Spurred on by my Hamilton fervor, I've been seeking out books about the Revolutionary period. I was intrigued by this book about the violence of the time based on the frequency of duels during the musical and thinking about the state of laws and honor and policing during that time. This book was an enlightening look at both the violence of the Revolution as well as the violence and self-policing that occurs during war and also during times without strong legal and governmental oversight. The Patriots at times look like nothing so much as a vigilante mob. The use of corporeal punishment and shaming to keep fellow citizens in line was also widespread. Tarring and feathering; and drawing and quartering, which are just vague phrases for a modern American were very much a living threat to revolutionaries. Heavy in violence and research, recommended primarily for readers of historical non-fiction for a look at an often unexplored aspect of American history.