The Adventures of a Revolutionary Soldier
Student project about Martin’s Adventures, Dangers, and Suffering, Chapter 9 by Tim
Throughout the Revolutionary War, soldiers laid down their life for our country. Through harsh living conditions and no food, this particular soldier described his day-to-day life of being a soldier in the cold winter of 1783.
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1
Newburgh, NY
Winter 1783
The soldier would travel by foot for eight to ten miles to receive more clothing to help keep them warm during the cold winters.
2
Yorktown, VA
The soldier received his first paycheck of six dollars on his march to Yorktown. This was enough money for a good dinner.
3
West Point, NY
After the war had ended, the soldier was told to march to West Point, NY to receive his settlement certificate stating that he had done his time of serving in the war. The certificate was not ready and he was forced to leave West Point.
4
Highlands, NY
The soldier traveled to the Highlands once the Revolutionary War came to an end. At this location, the soldier became good friends with the Dutch. The soldier would end up staying here for a while throughout the winter while also teaching the Dutch school.
During the winter in 1783, this soldier would travel by foot for eight to ten miles just to receive warm clothing. This soldier was starved to death and was promised many things that he never received until the war was over. For example, the soldier stated "But we never received what was allowed us. Oftentimes have I gone one, two, three, and even four days without a morsel, unless the fields or forests might chance to afford enough to prevent absolute starvation. Often, when I have picked the last grain from the bones of my scanty morsel, have I eat the very bones, as much of them as possibly could be eaten, and then have had to perform some hard and fatiguing duty, when my stomach has been as craving as it was before I had eaten anything at all" (Martin, 2016). This soldier was left with nothing.
Enduring Winter During the Revolutionary War
This video explains the ins-and-outs of being a soldier during the Revolutionary War. The soldier explains how they had no clothing and no food to live on. The soldier explained how there was no water to be found anywhere as he also was very hungry and starving to death. They had no shelter besides rotten rails and a sheet which is where they slept. This video explains the day-to-day struggle through harsh conditions without any food, drink, shelter, or clothing (Townsends, 2017).
After the Revolutionary War had ended in 1783, the soldier was left with nothing that he was promised. The soldier continued to share his memories as he didn't receive his settlement certification. The soldier explained that he has no grace for those that don't support the soldiers that lay down their life for this country. This soldier went through hell and back, and was lucky enough to make it through the hard times of the war that ended in 1783. The soldier stated, "When I began this narrative, I thought a very few pages would contain it, but as occurrences returned to my memory, and one thing brought another to mind, I could not stop, for as soon as I had let one thought through my mind, another would step up and ask for admittance (Martin, 2016).
Citing:
- Martin, J. P. (2016, August 30). WikiSource. Retrieved from The Adventures Of A Revolutionary Soldier/Chapter IX.: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Adventures_Of_A_Revolutionary_Soldier/Chapter_IX
- Townsends (Director). (2017). Enduring Winter During the Revolutionary War [Motion Picture].