Americans, proud of the achievements of their countrymen, who in the
field of honor have fought with superior valor for the independence
or glory of their native land, will look with complacency on the
decisive _stamp of nationality_ which a work of this kind necessarily
possesses; while it is equally true, that the world will find, in
the circumstances of the age, or period of the gallant deeds when
LIBERTY was so nobly asserted, and when the invincibility of the proud
“mistress of the seas” was so successfully contested, a bright page of
history on which our national pride may justly dwell.
Here, as in “Old Rome,” where the public honors are open to the virtue
of every citizen, the lives of those heroes who have been distinguished
by their country’s highest rewards, will develop virtuous deeds,
heroic exertions and patriotic efforts, when all now commemorated
shall be no more. Nor is it difficult to predict, that a like high
pre-eminence of virtue and of public services will long perpetuate
the glorious annals of America. It has appeared to us that there has
been no publication in which the illustrious commanders of our two
wars, who have been signalized by the presentation of gold medals,
&c., have been singled out, and their lives illustrated in connection
with graphic delineations of the beautiful and glorious emblems of
their country’s gratitude. This work is now offered to the public as a
text-book of men who have sealed their patriotic devotion with wounds
and scars, as well as of historical incidents sacred to patriotism. Our
plan admits of none of the embellishments of romance; on the contrary
it confines itself to the simple facts as they really were, giving
to each commander that share of bravery and virtue which his country
has thought proper to signalize by the medals, &c., awarded him. The
biographical scope we take admits only of the relation of the principal
events of their lives, more particularly in the department in which
they rose to fame, and we have endeavored to do our part with all the
accuracy that conciseness will allow; leaving to others to give more
finished and full-sized portraits, which, in judicious hands, may be
the more entertaining and instructive, as they are more in detail.
We trust, however, though aware it may not be possible to avoid some
error, or to satisfy every expectation, that from the efforts we have
made, and the scrupulous impartiality we have endeavored to observe, as
well as on account of the authentic materials which have been kindly
furnished us, we shall be found to have been successful in our attempt
to aid in the perpetuation of the fame of men so well entitled to
lasting celebrity, and to the gratitude of posterity.
We acknowledge our indebtedness to former historians and biographers;
but, in a greater degree, we have to thank those officers now living
who have so kindly supplied us with facts drawn from their own private
papers, &c. We have also to return our most grateful acknowledgments
to the representatives of the illustrious dead who have so cheerfully
contributed to our materials.
In conclusion, it is hoped that they, and the public, will dwell with
pleasure and satisfaction on these pages.