"Men of Granite is a thorough history of New Hampshire combat troops in the years before and during the Civil War. Focusing On the day-to-day experiences of the common soldier and his reasons for taking up the fight against the Confederacy, Shaffer has mined myriad primary sources to draw together the experiences of all of the state's regiments and units into this single, cohesive volume." "Further enhanced by twenty illustrations and twelve maps, Shaffer's detailed survey reinserts the story of New Hampshire forces into the annals of Civil War history and, through frequent quotation of soldiers' own accounts, gives voice to the motivations and daily experiences of determined Union forces from the Granite State."--BOOK JACKET.

This book is essential reading for those interested in the history of New England and the Connecticut River Valley states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont. The journal provides insights into the migration and settlement of up country New England and for gealogists, the book lists more than 1,000 people.