To awaken in the minds of all Americans that veneration of the patriots and heroes of the War of Independence, and that emulation of their noble example which is so necessary to the maintenance of our liberties, are the objects of this little work. Every day's developments illustrate the importance of these objects. In the enjoyment of the freedom and prosperity of our country, we are apt to under-rate the means by which that enjoyment was secured to us, and to forget the men who worked for that end. A knowledge of the toils and sufferings of the noble-hearted fathers of the Revolution is the best preventative, or curative, for this "falling off." War, clothed as it is, with horrors, is to be condemned, and the spirit which leads to it should be driven from the breasts of men. But generous devotion, strength of resolution, and far-reaching skill, are things to be commended and imitated wherever displayed. In these pages, will be found stories of the chief men of the Revolution, so connected, by the manner in which they are narrated, as to give a general interest to them—"The Old Bell of Independence" being the rallying point of the veteran story-tellers.
STORY OF GENERAL WASHINGTON
THE SPY'S FATE
STORY OF THE SERMON
STORY OF THE PRAYER
STORY OF LYDIA DARRAGH
THE DEAD MAN'S LAKE
THE HALF-BREED
DEATH OF COLONEL LOVELACE
MURDER OF MISS McCREA
DEFENCE OF SHELL'S BLOCK-HOUSE
BATES'S REVENGE
STORY OF GENERAL WAYNE
THE OUTLAW OF THE PINES
THE TORY'S CONVERSION
THE TIMELY RESCUE
THE BATTLE OF GERMANTOWN
THE BATTLE OF THE KEGS
ARNOLD'S TREASON
CAPTURE OF GENERAL PRESCOTT
JONATHAN RILEY AND FRANK LILLY
MASSACRE OF WYOMING
STORY OF THE DAUPHIN'S BIRTHDAY
