Joseph Plumb Martin
“When they came out of the water and mud to us, looking like water rats, it was truly a pitiful sight.”
15 years old
Joseph Plumb Martin, from Massachusetts, joined the Connecticut Militia in June, 1776, and went from Manhattan to Brooklyn toward the end of August 27, where he witnessed thousands of patriots attempting to escape the conflict at the Old Stone House by crossing the Gowanus Creek. Many died trying. Martin helped pull their corpses and arms from the muck, and fell back with General Washington’s forces as the British besieged them. Martin took part in Washington’s daring escape across the East River on August 29-30, and from there fought in several pinnacle Revolutionary War battles, eventually rising to Sergeant.