Book Analysis Essay on Memoir of a Revolutionary Soldier

Introduction

Much the same as some other year when the Revolutionary War in the U. S. in 1776, Joseph Plumb Martin became part if the rebelling team. He gives a record of the time he served in the military with a reasonable outlook and view of life; he portrays the battles and hardships that he needed to experience in the military has agreed to accept it as personnel officer and later a sergeant. Unlike others with whom together he joined the Rebel Infantry, Martin makes a record of his misfortunes forty-seven years after becoming a revolutionary soldier for eight years in a chronicle that he gives the title of; A Narrative of Revolutionary Soldier: Some of the Adventures, Dangers, and Sufferings of Joseph Plumb Martin. The revolution went on for after which he played a role in seven wars including the one of the White Plains, Kipp's Bay; Redbank; Yorktown.

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The book was rediscovered over a century later, and it was republished in 1962. In the same way as other journals, it cannot be fully taken to the context in its current form, and a few students of history are made to believe that Martin decorated his story by including disturbing portrayals of different activities. the exaggerations are part of the literary skills to make it more attractive and more indulging to the readers. Be that as it may, numerous Revolutionary War re-enactors think of the book as a pivotal essential source from which to attract motivation request to perform successful first individual elucidation of the normal trooper in Washington's Army. Likewise setting Martin's history of the war separated from different records is that it is a story from somebody in the positions. Readers compare the book with Martin at Valley Forge and they share his different privations. The book is anything but a gallant record of the war by one of its symbols, similar to Washington, Knox, or Greene, or any other that existed in that duration. Martin's courage is established in the experience suffered by the regular warrior, the foundation of the American Continental Army. "Enduring" is a not really calm topic of Martin's story; it's more indulging and engaging to the readers.

Considering the American style of writing, this book can be regarded to be contradicting the standards of the time and provides an inauspiciously realistic opinion of its burdens and challenges instead of praising the Revolutionary Army for its moral excellence and impeccable character by the way the author provides a straightforward image of the Revolutionary War. Martin has accounted for the whole time of the Revolutionary War including the loss of thousands of American lives or even the way some were mutilated for life after he escaped from bondage and being in good health. The narrative presents the realities of the war and the continuous fights. From the way Martin extensively elaborates the persistent marches across various states, it is clear that some of the challenges the soldiers face in their daily lives are starvation and the lack of basic facilities. According to the narrative, soldiers experienced hardship during the Revolutionary War which forced them to even to steal from people of buildings that they came across so that they could stock up their supplies.

Martin joined the Revolutionary War while he was young with the intention to pledge loyalty to his county by fighting in the war and to experience adventures that were worth narrating. He fought in the war for the sake of patriotism and dutifully since the year 1776 to the end of the war in 1783. Martin miraculously went to battle for six years and came back safely without any wound and neither was he a captive of war then despite his one-time severe illness which exhibited spectacular physical immunity for pre-medically knowledgeable times. Throughout his narrative, he tries to disapprove the misconception that war is basically combative in the way he describes the strenuous marches and monotonous waiting far more than the battle themselves. Even though there are reports of historians regarding how the Revolutionary Army always ran out of supplies, their dispossessions are usually diminished in the wake of Battles such as New York and Princeton. The author brings their predicament to the light by narrating his story of how the Continental Congress overlooked the troubles of the Army in 1777.

Martin has properly documented circumstances in which men walked barely naked with some kind of humor emphasizing that they were treated by the government like as if they had no private parts. He makes jokes of their bloody tracks which were as a result of long treks without footwear laying emphasis on the hardships they had to go through while serving their country. Martin narrates that winter was the darkest moment of the war than even the battle itself because they had no blankets and they had to spend the nights outside in the freezing air. Martin has also documented the harassments by fellows and countrymen save for the pretty duration of kindness by city folks. He highlights a situation in which he was favored by people who had lost sons their family and he laments after being provided with free meals after the introduction of his name and age." Alongside the extreme honesty about the war that Martin expresses in his narrative, he unveils open concepts regarding the way soldiers fought in the battle. Since the end of the Revolutionary War, the officers and footmen have been praised for their courage, honesty, and impeccability.

However, according to Martin, the told stories exaggerate the concepts of the Revolutionary War and he proves that by his description of the unjust treatment and harassments by another officer, the disrespect of the citizens for the Revolutionary soldiers as well as their questionable treatment of both parties. The distrust of civilians for the Revolutionary soldiers was genuinely founded according to Martin even though American soldiers did not assault the countryside as their enemies did even though they often stole from their farms to replenish their supplies. Martin admits in his narrative for personally leading several parties to steal from the farms in the countryside. The author strikes a balance of sad moments such as harsh treatments which officers received from their subordinates with humorous tales such as their fishing and hunting adventures with light touches of other characters in the book.

Generally, the narrative presents some sense of reality with unusual perspectives and details that are barely readable. Unlike other various authors of the nineteenth century such as the articles of Dickens' Adventures of Oliver Twist together with Melville's Moby Dick which utilize long descriptions of unnecessary items such as bacon strips or whale spices, Martin utilizes direct language which is sufficient to sensibly communicate even to the readers of the twenty-first century. The author introduces various characters in his narrative, for instance, his army generals such as General Washington, Lee as well as Arnold Benedict who all play significant roles in the plot as he focuses on the betrayer of the people of America. The author also uses other characters sparingly in the narrative to help him establish various themes in which he tries to communicate to the readers. The way in which the author communicates to the reader in the most part of the narrative is essential because it links the reader to the ordinary ideas of the narrator regarding the war out of fun and sarcasm more dazzlingly than a historian. The way the author uses humor and sarcasm breaks the monotony which would be experienced by reading a typical war story. The narrative can be considered enjoyable even for the readers of the twenty-first century because of the way the author utilizes the historical record of events.

One thing that is unusual about the book is the tendency of Martin to gloss over some events. Therefore, the author refers to historians on multiple occasions. Alternatively, the author also appears to be slightly irritated that historians have tilted some events of the revolutionary war. The account of Martin in his narrative presents an accurate account of the events of the war. He disenchants the reader from the sanctity of the people in high authority and famous figures as well as the negative perspective of the war. Martin discloses the unfairness of treatment within the continental army. Martin asserts the way in which soldiers of lower ranks did not have privileges unlike other warlords such as Washington who received glory for their role in a war which unveils the unjust treatment within the continental army. The way Martin provides a first experience account of the Revolutionary war is extremely revealing. The most essential aspect of his account of the war is the way he does not cover up an amazing image of the life of a soldier during the Revolutionary War by describing the war as anything else except for being glorious.In the same way as other Continental Army veterans, Martin attempted and struggled to get a benefit, which had been guaranteed by Congress. His pay was, at last, approved in 1818 and for a confusing remainder; he was paid his dues per year for the recognition of his support of the new country. His plan to compose his diary may have been driven to a limited extent to verify extra-budgetary help. When he was allowed his annuity, he was desperate and poverty-stricken. Guests to Valley Forge National Historical Park can walk the border of Washington's acclaimed campsite by strolling at the Joseph Plumb Martin Trail.

Conclusion

The book is also acquainted with a map that shows the routes through which the Revolutionary soldiers followed through and that makes it simpler for readers to follow up on the course of the war and make a comparison of the locations. Consequently, the narrative is also believable due to its lack of military jargons as well as impracticable fiction except for the repetition of the treks, hard times of long waits and cold as well as hunger and starvation which can be disgusting to the reader. Martin generally accounts for the details of the war which is why the narrative is more than just a journal which is written in the time of duty because some of his work seems to be prejudiced in perception. Martin utilizes comedy and sarcasm in a friendly manner and maintains a level of humility. The book is a precious text that provides a deeper insight look at the war which makes a highly valuable account in the study of the American Revolution. This article is an impeccable narrative that presents knowledge and insight into events of great value in history and provides an understanding of the inside events that determine the face of the war.