Joseph Plumb Martin Experience in the 2nd Campaign

Joseph Plumb Martin records his life as a common soldier in the Continental Army during the second campaign. In the spring of 1777, Martin reenlists into the battle. He describes the war as petrifying, then glorious, as he jots his experience during the journey through the war. He witnessed the aftermath of the British Raid in Danbury. Martin and the troops encountered smallpox and had been showing signs of insomnia. Martin was on stand-by call for commanded orders. He also kept marching and countermarching, and many of the troops froze and starved. The Yankees marched across the Schuylkill river setting traps. They ended the journey in Woodbury, New Jersey. At Mud-Island artillery, guards prepared to enter Fort Mifflin. On Nov 14th. The British encountered smallpox and had been showing signs of insomnia. Martin was on stand-by call for commanded orders. He also kept marching and countermarching, and many of the troops froze and starved. The Yankees marched across the Schuylkill river, setting traps. They ended the journey in Woodbury, New Jersey. At Mud-Island artillery, guards prepared to enter Fort Mifflin. On Nov 14th, the British had Martin and the troops on their heels with constant fire rates, which caused the troops to evacuate the fort and escape to the Jersey shore. Coming from Chestnut-hill, Thanksgiving came along, and the troops were struggling again. Martin and the troops headed to Milltown, a small village behind Philadelphia, setting up for the winter quarters.

Marginal Notes And Quotes From Chapter Three:

Slides 1: Joseph's Enlistment --> Martin had not just been part of the 2nd campaign but also the 1st one as well, Martin drops from takes someone else's place who was suppose to be enlisted in the army "ScapeGoat" martin spends a few days at home preparing and then heads off to Connecticut to start the campaign.

Slide 2: Danbury Tragedy -->  The town had been laid in ashes, a number of the "inhabitants murdered and cast into their burning houses, because they presumed to defend their persons and property or to be avenged on a cruel, vindictive invading enemy." 46 Martin saw the inhabitants, after the fire was out, found burnt bones in the rubbish of the towns peoples homes.

Slide 3: Pox in Peekskill --> Martin and his Conrad's were cleaning out old barracks. The hospital was in a farmer's barn in Martin and Conrad's quarters. One evening the barn catches fire, and the field leaves many untreated that had smallpox.  "we undressed and went into the water, where it was often to our shoulders, to catch suckers utilizing a fish-hook fastened to the end of a rod;—we continued at this business three or four hours, and when we came out of the water the pustules of the smallpox were well cleansed." -Martin 49

Slide 4: British Tip-Toeing in Philadelphia --> The British Troops tried to invade and contain the rebels of the capital in the end, the British troops fell back, and martin and the troops advanced " don't fire until you see their clothes upon their backs" - Martin's lieutenant 57

Slide 5: Fort Mifflin on Mud inland Blue Print -->The British had point-blank shots that would not reach Martin and the troops behind the wall, the British would throw elevated grape-shot from their mortars. The British also had a battery upon the Hospital-point, which raked the fort right in front of the barracks which was a problem because martin and his Conrad's had to go up and down from that way. - 66

Slide 6: Chestnut- Hill [ Conrad's Miseries, Martin & The Troops Evacuating For Winter]