Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Amazon Prime includes:
Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.
Amazon Prime members enjoy:- Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
- Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
- Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
- A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
- Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
- Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access
Important: Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
OK
Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier: The Narrative of Joseph Plumb Martin (Dover Books on Americana) Paperback – May 26, 2006
Purchase options and add-ons
The fullest existing description of the Revolutionary War by an enlisted man, and a rediscovered gem of American history, Martin's recollections brim with telling anecdotes that reveal a great deal about American life during this era. An invaluable memoir from an ordinary man in extraordinary times, the narrative is "one of the best firsthand accounts of war as seen by a private soldier." — St. Louis (Mo.) Post-Dispatch
- Print length176 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDover Publications
- Publication dateMay 26, 2006
- Dimensions5.24 x 0.36 x 8.3 inches
- ISBN-100486451461
- ISBN-13978-0486451466
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
Frequently bought together
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Product details
- Publisher : Dover Publications; 60438th edition (May 26, 2006)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 176 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0486451461
- ISBN-13 : 978-0486451466
- Item Weight : 7.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.24 x 0.36 x 8.3 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #223,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #176 in American Revolution Biographies (Books)
- #215 in U.S. Colonial Period History
- #6,674 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon-
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
This was one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. Sgt. Martin was clearly an intelligent man, but a common man. I say this because it was written in the common man's english but the author was clearly intelligent. It was written by an old Sgt Martin who was looking back at his life as a soldier and evaluating his own conduct. That, too was clear.
Historians agree that this is probably an accurate account because he always placed himself at the right place based on the movements of his unit. But more importantly, Sgt. Martin's narrative is believable. He never makes himself out to be a hero. His accounts of combat almost never focus on his actions. (Which I feel could have lead to making himself into a hero) Instead it was...I saw this, I felt that or WE did this. When he did write about his own actions, it was never to puff himself up. At one point, he wrote that he wished that he did not kill a man that he took deliberate aim at, although he confessed he meant to at the time. In addition, he documents far more occasions upon which he acted foolishly than bravely. He does not whine about starving, but instead reports it. But, most interestingly, he includes short, seemingly inconsequential conversations and events. The addition of these events, far from being tedious provide a window into 1770 & 1780s America.
Another reviewer said, in the title of their review that this should be required reading for all 8th grade students. I agree. I think it could well be comprehended by them and it would help instill a sense of American pride that is lacking in our country.
This book affected me in a way that no other has. I have never walked away from a book and wanted so badly to meet the author. Sgt. Martin must have been an incredibly interesting person. The things he saw and did, I'm sure could have filled 10 volumes. But more than that, the gratitude I feel for this, and every other such man was sharpened by this book. My desire to express my thanks to him and my admiration for such a fine account this period filled me to the point of bursting.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is short (166 pages), moves well, reads easily, entertains, inspires and educates.
From Connecticut, Martin enlisted for a six month hitch in the Continental Army in June 1776, at the age of 15. After completing this term, he spent several months at home, then in June 1777 signed up for the duration. He was not discharged until 1783, having made sergeant by that time. During his time he served in the general infantry, light infantry, and "miners and sappers" (engineering). He arrived just in time for the battle of Long Island, the slow retreat up the Manhattan Island, Kipp's Bay, criss-crossed New Jersey countless times in his seven years, was in Ft. Mifflin during the siege, wintered at Valley Forge, was in the Battle of Monmouth (he never calls it that), spent a large amount of time along the Hudson, was only a few miles away from West Point when Arnold was arrested, and was in the battle of Yorktown. So as you can see, he participated in several of the key battles.
This is first and foremost a tale of starvation. Secondly, a tale of hunger and hardship. Third, a tale of deprivation of food, clothing, and shelter. During all of that, these soldiers managed to win a war.
With significant details, it is likely the author kept a diary during the war. Some of Martin's tales are hard to believe. They routinely marched 30 miles/ day, and on at least one occasion covered 50 miles. They routinely marched 20 miles/ day on no food. The reader has to wonder if they had a different measure of a mile. Quick google searches show no questions of authenticity or controversy over Martin's text, unlike, say Guy Sajer's war diary. And speaking of measures, he often measures in gill (4 ounces), and rod (16.5 feet).
Only 15, in the first couple years Martin experienced more discipline incidents than battles. Although wounded only once (and that a sword wound), he suffered from various injuries and diseases. Martin presents several harrowing tales of near death (e.g. the guy next to him was shot dead).
Martin documents well the confusion of war, marching and countermarching, and the sheer chaos of battle. The text reminds us that in most wars, for every famous battle which makes the history books, there are a hundred little scrapes at the platoon or squad level that never make the history books, but are just as important for the men who fought or died in them.
Here's a thought experiment. Imagine a 15 year old of 2012 who would give up all his or her cell phones, smart phones, iPhones, iPods, iPads, Xboxes, texting, email, DVDs, CDs, mp3s, Twitter, GPS, Facebook, and march 20 miles/ day, sleep outside, on the ground with the stars for their canopy, on starvation rations, for just 48 hours, much less for years on end. Never mind someone shooting at them.
From autumn 1777 to 1783, he was paid only once. So that's one months pay for six years of service. He and his fellow soldiers certainly didn't serve for money; nor for the non-existent rations, uniforms, or quarters. His words are of unashamed patriotism, and the actions of these unpaid, unfed soldiers showed they served for love of country.
Residents of New Jersey and New York will recognize many of the names of towns. For example, on his way to or from Red Bank he passed through Mount Holly, Woodbury, and in both directions stopped for the night in "Haddington". Owing to the location, and scarcity of the roads in those days, this was almost certainly present day Haddonfield.
I whole-heartedly recommend this text for readers of all ages.