What did Joseph Martin want, receive, and learn?

Joseph Plumb Martin served as a private soldier in the Continental Army for eight years (1776-83), with one hiatus during the winter of 1776-77. Born in 1760, he was raised by his maternal grandparents on their Connecticut farm from age six. He was fourteen at the time of Lexington and Concord. Inspired by the rage militaire directly following the first successful clash of arms with the British invader, Martin decided to join the militia. However, he could not obtain his grandfather's permission until July 1776, when he enrolled as a six-month volunteer in a Connecticut regiment of the Continental Army. He mustered out of the service in December and returned home. In April 1777, Martin again "put my name to enlisting indentures" (41). This final enlistment was for three years, or the duration of the war.