Blood, Smoke, and Freedom

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    Explosions shook the ground. Smoke filled the air. Joseph Plumb Martin, 15, lay in the dirt.

    It was August 27, 1776. America and England were fighting one of the first big battles of the Revolutionary War. Joseph had begged his family to let him join the American army. He thought it would be exciting. And he was sure America would win.

    But now Joseph knew that the Americans were doomed. Hundreds of soldiers were dead. Many others were injured.  

    It seemed Joseph had two choices: surrender or die.

    Boom! Boom! Boom!

    Explosions shook the ground. Smoke filled the air. Fifteen-year-old Joseph Plumb Martin was lying in the dirt, trying to stay alive.

    It was August 27, 1776. America and England were fighting one of the first major battles of the Revolutionary War in Brooklyn, New York. Joseph had begged his family to let him join the American army. He thought being a soldier would be an exciting adventure—and he felt certain that America would win.

    But now Joseph knew that the Americans were doomed. Hundreds of soldiers were dead. The cries of injured men rose up into the sky.

    It seemed Joseph had two choices: surrender or die.

    Joseph was born in 1760. The United States wasn’t a country yet. America was still mostly wilderness, except for a strip of land along the East Coast. This land was ruled by England. It was divided into 13 areas, or colonies. Joseph lived in the colony of Connecticut.

    Many people had come to the colonies from England and other parts of Europe. In their old countries, these people had few choices about their religion, their jobs, or even their friends.

    In America, things were different. Those in the colonies still had to follow some of England’s rules. But they had more freedom. That’s why people risked everything, even death, to get there.

    Joseph was born in 1760, before the United States was a country. America was still mostly wilderness—except for a strip of land along the East Coast. This land was ruled by England and divided into 13 areas, or colonies. Joseph lived in the colony of Connecticut.

    Hundreds of thousands of people had come to the colonies from England and other parts of Europe. In their former countries, these people had few choices about their religion, their jobs, or even their friends.

    America promised a different kind of life. Although people in the colonies still had to follow some of England’s rules, they had far more freedom. That’s why people risked everything—even death—to get there.

    Not everyone in the colonies had a good life. Hundreds of thousands of Native American people were killed. They died of diseases or in fights over land. And African people were dragged to America in chains. They were forced to become slaves.

    But for people like Joseph’s family—white and free—life was good. And many wanted an even better life. They were angry at England. They wanted more say over how laws were made in the colonies.

    America’s anger toward England smoldered like a fire. And then, in April 1775, that anger exploded into war. The Revolution had begun. Americans were fighting for their freedom.

    Not everyone in the colonies enjoyed a life of freedom and independence. Hundreds of thousands of Native American people died of diseases or in fights over land. At the same time, African people were dragged to America in chains and forced into slavery.

    But for people like Joseph’s family—white and free—life was better than almost anywhere in the world. And soon, many Americans began to imagine an even better life. These people resented England’s rules and wanted more say over how laws were made in the colonies.

    America’s anger toward England smoldered like a fire—and in April 1775, that anger exploded into war. The Revolution had begun. Americans were fighting for their freedom.

    At first, the thought of fighting scared Joseph. But his courage and excitement grew. In June 1776, he joined the American army and sailed to New York City. This bustling city had been turned into an American army camp.

    “I was now what I had long wished to be,” he later wrote. “A soldier.”

    But he wasn’t really a soldier yet. And neither were most of the nearly 20,000 members of the American army. Some could barely fire a gun. All summer, General George Washington worked to turn them into strong fighters.

    Joseph didn’t complain about shooting practice or endless marching. He ate the wormy biscuits and flavorless meat. He coped with the summer heat and the stink of trash. He was excited to be a soldier.

    Initially, the thought of fighting scared Joseph—but his courage and excitement soon overtook his fear. In June 1776, he joined the American army and sailed to New York City. This large, bustling city had been turned into an American army camp.

    “I was now what I had long wished to be,” he later wrote. “A soldier.”

    But like most of the nearly 20,000 members of the American army, Joseph wasn’t really a soldier yet. Some army members could barely fire a gun. All summer, General George Washington struggled to transform this group into an effective fighting force.

    Joseph didn’t complain about the shooting practice or the endless marching. He choked down meals of wormy biscuits and flavorless meat. He coped with the brutal summer heat and the stink of garbage. Joseph was just excited to be a soldier.

    Meanwhile, the British were planning a huge attack on New York. They sailed ships packed with weapons. Joseph could see the British soldiers—called “redcoats”—on those ships. They were hungry for blood and ready to strike. 

    Then early one morning at the end of August, it happened. More than 15,000 redcoats arrived on the shores of Brooklyn—a village across the river from New York City. The American soldiers there were caught by surprise. 

    Washington rushed to send more men to Brooklyn. Joseph was one of them. When he got there, he saw a scene of death and destruction. He and other soldiers tried to stop the British from reaching American forts. But the British forces were too powerful. Hundreds of American soldiers were killed or injured.

    Meanwhile, the British were planning to attack New York. They sailed ships full of weapons. The British soldiers were known as “redcoats.” They were ready to strike.

    One August morning, it happened. Redcoats arrived in Brooklyn, a village across the river from New York City. They took the American soldiers there by surprise.

    Washington sent more men to Brooklyn. Joseph was one of them. They tried to stop the British from reaching American forts. But the British forces were too strong. Hundreds of American soldiers were killed or injured.

    Meanwhile, the British were planning a major attack on New York. Joseph could see the British soldiers—called “redcoats”—approaching on ships packed with weapons. They were hungry for blood and ready to strike.

    Then early one morning in late August, more than 15,000 redcoats arrived on the shores of Brooklyn—a village across the river from New York City. The American soldiers there were caught by surprise.

    Washington hurried to send more men to Brooklyn. Joseph was among them, and when he arrived, he witnessed a horrifying scene of death and destruction. He and other soldiers tried to prevent the British from reaching American forts, but the British forces were too powerful. Hundreds of American soldiers were killed or injured.

    As the British closed in, General Washington came up with a bold plan. He would sneak his army out of Brooklyn during the night. He sent a message: “We need boats in Brooklyn now!”

    Thousands of soldiers were able to escape in the dark. This included Joseph. In the morning, the British attacked the American forts. They were shocked to find them empty. 

    The Americans lost the Battle of Brooklyn. But their army survived and kept fighting. The American Revolution lasted for eight years. Towns were burned down. Thousands of soldiers were killed. But in 1783, the war finally ended. America had won. 

    Joseph fought for the rest of the war. He later moved to Maine, married, and raised children. He never forgot the terrors of war. But he was proud that he helped America win its freedom.

    As the British closed in, Washington made a plan. He would sneak his army out of Brooklyn during the night. He sent a message: “We need boats in Brooklyn now!”

    Thousands of soldiers escaped in the dark. Joseph was one of them. In the morning, the British attacked the American forts. They were shocked to find them empty.

    The Americans lost the Battle of Brooklyn. But their army survived. The war lasted for eight years. Towns were burned down. Thousands of soldiers died. But in 1783, the war ended. America had won.

    Joseph fought for the rest of the war. He later moved to Maine, married, and raised children. He never forgot the terrors of war. But he was proud that he helped America win its freedom. 

    As the British closed in, Washington devised a plan to rescue his soldiers by sneaking them out of Brooklyn during the night. He sent an urgent message saying, “We need boats in Brooklyn now!”

    Thousands of soldiers, including Joseph, escaped under cover of darkness. In the morning, when the British attacked the American forts, they were astonished to find them empty.

    The Americans lost the Battle of Brooklyn, but their army survived and continued fighting. The war lasted for eight years. Entire towns were burned down, and thousands of soldiers died—but in 1783, the war finally ended. America had won.

    Joseph continued fighting throughout the war. Afterward, he moved to Maine, married, and raised children. He never forgot the terrors of war, but he took pride in the knowledge that he’d helped America win its independence.