New England in the American Revolution: Stories of Starvation, Disease and Determination

During the War of Independence, New England's soldiers faced the possibility of death in battle on the field, from errant cannon blast, or more commonly, from a skirmish in the woodlands. More feared perhaps, were the dangers that came off the field of battle in the form of illness, hunger and exposure to the elements. Those who served 'till the war's end' faced the tides of sickness and hunger that swept through their encampments and prisons during the region's frigid and unforgiving winters. Historian Robert A. Geake explores these challenges through collected diaries, documents, and letters. They reveal a largely untold story of the conflict, while providing a true testament to the grit and determination of the Continental Army, including patriots of color, during the most demanding of times.