Thread by @pptsapper

Historians of the American Revolution, has anyone done a comprehensive study of Continental Army demographics since Selesky's 1987 review of the Main Army at Valley Forge?

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I'm interested because of Nathaniel Philbrick's assertion in "Valiant Ambition" that after 1777, the Continental Army was majority foreign-born. Selesky's work shows that for some states, like PA, this was true (75-80%) but New England & VA had lower numbers (25-30%)

Generally, however, there is definitely a climb in foreign-born enlistments post-1777 as more native-born men decided to hire substitutes to satisfy the state quotas, rather than serve themselves. Generally poorer men, as well

That said, trying to get accurate and comprehensive data from the RevWar is very difficult. Many records are missing, lost, or destroyed, meaning that our samples may not be indicative of the whole. But it's definitely something worth doing as it tells a very fascinating story