Martin was born 1828 & was a successful teacher in Chester & Lancaster counties. He attended PA College (now Gettysburg College) & graduated 1856. Martin enlisted OCT1861 as a PVT, 6th U.S. CAV, & was promoted to SGT before the regiment stepped off to battle. He was severely wounded at the battle of Williamsburg, VA on 04MAY1862, & didn't rejoin the regiment until the following June. He was captured at the battle of Fairfield, PA on 30JUN1863, & sent to Belle Isle Prison in Richmond. He was exchanged an interned at the U.S. Army General Hospital in Annapolis, MD, where he complained of pain from his old wound & a severe chill. This was unfortunately the onset of typhoid fever. He passed away the morning of 04OCT1863. He was buried in Ash Grove Cemetery, later renamed Annapolis National Cemetery.

"Case 70. — Sergeant M. Armstrong, Co. M, 6th Cavalry, was wounded at Williamsburg, May 4, 1862, and admitted to the Hygeia Hospital, Fort Monroe, five days afterwards, when Surgeon R. B. Bontecou, U. S. V., noted a "shot wound of left thigh." Acting Assistant Surgeon S. J. Radcliffe contributed the following history, from Hospital No. 1, Annapolis: "The ball entered the external aspect and posterior of the upper third of the thigh, passing inward and downward, and emerged about the centre of the middle third. The patient was in hospital at Fort Monroe about ten weeks, when he rejoined his regiment. He went through most of the great battles and skirmishes until Gettysburg, in [30] July, 1863, when he was taken prisoner at Fairfield, Penn., and went to Richmond via Staunton, arriving there on July 20th. He was paroled and left the enemy's lines on the 23d, arrived at Annapolis on the 24th and at Camp Parole on August 2d, and entered this hospital September 20th. He states that the leg has not been painful except in cloudy weather, and has not swelled, and that his health has been good. Prescribed pills consisting of quinine one and a half grains, and blue mass and capsicum one half grain each, to be given every four hours. September 25th: Had a chill yesterday; tongue coated; skin dry; pulse quick; conjunctiva yellow; countenance dejected and of painful expression; great lancinating pain in leg; nervousness; bowels irregular. Stopped the pills and gave quinine in solution, five grains every six hours. September 27th: Has lost flesh during last week. Has had continued fever, and the leg has been swelling for two or three days and is very painful, the least motion being painful; abscess forming between the former orifices of the wound on the posterior aspect; general condition unfavorable. A large flaxseed poultice was applied to envelope the whole thigh, and the quinine was continued. Patient objects to taking stimulants, and takes but little. October 1st, A. M.: The thigh, from the groin to the knee, has continued to enlarge to this date, with sharp throbbing pain, sleeplessness, depressed nervous condition, deafness, fever of a low type, diarrhoea and loss of appetite; patient quite hectic, pulse quick, and cheeks flushed; abscess pointing at the eschar or orifice of wound of exit. Made an incision from one to five inches long, and a full stream of dark, thin, offensive matter followed, amounting to nearly two pints; bathed with warm water and vinegar, and continued the stimulants, beef-tea and quinine, with an occasional dose of compound mixture of catechu. 5 P. M.: Patient feels better; pulse quick and feeble; skin in good condition; tongue cleaner; bowels better. Ordered spirits of mindereri, one half ounce, to be given alternately with the other medicine. October 3d: Abscess still discharging very dark, thin, and fetid matter; patient very prostrate; emaciation very rapid and distinct. Gave stimulants freely and often. October 3, A. M.: Patient very feeble, pale and thirsty; pulse quick and sharp; bowels worse; delirium most of the night, and nausea; abscess still discharging; leg very much swollen and highly sensitive; sloughing about the wound. Applied charcoal and yeast poultices, and gave tincture of chloride of iron, twenty-five drops, with quinine every four hours. 3 P. M.: Pupils contracted; stupor; pulse 120, feeble, sharp, and quick; very sensitive to touch; bowels more involuntary; leg largely infiltrated, red and swollen, and pits at the knee; very little discharge of bloody serum; patient sinking. Died at 5.30 A. M. on October 4, 1863." -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U. S. Army Surgeon General's Office, 1883.