9. Joseph Plumb Martin kept a diary recording his experiences in the war
Joseph Plumb Martin was a member of the Connecticut Militia who served with that unit in the New York campaign of 1776, present at the defeat of the Americans at the Battle of Long Island. Martin recorded the events of the retreat of the American army, its dramatic escape from entrapment on Long Island and its withdrawal up Manhattan, including his own actions at the Battle of White Plains, part of Washington’s fighting retreat. As the army’s retreat continued across New Jersey, pursued by the energetic British and Hessian advance units, Martin kept a record of the privations suffered by his unit and others. Martin also recorded Washington’s pleas to the men to remain with the army.
Though Martin recorded Washington’s dilemma and his efforts to retain the steadily shrinking army, he did not heed them. At the end of 1776, his enlistment up, Martin left the army and returned home to Connecticut, thus missing Washington’s successful campaign in New Jersey. After recovering from his travails over the winter, Martin rejoined the Continental Army in the spring of 1777, this time enlisting for the duration of the war. Much of the remainder of the Revolutionary war is recorded in his diary, which be published years later. The manuscript remains in print in the 21st century, an invaluable record for scholars and historians studying the war and its impact on both those who served in the Continental army and those who did not.