When the revolution began Dr. Joseph E. Field was practicing his profession on the Navidad, about 40 miles from Gonzales. When fighting broke out there he reported for duty, and served as a private until he found that his professional services were needed in camp; but again served as a private in storming Bexar, and took charge of the wounded after Bexar fell.

In January he returned to San Felipe, and from there accompanied General Houston to Refugio and Goliad, and General Houston gave him the appointment of post surgeon at Copano. He then accompanied General Houston to Nacogdoches. From there he returned to his station, and reported to Col. Fannin at Goliad about March 2nd.

He fought coolly and chivalrously in the action of March 19th, and, at its close gave the wounded such attention as circumstances would permit. He was returned to Goliad with the other prisoners, but was specially assigned to care for some Mexican officers and, with Drs. Shackelford and Barnard, was spared, on March 27th, to care for the enemy wounded. He escaped from Goliad in company with George Vose, of the New Orleans Grays.

He visited Massachusetts, during the summer of 1836, and, while there, published an account of his experiences of the Goliad Campaign. Returning to Texas in the autumn of the same year, he resumed the practice of his profession, in which he continued at Corpus Christi, and elsewhere in Texas,