About the Author
Duane E. Shaffer was a library director in the state of New Hampshire for twenty years. He was the co-founder of the Civil War Roundtable of New Hampshire in 1991 and was the secretary of the New Hampshire Civil War Monuments and Memorials Commission. He has two degrees in history and has published several articles in various military history magazines. He currently lives in Florida and is head of collection development and adult programs for the Sanibel Public Library on the island of Sanibel, Florida.
When Shaffer was recently asked why Americans need another book on the Civil War, he stated, "The Civil War was the fulcrum of American history. All of the history that happened before was preparation for it and everything that came after it was somehow affected by it. Oceans of ink have been expended on trying to understand how and why it happened. This is a book about New Hampshire and where it fit into the vast tragedy that befell America."
Shaffer was also asked what makes this book unique. He answered that, "Men of Granite: New Hampshire's Soldier's In The Civil War fills a gap in the historical literature of New Hampshire. A comprehensive treatment of the subject has not been seen in over one hundred years. New Hampshire contributed to the war and consequently suffered in proportion to the number of men sent from the state."
He was also asked what effect he thinks his book would have on New Hampshire. "I'm really hoping that it stimulates and renews interest in the part New Hampshire played in the war. I especially hope that it will move interested parties and people in the New Hampshire legislature to do more to preserve New Hampshire’s precious battle flags and resting places of its Veterans."