The sages and heroes of the American Revolution, including the signers of the Declaration of Independence

Front matter

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Preface

This volume contains the condensed substance of more expensive works that have been published relative to the men and times of the American Revolution. The character and acts of the most prominent Sages and Heroes of that eventful era are delineated. A sufficient amount of documentary matter is inserted to enable the reader to fully understand the causes, progress and triumphant termination of that sanguinary struggle that resulted in Freedom to the new world and prepared an asylum for the oppressed. The French and Indian wars are prominently noticed. More Revolutionary names are rescued from oblivion in this book than in any other extant. I have introduced many practical remarks intended to rouse the reflective powers of the immortal mind and increase a patriotic love for our expanding Republic and glorious institutions. These remarks are designed to be living epistles animated with "thoughts that breathe and words that burn." There are many festering wounds on our body politic that need probing to the bottom-cancers that require the best treatment of the boldest operators in moral, religious and political surgery. The text is concise and not dressed in the dogmatical garb of arhiirary punctuation. In preparing the historical part I have consulted numerous documents and the most approved works in our libraries. Once for all I award a general credit. The relation of events is usually in my own plain laconic language. I believe this volume as free from errors as any of its illustrious predecessors. It has long been a cherished desideratum in my mind to place this multum in parvo within the reach of every working man in our land. I have exerted my best efforts to make it interesting and instructive by blending a perspective chart of human nature with the thrilling history of the times that tried the souls of the patriots of '76. It is my ardent desire that it may prove beneficial to readers and publisher.

L. CARROLL JUDSON, of the Philadelphia Bar.

Philadelphia, March 4, 1851.

(iii)

PART I. Adams John

. 7

Heyward Thomas

168 Quincy Josiah

Adams Samuel .

. 24

Hopkins Stephen

Read George . ,

Arnold Benedict .

. 32

Hopkinson Francis

Rodney Csesar

Barney Joshua .

. 39

Hooper William .

Ross George . .

Bartlett Josiah .

. 49

Huntington Samuel

Rush Benjamin .

Braxton Carter .

. 54

Irvine William .

Rutledge Edward

Butler Zebulon .

. 58

Jeiferson Thomas

Sherman Roger .

Carroll Charles .

. 63

Kalb Baron de .

Smith James . .

Chase Samuel

. 68

La Fayette G. M. de

Stark John . .

Clark Abraham .

. 77

Lee Francis Lightfoot 219

Stockton Richard

Clymer Greorge .

. 80

Lee Richard Henry

Stone Thomas

Dickinson John .

. 87

Lewis Francis

Taylor George

Ellery William .

. 90

Livingston Philip

Thornton Matthetv'

Floyd William .

. 96

Lynch Thomas Jr.

Varnum Joseph B.

Franklin Benjamin

. 101

McKean Thomas

Walton George .

Grates Horatio

. 110

Marion Francis .

Warren Joseph .

Gerry Elbridge .

. 114

Middleton Arthur

Washington George

Greene Nathaniel

. 121

Morris Lewis . .

Wayne Anthony .

Gwinnett Button

. 129

Morris Robert

Whipple William Jr

Hall Lyman . .

. 132

Morton John . . .

Williams William

Hancock John .

. 135

Nelson Thomas . ,

Wilson James

Harrison Benjamin

. 141

Otis James

Witherspoon John

Hart John . .

. 148

Paca William . . .

Wolcott Oliver .

Henry Patrick .

. 151

Paine Robert Treat

Wythe George .

Hewes Joseph

. 161

Penn John . . . ,

Yates Robert . .