Boy Soldiers of the American Revolution

by Caroline Cox, Robert L. Middlekauff (Foreword by)

Overview

Between 1819 and 1845, as veterans of the Revolutionary War were filing applications to receive pensions for their service, the government was surprised to learn that many of the soldiers were not men, but boys, many of whom were under the age of sixteen, and some even as young as nine. In Boy Soldiers of the American Revolution, Caroline Cox reconstructs the lives and stories of this young subset of early American soldiers, focusing on how these boys came to join the army and what they actually did in service. Giving us a rich and unique glimpse into colonial childhood, Cox traces the evolution of youth in American culture in the late eighteenth century, as the accepted age for children to participate meaningfully in society — not only in the military — was rising dramatically.

Drawing creatively on sources, such as diaries, letters, and memoirs, Caroline Cox offers a vivid account of what life was like for these boys both on and off the battlefield, telling the story of a generation of soldiers caught between old and new notions of boyhood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781469663951
Publisher:	The University of North Carolina Press
Publication date:	02/01/2021
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

Caroline Cox (1954-2014) was professor of history at the University of the Pacific and author of A Proper Sense of Honor: Service and Sacrifice in George Washington’s Army.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Vividly re-creating both the lived experience and shifting cultural significance of boy soldiers, Caroline Cox offers a rich account of what military service meant to boys and those around them. Persuasive and effective, this book will become the standard work on boy soldiers in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.”—Corinne T. Field, University of Virginia

"Boy Soldiers of the American Revolution explores, both narratively and analytically, questions surrounding the service of boys in the Continental army during the Revolutionary period. The stories are wonderful, and they leap out of the chapters to help make the period come alive. This book is a testament to Cox’s prowess as a scholar.”—Holly Brewer, University of Maryland

Editorial Reviews

“Expertly detail[s] the social fabric of the founding era. . . . Highly recommended for readers interested in the American Revolution and children’s history, as well as those seeking a different perspective on why people fight in wars.”—Library Journal, starred review

“Cox has produced a thoroughly researched and well-written account not only of the wartime experiences of the boys who served in the Revolutionary War but also how those experiences further our understanding of soldier motivations, generational relationships, family life, the work lives of young people, and the maturation process from boyhood to manhood.”—The Historian

“An impeccable work of scholarship that fills an important gap in the historiography of many fields, including military history and the history of childhood and colonial America.”—North Carolina Historical Review

“This compact book is full of valuable findings and striking insights. . . . Cox’s work opens windows into the diversity of experiences in the Revolutionary War and the relationship between soldiering and work. Ultimately, her analysis of boy soldiers highlights changing expectations about children and childhood as one century flowed into the next.”—Journal of the Early Republic

“This exemplary volume is required reading for anyone interested in the history of childhood and the American Revolutionary War. Essential.”—CHOICE

“Cox’s purpose is primarily to elucidate the experiences of these boys in the military and their roles in their families and society. She utilizes narratives that reveal a collective portrait of this particular group.”—American Historical Review

“This book has a place on myriad bookshelves, especially of any American sociologist or historian.”—On Point

From the Publisher