are the memoirs of a man writing late in life about events in his youth, events that had already become mythologized. Half a century and a strong patriotic sense take their toll on objectivity. So this personal narrative is not a substitute for a sober academic history; it is an essential adjunct. And a damn fine read.
Rating: 
Summary: An absolute "gotta have"
Review: It was so fun to read a book on the Revolutionary War that was from the view of the private. No huge battles here, just the day to day struggle on what he endured and why he endured all the hardships. Made me really admire the commitment they made.
Rating:
Summary: A valuable document of military history
Review: Joseph Plumb Martin (1760-1850) served as an enlisted soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and published a memoir of his war experiences in 1830. That book, "A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier," is an amazing document of a pivotal era in United States history.Martin recalls his experiences in military campaigns from 1776 to 1783. He was an enlisted man who rose to the rank of sergeant, and his memoirs present the war from that perspective, rather than from the viewpoint of generals or political leaders. The suffering of the common troops is vividly detailed. Martin tells of the sleep deprivation, hostile weather conditions, combat death and injury, and lack of clothes. The men suffered from many diseases. But their most constant enemy was probably "the monster Hunger." Martin describes at length the horrible foods the men had to eat: bread "hard enough to break the teeth of a rat," carrion beef, and even tree bark. From a tactical standpoint, Martin's descriptions of 18th century trench warfare are fascinating. Martin is eventually transferred to the Corps of Miners, and I was especially interested by the descriptions of his corps' duties: blasting rocks, dismantling enemy fortifications with axes, etc. He gives insights into how the miners' corps worked together with the infantry. Martin's narrative is enlivened by his wit and humor. One of my favorite lines comes after he mentions the village of Maidenhead: "don't stare, dear reader, I did not name it." Martin ends his narrative with a passionate defense of the rights and dignity of veterans. He notes with anger that Revolutionary soldiers were "turned adrift like old worn out horses" after the war. He strikes me as very ahead-of-his time in his concern for veterans. This book is a remarkable piece of early United States literature. It should be read by current military personnel, veterans' advocates, students of history, and students of U.S. literature.
Rating:
Summary: A valuable document of military history
Review: Joseph Plumb Martin (1760-1850) served as an enlisted soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and published a memoir of his war experiences in 1830. That book, "A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier," is an amazing document of a pivotal era in United States history. Martin recalls his experiences in military campaigns from 1776 to 1783. He was an enlisted man who rose to the rank of sergeant, and his memoirs present the war from that perspective, rather than from the viewpoint of generals or political leaders. The suffering of the common troops is vividly detailed. Martin tells of the sleep deprivation, hostile weather conditions, combat death and injury, and lack of clothes. The men suffered from many diseases. But their most constant enemy was probably "the monster Hunger." Martin describes at length the horrible foods the men had to eat: bread "hard enough to break the teeth of a rat," carrion beef, and even tree bark. From a tactical standpoint, Martin's descriptions of 18th century trench warfare are fascinating. Martin is eventually transferred to the Corps of Miners, and I was especially interested by the descriptions of his corps' duties: blasting rocks, dismantling enemy fortifications with axes, etc. He gives insights into how the miners' corps worked together with the infantry. Martin's narrative is enlivened by his wit and humor. One of my favorite lines comes after he mentions the village of Maidenhead: "don't stare, dear reader, I did not name it." Martin ends his narrative with a passionate defense of the rights and dignity of veterans. He notes with anger that Revolutionary soldiers were "turned adrift like old worn out horses" after the war. He strikes me as very ahead-of-his time in his concern for veterans. This book is a remarkable piece of early United States literature. It should be read by current military personnel, veterans' advocates, students of history, and students of U.S. literature.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent: Educational AND Entertaining
Review: Joseph Plumb Martin who writes of his own experiences during the American Revolution is such an interesting and multifaceted character. He is a true rarity as he left us a firsthand account of a private soldier in the Revolutionary War. He is very human and suffers miserably under excruciating circumstances; yet, he is able to see the humorous side to things as well. There seem to be so few personal accounts of the Revolutionary War, but I am thankful that his is one of the few. Joseph is very intelligent as well, even philosophical at times. He is gentleman enough to even have sympathy for individual British enemy soldiers who are wounded and/or dying. He also thinks about the future and tries to give the reader many things to contemplate. Just one of many examples are as follows:
"...I, with some of my comrades who were in the battle of the White plains in the year `76, one day took a ramble on the ground where we were then engaged with the British and took a survey of the place. We saw a number of the graves of those who fell in that battle; some of the bodies had been so slightly buried that the dogs or hogs, or both, had dug them out of the ground. The sculls [sic] and other bones, and hair were scattered about the place. Here were Hessian sculls as thick as a bomb shell; ---poor fellows! they were left unburied in a foreign land; ---they had, perhaps, as near and dear friends to lament their sad destiny as the Americans who lay buried near
them. But they should have kept at home, we should then never have gone after them to kill them in their own country. But, the reader will say, they were forced to come and be killed here;
forced by their rulers who have absolute power of life and death over their subjects. Well then, reader, bless a kind Providence that has made such a distinction between your condition and
theirs. And be careful too that you do not allow yourself ever to be brought to such an abject, servile and debased condition."
Please get this book and read it. This should be required reading for every American citizen!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent: Educational AND Entertaining
Review: Joseph Plumb Martin who writes of his own experiences during the American Revolution is such an interesting and multifaceted character. He is a true rarity as he left us a firsthand account of a private soldier in the Revolutionary War. He is very human and suffers miserably under excruciating circumstances; yet, he is able to see the humorous side to things as well. There seem to be so few personal accounts of the Revolutionary War, but I am thankful that his is one of the few. Joseph is very intelligent as well, even philosophical at times. He is gentleman enough to even have sympathy for individual British enemy soldiers who are wounded and/or dying. He also thinks about the future and tries to give the reader many things to contemplate. Just one of many examples are as follows:
"...I, with some of my comrades who were in the battle of the White plains in the year '76, one day took a ramble on the ground where we were then engaged with the British and took a survey of the place. We saw a number of the graves of those who fell in that battle; some of the bodies had been so slightly buried that the dogs or hogs, or both, had dug them out of the ground. The sculls [sic] and other bones, and hair were scattered about the place. Here were Hessian sculls as thick as a bomb shell; ---poor fellows! they were left unburied in a foreign land; ---they had, perhaps, as near and dear friends to lament their sad destiny as the Americans who lay buried near
them. But they should have kept at home, we should then never have gone after them to kill them in their own country. But, the reader will say, they were forced to come and be killed here;
forced by their rulers who have absolute power of life and death over their subjects. Well then, reader, bless a kind Providence that has made such a distinction between your condition and
theirs. And be careful too that you do not allow yourself ever to be brought to such an abject, servile and debased condition."
Please get this book and read it. This should be required reading for every American citizen!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Books by an Enlisted Man Ever
Review: Martin was born into a dysfunctional family in the Massachusetts frontier town of Becket, but grew up outside New Haven at his maternal grandparents' farm on Long Island Sound. He first joined a Connecticut Militia regiment for six months service in the summer of 1776: the regiment was best remembered for running away during the British landing at Kip's Bay. The unit did fight well at the Battle of White Plains, but at the end of their enlistment, the unit and Martin returned home. He enlisted a second time during the spring of 1777 for three years and reenlisted until 1783. He served in a Connecticut Infantry regiment, in the Light Infantry, and then for most of the war as a sergeant in a company of Sappers and Miners (Combat Engineers.) His service took to the defense of Red Bank in the fall of 1777, Valley Forge, Monmouth, and back to the Hudson Highlands (where in 1780 he says he could have easily killed Benedict Arnold, an officer he hated, had he the benefit of hindsight.) Martin marched to Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 and was one of Alexander Hamilton's storming party that captured a key redoubt. After leaving the army he made his way up to Maine and wrote this book from memory early in the 19th century. Lucky we are that when it was first published no editor had tried to improve Martin's text. Reading Martin is like listening to an 18th century man speak. He leaves in sex and violence. He is not ashamed. And he tells the truth, which is something hard to do when recording something that happened forty years since. This book will tell a reader more about the Revolutionary War and the 18th century American world than any other book ever published. I got my first copy of Martin forty years ago and I still read and reread him regularly.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This book is one of the few complete accounts of a common soldier
in the American Revolution. Joseph Plumb Martin explains in detail the events that take place at Valley Forge, Trenton, and
Yorktown. Mr. Martin first published his narratives as a book titled Private Yankee Doodle. This book is a book that shows the suffering and victory of the young nation. Great for anyone who loves histoy!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This book is one of the few historical accounts from a common
Revolutionary War soldier. Joseph Plumb Martin relates in detail
the events of our nation's longest war. From the winter at Valley Forge to the battle at Yorktown, the book is thrilling to read. Mr. Martin first published his narratives as Private Yankee Doodle. This book would be great for the library of those who love American history.
Rating:
Summary: A Soldier's soldier
Review: This is as good as it gets for history buffs. Just prior to reading this book I read the McCullough book, John Adams, and was heart sick at the suffering that Abigail Adams had to endure while her husband was off in Europe, Philadelphia or Washington. Well compared to Jospeh Plumb Martin's experiences Abigail was in heaven. She had a farm with food and clothing and a warm fire. Three things that Pvt. Martin seldom had in his many years fighting for the country. Pvt Martin is an excellent, courageous soldier when the times call for it, but during the lulls in between he is a kid who gets himself in trouble. It was a miracle he survived some of his escapades. He is irreverent and funny and often furious at his country and the damn British sympathizers. Even at 70 years old, 50 years afterward he is bitter over the treatment of veterans. Some things will never change. Politicians especially. If you like history and are tired of reading it as written from the "top down" this "bottom up" view will be refreshing.
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