This book is not about Lafayette the youthful adventurer; it is not about Lafayette the courtier or Lafayette the wealthy nobleman. This book is about Lafayette the soldier. Through these pages, the reader will hear the tale of young man who heard accounts of his martial ancestors and dreamed of being a soldier. One will travel with him as he saw his dream become a reality, both in France and America. First and foremost, Lafayette saw himself as a soldier and it is as a soldier that this study examines him. The Officers of the Pennsylvania line recognized Lafayette s martial qualities, as did many of Lafayette s other contemporaries. It is now time for history to recognize them as well.