Mary Noel Bleecker

Ruffles, Drums, and Ragged Men Mary Noel Bleecker

"Ruffles, Drums, and Ragged Men" tells of the experiences, thoughts, and emotions of a group of young people who lived in "East Jersey" during the American Revolution. The plot is interwoven throughout with known historical events. All characters portrayed are completely fictional, although the names of several persons of historical significance have been introduced to enhance the background. Action is centered in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and its environs. The book deals mainly with events that seldom have appeared in history books but in which the chief protagonists and their contemporaries become deeply involved. Throughout the book, historical accuracy takes second place to the narrative. This book was penned by Mary Bleecker at the age of 97 and was her first novel. Within these pages is a warm and convincing tale of young people who have been caught up in the complicated web of happiness and grief, hazards and excitement, of the stirring time in which they lived.