Joseph Plumb Martin – June 28, 1778

Experience the American dream with today’s Patriots of the Past interview. I’m your host, John Gillespie.

It’s June 28, 1778. I’m with teenage soldier Joseph Martin at the Battle of Monmouth.

JG: “Joseph, why are you retreating? It looks like you could win if you attack.”

JM: “You’re right, Mr. Gillespie. General Lee is afraid to attack the British. He’s afraid and won’t give us orders. I saw General Washington yell at him and then he took charge and commanded us to fight.”

General Washington, in a rare burst of temper, yelled and fired the cowardly and incompetent General Lee, then, Washington regrouped his army to save it at the Battle of Monmouth.

Read the full text of the letters exchanged between Major General Lee and General Washington following the Battle of Monmouth.

John and Jan Gillespie are the founders of the Rawhide Boys’ Ranch; they have fostered 351 teenagers and wrote the book Our 351 Sons; they have also assisted numerous churches in developing youth programs and expanding their total church ministries. After running for U.S. Senate, John founded 1776 American Dream, which exists to demonstrate the vision of our founding fathers and help our generation of youth passionately embrace those values.

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