This account comes across as very honest. He doesn't brag, boast or exaggerate. Just a kid trying his best to stay alive under very chaotic circumstances. I'll have to find the rest of this!
The PBS documentary about the Revolution called "Liberty" is really good, and features a lot of Plumb Martin's journal. A young Philip Seymour Hoffman actually plays the part of Martin! I own the whole mini-series on DVD.😁
@@andreweden9405 I'll look it up, thanks! I found more of the Audiobook on RU-vid, and it was very good. Through his experiences you can see the Army start to come together and become more organized and disciplined as the war continues, but his account remains matter-of-fact and humble. One thing that surprised me is that I had the idea that the Army was small enough (especially during the time spent at Valley Forge) for all of the soldiers to know General Washington personally, and, if maybe not his best friend, at least have some stories of time spent and conversations had with him. Mr. Plum Martin barely mentions him. He knew him by rank and by name, but he did not recognize Washington by sight the one time I remember him mentioning an encounter with the General, and had to be told by another soldier who he had just seen. That surprised the heck out of me. He does relate some stories about General Israel Putnam from earlier in the war.
@Inter X neo nazi sympathizers like a left wing vegan woman attempted mass shooter who only killed one person? I'm highly doubtful any real neo nazis have an admiration for aghdham
@Tim Matt even if that where so, the comment itself is terribly correct, why should us patriots whose only goal is the furthering of good lives within our nation be compared to blood thirsty killers whose only similarity with us was a love of their country?
Look up Prof. Edward Dutton. He would say that there is currently a selection pressure for lower IQs, due to people with lower IQs having more children, statistically. He believes it is a cyclical process inherent in human civilization.
Yes. Two of my grandchildren have finished their second year of home schooling, after having started in the public schools. They are receiving a "Classical" education, now, much the same as was received by our Founders. They have become remarkably confident and independent.
That's also due to them only learning language and speech, where today we learn Math, Physics, Chemistry, Philosophy... Back then it was language and battle lol
The eloquence of his written words at the young age is to me a rebuttal of the modern state of education and a reminder that technology has only made our youth 'less'.
Fun fact: In the 1730s, Parliamentarian James Oglethorpe proposed that the area south of the Carolinas be colonized with the "worthy poor" of England to provide an alternative to the overcrowded debtors' prisons. Oglethorpe and other English philanthropists secured a royal charter as the Trustees of the colony of Georgia on June 9,1732. Oglethorpe and his compatriots hoped to establish a utopian colony that banned slavery and recruited only the most worthy settlers, but by 1750 the colony remained sparsely populated. The proprietors gave up their charter in 1752, at which point Georgia became a crown colony.
...and a Not So Fun fact: the practice of periodically emptying the prisons of n'er-do-wells continued unabated until the Revolution, for the same reasons. Australia took a few as well, but the American Colonies were closer and thus cheaper to use as a dumping ground. A lot of Scots and Northumbrians who took the side of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Jacobite Rebellion were sent here as indentured servants. May of the poor just ended up here in order to clean up the slums. I have the theory that the comparatively large American underclass is a result of that practice - if the nature of breeding like species hold true. probably not a popular concept, but then, royalty certainly believes it. So do animal breeders.
@@taterkaze9428 Yes, I agree. The strong social mores of American life was a determining factor in DeToqueville's assessment of the United States. In other words, if a man does not believe in God, but all his neighbors go to church, he assumes that they believe in God - even though many may not. The result is that all neighbors behave as if they believe in God- and his moral precepts and His requirements that we treat each other morally. This results in a more stable and homogenous society that moves forward more or less as one people. In the well documented case of expulsion from England, Scotland and Ireland, the street criminals would have been of a type that self-generated their social mores with each birth. Thus, the large criminal class became almost indigenous in America. And, so it is to this day.
Unfortunately we all knew it was just the beginning of the war which needed to be fought. Joseph plumb Martin is the true source of the point of view of the American revolution as he fought in most of the major battles transferring to the engineering corps around the siege of Yorktown. He became a farmer and writer later in life. He was also given a nice salute as the army passed his home in old age. He was a true legend.
Most people didn't want the war so I don't see why or how it "needed" to be fought aside from providing greedy aristocrats, creditors and other bourgeois entities a more direct means of owning property.
@@Petey0707 Dude, you never heard of the Boston massacre? American Colonies getting ridiculously taxed by the British. Those are the main reason why they wanted to declare independence.
I heard there are many first hand accounts from soilders at valley forge under Washington. I'd love to hear about the revolutionary War from a British soilders perspective too. We don't often hear those here in the US
I live in an area where many of the local regiments fought in the Revolutionary War for the Mother country... tough men who did what was required of them, but they weren't defending their homes.
@@dadmadforgot4050 Oh shut up, America is like the rest of the world. People are taught a limited amount of local history, an even more limited amount of world history and turned out to the labor force or colleges. And although you can find the history of any people with the least effort here, unless its served up on a silver platter the work is too much. That's what the original poster means when he says, "we dont hear about them much." "We dont get it dished out it in a nice convenient youtube video where I don't have to do nasty things like track down a book or God forbid actually read one but oh yes I'm soooo appreciative of history."
I’ve listened to/watched lots of your videos over the last couple years and I cannot express how much I enjoy your story telling and the way you make the world you read from come to life. I cannot express my gratitude for what you do and how you do it
So nice to hear this in such trying times for our nation. Your timing covering American revolutionary writings is brilliant and inspiring, Thank you, God bless.
I recommend this journal to everyone interested in the American Revolutionary War. I’ve read it three time and greatly enjoy all the details and his sense of humor. .
Love his witty downplaying of 'The Fear'. The kind that would take the very heart from you but which, when written about years later, seems so insignificant, since the memory of comrades who suffered so much more and of those who died when you didn't, causes guilt, shame even; especially at the thought that you might accidently exaggerate your fears to your audience while still spiritually in the company of these comrades.
I'd recommend reading Joseph Plum Martins entire book "Narrative of a Revolutionary Solider" for anyone who found this extract of the book interesting.
“oh he’s made his Mark now” I’d say it’s literally a scratch on the paper but then again this is an era where an X passed as a signature... how the heck did “putting your Mark” become so binding, especially (if I got the context right) when all someone has to do is nudge your arm at the right moment?
Well with the 'X' that was often due to illiteracy and from what was told there, he was at his local place, with friends and acquaintances nearby... of course he could have made a lot of noise about it and it 'being a mistake' but that'd have certainly harmed his reputation and back then personal honor and personal relations were just as important if not MUCH more important than they are nowadays.
@@MajorCoolD yeah I did catch the vibe he was manipulated by circumstances and culture, which thinking about it good luck calling something like that out in any community during wartime.
@@NoPantsBaby being legally blind myself they encourage as best you can that said I’d be politely declined if I went to the local army recruitment center, though to your point I can sign my X to a six figure bank loan and be legally obligated to repay it.
Even in the 1800s a lot of people were illiterate and signed with an X. I do a lot of genealogy work, particularly in Ireland. The older generation in the late 1800s mostly signed with an X
Unfortunately if you open your eyes and look beyond the horizon you will soon realize that this world has hell in certain places....... All my life I've witnessed it!
@@spottydogscocks I've been lookin bud but it seems it's now most of the world. My thought is that people are starting to become more aware of the world and no one likes it.
@@Freeze151 We have it good materially. Yet freedom of speech and liberty are under threat as much as they ever were. Personal freedom of bodily movement is next. Patriots, as ever, are just as needed as in an junction in the past.
Throughly enjoyed this. Excellently wrote piece of history and wonderfully narrated. Top marks 👌 Great work, one problem I'm very greedy and never pleased, more of this please , I could watch and listen for hours. Congratulations 👏
Very fascinating as always! I would be interested to hear more snippets from early American history in the future too! Stay well out there everybody, and Jesus Christ be with you friends.😊
I absolutely LOVE such formally antiquated dialect. I prefer it to the more modern vernacular. Old voices of the past are those too of the present and future to me.
Worse then. They literally would kidnap people in Europe after getting the recruit drunk.not sure If that practice extended to the colonies by the Patriots but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised as they badly needed men and they certainly wherent our common view of the just and noble warrior. They where an 18th century army like any around at the time. Arguably america had more stomach for such practices as we allowed slavery and bondage until almost 100 years after.
Your boomer is showing my guy. Literally nearly everyone was illiterate back then. Not to put down this memoir, but it’s only considered eloquent because it’s written in the manner of speech of the day. If he wrote his accounts today he would’ve been as rude and crass as anybody else and you’d be looking down at him for it.
@@skipperwarp9 I’m a retired veteran and I can tell you that if you’re illiterate, you will not get into military service. Many thousands of kids today are turned away because they can’t read or write - mostly minorities that have dropped out of school or are drug addicts. Which makes what I said even more astounding - it’s amazing that a young man from over 200 years ago had better literacy skills than many of today’s kids who have all of the combined knowledge of mankind literally at their fingertips, but the Revolutionary soldier did not, yet is better informed.
Great video! My great great Grandfather called the order for the "Shot heard round the World" in Concord Mass. You should do a video on how most portraits/photos in the old days were taken of dead people. The opening foto definitely has a deceased woman in it.
Post Mortem photography was very popular (for those who could afford it) in the UK and Western Europe during the Victorian Era. Because infant/child mortality rates were so appalling (i believe 1/6 of all children perished before adolescence) it was very common to have a family portrait photo taken which included one of the surviving children's deceased siblings propped/laid next to them... I'm certainly not squeamish, nor do I have a fear of dead bodies, but I think I'd be a little uncomfortable if asked to pose next to my not long since deceased baby sister 😳
@@wesstover1632 British fired upon the soldiers on the bridge in Concord. Normal activity was too volley shots over the heads....call it a day of engagement and leave. On that morning they received direct fire. Killed many officers. "For God sakes...fire back" Well documented.
That sounds like a joke, but one day soon they may need help breaking free from they tyranny they live under now. Their government treats white, Christian men as second-class citizens. The socialist cult will meet physical resistance very soon. Everyone needs to be prepared.
No he doesn’t. The accent is much too broad. doesn’t sound like he’s from Philadelphia New England the south or the Midwest or anywhere in particular. It’s good, but he doesn’t quite sound like a Yankee.
The War for Independence... Hence Independence Day (July 4th). Those who believed in and fought for the cause wanted Independence. And did not consider themselves or the war revolutionary. This may seem trivial to some, but is of vital importance for the continuance of correct history. Especially in this day of cancel culture and how those in power love to change history to fit their narrative. Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed the insight!
When this happens if possible a Comrade needs to physically restrain the person from drinking too much water. You cannot just tell them as they are too crazed with thirst to listen.
I remember hearing excerpts from Joseph Plumb Martin's diary in other Revolutionary War-era videos. It was interesting to hear about a "foxhole-level" view of The War for Independence.
How about something from the Autobiography of Calvin Coolidge. Loads of interesting stuff in there. The description of the how the senate *actually* "worked" in practice 100 years ago is accurate today (aside from the number of them given and mention of them being appointed), his story of him being sworn in at night by his dad on the family bible is amazing, and the whole section on why he chose not to run is a fascinating show of humility.
This entire audiobook is (or was) available elsewhere on RU-vid. Don't remember if it was the same narrator. I listened to it about a year ago. It's one of the better war autobios that I've come across.
My 5th great grandfather, John Yost Meetze Sr, was a Hessian, conscripted to fight for the Brits. He deserted and, as I understand the story, was pursued for some 30 miles before reaching Patriot lines in South Carolina. He later became a pastor and founded a Lutheran church which still exists in Lexington, S.C. Another 5th great grandfather, Blanchard Colding, fought in South Carolina and, possibly Georgia. His brother John was killed by Tories. Fifth great-grandfather Francisco Xavier Sánchez was a member of one of two prominant St. Augustine families that did not go to Cuba when the British took over Florida from the Spanish. He fed and clothed Patriots held prisoner in the citadel by the Brits and provided passage back to New England for them when the war ended. www.staugustine.com/article/20130419/LIFESTYLE/304199984
Jon, I really enjoyed reading your comments. I also have, German, Irish and Spanish blood. My life partner, Janie, was born in Saint Augustine and she brought me to visit the Citadel. Believe me, being a "sensitive", that place definitely is haunted !!
Very interesting, haven’t taken a look yet, but I wonder if carcass was a slang term at the time, a touch of black humor, or the word was simply used differently. I may try to revive it, made me smile.
I must praise your R rhoticity to produce your American Colonist accent. Even that one phonetic alteration very much changes the character of the speech. You do all justice to this enthralling historical account 💯
@M&M as put by a British observer during the ACW. The ARW, war of 1812, and the ACW were all English affairs in which the Irish and Germans were simply accessories.
Agreed the Trumpists who failed in their coup by trying to overturn free and fair elections would surely be objects of derision for their loathesome acts of treachery. Huzza for their failures and defeats. Huzza that they failed to keep that disgusting confederate flag in our congress for long. Huzza for their televised failure.
Every leader, politician, etc. who is responsible for sending soldiers into battle, need to know exactly what it's like and understand the world they are sending soldiers into.
It ironic, and Sorrowful but as a new york city police officer ,I patrolled this area of Brooklyn, then the water was Clean yet stained with blood of American patriots,and in my time Polluted with chemicals and trash...No marker did I see where these BRAVE MEN FOUGHT.
It'd be interesting if you could do this with a diary of a British soldier on the invassion campaigns of the River Plate in 1806 and 1807. That was the first great defeat of the British Empire and in 1807 they even sent 14000 troops to invade Buenos Aires when it only had 50000 inhabitants (hence, if you don't count women, children and the elderly, almost a soldier for a man in military age)
I love these videos. I wish I could travel back in time to visit different eras and I suppose this is about the closest I'll get. Btw my cat 🐈 looks almost exactly like yours, same colors. Is yours a ringtail too? Mine keeps his tail bent over his back a lot lol.
Somewhere I read about French people criticizing a famous painting showing merry revolutionary soldiers on the way to battle. They said: "Happy recruits? That's not natural!"
When they were talking about the guy who died while drinking at the creek, was that because he had like gone into shock from drinking too much at once after being dehydrated? I've heard of that happening...
Wow this guy lived to 90 years old, fought in the Revolution and saw the early run-up to the American Civil War. I wonder what he might have felt if he had seen that conflagration happen to the country he fought to help establish.
At the time in the 18th century in most countries and cultures around the world you where a adult by the time you were a teenager In some countries at the time . Such as India where my ansctors where from and living during the American Revolution. At age 15 you where married off or sometimes younger than 15. At age 11 12 13 14. Since child marriage was common in India at the time.
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. - statue of liberty And then just die for me ....
I want to hear about the war from the perspective of the British. The war was far from black and white, yet as far as I know the only media with any sympothetic view of the British was the Book of Negroes tv series.
EBONIE THORPE the British army was one of the smallest in Europe, because we are an island we had a bigger navy, the average brit wasn’t in the forces, the army was made up of criminals and undernourished poor people, the only time we had an army of the country was the first and second world war