The men who declared American Independence in 1776 get their due respect in the history books. But often, many of the men and women who helped earn that independence are forgotten. Mental Floss pays tribute to 11 of the unsung heroes who made huge contributions to the American Revolution.
This is the story of Joseph Plumb Martin the original Yankee Doodle. Martin was a typical soldier in the American Revolution. He joined the Connecticut state militia at just 15 years old. Martin served almost seven years in the Continental Army of General George Washington.
What set Martin apart is that he kept a detailed diary during the American Revolution. Many years after the war his diary was published as an anonymous account of the war. The book is titled A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, Interspersed with Anecdotes of Incidents that Occurred Within His Own Observation. It sold poorly during his lifetime. However, it was republished over 100 years later under the title Private Yankee Doodle and shed new light on the daily life of the men who made independence possible.
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Between the hot dogs, mosquitoes, and shopping, do something important. Turn off the TV, read a book, Thank a veteran, Get smarter about how politicians are destroying the country.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
