A surgical instrument comprising: a handle assembly; an actuation system operably supported by said handle assembly and configured to generate at least first and second separate actuation motions; a clutch assembly movable between an engaged position wherein said clutch assembly is in operable engagement with said actuation system and an unengaged position; and a trigger assembly operably supported on said handle assembly and configured to operably interface with said clutch assembly and said actuation system such that a first stroke of said trigger assembly causes said actuation system to generate said first actuation motion and moves said clutch assembly from said unengaged position to said engaged position whereupon a second stroke of said trigger assembly causes said actuation system to generate said second actuation motion, wherein said trigger assembly comprises a primary trigger movably supported on said handle assembly, and characterized in that said trigger assembly further comprises a secondary trigger movably supported relative to said primary trigger; and said actuation system comprises: a carriage operably supported by said handle assembly for selective axial travel relative thereto from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon application of said first stroke to said primary trigger to generate said first actuation motion; and a first actuation rack operably supported by said handle assembly and operably interfacing with said clutch assembly to generate said second actuation motion upon application of said second stroke to said primary trigger; and said secondary trigger is configured to interface with said primary trigger such that upon application of said first stroke to said primary trigger, said secondary trigger moves said carriage from said unactuated position to said actuated position to enable said clutch assembly to move from said unengaged position to said engaged position. a handle assembly; an actuation system operably supported by said handle assembly and configured to generate at least first and second separate actuation motions; a clutch assembly movable between an engaged position wherein said clutch assembly is in operable engagement with said actuation system and an unengaged position; and a trigger assembly operably supported on said handle assembly and configured to operably interface with said clutch assembly and said actuation system such that a first stroke of said trigger assembly causes said actuation system to generate said first actuation motion and moves said clutch assembly from said unengaged position to said engaged position whereupon a second stroke of said trigger assembly causes said actuation system to generate said second actuation motion, wherein said trigger assembly comprises a primary trigger movably supported on said handle assembly, and characterized in that said trigger assembly further comprises a secondary trigger movably supported relative to said primary trigger; and said actuation system comprises: a carriage operably supported by said handle assembly for selective axial travel relative thereto from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon application of said first stroke to said primary trigger to generate said first actuation motion; and a first actuation rack operably supported by said handle assembly and operably interfacing with said clutch assembly to generate said second actuation motion upon application of said second stroke to said primary trigger; and a carriage operably supported by said handle assembly for selective axial travel relative thereto from an unactuated position to an actuated position upon application of said first stroke to said primary trigger to generate said first actuation motion; and a first actuation rack operably supported by said handle assembly and operably interfacing with said clutch assembly to generate said second actuation motion upon application of said second stroke to said primary trigger; and said secondary trigger is configured to interface with said primary trigger such that upon application of said first stroke to said primary trigger, said secondary trigger moves said carriage from said unactuated position to said actuated position to enable said clutch assembly to move from said unengaged position to said engaged position.