Military Desertions During the American Revolution Vol 2, 1777-1783 by Joseph Lee Boyle BURNGARDNER

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With their emblems of American and foreign military branches and rank

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Military Desertions During the American Revolution Vol 2, 1777-1783 by Joseph Lee Boyle BURNGARDNEROne expert estimates that as many as 25 percent of the men who enlisted in the cause of American Independence ultimately deserted the ranks. As Joseph Lee Boyle explains in the trenchant Introduction to his new two volume work, "He Loves a Good Deal of Rum" (see also Volume 1, 1775 June 30, 1777), a number of factors coalesced to foster this problem. Short term enlistments were the norm, causing some soldiers to take a casual attitude about remaining