An American Soldier:

Originally published in 1958, this is the biography of John Laurens (1754-1782), an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War, best known for his criticism of slavery and his efforts to help recruit slaves to fight for their freedom as U.S. soldiers.

In the author’s own words, Laurens hailed from an era that “knew nothing of flamethrowers and submarines, of atomic bombs and guided missiles. To the young republic this man gave his utmost devotion, acting within five momentous years the roles of soldier, legislator, aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, and Special Minister to France.”