Boy Soldiers of the American Revolution - by Caroline Cox (Paperback)

About the Book

"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"--

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

"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

"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

"This book has a place on myriad bookshelves, especially of any American sociologist or historian."--On Point

"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

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.