Joseph Plumb Martin
A veteran of the Continental Army, Joseph Plumb Martin went on to write a memoir that remains one of the best resources to learn about common soldiers during the Revolutionary War.
The horrors of battle then presented themselves to my mind in all their hideousness.Joseph Plumb Martin, remembering the Battle of Brooklyn Heights
Exhibits
Learn more about Joseph Plumb Martin in exhibitions at the Museum and online.
Core Galleries
Core ExhibitionLearn more about the story of Joseph Plumb Martin in the Museum's core exhibition.
Picturing Washington's Army
Joseph Plumb Martin's Memoir
Published in 1830, Joseph Plumb Martin's memoir, titled A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, is one of the best resources to learn about common soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Rather than battle stories, Martin shared the experiences of enlisted soldiers, portraying them, not officers, as the heroes of the Revolution.
Watch
Watch programming about the life of Joseph Plumb Martin and other Continental Army soldiers.
"Meet Joseph Plumb Martin" Performance
Watch the original first-person theatrical performance portraying Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin. The performance stars Patrick Poole as Joseph Plumb Martin and was written by Ryan Schwartz.
Living History at Home: Making Rice & Vinegar
Living History at Home: Roasting a Pumpkin
Read the Revolution
Explore books from the Museum's Read the Revolution series related to Joseph Plumb Martin.
Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier
Read an excerpt from Joseph Plumb Martin's memoir describing leaving the safety of home for his first deployment for the American Revolution in 1776.
Revolutionary Summer
Read an excerpt from Joseph Ellis's Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence, which features a quote from Joseph Plumb Martin at the Battle of Long Island.