In battle,many Patriots fell and were stepped over.
Read “The Light and the Glory” from 1977 by Peter Marshall & David Manuel. Great reading about ordinary citizens,and their prayers and their fight for liberty. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: “ I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration,and support and defend these states....”
Of course they did, just like in all wars.