DEDICATION T O the memory of that bold mariner, who, four hundred years ago, discovered the Western Continent; and the brave colonists who sacrificed the pleasures and comforts of the old world to undergo the privations, and face the dangers of an unknown wilderness; To the memory of the Pilgrim Fathers who planted the seeds of freedom on American Soil; and the Revolutionary heroes who secured liberty for the most patriotic people, and laid the foundations of the greatest nation in all the annals of time; To those brave defenders and noble citizens who have preserved and fostered the growth of our model institutions, made possible our wonderful progress and fortified the bulwarks of our strength in this "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave," entitling our Great Country to sit upon the Throne among Nations as the Queen of Republics, This Volume is Patriotically DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR PREFACE. T HERE is nothing more worthy of a man's study than the history of his country. In our own land, however, the means of pursuing such a study are limited. Our great cities contain large and valuable public libraries, and the collections of our historical societies are rich and very complete; but these are accessible only to the communities in which they are located, and are practically useless to the majority of the American people. The great works of Bancroft and Hildreth cover but a portion of our history, and are removed from the reach of the masses by reason of their costliness. Besides these, the larger number of the works treating of American history are compendiums, or outlines intended for the use of schools, and are therefore unsatisfactory to the adult reader. The demand for a popular History of the United States which shall fill a place between these greater and smaller works has led the author to the preparation of this volume. He has endeavored to popularize the story of the nation, and at the same time to neglect nothing that could in the least contribute to a clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject. He has sought to trace the history of the Republic from the discovery of the American continent to the present day, and has endeavored especially to fix the attention of the reader upon the various influences which have aided in moulding our national character, and have produced our distinctive political and moral national traits. He has endeavored to write from broad national standpoint, and to cultivate in the minds of his readers that feeling of national patriotism which must ever be the safeguard of our country. It is a fitting time to consider the story of the past, to learn the lessons which it teaches, and to ponder the warnings which it conveys for the future. Four hundred years ago America was an unknown wilderness. Less than three centuries ago it passed into the hands of England, and was thus secured for the language and the free influences of the all-conquering Anglo-Saxon race. It was a precious heritage which was thus secured for liberty; a land stretching from the frozen regions of the north to the sunny skies of the tropics, from the stormy Atlantic to the calm Pacific; a land embracing every variety of climate, and a soil capable of producing almost every product of the earth, from the stunted herbage of the frozen regions to the luxuriant fruits of the tropics. The earth is rich in mineral deposits, from the homely, but invaluable, veins of coal, to beds of the most brilliant and precious minerals It pours out in streams, oil for burning, ga that may be used fresh from the natura springs, salt that requires but the heat of the sun for its perfection, and beds of pure soda that cover the earth like the dust in the highways. In short, all that is needed for the preservation and comfort of animal and human life exists in this favored land in the greatest profusion. ever penned on earth. Yet the fact remains that the great mass of the American people are but imperfectly acquainted with it. There is a real need that we should know better than we do what we have done. It is only by a thoughtful study of our past that we can safely provide for the perils of the future. We have triumphed over adversity, and we are now called upon to bear the test of success. He can be no good citizen who is ignorant of his country's history. In the preparation of this volume, no authority of importance has been overlooked; the author has carefully searched every source of information open to him; and has availed himself of every fact that could throw new light upon, or impart additional interest to, the subject under consideration. Such is the land designed by God for the, noblest, most thrilling, and glorious story home of liberty. The people to whom He has intrusted it have not abused His goodness. In the short space of two centuries, the American people have grown from a small handful of hardy adventurers to a "mighty continental nation," increasing with a rapidity that is almost marvellous. They have built up their country on a scale of magnificence of which they are justly proud. They have covered it with powerful and free States, and splendid cities, connected by a network of railways, telegraphs, navigable rivers, and canals, which bind all the scattered parts into one solid whole. They have made a commerce and a system of manufactures before which the fabled wealth of Tyre sinks into insignificance. They have created a literature which commands the respect of the world; they have illustrated their history with deeds of arms not less splendid than their more peaceful achievements, and have given to the world names in every walk of life that will never die. They have shown that liberty and power can go hand in hand; they have made themselves a nation in which God is feared, and of which Christianity is the basis, in which ignorance and vice are despised, and in which the great lesson that liberty is possible only to an educated and virtuous people is being practically demonstrated. This is a grand history-a record of the highest achievement of humanity-the In the narration of military events, he has preferred to give each campaign as a whole rather than to mingle several by presenting the events in chronological order. At the same time he has sought to preserve the inter-relation of events in one field of operations to those in the others. The book is offered to the public in the sincere hope that it may induce its readers to take to heart the lessons which our history teaches, and to set a higher value upon the precious heritage of constitutional liberty. which our fathers won for us with their blood, and handed down to us in trust for our chil dren's children. CONTENTS. STRANGE PEOPLE IN A STRANGE LAND. Earliest Inhabitants of the United States-The Mound Builders-Remarkable Works Constructed by Them-Evidences of a Primitive Civilization— Indications of the Antiquity of this Period—A Re- markable Cherokee-Who Were the Mound Build- ers-Ancient Phoenicians-False Assumption-The American Indians-Divisions of the Country Among the Tribes-Names and Location of the Various Tribes-Organization and Government of the In- dians-Their Dress, Manners and Customs-Vil- lages-Indian Inventions-The War Dance-Le- Maritime Enterprise in the Fifteenth Century-The- ories Respecting the Earth's Surface-Christopher Columbus-His Early Life-His Theory of a West- ern Passage to India-His Struggles to Obtain the Means of Making a Voyage-Is Aided by Ferdi- nand and Isabella of Spain-His First Voyage- Discovery of America-Reception in Spain-His Second Voyage-Settlement of Hayti-Third Voy- age of Columbus-He Reaches the Mainland-Dis- covery of Gold in Hayti-Troubles in the Colony -Columbus Sent to Spain in Irons-Indignation of the Queen-Last Voyage of Columbus-His Ship- wreck-Returns to Spain-Refusal of Ferdinand to ENGLISH AND FRENCH DISCOVERIES. Discovery of the North American Continent by John French to Explore America-Voyage and Discov- eries of Verrazzani-Cartier Explores the St. Law- rence--Reaches Montreal-Efforts to Found a Col- St. Lawrence-Failure-Roberval's Colony-Trading Voyages-Explorations of Cham- plain-Colonization of Nova Scotia-Founding of Settlement of the West Indies-Discovery of the Pa- cific Ocean-Voyage of Magellan-Discovery of Florida-Ponce de Leon's Search for the Fountain of Youth --Vasquez de Ayllon Kidnaps a Cargo of Indians-Effort of Pamphilo de Narvaez to Con- quer Florida-A Terrible March-The Voyage on the Gulf of Mexico-Fate of the Fleet-Escape of Cabeza de Vaca and His Comrades-Discovery of New Mexico-Ferdinand de Soto-Obtains Leave to Conquer Florida-Sails from Spain-Arrival in Cuba-Departure for Florida-Landing at Tampa Bay-Events of the First Year-De Soto Enters Georgia-Descends the Alabama-Battle of Ma- villa-Destruction of Chickasaw-Sufferings of the Spaniards Discovery of the Mississippi - The Spaniards Cross the Great River-De Soto in Ar- kansas-Reaches the Mississippi Again-Sickness and Death of De Soto—His Burial—Escape of His Followers to Mexico-The Huguenot Colony in Carolina-Its Failure- The French Settle in Florida-Wrath of Philip II.-Melendez Ordered to Exterminate the Huguenots-Foundation of St. The English Claim to America-Voyages of Fro- bisher-Exploits of Sir Francis Drake-Sir Humph- rey Gilbert-Intends to found a Colony in America |