"The boy was around 14 when he joined the Continental Army"
Today's 14 year olds are at home playing video games.....
Agreed. Kids used to grow up really fast back when all there was for them was misery, hunger and manual labor.
I started working at 12, but just mowing lawns and babysitting, then ‘real’ work at 15 when I could get a work permit. (Retail, Fast Food, etc.) And, of course, Mother Government taking 25% of what *I* earned! “WHO is this ‘FICA Guy’ and why is be taking all of my money?”
Joining the military at 14? Now THAT was brave - but he supposedly had no choice after being orphaned and losing the family fortune to the evil cousin. Poor kid.
Great backstory...and now we all know it and can be grateful that it wasn’t us. ;)