Connecticut in 1861 was more a land of contrast than of tradition. The author shows that beneath her placid exterior, the pressure of drastic social and economic change had been building up for thirty years. He argues that the explosion in 1861, as far as Connecticut was concerned, was atleast partially due to the sudden release of purely local forces. Focusing attention on the youth of the state- those who would and did bear arms- the author sees a conscious effort on their part to break out of a situation that had become intolerable. Their idealistic aspirations, their revolt against the status quo, their naive desire for adventure in the great Union crusade was as much a result of social chaos at home was a response to nationalistic and patriotic fervor. That theme is carried into the recruitment and training of the army and is mirrored in its leadership and battle record. The military chapters are organized to indicate the concentric rings of pressure that were tightened around the Confederacy, and to demonstrate the activity of Connecticut troops in all major theaters of operation. Other sections deal with the impact of war on the state's economy and social values and on the social and economic consequences of peace. -- from Book Jacket.