It may be deemed reproachful to our country, that nearly half a century has elapsed since the American colonies were emancipated from British thrald om, and that we are yet unfurnished with proper biographical memoirs of the renowned patriots and heroes whose unparalleled efforts under Providence, achieved the inestimable blessings of liberty and freedom. No characters assuredly, are more worthv to excite the curiosity and gratitude of posterity than those who contributed so largely to the establishment of our invaluable civil and religious privileges under a re publican constitution. The immortal chieftain, ia deed, and his illustrious compeer, General Greene, can receive no additional memorials from any labors in my power to bestow. I might incur the imputa tion of arrogance were I to imagine myself competent to the duty of portraying in a just light the char acters of those whose revered names are introduced into the appendix of this work. I can only claim the merit of having exerted my best efforts to pro cure documents and assistance, and to illustrate their qualities under the guidance of the legitimate prin ciples of impartiality and justice. Should posterity inquire why their ancestors, destitute of military education or experience, abandoned their peaceful abodes to encounter the perils of uncertain warfare let them be told it was not to execute the mandates of a tyrant in subjugating their fellow men, but it.