;^''^ ^•f ' 1 " ■' . ^^: ''if'/. ill, • t ( » : \\ul:'il ■ '.'■'■'■'■. .'■«•''. /,' 1 ' ■ ^B-'-:'- Tf-fT Gojjyiiglit]^^_. COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. •^^. '.U ^j^ yi ^^^^V- WASHINGTON'S RECEPTION COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF TRENTON, WHILE ON HIS WAY TO NEW YORK FOR INAUGURATION. DELIGHTFUL STORIES FROM American History FOR YOUNG PEOPLE A Book Telling the Story of Our Country, its Progress AND Achievements By Prof. Allfn E. Fowlhr Embellished with Numerous Engravings, Illustrating all that is Noblest, most In- teresting and Instructive in the History of the Country in which we Live HOME AND SCHOOL EDITION PUBLISHED AND FOR SALE ONLY BY Monarch Book Company, (Formerly L. P. MILLER & CO.) CHICAGO, ILL. PHILADELPHIA, PA. OAKLAND, CAL. 1867 / -^dy M-^'^^O ^ Fi? A duplicate o£ this book can be pro- cured through our authorized agent of your town, or by writing the PUBLISHKKS. MONARCH BOOK COMPANY, Chicago III., - Philadelphia, Pa., Oakland. Cal. Address the house nearest you. Sent post-paid on receipt of price. RETAIL PRICE C'loth binding, - - - $1.50 Half Morocco hinding, - - 2.50 1096 Copyrighted hv LINCOLN W. WALTER, 1897. IntrodttCtion. iNE cannot fail to notice that within the last few years a taste for the study of American History has been rapidly growing. A pleasing feature of this tendency is, that it has reached the home as well as the school. As a usual thing, history is dry, so a book for ' '^ young people ought, before all things else, be interesting. A fact pleasantly told remains fixed in the memory, while that which is learned listlessly is lost easily. There is a fundamental difference between simplicity of thought and simplicity of expres- sion. This book is designed to meet this difference; it tells the Stories of American History as our father told them to us many years ago, in a simple and natural manner. The language makes it especially suitable for young people and even for children, while, on the other hand, it is also equally interesting to grown people. It aims to teach the history of the country by bringing out the most illustrious actors and events in it. Young people are always interested in persons and things. Biography and story for them is the natural door into history. The order of dates is usually above their reach, but the course of events and the per- sonal achievements of an individual are delightful. So in teaching by means of biography and story, we are teaching the very alphabet of history. It gives interesting glimpses of life in early times by means of personal anecdote. The- customs of foreign courts, the wigwams of the Indians, the struggles of pioneer life, the desolations of the early wars with the savages, the spinning industry, the cotton and tobacco raising, the Tea Party, the cause of negro slavery, etc., are suggested in unforgettable stories of real people. In United States History there are also materials for moral instruction. The perseverance of Columbus, of De Soto and of 9 10 INTROlpCTION. ^^ Field, the fortitude of Joh.n Sii/th, of William Penn and of Stone- wall Jackson, cannot but excite the courage of those who read the stories of their lives. No one can follow the story of Franklin's pursuit after knowledge without a quickening of his own aspirations. What life could teach kindness, truth-telling, manly honor and public spirit better than the life of Washington? And where will a poor lad struggling with poverty find more encouragement in diligent study and simplicity of character than in the life of Lincoln? It would be a pity for a country with such examples in her history not to use them for the moral training of the young. The faults as well as the virtues of the persons whose lives are told here will afford both mother and teacher opportunities to encourage all that is best and noblest in the children. Parents and teachers can here often select material for reading or recreation. Nothing can better aid in fixing a fact in the memory of a boy or girl than a stirring ballad or poem, pictured before him with all the charms of imagination. Take, for example, the story of Paul Revere and follow it up with a recitation of "Paul Reveres Ride;" or take, for example, the thought that prompted Francis Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner" and follow it up with the song; or take, for example, those immortal words of Charles Pinckney inspired by patriotism when he said, "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute." Great care has been taken to secure accuracy in all the delin- eations of men and things, so that they may not convey false instruction. So, dear people, I suggest, nay, I urge, that you place before the children books which will teach, by great examples, the way to honor, success and happiness. Hoping that this volume will, at least in a small measure, be instrumental in bringing good results, I am, Most sincerely, ' Allen E. Fowler. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PART I.— PERIOD OF DISCOVERY. Americus Vespucius 32 Columbus and Queen Isabella of Spain 26 De Soto 36 English Explorers 33 Fate of Sir Walter Raleigh 35 King John II, of Portugal, and Co- lumbus 24 Long Ago 15 Sir Walter Raleigh 34 The Indians 18 The White Men of Europe 22 The Boy Columbus 23 The Voyage 27 The People on the Islands 28 The Closing Year of Columbus' Life 30 The French 33 PART II.— EARLY SETTLEMENTS. Anna Hutchinson 54 A Catholic Colony in Mar3dand. ... 67 Burning of Arcadia 88 Battle of Quebec 92 Benjamin Franklin 95 Captain John Smith 39 Colonial Customs 102 Causes of the Revolution 104 Custom House Dut}-. 108 Dutch in America 63 Daughters of Liberty 107 French and Indian Wars 81 Georgia 77 General Braddock 87 Harvard College loi How the Colonies Grew United. . . . 103 Indian Troubles 70 John Rolfe and Pocahontas . 42 King Phillipp's War 75 La Salle 80 Mistress Annie Hibbins 55 Massasoit's Illness 75 Pocahontas 40 Plymouth Colony Penn's Honesty with the Indians. . . Roger Williams Religious Troubles in America Samuel Argall » Swedish Colony in America Sir Edmund Andros The Thirteen Colonies The Pilgrims in America The Puritans in America The Quakers The Pequots The Snake-Skins The Jesuits The Charter Oak The Boston Massacre The Boston Tea Party The First Continental Congress. . . . Why the Puritans Came to America. Witchcraft in the Colonies William Penn Wolfe and Montcalm Young George Washington 44 61 52 63 42 68 99 38 48 49 56 7i 74 79 100 109 III 114 48 55 58 90 PART III.— AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Arnold, the Traitor, and Andr^, the Spy 149 American Money 158 Battle of Lexington 115 Battle of Quebec '. 125 Battle of Monmouth 137 Captain Paul Jones 145 Declaration of Independence 130 1 1 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAOS Emily Greiger 148 Fort Ticonderoga 119 Fine Feathers Ne'er Make Fine Birds 128 Le Bonhon>me Richard 147 Lafayette 159 Massacre at Wyoming 142 National Hymn 162 Paul Revere's Ride 116 Robert Morris 144 Second Continental Congress 122 Speech of Patrick Henry 123 Success on the Ground of Defeat. . . Surrender of Cornwallis The First American Flag The Darkest Hour in American His- tory The Little Black-Eyed Rebel The Surrender of Burgoyne Valley Forge Washington and His Army Washington Taking Leave of His Army War versus Peace PART IV.— THE AMERICAN NATION, Administration of Thomas Jefferson. 178 Aaron Burr 180 Administration of James Madison. . 186 Andrew Jackson ig8 Brave O. H. Perry 195 Battle of Niagara 199 Battle of Lake Champlain 206 Captain Bainbridge 193 Daniel Boone 168 First President of the United States. 165 Hull's Surrender of Detroit 189 John Adams' Administration 175 Martha Washington 172 Massacre of Fort Mimms 197 ' ' Old Hickory " and the Baby Our Capital City Burned Robert Fulton and the First Steam- boat " Star Spangled Banner " The Administration of Washington. Tne City of Washington Two Indian Brothers The Constitution and the Guerriere. The Wasp and the Frolic The Hornet and the Peacock The End of the War Washington's Second Term War of 1 8 1 2 PAGE 135 155 132 134 138 139 136 129 157 158 199 103 184 205 166 169 186 190 192 193 207 169 188 PART v.— THE GOOD TIMES ERA. An Old Hero Visits America 211 Andrew Jackson 2(5 Henry Clay 212 James Knox Polk 223 Monroe's Administration 209 Martin Van Buren 218 The Administration of John Quincy Adams 213 The First Train of Cars 214 Taylor's Administration 226 The Slavery Question 227 William Henry Harrison 221 PART VI.— THE CIVIL WAR. Andersonville Prison 264 Abraham Lincoln 233 Abraham Lincoln and the Hospi;tal at Richmond. 285 Battle of Bull's Run 243 Battle of Shiloh 249 Battles of Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain 262 Battle of Gettysburg 266 Decline and Overthrow of the Con- federacy 256 Evacuation of Riclimond 276 Fort Sumter 241 Fort Donelson 248 Grant as Lieutenant-General 273 Harriet Beecher Stowe 249 Lincoln and the People 239 Lee's Surrender 280 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 13 Negro Song — "Ole Abe Has Gone an' Did It, Boys." 258 National Cemetery at Gettysburg. . 267 Now for Richmond 276 Pictures of the Civil War 255 Peace and Reconciliation 288 Song — "Battle Cry of Freedom." . 243 Sharp-Shooters 259 Song — "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp.". 264 Stonewall Jackson 272 Sherman's March to the Sea 274 Sheridan's Ride 276 " The Blue and the Gray." 240 The Army of the Potomac 244 The Cotton Industry 245 The Picket Guard 247 The Story of '• Eliza. " 250 The Merrimac and the Monitor. . . . 252 The Capture of New Orleans 254 The Siege of Vicksburg 260 The Alabama and the Kearsarge. . . 270 The Swords of Grant and Lee 284 The Ford Theater Tragedy 286 PART VII.— PEACE AND PROSPERITY. Alaska Arthur's Administration Administration of Grover Cleveland. Edison, the Genius of the Age Earthquake at Charleston Grant's Administration Garfield's Administration Hayes' Administration Johnson's Administration Johnstown Flood No Room for Class Distinction . . . . Our Nation To-Day 293 Sioux Indian Outbreak 308 303 Second Administration of Cleveland. 315 304 The Atlantic Cable ' 293 303 The Sioux War of 1872 295 305 The Massacre of Custer's Army. . . 296 294 The Burning of Chicago 299 301 The Telephone and the Phonograph. 303 299 The Administration of Benjamin 291 Harrison 306 307 The Battle of Wounded Knee Creek. 312 324 The World's Columbian Exposition. 316 322 The Presidential Election, 1896. . . . 318 PART VIII.— UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Cabinet 334 President and Vice-President of the United States 332 The District of Columbia and the National Capital 327 The Origin of Government 330 The State Department 334 The Treasury Department 336 The War Department 338 The Navy Department 339 The Department of the Interior. . . . 340 The Postoffice Department 341 The Departmeht of Agriculture. . . . 342 The Department of Justice 343 PART IX.— UNDER BOTH FLAGS. Antietam ; 349 Home, Sweet Home 344 The Union Soldier 346 Our Noble, Heroic and Self Sacri- ficing Women 348 War and Peace 345 /^■/ Leader of a Charge, STORIES FROM AMERICAN History Long Ago. 'OUR hundrea years ago this country in which we Hve was a wilderness, mostly covered with forest trees, and unknown to the rest of the world. From the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River great woods grew, in which bears, wolves, wildcats, beaver and deer roamed in freedom. Beyond, wide prairies stretched to the mountains, herds of buffalo pranced over the long grass, and snakes of many colors basked in the sunshine. In the south the sun was warm, and his rays nursed plants of every kind, which hid the ground beneath their rank herbage; but in the north the winters were longer and colder than they now are, ice often lingered all summer in the valleys, and the land wore a dreary look. There were at that time no towns or villages anywhere in all the countr} ; no ships in the harbors; no boats on the rivers; no tall chimneys soar- ing upward toward the sky; no roads; nothing but grim old v, oaks and pines with mo^s, 'f^ grass and wild Howers under their shade; dark rocks on the shores, on which the waves beat as they had beat ever since the world began; high hills and deep glens with the bright heaven overhead, just as we see it now. 15 i6 S Tc ^R IKS /'R OM A ME RICA X I IIS TOR V. It is said that many years, perhaps ages, be- fore any white man saw ^ this country races of .\ ,. 'Xyl strange men hved here, and built large towns, and fought great battles on the soil which is now ours. We know that far away to the south there were people who built fine Xl)f)^ cities, carved images, raised splendid tem- ples to their false gods. Strange re- mains of old forts, with broken pieces of earthenware, have been found near the Ohio river. Some very learn- ^,p ed men have Indian Qirl. «7 1 8 5 TORIES FROM A M ERIC A N HIS TOR Y. grew and waved their branches to the winds, and died, fell and turned into coal, or else their rotten trunks served as a home for wild beasts and reptiles; that the rivers rolled downward to the sea, and the trout and salmon leaped out of the foam to catch pretty flies as they buzzed over the surface; that the snow fell, and drifted, and the ice made bridges over streams and lakes for the moose to cross; that earthquakes and volcanoes burst out now and then, tearing great holes in the ground, filling up valleys, choking up rivers, and planting islands in the midst of the waters, all in the space of a single night or an hour; but of what it pleased Almighty God to do with the human beings He had placed here to enjoy the fruits of the earth and admire those wonderful works of His we know nothing at all. The Indians. THE first white sailors who came here found a wild race of red people, with nothing but the skin of some animal tied round their waist, and living in a very poor sort of way. They called them Indians, because it was then supposed that America was part of India, no one in Europe having sailed around it or guessed that it was a separate continent by itself. The Indians forced their w^omen to do all the hard work, such as digging the ground, sowing the corn and weaving mats. We know very little about these Indians or about their little boys and girls, for they knew nothing about writing, and so left no books to tell about themselves. They used to live in tents which they called wigwams. They called the women squaws and the baby boys and girls papooses. They were all rude and wild. The children had no schools, no books or no toys to keep them busy; so they spent their time playing about their tent or learning to hunt, fish or weave baskets. The men spent most of their time hunting and fighting with their neighbors, with bow^s and arrows and heavy clubs made of hardwood. Long afterward, when strangers settled among them, they used small hatchets called tomahawks, and at last guns like Dread Dangers the Sailors Feared. 19 20 STOR//^:S FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. ours. With bows they were very expert. Their arrows were pointed with sharp stones or pieces of shell, and they were such good shots that they could bring down a bird or a deer at a very long distance. When they went to war, they did not fight in the open field as our soldiers do, but lurked in the woods, and shot their arrows from behind trees and stones, or sprang upon their enemies suddenly at night and beat out their brains with their clubs. When they had killed a man, they used to cut off the skin of his head with the hair on, and carried these scalps tied to their belts, and were very proud of them. But you must not fancy because these savages wore scalps at their belts that they could not be manly fellows at times. They had no fear of death, and would not cry out or complain in the greatest tortures. Sometimes when they were taken pris- oners in war, their enemies would tie them to trees and shoot arrows into their flesh, till there were a dozen sticking there all at once; or hold burning sticks to their skin till it smoked and shriveled up; but, in spite of the dreadful pain these cruel tor- tures must have caused, the Indian warriors would never cry or wince, but would look calmly and proudly on their torment- ors. They could endure fatigue, too, and hunger, thirst and cold better than we can; and often, on their long journeys in search of game, or in pursuit of their enemies, they would spend day after day and night after night without food or shelter, and think nothing of it. Though they were heathens and knew nothing of God or the Bible, yet they knew what honor was, and scorned to injure a stranger so long as he lay in their wigwam and ate of their corn or venison. Indeed, there are many points in the character of these poor, half-naked, ignorant Indians which might serve as a pattern to some people in our own day. In the following pages you will see much to admire in. the life of the Indian, and also much that will cause you to rebel against his treatment of the white man who soon came to this country in great numbers. Columbus' First Voyeg^e. 22 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. The White Men of Europe. WHILE the Indians were hunting in their forests and smok- ing their pipes around their camp-fires, the white men who hved beyond the sea, in Europe, were very busy. If you will look at a map of the world, you will see that the shortest cut for a ship sailing from Europe to India, in Asia, would be to sail straight over North America. It would be pretty hard work for a ship to do this, as you know; but, at the time '^'^ann^ iiw"' An Imaginary Island. I speak of, people in Europe did not know that such a country as America existed. The ships in those days were small and frail, hardly more seaworthy than a pleasure yacht to-day. "There is," sailors would sometimes say, "an island far out at sea, with rich fruits and beautiful flowers and great purple mountains. Rich gems and gold about its shores, and in the center on a gentle slope of ground stands the palace of the sea-god." But, though the sailors talked of it and the poets sang of it, no one had ever seen it. PART I. Period of Discovery. The Boy Columbus. 'BOUT this time there lived in Italy a boy by the name of Christopher Columbus. He lived at Genoa, a small seaport town on the Mediterranean Sea. When not at school Columbus was generally found standing about the wharves, watching the great ships come and go and listening to the marvelous stories told by the sailors. * Genoa at this time was a very rich town and sent ships to all parts of the known world. The little boy drank in all the wonderful stories the sailors were so fond of telling, and thus learned much of the far away countries. "I shall be a sailor, "he would say to himself as he listened; and then, like all other small lads, he longed to grow big and strong. His parents were poor but wise and tried to give him a good education. He was taught to read and write, and when old enough his father sent him away to school, where he could study arith- metic, drawing and geography. He learned Latin, wrote a good hand, and could draw maps and charts for the use of sailors, by which last calling he was able to support himself when he came to be a man. He was only fourteen years' old when he made his first voy- age upon the great blue sea with some traders bound for the East Indies. From that time on, his life was like that of all sailors, I suppose, full of adventures, narrow escapes and marvel- ous experiences. When thirty-hve years old. he went to Lisbon, the capital 21 24 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. city of Portugal. He was a quiet, dignified, thoughtful man. His hair had grown white, and he had here and there on his face Hnes of care and trouble. The stories of sea-gods and wind- gods had long ceased to satisfy him. He said there must be something different from this. And so, year after year, he pon- dered upon the shape of the earth. He read every account of travels, every story of adventure, every theory of the earth's size and shape that he could find. "It is easy enough to guess about these things." he would say, "but there must be some natural law, some real fact, that, if discovered, would give us the true knowledge." King John II. of Portugal and Columbus. JOHN n., then King of Portugal, was convinced that these notions of Columbus, as the people were pleased to call them, were not so absurd as they seemed. "The man knows what he is talking about, I believe," said he. "I will get his plans, pretend to favor them, pretend to_ be willing to aid him — then we'll see who will have the honor of- the first expedition, Colum- bus, the Genoese wool-comber's son, or John H., King of Portu- gal!" And so this mean King led Columbus on to tell his reasons for believing the earth to be round. When he had learned all, and had stolen the maps and charts which Columbus had made, he secretly sent out a vessel and ordered the captain to follow closely the route Columbus had marked out. This was a mean trick, and no wonder it did not succeed. A threat storm arose. The waves rolled high and tumbled and broke above them mountains high. The thunder rumbled and the lightning flashed. Terror-stricken, the sailors turned home- ward. A more miserable crew never sailed back into Lisbon than this crew sent out by King John H. Columbus, disappointed with the King, took his little son, Diego, with him, left the country, and went to Spain. Columbus at Convent of La Rabida. 85 26 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Columbus and Queen Isabella, of Spain. FRIENDLESS and without money, Columbus and the Httle Diego traveled from place to place, in Spain, always seek- ing for someone who should understand and help him to an audience with the King or Queen. Years rolled by; Columbus had gained nothing but a world- wide name of being an insane man. Men sneered at him. boys hooted at him in the street. Surely it was a brave man who could endure all this for the sake of right! One day Columbus and the little Diego stopped at the gate of a threat srav convent, and asked for food. One of the monks passed by and, struck with the dignity and courteous refined ap- pearance of Columbus, said, to himself, "This is no ordinary beg- gar. I will speak with him." The intelligence and good faith of Columbus attracted the monk. "This man knows what he is about!" thought the monk; "I must help him gain an audience with Queen Isabella. She will give him hearing." And so it happened that Columbus was finally led into the presence of the only one in all Spain who seemed to be kind enough at heart and to be far-sighted enough to know that he was neither foolish nor crazy. After long duration, for it was no easy thing in those days to fit out a fleet, nor was it a politic thing for Isabella to move in opposition to the advice of her country, she sent this word to Columbus: " I will undertake this enterprise for my own Kingdom of Castile, and I will pledge my jewels, if need be, to raise the funds." The Voyage. WITH Isabella's aid and a little money which Columbus himself had saved, three ships were fitted out. These were not tall, stout ships such as you see lying at our wharves with their broad sails and huge ironclad sides. But they were small, frail crafts, not so large even as those you see sailing up and down our rivers and lakes. Columbus Signing >ils Command. 28 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. On Friday, August 3, 1492, these three little vessels set sail from Spain. For weeks they sailed westward in unknown waters. At last the sailors began to be frightened at the thought of their distance from home and threatened to throw Columbus overboard if he did not turn back. At last Columbus promised if they did not see land within three days they would return. Fortunately for Columbus, signs of land began to appear. Birds came and rested on the masts; a large branch from a tree floated by; even the dullest sailor could not fail to believe these signs. Durmg the night which followed no one on the ships slept. About ten o'clock Columbus saw a glimmering light appearing and disappearing, as though some one on shore were carrying a torch. At two o'clock a sailor sighted land. The morning light of Friday, October 12, 1492, showed the Spaniards a beautiful little island. Columbus dressed himself in scarlet, and planted the Spanish standard on the shore, throwing himself on the earth and kissing it, while the naked Indians won- dered whether these men in bright armor had flown from the skies in their winged boats or had sailed down upon the clouds. The sailors, lately so ready to cast Columbus into the sea, now crowded about, embracing him and kissing his hands. The People of the Islands. WHEN the Indians saw the white sails of the vessels, they rushed down to the shores. They had never seen a ship before and were greatly frightened. When Columbus landed, the Indians at first ran away, but soon, as they recovered from their first surprise, they visited the ships, some of them in canoes, and other by swim- ming. They brought with them a ball of cotton yarn, bread made from roots, and some tame parrots, these, with a few golden ornaments, they exchanged for caps, glass beads, tiny bells, and other trifles, with which they could adorn themselves. 30 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. They were kind to Columbus and his vj%^^^ men, telhng them in their language "You /^S^^^^i^::^ are welcome," and helped them not a little. In return Columbus treated them kindly. Had all white men, in latei grievance would not be so great. You can fancy how years, done the same the Indian ^^-^^/j^- delighted Columbus was ^^^^^^^^H when he landed in this ^f^}'^^^'^ beautiful country and ate the ripe fruits. , .. - ^ Soon he returned to Spain ^^'—^^-^.^^.r^- and told of the wonderful cop- I '^^ f .^:^^f' pe '%^mh r- ^^^ d told of the wondertxil cop- \jii . ^^^Sj\y\^ r colored people he had seen, \Mtli gJ)^^ -'//^^fx^^^ yf:t, straight black hair, head-dresses of feathers, and faces streaked with paint. All Spain was then filled with wonder. The people supposed it was a part of India and christened the islands where Columbus had landed the West Indies. In this way America was discovered by mistake — a rather lucky mistake for you and me. The Closing Years of Columbus' Life. YOU will ask what Spain did for Columbus; I wish I could tell you that she was so proud and so grateful that Columbus was ever after treated with honor; that he never again wanted for money or favor; and that he^ died peacefully at last, loved and honored by all. This is what you might expect to hear of so great and brave a man. I But there were jealous, envious men in Spain, who worked against him, and when, a few years later, he went again to the islands he had discovered, he was seized, put into chains and carried on board his vessel and sent home. Columbus Returns in Triumpb. 31 32 STORIES FROM AHFRRICAX HISTORY. . On reaching Spain he found that Queen Isabella had died and King Ferdinand would do nothing for him. Now an old man, Columbus lived out the rest of his days in poverty and died at last heart broken. Seven years after, the ungrateful king, ashamed of his behavior, put up an immense monument to his memory. Two hundred years later, his bones were carried over to the island of Cuba, which he had discovered. There they now lie in the great cathedral in the city of Havana, while a marble slab tells to the world the date of his birth, dis- coveries and death. As Columbus w;as born in Genoa, Italy, the Italians, in honor of his memory, have erected in the center of the main square of Genoa, Italy, a beautiful marble statue of Columbus. The ped- estal is adorned with ships' prows. At the feet of the statue, which leans on an anchor, kneels the figure of America. Americus Vespucius. WHEN Columbus went home and told of all the strange and beautiful things he had seen a great many other people wished to see this new countr}^ Some of his sailors had brought back lumps of gold and showed them to their friends. So, in time, many ships set sail westward from Spain, England, France, and Portugal. Columbus discovered America, and it would, seem but fitting that this country should have borne his name. But people were not very careful in those days about being "fair" to anybody or anything; and so when, in 1497, Americus Vespucius, another Italian, made a vovage to the new world, and wrote several books about it, people began speaking of the country as America. Columbus was not the man to whine for justice, and as Americus Vespucius did not seem to object to the honor conferred upon him it soon became known throughout Europe as America. Americus turned his vessel homeward, glad and eager to tell of his discovery of the "Land of the Southern Cross" and the wonderful sights he had seen. All Europe rang with the praises of the wonderful explorer. His writings were passed from one to PERIOD OF DISCOVERY. 33 another, and everybody talked about them. Americus Vespucius, and not Columbus, was the hero of the time. English Explorers. /iBOUT the same time another Itahan by the name of John / \ Cabot, who was a great merchant in London, persuaded some ^^[^J^ Enghshmen where he hved to join him in a voyage to the countries where gold could be picked up in the fields. After him, his son Sebastian set sail with as many men as he could hire, and steered away for many days, keeping always to westward. Sebastian Cabot had lived in his boyhood days in the beautiful city of Venice — the city built so many years ago on the little island off the coast of Italy. The streets of this city are water, and the people ride up and down the streets in boats called gondolas, just as in our cities we ride along the streets in carriages. At length Sebastian came in sight of Jand. But instead of green valleys and ripe fruits dangling over the water's edge and pretty flowers, he saw nothing but bleak rocks, dark pines, and heaps of snow — instead of birds with bright plumage, he saw only white bears and uncouth looking deer. He could find no gold anywhere. So he sailed back very much disappointed. The only thing he had seen that was of any use was an immense shoal of fish in a fog near the shore; some of which he caught and carried home with him. This was the first time white men really saw the main shores of North America. The French Explorers. THE French thought they must have a share of the new country, and began to send out ships and men to the west. Some of them sailed to the north into the Gulf of St. Law- rence, and up the river as far as the place where Montreal now stands. The Indians were much surprised at first at the sight of white men; but by degrees they grew accustomed to them, and brought the Frenchmen food, and herbs to cure them of disease, and offered to show them the country. 3 34 5 TORIES FROM A M ERIC A N HIS TOR Y. Sir Walter Raleigh. FOR eighty years after Sebastian Cabot returned to England, telling the people that America was a poor, cold country, where bears and deer lived, and no gold could be found, the people of England sent no more ships thither. At length, however, a bold young man named Walter Raleigh made up his mind to go and see whether Cabot had not been mistaken. Queen Elizabeth, who ruled England at that time, was very fond of Raleigh, who was handsome and agree- able; she gave him leave to seize any vacant lands in America in her royal name. His ships steered to the southwest, and landed their crews on an island which is now called Roanoke. There they found quite a different country from the one Cabot had seen. Green trees and clusters of ripe grapes overhung the "^I'li j,|^|'j^ water's edge; there was no ice or snow; the In- sir waiter Raieigh. dians came down to the shore to see the white men, and offered them maize and fish; everything went on pleasantly, and the ships having returned home, Raleigh named the new region Virginia, in honor of his virgin queen. But soon afterward, his men who remained behind began to quarrel with the Iitdians; and you will be sorry to hear that, having burnt down an Indian village in revenge for the theft of a silver cup, they laid a snare for one of the chiefs, and treacherously put him to death with eight of his warriors. After this, I dare say, the murderers' consciences smote them, and they left the place and went home by the first ships which came that way. When Raleigh heard of it, he sent out another ship, and landed fifteen men on the island, and told them to be sure and treat the Indians well. But the red men had not forgotten the murder of the chief; so when Raleigh sent out a third party of settlers, next year, to build a city which was to bear his name, they found no one on the island. One skeleton lay on the sand, the bones bleaching in the sun — this was all that remained of the fifteen men. PERIOD OF DISCOVERY. 35 The new settlers landed, and the ships sailed away, promis- ing to return early next spring. By the time they arrived in Eng- land, however, war was raging with Spain; everyone was providing for defense, and no one but the faithful Raleigh thought of the exiles who were far away across the sea. He never forgot them for an instant. Early in the spring he dispatched two ships, with food, to Roanoke. But the Spaniards were on the lookout on the coast; the moment Raleigh's vessels went to sea they attacked them, captured one, and drove the other back to port. Raleigh did not lose heart. He hired other ships, and loaded them with more provisions; but just at that time the news came that the king of Spain, with an immense iieet of ships of war, was on the way to conquer England. Every English ship was taken to defend its own coast against this terrible armada, and Raleigh's with the rest. FATE OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH. By this time so many losses had ruined Raleigh; he had no money left to hire new ships, and could only go about wildly imploring rich men to send food to the men, wOmen, and children — over a hundred in all — who were starving on the island ot Roanoke in America. For a long time no one would listen to him, and Raleigh's brave heart nearly broke under grief; but at last, three years after the ships had sailed away from Roanoke, others went to the relief of the settlers. They came too late. When the crews landed they found the huts standing, but the furniture was broken; deer were brows- ing within the fence, and no human being was to be seen. While they were looking around for traces of the lost exiles, the wind began to blow, and they were forced to re-embark on board their ships and put to sea; and no one, from that day to this, has known what became of the unfortunate people who came to Roanoke at that time. About this time. Queen Elizabeth died. King James of Scot- land became king of England. Now the skies grew black, indeed. 36 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. for Raleigh. King James was jealous of him, for no better reason than that he was good and brave, while King James was not. Accordingly, he shut him up in prison, and there he lay pining in the Tower. Later, he was condemned to death. It is a sad, cruel story, and we will not repeat it here. Only, you may be sure, good, brave man as he was, that he died nobly; and that, as the years rolled on, the world grew more and more to appre- ciate what a grand man he had been and to honor him in history and in art. De Soto. /t MONG the early Spanish explorers was De Soto, who sailed \ from Spain in 1538 with six hundred well equipped men. ^£~^ They landed at Cuba, where they remained one year; then, leaving his wife there, he sailed to Tampa, Florida, and from there started out to find the land of "fold. The winters were Burial of De Soto. severe, the Indians hostile, and after three years' wandering he found he had made several discoveries, among which was the great Mississippi River, but as yet no gold. De Soto was now dis- PERIOD OF DISCOVERY. 37 couraged, and it became plain to him that the ex- pedition was a failure. His anticipations had dis- appeared, his army reduced to a mere handful, and he was in the midst of a region he could not escape. A deep melancholy overcame him and his health gave way. When informed by his doctor that death was near at hand, he said he was ready to go. In order to conceal his death from the savages, who had come to regard him as im- mortal, his body was wrapped in a mantle, and, in the stillness of the night, was rowed out into the silence of the Mississippi. There, amid the darkness, the mortal remains of Ferdinand De Soto were committed to the great river he had dis- covered. De Soto. i \ '■% ¥ m. >- PART 11. Early Settlements. The Thirteen Colonies. E will now take a long leap out of the period of discoveries over into settling of the country. You must not imagine that these few men I have told you about so far did all the discovering in the new world. There were many, many more, so many, that I think you might read about them every day for a month, and then not read half. Hundreds of men had been sent over by England, France, Spain, Sweden, Holland and many others. Nearly twenty years after Raleigh's last party of settlers had landed on the island of Roanoke — to perish of hunger, or to be killed by the Indians — the restless people of England, now at peace with Spain, began to think once more of founding colonies in Virginia. The King was always ready to do anything that was asked of him by great people, provided it cost him no money; some adventurers got the Chief Justice to apply to King James for a great patent — which was a piece of parchment, sealed with a great seal, in which King James said he gave away such and such lands, which did not belong to him. Accordingly, one wintry day in December, in 1606, three little ships, the largest of which was smaller than many of our coast schooners, set sail for America with one hundred and five men, only twelve of whom had ever been used to hard work. The others were idlers, ruined gentlemen, goldsmiths and persons who thought they could make rapid fortunes by picking up lumps of 38 EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 39 gold in the new country. The most famous of all these men was Captain John Smith. He had been a great traveler, and a bold soldier. When a boy, he had gone over to Holland, and fought in the Dutch wars; when these ended, he traveled to Hungary to fight against the Turks. For many years his flashing plume and his swift sword had been the terror of the Sultan's troops; but one day, falling wounded in a skirmish, he had been captured, taken to Constanti- nople, and sold as a slave. He was bought by a Turkish lady and serdlto th*^ Crimea, which then belonged to Turkey. There he end>yed :^ch cruel treatment that, in a fit of passion, he killed his t? Kn.cister, mounted a horse, and fled northward through Russia. On his way he heard that war was raging in Morocco, and, as eager for the fray as ever, turned about and hastened thither. When there were no more Moors or Turks to slay, he returned to England, just in time to embark on board the ships bound for Virginia. He was not thirty years old at this time, though he had seen and suffered so much; but there was no one in the fleet as bold or as wise as he. I wish every ship that sailed to America at this time had carried as good a man as Captain John Smith — with his honest face, his piercing eye, and his stout arm. It was not till April that the fleet reached the shores of Vir- ginia, and a high southern wind drove them past the island of Roanoke into Chesapeake Bay. They sailed up a wide river, which they named James River, after the King, and soon landed on a fertile, pleasant spot, and there began to build huts and call the settlement Jamestown. The Indians came to see them, and offered them the pipe of peace, and everything promised well. Captain John Smith. /4 LL the leaders of the party were jealous of Smith, and laid \ a plot to drive him out of the Government. They even ^^^Jl^ wanted to try him for treason, and did all they could to persecute him. Idlers and gold-seekers, you know, are not the sort of people to prosper anywhere, so you will not be surprised to learn that in a short time the settlers were all unhappy. 40 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. The chiefs had quarreled with Smith; sickness broke out among them; they were -not used to work, and did not plant crops as they should have done; their supply of food was scanty. In a few weeks fifty men died, and the others, disgusted and disheartened, made up their minds to run away. But Captain John Smith was not the man to give way to such faint-hearted notions. When his comrades repined, he cheered them up; while the others were wasting their time in burrowing in the earth for gold, Smith was busy collecting provisions. While they were sighing for home, he was helping to build huts, tending the sick, visiting the Indians. He was always cheerful, always generous, always hopeful. When winter came, he had wrought so hard that the houses were finished, a plentiful supply of corn laid in for food, and good temper almost restored in the little colony. Pocahontas. IN December he started to explore the country, sailed up the river Chickahominy as far as boats could go, and then landed, and pursued his journey on foot. On his way he was attacked by a fierce band of Indians, and all his men killed. Smith fought as bravely as usual. Seizing an Indian with his left hand, he held him as a shield between himself and the foe, and killed three of the savages. Slipping at last in a miry place, he was seized, and the Indians were about to beat out his brains, when he coolly took his compass from his pocket and showed it to them. They were so surprised at this strange instrument that they forebore to kill him, and carried him a captive to their chief, who was named Powhatan. For several days Smith contrived to amuse the Indians with his compass, and by teaching them many arts of which they knew •lothing; but after a while they grew tired of learning, and re- ^ )lved to put him to death. All the warriers assembled round a fire, painted in brightest .lors, and decked with gaudy feathers; talked some time in their \vn language; then, rising from their circle, dragged Smith to a large stone, and laid his head upon it. The massive club was EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 41 raised to dash out his brains, when a pretty httle girl rushed through the ring of warriors, and, throwing her tiny arms round Smith, laid her head upon his. The savage stayed his arm. The little girl was Pocahontas, Powhatan's daughter, the favorite of all the tribe. During his captivity the white man had made rattles and strings of beads for her, and won her heart; and now she clung to his neck, and wildly begged her father to spare her friend's life. Her prayer was granted. Smith was raised from the ground, and even allowed to return to his colony. Little Pocahontas, who had saved his life, and of whom you will hear again, was at this time only about twelve years old. When Captain Smith returned to the colony at Jamestown, he found his cowardly comrades again seeking to desert. As bold as ever, he placed himself between them and the boat. Other ships arriving from England with more men. Smith was made President of the colony and he very soon set matters to rights. It would have been well for the colony if Smith had remained among them; sad indeed was the day when a bag of gunpowder exploded under him as he slept and wounded him so grievously that he could no longer perform his duties and was obliged to return to England. After he left, the idlers had it all their own way. They would work no longer. Some of them went to look for gold; others lay smoking in the sunshine; others hunted the Indians. To add to all, they quarreled, as usual, among themselves. Then began the "starving time" in Virginia; a time so dreadful that history hardly records another such, and one cannot but feel that the poor creatures who died on the banks of the James River were fully punished for their idleness and their folly. In six months, out of four hundred and ninety persons whom Smith had left at Jamestown, only sixty remained; poor, pale, wornout wretches, expecting to die daily. After a time, prosperity came to them; they were, however, not over scrupulous. 42 5 TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS TOR Y. Samuel Argall, A WILD, daring fellow, used to sail along the coasts and sud- denly dive into the forests with a few bold men, attack the Indian villages, slaughter the men and carry off women and children as slaves. We should call a man who did this to-day a pirate and hang him; but formerly people thought differently and it was considered rather a glorious thing to kill and plunder a few Indians. I am sure you will be shocked to hear that this Argall in one of his expeditions contrived to seize pretty Pocahontas — now grown up — and carried her off a captive to Jamestown. Her father, old Pqwhatan, raged like a lion when he heard his pet daughter was gone. He sent a messenger to Jamestown to demand her of the colonists; but they pretended that the Indians had enticed away some of their servants and stolen their goods, so they re- fused to give her up. There was no one there, I suppose, who remembered what the innocent young captive had done for the brave Captain John Smith. Powhatan and his men were wild with fury when they re- ceived the answer of the white men and got ready for war in- stantly. Terrible bloodshed would have followed had it not been for a strange accident. John Rolfe and Pocahontas. THERE was at Jamestown a young man named John Rolfe, who had seen Pocahontas and fallen in love with her. He said that it was revealed to him in a dream that he ought to marry her, which I have no doubt was the case, as most lovers have dreams of the same kind. So while old Powhatan and his friends were preparing to fall upon the colony, Rolfe was teaching Pocahontas English. As soon as she was able to speak a few broken words, she was baptized, and, her father having given his consent, was married to Rolfe. He took her with him to England and was very proud of her, as well he might be, when the nobles and the great ladies EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 43 caressed her and everybody talked of the beautiful Indian girl. The Queen sent for her and she went to court. Beautiful pres- ents were made her, great entertainments were given her; she was riarriage of Pocahontas. shown the shops and public buildings, the churches and factories of England; artists painted her picture; so that the Indian girl became famous. Just as she was about to return with him to Jamestown, however, a fatal disease attacked her, and Pocahontas 44 S TORIES FROM AMERICAN HIS TORY. died, far away from her home. Her httle daughter grew up to be the mother of noble men and women of Virginia. The settlers being at peace with Powhatan in consequence of the m: ' ' Pocahont is, the colony prospered, new settlements 1 tiie numbers of the colonists increased. They : their land in tobacco fields and, as coin was J It as money. Houses, tools, guns, powder and such Lt)iii;j,.s \v re said t>) be worth so many pounds of tobacco. A.-r> yv;l, they had no women among them, and the colonists wrute to England, begging their friends to send them out wives. Ninety y'-A'i|^\^v\^ty^; Taunting the Rescuers. again. With their leaders slain, these Indians will have no cour- age to carry on the war." Annawon had made his camp in a swamp where he supposed he was safe. But Captain Church, a brave Puritan solder, came upon Anna- won, asleep before his tent. So before he even knew the white men had come he was made their prisoner. "Now," said Captain Church, turning to the Indians, "there are hundreds of white men outside the camp, who at a signal from me will rush. in to destroy you. If, however, you surrender, and promise peace for the future, your lives shall be spared." "We surrender," said the Indians. Thus ended King Phil- ip's War, one of the longest and most awful of all the Indian wars. When at last King Philip and Annawon were conquered you be sure it was a happy day among the colonists. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 77 Georgia. IN England there lived, one hundred and seventy years ago, a brave and humane gentleman, whose name was James Oglethorpe. He had been a soldier, and had fought valiantly in the wars. At this time a foolish idea prevailed in England — so foolish that it would seem almost laughable, if it were possible to laugh at so grave a wrong. It was this. When a man owed money and could not pay, it was supposed that the best way of making him pay was to shut him up in prison. You and I know well enough that when a man is locked up, and can- not go and work, it is not very easy for him to earn money; and if we had a debtor and wanted him to pay us, we should think it better to give him as much liberty as possible, and so put him in the way of earning what he could. But this was not un- derstood by the English. And as there were a great many hard- hearted creditors in England, the prisons were full of poor debtors. When good James Oglethorpe began to visit them and turned his whole thoughts to the subject, and finding that it would take too long — if, indeed, it was at all pos- sible — to make the prisons what they ought to be, he resolved to find some new country whither poor debtors and unhappy prisoners might flee for a refuge. The King — George the Second — granted him what he asked without scruple or hesitation. He gave him and his friends a wide 78 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. tract of land between South Carolina and Spanish Florida, and named it Georgia, after himself, of course. It is delightful, after all the horrible Indian trouble, to think of the friendly way in which these Indians welcomed Oglethorpe. One of the chiefs went to his tent, bearing a large buffalo skin, on the inside of which an eagle was painted, and said: "The feathers of the eagle are soft, and signify love; the buffalo skin is warm, and is the emblem of protection. Therefore love and protect our little families." A very pretty speech, is it not? As soon as the town of Savannah was laid out, and people in Europe heard of the beautiful climate of Georgia, and the wise manner in which Oglethorpe ruled the colony, many poor persons from Germany and Switzerland, as well as Scotland and England, came to live there. He drew up laws for his people and stipulated that no rum should be allowed there, and that any sale of it to the Indians should be punished as one of the greatest of crimes. He also forbade the people holding slaves. He believed this was not right. For a time the settlement prospered, then came discontent. The people wanted the very things which their wise leader had declared they should not have. They wrote letters to the King of England making all sorts of complaints against their leader, until at last Oglethorpe re- turned to England and soon demolished his accusers, and proved that he was in the right and they in the wrong; but he never re- turned to Georgia. When the twenty-one years had passed for which Oglethorpe and his companions had been given permission to hold this land in Georgia, their charter was given back to King George. Georgi; then belonged to England; and as England cared very little wh the colonists in Georgia or in any other colony did, they wer> now free to have their slaves and as much strong drink as they liked. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 79 The Jesuits. WHILE Englishmen were landing and planting colonies, and founding cities all along the coast — from Maine to Caro- lina — the French were as busy on the river St. Lawrence. With the first traders came Roman Catholic priests, in great numbers, hoping to convert the Indians to Christianity. These were chiefly Jesuits. They prosecuted that work with great energy, and zeal and courage. They endured hunger, thirst, cold and cruel torture with cheerfulness, in their great work. One of these was Father Jogues, who traveled away through the Indian country as far as the great lakes, teaching and baptizing the red men. The Hurons were his friends; but the fierce Mo- hawks, who hated the Hurons, hated the French likewise. As he was traveling up the St. Lawrence, a band of Mohawks caught him. When he was nearly dead, they sold him to the Dutch. Very few men, I think, having once escaped out of the hands of these savages, and with their bodies covered with the scars, and bruises, and burns they had inflicted, would have run the same risks again. But when the French in Canada wanted a priest to go among the Mohawks to try to convert them, Jogues offered to go, and went, saying as he left: 'T am going away, and I shall never come back." He had scarcely arrived at their village when they foolishly accused him of having spoiled their harvest. He knew what they meant. Smiling, and trusting in God, he walked to the wigwam of the chief, but was struck dead the moment he entered. Many others, whose stories it would take too long to tell, perished in the same miserable way. But those who remained were as bold as ever. As soon as one of these priests had con- verted a few Indians, he established a little fort or village, an^ re- sided there among them. In this way many of the states of this Union were first peopled by white men. In 1666 another priest paddled up the Ottawa, crossed ovei into Lake Huron, and again paddled to the Falls of St. Mary's, at the mouth of Lake Superior, where he established a little fort 8o STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. — the first white settlement within the present State of Michigan. Other priests in the same way settled in Illinois. Wherever they set up forts, they claimed the country for the King of France. La Salle. THE greatest of these French travelers was named La Salle. He had been formerly a Jesuit, but had become a trader, and had built a fort on Lake Ontario, at a place called Frontenac, where the city of Kingston, in Canada, now stands. Hearing stories of a great river flowing through rich and fertile meadows in the west, and being a man of a roving and adventurous disposition, he set out with several companions to explore it. On Lake Erie he built himself a small sailing vessel, and sailed westward into Lake Huron, where he bought furs of the Indians. In canoes he roved round Lakes Huron and Michigan, and planted a fort at Mackinaw about the year 1680. In a storm his vessel was lost. His men lost heart. The Indians began to be unfriendly. But La Salle was a man of iron, and never flinched. With only three companions he set out on foot, without provisions, to find his way back to Fort Fron- tenac. It took him a year to go and return; but at the end of the year he was again on the banks of the Illinois River, as bold as ever. Down the stream into the Mississippi he floated, and the current bore him gently southward, through the most beauti- ful country he had ever seen, until at last he reached the mouth of the great river in the Gulf of Mexico. Louis the XIV. was at that time King of France, and in honor of him La Salle named the country through which he had passed Louisiana. He went to France to tell what he had seen, and the King gave him several ships with a large number of set- tlers to people the new country. But the day of misfortune had come. His ships missed the mouth of the Mississippi and landed in Texas. Then a storm destroyed their stores, and some of the Frenchmen, disgusted and heartsick, went on board the ships and sailed back home. With EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 8i those who remained La Salle built a fort, which he named St. Louis. But they soon began to quarrel among themselves; many of them died, and all were jealous of La Salle. He never lost courage. Over and over again he started out with one or two companions to try to find the Mississippi; but each time he returned ragged and sore, without having found it. At last he made up his mind to go to Canada, and set out with sixteen men on foot. Two of these men hated La Salle, and on the journey laid a dark plot to murder him. This was the sad end of the white man who sailed down the Mississippi. French and Indian Wars. IT would have been a happy thing if these Jesuits — who were so courageous and devoted that one cannot help admiring them — had been as tolerant as the Bible teaches us we should be. Unfortunately, there was at this time a great deal of blundering in the world about religion, and very few people indeed understood what Christ's Gospel really meant. The Protestants of Maryland, you remember, wanted to persecute the Catholics; the Puritans persecuted Roger Williams and the Quakers; and the first thing the Jesuits of Canada did, when they converted the Indians, was to get up a persecution of the Protestants. A war breaking out between the King of England and the King of France, they set to work zealously, and secretly stirred up the Indians to attack the English settlers. A bitter war now opened up between the French, aided by the Indians, on one side, and the English, aided by her colonies, on the other. The French in America began to think of securing themselves in such a way that they could not be driven out by the English. The plan to do this, they thought, was to send officers to all parts of the country where the English had not settled, to dio- holes in the ground and bury leaden plates with the French arms engraven thereon, and to nail some of the same plates on the trees. The meaning of these plates, buried and nailed up, was that the King of France was the rightful sovereign of the country 82 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. where they were. So they buried plates all through the west, and along the Ohio and Illinois rivers. In this way the King of France came to claim a great deal more land in x\merica than the English did. He had a fort at 'CW^^^^ few Capture of a White Child. Cape Breton; others were scattered along the St. Lawrence, at Quebec and at Montreal, and he had others at Niagara, at Detroit, and at Mackinaw. On the Mississippi, New Orleans had already been founded by French settlers, and other forts or trading posts stretched up the river to Natchez and beyond. Wherever the French had the least little bit of a fort or a trading post they EARLY SETTLEMENTS. S3 claimed the country far and wide for miles around. And thus, as you will see on looking at the map, the dominions of the French King were like a monstrous bow, of which the English colonies along the shore of the ocean were the string. There were ten times as many people in the English as in the French settlements; but the French were very fond of fighting, A Fear that the Baby might be Stolen. very jealous of the English, and very anxious to be masters of the whole continent. A,t this time a number of English traders started to plant a new colony on the borders of the Ohio. The French sent them word that they could not stay there, that being the territory of the French King. But the people of Virginia said, on the contrary, that the territory was theirs, and they would not give it up. When the French sent a party of soldiers, took the English prisoners, and carried them to their fort on Lake Erie, it enraged all the English colonies and England as well. The Governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddle, sent a message 84 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. to the French that the prisoners must be surrendered. To be the bearer of this message he chose a young man of twenty-one years of age, who was a surveyor by trade. His name was George Washington. Young George Washington. ON the twenty-second day of February, 1732, George Wash- ington was born in a plain, old-fashioned house in Virginia. He grew to be a tall boy, could run swiftly, and was a powerful wrestler. The stories of the long jumps he made are almost beyond belief, and it was said that he could throw farther than any other boy. When only eleven years old his father died, but he had a good mother, who trained him to. be manly and noble. The people of that day went everywhere on horseback, and George was not afraid to get astride of the wildest horse. He was a strongly built and fearless boy. But a better thing is told of him. He was so just that his schoolmates used to bring their quarrels for him to settle. The food of people in the woods was mostly wild game. Every man did his own cooking, toasting his meat on a forked stick and eating it off a chip. Washington led this rough life for three years. It was a good school for a soldier. Here he made his first acquaintance with the Indians. When only nineteen the governor of Virginia made him a major of a militia. He took lessons m military drill from an old soldier, and practiced sword exercises under instruction of a teacher. When the governor decided to send an officer to warn the French that they were on English ground, is it any wonder he sent George Washington? He was ready, this brave young major, and knew both the woods and the ways of the Indians. After crossing swollen streams and rough mountains, he got over to the Ohio River, where all was wilderness; then he called the Indians together and had a talk with them. He got a chief and some other Indians to go with him to the French fort. The French officers had no intention of giving up their fort to the English. They liked this brave and gentlemanly young A Brave Charg-e. 85 86 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Major Washington and entertained him well, but tried to get the Indians to desert him, and did all they could to keep him from getting safe home again. Part of the way home they traveled in Washington's Home fit. Vernon. canoes, often jumping out into the icy water to lift the canoes over shallow places. When reaching the place where he was to leave the Indians and recross the mountains, his packhorses were found too weak for work. So Washington gave up his saddle-horse to carry baggage. Then he strapped a pack on his back, shouldered his gun, and, with his companion and a guide, started home. The Indian guide was a rascal. When Washington was tired the guide wished to carry his gun for him, but the young major thought EARLY SETTLEMENTS 87 the gun safer in his own hands. At length, as evening came on, from behind a tree, the Indian leveled his gun and fired on Washington and his companion, the ball just grazing the major's body. Afraid of being attacked, they now traveled night and day till they got to the Alleghany River. They spent the night on an island in the river, and got ashore in the morning by walking on the ice. Washington bought a horse here, and soon got back to the colonies, where the story of his adventures was told from one plantation to another, producing great excitement. The people of Virginia now knew that the French were determined to fight, and the Governor of Virginia quickly prepared for war. General Braddock. THE King of England resolved to send soldiers to America to fight the French. He chose General Braddock, a very brave but conceited and headstrong man, to be their leader. Braddock was eager for the fight, and made quite sure of victory. He said he would take Fort Duquesne, on the Ohio River; then he would march to Niagara, and take the French fort there; then sail to Fort Fontenac, where he would rest a while. When Benjamin Franklin advised him to beware of the In- dians, he laughed at the idea. He said Indians might be danger- ous to the men of America, but that his English soldiers would make short work of them. The French sent out a party to meet him. They met a short distance from the fort, and the battle commenced in the middle of a wood. For a short while Braddock's soldiers fought bravely; but very soon the warhoop of the Indians began to terrify them, and the Indian plan of hiding behind trees and firing without showing themselves puzzled them completely. They fired their guns without taking aim, and one by one lost courage and ran away. Washington, who was aid-de-camp to Braddock, had two horses killed under him and four balls in his coat. An Indian chief, who had fired at him several times, at last threw down his gun and cried that some great spirit must be guarding him. 88 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. The battle was won by the French, and Braddock's Enghsh soldiers fled like sheep. Braddock himself was shot in the side. He never spoke for a whole day after the battle. Then, turning to his officers, he said, "Who would have thought it?" Braddock was carried from the field, and soon died. He was buried in the woods by torchlight; and on the margin of the grave, with sorrowing officers around him, Washington read the solemn funeral service of the Church of England. Then all the troops went back to their homes. A far gloomier scene, however, and more shameful than the running away of Braddock's soldiers, was witnessed that same year. Burning of Acadia. NOVA SCOTIA, or Acadia, as it was then called, belonged to the English; but there were living there a great many of the old French settlers with their families. They were called neutrals; that is to say, they had promised not to fight against the English, on the one hand, and, on the other, they declared they would not serve against their old countrymen, the French. They were mostly quiet, orderly people, very simple in their customs and ideas, loving their churches and their priests, and seeking no harm to anyone. The English, however, fearing that they might by and by be persuaded to join the French forces, made up their minds to break up this village and scatter the people. This was a cruel deed, and one for which there is no excuse. One bright morning the English officers came into the village and demanded that the people be gathered in their village churches. When they had entered, soldiers surrounded the buildings, and the French were told that they were to be carried off in ships to the British colonies. You may fancy how horrible a thing it was to be torn away from one's home and one's farm, and to be thrown on shore in some strange country without a friend in the world, or any means of earning one's bread. On the tenth of September, the exiles were made to embark, EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 89 the young men first, the old men next, and before the turn of the women and children came the ships were full, and sailed away. The women and children threw themselves at the feet of the British soldiers, and prayed wildly to be sent where their friends had gone. Day after day, week after week, and month after month Indians Attacking: a Pioneer Settlement. passed, and no ships came. On the cold seashore, in holes in the rocks or in the sand, the poor creatures shivered and wept. Fn^m the desolnte clifTs the men could see the '^ni'],-, ij 111 ;ir ■.)ld il<)iljc.->, . 1: .. . .1^ SOidli S ii.ici >(.'L > vent the Acadians coming back again, and thcv knew they ii^^ ^^ shouting Liberty, Equality, , ^S^^^A^\^rfh>^ ^^^ and Fraternity! made some "^^ ^^^-/^-^ - ^..yArxim^ >c^ .^_ sort of excuses for thej French to the last. But byj far the greater part of the people did not see that it made any difference whether ooiiy Adams. the French were subjects of a king or democrats, so long as they seized American ships and stole their cargoes. And Congress very willingly agreed to authorize the President to retaliate. The nation prepared once more for war. Troops were raised THE AMERICAN NA TION. 1 77 and ships fitted out. President Adams had made up his mind to give the French a lesson. One of the first ships that sailed was the Delaware, com- manded by Captain Decatur, since so famous. He fell in with a French schooner called the Croyable, took her, and sent into the Delaware a prize. This astonished the French a good deal. Several other battles were fought between American and French ships before the war ended. I think the former were oftener victorious than the latter. At all events, a sufficient number of French ships were taken to convince the* Government of France that it would not answer to molest the Americans in future; and General Bonaparte made haste to conclude a peace with the United States. The seat of government was now removed to Washington. It was hardly a village. There was one ''tavern" not far from the Capitol, and a few rude houses scattered in the middle of the woods; but people who wanted to live comfortably took lodgings at Georgetown. The President's wife, Mrs. Adams, complained bitterly that she was obliged to keep great fires going all day to guard against fever and ague; and this was the more difficult as fuel could not be had. It was, she said, a wild, desolate place, not fit for civilized persons to live in. How great a change one hundred years or so have made! As the time drew near for a fresh election, people began to take more interest in politics. Although he was a very honest and worthy man, Mr. Adams was not generally liked. He was a Fed- eralist. The real cause of not being liked was due to having instigated Congress to pass two laws called the Alien and Sedition Laws. These laws gave a great deal of arbitrary power to the President for the getting rid of troublesome foreigners and the putting down of those who opposed the government. Mr. Adams' enemies said that they were laws only fit for an old despotism like those of Europe, and wholly contrary to the spirit of American liberty. When the election took place, no one .of the candidates had a majority. According to the Constitution, the duty of choosing a President devolved upon Congress and the question was whether I7S STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Jefferson or Burr should be President, each having received the same number of votes. Congress sat seven days, and thirty-five ballots were taken without any result. On the thirty-sixth ballot Jefferson received the votes of ten States, and was thus elected President, Mr. Burr becoming Vice-President. Administration of Thomas Jefferson. THOMAS JEFFERSON,, third President of the United States, began his administration with an Inaugural Address which is one of the most beautiful and eloquent political papers extant. He had his faults, as you have seen; but he was a thorough republican, a true lover of humanity, and a wonderfully sagacious man. His address fairly broke the backbone of Federalism. One by one, nearly all the old Federalists, charmed with the beauty and warmth of his sentiments, began to think that after all he made as good a President as one of their own party. The first event of Jefferson's administration was the trouble with the Barbary pirates. You will be ashamed to learn that the United States had' agreed to do as other nations did, and pay tribute to the Dey of Algiers. But as England, France and Spain had been in the habit of paying tribute in order to purchase security for their ships. President Adams thought it wise to follow their example. The northern coast of- Africa swarmed with little pirates, who called themselves Deys and Beys, and so on, and lived by robbing foreign ships. Jeffer- son saw very plainly that these people would never be quiet until they had been soundly trounced, and accordingly sent a small squadron to the Mediterranean. War then commenced between Tripoli and the United States. The United States now sent Decatur to destroy the Philadelphia, which they had recently captured from the United States. Thomas jefferson-.743-i826. Upon arriving at TripoH Decatur shouted, THE AMERICAN NATION. 179 "Now, boys, board!" In a twinkling the whole seventy-two sprang on board the PJiiladclphia. The Tripolitans were so much astonished at this extraordinary proceeding that a great many of them turned quietly round and jumped into the sea. Everything had been prepared beforehand, and for twenty minutes Decatur's men hardly took time to draw breath. Then, the Philadelphia being filled with pitch, and tar, and rosin, and gunpowder, they set fire to her, cut with their swords the ropes which bound the ketch to her bows, and swun^i off. The flames rose like, lightning, dashing through each hatch and porthole, hissing along the deck, and creeping up the masts and rigging. It was a grand and awful spectacle. Every man, woman and child in Tripoli turned out to see. The blazing ship lit up the port so brightly that the night seemed as clear as day. As the fire glowed, the guns of the Philadelphia became red hot, and went off with a heavy, sullen sound, sending their balls into the city and the fort. The Bey and his head men swore by the Prophet that they would put the "Americanos" to horrible deaths, if they caught them. And I dare say they would. But they didn't catch them, for the brave Decatur and his gallant little band swept out of the harbor as safely as they had sailed into it. Soon after this peace was declared, and there was no more trouble with the pirates for a time. About this time the King of France lost Canada, his affairs were in a very bad way, and he was obliged to give up Louisiana to the King of Spain. After a time, the King of Spain gave it back to France again. When General Bonaparte made peace with the United States, Jefferson saw the time had come to make an attempt to buy Louisiana. You will find, if you read the histories of Rome, England, France, Russia, Spain, and other great nations, that it was their custom, when they wanted this or that strip of land or territory, just to send a party of soldiers with swords and flags to take it. Sometimes they pretended to pick a quarrel with the owner; as 1 80 5 TORIES FR OM A ME RICA N HIS TOR V. England generally did when she meant to grab a province or a kingdom in Asia. For all the examples history contains of this sort of work, I cannot see myself that it is any more honest than taking a man's hat from his head. You know very well that if you take your neighbor's hat, and say you did so because you wanted it, it would be very wrong. President Jefferson, having the honor of the United States greatly at heart, determined to pursue a new plan in regard to Louisiana. He sent to General Bonaparte, and told him that the United States wanted it very badly. He then offered to give France a large sum of money in payment for Louisiana. I dare say Bonaparte, when he received the message, would say to his officers, "What a greenhorn that Yankee must be, to talk of paying for the territory he wants! Why doesn't he take it by force, as I take what I want?" But Jefferson was anxious that the United States should not be accused of robbing other nations of what belonged to them, and persisted in offering the money. Then Bonaparte, seeing he was in earnest, and being desperately in want of money for his great wars and land robberies, accepted the offer, and Louisiana became part of the territory of the United States. Aaron Burr. AVERY melancholy event marked the close of Mr. Jefferson's first term. The Vice-President, Aaron Burr, was a cunning, dark man. He was always plotting and scheming and winding himself like a snake into places where he ought not to have been. He was at first esteemed by many, but as time rolled on people saw that he cared for nothing but himself; that he was not honest in his private dealings; that his word was not to be trusted. So the Republicans withdrew their confidence from him, and resolved, when the election came, to choose George Clinton for Vice-President in his stead. This was a great blow to Burr's ambition, and he writhed under it. But the Governorship of New York becoming vacant. THE AMERICAN NATION. i8i he set up for Governor, and made sure of success, as he had a great many friends in the city. On election day, however, his evil genius again awaited him, and he lost the election. He went home, a darker man than ever, his black heart full of spite, rage and revenge. He wanted a victim. One of the many wise men whose good opinion Burr had never been able to win was Alexander Hamilton. From the first Duel Between Hamilton and Burr. Hamilton had seen into the lowest depths of his murky soul, and would have nothing to do with him. As he was as bold as he was wise, when the proper time arrived Hamilton told his friends what he thought of Burr; and everyone had so much faith in his wisdom that his opposition had much to do with Burr's defeats. Burr said that Hamilton must be his victim. You may have I«2 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. heard that in former days a very ridiculous practice prevailed, which was called dueling. The way of it was this: When a man was insulted he said to him who insulted him, "Sir, you have done me wrong; to make amends you must shoot at me at such a place, such a time." This was called a challenge. It was supposed that being shot at was an ample reparation for any injury. It is very difficult to understand these old customs. Burr sent Hamilton a challenge. The latter was very averse to accepting it. He had a large family to support, many clients to defend in the courts, a public duty to fulfill to his country. He knew he had been created for something better than to be shot at by an assassin. But the notions of the time '\//^ were such that it was very diffi- <;'f^ cult for a man of honor to refuse ■% to fight a duel. Everyone said that the challenge was not so much a challenge to Hamilton as ^^^ to the great Federal party; and Hamilton, viewing it in this light, believed he was bound to accept it. He sent word to Burr that he would fight him after the term was over and he had attended to his clients' business. When the time came, he set his affairs in order, wrote many letters of advice to his friends, and prepared for the duel. He had made up his mind not to shoot Mr. Burr, but to stand as a mark, to be shot at; and he felt an inward presentiment that he should die. Almost his last act before leaving New York for the ground was the writing a letter to excuse Burr's conduct. At seven o'clock in the morning, on a hot day in July, they met in New Jersey. The ten paces were marked out, the seconds THE AMERICAN NATION. 183 walked away, and the signal was given. Burr took cool aim, and Hamilton fell. When the surgeon ran up to him, he was lying on the ground, bleeding from a wound in his side. "Doctor," said he, "this is a mortal wound;" and he fainted. They hurried him to a boat, rowed across the river, and bore him to a friend's house in New York. His wife and children were sent for in all haste. It was plain he was dying. When his wife gave way to her grief and burst into passionate sobs, he turned to her and said, calmly, "Remember, Eliza, you are a Christian woman." So he died — the greatest of the men of the Revolution, save Washington alone. He was great in everything — as a soldier, as a statesman, as a lawyer, as a writer, as an orator, as a man. There was nothing little in any of his acts or thoughts. Honor was his guide through life, and to his death he was considered a manly man. The people of New York were in agony at the news. Almost the whole city attended his funeral in the deepest grief. Trinity Church and the churchyard, and even the street, were crowded with people when Morris pronounced his funeral oration; and a thrill shot through the breast of every man as the orator, with hands uplifted, cried, "I charge you to protect his fame — it is all he has left!" Burr, the murderer, fled with the curse of Cain on his brow. There was no remorse in his bad heart. The country had not recovered fr©m the shock when election day came round, and Thomas Jefferson was re-elected President, with George Clinton as Vice-President. Burr haunted desolate places, and kept out of men's sight. In one of his coats, however, a paper was found which was un- derstood to indicate a plot on his part against the United States, and a party of militia were detailed to capture him. He was soon taken, and sent for trial. The trial, which took place in August, lasted nearly a month, and created a tremendous excitement throughout the country. No expense was spared to find out the truth ; but Burr managed mat- i84 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. ters so secretly that it was impossible to discover what his plans had been. The prosecution failed, and he was acquitted. He made the best of his way to Europe, where he spent several years very miserably. In England he was accused of being a French spy, and driven out of the country. In France he was taken for an English spy and imprisoned, and treated with great harshness. After a time he made his escape, and returned to New York in poverty. He had lost in a shipwreck his only daughter, the only person he seems to have loved. Still, after his return, he lived twenty-four years in New York in obscurity, as cunning, as dark, as secret as ever. When he died, people hardly knew of it. At the close of Mr. Jefferson's second term, he declared that he would not be re-elected President. The country was well satis- fied with him. He had administered to the government with great skill and wisdom, and if he had tried to be President a third time, I dare say he would have been chosen. But he felt that it was safer for the republic to change the President as often as possible; and, like Washington, he would not allow his own am- bition to interfere with the public good. He advised his friends to choose as his successor Mr. Mad- ison, who had been his Secretary of State; and he was elected accordingly. Robert Fulton and the First Steamboat. IN the year 1807 a most important thing occurred. There had come a necessity for more rapid transporation, in order that the new manufacturing capacity could be supplied and the additional product be carried to the consumer. Very naturally as this necessity forced itself on the attention of the world, the thoughts of those most interested turned them- selves to the highways of water. Here were sailing vessels, but much of the time the winds and currents were contrary; sailboats were detained by the varying tides; and time was an uncertain element. The world demanded something better, something more rapid, and what was it to be? THE AMERICAN NA TION. 185 labors these and reliable, these ships? Steam was found to be turning the mills, pumping the mines, draining marshes and all the time showing itself to be obedient to the touch of a child, and yet powerful as a hurricane. So men began very naturally to associate this new power with the slow going ships. They asked themselves, if this giant can perform all and is willing why not propel So there began a search for a method by which this power could be harnessed to vessels that crawled all too slowly from shore to shore. The man for the oppor- tunity was Robert American, and although he cannot be considered the the steamboat, he is the man who gathered up all efforts of fifty years' experiments and crystallized success. Robert Fulton was born on a farm in Pennsylvania. When old enough his widowed mother sent him to the country school. Here, however, he learned but little, as he was always contriving to construct some apparatus. He, however, early developed ability as a mechanic and achieved some creditable success as a portrait painter. At the age of twenty-one he went abroad to study art, but soon gave up the study of art for that of civil engineering. He then became possessed with the idea of making a boat that would go without oars and without sails. Of course people would not believe such a thing could be done, but at last Fulton in- vented machinery for driving boats by steam. He placed a vessel on the Hudson River and it went from New York to Albany Fulton, an inventor of the wasted them into i86 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY in thirty-six hours, "against wind and tide," to the great astonish- ment of everybody. This was the commencement of successful steamboat navigation in the world. The Administration of James Hadison. JAMES MADISON, the fourth President of the United States, began his work on the fourth of March, 1809. He had a hard task before him, owing to the wars in Europe and the slackening of trade between the United States and the greater European nations. By way of proving to them that the United States could do without foreign nations, Mr. Madison, being a Republican, appeared before Congress, on Inauguration Day, dressed in a suit all the materials of which were made in America. One American had grown the wool out of which his coat was made while his trou- sers were of cloth woven by another. Still the merchants were not satisfied. In New England, especially, they grumbled at not being allowed to trade freely with England and make fortunes as heretofore. During the English and French wars, the British lords said to the Americans, "You must not trade with France, or we will seize your ships." And the French Emperor said, in like manner, "You must not trade with Eng- land, or I will sell your ships, and put the money in my pocket to carry on my wars." Both kept their word, and seized American ships, and American cargoes, and American sailors, whenever they had a chance. Two Indian Brothers. ANEW trouble now arose. Two Indians, brothers, and both men of great courage and talent, began to stir up the In- dians in the West against the United States. One was named The Prophet. He pretended to have James Madison, 1751 = 1836. THE AMERICAN NA TION. 187 been sent by Heaven to command the Indians and save them from ruin; and said he could make pumpkins grow as big as houses with a single word, and much more stuff of the same kind. \\ he had said nothing more sensible than this, I don't think he would have given much trouble; but he preached zealously against the use of whisky and the other Indian vices, and the truth of what he said on these subjects gave him great influence. His brother was the famous Tecumseh — a man of bright shining qualities, valiant in war, generous in victory, wise in counsel, heroic in his attachment to his people. He was one of the greatest enemies this country ever had. His whole life was spent in struggling against the American people. To the hour of his death his hatred never flagged. These two brothers now declared that no more Indian lands should be sold to the Americans without their consent. General Harrison (who afterward became President of the United States) held a conference with them and tried to argue the point, but they would not yield an inch. Tecumseh became so excited at last that all parties sprang to arms, and the meeting very nearly ended in a fight. The bad feeling grew worse. As usual, little bands of Indians would mo- lest American set tiers; and the latter, I dare say, treated the Indians as bad- ly. Tecumseh told Harrison very plain- ly that if the United States would agree to what he wanted — namely, that no more lands should be bought from the ^""'^ ""' " ^''"''■'' '^*''- Indians without the consent of all the tribes — he would be their 1^8 STORIES FROM AMERICAN- HISTORY. firm friend. But if not, that he would take the British side if a war broke out. It was a pity the Government did not try to arrange matters with this brave Indian. Instead of doing so, however, Harrison resolved to begin the war, and marched against the village of The Prophet. It was on the Tippecanoe river, a branch of the Upper Wabash. When Harrison was within ten miles of the village he sent messengers to treat with the Prophet, They were driven back with insult. Harrison marched seven miles nearer. There he met several Indians who offered to treat, and begged Harrison to wait a few days before commencing the war. But that very night, which was dark and rainy, the Indians fell upon the American camp. The soldiers had only just time to put out their watch-fires, when the enemy was upon them. Harrison, however, was a very good and brave officer; he drew out his men in a square, and when the Indians charged they were driven back with great loss. When morning came the American horse charged in turn, and the Indians fled, leaving many of their dead on the ground. Harrison then pushed on to the Prophet's village and utterly destroyed it. Tecumseh and his tribes thus became the friends of England and the enemies of the United States. War of 1812. ON the eighteenth of June, 181 2, Congress declared war against Great Britain. One of the most ardent advocates for the war was John C- Calhoun, one of the greatest statesmen America ever had. A young Kentuckian of great talent named Henry Clay was at this time leader of the Federalists, and opposed to the war. Some of the members wanted to declare war against France as well; and as Bonaparte and the French had done quite as much mischief as the English, I think it would have served them right. But Congress thought one nation was enough at a time and France was disregarded for the present. THE AMRRICAX X AT I ON. 189 The population of the United States was at this time a Httle over seven milhons, including slaves. The nation was more than twice as strong as it was at the beginning of the war of the Revo- lution; it was richer, too, and better able to procure money and pay its soldiers. Though still weaker in point of men and wealth than Great Britain, it was quite strong enough to defend itself; and it had — what is better than millions of men and houses full of gold — the right on its side. All over the country the news that war had been declared spread like wildfire, and created intense excitement. Thousands of men offered to fight under the stars and stripes. No end of money was offered to the President by rich merchants and others. There was nothing heard in the large cities but shouts of joy at the intelligence that British insults were no longer to be borne, and that American ships were henceforth to be free. There were a few well-meaning but short-sighted persons in some places who opposed the war, and thought the President all wrong. There must always be such people in every free country. But there never was a truer word than that spoken by Thomas Jefferson: "Error ceases to be dangerous when truth is left free to combat it." Hull's Surrender of Detroit. • THE first thing thought of was the invasion of Canada. Orders were sent to General William Hull, of Michigan, to march into Canada forthwith. He collected his troops, regulars and militia, crossed the St. Clair River at Detroit, and raised the stars and stripes on Canadian soil. On his sice the British Governor issued a grand proclamation and made ready for defense. Tecumseh and his Indians were all on his side, and he had, besides, a large number of trained soldiers. With these he advanced to Maiden and waited for General Hull. After several days the news came to General Hull that the British and Indians had cut off his supplies which were coming from Ohio and beaten the men who guarded them. I90 STORfF,S FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Frightened by this intelHgence, he crossed the river again and took up his quarters at Detroit. Then the British commander, General Brock, a man of great energy and vigor, marched after him as fast as the troops could go. When opposite Detroit he planted his guns and began to batter the fort. General Hull giving no sign of life, Brock crossed the river and gave the word for the assault. The Americans were all ready for him. Their batteries were complete, their guns loaded, the men eager to get at the enemy. But at that moment a white flag was run up on the fort. The meaning of this was that General Hull surrendered to the English. Dreadful was the rage of his men; even the women, it is said, cried with fury at the thought of surrendering without firing a shot. But there was no help for it. Hull was the com- mander, and there was nothingv for the soldiers and the militia and the citizens to do but obey. The Constitution and the Guerriere. HAD it not been for the exploits of the navy, the people of the United States would have had great reason for being out of humor with the war that year. But the moment some of the captains received notice that war was declared they hoisted the signal for sailing, and dashed out into the ocean. The whole British squadron then put to sea, and cruised off New Yoirk. The squadron came up with the frigate Cojistitution, com- manded by Captain Hull, a nephew of General Hull, and gave chase. This little vessel, which afterward became so famous, carried fifty-four guns, and was manned by a very brave body of men. Fighting was out of the question; the Constitution made sail to escape. When the wind fell, her men launched the boats and towed the ship; when a breeze came, the Constitution crowded every stitch of canvas. In this way, sometimes rowing, and some- times sailing, the Constitution remained in sight of the British fleet for four days; and there was not a man on board who did not think she would be taken. But fortune favored her at last. A gale Indian Schools of To-day. 191 192 5 TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS TOR V. springing up, the British vessels scattered, and the Constitution got safe into Boston. So wonderful an escape was thought quite as glorious as a victory. But the sailors had something better than escapes to talk of before long. The wise men at Washington had no sooner heard of the Constitution s arrival at Boston than they sent word to Hull to stay there, probably in order to keep his ship warm and comfortable. Captain Hull had no notion of any thing of the kind. Just before the orders arrived, he got a hint of what they might be, and was off to sea in a trice. After cruising about for a few days, he fell in with one of the British frigates, the Gncrriere, that had chased him, and made sail at once in pursuit. It was quite willing to fight, and waited for the Constitution to come up. When the two ships were within range the battle began. After several broadsides, Hull ran the Constitution into the Gticrricre, in order to board. A fierce fire of musketry prevented this; but the masts of the British ship went overboard, and a few minutes after she lowered her colors. This was a real victory. Never was battle more awful! Both ships seemed wrapped in flame; and when the smoke had cleared away, there lay the Guerriere, her masts broken, her sides pierced with balls — a useless boat, already sinking into the sea. The Wasp and the Frolic. THE little ship Wasp, which had been away from home when war was declared, fell in, on her return, with the Frolic, a British brig of war. The fight was long and bloody. A shot at last cutting away one of the Wasfs topmasts, her commander, Jones, ran her into the Frolic, and the men jumped on board through the rigging. So fierce had been the battle that not a man was found on the Frolic s deck. Everything was covered with blood and mangled remains. Lieutenant Riddle hauled down the Union Jack of England, and the Frolic was a prize. The two vessels were about to make sail when a British THE AMERICAN NATION. 193 seventy-four, the Poictiers, came up with them, and, Hke a whale with a couple of herrings, snapped them both up and carried them oft to the Bermudas. Captain Bain bridge. THE last naval exploit of the year was performed by the old Constitution, now commanded by Captain Bainbridge. He fell in with the British frigate Java, off St. Salvador, and both ships prepared for battle. It lasted two hours, and was very bloody, the English losing nearly two hundred, the Americans nearly forty men. Bainbridge was twice wounded, but he would not go below, or give up the command of his ship. At last, the Java, being dreadfully cut up, struck her flag, and Bainbridge, after vainly trying to refit her, blew her up where she lay. In this battle the wheel of the ConstittUion was shot away by a shot from the Java. Many years afterward, when both nations were at peace, a British naval officer visited the Constitution. In reply to a question from her captain, he said she was the finest frigate he had ever seen; but if he must find some fault, he thought her wheel was rather clumsy. "So do we," said the American with a laugh; "the fact is, we lost our wheel in the battle with the Java, and took hers in- stead; and though it is clumsy, we keep it as a trophy." This is the last you will hear of that gallant sailor, William Bainbridge. Though he did not die till many years ^fter, and was constantly afloat, this was his last battle. Notwithstanding all, it now showed that the American nation had proved itself as brave on sea as on land; and the great English navy was forced to acknowledge a rival. The Hornet and the Peacock. THE war went on as usual at sea. Captain Lawrence, in his little vessel, the Hornet, found a British ship in the Port of Sal- vador, and sent the Captain a challenge to come out and fight him. The Englishman declined, but soon came another British vessel, the Peacock, strutting along feeling vain and full of success. 194 STOR/ES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. She accepted a challenge to fight. The battle lasted just a quarter of an hour; at the end of which time the Peacock made a signal of distress. She was sinking; and though every one of the Hornefs boats were sent to her relief, she went down with sev- eral of her men on board. When Lawrence returned to the United States he was made captain of a larger ship, the Chesapeake, in which he sailed from Boston on the first of June. A British man-of-war —the Shannon, — had been cruising off the coast for some time, waiting for some- Mi DS H/ PA^r> body to fight. Lawrence 'was so straight- 1^ j^ ^N forward a man that his sailors used to say there was "no more dodge about him than about the main-mast." He dashed at the Shannon. For a few minutes both ships were wrapped in smoke and flame. But „N the Chesapeake becoming entangled in some ll way the latter got a great advantage, and 11 poured tremendous volleys into her. sweeping the decks and killing almost all her officers. Lawrence, seeing the danger, gave the word to board! But, unhappily, the man whose duty it was to sound the bugle, was a wretched negro, who had run away to hide himself through fear. Before the crew re- ceived the order, the captain of the Shannon had ordered his men to board, and they came pouring like a torrent into the Chesa- peake. In less time than you take to read this, they were masters of the deck — the United States flag was torn down, and the Chesapeake was a British prize. It was a dreadful blow to the people of this country, though the battle had been well and gloriously fought; but a greater blow still was the loss of the gallant Lawrence, who was shot in the action. They carried him below when he was struck, and asked him whether they should surrender. "No, no," he answered, over and over again; "don't strike the flag!" Four days afterward, when he was dying, his lips still re- peated the words, THE AMERICAN NATION. 195 "Don't give up the ship!" He never knew that she was a prize, and that he was dying under the British flag. The Enghsh buried him at Hahfax with great honors; but his bones were afterward removed to this coun- try by a patriotic citizen of Salem. Whenever you hear the immortal words "Don't give up the ship," just think of Lawrence, the brave man who died to save his country. Brave Oliver H. Perry. FOR many months there had been a race between the Amer- icans and the English on the lakes. There was as yet no fighting, but the race was in the building of ships and boats, so as to command these inland waters. At first, the English had the advantage. The American builders were slower and less expert. Sometimes, before their craft were finished, the English would descend upon them like birds of prey, drive the workmen from the yards, and burn the half-finished vessels. Luckily the wise men of Washington sent to the lakes a young man named Oliver -H. Perry, very little known at that time, though a sailor almost from his cradle. He began work on Lake Erie, to build an inland navy. So vigorously did he go about it, that before the autumn of the year 18 13 he had quite a squadron ready for service. The British naval commander knew all that was going on. One day in September he dined with a large party of English- men at a place called Dover, in Canada, and his health was drunk with great noise ^nd many fine compliments. He rose to reply, and said quietly that he was going next day to take the American fleet, under Perry, which was about to sail from Erie. He knew where to find them, he said; they would be stuck fast on the bar of Erie, a bank outside that port. When the next day came, however, this gallant Englishman found himself quite mistaken; the American vessels were not stuck on the bar, but were free and at large on the lake, on the look- out for the British squadron. 196 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HIS TORY. On the tenth of September their preparations were made, and out they came. The moment Perry saw them he ordered his ships to prepare for action, and sailed to meet the enemy. He hoisted, as a signal, Lawrence's last words — "Don't give up the ship." The whole British fleet assailed her. For nearly two hours every British shot was aimed at this one vessel, and, as you may easily imagine, at the end of the time she was pretty well riddled and quite unmanageable. It was a trying moment. The shot came tearing into her as she drifted about. It is said that the poor fellows who were shot down at the guns all died with their faces turned up and their eyes fixed on Perry; so great was their faith and trust in him. He determined to deserve it. Jumping into a boat with his little brother, a midshipman, he ordered the sailors to row for their lives to the Niagara, the second vessel of his squadron. It was dangerous work for a small boat, which a single shot might have sunk, thus to pick her way through the fight from one ship to another. But Perry was a lucky man. He reached the Niag- ara in safety, and made the signal for action. It was obeyed. The other American ships sailed up, and bore down on the British line, cutting it in two. As they passed, each vessel poured in its broadside with such effect that one by one all the Englishmen hauled down their flags and were forced to surrender. Thus the battle was won. It was a glorious exploit. The British had long held the command of the lakes. They had more guns than Perry, though fewer vessels. It is but fair to say that their guns were not so heavy as those of the Americans, but their men were more numerous. The brave Perry himself was ill at the time the battle was fought. He had been attacked by fever some time before, and was hardly fit to leave his bed. The sight of the enemy cured him, however, and after the battle he sat down and wrote the following account of it to General Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." THE AMERICAN NATION. 197 He was not, you see; a man of many words, but a man of action. Massacre of Fort Mimms. WHILE these things were being done in the North, the South and West were in great commotion. I have told you how Tecumseh and his brother the Prophet had stirred the Indians far and wide against the American people. Those of the North joined the British troops, as you know. Those of the South began a war on their own account. They were chiefly Creeks and Seminoles, old enemies of the white men, and very fierce, cruel and bloodthirsty races. They began, as usual, by murdering stray white men, burning solitary houses, and such acts. But gaining courage as they went on, and growing more ravenous for blood and plunder, they soon perpetrated more terrible deeds. One day in August a negro ran hastily into this fort, and said that the Indians intended to attack it. It was so strong, and the Indian chiefs had of late seemed so friendly, that the white men did not believe him. Even when the trusty watchdogs, trained to Indian warfare, began to bay and- bark in a low, growling manner, as was their wont when they detected the Indians afar off by the scent, their masters would not trust them, and paid no heed to the warning. So unspeakably careless was the commander, that the Indians walked up to the fort at mid-day, and rushed in at the gate before the sentinel could close it. Then the whites began to fight. But it was too late. The Indians were led by a fierce chief named Weathersford, who fought like a demon, shooting and stabbing everyone opposed to him. His men followed his example, and in a very short space of time all the men were killed but some twenty or so who fled across the fields. The women and children were left in the fort. It was set on fire, and nearly all of them perished in the flames. The few who forced their way out were brutally murdered. It would be im- possible to describe the horrible scene presented by the fort when the Indians left it. 198 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Andrew Jackson. TERRIBLE was the cry which arose from the people of Ten- nessee and Kentucky, and the Carohnas and Georgia, when the news of the massacre of Fort Mimms reached them. There was no talk of sending to Washington for help. They were men who helped themselves always. A great meeting was held at Nashville, and with one voice the people chose for their general, to lead them against the Indians, one of their bravest citizens — Andrew Jackson. Over three thousand men flocked round his banner, and he took the field at once, and marched into the Indian country. The Creeks were very brave. They would not retreat an inch, and neither gave nor received quarter. In four successive battles Jackson and his officers routed them completely, destroying their villages and forts, and carrying off their women and children into captivity. Jackson, like Perry on Lake Erie, had risen from a sick bed to lead his troops; once on his horse, he seemed to have lost all thought of fatigue, illness, hunger, or sleep. No matter where the Creeks were, he ferreted them out; no matter how bravely they fought, he defeated them. • At last, after the fourth battle, the might of the tribe was broken. The warriors who remained sued for peace. Jackson de- manded that Weathersford, who had led the attack on Fort Mimms, should be given up to be tried for the massacre, and punished. The men of Tennessee and the Carolinas had tried hard to take Weathersford. But he was so active, so watchful, and so lucky, that he had always baffled their efforts. Even now, in the day of their ruin, the Creeks could hardly be brought to give up their bold chieftain; so much had they loved him, and so often had he led them. While they were thinking of it, Weathersford suddenly ap- peared at the door of Jackson's tent, stepped in, and stood before him. "General," said the Indian, "I have fought you with all my might, and done all the harm I could. But you have conquered. THE AMERICAN NATION. 199 I have no warriors now. I am now in your power. Do with me what you please. I, too, am a warrior." Jackson Hstened to this bold speech from the savage chief with perfect coolness. When it was ended, the General made up •his mind that Weathersford's life must be spared. It was not easy to convince the men that this was right; they could not quickly forgive the massacre of Fort Mimms; but Jackson had a terrible will of his own, and Weathersford was pardoned. "Old Hickory'* and the Baby. THERE is another story of this Creek war which I must tell you; it is so pleasant to find a ray of gentleness and human- ity in the heart of so stern a warrior as Old Hickory. At the last battle, many of the Indian women had rushed to the attack with the men; some were made prisoners, some killed. One of the latter had a new born baby with her; when its mother fell, the infant rolled to the ground, and cried piteously. When the battle was over, the baby was brought to Jackson, who asked whether someone among the squaw prisoners would not nurse it. You know the Indians are a very sullen race, inhuman in some things. The squaws answered, "No; its mother is dead: let it die, too." But Old Hickory's will was as strong in the matter of a child's liie as when the safety of nation was concerned. He took the baby in his arms,' carried it to his tent, and finding some sugar in his baggage, the old chief actually fed the little crying thing himself. And so its life was saved Battle of Niagara. N 1 8 14, long before the snow had begun to melt, the soldiers were astir in the North. Old Jacob Brown had been ap- pointed a major-general. As soon as the army had been drilled, and taught to fight in an orderly, soldierlike manner, he gave orders to cross the river Niagara to Fort Erie. Several I 200 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. of his officers were much opposed to invading Canada again; but Brown swore that nothing but thunder and Hghtning should pre- vent his carrying out his plan. Over he crossed on the third of July. Next morning, as soon as day broke, the fighting began. It lasted all day. The roar of the cannon and the musketry mingled with the roar of Niagara; it was not till the sun went down that the voice of the cataract seem to grow louder and louder, and the thunder of the battle waved fainter and fainter. The British Niagrara Falls. were defeated. They had chosen their own ground, counted more men than the Americans, fought under good generals; but they were defeated, and lost twice as many men as their enemy. The British fell back; and for several days the two armies marched and countermarched near the falls and the river, each watching for an opportunity to begin the fight anew. On the evening of the twenty-fifth, as General Scott was marching with his brigade to Queenstown, he fell quite unexpect- edly on the whole British army. But Winfield Scott, then in the THE AMERICAN NA TION. 201 youth of his valor and spirit, gave the word of attack at once, and the battle of Niagara began. The sun had gone down, and the moon was hidden from time to time by passing clouds; but neither in light nor darkness, by day nor by night, did the firing, and the charging, and the killing ever cease. On a height, near a lane called Lundy's Lane, the British had planted a battery of heavy guns, which poured a hail of shot and grape into the ranks of the Americans. The gunners stood ready at their guns with matches lighted, until a flash in the plain below showed them where the Americans were; then they fired, and every volley laid low many brave fellows. General Ripley, a cool cautious soldier, who was never excited in his life, rode up to Colonel Miller and asked him if he thought he could take that battery? "I'll try, sir," was the answer. And he did try, and took it, too, at the point of the bayonet, many of the gunners being killed in the very act of loading and pointing their guns. When the British general heard that the battery had been taken, he ordered more troops to charge it and retake it from the American^. But Brown had also brought up more men to defend it, and when the British charged they were driven back with gre^tt loss. At the foot of the height they formed a second time, and charged again more furiously than before. But again the British were repulsed. A third time they formed but again the Americans held their ground, and, for the last time, the English retreated. It was past midnight, and the enemy fell back for the night. The battlefield was once more silent; nothing was heard but the gloomy roar of the falls, and the groans of the wounded, many and many of whom never saw the morning light. Sixteen hundred brave men had been killed or wounded in the fio^ht The British claimed the victory, and so did the Americans. But the former lost their position and more men than their en- emies; so that it appears the Americans had the best ground for their claim. 202 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. It was this battle which made Winfield Scott a hero. He began it by attacking the British with a vastly inferior force; and his valor was one of the chief causes of the victory. "Those who saw him say that nothing could be grander or more heroic than his head- long charges at the head of his men, his tall figure soaring above all others like a giant among pygmies, and his face lit up with the fire of battle. The American army quartered it- self in Fort Erie, and the British besieged r^ it there. One of the British officers, f; and a namesake of the commander's. Colonel Drummond, was a ferocious fel- Generai Scott. \o\\ , morc like a pirate than a soldier. On the night appointed the British came on, in total dark- ness, and the assault began. The English approached quite close to the fort, planted their ladders and even took one bastion; but the Americans fought so stoutly, knocking down every man as fast as he showed himself, that the attack failed. Drummond, the leader, was killed. He had fought single- handed with a young American officer, named M'Donough, and overcome him. M'Donough begged his life; but Drummond, like a brutal murderer as he was, struck him dead with a blow. He turned round to his men and began to cry, "No quart — " But at that instant a soldier shot him dead and he never finished the wicked sentence. After this General Brown got well enough to return to the fort. He planned a sortie on the British which fairly crushed their army. It was arranged and done just in his old way. When he asked his officers their opinion about it beforehand they all said it would be too perilous; but Brown took one of his friends aside and, telling him quietly to "keep dark," assured him that "as sure as there was a God in Heaven, he would attack the enemy in his lines and beat him." And so he did. And so thoroughly were the British beaten, losing all their heavy guns and one thousand men, that the general THE AMERICAN NATION. 203 gave the siege up and marched away — which was the end of the war on the peninsula between the lakes. Our Capital City Burned. THE eyes of the people were all turned now to a different point. The wars in. Europe were ended, and the great lords had no work for their multitude of soldiers except on the American coasts. There was in England at this time a great general, the Duke of Wellington. He had just defeated the wonderful Napoleon Bonaparte in the great battle of Waterloo. Napoleon had been looked upon as a wonderful being, never to be overcome by any army living, so you can imagine with what awe Wellington and his army were now looked upon all over the world. Powerful squadrons, carrying large armies, were sent out to America. The troops were told, it would seem, to cease, on arrival here, to be soldiers, and to become pirates. The most savage of these pirates was Admiral Cockburn. This Cockburn had long been tired of plundering farmhouses and villages a,nd insulting women; he longed for greater game. After cruising some time on the coast he suddenly dashed into the Chesapeake, sailed up the Potomac and landed near Wash- ington. There were less than five thousand men in all; but before they had reached the city report said there were six, then seven, even eight thousand of them. Gen. Winder hastily got together a force of seven thousand men and took their station outside the city, and awaited the approach of this dreaded foe. Three days later the English marched up, tired and hot, ready to drop from fatigue. Oh, if the Americans could only have known this, if they could have known, too, that their own number was nearly twice that of the advancing foe! Then the battle began, and after a few hours' work the militia broke and scattered, and the British drove them back on every side. A feeble attempt was made by one or two of the officers to rally the fiying troops, but it was impossible. Soldiers never fight 204 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. well unless they have confidence in their leader; here they had none. Nobody seemed willing to do anything but fly; and the whole population, with the President, the Secretaries, and the remains of the militia, left Washington to its fate. On came the British. There was no one to resist them; they took possession of the Capitol and began to burn and destroy. The Capitol, Washington. They set fire to the President's house, to the State Departments, to the Capitol, to the Arsenal, to newspaper offices and private houses. Splendid buildings, rich libraries, noble works of art, valuable records were all burnt. Cockburn, their leader, saw it done, and rejoiced over it, just as Nero is said to have done when another great capital — Rome — was burning. All next day the work of devastation went on. There is no saying where these bandits and pirates might have stopped, but for an accident which appalled them. A furious THE AMERICAN NATION. 205 hurricane raged with such fury that roofs were blown off houses, chimneys fell in every direction, trees were torn up by the roots and dashed into the air. Nothing was heard but the crashing "of falling timbers, and the sky was darkened by the clouds of dust driven hither and thither by the tornado. I dare say the British soldiers were smitten with terror at the sight of the awful effects of the hurricane, and a report spreading that the Americans were about to pounce upon them, they marched off by night to their ships, leaving their wounded to the mercy of the Americans. Cockburn had succeded so well in his foray at Washington that he was impatient to repeat the operation. A few days after the troops had re-embarked, he sailed up the bay a second time, and landed his men to attack Baltimore. The moment the enemy landed, a body of militia marched down and gave him battle. They were beaten; but the victory cost the British more men than they could spare. Star Spangled Banner. THERE was an American gentleman on board the British fleet that day, named Francis S. Key. He had gone on board to beg that a prisoner whom he knew might 'be ex- changed, and was carried off when the ships set sail. He was on the deck when the ships opened fire, and heard the British officers and sailors boasting of what they would do when they had "hauled that flag down" — meaning the stars and stripes which floated over the forts. It was in the excitement of that moment that he composed that stirring song which you have heard so often — the "Star Spangled Banner." The Star Spangled Banner. H! say can you see by the dawn's early light. What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming! Whose broad Stripes and bright Stars thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the shells bursting in air! 2o6 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Gave proof thro' the night that our Flag still was there; Oh! say does the Star Spangled Banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave! On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam. In full glory reflected, now shines in the stream: And the Star Spangled Banner oh! long may it wave. O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion A home and a country shall leave us no more! Their blood has wash'dout their foul footsteps' pollution! No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave; And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph doth wave. O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave! Battle of Lake Cham plain. ON the very day that pirate Cockburn came to plunder Bal- timore, the British suffered one of the most terrible defeats in the war. It was on Lake Champlain. There, as on the other lakes, had been a great race between the Americans and the enemy in shipbuilding; and at first the British had the upper hand, always contriving to launch their vessels before the Americans had time, and so keep the command of the lake. But at last the Americans succeeded in getting a little squadron to sea, and prepared to fight one great battle for victory. At the very same time the British general in Canada, Prevost, invaded the United States, from Montreal, with an excellent army, twelve thousand strong. He marched as far as Plattsburg, when the American army, chiefly composed of militia, met him, and made ready for battle. The fleet was in the bay, commanded by a young sailor, Captain M'Donough, and the British fleet, under Captain Downie, sailed down to attack it at the same time. On the morning of the day of battle, it being Sunday, THE AMERICAN NATION. 207 M'Donough solemnly read the prayers of the Episcopal Church, and prepared for the fight. Shortly after daybreak the British fleet was seen sailing down in order of battle. Almost at the same moment a cock flew out of one of the hencoops on board M'Donough's vessel, the Saratoga, and, lighting on a gun-slide, set up a tremendous crowing. You know that sailors are usually superstitious; they all declared that this was an omen of victory, and gave three hearty cheers. As the British ships approached, the battle began. The Eng- lish ships were more numerous and carried more guns than the American, and in a very short time the Saratoga was almost knocked to pieces. The storm of grape and shot was so terrible that every man on board was either killed or wounded. They say that while the sailors were falling on every side a shot struck the hencoop and knocked it to pieces; and that the same cock which had crowed before the battle flew up into the rigging, and began to crow again in the midst of the balls — which you may believe, if you like. Whether or no, M'Donough did not lose courage, and contriving to wear round his ship by the help of an anchor, he poured so terrible a broadside into the largest of the British vessels that she struck her flag. A few more broadsides, and all the others followed the example, so that by ten o'clock there was not a British flag floating on the lake. The End of the War. THERE were many battles upon the land and sea in the war of 1812 which we have not here recorded; but as battles are always the same old story of murder and bloodshed, no matter how just or how unjust the cause, I think you will be glad to pass over the unimportant ones and skip with me to times of peace. The war ended with the Battle of New Orleans. The British fleet sailed along the coast and landed an army to attack New Orleans. Jackson, who was the general, had but few men in comparison with their numbers: the British was tried soldiers, who had fought all over Europe; Jackson's men were mostly militia. 208 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Worse than all, there were at New Orleans, and in the neighbor- hood, numbers of vagabonds of every nation under the sun, who did not care a straw for the United States, and were quite ready to welcome the British invaders. Jackson quietly took the supreme authority into his own hands, proclaimed martial law, put sentinels over the Legislature, and ordered every man to turn out and fight under penalty of being shot. People very soon saw that he was not to be trifled with, and the works of defense went on with wonderful vigor. On the eighth of January the British advanced to the attack. Jackson had posted his men skillfully behind entrenchments partly built with cotton-bales. They were mostly Tennesseeans and Ken- tuckians, dead shots with their rifles. As the British advanced, each man took good aim and brought down a soldier. Behind each rifleman Jackson had stationed a man to load while the former fired: by this means the volleys were incessant, and the slaughter of the British tremendous. After a short struggle the British general ordered a retreat. He had lost two thousand men; Jackson only seventy-one. The British moved sullenly back to their ships, embarked, and sailed away. New Orleans was safe. While these things were going on, a ship sailed into the port of New York with news that peace had been made. The ship arrived at night, but the news spread like wildfire; people rushed out of their houses to hear it, and the whole city was in a blaze of excitement. Messengers were sent all over the country in hot haste, to say that the war was over, and that trade was once more going to revive. The treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent, Belgium, on Christmas eve, in the year 1814. It said nothing whatever about the rights of American ships or sailors, but simply declared that both nations should stand in the position they held before the war. PART V. The Good Times Era. Monroe's Administration. iT.y^ ^HE fifth President of the United States was James ^"^ Monroe, he was a soldier in the Revolution, and be- longed to the Republican party. When young he developed a. very noble character, frank, manly, sin- cere. Abounding with kindliness of feeling, and scorn- ing everything ignoble, he won the love of all who knew him. Mr. Jefferson once said of him, — "James Monroe is so perfectly honest, that if his soul were turned inside out there would not be found a spot on it." He chose very wise men for his cabinet. They went to work industriously to get government matters out of the confusion in which the war had left them. During the war the Americans made cloth and many other things, which before they bought in Eng- land and France. They spent a great deal of money for machinery to do it with, so when the French and English goods came in abundance after the war, these manu- factures were much injured, and thousands of people had nothing to do. Like many other things, this, that seemed an evil, was a good. Thousands who were compelled to be idle went be- yond the mountains into the fertile West, cultivated the soil, and became healthier, 209 i8i7-i8a5. 2IO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. happier, and wealthier than they could have been had they re- mained in the East. During Mr. Monroe's administration, the territories of Mississ- ippi, Illinois, Alabama and Missouri were admitted into the Union as states. Settlements also increased very rapidly all over the West. General prosperity was everywhere visible, and everybody hoped for long years of repose. Because of the quiet, peaceful times, during which Monroe was president, the years of his administration have been called the "era of good feeling." How I wish I could tell you that this "era of good feeling" lasted a long time; but alas! God's ways are not ours! He saw we would not be a free people until all men, both black and white, were free and had equal rights. For many years, and in fact ever since the Dutch traders had stolen and brought over black men from Africa, and sold them like cattle to become slaves to the American people, had this evil been going on. There now began to be a strong feeling that this was wrong, and that something ought to be done to put a stop to it. Even before the Constitution was adopted the Northern and Southern men had quarreled about slavery; the one saying that slavery was inhuman and should be abolished, the others that it was no such thing, and that the negroes were far better off as slaves than they would be if free. For thirty years the quarrel had slept, but now when the State of Missouri applied for admission to the Union with a slavery Constitution, there were not a few who foresaw the evils impending. After the debate of a week it was decided that Missouri could not be admitted into the Union with slavery. The question was at length settled by a compromise, proposed by Henry Clay. Mis- souri was admitted with slavery, but slavery was prohibited over all the territory ceded by France, north of thirty-six degrees thirty minutes north latitude, which is commonly known as the "Mason and Dixon line." The famous "Monroe Doctrine, "of which so much has recently been said, originated in this way: In the year 1823 it was rumored that the Holy Alliance was about to interfere to prevent the estab- THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 211 lishment of republican liberty in the European colonies in South America. A few weeks after this President Monroe sent a message to Congress, declaring it to be the policy of this Government not to entangle ourselves with the broils of Europe, and not to allow Europe to interfere with the affairs of nations on the American continents; and the doctrine was announced, that any attempt on the part of the European powers ' ' to extend their system to any portion of this heniisphere would be regarded by the United States as dangerous to our peace and safety." An Old Hero Visits America. IN the last year of Mr. Monroe's presidency a gr6at man came to this country. This was General La Fayette, the glorious old hero, whose cheek was now wrinkled, and whose hair was gray. The boys who were at school when he left this country, were old men, almost as gray as himself; very few, indeed, were born when his blood was shed for American freedom. He was welcomed everywhere with joy and honored as no man ever was before or since by a free people. Congress gave him a township of land and a couple of hundred thousand dollars, as a trifling token of the nation's gratitude. If they had made it a dozen townships and a million of dollars it would still have been too little to repay the man who had said, when Congress sent him word that he had better not come to fight for them, as they were too poor to pay his expenses hither. " If that is the case, I will go at once and take money with me." He arrived in the summer of 1824, staid until the next year, and traveled more than five thousand miles among us. A national vessel, named from a certain battle in the Revolution in which La Fayette had been wounded, called Brandywine, was then sent to convey him home. In the autumn the people of the United States chose a new magistrate. John Quincy Adams was elected President, and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, Vice-President. 212 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Henry Clay. ONE of the great men of President Monroe's time was Henry Clay. He earned imperishable fame by his conduct at the time the Missouri Compromise was passed. Whether it was a mistake or not, his motives were pure, his purpose noble. He saw discord spreading throughout the country and the men of one State ready to take up arms against the men of another. He heard the fierce disputes, the bitter taunts, the galling reproaches that each faction heaped upon the other. He knew that this nation had but. one real peril to fear, and that was internal dissensions and strife. He felt that if the quarrel went on much longer this peril would approach with giant strides, and he regis- tered a vow that it must be stopped. His voice it was, his eloquent voice, which calmed the stormy debate in Congress; he threw himself between the angry North and South, and implored them — not to establish or to forbid slavery; not to make this or that law for Missouri or the new territory — these were trifles — but simply to save the Union. You know how well he succeeded, and how thirty years of peace followed his gallant act. He is gone, and you do not often hear his name mentioned now in conversation or read of him in the newspapers. But in history and in every American heart he still lives; and years and years and ages after you are gone, and your children after you, the world will be proud to do him honor, and to celebrate the fame of him who saved this Union in the year 1820. ^W' r/ ^^' Henry Clay. THE GOOD TIMES ERA. The Administration of John Quincy Adams. 213 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, the sixth President of the United States, was the son of old John Adams, our second President. When he received a note from Rufus King, informing him of his election, he inclosed it to his father, who was now ninety years of age, with the following lines from his own pen: My Dear and Honored Father. — The inclosed note from Mr. King will inform you of the event of this day; upon which I can only offer jw<^ my con- gratulations, and ask your blessing and prayers. Your affectionate and dutiful son, John Quincy Adams. At that time the United States was at peace with all the world and everything appeared bright and prosperous. A remarkable occurrence took place in the summer of 1826. On the 4th of July, just fifty years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, Thomas Jef- ferson and John Adams died. They were both on the committee that drew up the Declaration, both had been foreign min- isters, and both had been Vice-Presidents, and then Presidents of the United States. At the time of their death, Mr. Adams was almost ninety years old, and Mr. Jefferson almost eighty-three. Nothing of great importance took place during Adams' ad- ministration. At the end of his term of office he returned to his home but was not long permitted to remain in retirement. In November, 1830, he was elected representative to Congress. He thus recognized the Roman principle, that it is honorable for the general of yesterday to act as corporal to-day, if by so doing he can render service to his country. For seventeen years, until his death, he occupied the post of representative, and it is said of him he was the most eloquent man living,, and won the title of "the old man eloquent." It has been said that, when his body was bent and his hair John Quincy Adams— 1767=1848. One Term, 1825=1829. 214 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. silvered by the lapse of years, yielding to the simple faith of a child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before he slept, the prayer which his mother taught him. In February, 1848, he rose on the floor of Congress, to address the Speaker. Suddenly he fell, stricken by paralysis, and was caught in the arms of those around him. With reviving conscious- ness he opened his eyes, and said, ' ' This is the end of earth/' "/ am content." The First Train of Cars. IT seems fitting just at this time to step aside for a moment from the political thoughts of our American people and look at our first train of cars. Not until Adams' administration did this country ever see a railroad. There had been horseback riding, carriage, steam- boat and sailing, but no railroad. The first railroad built in the First Locomotive. United States was only two miles long, extending from a granite quarry at Quincy, Mass., to Milton. Even then these cars had no locomotives, but were drawn by horses. Two years later, how- ever, an engine was brought into use, and from that day to this improvements have been steadily going on until to-day America THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 215 stands at the head of all nations in the world for speed, comfort and elegance of her railroads. The increase of the miles of railway in this country since the inauguration of this first railway is commensurate with the growth of the country. To-day we have more miles of railway than all Europe together, or perhaps than all the rest of the world. We have about eight times as many miles as France; more than four times as many as Great Britain, eight times as many as Russia, nearly twelve times as many as Germany, and about twenty times as many as Austria. The amount of capital invested is over five billions of dollars and the total receipts something over seven hundred millions of dollars. W Andrew Jackson. ITH the masses of the people Andrew Jackson was by far the most popular Presidenjt, with possibly the excep- tion of Washington, who had at this time occupied the Presidential chair. Nothing which concerns him can be tedious. He was an honest man with a strong mind. He would always do what he thought was right without caring a fig what people might say. When thirteen years old he became a soldier in the 'Revo- lutionary army. His father was dead. One of the bands of British soldiers who used to scour the countrv like hi^h- ■J o way robbers came upon Mrs. Jackson's house one day and made her two sons prisoners. The British officer commanding was a Major Coffin. He ordered the two Jacksons to clean his boots. Andrew said he would not — that he was a prisoner of Andrew jackson-1767-1845. war, and would submit to no such insult. Robert Jackson also said he would not clean Coffin's boots. On which this savage wretch smote him with his sword so fiercely that he died of the wound shortly afterward. Little Andrew Jackson remained a long time a prisoner in 2i6 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the hands of the British, suffering great hardship. When the war was over he looked for his mother. She in the meantime had been attacked by fever, had died, and was buried where her grave could never afterward be found. A small bundle of the clothing which she wore was the only memorial of his mother which was returned to her orphan boy. Thus Andrew Jackson, when four- teen years of age, was left alone in the world, without father, mother, sister or brother, and without one dollar which he could call his own. He then went to Tennessee and settled at Nash- ville, where he began to practice law. Tennessee was at that time a very wild sort of place, where fighting was quite common and quiet people led a pretty hard life. Jackson rose from one position of trust to another until he became President of the United States. Nowadays it is quite usual for each new President to turn out many of the public officers, from the Secretary of State to the servants at the White House, in order to make room for his own friends. General Jackson was the first President who adopted this plan. It made a great noise at the time, and many sensible persons thought Jackson was all wrong. He didn't in the least mind the clamor that arose when he dismissed postmasters and clerks. He said he had his ideas about the way the President should do his duty, and he intended to carry them out. If the people didn't like it, why they need not elect him again. The great men at Washington, who had' for a long time had their own way, were taken back by this ofl-hand manner of deal- ing. Congress mixed in it, and several of the members let General Jackson know that he had far better take their advice, but they might as well have talked to a stone wall as to Old Hickory. He knew what he had to do; when he wanted their advice he would ask it. After a time, his cabinet got on so badly together that he made up his mind to get rid of the whole of them. So he inquired had they not better resign, which they did. Jackson often had opportunity before his term was over to display the force of his iron will in a way that will cause him to THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 217 be forever remembered. First, he made an attack upon the money system of the country. He so upset the whole plan that hundreds of wealthy bondholders failed in their business. In 1833 he made war upon the United States Bank. Almost ten millions of dollars belonging to the United States were in that bank, and the use of this money was profitable. Jackson, declared that the money was not safe there, and he ordered it all to be taken from the bank and put into various State banks. This removal of deposits, as it was called, made the merchants and others very angry, and business got into great confusion, but Jackson carried the day. Then came up trouble over the ' ' tariff " question. The South said, "We want free trade, and we're going to have it. If the North wants protection let her have it. But we are going to have free trade." But Congress said, "No; we can't make a law for one part of the United States. Either all must have free trade or all must have protection." The people at the South did not like it, and those of South Carolina declared that they would not pay the duty on goods brought into Charleston. They were upheld in this by Mr. Calhoun, their greatest statesman. But this was breaking the great bargain made in the National Constitution, and President Jackson plainly told the people of South Carolina that they must pay the duty or he would send United States troops there. It was then that glorious Henry Clay stepped forward once more with his eloquent voice and winning manner. He rose to heal discord, as he had done thirteen years before, when the question of slavery was nearly splitting the Union in two, and proposed a plan by which the taxes were to be cut down, little by little, every year for ten years. It was not what the South- erners wanted, as they thought the taxes were wrong altogether, and should be taken off bodily; nor yet what the manufacturers wanted, but rather than risk a civil war and break up the Union, the South agreed to the plan. So, after a sharp debate, Congress adopted Mr. Clay's plan. It is called in history the Compromise Tariff, another of those 2l8 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. great compromises which have staved off the hour of danger from this glorious repubhc, and covered the name of Clay with renown. Just before Jackson assumed the reins of government, he met with the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of his wife, whom he loved with devotion which has, perhaps, never been surpassed. From the shock of her death he never recovered. He ever afterward appeared like a changed man. He became subdued in spirit, and except when his terrible temper had been greatly aroused, seldom used profane language. It is said that every night afterward, until his own death, he read a prayer from his wife's prayer-book with her likeness before him. With frank- ness characteristic of his nature, he expressed his deep conviction and his hope and intention to become a Christian before he should die. His administration was one of the most memorable in the annals of our country; applauded by one party, condemned by the other. No man had more bitter enemies or warmer friends. Martin Van Buren. ONCE upon a time, when a great part of America belonged to the Dutch, a roving Dutchman named Van Buren came hither, and settled himself down. About the same time there was born to this farmer a son, to whom he gave the plain, honest old name of Martin. Old Abraham Van Buren was a capi- tal farmer in his way. He sowed his seed at the right time, and wrought from dawn till dark when the season for harvesting ar- rived. He was, besides, a very good man, much loved by his neighbors. But this honest old farmer was not rich. He had two other sons besides Mar- tin, and he could not afford to pay for costly schooling for any of them. He had them taught just what the poorest boys in ^'''^'oZ'ft^m!l^Ji&?^^' ^^^ United States now learn; and when THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 219 Martin was about fourteen years old, he sent him to a lawyer to study law. Seven long years he toiled, reading and writing and learning to speak fluently in public; at last he was admitted to the bar, and set up as a lawyer. He was very young; had not been to any college, as most lawyers have. Thirty-four years from that time he was President of the United States. It would take too long to tell you of all the steps by which he rose to that high rank. It will be quite enough to say that from the first he was industrious and honest. He had a very sound, quick judgment, and, from mixing early in politics, had acquired great skill in managing men. But his best qualities were his honesty and industry. The year 1837 will long be remembered in America. It was a dark, gloomy, sad year. You remember that when General Jackson made the great bank pay over all the government money, he gave it for safe keep- ing to the State banks. This would have been a very good plan if these State banks had been managed by wise, prudent, and honest men. You know what the Bible says of money — that the love of it is the "root of all evil." It is certainly the root of covet- ousness. When the State banks found the gold and silver pouring fnto their coffers from the government offices, they were thrown into such a state of covetousness that they lost their wits entirely. They began to lend money right and left. They set to work to make paper dollars to any amount. When a man wanted money he would go to one of these banks and say to the cashier, "If you please, sir, I want so many hundred dollars." Upon which the cashier would fly to his strong box, and count him out the sum required, always .taking care to charge some- thing handsome for interest. In this way everybody got so much paper money that they did not know what to do with it. Some bought houses; others bought tracts of lands; others started absurd companies; others lived in grand style, and had ever so many servants in livery. In 220 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. short, it seemed that boundless wealth had suddenly fallen upon the United States as if by enchantment. You know very well that wealth never comes by enchantment, and that those who grow rich do so by long and patient work and economy. You know, also, that those who spend more than they earn are really poorer than the poorest hod-carrier, and must some day break with a terrible crash. This is just what happened. The day came when the banks asked some of their customors to pay back their loans. They could not do so, having spent the money. The banks said they must. As they had nothing with which to pay, they broke; soon the banks were no better off than they, and broke likewise. Then came an awful time, when almost everyone was ruined, and thousands and thousands of families were reduced to misery and want. The streets were filled with workmen seeking work and finding none, while their children starved at home. In their distress and misery a number of the latter flocked to President Van Buren, and entreated him to help them. They said their ruin was all owing to General Jackson's bad policy. But Mr. Van Buren answered that it was not so; that the mischief was their own doing, in borrowing too much money; that he could do nothing but advise them to go home, and be wiser in the future. At last Mr. Van Buren persuaded Congress to agree to a plan for keeping the government money by itself in the Treasury; and the beginning of a sound system was thus made. It was now election time. The Democrats were all of one mind about the choice of a President. Their man was Martin Van Buren once more. But the distress of the last four years, and especially the idea — which was quite a mistake — that it had been caused by Mr. Van Buren, had quite broken up the party, and not left them a ghost of a chance. The Whigs won the day, and Harrison and Tyler were to be the next President and Vice-President of the United States. Mr. Van Buren gave up his ofhce in March, 1841, and retired to private life. THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 221 William H. Harrison. GENERAL HARRISON, the ninth president of the United States, had been a distinguished soldier; had fought bravely at Tippecanoe and in Canada, and shown great military skill. It does not often happen that men who lead armies or political parties are poor. Even if they begin poor, they usu- ally manage in the end to secure pickings enough to become rich. But Harrison was so poor, after all his services as a soldier and a statesman, that when he retired to his farm on the Ohio, he was very glad to accept the office of clerk to the county. He was still clerk of this court, getting a few hundred dollars a year for his services, when the Whigs elected him President of the United States. He was a fine, manly, open-hearted old man and everybody was glad when he rode up to the Capitol on his white horse, sur- rounded by his old soldiers. People flocked to Washington and all day long the White House was full of visitors. Harrison was friendly to every- one; and was loved more and more every day. In the midst of his receptions, he was struck down by illness. The disease made such rapid progress, that just one month after his inauguration the good old man died. A few hours before his death, when the doctors were stand- ing round him, he cleared his throat and said to one of the doctors, "Sir, I wish you to understand the principles of the Govern- ment. I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more." A messenger was sent off in all haste to Mr. Tyler, the Vice- President, who was then at home in Virginia. He hurried to Washington and became President of the United States. His election as Vice-President by the Whigs was altogether a queer business; for he had been a friend of the Democrats, and William Henry Harrison. «773="84i. 222 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. a foe to the Whig principles. Somehow — it is hardly worth while inquiring how — he had gone to the Whig convention, and, being a great friend of Mr. Clay's, and a lead- ing man in Virginia, the Whigs had picked him out as a very proper man to run with Harrison. Then followed a great deal of shuf- fling and fencing on the part of the Pres- ident and the politicians. First he said he would have the bank; then he said he wouldn't; and then he would again; and then he wouldn't. The Whigs were in a terrible rage John Tyier-i79o-i862. and Called him traitor. All the cabinet resigned except Daniel Webster, who was a far-seeing, wise man, and did not care about small party squabbles. The President appointed new men and the business went on as before. Next came the manufacturers, who called themselves Whigs: they said that their time was come and that they would have plenty of protection to native industry once more. Congress was quite ready to give it and passed a law imme- diately to lay heavier taxes on foreign goods. President Tyler be- gan to shuffle as before: first he would and then he wouldn't; but last of all, he would, and the act was signed and became a law. The next excitement was about territory. For many years citizens of the United States had been running over into Texas, which was then one of the Mexican States, a wild place to live in, full of fierce Indians. However, the Americans who went there came in course of time to like it so well that they determined to have it all to themselves. So they sent word to the President of Mexico that they would have nothing more to do with him and declared them- selves free. Soon the Texans sent to Washington, and said to the Pres- ident: "If you please, we would like to be admitted to the Union: will you let us in?" THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 223 "Let you in!" cried Mr. Tyler, "why, we shall be perfectly delighted." But when the treaty was sent to the Senate to be ratified, that body would not hear of it. The Senate said that Mexico had still claims on Texas; that it was not honest to rob her of her territory; and that they would not agree to admit Texas unless Mexico declared she was willing she should. Just at this time an- other presidential election was at hand. The tussle was between Henry Clay and James K. Polk, and the question to be decided by the votes was: Shall we let Texas in or not? The answer was: Let her in. For, though Mr. Clay was very much beloved by the people, he had only 105 votes, whereas Mr. Polk had 170, and was ac- cordingly elected. John C. Calhoun. James Knox Polk. (1845-1849.) JAMES KNOX POLK, the eleventh President of the United States, was a lawyer and a politician. He was none the worse on that account; on the contrary, he was as upright, straight- forward and blunt a man as ever lived in the White House. The first thing he would have to do, as he supposed, was to let Texas into the Union. But when he became President he found, rather to his surprise, that the whole affair was done and ended. For queer Captain Tyler, in his droll way, had got Con- 224 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. gress to pass resolutions patching up the annexation of Texas; and the very last thing he did was to send off post haste to Texas and say that everything was arranged and that Texas might come in. The government of Mexico had never acknowledged the independence of Texas, but continued to claim it as a part of that republic. Of course the act of Congress in admitting it into the United States was of- fensive. James K. Poik-i79s=i849. Xhis ofTcuse and an old quarrel about debts due from Mexico to people of the United States soon caused a war. Mexico was settled by Spaniards and formerly belonged to Spain. After a time, however, the people defied the King of Spain and declared themselves independent. It seems too bad that Mexico, who had, like the United States, just thrown off the yoke of the mother country, must now plunge into war, but she felt she must protect her rights, so war was the result. I shall not attempt to tell you about this war — it was like all other wars, a series of terrible battles in which thousands of men were killed and thousands of homes made desolate. It ended at last in the victory of the Americans over the Mexicans. There was nothing now for Mexico to do but to make peace on the best terms she could. A treaty was signed accordingly, which I think is quite without parallel in the history of treaties. It agreed that matters should remain as they were before the war; that Mexico should not meddle any more with Texas; and that the United States should buy from the Mexicans the provinces of Upper California and New Mexico for fifteen millions of dollars. You may look a long time in history before you will find a con- quering army making such easy terms with its vanquished foe as these. It was approved on both sides, and the war ended. For liberty's sake, they ought to have the good-will and sympathy of every American. 226 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. In the same month when this treaty was made, gold was first found in CaHfornia. When it was known that gold was plentiful thousands of people went from the United States to dig it. Gold worth millions and millions of dollars has been found in California since then, and a fine State of the Union has grown up on the Pacific Ocean. The brave deeds of General Taylor in Mexico made him respected and beloved by the people of the United States, and at the election for President in the autumn of 1848 he was chosen Chief Magistrate of the Republic. Z Taylor's Administration. ACHARY TAYLOR was sixty-five years of age when he became the twelfth President of the United States. As the fourth of March came on Sunday, he was not inaugurated until the fifth. Zachary Taylor. 1784*1850. Part of one term, 1849=1851. Millard Filmore. 1800=1874, Very soon President Taylor sickened and died. That sad event occurred in July, 1850. He was the second President who had died while in office. His last words were: "I am prepared; I have endeavored to do my duty." The Vice-President, Millard Filmore, then became President of the United States, and continued so the balance of the term. THE GOOD TIMES ERA. 227 The Slavery Question. FRANKLIN PIERCE was then f*resident four years, then James Buchanan, who retained the chair the same length of time. The chief event of the period was a dreadful strife between the North and the South on the subject of slavery. Both sections of the coun- try were greatly ex- cited and very bitter in their language against each other. Great numbers of persons in the North made a solemn vow to prevent, so far as they could, the ad- mission of any more slave States into the Franklin Pierce. 1804=1868. TTriion On the Other James Buchanan. 1791=1868. hand, several States in the South plainly declared that they would put up no longer with the insults of the North, and would secede from the Union. In the year i860 the Prince of Wales, who expects to be King of England some day, came here to visit America and our Pres- ident. As soon as he was gone the old quarrel of slavery was resumed. The conscience of the nation began to struggle, and the belief was more and more entertained that slavery was a civil and social crime and ought to be destroyed. This opinion, this conviction, comparatively feeble at the beginning, rapidly developed, and we shall now see what was the result. Soon after Abraham Lincoln was elected President, and then began the greatest civil war ever known. PART VI. The Civil War. The Abolitionists. E now are close to that terrible war known in his- tory as the great Civil War. The cause of this war sprang from the fact that the Southern States were determined to keep slaves and threatened to withdraw from the Union if their rights were interfered with. The North- ern people were mostly opposed to slavery and wanted the sin abolished. Hence they were called Abolitionists. From the time a few handfuls of slaves had been brought over in trading vessels from Africa until the Civil War, the slavery business had increased until it reached a gigantic state. In all probability, the Northern States would have permitted this to go on had the slaves been allowed freedom of speech, the right to vote and been treated kindly and considerately; but they were not only bought and sold like cattle, but were made to work whether sick or well, eat the poorest kind of food, receive no edu- cation, and, in fact, were treated more like cattle than men and women. Oftentimes these slaves would run away and go into the Northern States that were free. This the Southerners did not like. Then was passed the Fugitive Law, which permitted the owner of slaves to go into another State and carry home all runaway slaves. This, after a time, brought on more cruelty, for the holders of slaves would oftentimes pursue a runaway with bloodhounds and 228 THE CIVIL WAR. 229 cause the slaves to resort to all sorts of means of escape, even to death itself. The following story told by Abby Sage Richardson, in her history, is but a sample of many others of a like nature which could be told: "Margaret was a slave. Not a very black slave, but with a dusky yellow skin like those we call mu- lattos. She had two children, a boy and girl. The little girl was white, as fair, per- haps, as you or I. From some cause or other, Margaret Garner did not like to stay in slavery, and ran away with her two children and two other slaves. They all hid in a house of a free negro, but were soon tracked to their hiding place by Margar- et's master and a force of men he had brought with him. The door was barred, but the officers battered it down and got in. When they entered, there stood Margaret Garner with a bloody knife in her hand between the bodies of her two children. She had cut Slaves in Plantation. 2 30 S TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS TOR V. their throats with her own hand, and said that she would rather have them dead than taken back to slavery. The little girl was already quite dead, but the boy was only wounded and afterward got well. Margaret loved her dead baby, called her 'Birdie, 'and wept when she told how pretty she was. But so far as I can learn she never was sorry that she killed her. They carried the mother and her wounded boy back to her master, and she was never heard of any more." Such actions as these made the North furious; indignation meetings were held, and hundreds and hundreds of Northerners joined the Abolitionists. Y John Brown's Raid. OU all have heard the song. John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave, John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave, John Brown's body lies a-moldering in the grave, But his soul goes marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah, etc. I wonder if all who sing this song really know the story of John Brown, or why this song lives in the hearts of the American people? Many years ago, just before the Civil War, there lived in Kansas a brave, good man, who was opposed to slavery. His home was at Ossawatomie. Some of the people in his State believed in keeping slaves, others did not. It so happened that a quarrel sprang up about this very question, and people from other slave States came into Kansas to help control matters and force the people to yield, and thus establish a law whereby Kansas could be permitted to keep slaves. A few hundred of these soldiers came to the town of Ossawatomie, where John Brown lived. With a small body of men he repulsed the soldiers. It was now known that he was a friend of the slaves, and time and again they came to him for protection. One day a slave came, begging him to assist him in saving THE CIVIL WAR. 231 his wife and children. True as steel, the brave John Brown went to his rescue. He boldly marched to the plantation, killed the planter, and Harper's Ferry. helped the slaves to flee to Canada, where they were out of reach of the United States law. This act brought down the wrath of the South, and for safety he, too, went to Canada. Here, though, he was not content, and a few months after he, with his sons, hired a farm near Harper's Ferry, and went to work, as the neighborhood supposed, to till the soil. The Confederates had built an arsenal at Harper's Ferry, and stored it with guns and all implements of war, which was guarded by watchmen. Shortly after John Brown's arrival he begah to receive by ex- 232 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. press and freight, boxes, which, as the people supposed, were farm- ing implements, but you can guess what these boxes contained when you learn that John Brown, with his sons and a few others, twenty-two in all, surprised the watchmen of the arsenal, bound them hand and foot and took possession of the arsenal. John Capture of John Brown. Brown expected a hundred slaves to join him that day, but for some reason they never came, and before he realized it a com- pany of militia marched to the arsenal and sealed the doom of brave John Brown and his sons. He was tried by a Virginia court anji sentenced to be hanged. While in prison he was calm and poble, feeling he had done only what was noble. "I have brokefc the laws of the State," said he; but "I have kept the laws of God; and the laws of God are greater than any laws of State." THE CIVIL WAR. 233 On his way to the scaffold he passed by a slave woman hold- ing a baby in her arms. He bent and kissed the baby. Little did this black child know what John Brown had done for him, but God and that mother did. Soon the drop fell, and thus ended the life of brave John Brown upon earth. Let us remember him not as dead, but as we do many other noble men who have given their life for the principles of right — that death here is the beginning of a new life yonder. Abraham Lincoln. DR. GURLEY says: "Probably no man, since the days of Washington, was ever so deeply and firmly embedded and enshrined in the hearts of the people as Abraham Lincoln. Nor was it a mistaken confidence and love. He deserved it, deserved it well, deserved it all. He merited it by his character, by his acts and by the tenor and tone and spirit of his life." Born in poverty, and with small advantages of education, can you imagine what pluck, perseverance and self-denial it must have taken to climb the topmost ladder of glory upon which Abraham Lincoln stands to-day? First, let us pause in due reverence and lay a flower on the grave of his mother. Her inspiration meant everything to the life and destiny of this great man. She was a noble woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn a palace, doomed to toil and pine and die in a hovel. "All that I am, or hope to be," exclaimed the grateful son, "I owe to my angel-mother; blessings on her memory!" When eight years of age his father sold his Kentucky home and moved to Indiana. Three horses took the family and all their household goods — a seven days' journey to their new home. Here kind neighbors helped them in putting up another log cabin. But the home was comfortless, and after two years Mrs. Lincoln sank and died. Abraham was then ten years of age. Bitterly he wept as his mother was laid in her humble grave near the cabin. The high esteem in which this noble woman was held can be seen from the fact that the minister rode a hundred miles on 234 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. horseback through the wilderness to preach her funeral sermon; and two hundred neighbors, who were scattered over a distance of twenty miles, assembled to attend the service. It was a scene for a painter — the log cabin, alone in its soli- tary loneliness, left vacant by the death of one who was the light of the home. But, though dead, her memory was not forgotten, and her words rang out long- after wealth was attained and honor bestowed. Early Home of Abraham Lincoln, Qentryville, Ind. Abraham was not a handsome boy. Pie v/astall. angular and muscular; but, as if to offset this, he was genial and obliging, and always ready to sacrifice his own comfort to assist others. One day he built a raft or boat — necessity is said to be the mother of invention — to carry the produce of the farm down the Ohio River to market. One day as he was standing by his boat two men came down to the shore and wished to be taken out to a steamer in the river. Abraham took them out with their luggage. Each THE CIVIL WAR. 335 of them tossed a silver half-dollar to him. In telling this story in the day when his income was twenty-five thousand dollars a year, he said: " I could scarcely believe my eyes. It was the most important incident in my life. I could scarcely believe that I, a poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day. The world seemed wider and fairer before me. I was more hopeful and confident from that time." When Abraham was about twenty his father moved to Macon County, Illinois. Here with his vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing another log cabin. It was made of hewn timber. The only tools they had to work with were an ax, a saw and a draw- knife. A smoke house and barn were added, and ten acres of land were fenced in by split rails. Abraham worked diligently at this until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their small farm planted with corn; then he told his father of his intention to leave home, and go out into the world to seek his fortune. Little did he or his friends im- agine how brilliant that fortune was to be. But the elements of ness were then developed. He saw the value of education. Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer among the farm- ers. Then he went to Springfield, where he was employed in building a boat. After this he was given charge of a store. Blessings seemed to fol- Henry Wadsworth Lonjjfellow. lowhim. CustomcrS WCrC multiplied. His straightforward, determined honesty secured con- i^ great- being 236 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. fidence. In settling a bill with a woman he took six and a quarter cents too much. He found it out in his night's reckoning, and immediately, in the dark, walked two miles and a half distant, to pay it back to her. At another time, just as he was about to close the store, he weighed out half a pound of tea for a woman. In the morning he found that, by defect in the scales, the woman had received four ounces less than belonged to her. He weighed out the four ounces and carried them to her, a long walk before breakfast. Later he was appointed postmaster. The duties were light and the pay small. All the letters he received he carried, ready to deliver as he chanced to meet those to whom they were addressed. In 1834 he was elected to the State Legislature. A friend at this time advised him to study law, and offered to loan him books. He borrowed a load of books, carried them upon his back to New Salem, and began work. When the Legislature assembled, he trudged on foot, with his pack on his back, one hundred miles to .Vandalia, then the capital of the State. At the close of the session he walked home and resumed the study of the law. These years of thought accomplished their work, and suddenly he flashed forth an orator. It was at a public meeting in Bloommgton that he electrified the audience, and was at once recognized as one of the most eloquent men in the State. The result was that when Lincoln came to be President of the United States he wrote letters and made speeches that aston- ished the world. Whatever he was called upon to do, he did it with such kindly feeling, unassumed man- ners, good English, simplicity of language and earnestness of speech that he won all ^ hearts, — the rich and poor, the great and small. His opponents, when they desired to ridicule, called him the "rail-splitter." Oh! how I wish we had more of them ! Possibly it was while splitting rails, way back in his boyhood life, that he learned from nature .w u . . .«„«.«/.. the lessons of hfe. Who knows? Here he Abrabam Lincoln— loog-ioos. THE CIVIL WAR. 23; may have absorbed sparkle and sunshine which was re-echoed in his wit; he may have drunk from the dews a moisture which was rekindled in sympathy and tears. And with open eye he may have learned thrift from the ant and flight from the bird. Be this the case or not, we know truth and justice stood al- ways at his ritj'ht hand. In a speech on the evening of his defeat in the election for the Senate in 1858, just before the Civil War, Mr. Lincoln said. " 'A house divided against itself cannot stand.' I believe that this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half- free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved, I do not expect the house to fall; but I do expect that it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all another. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction, or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South." When he was nominated President to show in what measure he had won the hearts of the American people during his political career I cannot better describe the scene which ensued than in the language of Dr. Holland: — "The excitement had culminated. After a moment's pause, like the sudden and breathless stillness that precedes the hurricane, the storm of wild, uncontrollable, and almost insane enthusiasm de- scended. The scene surpassed description. During all the ballot- ings, a man had been standing upon the roof, communicating the results to the outsiders, who, in surging masses, far outnumbered those who were packed in the Wigwam. To this man one of the secretaries shouted, 'Fire the salute! Abe Lincoln is nominated!' Then, as the cheering inside died away, the roar began on the outside, and swelled up from the excited masses, like the voice of many waters. This the insiders heard, and to it they replied. Thus deep called to deep with such a frenzy of sympathetic en- thusiasm, that even the thundering salute of cannon was unheard by many on the platform." Four years of Civil War passed slowly and sadly away. 258 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. There came another Presidential election. Again Mr. Lincoln was triumphantly elected. The evening of his election he said: — "I am thankful to God for this approval of the people; but while deeply grateful for this mark of their confidence in me, if I know my heart, my gratitude is free from any taint of personal triumph. I do not impugn the motives of anyone opposed to me. It is no pleasure to me to triumph over anyone; but I give thanks to the Almighty for this evidence of the people's resolution to stand by a free government and the rights of humanity." An immense and enthusiastic crowd attended his second in- auguration. His address on the occasion was one of the noblest utterances which ever fell from the lips of a ruler when entering upon office. In allusion to the parties arrayed against each other in the war, he said: — "Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes his aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes. 'Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense Cometh! ' "If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which having continued through his appointed time, he now wills to remove, and that he gives to both North and South this terrible war, shall we discern therein any departure from those Washington Irving. THE CIVIL WAR. 239 divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may soon pass away. Yet if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsmen's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid with another drawn with the sword, — as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said. 'The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.' "With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firm- ness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and orphans; to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and a lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." Lincoln and the People. ONE of the most remarkable conditions in the life of Abraham Lincoln was his nearness to the people, and one of the many beautiful things of his life lies in the fact that as President of the great republic he still maintained his character for modesty and simplicity in the performance of the duties of that great office. Seward, the statesman, might have been defeated, while Lin- coln, the rail-splitter; Lincoln, the story-teller; Lincoln, the stump speak- er; Lincoln, the plain man of the plain people, was invincible in that great struggle. Mr. Lincoln was very remarkable for his fund of anecdote. He always had his little story with which to illus- trate any point, and the illustration was often found to contain resistless argument. James Russell Lowell. Some gentlemen called one day 240 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. with complaints against the administration. The President Hstened to them patiently, and then replied: "Gentlemen, suppose all the property you were worth was in gold, and you had put it into the hands of Blondin to carry across the Niagara River on a rope, would you shake the cable, or keep shouting out to him: 'Blondin, stand up a little straighter; Blon- din, stoop a little more; go a little faster; lean a little more to the north, lean a little more to the south?' No, you would hold your breath as well as your tongue, and keep your hands of[ until he was safe over. The government are carrying an immense weight. Untold treasures are in their hands. They are doing the very best they can. Don't badger them. Keep silent, and we'll get you safe across. " "I hope," said a clergyman to him one day, "that the Lord is on our side." " I am not at all concerned about that," was Mr. Lincoln's reply; "for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side." The Blue and the Gray, or the Unionists and the Confederates. W HEN Lincoln, who was opposed to slavery, was elected President of the United States in i860, politicians in the South who favored the holding of slaves formed a con- vention and declared several States free. In other words, they declared they would withdraw from the Union and govern themselves. They formed a Con- federacy, and made Jeffer- son Davis, a bold and ac- tive man, their chief ruler. This, as you see, di- vided the Government. Those of the North, who The Confederate Flag. ^^ ^ WCrC OppOSCd tO slaVCry and THE CIVIL WAR. 241 favored the Union, were called the Unionists and wore a uniform of blue. Those of the South, who favored slavery and withdrew from the Union, were called Confederates, and wore uniforms of gray. So bear in mind, nothing was heard of Whigs or Tories, Democrats or Republicans, but simply the Unionists and the Con- federates. This was the condition of affairs just before the Civil War — now let us see what was next done. Fort Sumter. YOU who have never been to South Carolina and visited the old city of Charleston can form no idea of what Fort Sumter looks like. Neither can I tell you in such a way as to impress you as it did me on my visit there. Perhaps I need only to say that the fort is built on a rock at the entrance of the bay. In order to reach it one must take a steamer or a boat of some kind and steam away quite a little distance from the old city of Charleston. There upon the rock in the sea our Government built a house Port Sumter. 16 242 5 TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS TOR Y. of stone. Projecting through the walls were cannon and guns. Soldiers were stationed there to hold the fort and prevent enemies from entering the bay and gaining access to our beautiful country. Just before Lincoln became President, Colonel Anderson of Fort Sumter had sent word to President Buchanan that he must have more soldiers, more guns and more ammunition in order to hold the fort. He waited, but none came. Then when Lincoln became President he made another request and sent word that he must have help and supplies at once. President Lincoln began at once to respond, but his help arrived too late. The Confederates in the meantime had learned of the state of affairs at Fort Sumter and immediately demanded the surrender of the fort to them. But brave Colonel Anderson said, "No! we will not surrender so long as we have food left to eat and ammunition left to fire. We will not give up." But brave man as he was, his eighty soldiers were powerless to drive back the enemy who already were in possession of three other forts near by and two heavy floating rafts which the Confederates had built to open fire on Fort Sumter. The shot and shell fell like rain, and twice the wooden frame on the inside took hre, but, notwith- standing all this, as fast as the Stars and Stripes which lioated over the fort were shot down, immediately someone was ready to nail them up again. Finally, however, on the second day, the white flag of surrender had to be shown. The bravery of Colonel Anderson's men was sufficient to thrill the heart of every Union man in America, and though not a man was lost on either side, it brought forth exclamations from old and young, rich and poor, and told in language plainer than words that the Civil War had begun. Ask your parents to tell you all about it. President Lincoln sent forth a call for volunteers, and the way all classes of the North responded was a marvel to every man. It was thirty-six Robert Anderson. years ago, yct SO strong an impression did it make that the memory is still as green in the hearts of THE CIVIL WAR. 243 our fathers, mothers and grandparents, as though it occurred only yesterday. Perhaps you lost an uncle; or possibly a father. Brave men everywhere offered up their lives to save the "Union." Oh, it was exciting times. In every town, on a certain day, the brave boys would march down keeping time to the drum, and take the trains that would bear them away to war. Such tears of good-bye as were shed; such kisses of farewells as mothers gave to sons. ■ Then they sang: The Battle Cry of Freedom. Yes, we'll rally round the flag, boys, we'll rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom, We will rally from the hillside, we'll gather from the plain. Shouting the battle cry of Freedom. The Union forever, Hurrah, boys, hurrah! Down with the traitor. Up with the star. While we rally round the flag, boys, rally once again, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom. In the South also the same feeling as to what they thought was right was shown among the men and women everywhere. They loved their States as truly as the Northerners loved the Union. When the news came that Fort Sumter had surrendered, men and women of the South were wild with joy. Songs were sung, public meetings were held, and the people were wild with ex- citement. Battle of Bull's Run. JEFFERSON DAVIS and his associates went to Richmond in July, and called that the capital of the Confederacy. National troops soon started from Washington to drive them away and stop the rebellion. They met the Confederates near a place known as Manassas Junction, and on a stream of water called Bull's Run. Here a great battle ensued. The advantage was with .244 STORIES FRQM AMERICAN HISTORY. the Union army, and at one time it looked as if the Con- federates would suffer a com- plete defeat; but in the crisis of the battle General Johnston arrived with nearly six thou- sand fresh troops, from the Shenandoah Valley. The tide of victory immediately turned, and McDowell's whole army was thrown back in rout and confusion, A panic spread through the forces. The sol- diers dropped guns and fled like boys without system or order. Citizens and soldiers be- Qeneral J. E. Johnston. Union Soldier, came mixed in the broken order of retreat. The losses on both sides were great, the Union being 2,951, and the Confederates 2,050. Never before in America had such numbers fallen in battle, and yet this was but the beginning of what was to follow. Great was the chagrin and disappoint- ment in the North, and great was the joy in the South. The Army of the Potomac. ylFTER a battle, comes a calm; after rain, comes sunshine; / \ so after the depression caused by the defeat of the Union jTJL Forces at Bull's Run, a reaction set in. The panic quickly subsided, and the North, doubhng and trebling its energies, sent men from every town and village. They were indeed wide awake now. General George McClellan was put in command, and for discipline proved himself to be one of the finest officers of the war. THE CIVIL WAR. 245 He soon got his great army of 150,000 men drilled so it was like an engine of war. Each man moved about as if he was born "to be a soldier. This wonderful army was called, "Army of the Potomac." Many complaints were made by the people of the North be- cause this army accomplished so little, at first, under General Mc- Soldiers Crossing: Pontoon Bridge. Clellan, but perhaps it is easier for us all to detect faults in others than to see them in ourselves. The Northerners were anxious to see each day when they picked up the newspaper that something had been accomphshed, but it invariably read, "All quiet on the Potomac." The Cotton Industry. N OW that various armies had been organized to protect the interest of the Federal Government on land, the next thing demanding attention was to gain full command of the sea- coast. 246 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. At the entrance to every harbor, a fleet was sent, and soon a blockade was estabHshed all around the Confederate coast. This prevented the Southerners from communicating with the foreign nations. The Northerners knew the quicker the South was shut off from all means of supplies, the quicker they must give up, and the war come to an end. The South relied upon the cotton crop to meet their wants. American cotton had now become a necessity in England, and Picking; Cotton. when this supply was cut off, it caused a calamity, not in the South alone, but in England. As a result, England felt a sym- pathy for the Confederate States. This came near throwing the United States and England in another war, but at our head was a wise man — Abraham Lincoln. By his tact, good judgment, and honor, the peril of war with England was averted. THE CIVIL WAR. 247 Picket Guard, "Who Goes There?" A The Picket Guard. LL quiet along the Potomac," they say, " Except now and then a stray picket Is shot as he walks on his beat to and fro. By a rifleman hid in a thicket. 'Tis nothing; a private or two now and then Will not count in the news of the battle. 248 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Fort Donelson. IN February, 1862, General Grant, with Western troops, went to the Cumberland River, not far from Nashville, in Tennessee, and took from the Confederates Fort Donelson, and over thir- teen thousand men. This was more men than General Scott went into Mexico with, and conquered it. Here, at the battle of Fort Donelson, is told a story of Grant, showing even in early life what might be expected of the man as time advanced. General Buckner sent out word to Grant asking on what terms he would accept their surrender. "Unconditional surrender, are my only terms," replied Grant. This meant they must give up themselves, and all that they had. " Unconditional Surrender," became the by-word in every town, and though his name was Ulysses S. Grant, people everywhere preferred to think that U. S. Grant meant Unconditional Surrender Grant. Union Army Building a Bridge. THE CIVIL WAR. 249 Battle of Shiloh. THE President of the United States is the Commander-in- Chief, or head general, of all the warriors of the nation on land and sea, and whatever he tells them to do, they must do. Now, knowing that the Confederates were in arms in many places, and growing more numerous every day, he ordered all of his armies to move against them on the 2 2d of February, the birthday of Washington. Grant had gone over to the Tennessee River, and early in April, near »: Pittsburg Landing, he and his ^B troops fought the Confederates ^^^Rt^B under General Beauregard for two days, beating them, and driving them into Mississippi. The losses in killed, wounded and missing in this dreadful con- flict were more than ten thousand on each side. Never before had so many been killed in a single , ■ o .. .., . . «,u.. -n . r^ battle on this side of the Atlantic. Jnlon Soldier Wounded While Trying to Escape. » Harriet Beecher Stowe. THERE are few women in American history who have been so highly praised and so severely censured as Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mrs. Stowe was born in the year 181 2, at Litchfield, Conn. Her father was just at this time rising into fame as 1 pulpit orator. We will pass rapidly over her girlhood and simply state that she spent more or less of her time in teaching school. Later on in life she married the Rev. Calvin E. Stowe and entered upon her domestic duties with the same energy she had taken up all other duties of life. At odd moments she busied herself with ber pen. She has never been called beautiful, yet her large, dark eyes, 2 50 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. and an almost sad expression of countenance, show that the woman is no ordinary type. After her marriage she moved near Boston. Here she had an opportunity to study the negro character. Here she also studied the system of slavery and its influence upon master and slave. Her heart was stirred with the tales of wrong and sorrow which she heard from those who had escaped from the land of bondage. The pent-up feelings of her heart at last found an outlet. She resolved to write and tell what she knew of the crimes and horrors of the slave system, in a book. "Uncle Tom's Cabin " took the public by storm. It first appeared in detached parts through the medium of a weekly newspaper. In April, 1852, it was is- sued in two volumes, and in May was republished in London. By the close Harriet Beecher stowe. of 1 852 morc thanonc milHon copics had been sold in America and England. The book has now been translated and published in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Flemish, Polish, Russian and other languages. It has been dramatized in twenty different forms, and to-day, not only in America, but in every capital in Europe, its influence in stamp- ing out the dark system of slavery, is beyond all question. Mrs. Stowe uttered a voice for humanity and for God that will not soon die away. The grass is now green on her grave, but the American people will never forget her memory. For the benefit of those who may not have read the book, we add an extract represented by one of the characters known as Eliza. ELIZA, the slave mother, concealed in a closet, overhears a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Shelby, and learns that her little son has been sold to the trader. The beauty and force of the graphic picture that follows must be felt and acknowledged: "When the voices died in silence, she rose and crept stealthily THE CIVIL WAR. 351 away. Pale, shivering, with rigid features and compressed Hps, she looked an entirely altered being from the soft and timid creature she had been hitherto. She moved cautiously along the entry, paused one moment at her mistress' door, raised her hands in mute appeal to heaven, and then turned and glided into her own room. It was a quiet, neat apartment on the same floor with Selling Slaves. her mistress. There was the pleasant sunny window, where she had often sat singing at her sewing; there a little case of books, and various little fancy articles arranged by them, the gifts of Christmas holidays; there was her simple wardrobe in the closet and in the drawers; here was, in short, her home; and, on the whole, a happy one it had been to her. But there, on the bed, lay her slumbering boy, his long curls falling negligently around his unconscious face, his rosy mouth half open, his little fat hands thrown out over the bed clothes, and a smile spread like a sun- beam over his whole face. 'Poor boy, poor fellow,' said Eliza; 352 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. 'they have sold you; but your mother will save you yet' No tear dropped over that pillow; in such straits as these the heart has no tears to give — it drops only blood, bleeding itself away in silence." Somewhat in advance of her pursuers, Eliza reached a village on the bank of the Ohio. Here, to her dismay, she found the river swollen to a flood, and filled with floating ice. She had been but a short time in the village tavern when "the whole train of her pursuers swept by the window, around to the front door. A thousand lives seemed to be concentrated in that one moment to Eliza. Her room opened by a side door to the river. She caught her child, and sprang down the steps toward it. The trader caught a full glimpse of her just as she was disappearing down the bank; and throwing himself from his horse, and calling loudly on Sam and Andy, he was after her like a hound after a deer. In that dizzy moment, her feet to her scarce seemed to touch the ground, and a moment brought her to the water's edge. Right on behind they came; and, nerved with strength such as God gives only to the desperate, with one wild cry and flying leap, she vaulted sheer over the turbid current by the shore, on to the raft of ice beyond. It was a desperate leap, impossible to anything but madness and despair. The huge, green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched and creaked as her weight came on it; but she staid there not a moment. With wild cries and des- perate energy she leaped to another and still another cake, stum- bling, leaping, slipping, springing upward again. Her shoes are gone, her stockings cut from her feet, while blood marked every step; but she saw nothing, felt nothing, till dimly, as in a dream, she saw the Ohio side, and a man helping her up the bank." The Merrimac and the Monitor. IT was the second year of the Civil War that there appeared in the ocean, near Fortress Monroe, a vessel known as the Merrimac. This had at one time belonged to the United States navy, but early in the war had been disabled and sunk by the Confederates. Later they conceived the idea of bring- ing it to the surface, and after covering the sides and bottom THE CIVIL WAR. 253 with cast-iron, they used it for fight- ing purposes. So successful were they in this that in a single brief effort it devastated the Cumberland, a powerful wooden vessel belonging to the navy. People everywhere in the North were now beginning to wonder what could be done to check this monster, knowing that with the success she had already achieved, she would become a powerful enemy. The Navy De- partment at Washington had ordered built, just previous to this, a turret vessel, with a round tower that turned around, which they named the Monitor. All around the sides there were guns of immense caliber. When this vessel was launched great anxiety was felt by the officers in the navy John Ericsson, Designer of the Monitor. Battle between the Monitor and Merrimac in Hampton Roads. department who knew and appreciated the importance of the occasion and the responsibility depending upon this new vessel to conquer the Merrimac; possibly not only the Merrimac, but all other vessels possessing fighting qualities. Many engineers of the day said that this turret vessel would be a failure, but Commo- dore Worden had full confidence. Up came the Monitor to attack the Merrimac, and really it looked very much like a wasp attack- ing an eagle, but bang went her guns, and soon the iron sides of 254 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the Merrimac were dented in on all sides, and after four hours' fight- ino- she was obliged to surrender. Great was the chagrin and disappointment among the Southern people, and equally great was the joy of the navy department, as well as all the Union soldiers. The Monitor, which rendered such valuable service to the country, was foundered in a storm off the coast of Cape Hatteras. The Capture of New Orleans. SITUATED near the mouth of the Mississippi River was the old city of New Orleans, in possession of the Confederates. Because of the location of the town, at the entrance of so large a river, you can readily see how important it was that the Unionists should come into possession of the place. General Butler had said "New Orleans should belong to us, and I am willing to help take it," He knew when speaking that it was a hard place to attack, for the reason that the Confederates had two strong forts just outside of the mouth of the river, and the channel between the forts and the city was obstructed with torpedoes, which had been scattered here and there. General Butler was assisted by Admiral Farragut with forty-five ves- sels and three hundred and ten guns. After six days' bombard- ment of the forts they succeeded in passing them, and sailed up the river, then again passed on the way a fleet of Confederate gunboats sent out from New Orleans to prevent their approach to the city. After much perseverance, the Union fleet finally steamed up to the very wharves of the city. You can imagine how surprised the citizens were to find that the Unionists had passed their forts, their torpedoes and their fleets, and had now arrived at their very doors! To say that they were panic-stricken General Butler. THE CIVIL WAR. 255 is putting it mildly. They were wild with chagrin and fear, declared that they would burn the city, that the Unionists should not have their houses, their stores and their wealth. Even the women were more persistent in this than the men and looked with indignation upon all Union officers whom they met. General Butler felt indeed sorry for them, but under no circumstances could he permit the Stars and Stripes to be insulted, and forced the whole city to yield. Soon a garrison of 1,500 Union soldiers were quartered in the metropolis of the South. i^m^ Colored People Rejoicing. Pictures of the Civil War. LOOKING back we can see all sorts of pictures of the "Civil War;" perhaps the sad was the most prominent. The sus- pense in those days was something dreadful; at times letters arrived quite regularly from fathers, sons and sweethearts, and then there followed the long silence and the great anxiety, for when the letters failed, it was generally a sure sign that the army was moving. Then a day seemed like an eternity. 256 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Then, too, there was a sadder picture even than this — there were those who never wrote again, and none returned to tell when, or just how, they gave up their lives. When possible a slab was erected, and though it frequently marked an unknown grave on it could be read, " Here lies one who gave up his life for his country." Again, many a soldier left comforts and even luxuries at home, and climbed mountains, slept on bare floors, marched for miles in a pouring rain and camped all winter in canvas houses. Things, too, were generally expensive. Common muslin, now ten cents a yard, was then a dollar a yard. Sugar, butter, eggs and all kinds of provisions went up so that only those with a big fat pocketbook could afford to buy. Then there were the handsome uniforms of the officers, to say nothing of their handsome faces and figures, the clashing of sabers, the jingle of spurs, and the universal expression on every soldier's face and in every gesture, to "be merry while we may." They had their dinners, their balls, reviews, races, cavalcades and a few idle moments. This is the sum and substance of many of the pictures which are fast fading from the memory of your mother and grandmother to-day. T Decline and Overthrow of the Confederacy. HE war had now continued for over two years. During this time the Union forces had lost heavily, so also had the Confederates; and on New Year's Day, 1863, Abraham Lin- coln issued The Proclamation of Emancipation, Saying that henceforth no man should own slaves. The negro was now free. No one had a right to take him from his friends, his wife or his children. This made the Southerners more bitter than ever, because it, as you see, destroyed their business. They had bought and sold slaves for years just as we to-day buy and sell cattle and horses. They had invested their money in this business and now it was lost. You can imagine, however, how happy the slaves were to find that they were free. They now THE CIVIL WAR. 257 had the right to work where they pleased and, when it was pos- sible for them to save up money sufficient, they could buy a farm and work their own places. They could build their own little log cabins and raise their families with as much pride and pleasure as the whites. They had not heretofore had school Negrro Villasre, Georgia. privileges and as a result the children had grown up in ignorance, but what a change for them now! They went everywhere singing their negro songs and dancing with a light-heartedness of which we can scarcely conceive. If you have, from these pages, formed the impression that 17 258 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the slave masters were always severe and unkind, you have gotten the wrong idea, for many of these masters were noble men and in many cases the slaves were as loath to leave their masters when set free as many of us would be to-day to leave our homes. There were, of course, good masters and poor masters. You must remember, too, that the Southerners were just as honest in their opinion as the Northerners were in theirs. So we can well sympathize with the Southern people and drop a tear, knowing they did what to them seemed best. They now deter- mined to make a desperate effort to carry their side and you will read in the following pages what decided steps were taken on both sides. Ole Abe has gone an' did it, Boys. OH, ye niggers come along, For I's gvvine to sing a song, An' I warn you dat you keep it mighty still ; But dis darky heard dem say, His own self dis berry day, Dal Ole Abe had went, an' gone and sign'd de bill. Chorus. Yes, Ole Abe has gone an' did it, boys. Glory, hallelujerum! Ole Abe has gone an' did it, boys, Oh! Glory! Ole Abe has gone an' did it, boys. He's signed de confiscation laws. Liberty an' freedom's ours. Oh! Glory! Now I tell you by de way, Massa Fremont first did say, In Missouri, where de bellion was so strong, Dat de niggers mus' be free, But Abe didn't jes agree. So he "modify," an' dat we tink was wrong. But now he's gone, etc. Massa Burnside take de view Dat de niggers am as true As de white folks, or as any oder man; So he nebber dribe us back, When de hound was on our track, An' de Lord stan' by him ebry tijue he plan. But Ole Abe has gone, etc. But McClellan iho'l de way Was to hab de niggers stay, Diggin' trenches for de rebels, in de sun, While de Yankee sojers work, With de shobel and de dirt, When dey ought to use de saber an' de gun. But Ole Abe has gone, etc. Massa Hunter did contend Dat de Gober'ment depend On de nigger with his pick-ax an' his spade; But de Yankee boys could fight, But dey nebber tink it right For to take up diggin' ditches as a trade. But Old Abe has gone, etc. THE CIVIL WAR. 259 Sharp=Shooters. BESIDES soldiers who took part in the various battles, there were the people known as "sharp-shooters." They were experts who began by shooting at marks and who had by long practice learned never to miss a mark. Well, just such men as these were employed on both sides during the Civil War. There were sharp-shooters among the Unionists and also among the Confederates. Their business was to keep a sharp lookout, and when armies were encamped near each other, if any enemy showed himself in sight, pop would go a gun and that generally ended the man. John D. Champlain tells this story of sharp-shooting, in his history for young folks: "One of the most skillful of the Confederate marksmen was a large negro, who used to perch himself in a tree and lie there Sharp-^Shooters. 26o STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. all day, firing whenever he saw a chance for a good shot. He had in this way killed several Union soldiers, and the sharp- shooters had watched a long time for him. At last the Union trenches, which were gradually being dug nearer and nearer, ^reached a place only about twenty rods from the tree. One morning the darky came out early and took his accustomed place in the tree. The sharp-shooters might have easily killed him as he came out, but they did not want to frighten others who were coming. He was followed soon by several Confederate pickets, on whom the men fired, killing some and driving the others back. The darky, of course, was now ' in a fix, ' or, in other words, was ' up a tree, ' for he could not get back without running the risk of being shot. 'T say, big nigger," called out one of the Union marksmen from the trenches, "you'd better come down from there." "What for?" he asked. • ' I want you as a prisoner. " "Not as this chile knows of," he answered. "All right. Just as you say," called the marksman. In about an hour Mr. Darky, hearing nothing from in .front of his tree, concluded that it was safe to take just one peep; so he poked his head out far enough to get a look at the Union lines. But the sharp-shooter had not taken his eye from the tree for an instant, and no sooner did the head appear than he pulled the trigger of his rifle. A little pufT of blue smoke — a fiash — the whiz of a bullet — and down came the negro to the ground shot through the head. Siege of Vicksburg. NOW that the Government had taken a decided stand, and declared "slaves should be free," perhaps it may seem to you that the war was at an end, but not so. The Unionist had perhaps more hope, and I fancy the Confederates had less courage; for don't it always seem to you individually, that when you feel you are on the "side of right," that victory must come to you in the end? Well, justice does govern, and no matter how slowly the wheels move, they, some- THE CIVIL WAR. 201 how, in time, bring about the good and the truth, no matter how hard the struggles against it. The lawyer who knows he is on the side of right goes into a lawsuit, feeling at the very beginning that victory is his. So it was with General Grant when he planned to get full possession of the Mississippi River. This river belonged to the Confederates except just at the mouth, which had been in the possession of the Unionists ever since the capture of New Orleans. Soldiers in Camp "We must fight for this river," said the Confederates. " If the Unionists get it, our trade will be cut off — no, it must be ours." Just up from New Orleans a little way was the city of Vicks- burg. This the Confederates had so strongly fortified that they felt no army in the world could take it. But, said Grant, "It must become ours." The city was built on high bluffs projecting up from the river, and just back were marshy lands, filled with fallen trees, into which men and horses would sink almost to their ears. 262 5 TORIES FROM A MERICA N HIS TOR V. Grant knew all this, but brave, dauntless and active, he had but to plan his attack, then move with a decision which knew not defeat. He proceeded to attack that city, with the assistance of Admiral Porter and his fleet of gunboats. The place was sur- rounded late in May, and on the 4th of July it was surrendered to Grant by General Pemberton, with more than thirty thousand Confederate troops. Then the Confederates lost the control of the Mississippi River, and were much weakened. Battles of Chattanooga and Lookout flountain. THE Union soldiers now had possession of nearly all the western territory. Chattanooga, a pretty town lying close to the border line between Tennessee and Georgia, was the only stronghold in the possession of the Confederates. Bragg, the Confederate general, knowing that this would be the place next attacked, sent for help, and soon he had a large army. As a result of the battle, Rosecrans, the Union general, was defeated, with a loss of 16,000 men. Then the Federal Government said, "This will never do," and even though Rosecrans had been successful in battle before this time, he was blamed and his command given to General Thomas. Soon General Hooker and Gen- 'eral Sherman joined Thomas with their brave soldiers. Bragg's army was mostly on Lookout Mountain and could with field glasses look down and see all the movements made by Hooker's men. This was a wonderfully fine thing in pleasant weather, but, as you know, all days are not pleasant days, and soon there came a day of mist. Well, upon the mountains a mist is a hundred times worse than it is on the plains or in the valley, so the men on the mountain could see nothing but clouds and mist. Joseph Hooker. THE CIVIL WAR. 263 The assault began early in the morning. The movements of Hooker's men were concealed by the fog, so they went dashing down the valley and up the steep mountainside, sweeping everything before them. The mountain was not strongly defended by the Confederates t^i*-'^ Vi,Vv> ^1 iVv Battle of Lookout Mountain. for the reason of its apparent inaccessibility. The Federal charge went to the summit and by two o'clock in the afternoon the National Flag was waving above the clouds on Lookout, The battle had literally been fought among the clouds or above them, as it seemed on this misty day. It was not until the sky had cleared that the people below could see that the Confed- erates had gone, and Hooker was in possession of the mountain. 264 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. I Tramp! Tramp! Tramp! N the prison-cell I sit, thinking, mother dear, of you, And our bright and happy home so far away, And the tears they fdl my eyes, spite of all that I can do, Though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay. Chorus. — Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching. Cheer up, comrades, they will come; Ami l)ene:ith the starry flag we shall breathe the air again Ot die Ireeland in our own beloved home. •M- I Libby Prison. Andersonville Prison. WISH it were possible for me to write the story of the Civil War and not be obliged to mention the horrible "prison pens," as Libby and Andersonville prisons were wont to be called; but I question if the story would be complete without them. Whenever an enemy was captured in battle these enemies THE CIVIL WAR. 265 were called "prisoners of war." In every battle there were generally so many killed, so many wounded and so many taken prisoners. In 1S63, at Andersonville, Georgia, the Confederates built a prison for the purpose of imprisoning the Union soldiers. There was also another one at Richmond, Virginia, known as Libby Prison, built by the Confederates. In both of these prisons there were thousands upon thousands of men imprisoned, and it Andersonville Prison. is reported that as many as three thousand have died in a single month alone at Andersonville as the result of starvation, exposure and suffering. Andersonville prison originally contained eighteen acres; the next year it was enlarged to twenty-three and one-half acres. In the center of this there was a marsh, which left less than six square feet to each person. Horrible indeed it was to think that upward of thirty thousand men were packed like cattle, possibly to die for need of air to breathe, for want of ground on which to lie, and from lack of shelter. 266 5 TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS TOR Y. It has often been said that the Confederate leader, Jefferson Davis, was responsible for all this misery, but we venture to say there is a great deal laid at his door for which he was not responsible. In times of war much is said that is mere talk, and it is difficult to bear in mind the adage: "Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you." Southern writers tell us that all these stories regarding Andersonville and Libby prisons are exag- gerated or untrue, and that our soldiers received the same rations in the prisons that their soldiers did on the battlefield. They also say that the healthfulness of the place and the good care which the soldiers had is proved by the fact that the death rate was very low indeed. w Battle of Gettysburg. E now come to the Battle of Gettysburg — the final great battle of the Civil War, and one of the fifteen most wonderful battles of the world. It is mentioned in history along with those of Marathon and Waterloo, so let us fix it firmly in mind. This battle was not greater because the gen- erals were any braver, or because more lives were lost, but because it turned the tide of popular sentiment in favor of the North. To General Meade the glory fairly belongs. The army of the Potomac up to this time had had only painful and shameful re- verses. At last victory had come! Meade's great victory here at Gettysburg and Grant's glorious victory at Vicksburg, both occurring on the same day, showed that the Confederacy was doomed. To General Lee, the commander of the Confederate army, great honor was due, and though re- gretful of his defeat, Lee himself must even have been proud of his retreat. It will always remain a mystery why he was able to re- tire his whole army across the Potomac and thus get out of reach of Meade. The pursuit reflects but little credit on Meade. He chose a longer route, and when he reached the Potomac, Lee had crossed six days before him. THE CIVIL WAR. 267 There was a sting in what Lincoln said to Meade shortly afterward: "The fruit seemed so ripe, so ready for plucking, that it was very hard to lose it." Battle of Gettysburg. National Cemetery at Gettysburg. IN dedicating the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, and speak- ing of the dead heroes lying there, Lincoln said, in his address: "It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this; but in a large sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave, living and dead, who struggled here| have consecrated it far above our power to add or 268 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here; but it can never forget what we did here. It is for us, the living, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work, which they who fought heils have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us here to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from those honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; Entrance to Gettysburg Cemetery. that this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Senator Mason, in a recent speech, said: "Let us, in imita- tion of lihis great example, honor the soldiers, living and dead, who made it possible for Lincoln to succeed. Let us not bar them from our civil-service lists because they are weighted with years. Let us honor the copper button and him who wears it on Decoration Day, Gettysburg, a Tribute to the Memory of the Blue and tha Gray. 26y 270 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the left lapel of his coat. Let us not withhold from him the honors of life, nor refuse him shelter and bread, that we may go through the ceremony of planting flowers on his grave. Let us give homes to the living and honors to the dead. Rather let the money of the government be sunk in the sea than to have a Union soldier homeless and shelterless, holding in his hands the broken promises of Abraham Lincoln." The Alabama and the Kearsarge. THE Alabama was an English built ship. Her crew was mostly English, but commanded by Confederates. She had belonged to England until one Sunday morning in August, 1862, when the Confederate flag was hoisted above the decks and her name changed from Enrica to Alabama. At this time, she was three miles from the Azore Islands. From that time on, she became a destroyer to all American ves- sels belonging to the merchants of the New England states. Captain Semmes read a commission to the crew which he had received from Jefferson Davis, appointing him Captain of the Confederate Navy. He then made a speech and told all the men who desired to return to England to do so, but if they pre- ferred to remain with him, on board the Kearsarge, there would be plenty of excitement and adventure; that there would be no end of plunder, and that prize money would be paid them in gold. So off the Azores the Alabama began her daring career. Here she destroyed nearly all the whaling vessels; then she started west to burn the steamers carrying grain from New York to Liverpool. The Alabama feared nothing, but went on in her work of destroying and plundering, until one day when off the coast of Holland, the crew beheld the Kearsarge, another American vessel which was at the opening of the war a merchant vessel, but whose crew had enlisted to defend their country. Captain Winslow was her Commander. . Four days passed, and in the meantime Semmes was getting THE CIVIL WAR. 271 ready for battle. He sent all his valuable articles on shore, — watches, gold, etc., which he had plundered. What lively news! The town of Cherbourg, France, was wild with excitement — there was a battle which everybody could see. Semmes arid his crew were confident that the Alabama would come out victorious; Captain Winslow was not boastful, but had only one thought in mind, that he would go to the bot- "^- VV/I Fight Between Alabama and Kearsarge. torn of the sea before he would surrender the Kcarsargc to the Alabama. Both vessels were about the same size. Guns were about the same, so it was hard to tell which side would win the battle. It was Sunday morning at ten o'clock. The hour for relig- ious service had arrived, and Captain Winslow was ready to read 27^ STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the morning prayers, when up came the Alabama ready for battle. There are moments when men hold their breath! Such a moment had come to the crew of the Kcarsarge. What a scene on land! Thirty thousand men and women and children had come out to see the battle. Need we say that the Alabama was soon seen sinking — lower it settled — Captain Semmes with a life-preserver on jumped into the sea, and his crew followed his example. Then it was that Captain Winslow said, "For God's sake, do what you can to save them!" Think you he was not a worthy man fit to defend his country? I Stonewall Jackson. F there was one general more than all the others whom the Union soldiers had learned to fear, it was "Stonewall" Jack- son. It matters little who his ancestors were. It is only proper that Virginia, who gave to the war General Robert Lee, of an old and wealthy family, should furnish Jack- son as the representative of its people. He was left an orphan at the age of three years, and by degrees rose to be one of the greatest generals America has 5$$;^^ ^^tBBWk -^^^ ever seen. It is an interesting study to follow his successive steps. He never sought promotion. It is said that in face and figure he was not striking; above average height, with frame angular, muscular and fiesh- less. He was, in all his movements, from riding a horse to handling a pen, the most ungraceful man in the army. His expression was generally clouded by an air of fatigue, but the eye, when in repose, was gentle. His face in the home when softened by a smile was far different from that on the bat- tlefield. Jackson had been the very life of the Confederate army, and stonewall Jackson. THE CIVIL WAR. 273 it was when assisting Lee in the battle of Fredericksburg that he lost his life. All day long the battle had raged, and just at its close he was hurrying toward a company of his own men when they mistook him for a Union man and fired upon him. He was terribly wounded, and the shot that struck him crippled both armies of the Confederacy. At first it was believed his wounds were not serious, and the people thought, in the language of Lee, ''Jackson will not, cannot die.'' But God willed it otherwise. Sunday after- ,: noon he closed his eyes and smiled at his own spoken dream, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." To Jackson's life all paid tribute. In this tribute there was no North, no South. Coming across the sea, a friend planted on his grave at Lexington a sprig of laurel brought from the grave of Napoleon, a most fitting token — a beautiful thought that the greatest general of the Old World should welcome to immortality the most brilliant soldier of the new. The loss of Stonewall Jackson was a death-blow to Lee and the Confederate cause. Grant as Lieutenant=General. PRESIDENT LINCOLN now saw that it needed a man at the head of the Army who could not only organize and discipline, but could make plans and carry them into execu- tion. So after thinking the matter over, he decided that Grant, who had made a considerable stir in the west, was his choice as General-in-chief of all the armies of the Republic. Grant realized his responsibility. He at once went to Washington City so as to vie with President Lincoln as to action, then went to work with a will and after visiting and examining each army knew what he could count upon and resob.ed to deal two deadly blows — one on Atlanta and one on Richmond. ^Accordingly at two 18 274 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. U. S. Military Wagon. separate places he concentrated two powerful armies — one was to move toward Atlanta under General Sherman and the other «oward Richmond under General Meade. Now let us read how they came out. Sherman's March to the Sea. « ONE of the most interesting events of the Civil War was what is known as Sherman's March to the Sea, according to a plan laid out by Grant. General ' Sherman with a hundred thousand men marched toward Atlanta. This city before the war was an important railroad center. It had a large population, and had extensive rolling mills, machine shops and foundries where guns, shot, shell and cartridges were made under the direction of the Confederate government. The THE CIVIL WAR. 275 town during the war became even more prosperous than before, so you can see that if the Union army could get in possession of Atlanta, it would prove a hard blow to the Confederacy. The Confederates under General Johnston said "No; they cannot have Atlanta;" and the utmost effort was put forth to make General W. T. Sherman. Atlanta secure, but all to no avail; on September 2d Atlanta was occupied by Sherman's army and on the 14th of November he burned the city and set out on his famous march, with sixty thousand men still remaining, to the sea. On leaving Atlanta, he plunged first into a thick forest, then came out and either destroyed or captured everything on his route. On reaching Charleston, after thirty-eight days' tramping, 2 76 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. he had lost but five hundred and sixty-seven men, and conquered everything along the route. Now for Richmond. N to Richmond had been the intention of the army of the Potomac ever since it was organized, but for some reason it had never succeeded in capturing the city and driving out the Confederates. "Now," thought Grant, "our time has come. I will have the Army of the Potomac pull together and work with but one object in view, that is to conquer Lee's army at Richmond and get in possession of the Confederate capital." Evacuation of Richmond. ON and on, day after day, they pegged away. Grant kept Lincoln posted aa to his movements, and on one occasion sent a telegram saying, '' I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer. " These words, like many others spoken in the same earnestness during the war, have become immortal. Aftef several months' skirmishing and fighting, Lee telegraphed to Jefferson Davis to leave the city at once. It was Sunday morning. Davis was at church; after reading the telegram he got up quietly and passed oiit. Soon, however, it became known that Richmond was lost to the Confederates. Sheridan's Ride. (For Concert Reading. ) UP from the South,' at break of Like a herald in haste to the chieftain's day, door. Bringing to Winchester fresh The terrible grumble and rumble and dismay, roar. The affrighted air with a shudder Telling the battle was on once more, bore, And Sheridan twenty miles away Battle of ChancellorsvHie, Jackson Attacking Right Wing. 8/7 278 5 TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS 7 OR V. And wider still those billows of war Thundered along the horizon's bar, And louder yet into Winchester rolled The roar of that red sea, uncontrolled, Making the blood of the listener cold As he thought of the stake in that fiery fray, And Sheridan twenty miles away. p. H. Sheridan. But there is a road to Winchester town, A good, broad highway, leading down ; And there, through the flush of the morning light, A steed, as black as the steeds of night. Was seen to pass as with eagle flight; As if he knew the terrible need, He stretched away with his utmost speed. Hill rose and fell ; but his heart was gay, With Sheridan fifteen miles away. Still sprung from those swift hoofs, thundering south, The dust, like the smoke from the cannon's mouth. Or the trail of a comet, sweeping faster and faster, Forboding to traitors the doom of disaster; The heart of the steed and the heart of the master Were beating like prisoners assaulting their walls. Impatient to be where the battle-field calls. Every nerve of the charger was strained to full play. With Sheridan only ten miles away. Under his spurning feet the road Like an arrowy Alpine river flowed; And the landscape sped away behind Like an ocean flying before the wind; Swept on with his wild eyes full of fire. And the steed, like a b?.rk fed with furnace fire. But lo! he is nearing his heart's desire ; He is snuffing the smoke of the roaring fray. With Sheridan only five miles away. The first that the (leneral saw were the groups Of stragglers, and then the retreating- troops. What was done — what to do — a glance told him both; Then striking his spurs, with a terrible oath. He dashed down the line, 'mid a storm of huzzas. And the wave of retreat checked his course there, because The sight of the master compelled it to pause. With foam and with dust the black charger was gray. By the flash of his eye, and his red nostril's play. He seemed to the whole great army to say: THE CIVIL WAR. 279 Sheridan's Ride. " I have brought you Sheridan all the way From Winchester down to save you the day!" Hurrah, hurrah for Sheridan! Hurrah, hurrah, for horse and man! And when their statues are placed on high, Vnder the dome of the Union sky — The American soldier's Temple of Fame, — There, with the glorious General's nan^e. Be it said in letters, both bold and bright: "Here is the steed that saved the day By carrying Sheridan into the fight. From Winchester, twenty miles away !" ' T. Buchanan Reed. 2 8o STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Lee's Surrender. THE great Civil War which was begun on April 12th, 1861, when the first Confederate shot was fired against Fort Sumter, was now drawing rapidly to a close. The backbone of the Confederacy was broken. Lee, the greatest Confederate general still living, with his large army, was yet to be conquered. Lee had defeated the Union soldiers so many times that he began to think his own army was equal to anything. And well he might, for he had defeated at different times four of the greatest generals which the Union army had. His re- treat, after being driven from Rich- mond, was conducted with wonderful skill, and the experience which he had had in the past encouraged-him to ln)pe for the best. In starting out he was in excellent spirits, expecting to re- ceive plenty of rations on his journey. He had started out with only pro- visions enough to last a single day, ^ and you can imagine his surprise, to ' ' say nothing of the disappointment, to find that these had l;een cut off. His men were famishing, and it was impossible to proceed until sup- plies were obtained from the surrounding country. This delay robbed Lee of the advantages he had gained in the start, and proved the ruin of all his plans. On the other side, the Union armies were strong and cheerful. The Government had plenty of money to meet all necessity. The combined forces and location of Grant, Sheridan and Meade's armies enabled Grant to take in the situation at once. "Lee is caught," he said, "it will be hard work for him to get away." Lee was not only cut off from his main line of retreat, but was overtaken by vastly superior numbers of the enemy. Lee's entire force of dispirited and hungry men did not exceed 20,000, while Sheridan alone had an excellent force of 18,000 men. Both Lee's men and horses were sinking from sheer exhaustion. Thousands General Lee. THE CIVIL WAR. 281 had let their muskets fall from pure inability to carry them. There* are few battles where the horrors of the march could possibly equal these, so when Grant wrote asking Lee on what terms he would surrender, we quote here his reply: "April 7th, 1865. '•'■General: I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the, Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and, therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender, R. E. Lee, General. " Lieut. -General U. S. Grant." House Where Lee Surrendered. Two other letters passed between them and finally April 9th, General Grant wrote the following letter: "April 9th, 1865. '■'■General: Your note of yesterday is just received. As I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for 10 a. m. to-day could lead 282 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself; and the whole North entertain the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their arms, they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Sincerely hoping that all our difificulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe my- self, U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. "General R. E. Lee." After the terms of surrender were made and the papers signed, Lee remarked to Grant that he had forgotten one thing. It was this, many of the cavalry and artillery horses belonged to the men ":^®?^B*%'' (f'PC ■.ili'/'''',:^'' \ i Grant's Early Home. who had charge of them. "It is too late, however," he said, "to speak of that now. " Grant replied, ' ' I will instruct my officers that all the enlisted men of your cavalry and artillery who own horses are to retain them just as the officers do theirs. They will need them for their spring plowing and other farm work." Lee THE CIVIL WAR. 283 seemed greatly pleased and said in reply, "There is nothmg which you could have accomplished more for the good of the people, or of the Government." Grants terms were liberal. He will not only ••■*i*^fii' Grant's Tomb, New York. live in history as a great soldier, but he will be honored as a high- souled hero in the hour of victory. , , , ,. , n Lee then rode back to his soldiers and bade them farewell It is said that whole lines of battle rushed up to their beloved general, and with choking emotion wrung his hand. Hard as it was iU STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. for the soldiers, and hard as it must have been for the whole Southern Confederacy, it is still a pleasure to know that their leading general possessed such tenderness, unselfishness and honor. With tears rolling down both his cheeks, General Lee replied to his soldiers, saying, ' ' Men, we have fought through the war to- gether. I have done the best I could for you." The war was now practically over. The Swords of Grant and Lee. '•''Fame Hath Crowned with Laurel the Swords of Grant and Lee." M ETHINKS to-night I catch a gleam of steel among the pines, And yonder by the lilied stream repose the foemen's lines; The ghostly guards who pace the ground a moment stop to see If all is safe and still around the tents of Grant and Lee. 'Tis but a dream; no armies camp where once their bay 'nets shone; And Hesper's calm and lovely lamp shines on the dead alone; A cricket chirps on yonder rise beneath a cedar tree Where glinted 'neath the summer skies the swords of Grant and Lee. Forever sheathed those famous blades that led the eager van! They shine no more among the glades that fringe the Rapidan; To-day their battle work is done, go draw them forth and see That not a stain appears upon the swords of Grant and Lee. The gallant men who saw them flash in comradeship to-day Recall the wild, impetuous dash of val'rous blue and gray; And 'neath the flag that proudly waves above a Nation free, They oft recall the missing braves who fought with Grant and Lee. They sleep among the tender grass, they slumber 'neath the pines. They're camping in the mountain pass where crouched the serried lines; They rest where loud the tempests blow, destructive in their glee — The men who followed long ago the swords of Grant and Lee. Their graves are lying side by side where once they met as foes, And where they in the wildwood died springs up a blood-red rose; O'er them the bee on golden wing doth flit, and in yon tree A gentle robin seems to sing to them of Grant and Lee. To-day no strifes of sections rise, to-day no shadows fall Upon our land, and 'neath the skies one flag waves over all; THE CIVIL WAR. 285 The Blue and Gray as comrades stand, as comrades bend the knee, And ask God's blessings on the land that gave us Grant and Lee. So long as Southward, wide and clear, Potomac's river runs. Their deeds will live because they were Columbia's hero sons: So long as bend the Northern pines, and blooms the orange tree, The swords will shine that led the lines of valiant Grant and Lee. Methinks I hear a bugle blow, methinks I hear a drum; And there, with martial step and slow, two ghostly armies come; They are the men who met as foes, for 'tis the dead I see, And side by side in peace repose the swords of Grant and Lee. Above them let Old Glory wave, and let each deathless star Forever shine upon the brave who lead the ranks of war; Their fame resounds from coast to coast, from mountain top to sea; No other land than ours can boast the swords of Grant and Lee! Abraham Lincoln and the Hospital at Richmond. ONE of the first Northern women who entered the beleagured city of Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, after its evacuation, was a nurse. She tells us that while the people of the North were celebrating with guns, brass bands and bright colored bunting; and while the inhabitants were intoxicated with joy, the battle-field presented quite another picture. It was one vast hospital of suffering humanity. As far as the eye could reach, the plains were dotted with tents, which were being rapidly filled with wounded men, Northern and South- ern, white and black, without distinction. Army surgeons and volunteer physicians kept sleeplessly at work; hospital nurses, laden with comforts for the sick, passed to and fro; and amidst them all strode the tall, gaunt figure of Abraham Lincoln, his moistened eyes even more eloquent than the lips which had a kindly word of cheer for every sufferer. When asked how lono[ William H. Seward, . '' . ^ Secretary of State. he mtcndcd to rcmam, he replied, "lam 286 STORTES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. like a Western pioneer who built a log cabin. When he com- menced he didn't know how much timber he would need, and when he had finished he didn't care how much he had used up," and then added with a merry laugh, "so you see I came down among you without any definite plans, and when I go home I shan't regret a moment I have spent with you." The Ford Theatre Tragedy. ON the morning of the 3rd of April, 1865, it was announced by telegraph that the Union army had entered Richmond; that Lee was in full retreat, pursued by Grant; and that President Lincoln had gone to the front. No pen can describe the joy with which these tidings were received. The war was over; slavery was dead; and the Union, cemented in freedom, was stronger than ever before. But what follows; Lincoln's life had been constantly threatened. His friends urged him to practice caution; but this was so con- trary to his nature that he could not be persuaded to do so. He walked the streets of Washington unattended. To assist in drawing a crowd, it was announced that on the 14th of April, in company with General Grant, President Lincoln would attend a play given at Ford's Theatre. This naturally called a crowd. General Grant left the city. President Lincoln, feeling, with his characteristic kindliness of heart, that it would be a dis- appointment if he should fail them, reluctantly consented to go. With his wife and two friends he arrived in due time and took his seat in a box reserved for the occasion. The whole audience arose and greeted him with the greatest enthusiasm. As the President was listening to the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth worked his way through the crowd, and, reaching the door of the box, fired a bullet into his brain. The assassin leaped upon the stage, rushed across it, mounted a fleet horse at the door and escaped. In the twinkling of an eye, without a moment to say a prayer, the great soul of Lincoln, the lover of liberty, stood in the pres- ence of his Maker. He was carried to a private residence across Review of the Soldiers at Close of War 288 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the street, and at 7:00 o'clock the next morning breathed his last. Then came the most remarkable demonstration the world has ever seen at the death of one man. The bells that had been ringing the glad tidings of freedom and victory changed their ring to the sad and solemn tolling of a requiem for the dead. Men who had cursed him admitted their fault, and joined with his friends in mourning. The slave, who had just lifted his voice in the song of liberty, stopped in fear and trembling, wondering whether the shackles would not again be placed upon him. Every civilized nation in the world hastened with its national condolences to testify to the worth of Lincoln. It was as though a death had come in every family. Business was suspended; the noise of trade was stopped; the children upon the school grounds said softly to each other: "He is dead." The liags were at half mast over the land; the drums were mufifled in a thousand camps; the highest ofhcer and the poorest private repeated the words again and again: ■ "Our President is dead." Thirty-two years have now passed, and in the words of Mason let us proclaim: "Lincoln still lives. He is not dead. Every slave that holds an unfettered wrist will tell you that Lincoln, the emancipator, is not dead. His dust may rest under the towering monument at Springfield, but he is not there. See! the stars of your flag are all there; he who kept them there is not dead. See again! under the flag there are no slaves; he who made this true can never die. Lincoln is not dead. Every pulsation of his heart, every ambition of his soul, every word that fell from his lips, every great deed, from the simplest act of kindness to an animal to the emancipation of the slave, are all proofs to us of his immortality." Peace and Reconciliation. RT. REV. GEORGE DAVID CUMMINS, D. D. PEACE at last closes a long and desolating Civil War — a war between men of one blood, one ancestry, one religion, one heritage of blessings, between the citizens of one great republic, whose fathers labored and fought together to secure to them a priceless inheritance. History will record it as among THE CIVIL WAR. 289 the most memorable conflicts ever waged upon the face of the earth ; memorable for the vast number of men enlisted, the wide extent of territory over which it was fought, and for the valor and heroism displayed on either side. What were the wars of York and Lan- caster, of Puritan and Royalist, of Huguenot and Romanist, by General John A. Logfan, Pounder of the Grand Army of the Republic. the side of this? That mighty struggle, whose issues at times were so dark and uncertain, has ended in a peace which secures the integrity of the nation as a unit, and restores the Union of the States, making us one undivided republic. Who can doubt that the decision is of God, and that he who permitted the hind to be scourged for four years by his sore judgment has ordained that we shall remain one people, with one country and one destiny? If so, and if our national IJnion is to be anything more than a 290 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. hollow truce, leaving behind it hearts estranged and alienated, there is a work yet to be done by us more difficult than any triumph of arms upon the battlefield. That work is the work of restoring harmony among hearts, unity of soul, of overcoming enmity and prejudice, of healing the wounds which have been torn asunder; it is the work not only of making "peace on earth," but "good-will among men." I speak for American hearts to-day, when I say that we do not desire a Union which is held together alone by force, and which must be perpetuated by standing armies. We desire a Union which shall be cemented as of old — nay, better than of old; with stronger and more enduring bonds, by ties of brother- hood, by bonds of religion, by fellowship in Christ, by common sympathies, common aims, common aspirations, and a common love of a common country. Can this ever be realized in this land? Many have thought it impossible after the experience of the last four years, and that it is vain to hope for such a result! But they who so contend have read history to but little purpose. Not more surely does nature repair the desolation of a battlefield, covering the spot where the heavy cannon wheels and the hoofs of horses and the feet of ten thousand infuriated men made a wilderness with a beautiful carpet of grass, than does time, by a thousand genial and kindly influences, heal the feuds which a civil war has engen- dered. Nay, startling as the proposition may sound to some, history proves that the passions and hates and feuds of inter- national wars are those which are most permanent, most lasting; while the passions of civil war are ever most fugitive, most easily obliterated. Such is the teaching of history, and such the cheering pros- pect before us. We need not refer the work of^ reconciliation to another generation. God gives to us the high privilege of accom- plishing this work. Already has that good work begun with most auspicious tokens. PART VII, Peace and Prosperity. Johnson's Administration. HEN the President dies the Vice-President takes ^ his place, and so the Government goes right on. Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, was Vice-Presi dent; and on the day when Mr, Lincoln died Mr. Johnson became the President of the republic. The National Government now made ready to restore all things to a good condition. The supreme law was made that equal rights were secured to all citizens. Slavery has been done away with forever in our beloved country. American citizens of every kind have now equal rights before the law. Jefferson Davis, the leader of the great rebellion, which had cost half a million of precious lives and thousands of millions of money, tied from Richmond, and a heavy sum of money was offered for his capture. He was finally overtaken in Georgia, while fleeing for shelter to a swamp, disguised, so as to avoid being detected. He was afterwards taken by Union troops to Pa"rt oTontTerm7;l6l:;l6'^: Fortrcss Monroc and in- dieted for treason. Pending his trial he was re- ^P"' ' leased on bonds, his chief bondsman being Horace Horace areeiey. 291 292 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Jefferson Davis. Greeley, the founder of the New York Tribune, and an intense sympathizer of the North. Mr. Greeley welcomed the opportunity to render this assistance to Mr. Davis, and when criticised for his action, made use of that famous phrase: "Let us by this act shake hands across the bloody chasm which has separated the North and South." Thus ended the political career of Mr. Davis, a man idolized by the South, and to-day regarded by his one-time opponents as one of earnestness, intelligence, ability, and pure motive, yet mis- PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 293 led by the teachings of slavery and a doctrine of State rights. He died at his home in Mississippi, December 6th, 1889, his body rests at Richmond, Va., and is one of the sacred spots of the lost cause. The Atlantic Cable. THE summer of 1866 was made memorable by the laying of the Atlantic Cable which extends from New York to Liver- pool. This was the second one completed. The first one laid in 1858 had failed after a few weeks' operation, but Cyrus W. Field never gave up or never abandoned his enterprise. Af- ter many discouragements fame and success joined him hand in hand and as a result to-day we are in communication with the entire world, and so perfect is the system that even though Lon- don is thousands of miles away, we read in the morning papers events that occurred there only last evening. Mr. Field received from Congress a gold medal and the appreciation of the entire world. Alaska. BY looking on your map, you will notice way off to the ex- treme Northwest of America lies a large tract of -land called Alaska. In 1865 a party of explorers from the United States went there with a view of establishing tele- graphic communication with Asia. Instead of finding a worthless country as people had formerly believed, they found .the largest and finest pine and cedar forests of the world. Not only this but they saw it afforded grand opportunities for seal fishing. So Congress said "How I wish we could own Alaska." She belonged to Russia and here lived about thirty thousand people, mostly Eskimos. Then negotiations for the purchase of the country was opened up and in March, 1867, a treaty was concluded be- tween Russia and the United States, by which we were to pay seven million two hundred thousand dollars for an area of five hundred and eighty thousand square miles. Alaska, in a very few years, from seal fishing alone, has 294 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Alaska Seals. yielded enough profit to the Government to make good all which "Uncle Sam" paid for her. Grant's Administration. SUCH was the condition of our country on the 4th of March, 1869, when Ulysses S. Grant, the eminent soldier during the Civil War, whom the people had chosen to be President of the Republic, was inaugurated. The great railway communication which extends across the continent between the two great oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific, known as the Pacific Railroad, was completed. President Grant's first term of office ended in March, 1873. The people had been prosperous. The Union had been PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 295 politically restored. Claims against Great Britain growing out of events of the Civil War had been settled, A large amount of the public debt had been paid, the taxes had been reduced, and all of our foreign relations were satisfactory. In the autumn of 1S72 President Grant was re-elected, and he began his second term on March 4, 1873. For six months in 1876 there was a "Centennial Exhibition " in Philadelphia, in which were seen productions of the in- dustry of more than thirty nations. About 10,000,000 people visited it. About this time came the great Indian war of the West. Ulysses S. Grant— 1822=1885. Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia. The Sioux War of 1876. EVER since the white man first landed in America, the various tribes of Indians have felt that they were being gradually driven from their homes. The Sioux, a fierce Nation of the West, had in 1868 agreed with the Govern- ment to relinquish all territory except a large reservation in South-western Dakota, to which place they promised to retire by 296 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. January ist, 1876. In the meantime gold was discovered in the Black Hills which was within the limits of the Indian Reserva- tion. The treaty between the Indians and the whites was not strong enough to keep the avaricious white gold diggers and ad- venturers out of the region. This, as you see, gave the Indians an excuse for breaking over their boundary and roaming at large. They also considered it an excuse for the many bad deeds and depredations which they committed in Wyoming and Montana. This state of affairs continued until June, 1876, when the Government determined to drive them back upon their reserva- tion. At this time the Indians numbered several thousand and were led by their Chieftain, Sitting Bull, who had the elements of a great warrior. Probably no tribe has ever had a more superior leader. In war he possessed a bravery unknown, and combined strategy with cruelty. He saw that a terrible battle must soon be fought, so with excellent judgment selected a point surrounded by what is known as the "bad lands," but kept his supply source open with the Canadian French. This he could easily do, for shortly before he had professed to become converted to Christianity and had joined a church in Canada. The government decided to send out three expeditions, each to move in a different direction. One of these was under General Custer who was supposed to "strike the blow." Unfortunately no instructions were given as to how many miles each division should travel .per day. So Custer arrived first, being noted for his quick movements, having made ninety miles in the first three days. He soon found the Indians in large numbers, and deemed it best to divide his command in three divisions, one of which he placed under Major Reno, another under Major Benteen, and led the other himself. The Massacre of Custer's Army. WHILE Custer was making a detour to enter the village, Reno attacked a body of Indians, who, after retreating almost three miles, turned on his troops and drove them into the woods. Benteen came up to help Reno, but he, too, became frightened and slid out without striking the enemy. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 297 So it happened that the brave, undaunted General Custer with his noble heroes rushed down alone upon the Indian village. Picture if you can that tall, graceful man with courage in his eye, galloping right into the very jaws of death. He hoped against hope. There were five thousand deadly rifl e s pouring shot like hail into their midst. Custer peered through the smoke for Reno and Benteen, thinking all the time "They will come yet." With cheery Vk^ords from their commander on the troops fought until onl y a, dozen were left. Then down went Custer like a strong oak shattered by a light- ning's bolt. He partly rose and, after fatally striking three more Indians and breaking his sword on the fourth, fell back upon the dead and wounded with a broken blade and an empty pistol. Thus he died with the thought of having done his best. To-day the blessings of a grateful country are upon his memory. When the news was learned, soldiers everywhere made a pilgrimage to the sacred spot and loving hands there reared a pyramid of bones in commemoration of the event, which stands amid sunshine and General Custer. shower, overlooking]; the Little Big Horn. This occurred on the 25th of June, 1876. Soon other detachments were sent to the scene of war, and finally, on the 6th of January, 1877, the remnant of the Sioux tribe was routed out by General Miles. The remaining bands made Custer's Last Charge. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 299 their escape into Manitoba. There they remained until fall, when terms of peace were proposed to Sitting Bull, but not until three years later did they return to their reservation in Dakota. Hayes' Administration. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, the nine- teenth President of the United States, did much to allay sectional feeling, and gave promise of a speedy restora- tion of cordial feelings between the people of the North and South. The taxes were diminished, and many ^-4 millions of dollars of the public debt paid. By a reduction in the rate of interest, mil- lions of dollars were annually saved. In the fall of 1880, General James A. Garfield was elected President of the United '^"^•'^■^«''' ^s.'^ZlV^""^"'' States, and Chester A. Arthur was chosen Vice-President. The Burning of Chicago. yl LL who read this book must, at sometime, have realized what a / \ dreadful thing is a fire. Perhaps you have heard debating X Jl clubs discuss the subject "which can do the greatest dam- age, fire or water?" Well, I fancy that the people who lived in Chicago on the evening of October 8th, in the year 187 1, thought that fire could do the greatest damage. How the Chicago fire started is hard to tell, yet it is gen- erally supposed to have broken out in the barn of a Mrs. O'Leary, who resided in the north part of the city. She was at the time milking a cow. Near by stood her lantern. The perverse cow for some reason gave a kick, over went the lantern and soon the barn was ablaze. This occurred at the time of an extreme drouth; the city, as well as the surrounding country, was parched. Flames spread from barn to house, from house to shops and thence to lumber yards, and soon the whole city was in flames. All that 300 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. night and the next day, the deluge of fire rolled on; springing even across the river, sweeping everything before it. The area burned was three and a third square miles. About two hundred Burning- of Chicago. lives were lost and property destroyed to the amount of two hun- dred millions of dollars. Never had there been such a fire except the burning of Moscow. The ravaged district was the greatest ever swept over by fire in a city, the amount of property was second in value, and the suffering occasioned third among the great conflagrations of the world. Never before did a like dis- aster serve to bring out the noble qualities of a civilization. Money, provisions and assistance of all kinds poured in from every part of the United States to assist those in distress. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 301 Garfield's Administration. JAMES A. GARFIELD, the twentieth President of the United States, was in- augurated on March 4, 1881. He had agreed to treaties with several foreign nations about various public matters, and was carrying on the government well, when, on the 2d of July, he was shot by a half- crazy man at Washington. He lived until September 19th, when he died. Everybody mourned President Gar- field's death. Queen Victoria, the King of o • J ^1 1 • T? J James A. Garfield— i83i"iS8i bpam and other rulers m Europe expressed their sorrow. When Garfield died, Vice-President Arthur became President of the United States. 1881. Garfield's Struggle with Death. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 303 Arthur's Administration. /t RTHUR'S administration was a pros- j\ perous and satisfactory one. The I Y taxes and the pubHc debt continually decreased, and the country was at peace with all the world. Among the most prominent laws passed during his administration were acts for promoting reform in the civil service, to suppress polygamy in Utah, and to forbid Chinese immigration into the United States. The subject of the civilization of the Indians received much and earnest attention. Chester A. Arthur— 1830-1886. The Telephone and Phonograph. OUR book of American History would not be complete without at least a word about that great invention, the Telephone. It has remained for an American to solve the problem of communication between persons at a distance from each other. Scientists, by means of electricity and sound, have devised an apparatus for transmitting the voice to a distance of hundreds of miles. The credit should be given to Alexander Graham Bell, of Massachusetts, and to Elisha P. Gray, of Chicago. Closely following the telephone is the Phonograph, an inven- tion based on the same principle of science, but brought about by different means. The phonograph is made to talk and sing, thus enabling one to read by the ear instead of the eye. Edison, the Genius of the Age. TO-DAY the old system of illumination is giving way to the splendors of electric glow. With man's progress came the much needed question of artificial light. Electric lights not only adorn the streets of our cities, but grace our parlors, furnishing a stronger, a cleaner and more healthful light than any 304 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. other known. To Thomas A. Edison, of Massachusetts, belongs the glory of bringing electricity for lighting purposes to a successful basis. Other scientists before him had experimented, but to Edison remained the work of removing the final difficulties. Electricity is to-day furnishing the motive power for street cars, railroads, engines, etc., and it is predicted that before the dawn of a new century more wonderful still will be the achievements of this untutored and remarkable man. With no less possibilities in scientific research comes the Kinetoscope, his latest invention, which by a thousand instan- taneous pictures enables one to see the lifelike motions of "a child at play," "a distant battle," or the varied scenes of a " County Fair." Administration of Qrover Cleveland. WITH Cleveland came the Democratic Restoration. The Republicans had been in power for twenty-four years. At the beginning of his administration he was confronted with many trials, but so well did he please the people that when he retired from office he was permitted to remain in retirement only four years, at which time he was again called to take the Presidential chair. It was during Cleveland's first ad- ministration that a feeling of discontent began to spring up among the laboring classes. This was due partly to a series of bad crops and partly because capitalists withdrew money from legitimate produc- tions, this reducing means of employing Qrover cieveiand-1837 . labor and causing a stagnation in business. This feeling reached its height when an outbreak occurred in Chicago on the 4th of May, 1887. A reckless crowd had collect- ed at a place called The Haymarket. The anarchists were about to begin their usual exciting and inflammatory proceeding when a squad of policemen drew near with the intention of controlling the meeting. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 305 A horrible scene followed. Dynamite bombs were thrown into the crowd and many exploded near the policemen. Several of the leading anarchists were arrested, brought to trial, con- demned and executed on the charge of inciting to murder. So all during Cleveland's administration the public mind was swayed hither and thither by party politics, and on election day, the Republican nominee, Benjamin H. Harrison, great-grandson of the signer of the Declaration of Independence, was elected President of the United States. D Earthquake at Charleston. OES it not seem as if the City of Charleston, S. C. , had much more than her share of misfortunes? Well, was what I thought when the newspapers all over has this the country on the morning of September ist, 1886, gave to the world an account of that great disturbance known as an earth - Earthquake at Charleston. :o6 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. quake, which had occurred the night before just as people were getting ready for bed. The first intimation that the Signal Serv- ice Bureau at Washington city had of this catastrophe was a surmise. They knew that something was wrong. No communi- cation was possible. All telegraph wires were suddenly cut ofT. Without a moment's warning the city had been shocked and rent to its very foundation. Hardly a building escaped injury and al- most a third of the city was in half or total ruins. The whole Atlantic coast was more or less affected, and for leagues from the shore the ocean was thrown in a turmoil. The people fled from the falling houses to the parks and public squares. Here they erected tents and remained for weeks, afraid to return to their homes. It was after a time, however, discovered that these shocks were only the dying away of great convulsions and that further alarm was unnecessary, and people returned to their homes. With true American energy the debris was in a few months cleared away, business was resumed and to-day were it not for a few cracks and fissures in buildings we would never know that anything had happened there to disturb their peace. The Administration of Benjamin Harrison. IN accordance with the custom of the Government, General Harrison was inaugurated President on the 4th of March, 1889. It is said that he had succeeded better than any one of his prede- cessors in keeping his own counsels during the time between his election and inau- guration. All waited with interest his Inaugural Address, and I can heartily say he did not disappoint the party whom he represented. No great catastrophe oc- curred during his Administration except that of the Johnstown flood. Benjamin Harrison— 1833 — One Term, iSSp-iSp^. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 307 W Johnstown Flood. ILL you not get your geography and look upon the map of Pennsylvania for the thriving town of Johnstown? Here in the year 1889 occurred a great calamity. It came about by the bursting of a reservoir and the pour- ing out of a deluge in the valle}' below. A large artificial fishing lake, five miles in length and varying in depth from fifty to one hundred feet had been made in the ravine of South Fork River. This was owned by a party of wealthy sportsmen. Many Xv--##Tr^'5^v*i''"' -^•^y Warning the Inhabitant5. times the people had said "This lake is not safe; some day the dam will break and woe be to the residents below." It occurred in May, just after the Spring rains, when the river and lake were filled to overflowing. The dam had been im- perfectly constructed, so you see it was an easy matter to break open. This is precisely what it did. It burst wide open in the center, and a solid wall of water, from twenty to fifty feet in height, rushed down the valley with terrible violence, sweeping everything before it. 3o8 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. The prosperous town of Johnstown was totally wrecked and thrown in an indescribable heap of horror against the aqueduct of the Pennsylvania Railroad, below the town. What made mat- ters still worse, the ruins caught fire and the shrieks of the hun- dreds of victims were terrible to think about. As near as can be ascertained about three thousand people perished in the flood or were burned to death in the ruins. The news spread dismay all over the country. Every family mourned, and all, no matter how poor, sent help to the suf- ferers. Millions of dollars in money and supplies were poured out to relieve the despair of those who survived. Indian Outbreak. IN December, 1890, the country was surprised by the reports of a serious outbreak of the Indians on the reservations in the Dakotas, and at the same time a feeling of unrest fell among the Agency Indians. They were indulging in the Ghost Dances, and as the craze traveled to other tribes farther West and to the Canadian Indians on the North, it appeared that there would be a general uprising. The Indians have always believed in the com- ing of the Messiah, and the crafty old medicine man, Sitting Bull, who had returned to Dakota eleven years before, fostered the superstition and inaugurated the Ghost Dance. For many years his name was almost as well known as that of any millionaire or statesman. He had shown a continuous hostility against the whites, and for nearly twenty years vain attempts were made to bring him into subjection. He was a chief of the Dakota Sioux, both by inheritance and deeds, being one of the most daring of the red men, and a man of natural intelligence, great energy and, force. His purpose was to assemble warriors in the spring, and, with the aid of the Messiah, bring back to life all the dead Indians, drive the iwhite man out and restore the country to its pristine glory. If the Messiah failed to appear he would still have behind him a force large enough to hold back the soldiers and enable him to escape to Canada. The Interior Department promptly transferred control of the PEACE AND PROSPERITY. Indian Dance. Indians ol North Dakota to the War Department. It was the intention to overawe them by bringing against them an equal force 1' R k' h 7'^^' '"■"' "*^ '^''' '''"' ^'^^"'"g ^«P°"s from the Rosebud and Pme Ridge Agencies in South Dakota that the 3IO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Indians were killing and running off cattle and establishing a camp in the Bad Lands, there to await the coming of the troops. General Brooke, an old Indian fighter, personally in charge of the Indian Demanding Tribute. troops, was visited by a delegation of the hostiles, but the con- ference came to naught. The death of Sitting Bull was unexpected. He had promised to come into the agency and surrender, but not doing so, and as he was considered the chief instigator of the hostilities, the Indian Police at the Pine Ridge Agency were ordered to arrest him, in order to prevent his departure for the Bad Lands, where he would be safe. The police were followed by a troop of cavalry and a company of infantry, and, without waiting for the soldiers to come up, at once placed the old chief under arrest and started back with him to the agency. Scarcely had they gotten under way ■Ilil' ''ill In ill III! fllniiil Ij'il 312 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. when friends of the old Indian ralhed to his rescue and a terrible fight of the hand to hand description followed. The police, although surrounded and greatly outnumbered, fought like demons, and held their own until the calvary came up and succeeded in compelling the Indians to flee or surrender. Sitting Bull was killed, being shot through the body and head by Bullhead and Red Toma- hawk. Four policemen were killed outright, another died at the agency from wounds, while the hostiles lost eight killed, including Crow Foot, the son of Sitting Bull. Great uncertainty is attached to the birth of Sitting Bull. According to some authorities he was born near old Fort George in Dakota, in 1837. Another says that he was a native of Fort Garry (now Winnipeg), and a graduate of St. John's College there. Old traders declare that they remember him well as Charlie Jacobs, a half breed, who attended the College in its infancy, but disap- peared in 1853. Sitting Bull, when once asked if he remembered anything about Fort Garry, laughed and said he knew all about the principal people there. Battle of Wounded Knee Creek. IN the annals of American history there cannot be found a battle so fierce, bloody and decisive as the fight at Wounded Knee Creek between the Seventh Cavalry and Big Foot's band of Sioux. It was a stand-up fight of the most desperate kind, in which nearly the entire band was annihilated, and although the soldiers outnumbered their opponents nearly three to one, the victory was won by two troops, about one hundred strong, at least twenty less than the warriors in front of them. The Seventh Cavalry was the regiment, the contingent of which died around Custer in 1878. The night before the Indians had agreed to submit, and the troops were up bright and early in readiness to move by eight o'clock. At that hour the cavalry and dismounted troops were massed about the Indian village, the Hotchkiss guns overlooking the camp not fifty yards away. The Indians were ordered to come forward, away from their tents, and when the band, under the PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 313 leadership of Big Foot, walked out of their lodges and formed a semicircle in front of the soldiers' tents, there was nothing to indicate that they would not submit. Col- onel Forsyth, an Indian fighter of tried worth, never gave a thought to the chance of a fight. When it was made plain to the band that their arms must be given up, the murmur of discontent was unanimous. When the soldiers proceeded to disarm them and search their tents the medicine man jumped up, uttered a loud incantation and fired at a trooper stand- ing guard over the cap- tured guns. That was the signal for fight, and in a second every buck in the party rose to his feet, cast aside the blanket which covered his Winchester, and, taking aim, fired directly at the troop in front. It was a terrible onslaught, and so sudden that all were stunned, but, quickly recovering, they opened fire on the enemy. The position of troops B and K would not allow their fellow-cavalrymen to fire, lest they shoot through the Indians and kill their own men. Thus the terrible duel raged for thirty minutes. Someone ordered "Spare the women," but the squaws fought like demons and could not be distinguished from the men. The entire band was practically slaughtered, and those who escaped to the ravine were followed by the cavalry and shot down wherever found. The chief medicine man, whose incantations had caused the band to act with such murderous treachery, fell with a dozen bullets in Frontier Scout. 314 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. his body. The Seventh Cavalry had an old grudge to settle, and they did their work well. Captain Wallace, commanding Troop K, and several privates were killed. Lieutenant Garlington was severely wounded in the arm. It is claimed that of the Indians Messenger. there were but two survivors, one of which was a baby girl about three months old, who has since been adopted by a wealthy lady in Washington. One of the saddest events of the Indian outbreak was the murder of young Lieutenant Casey on January 7th. He was shot, while out reconnoitering, by a treacherous Brule Indian. The lieutenant, who was in command of a large body of Cheyenne scouts, had many friends in the hostile camp near White River, who denounced the Brules bitterly for countenancing the murder. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 315 He had been in command of the troop of scouts for about a year, and was working in the interest of the Indians themselves. After the defeat of the Indians at Wounded Knee Creek, they were ready to close the conflict and make the best terms possible with General Miles. On the 2 2d of January there was a grand military review in honor of the victory over the redskins. Ten Buffalo Bill, a Poe of the Indians. thousand Sioux had a good opportunity to see the strength and discipline of the United States army, the end of the ghost-dance rebellion being marked by a review of all the soldiers who had taken part in crushing the Indians. Thus passed into history probably not only the most remarkable of our Indian wars, but the last one there will ever be. A Second Administration of Cleveland. T the election in 1892 everything went against the Repub- lican party and mostly in favor of the Democrats. Cleveland being their choice, he was again made President. 3i6 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. The World's Columbian Exposition. IT was now almost four hundred years since Columbus dis- covered America. Our country had grown from a small settle- ment of people brought over in the Mayjlozvcr to a prosperous nation of over 50,000,000 inhabitants. It had achieved inde- pendence, glory, peace and prosperity, so why not celebrate? This was what everybody thought, and, as you know, "thinking brings acting," so it was finally decided to Chicago the honor of holding ; Exposition was due. If you know anything about Chicago at all, you know she never does anything by halves. She went to work with a will and, while she is often called the "Windy City," she gladdened all hearts by her patriotism, liberality id public spirit. A site was selected le Lake Front, known as Jackson Park, and every energy was bent to make it the grandest and most unique show ever brought about in the old world or new. The managers of the Exposition, with the aid of Congress, decided it should eclipse all previous expositions that the world had seen. One particular feature was the recognition of women in full fellowship with men in the conduct of the Exposition. Congress passed an act that there should be a woman's depart- ment, and a board of lady managers was appointed by the President. The President also appointed commissions of the Fair for the different States; and then issued a proclamation, officially inviting all the nations of the earth to participate in the Exposition. The great work went forward, and in October, 1S92, the buildings were dedicated, and in May, 1893, came the formal opening to visitors. Not only did the United States celebrate the discovery of America, but Spain also, who had not yet forgotten her good — ♦^ 317 3i8 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. Queen Isabella, who offered her jewels in order to equip a fleet for Columbus. At Genoa, also, the birthplace of Columbus, was held, under the auspices of the King and Queen of Italy, another expo- sition, but none of these compared to the one known as the "World's Fair" at Chicago. At the dedicatory services in Chicago, there gathered no less than one million visitors. Never before in history had so many people assembled on a festal occasion. Four hundred years of marvelous progress was to receive the offerings of the world's applause. Then in May, 1893, came the visitors to behold the achieve- ments. For six months the crowds came and went. When done, America said "Another jewel is added to our accomplished glory." It was great in many ways, but principally as an educator for the young and old, rich and poor. The Presidential Election of 1896. OUR "Young People's History" would not be complete with- out a sketch of the fierce Presidential contest of 1896 and some of the questions which confront our people to-day. From the repeal of the so-called "Sherman Law" by Con- gress in the' special session of 1893, the friends of silver began to organize and prepare for a tre- mendous struggle in its behalf. The "Wilson-Gorman" tariff bill which superseded the "McKinley Bill" of 1890 failed to furnish reve- nue sufficient to meet the expense of the government. The panic of '93 came upon us, more widespread, more serious in its consequences, than any other financial crisis in our history. Business was at a standstill, labor was without em- ployment, failure succeeded failure with startling rapidity, confidence wiiiiam McKiniey. PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 319 was destroyed and men sought for a cause of these conditions. The friends of silver attributed it to legislation adverse to the interests of that metal, while the advocates of a protective tariff traced the disasters of the time to a tariff which neither furnished money enough to keep the government from borrowing nor fur- nished labor for our workmen. The silver men then began an active campaign. Clubs were formed especially in the south and west, silver literature was sent broadcast, speakers were employed and the currency question was discussed as never before. When the time for the nomination of Presidential candidates arrived, the country was in a fever of excitement. The Repub- lican Convention met in St. Louis in June and after a bitter de- bate adopted a platform in favor of the gold standard, pledging to do its utmost to secure the recognition of silver as money by gold-standard nations at a ratio to be determined by international conference, and to a protective tariff. William McKinley of Ohio was nominated for President and Garrett A. Hobart of New Jersey for Vice-President. The Democratic convention was held in Chicago in July with the silver men in control. In the debate following the report of the committee upon resolutions, William J. Bryan of Nebraska supported the silver plank in a speech so eloquent, so convincing that the enthusiasm aroused could not be stemmed. When the time for naming candidates came, Mr. Bryan was nominated for President amid scenes of wild confusion. Arthur Sewall of Maine was selected for Vice-President. The platform declared for the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one, and for a continuation of the existing tariff. Later the Populists held their convention and nominated Mr. Bryan for President and Thomas Watson of Georgia for Vice- President. The Silver Party, so-called, indorsed the nomination of Mr. Bryan and the campaign was on. The issues were clearly outlined. Party lines were in a measure obliterated. The eastern and central states seemed to favor the Republican platform, while the southern and western states were pronounced for silver. In September, the "Gold Democrats" met at Indianapolis and nom- inated John M. Palmer of Illinois for President and Simon B. 320 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. W. J. Bryan. Buckner of Kentucky for Vice-President on a platform declaring for the gold standard only. Mr. Bryan chose to stump the country, traveling by special train and addressing the people at every stop. Mr. McKinley remained at his home in Canton and there for weeks daily received delegations from all parts of "the land. Never before had such an interest been taken in a Presidential contest. Both sides were confident, but to all it was apparent that Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa would determine the result. As election approached, interest in the out- come increased. Business was suspended. ' On ever}^ side were heard bitter debates. Meetings were held day and night, each party claiming that in the election of its candidate alone lay the salvation of the country. On November 5th the battle of the ballots was fought. The returns showed the election of Mr. McKinley by a large majority of both the popular and the electoral vote. Old traditions were broken; West Virginia, Maryland and Kentucky were found for the first time in the Republican column, while Colorado, Nevada, Kansas and Nebraska were in the Democratic ranks. Then came the manifestation of the patriotism of our people, the vindication of our system of government. The result was accepted by all. Bitterness was forgotten and Mr. McKinley was hailed as coming President, not of Republicans or Democrats, but of the people. On March 4th, 1897, Mr. McKinley was inaugurated as President amidst a scene of splendor never to be forgotten. He had previously announced his cabinet to the public, and his selec- tions were approved by the people, regardless of party. John Sherman of Ohio, with a brilliant record of forty years of public life, was made Secretary of State; Lyman J. Gage of Illinois, Pres- ident of the First National Bank of Chicago, recognized as an able and conservative financier, but never an office holder, was named PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 321 Secretary of the Treasury. Russell A. Alger of Michigan, popu- lar among the old soldiers, was made Secretary of War; John D. Long of Massachusetts was made Secretary of the Navy; James A. Gary of Maryland, Postmaster General; Judge Joseph McKenna of California, Attorney General, and Cornelius Bliss of New York, Secretary of the Interior. These were promptly confirmed by the Senate. The present cabinet is remarkable for the absence of Hon. John Sherman. politicians and for the presence of business men, a fact which promises well for the country. In his inaugural address, Mr. McKinley emphasized the need of revenue and called a special session of Congress, to meet March 15th, to provide sufficient revenue. Congress gathered on that date and promptly reported the " Dingley Bill, "which its author claimed would furnish money for the government and open fac- tories and mills closed by the Democratic tariff. The arbitration 322 5 TORIES FROM AMERICA N HIS TOR V. treaty with England not confirmed by the Senate during Mr. Cleveland's administration was urged by the President for ratifica- cation, also an international conference upon the silver question was advocated and a commission of statesmen, business men, bankers and economists recommended to formulate a currency system better adapted to our needs than the present one. So begins the administration of Mr. McKinley. That it may restore prosperity and add to the glory of our nation is the heart- felt prayer of every American. Our Nation To=Day. PERHAPS nothing can better show the feeling of our country to-day than to describe a banquet given by the Marquette Club of Chicago, dated February 12, 1897, ^^^ honor of our dead hero, Abraham Lincoln. High up on the middle arch of the Auditorium banquet hall there hung a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Above it crouched an eagle and from each side swept in grace- ful folds of red, white and blue silk the emblem of that Union whose integrity he had died to preserve. In the address of welcome the speaker said: "It might not be improper to pause here long enough to throw a few bouquets at our opponents, the free-silverites. They certainly deserve credit fcr the loyalty and zeal, almost amounting to fanaticism, which they displayed for their cause. To them it was more awe-inspiring than the ominous crescent of the Saracens and more worshipful than the cross of the Crusader. No more dramatic and picturesque character ever appeared in a nation than that of their leader, Mr. Bryan. He is my personal friend, and I know that in every per- sonal and manly attribute he is sans peur et sans reproche. The admiration of his followers amounted to hero-worship, and they read his name in the Bible and saw his face in the clouds. A free-silverite at Moline, 111., in conversation with a Swede, after exhausting all arguments, finally said, "Well, there are no flies on this free-silver business. " The Swede replied, "Naw, Ay tank not, Ov course, dem flies they half some sense, too," PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 323 "One year ago to-night, in this hall, this club had for its guest an honored statesman, who to-day is the chief magistrate-elect of this great republic. I remember well his words descriptive of the great love of the immortal Lincoln for the common people. I re- member how he told us that amid the darkest clouds of the war, Lincoln reached out his hand to touch the hand of the people, as a little child reaches out its hand in darkness to touch the hand Senate Chamber. of its mother. The Republican party has always been the friend of the poor man and has always resented any attempt to array one class of our people against another. The doctrine of hate preached in the last campaign was an attempt to array capital against labor, employer against employee, and the East against the West. 324 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. No Room for Class Distinction. "In the American republic, where the gates of opportunity are open to the poorest and humblest boy in the land, there is no room for class distinctions or class hatred. When our forefathers built this government they laid the foundation broad enough so that we could all stand upon it. The lawyer who pleads our case in court, the banker who keeps our money safe, and does our business for- us; the doctor who goes to the bedside of the sick and brings life instead of death; the old gray-haired creature, who stands at the baptismal, at the marriage and at the deathbed; the engineer who holds the throttle in the midnight darkness and brings his burden of humanity safe to its destination; the miner who goes into the bowels of the earth and digs the coal that warms us and lights the fires of our great factories; the farmer who, out in the fresh air and sunshine, produces the food that sustains life; the merchant with whom we trade, the rich and the poor, the high and the low, are all covered by the broad folds of the American flag and equally protected in life, liberty, and in the pursuit of happiness. We cannot conceive of George Washington preaching a doctrine of hate between one man and another. Lincoln would never be the advocate of a doctrine that attempts to array the rich against the poor, for it is he who said, "The fact that some are rich is proof that others may become rich." The doctrine of sectional hate was shot to death on the battle-fields of the late war. A dollar that is good for the rich man is none too good for the poor man. A dollar good for the East is good for the West. A good dollar is good everywhere and for everybody. The doc- trine of class and sectional hate has no breathing place in free America. "The Republican party was born out here on the prairies of Illinois. Upon these prairies, so open that truth could find no hiding place; here where the people are bound together by the railroads — those bands of iron — with the church spires forming a successive vision from Chicago to Cairo, with the schoolhouses upon its broad prairies — it was the people of this great State that listened to the debates between Douglas and Lincoln, and as the PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 325 words of human liberty fell from the mouth of the great emanci- pator the hearts of the people beat in unison with his, until the great heart of the Nation joined the procession, keeping time to the drum-beat of the Union armies as they followed Illinois' great General, Ulysses S. Grant, as he struck blow after blow, until the bottom fell out of the armed rebellion upon the field of Ap- pomattox. " Illinois, Illinois." "Then was lifted into the forum of our constitution, to shine for ever and ever like a star, the great principle of the equality of all men before the law," Illinois is very proud of the part taken by its great men in that great conflict. " Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Illinois, Can be writ the Nation's glory, Illinois, Illinois. On the record of thy years Abr'am Lincoln's name appears, Grant and Logan — and our tears, Illinois." "Proud as we are of our commonwealth and its great men, y^i above it all is revered our national fame. As true Republicans we believe it to be an eternal truth that the right of the Federation is above the right of the State, and that in the baptism of fire and blood of the late civil strife there was breathed into this re- public the breath of a broader national life. Way off in the moun- tains of West Virginia rises the Monongahela River and it flows by the grave of my mother, but as the waters wash against its banks by the side of that grave its requiem tells me the story of West Virginia, and those waters flow on into the Ohio, past this State, where is my home and the home of my wife and children, they sing no song of Illinois; and as the same waters rush past the State of my nativity on their way to the gulf I hear not the name of Tennessee; but in that ceaseless murmur between two oceans I hear a grand anthem to the American republic. In it I hear the voice of my Nation proclaiming the will of the people. 326 STORfES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. "Let us indulge in the hope that the President and Congress coming into power after the 4th of March, under the high war- rant of the sovereign people of this republic, may remember whence their power comes, and so use it as to advance the welfare of the whole people, to the end that this republic may fulfill the high destiny designed by its builders." PART VIII. United States Government. / The District of Columbia and the National Capitol. BY J. II. TIBBITTS. .r^' "-x,^-^ District of Columbia, which contains the capital city of the United States, is situated on the north side of the Potomac River, about the middle of the western and southern boundary of the State of Mary- land. It is ten miles long by about six in width, and the surface is broken by a series of gentle hills and valleys partly covered by forest trees, which fur- nish a great variety of beautiful scenery. The District was given to the United States by the State of Maryland in 1788, and in 1790 Congress ordered the city to be laid out, and streets improved and such public buildings to be erected as should be needed by the Government. The capital and the Government were moved from Philadelphia to its new home in June, 1800, and Congress first met in its own halls on November 2 1 of the same year. The city of Washington lies along the river for three or four miles, and stretches back two miles to the foot of the hills, which rise above the plain nearly two hundred feet, from the tops of which a magnificent view can be had over the city and away down the river to Fort Washington, fifteen miles away. The beautiful new library, with its golden dome, the marble walls and silvery globe-like dome of the Capitol, the Washington monument reaching more than five hundred feet into the air. the dark slate roofs and granite walls of the Government buildings, the slender 327 328 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. towers and church spires standing up above the countless red walls of the houses showing through the green of the hundred thousand trees lining the streets, and all reaching down to the lake-like river, with the blue hills of old Virginia in the background, altogether make such a landscape that is not equaled, perhaps, in the world. Within the city are a score oi: more of beautiful parks, each containing from one to seventy acres, and all handsomely laid with walks and drives, and set with flowers, shrubbery and trees. Outside the city is the new National Rock Creek Park, com- prising more than a thousand acres, lying along the valley of Rock Creek for two miles or more, with the steep wooded hillsides rising three hundred feet on each side, along the foot of which wanders the narrow channel of the stream which joins the Potomac, a mile below, and along which thousands of children spend many happy hours. Within this park is the Zoological Garden, containing many curious and interesting animals and birds, and which is becoming a very popular resort for excursion and picnic parties. The streets of Washington are covered almost entirely with smooth concrete pavement, there being more than a hundred miles over which children can glide on their roller skates or bicycles. They are also shaded by a great variety of trees which in many cases form a perfect arcade for squares. When this spot was selected by President Washington for the capital city of the United States it was covered with farms, com- prising about 6,300 acres, and was owned by nineteen persons, who gave 2,500 acres for streets, for which they received no pay, and sold about 700 acres to the Government for parks and build- ings at $66.66 per acre, and then gave one-half of all the remainder to the Government, to be sold for money witih which to improve the streets and to erect the public buildings. A commission of three men was appointed by President Washington to survey the boundary lines of the District, lay out the streets and parks and attend to making all improvements. This commission decided to call the district "The Territory of Columbia," and the Federal city the "City of Washington," out of respect and veneration for the first citizen of the country, who was then President. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 329 It was also decided that all streets running north and south should be numbered, and those running east and west should be called by the letters of the alphabet, and that the lettering and numbering should begin at the Capitol square, so we have First street east, First street west. A street north and A street south, etc. National Soldiers Home. The wide streets or avenues running obliquely are named for the States of the Union, beginning with the names of the New England and Middle States, which were given to what are now some of the most important streets in the city. Washington is a quiet and clean city in which to live There are no great factories, with their noise and smoke and as it has but little commerce, it seems very dull and sleepy to people who are used to the bustle and hurry of large commercial and manufac- turing towns. In a hundred years Washington has grown from nothing to a city of 300,000 people, with more than a hundred miles of hnest 330 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. paved streets, lined with a hundred thousand shade trees, and the largest and most costly buildings in the country. The Origin of Government. yiS children find it useful to have rules and agreements in / 1 conducting their games and plays, to avoid constant quarrels /~^^and disputes, so it is necessary in all societies and com- munities to have rules or laws to control and govern the relations between the members; and the larger the society, and more intricate the relations between the members, the greater the need for correct and just regulations to govern them, and the larger will be the number of officers and people to see that the laws are correctly enforced. This is what makes the difference between civilized and uncivilized nations. The uncivilized nations have few and simple laws, and but few officers, while the highly civilized and enlightened nations have many laws and many public officers. The number of officers and employes of the Government of the United States, with a population of seventy millions, and its great extent of territory, not counting those employed in the army and navy, is 178,717. When the people employ an officer to transact their business, they expect he will do it promptly, correctly and honestly, but this is not always done, so, as few private citizens have either the time or desire to look after and watch the public servants, a few officers are appointed to oversee or superintend the duties of the many, and a still higher officer is appointed to see that the sub- ordinate officers perform their duties in a satisfactory manner. In a small community like a township or village all the citi- zens, or inhabitants who have a vote, can meet together and adopt such laws and regulations as they deem best, and can also elect or appoint officers to see that these laws are carried into effect, and still other officers, or judges, to decide, in case of dispute, just what the laws mean or how they shall be enforced or ap- plied. So also, we have three kinds of government officers: First,' those UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 331 who make the laws; second, those who enforce or execute the laws, and, third, those who construe or decide what the laws mean. These three classes of offi.cers, or branches of government, are called the Legislative, or lawmaking branch, the Executive, or enforcing branch, and the Judicial, or deciding branch. In very large communities, like States, where it is impossible for all the citizens or voters to meet together and make their laws, they are divided into small districts, the voters of which can meet together and elect representatives, to whom they delegate or give the power to make the laws. These representatives, or delegates, meet at the capital of the various States at fixed times, and make such laws as they think are needed or demanded. In the Government of the United States there are two kinds of delegates. One kind are called Congressmen or Representatives, of which each State has one or more, according to the number of inhabitants, and the other kind are called Senators, of which each State can have only two. These two classes of legislators meet in two bodies, the House of Representatives and the Senate, which together are called the Houses of Congress, or the Congress of the United States. These two legislative bodies were created, because it was thought that better and wiser laws would be made than if there were but one law-making body. In this way every proposed law has to pass or meet the approval of both Houses of Congress before it can be adopted. Then after this is done, each measure must be approved by the President before it can become a law. In order to have a bad law repealed or amended, or any ex- isting law changed, or "a new law enacted to which many of the members might be opposed, the lawmakers are changed fre- quently, the Congressmen being elected for only two years and the Senators for six years. It was thought that the laws would not be changed so often nor for so slight a cause if one branch of Congress were continued longer in office than the other. It has been found by centuries of experience that to secure good government, and the greatest freedom to each person, each of the three branches of government should be kept entirely sepa- 332 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. rate and independent of each other, as an executive who can both make and execute the laws becomes a despot, and the ruler who can both make the law and act as judge is likely to be unjust. In addition to the lawmaking bodies, the people of the United States also elect their chief executive officer, called the President, whose duties are to see that all the laws of Congress are equally and properly enforced, and to sign or approve such laws of Con- gress as meet with his commendation. There is also a Vice-President elected, who becomes President upon the death of the President or his inability to perform the duties of his office. These two classes of officers, consisting of three hundred and fifty-six representatives and ninety senators, and the President and Vice-President, are all the officers of the Government that are elected by the people. All the other government officers and employes are appointed by the President or by some of his subordinate officials, who will be described in their proper places. President and Vice-President of the United States. TfiE President and Vice-President are chosen every four years and enter upon their duties the fourth day of March next following their election. The inauguration of the President of the United States is an important event to the people of Washington and is made the occasion of a great celebration, thousands of people coming from every part of the Union to witness it. When President McKinley was inaugurated in March, 1897, there was a parade of 50,000 people, consisting of military com- panies, political clubs and civic organizations, all handsomely uniformed, and marching to the music of a hundred bands. The governors of many of the states with their attendants gayly mounted on fine horses were present, and as the procession marched from the Capitol, where the President and Vice-Presi- dent had just taken the oath of office, to the White House, where the President lives, it made an imposing and attractive spectacle. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 333 The President and Vice-President always ride at the head of the Hne, one accompanied by the President whose terms of office have just expired and the other by the Vice-President. Upon reaching the White House, they ahght from their carriages and review the parade from a stand. Every company in hne salutes the President as it marches past; he in turn acknowledges it with a dignified bow. At suitable places along the streets are erected covered stands containing from a hundred to three thousand seats each, which are sold to people who wish to see the parade from a comfortable and easy position. So popular are many of these seats that often many people pay as high as three or four dollars for the best seats, though most of them sell for one dollar each. In the evening there is a great display of fireworks, after which the inaugural ball is held. The ball in honor of President McKinley was the grandest affair of its kind ever given in Wash- ington, the public building where it was held being decorated in a most magnificent manner. Nearly ten thousand people attended, yet the building was amply large enough to hold them all without crowding. The interior of the vast room was completely covered with a drapery of white and yellow, decorated with thousands of plants and flowers, gracefully interwoven with the national colors, and all lighted by thousands of brilliantly colored electric lamps. The festivities lasted until daylight, but the President and his party only appeared for a short time, slowly walking around the room once, then retiring. The price of the ball tickets are usually five dollars each, and the dinner tickets one dollar each. The money received from the sale of tickets is used to pay the expenses of the inaugural ceremonies, which often amount to more than fifty thousand dollars. The President receives a salary of fifty thousand dollars per year, and lives, if he chooses, in the White House or Executive Mansion, which is completely and splendidly furnished in every respect suitable for the chief officer of our country. The Vice-President receives a salary of eight thousand dollars per year. His duties consist in presiding over the meetings of the 334 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. United States Senate, or acting as its chairman. He is aot furnished a residence, nor has he any allowance except the salary of one private secretary Cabinet. THE President's official family of advisers, or cabinet as they are called, are men appointed by him and confirmed by the Senate, to take charge of the eight great departments of the government. Their official titles are the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Agriculture, the Post- master-General and Attorney-General. Each receives a salary of eight thousand dollars per year, but no other allowance. Their duties as advisers of the President are to inform him from time to time of the condition of business of the department over which each presides, and to advise him in regard to the manner it can best be conducted, and recommend such changes as in their opinion may be most beneficial to the country. When any matter of great importance is to be considered a cabinet meeting is called, at which time each member expresses his opinion, at the conclusion of which the President directs such action as seems most proper. The State Department. THE first member of the cabinet is called the Secretary of State. The Department of State has charge of all the rela- tions and business between our own and other governments, and conducts all the foreign correspondence of the President. When the President wishes to communicate with another govern- ment, the letter or dispatch is prepared under his direction by the Department of State, and forwarded to the United States Minis- ter or representative at the capital of the foreign country, who in turn hands it to the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which corresponds to our Department of State. If there is an answer it is sent the same way, being given to UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 335 our minister there, who transmits it to the Secretary of State, who, with the President considers it. Letters and dispatches are sent through the mail, except in extraordinary cases when a special messenger or bearer of dis- patches is employed. Our government has a representative to each of the principal countries in the world, and nearly all foreign governments have representatives in Washington, The State Department also has supervision over the consular service. At nearly all the larger cities in the world a consular officer of the United States is stationed to look after the interests of American citizens who may go there to engage in business or for travel. In seaport towns they look after the American ships which may enter for trade and the American sailors who may go ashore. They see that no injustice or injury may be done them by the authorities or the inhabitants, and to assist in settling any dispute they may have in transacting their business with the local officers of the city. So the strong arm of our country is stretched out in its protecting might over the American citizen almost wherever he goes on the face of the earth. The consuls also keep the home Government informed as to all laws affecting commerce, to new industries, and to everything of interest to the American people. The Secretary is also the custodian of the original copies of laws enacted by Congress, and of treaties with foreign govern- ments, and uses his judgment in publishing or promulgating the same. The Treasury Department. OST people are fond of hearing about the great money transactions of our Government. Volumes could be written about the public business of this immense and, in many re- spects, most important department of the Government. The compensation of the great army of employes and officers of the Government required in 1896 the sum of $99,500,000. If this money were all in silver dollars it would make three M' 336 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. hundred freight car loads of twenty thousand pounds each. Quite a lot of money, is it not? A big sum you say and, yet, this is only part of the money paid out by the Government. All the expenses of carrying the mails, amounting to many millions yearly, all the cost of the public buildings, such as postofihces, courthouses and customhouses, all expenses of the army and navy, of building fortifications and ships of war, clearing out the channels of rivers and harbors, pensions to the soldiers, interest on the public debt, and many other things, amounting, altogether, to about five hundred million dollars which this department has to provide yearly to meet the demands of the Government. As the Government has no money of its own, it must collect taxes from its citizens in various ways, or else borrow. But when a government borrows money it must raise just so much more by taxation some other time, if it is honest, in order to pay it back. It is true, a small sum of money is received every year from the sale of public lands in the Western States and Territories, and from other sources, such as fees paid for official services by certain officers, but it only amounts to a few million dollars. The United States have only two ways of raising money by taxation; first, by levying a tax on merchandise imported from other countries, as sugar, wool, iron, silk, and the like; and, second, by levying a tax on articles manufactured in our own country, as a tax on liquor and tobacco. The first tax is called the custom's revenue, from the customhouses or offices through which the im- ported goods must pass; and the second is called internal revenue, because it is collected on home or domestic products. It is the business of the Treasury Department to collect the vast amount of taxes, amounting to nearly five hundred million dollars annually, and to do this it employs a great number of people. Then, too, this department coins all the money and prints all the paper notes and bills that circulate as money, as well as all the postage stamps, revenue stamps and bonds that are used in its business. Altogether there are more than seven thousand people employed in the Treasury Department in the city of Washington, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 337 twelve hundred of which are employed in the Bureau of Engrav- ing and Printing. The inspection of steamboats, the care of lighthouses and the Hfe-saving stations along the coast of the ocean and the shores of the great lakes, the execution of the immigration laws, regis- tration of American vessels, and many other duties, come under the supervision of the Treasury Department. To collect and pay out five hundred million dollars yearly requires a great many officers who are intrusted with the care of this money. Sometimes some of these officers are dishonest, some are careless and others are ignorent; so to prevent loss of the public money, either by dishonesty or carelessness, the officers who are entrusted with the collection and disbursement of money are required to render accounts of all their transactions, either weekly, monthly or quarterly, to the proper accounting office at the Treasury Department, where they are carefully examined. So carefully has the system of rendering and settling accounts been perfected, that it is almost impossible for an officer to de- fraud the Treasury of a large sum of money, or to take many small sums, without being detected. In fact, the Government loses but a very small sum annually by dishonest practices. It may be interesting to know that in the vaults of the Treasury Department at Washington are about one hundred and fifty million silver dollars, three and a half millions in gold and more than forty millions of paper money, making nearly two hundred million dollars that are kept on hand to meet the demands of the public business. The War Department. THE Secretary of War has charge, under the President, of everything that pertains to the army of the United States, and to the military service, including also matters relating to river and harbor improvements, and generally all public works authorized by Congress, except public buildings and such Structures as are under the Navy Department. Under the Secretary of War is the Adjutant-General's office, 338 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. which keeps the record of every man and officer in the army, issues all orders of the President. The Secretary, or the commanding general, carries on the correspondence with the army, attends to the recruiting of men and appointment of officers, and looks after the discipline of the service. The Quartermaster-General's office provides and has charge of all the property of the military service, such as buildings, tents, horses, wagons, clothing, forage for animals, and also provides transportation of any kind when needed. The Commissary-General provides all the food and other sup- plies for the army except clothing. The Surgeon-General has charge of the health of the army, the military hospitals, and pur- chases and has the care of all medical supplies. The Paymaster-General is charged with the payment of the army and all civil employes of the Department. The Engineer- in-Chief has charge of the public works, such as fortifications, improvements of rivers, harbors and roads, and any other work which may be ordered. The Ordnance Bureau has charge of supplying the arms and ammunition for the service, and the Judge Advocate-General reviews the records of all courts-martial on the trial of any enlisted man or officer for any offense committed, and acts as the law-officer for the Department. The office of the Signal Service has charge of all duties pertaining to military signaling, and military telegraph and telephone lines, and has charge of their construction and repair, and collects information in regard to military communication. The army of the United States consists of 23,820 private soldiers, and 2, 147 officers. The Navy Department. THE Navy Department nas the oversight and management of the United States Navy, including the construction or pur- chase of vessels, arming and equipping them, the enlistment and training of sailors and marines and the education of the officers. The bureaus under it are in charge of a regular officer of the navy, and their duties are as follows: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 339 The Bureau of Navigation is the administrative office of the Department, and has charge of the education of cadets and officers, the training of sailors and marines, enHstments and dis- charges, assignments of officers and crews to the various vessels, keeps the records of the service, looks after the discipline, and issues all nautical publications and information of interest to ship owners or masters. Orders governing the movements of naval vessels are issued through this office. The Bureau of Docks and Yards has charge and supervision of all Government docks, harbors, and navy yards, including their construction, repair or improvement. The Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting has charge of sup- plying all vessels with furnishings not part of the ship itself, such as sails, anchors, ropes, lights, compasses, fuel for steamers, etc. The Ordnance Bureau attends to the purchase or manufac- ture of arms of all kinds, from the small revolvers to the thirteen- inch cannon, the steel plates for armored ships, and recommends how the armor and guns should be placed on the war vessels. The Bureau of Construction and Repair. — This office furnishes the plans for all the naval vessels, attends to their construction and repair, whether built by the Government or at private ship yards. It will perhaps be interesting to know that our best war vessels have been built by private ship builders. The Bureau of Steam Engineering provides plans, and* super- vises the construction of all steam engines and machinery, either for the propulsion of vessels or for use at the docks or yards. The Bureau of Medicine and Surgery has charge of all naval hospitals, purchases supplies of medicines and surgical instruments, prepares plans for new hospital buildings, superintends their construc- tion and has charge generally of the sanitary condition of the various branches of the service. The purchase, distribution and care of all supplies of food and clothing for the naval force is under the supervision of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing. The Judge Advocate-General is the law officer of the Navy Department, and reviews the action of all courts trying men or officers for any offense committed while in the service. It also prepares con- 340 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. tracts for the construction of vessels and docks, or for other work, attends to the examinations of officers for promotions or retirement, and examines any question of law submitted by the President, Secretary, or by any branch of the Department, and renders an opinion when requested, which is generally taken to govern official action in matters to which it may relate. The Department of the Interior. THIS Depariment has charge of the unsold public lands, their survey and sale, makes regulations concerning how the same may be settled under the laws of Congress, and gives a title or deed to the purc.haser of each piece of land sold. It has also the charge of caring for the Indians, furnishing them provisions, seeds or tools for farming their lands; educating the young Indian boys and girls, teaching them trades or how to be farmers. The Patent Office, under this Department, issues patents for meritorious inventions and keeps a record of every invention for which a patent is claimed, whether the patent is granted or not. The Pension Bureau is a branch of the Interior Department. Here more than twelve hundred clerks are employed finding out what soldiers and sailors of the United States, or their dependent families or relations, are entitled, under the laws, to receive a pension The Bureau of Education collects information and statistics concerning schools and colleges and their work, has charge of the educational system of the territories, and publishes reports from time to time on educational matters. The geological survey, taking the census every tenth year, compiling and publishing information obtained, are also duties of this Department. Those western railroads which received gifts of land or other aid from the Government in building are to a certain extent under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railroads, who is an officer of the Interior Department. The national parks, of which there are quite a number, and certain affairs of the territories are also in charge of the Secretary of the Interior. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 341 The Postoffice Department. THIS Department has charge of everything that pertains to col- lecting, carrying and dehvering the mails; the appointment of postmasters whose compensation does not exceed one thou- sand dollars per year; the appointment of all employes in the postal service; issue and sale of postage stamps, stamped envel- opes and wrappers; the sale and payment of money orders, and the inspection of postoffices by special agents to prevent carelessness or fraud on the part of postmasters or other officers. There are four assistants to the Postmaster-General. The first assistant fixes the compensation of postmasters and allow- ances for rent of ofhce, clerk hire, fuel, lights and other expenses of the postmasters; furnishes supplies of stationery, blanks, letter scales; has charge of the money order business, and attends to the disposition of unmailable matter, and returns lost or misdi- rected letters and parcels. The second assistant has charge of all matters connected with carrying the mails, including the purchase and repair of mail bags and other articles for use in transporting the mails. The third assistant is the financial officer of the Department, and has the payment of all sums due contractors for carrying the mails, or to other persons. He also has charge of issuing postage stamps, stamped envelopes, wrappers and postal cards, and col- lecting the revenue therefrom; and he also has charge of the reg- istered mail matter. The Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General has charge of the inspection of postoffices, and investigates all alleged frauds in the service and all ^^"^ — or irregularity of the mails and performs such other duties aS iii^j je assigned to him by the Postmaster- General. The duties of the assistants, however, are subject to change from time to time as the head of the Department may direct. In this department also comes the "dead letter" office. It will perhaps be interesting to state that here can be found every- thing, from a preserved reptile in a bottle to a lost or strayed proposal of marriage. 342 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. The Department of Agriculture. ^T^HIS is the youngest of the great departments, being created I in i; \ It has charge of all inquiries and investigations of mat- ters affecting the agriculture of the United States. This occupation is so universal throughout the country, one-half of the population being engaged in some branch of it, and almost every business being to some extent dependent upon its prosperity, it was considered wise for the Government to enter upon the work of aiding in its development and improvement. There is a great variety of subjects about which information is necessary, but which would be too expensive for one to find out on his own account. So the Government undertakes to do it for the public, such as the investigation of plant diseases, which ex- tend over several States and threaten to seriously affect the value of crops; injurious insects; diseases of farm animals and how to prevent their spreading. The preservation of the forests, the introduction and distri- bution of new seeds and plants and their cultivation on such a scale as to prove their value to the farmer, the irrigation of the dry plains in some of the Western States and territories; conduct- ing experiments with various crops, fruits and domestic animals; the examination of soils, fertilizers and food products; collecting information of the amount of farm products and number of farm animals and the consumption of the various kinds of farm prod- ucts by the different nations in the world, are matters all under the supervision of this Department. The Weather Bureau is part of this Department and through its observers it receives reports by telegraph twice each day of all conditions of the weather in every part of the country, and after a careful study of these reports, the "forecasters" are able to foretell what the weather will be during the next day or two, though the "indications" are only given for twenty-four hours ahead. Perhaps it may be wise to add that "forecasts" are not al- ways correct, as you may have already discovered. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 343 The Department of Justice. THE Attorney-General is the chief law officer of the United States, to whom are referred by the heads of the other executive departments matters involving any question of law which may arise in the affairs of their respective depart- ments, and his decisions are generally binding upon the other officers of the Government. He also gives his opinion and advice upon such questions of law as the President may require. The Attorney-General or some of his numerous assistants represents the United States before the courts in all cases where any matter is on trial in which the United States is a party, or in which the United States has an interest. ASPIRATIONS OF THE AMERICAN YOUTH. mm I riean to be President, Some day. Know I shall be Mrs. Presi- dent, Some day. PART IX. Under Both Flags **Home, Sweet Home." FRANCES WILLARD. N the spring of 1863 two great armies were encamped on either side of the Rappahannock River, one dressed in blue and the other dressed in gray. As twihght fell, the bands of music on the Union side began to play the martial music, "The Star Spangled Banner, "and "Rally Round the Flag;" and that challenge of music was taken up by those upon the other side, and they responded with "The Bonnie Blue Flag," and "Away Down South in Dixie." It was borne in upon the soul of a single soldier in one of those bands of music to begin a sweeter and a more tender air, and slowly as he played it they joined in a sort of chorus of all the instruments upon the Union side, until finally a great and mighty chorus swelled up and down our army — "Home, Sweet Home." When they had finished there was no challenge yonder, for every band upon that further shore had taken up the lovely air so attuned to all that is holiest and dearest, and one great chorus of the two great hosts went up to God; and when they had fin- ished the sweet and holy melody, from the boys in gray there came a challenge, "Three cheers for home!" and as they went reverberating through the skies from both sides of the river, "something upon the soldiers' cheeks washed off the stains of powder." 344 UNDER BOTH FLAGS. 345 War and Peace. THE REV. O. 11. TIFFANY, D. D. HOW solemn a thing is death! — and yet, how wonderful a thing is life! God appoints it, man develops it, death seals its dest^y, eternity unfolds its ultimate issues. Each human soul in which this power of life is has "its secrets and histories and marvels of destiny, heaven's splendors are over its dead, hell's terrors are under its feet, tragedies and poetries are in it, and a history for eternity." Every social organism, every grand national aggregation of lives but generalizes the history of the individual, and thus the history of all life and of all living, whether in individuals, families, societies or nations, is one history, and that history the record of its conflicts, its defeats, its victories. The dawn of this life is a struggle for being, its growth a con- stant warfare with antagonisms, its maintenance is by continued defenses. And each and all of these create crises of destiny which may retard or advance, destroy or establish the whole. Our national birth was a contest with physical difficulties, our establishment a victory over political antagonisms; the last desperate struggle was a conflict of ideas, a contest of moral princi- ples; and we may hope that its issue shall be one of prosperity and peace. Mountains are rock-ribbed and enduring because the earth- quake has settled them on their foundations; the pines that crest them like a coronet withstand the rudest blasts, because they have been rooted by the storms which toss their giant branches. So universal freedom has been made sure by the passing turbu- lence of rebellion, and our national prosperity established by the rude blast of war. It was a war such as the world never before witnessed; it was fought by such armies as never before were marshaled on the field. But the end has come. These great armies have returned covered with honor and laureled with renown. They are merged again in the business and activities of life; they have disappeared from view like the snow in springtime, or the dew of the morning in 346 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. the summer's sun; now and then the halting step upon the side- walk, here and there an empty sleeve, remind us in our daily walks of the stern realities of war. After war, peace! Peace to the dead. Peace through their labors to the living. These "have fought their last fight, "the salvos of artillery which soon shall sound from the guns they loved so well shall not awake them. The grass shall grow green in springtime, the birds of summer shall sing their sweetest notes, the bright glories of autumn shall tint the foliage above them, and the white snow of winter shall lie unbroken on their graves, but these shall sleep on in peace. Peace, white-robed and olive-crowned, has come to us who linger. Peace, with its cares and toils, peace, with its plenty and prosperity, peace, with its duties for to-day and its destinies for to-morrow. Let us welcome it and become worthy of it. Let there be in all our lives, thoughts, hopes, endeavors, such devotion to duty as called and sent these brave men to the battlefield and sustained them there; and then we may safely leave our future to the care of those who, coming after us, shall pause, amid the ruins time may make, to trace upon the marble in our cenieteries the names of the heroic dead. God gives us peace! Not such as lulls to sleep, But sword on thigh and brows with purpose knit. And let our Ship of State to harbor sweep. Her ports all up! Her battle lanterns lit! And her leashed thunders gathered for their leap. The Union Soldier. ROBERT G. INGERSOLL. ^HE past rises before me like a dream. Again we are in the great struggle for national life. We hear the sounds of T I preparation, the music of the boisterous drum, the silver voices of heroic bugles. We see thousands of assemblages, and hear the appeals of orators; we see the pale cheeks of women and UNDER BOTH FLAGS. 347 the flushed faces of men; and in those assemblages we see all the dead whose dust we have covered with flowers. We lose sight of them no more. We are with them when they enlist in the great army of freedom. We see them part with those they love. Some are walking for the last time in quiet, woody places with the maid- ens they adore. We hear the whisperings and the sweet vows of eternal love as they lingeringly part forever. Others are bending over cradles, kissing babies that are asleep; some are receiving the blessings of old men; some are parting with mothers who hold them and press them to their hearts again and again, and say nothing, and some are talking with wives, and endeavoring with brave words spoken in the old tones to drive from their hearts the awful fear. We see them part. We see the wife standing in the door, with the babe in her arms — standing in the sunlight sob- bing — at the turn of the road a hand waves — she answers by holding high in her loving hands the child. He is gone, and forever. We see them all as they march proudly away under the flaunting flags, keeping time to the wild, grand music of war, marching down the streets of the great cities, through the towns and across the prairies, down to the fields of glory, to do and to die for the eternal right. We go with them, one and all. We are by their side on all the gory fields, in the hospitals, on all the weary marches. We stand guard with them in the wild storm, and under the quiet stars. We are with them in ravines running wfth blood, in the furrows of old fields; we are with them between contesting hosts unable to move, wild with thirst, the life ebbing slowly away among the withered leaves. We see them pierced by balls and torn with shells in the trenches by forts, and in the whirlwind of the charge, where men become iron, with nerves of steel. We are with them in the prisons of hatred and famine; but human speech can never tell what they endured. We are at home when the news comes that they are dead. We see the maiden in the shadow of her first sorrow. We see the sil- vered head of the old man bowed with the first grief. The past rises before us, and we see four milHons of human beings governed by the lash; we see them bound hand and foot; we hear the strokes of cruel whips; we see the hounds tracking 348 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. women through the tangled swamps; we see babes sold from the breasts of mothers. Cruelty unspeakable! Outrage infinite! Four million bodies in chains — four million souls in fetters. All the sacred relations of wife, mother, father and child trampled be- neath the brutal feet of might. All this was done under our own beautiful banner of the free. The past rises before us; we hear the roar and shriek of the bursting shell; the broken fetters fall; these heroes died. We look — instead of slaves we see men, women and children. The wand of progress touches the auction block, the slave pen, the whipping post, and we see homes and firesides, and schoolhouses and books, and where all was want and crime and cruelty and fetters, we see the faces of the free. These heroes are dead; they died for liberty; they died for us; they are at rest; they sleep in the land they made free under the flag they rendered stainless, under the solemn pines, the sad hemlocks, the tearful willows and the embracing vines; they sleep beneath the shadows of the clouds, careless alike of sunshine or storm, each in the windowless palace of rest. Earth may run red with other wars, they are at peace. In the midst of battle they found the severity of death. I have one sentiment for the soldiers, living and dead — cheers for the living, and tears for the dead. Our Noble, Heroic and Self =Sacrif icing Women. EMORY A. STORRS. BRIGHT and shining on our resplendent annals shall appear the names of those thousands of noble, heroic and self-sacri- ficing women, who organized and carried forward to triumph- ant success a colossal sanitary and charitable scheme, the like of which, in nobility of conception and perfectness of execu- tion, the world had never before witnessed, and which carried all around the globe the fame and the name of the women of America. From camp to camp, from battlefield to battlefield, through the long and toilsome march, by day and by night, these sacred charities followed, and the prayers of the devoted and the true were ceaselessly with you through all dangers. UNDER BOTH FLAGS. 349 Leagues and leagues separated you from home, but the bless- ings there invoked upon you hovered over and around you, and sweetened your sleep like angels' visits. While the boy soldier slept by his camp fire at night and dreaming of home, and what his valor would achieve for his country, uttered even in his dreams prayers for the loved ones who had made that home so dear to him, the mother dreaming of her son breathed at the same time prayers for his safety, and for the triumph of his cause. The prayers and blessings of mother and son, borne heavenward, met in the bosom of their common God and Father. Antietam. I'VE wandered to Antietam, John, And stood where foe met foe Upon the fields of Maryland So many years ago. The circling hills rise just the same As they did on that day, When you were fighting blue, old boy, And I was fighting gray. The winding stream runs 'neath the bridge Where Burnsidewon his fame; The locust trees upon the ridge Beyond are there the same. The birds were singing 'mid the trees — 'Twas bullets on that day. When you were fighting blue, old boy, And I was fighting gray. I saw again the Dunker Church That stood beside the wood. Where Hooker made the famous charge That Hill so well withstood. 'Tis scarred and marred by war and. time, As we are, John, to-day; For you were fighting blue, old boy, As I was fighting gray. I stood beneath the signal tree Where I that day was laid, And 'twas your arms, old boy, that brought Me to this friendly shade. Tho' leaves are gone and limbs are bare, Its heart is true to-day As yours was then, tho' fighting blue. To me, tho' fighting gray. I marked the spot where Mansfield fell. Where Richardson was slain. With Stark and Douglas 'mid the corn, And Brant amid the grain. The names are sacred to us, John; They led us in the fray, [blue When you were fighting Northern And I the Southern gray. 350 STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY. I thought of Burnside, Hooker, Meade, Of Sedgwick, old and grave; Of Stonewall Jackson, tried and true. That tried the day to save. I bared my head-^ — they rest in peace — Each one has passed away; Death musters those who wore the blue With those who wore the gray. The old Pry mansion rears its walls Beside Antietam's stream, And far away along the South I saw the tombstones gleam. They mark each place where "Little Mac" And Robert Lee that day Made proud the South, tho' wearing blue, The North, tho' wearing gray. Yes, John, it gave me joy to stand Where we once fiercely fought. The nation now is one again — The lesson has been taught. Sweet peace doth fair Antietam crown, And we can say to-day [blue We're friends, tho' one was fighting And one was lighting gray. I