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| xi Preface and Acknowledgments Historical research rarely proceeds in a straight line. The historian boldly pursues an embryonic thought or notion down a path filled with so many turns, forks, and dead ends that the final result often has little connection to the original destination. So it went with this project. John Shy’s provoca­ tive article “A New Look at the Colonial Militia” provided the initial idea.1 At the time the article was written, Shy believed that although the “evidence gathered so far is not full nor does it admit of any quantitative conclusions, . . . it does indicate that a growing number of those who did the actual fighting were not the men who bore a military obligation as part of their freedom.”2 This thesis prompted an analysis of soldiers from Dover, New Hampshire, who performed active duty in 1745, which in turn led to the present study. But what began as a relatively straightforward and simple quantitative test of Shy’s thesis has twisted and turned and grown so much since that beginning, the final form bears little resemblance to the incipient concept. During the course of my research I found considerable inspiration from the work of the “new” military historians such as John Keegan, Sylvia Frey, and J. A. Houlding.3 They have examined in intimate detail the effects of war and army life on the soldier and have provided new insights while destroying old stereotypes. Encouraging this approach in 1981, Richard H. Kohn recommended that historians studying the social history of the American soldier should recon­ struct “the life and the environment of the enlisted man in much greater detail and depth than has ever before been attempted.” As Kohn suggested: By first asking the most basic descriptive questions and using the methods of other disciplines, military historians can recover the fullness of the military experience. Initial research might concen­ trate on the assumptions that the military has brought to the acqui­ sition, training, and government of soldiers, then the regulations of armies and navies, xii | Preface and Acknowledgments the uniforms and the equipment, the drill and fatigue duty—in short, the minutiae of military life in its entirety. . . . histori­ ans could create so realistically the physical and mental world of the enlisted man that the time-honored reliance on literary sources and on the artistry of fiction could be diminished.4 This, then, is the direction my research has taken. The intention to conduct a quantitative analysis of colonial soldiers has blossomed into a social history concentrating on the impact of war and military life on the New England provincial soldier. So many people have influenced and assisted in this work it is hard to single them all out. Early on, Robert Gilmore encouraged me to explore where my heart and mind led me. Vincent Capowski graciously read a few chapters and provided valuable suggestions and encouragements. Our many discussions concerning military history at St. Anselm College were not only enjoyable but provided an important sounding board for my ideas. I must also mention the influence of Darrett Rutman. He was a hard task master to be sure, but one who expunged naiveté and fostered a respect and love for the writing of history. Service and teaching at Mount Ida College over the years distracted me from writing for too long. Over those years there were individuals who encouraged me to publish this work and get on to other projects. In particular , Emerson W. “Tad” Baker has been persistent in his nudging, and I have appreciated every nudge. I also appreciate Guy Chet’s acknowledgment . Guy and I are almost diametrically opposed in our interpretations , but he still expressed appreciation of the work, and his appreciation meant a great deal. Kyle F. Zelner also provided encouragement at a time when I needed it. Finally, I greatly appreciated the kind words from Fred Anderson. Then there are those in your personal life who provide support and understanding, friends and family who provide that timely pat on the back. I wish I could thank them all individually but the names are too many to list without the risk of leaving out someone. I will mention and thank Tom Nesbitt for continuing to provide me with research material. I also want to thank Ellen Goldberger for enduring my constant kvetching during the rewrite process: man nor beast knows no better friend. Best of all, there is my family. The raising of my three children, Mairi, Kelsi, and...

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