Class ^llia Book A GoiyriglitN^. CQBQRIGHT OEFOSZC FIRST LESSONS HISTORY THE UNITED STATES. COMPILED FOR THE / USE OF COMMON SCHOOLS. BY A PRACTICAL TEACHER. BOSTON: HICKLING, SWAN, AND BROWN. 185G. KntereJ, accorJiiif? to Act of Confess, iu tho Year 1S56, by IIicKLiNO, Swan, and Bkown, In tho Clerk's Office of tlio District Court of tlio Diatrict of MsEsachnsetts. Int bll. STPREO'JTPED AT THE BOSTON 8TEKE0TYPE FOUNDRY. PREFACE. Since so much has been said and done for the difiu- sion of knowledge among the people of this country, and so generally and generously has each of the states pro- vided the means for imparting public instruction, we are safe in presuming that every child, between the ages of five and fifteen years, either goes to school or may go. If this be so, then we affirm that every child in the United States should learn something of the history of his own country before leaving school. He should have imprinted on his mind a vivid outline of the story of his native land. The history of America is fruitful in interesting inci- dent ; and " Young America " should be familiar with his own pedigree, and hold in hallowed remembrance the " times that tried men's souls," — the souls of his fathers, — if he would be honored and respected at home and abroad, and secure for himself a virtuous, happy, and " green old age." Improvement in individual and national virtue is not the least among the advantages to result from the study of history ; and no country, ancient or modem, affords examples better adapted to excite indignation against the oppressor, and to cause the heart to glow with the admiration of suffering virtue, than America, both in its early settlement and in its struggles for independence. (3) 4 PREFACE. To facilitate the attainment of this knowledge by the young is the design of the present compilation, in which the leading facts of our history are placed before the learner in familiar language, and in a concise form. Many important incidents are illustrated by appropriate engrav- ings, and six well-drawn maps, engraved on steel and col- ored, are inserted to aid the pupil in locating the scenes and events described. At the close of the volume is a series of questions, which may be used by the teacher in conducting examinations, or by the learner to ascertain whether he has mastered his lesson. The Chi-onological Table has been prepared with great care, and contains, besides the topics treated in this book, many others of interest and importance connected with American History. BosTOJf, January, 1856. INDEX TO MAPS. Mexico, Guatimala, and "West Indies, faces page 14 Middle States, 16 Eastern States, 32 Canada, New Brunswick, &c., 48 Southern States, 56 Mexico, 152 CONTENTS. Chapter Page I. DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA, 7 II. SETTLEMENTS. VIRGINIA, 15 III. NEW YORK, 24 IV. PLYMOJTTH COLONY, 31 MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY, .... 31 MAINE, 31 NEW HAMPSHIRE, 31 CONNECTICUT, 31 RHODE ISLAND, 31 VERMONT, 31 v. NEW JERSEY, 50 DELAWARE, 50 MARYLAND, 50 PENNSYLVANIA, 50 CAROLINA, 50 GEORGIA, 50 VI. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, 60 VII. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, 70 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, .... 88 1 * (5) CONTENTS. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, GEOEGE Washington's administration, JOHN adams's administration, . . . THOMAS Jefferson's administration, . JAMES Madison's administration, . . JAMES Monroe's administration, . . JOHN QUINCY adams's ADMINISTRATION, ANDREW Jackson's administration, MARTIN VAN BUREN's ADMINISTRATION, WILLIAM H. Harrison's administration, JOHN Tyler's administration, . . . JAMES K. folk's ADMINISTRATION, . . ZACHARY Taylor's administration, . . MILLARD Fillmore's administration, . 103 105 121 125 127 128 131 144 147 148 149 150 150 151 158 159 questions for examination, 161 chronological table, 184 riEST LESSONS IN HISTORY. I. DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA. 1. America was discovered by Christopher Columbus, in 1492.1 This celebrated man was born at Genoa, in Italy, in the year 1435 or 1436. He was the son of a wool comber, and became a sailor when he was fourteen years of age. He made a great many short voyages in the Mediterranean Sea, and sailed to the northern seas of Europe, which was at that time deemed a remarkable enterprise. 2. After this he returned to Italy, and engaged in a 1 After the discovery had been made, other nations laid claim to this honor, and thus attempted to deprive Columbus of the merit to which he was justly entitled. The only nations, however, which appear to have had even the sem- blance for such a claim were the Welsh and Norwegians. In regard to the Welsh, no well-founded claim appears to exist, be- yond the discovery and attempted settlement of the islands in the Atlantic called the Azores ; and even these are doubtful. There is stronger reason for believing that the Northmen, in the beginning of the tenth century, discovered Newfoundland or Labrador, and even visited the shores of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. It is claimed, also, that they attempted to colonize the country. While there is no certain record of these events, historical writers treat the claims in favor of the Northmen with respect. But these cannot detract from the honor of the great Genoese navigator. His was a discovery not of chance, but of calculation. (7) 8 FIRST LESSONS IN niSTORY. war against the Venetians and Turks. One day, when cruising in a vessel off the coast of Portugal, he met witli a Venetian ship ; an engagement immediately followed, in which both vessels took fire, and the crews were com- pelled to leap into the sea. Columbus was a good swim- mer, and supported by an oar, he succeeded in reaching the land. 3. At this time there were no large ships, and people were not accustomed to sail out fearlessly upon the broad ocean, as they now are ; the people of Europe, who had only sailed timidly along the shores of the eastern conti- nent, did not know that such a country as America existed. The shape of the earth Avas then unknown ; some persons supposed that it was flat, but nobody knew that it was round. The art of navigation was, however, rapidly ad- vancing ; seamen were venturing farther on the deep, and an ardent desire to explore the unknown ocean was kin- dled. This curiosity had been greatly stimulated by the Portuguese discovery of Madeira and Porto Santo, lying to the north-west of Africa. 4. It was at this period that Columbus landed in Por- tugal, the sailors of which country were the best naviga- tors in the world. He proceeded to Lisbon, the capital, where he soon married the daughter of a distinguished navigator, Bartholomew Perestrel'Io, formerly governor of Porto Santo. 5. Perestrello being dead, Columbus had access to all his charts and journals ; and from these he acquu'cd much information. He again went to sea, and for many years carried on a profitable trade between Madeira, the coast of Africa, the Azores, and the Canaries. 6. At this period the people of Europe had considera- ble trade with India, but no vessels ever having passed round the Cape of Good Hope, the people did not know DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA. 9 the shape of Africa, nor did they know that they could go from Europe to India by watei*. They therefore sent their merchandise across the Mediterranean, to the ports of Egypt, whence they were taken by land to the Red Sea. Here they were transported in vessels, which sailed through the Straits of Babelmandel, and across the Indian Ocean, to India. 7. This method of conducting so important a commerce was expensive and tedious. The people, therefore, were very anxious to find some way of going to India by sea. Tliis great subject occupied the attention of all Europe, and Columbus, in particular, dwelt upon it with the most mtense interest. He studied books ; he consulted maps ; and often, while his little vessel wa^ ploughing the sea, he would revolve in his mind all the fticts which he had col- lected relating to it. 8. At night, wlien the stars shone down upon his ship, floating like a speck on the bosom of the mighty ocean, he looked up and mused, with curious wonder, upon the heavenly bodies. From these contemplations his mind descended to the earth, and strove to solve the mysteries that involved it. Was it a vast plain, stretching out to a boundless extent ? Or was it a globe, swung in the heav- ens, and revolving, like a planet, around the sun ? After a great deal of reflection, Columbus adopted this latter idea, and, applying it to the question of reaching India by water, he concluded that, if he sailed across the Atlantic in a westerly direction, he should at length come to India. 9. Columbus therefore resolved to enter upon the grand scheme of sailing westward upon the Atlantic, to discover what might lie beyond it. He immediately made known his views to the government of Genoa, his own countrymen, with a request that they would fit out a small fleet, in which he might make the desired voyage. But 10 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTOET. these men, being ignorant, rejected the offer with con- tempt. 10. He next applied to the court of Lisbon, who lis- tened attentively to his scheme, and detained him for a long time. In the mean time they fitted out a vessel, and despatched it privately, with a view of anticipating Columbus in his great project. But the commander of the vessel was incompetent to the enterprise which he had undertaken, and soon came back, having made no dis- covery. 11. Disgusted with this meanness, Columbus set out for Madrid, the capital of Spain. By what route or by what means he reached this country, we have no information ; but he arrived there, and succeeded, through the intiueuce of a prior of a convent, in obtaining an interview with Ferdinand and Isabella, then on the united thrones of Castile and Arragon.^ 12. For a time these sovereigns gave him no encourage- ment ; but finally the queen undertook the enterprise, and generously otfered to part with her own jewels to defray the expense of the outfit. Accordingly, a fleet, consisting of three small vessels, was soon ready for the voyage. The names of these vessels were the Santa Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina, and on board of them were ninety ' Spain, which had long been in possession of the Romans, was in- vaded by the Vandals, and other tribes from the north, in the fifth century ; these tribes were subdued by the Visigoths, or Western Goths. During the eighth century the Moors or Saracens invaded and conquered a great part of the country ; but the Goths retained a portion, and afterwards founded several distinct kingdoms, the most considerable of which were Castile and Leon, Arragon and Navarre. In 147i, Ferdinand, King of Arragon, married Isabella, Queen of Cas- tile and Leon, and thus they united the two kingdoms. Navarre was subsequently conquered in 1512, and Spain was thus formed into one monarchy. DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA. 11 mariners, together with private adventurers, numbering in all one hundred and twenty persons. 13. On Friday, the 3d of August, 1492, Columbus with his little fleet set sail from Palos, in Spain. The adventurers proceeded in the first place to the Canary Isles. These they left on the 6th of September, and, sailing in a westerly direction, launched forth upon the bosom of the unknown deep. They soon lost sight of land, and nothing could be seen but the skies above and the water spread out around them. A solemn mystery hung over the sea, and, as they advanced on their voyage, they could not tell what dangers they might encounter. 14. They proceeded for several weeks, constantly sail- ing in a westerly direction ; but Columbus had great ditR- culty with his men. They were exceedingly alarmed at the idea of being at such a vast distance from home, upon an unknown sea ; and at length their fears were so much excited, that both the officers and men, on board the three vessels, positively refused to go any farther. They even thought of throwing Columbus overboard ; and j)erhaps they would have executed this design, if he had not found means to pacify them. He finally proposed that they should go on for three days more, and if by that time they did not discover land, he promised to return. This was deemed a reasonable jiroposition, and they all agreed to it. 15. As they proceeded they very soon met with float- ing sea weed, and saw birds in the air. Some of these appeared to be weary, and settled upon the masts of the vessels. Here they remained all night, but in the morning they departed, and flew to the west. All these things made the sailors believe that land was near; and their hopes and expectations were soon raised to tlie highest pitch. 1 6. One night, as Columbus was standing upon the deck 12 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTOKT. of his vessel, looking out upon the sea, he thought he dis- covered a light. He mentioned it to some of the men, and they, too, thought they could see it. There was now no sleep on board the vessels. Both sailors and officers were gathered upon the decks, or distributed among the rigging, straining their eyes to discover land. At two o'clock in the morning, a man, stationed on the top of the mast in the forward vessel, exclaimed, " Land ! land ! " This was soon communicated to the others, and the most lively joy filled the breasts of all the seamen. 17. The morning came, and assured them that their hopes were realized. The shore lay before them in the distance, and the sun shone down upon it, seeming in their eyes to give it an aspect of peculiar beauty. Deeply affected with gratitude to that Being who had borne them safely over the waves, and crowned their bold adventure with success, they knelt down, and offered to Heaven their warmest expressions of thanksgiving. . 18. Having approached the shore, Columbus and some Landing of Colnmbns. DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA. 13 of his officers entered a boat, and went towards the land. They perceived that it was covered with woods, diversified with hills and valleys, and watered by rivers. As they came near, they saw a multitude of people, almost naked, and of a red color, collected upon the shore. These were attracted by the strange spectacle before them. They had never seen vessels or white men before ; and when the Spaniards approached the island, with colors flying, and amid bursts of martial music, their astonishment knew no bounds. 19. At length the boat I'eached the shore. Columbus, richly dressed, and having a drawn sword in his hand, first sprang from the boat, and set his foot upon the eazth. His companions followed, and kneeling down, kissed the ground, to express their joy and gratitude. The Sjianiards now erected a cross, before which they performed religious worship ; and Columbus then took possession of the coun- try in the name of the King and Queen of Spain. These events took place on the 11th of October, 1492. The island they discovered was one of the Bahamas, now called Cat Island. It was called Guanahani by the natives, but Columbus gave it the name of St. Salvador. 20. The Spaniards were surprised, on landing, to find a race of people such as they had never seen in Europe. They were of a copper color, nearly naked, beardless, with long black hair hanging on their shoulders. The natives w ei*e still more surprised at the sight of the Spaniards. They looked with amazement upon their ships, and when they heard a cannon fired, they were struck with fear and wonder. 21. After spending some time in examining this island, Columbus set sail, and visited several others, not far distant. On the 7th of November, he reached Cuba; 2 14 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTOUY. and afterwards he discovered Ilayti, which he called His- paniola. 22. Having spent some time in examining the country, Columbus set sail on his return to Spain ; and after many dangers, he reached Palos, on the fifteenth of May, 149S, after an absence of nine months and eleven days. He wa« received with the greatest honor by the people^; and, as he travelled across the country to visit the king and queed, and tell them of his discovery, the inhabitants flocked with eager curiosity to see hira. When he came to the city oJT Barcelona, where the king resided, a grand procession wa|s formed, and moved through the city to a public squard, where the king and queen were seated on a splendifl throne. Here they received Columbus with the greatest mai-ks of honor. He then gave an accoimt of his voyage to the king and queen, and those around him. They lis- tened to liirn with breathless attention, for he was an el?- ^ 'quent man, and his story was one of the deepest interest. ; _The king was so much delighted that he ordered a nejv • ■ expedition to be immediately thted out, and gave the conii- mand of it to Columbus. 23. After this Columbus made a second, third, and fourth voyage ; on the third of which, he James Cartier, in the employ of France, explored the coast of Newfoundland ; and the following year, he sailed up the St. Lawrence River as far as Montreal. These voyages were the foundation of the French claim to that part of North America which is now called Canada. 27. In 1541 Ferdinand de Soto, a Spaniard, discovered the Mississippi River. He died on its banks in 1542, and was buried in the river, at his own request.' n.- SETTLEMENTS. — VLRGmiA. 1. Previous to the year 1G07, North America was a wide hunting ground for the Indians. They alone dwelt in its valleys, roamed over its hills and mountains, and sailed upon its rivers and bays. 2. The Spaniards had penetrated into South America, and found countries abounding in silver and gold. Stories of their success were circulated throughout Europe, and ' Several other voyages of discovery were undertaken previous to the settlement of North America, descriptions of which may be found in more extended works upon history ; hut the foregoing accounts will be suflicient for the purposes of this treatise. Ifi FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. the spirit of adventure entered into many mind^. In Eng- land a company was formed for making a settlement in North America ; and having obtained a grant of land, they des})atclied tliree ships, with one liundred and five adventurers, for the new world. 3. Afl(n* saihng across the Atlantic, a storm drove them into the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. On approaching the land, tliey discovered a large and beautiful river, which they called James River, in honor of James I., then king of England. They sailed up this river, and had several interviews with the Indians, who received them kindly ; and on the 13th of May, 1 607, they landed, and com- menced their settlement at Jamestown. This was the first permanent English settlement in North America. Settlement of Jamestown. 4. The colonists soon began to experience difficulties wliich they had not foreseen. The provisions they brought with tliem were at length exhausted ; and having planted nothing, they were in great want of food. Besides this, SETTLEMEXTS. VIRGINIA. 17 the climate being hot and damp, many of them were taken sick, and in the course of four months fifty of them died. 5. They Avere now in great distress, and hardly luiew what to do. In this emei'gency, they consulted one of their number, named John Smith. He was certainly one of the most extraordinar}- men that ever lived. At the age of fifteen, he had left England, and travelled on foot through Spain, France, and Germany. 6. He was once engaged in a battle with the Turks, and being wounded, was taken prisoner and sent to Con- stantmople. Hei-e he was made a slave, and was treated cruelly by his master ; but his mistress took compassion on him, and sent him to her brother, who lived at a great distance, requesting that he might be treated kindly. But her directions were not followed, and Smith received the same harsh treatment as before. Irritated by this, he slew his new master. He then travelled in various countries, meeting with strange adventures wherever he went. 7. After this he returned to England, and joined the expedition to Virginia. While they were at sea, the emi- grants became jealous of him, and put him in confhiement. In this condition he remained until the distress of the colony rendered his assistance necessary. They then granted him a trial ; and being acquitted, he immediately adopted measures for remedying the existing evils. He set about building a fort, to protect the people from the Indians, and made long journeys into the wilderness, to procure corn and other food of the natives. 8. On one occasion he obtained an Indian idol, made of skins and stuffed with moss. This the savages rever- enced very much ; and in order to get it back, they paid him as much corn as he asked for. Nothing could exceed the boldness and enterprise of this singular man; yet it 2* 18 FIKST LESSONS IX IIISTOKV. must be confessed that his conduct was not always rec^- lated by justice or truth. In his intercourse with the savages, he resorted to stratag(;m or violence, if he could not succeed in his plans by other means. It was partly on this account that the Indians began to hate the white people ; and Smith himself nearly fell a victim to the feelings of i\3venge which he had excited. 9. lie went one day to explore the little River Chick- ahominy. IIa^■ing ascended as far as he could in a boat, he left it in charge of his men, and proceeded along the bank of the river, with two white men and two Indian guides. But not long after he was gone, the savages, who were lurking in the woods, surrounded the men in the boat, and took them prisoners. 10. They then pursued Smith, and soon coming up with him, killed his Avhite companions with their arrows, and wounded him. But with an undaunted spirit, he fired upon his enemies, and tying one of the Indian guides to his side, he continued to retreat towards the boat. Awed by his bravery, the savages kept aloof; but at length he came to a place where he sank in the mire. 11. Being unable to extricate himself, his enemies now seized him, and took him in triumph to Powhatan, their king. A council was now held, to determine what should be done with the prisoner, and it was decided that he should die. He was accordingly brought fortli, and being laid on the ground, his head was placed upon a stone. 12. Powhatan claimed the honor of killing him. lie took a large club, and, raising it high in the air, was about to give the fatal blow, when his daughter, Pocahontas, moved by pity, rushed to the prisoner, and sheltered his body by her own. The astonished chief brought his club slowly to the ground, and a murmur of surprise bui'st from the lips of the savages who stood around. The chief SKTTLKMENT3. VIRGINIA. 19 now raised his daughter, and seeming to be touched by that pity which had affected her so much, gave Smith his hberty, and sent him back to Jamestown. Pocahontas saving the life of Smith. l.j. On his return Smith found the number of colonists reduced to thirty-eight. They were so disheartened that most of them had determined to abandon the settlement, and go back to England. Smith remonstrated, but they Avould not stop. They entered a small vessel, and pre- ])ared to sail down the river. He determined that they should not go ; so he pointed the guns of the fort at the vessel, and threatened to sink her if they did not return. Alarmed at this, they gave up their project, and came ashore. 1 4. The colony was now almost in a starving condition ; but Smith, by this time, had acquired such a reputation for courage among the Indians, that they did not dare to re- fuse supplies. Pocahontas, too, the beautiful Indian girl who had saved his life, continued to be his friend, and 20 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. sent liira such articles as were most needed. Thus the colony was able to subsist till Captain Ne^vport, who brought out the first settlers, returned to the colony, bring- ing with him a quantity of provisions, and one hundred and twenty persons. 15. Now that the danger was over, the colonists would no longer submit to the government of Smith. Disorder and confusion among the people soon followed. About the same time, the passion for gold, which had induced many of the settlers to come to the country, was again excited. Some particles of yellow shining earth were found in the bank of a little stream north of Jamestown. Captivated with the idea of getting suddenly rich, the colonists left their proper employments, and went to dig what they supposed to be gold. IG. Smith endeavored to dissuade them, but they would not listen to him. Nothing was thought of, or talked of, but gold. So they all went to filling the ship with the earth, which they supposed to contain particles of that precious metal. At length she was loaded, and sailed for England. When she arrived there, the cargo was exam- ined, and found to be nothing but common mud, filled with little pieces of shining stone. 17. There is a lesson to be drawn from this point of history. " All is not gold that glitters," says the proverb ; and so the Virginians found it. I hope my readers, if they are ever tempted by any shining prospect to depart from the path of duty, will recollect that what seems to be gold often proves to be only vulgar dust. 18. Smith, finding that he could not be useful, left the colonists digging for gold, and went himself to explore the coasts of the Chesapeake Bay. Having been absent some time, he returned, and after a while went again to traverse the wilderness. He often met the Indians, traded SETTLEMENTS. VIRGINIA. 21 with some, fought with some, and again went back to the settlement, leaving with the natives an awful impression of his valor. On his return he was again chosen president, and the people submitting to his authority, order was soon restored. Habits of industry were resumed, and peace and plenty soon smiled upon the colony. 19. In 1609 the London Company sent out nine ships, with nine hundred emigrants, to the colony. On board of one of these vessels there were some officers appointed to rule over them. This, vmhappily, was driven by a storm upon the Bermudas, and detained for a long time. The other vessels arrived safely ; but the persons who came in them were of a vicious character, and refused to permit Smith to govern them. He determined, however, that he would be obeyed, and accordingly he seized upon several of them, and put them in prison. This alarmed the rest, and order was again restored. 20. It >was about this time that the Indians, fearing that the white people would become too powerful, deter- mined to make a sudden attack upon them, and kill them all. Pocahontas heard of this scheme, and resolved, if possible, to save the English. Accordingly, one dark and stormy night, she left her father's wigwam, and went alone, through the forests, to Jamestown. Here she found Smith, and apprised him of the threatened danger. She then returned, and Smith took immediate measures to put the colony in a state of defence. The Indians, finding the people watchful and prepared, gave up their project ; and thus again did Pocahontas save the life of Smith, as well as the lives of all the white people in the colony. 21. About this time Smith received a dangei'ous wound, which obliged him to go to England, to consult a surgeon. The Indians, finding the only man they feared was gone, attacked the colony, and cutting off their supplies, reduced 22 FIRST LESSONS IX HISTORY. them to the greatest extremity. Sucli, in a short time, was their miserable condition, that they devoured the skins of their horses, the bodies of the Indians they had killed, and the flesh of theu" dead companions. In six months their number was reduced from more than five hundi'ed to sixty. 22. At this time, the persons who had been wrecked at Bermuda arrived ; but they, with the other settlers, all agreed that it was best to quit the settlement, and return to England. Accordingly they sailed down the river for that purpose. Fortunately they were met by Lord Dela- ware, who had come in a vessel from England, loaded with provisions. This revived their courage, and they went back to Jamestown. 23. The colony now began to enjoy more favoral^le prospects. Lord Delaware, who was governor, restored order and contentment by his mild and gentle conduct, and the Indians were once more taught to respect and fear the English. In 1611, new settlers arrived, and other towns were founded ; and under a succession of wise governors, Virginia became a flourishing and extensive colony. 24. In 1G12 Captain Argal went on a trading voyage up the Potomac, and heard that Pocahontas was in the neighborhood, lie invited her to come on board his ves- sel, and she came. He then detained her, and carried her to Jamestown. He knew that Powhatan loved his daughter, and thought, while she was in the possession of the English, that he would be afraid to do them mischief. But the noble-hearted chief, indignant at the treachery that had been practised, refused to listen to any terms of peace till his dauglUer was restored. 25. While Pocahontas was at Jamestown, a respectable young Enghshman, named Rolfe, became very fond of her. SETTLEMENTS. VIRGINIA. -23 She was, indeed, a very interesting woman — simple, in- nocent, and beautiful. Pocahontas soon became attached to Rolfe, and with the consent of Powhatan, they were married. This was followed by peace between the colony and all the tribes subject to Powhatan. Soon after, Rolfe visited England with his bride. She was received by the king and queen with the respect due to her virtues as a woman, and her rank as a princess. When she was about to return to America, she died, leaving one child, from whom some of the most respectable families in Virginia have descended. 26. New settlers now frequently amved, and the colony rapidly increased. In 1620 a Dutch vessel came to Jamestown, bringing twenty Africans, who were purchased by the people. These were the first slaves brought into our country, and thus the foundation was laid for the sys- tem of slavery which now pervades the Southern States. 27. In 1622, in the midst of apparent peace and pros- perity, the colony was on the point of annihilation. Pow- hatan, the friend of the English, was dead. His successor, Opechancanough, was a chief of great talent ; but he se- cretly hated the English, and formed a scheme for their destruction. By his art and eloquence he persuaded all the neighboring tribes to unite in an effort to kill every white man, woman, and child throughout the colony. 28. To conceal their purpose, the Indians now pro- fessed the greatest friendship for the English, and, the evening before the attack, brought them presents of game. The next day, precisely at twelve o'clock, the slaughter began, and three hundred and forty-seven inen, women, and children were killed in a few hours. More would have been destroyed, had not the plot been revealed by a friendly Indian, in time to put several of the towns on their guard. 24 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. 29. This dreadful scene roused the English to ven- geance. They pursued their enemies into the woods, burned their wigwams, hunted them from forest to forest, killed hundreds of them, and drove the rest back into remote retreats. But although victorious, their numbers were very much reduced. Out of eighty settlements, only eight remained; and in 1624, of the nine thouj^and that had come to the colony, eighteen hundred only were living. 30. In 1676 the colony experienced all the miseries of civil war. Nathaniel Bacon, a lawyer, put himself at the head of a rebellion, during which Jamestown was burned, and the adjacent districts laid waste. At length he died, and Governor Berkley resumed his authority. Not- withstanding these ti'oubles, Virginia continued to flourish, and in 1688 contained sixty thousand inhabitants. From that period till about the year 1756, they continued to prosper, and to increase in numbers. ni. — SETTLEMENl'S. — NEW YORK. 1. In the year 1609, Henry Hudson, an Englisli navi- gator, was employed by some Dutch people to go on a voyage of discovery. He came to America, and discov- ered the river which now bears his name. He sailed up as far as Albany, and went in his boat a little farther. He saw, then, along the banks of the river, nothing but trees, and Indians, and wild animals. What a change has taken place ! The island at the mouth of the river, which v,as then covered only with trees and shrubs, is now the seat of a mighty city ; and the banks of the Hudson, then so solitai-y, are now sprinkled over with towns, cities, villages, and country seats. SETTLEMENTS. NEW YORK. 25 2. Five years after Hudson's discovery, some Dutch people came to Albany, and commenced a settlement. This was in the year 1614, six years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth. It was the first settlement made in New York. About the same time they buUt a few houses on an island called by the Lidians Manhattan, where the city of New York now stands. You wiU observe that New York was settled by Dutch, not English people. They came from Holland, or the Nethei'lands, and the colony, which increased rapidly, was claimed by that country. 3. In 1643 a war broke out with the Indians. The Dutch governor employed a brave captain, by the name of Underbill, to go against them. He had been a soldier in Europe, and knew well how to conduct the business of war. He took with him one hundred and fifty men, and they had a great many battles with the Indians. The lat- ter were defeated, and four hundred of them were killed during the war. 4. In 1646 a severe battle was fought with the Indians, near Horseneck. Great numbers were killed on both sides, but the Dutch were victorious. The dead bodies were buried at a place called Strickland's Plain, and one hundred years afterwards the graves were still to be seen. 5. There were some disputes between the people of New England and those of New York about the boundary of their territories. At length the Dutch governor went to Hartford, where he met some people sent by the New England colonies, and they came to an agreement about the land. But King Charles of England said that the Dutch had no right to any of the land, and granted the country to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany. 6. In 1664 the duke sent Colonel NichoUs with three ships to New York. Oil his arrival he commanded the 3 26 FIKST LKSSO-NS IN ULSTOKY. people to surrender the town. They refused at first, but in a little whUe they gave it up, and he took possession of it. The name of this place, ^Yllich was before called Manhattan, was then changed to New York, and the place on the Hudson where the iirst settlement was made, which had been called Fort Orange, was called Albany. These names have since been retamed. 7. In 1673 the city of New York was retaken by the Dutch. The fort and city were suiTendered by the treach- ery of John Manning, the commanding officer, without fii-ing a gun. The next year peace was concluded be- tween England and Plolland, and the colony was restored to the English. 8. The Duke of York and Albany, the former proprie- tor, now came again into possession of the colony, and sent Sir Edmund Andros, afterwards the tyrant of New England, to govern it. He w'as succeeded by other gov- ernors ; and in 1682 the people were permitted to meet and choose representatives. 9. These representatives assembled and made laws, which could not go into force till they were ratified by the duke. This arrangement was satisfactory to the peo- ple, and the colony now felt the blessings of good govern- ment. 10. In the year 1685 the Duke of York succeeded h?s brother, Charles II., and became lung of England, under the title of James II. This king was hated by the English people, and he was equally disliked in the colonies. lie claimed absolute authority over the American peopfe. This caused him to be much disliked by them. They were therefore very much rejoiced when the news came, in 1689 that he had been diiven from the throne, and that William, Prince of Orange, had succeeded him. 11. Elated by this news, and stimulated by the exam- SETTLEMENTS. 1h involved the principal states of Europe, called the war of the Austrian succession. It extended to the French and English colonies in America, and in this country was called the war of George II. SETTLEMENTS. PLYMOUTII COLONY. 31 25. We have now related the principal events in the history of New York up to the time of the French war, which commenced in 1755. From that time the colonies acted in concert ; and we shall therefore leave the sepa- rate history of New York here, and give a view of what remains to be said of it in the general account of the French war and the American revolution. IV. — SETTLEMENTS. PLYMOUTH COLONY; COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY; MAINE ; NEW HAMPSHIRE ; CONNECTICUT ; RHODE ISLAND ; VERMONT 1. More than tAvo hundred years ago there were in England a great many people called Puritans. They were not happy in England, for they had peculiar opinions about religion. They were cruelly treated, and some of them at length fled from the country. They went first to Holland, but finally they concluded to go to America. 2. They set out in two vessels, but one of them was leaky, and went back. They all entered the other ship, and after a long and stormy passage they reached a broad harbor. They then sent some people ashore, to examine the country. These found some Indian corn in baskets, buried in the sand. They also discovered Indian burial- places, surrounded by sticks stuck in the ground. 3. One night the exploring party built a fire in the woods, and slept by the side of it. In the morning, some arrows, pointed with eagles' claws and sharp pieces of deer's horns, fell among them. These were sent by some Indians who came to attack them. The white men fired ."2 FIRST LESSON'S IN IIISTORT. their guns at tlicra, and the Indians ran off in great akirra. At this time the savages had no guns, and they imagined that tlie fire of the musket was lightning, and the report thunder. No wonder they were afraid of people who, as they believed, made use of thunder and lightning. 4. Having examined the shores, the emigrants pitched upon a place where they concluded to settle. December 22, 1G20, they landed on a rock there, and called the place Plymouth. It was winter when they arrived, and the Landing of the Pilgrims. country had a most dreary aspect. There were no houses to receive them ; there were no friends to welcome them-; there was nothing before them but a gloomy forest, inhab- ited by savages and wild beasts. There was nolliing behind them but the vast ocean rolling between them and their native land. This little colony consisted of one hundred persons. Tliey were divided into nineteen fami- lies, and each family built itself a log house. 5. For some time the settlers were not visited by any N°2 SETTLEMENTS. — COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 33 of the Indians. They saw a few soon after their landing ; but these ran away, as if they were veiy much frightened. One day, however, an Indian came among them, saying, in English, " Welcome, Englishmen ! Welcome, Englishmen ! " 6. This surprised the white people very much. The Indian told them that his name was Samoset, and that he had learned to speak English of the fishermen he had seen upon the coast. 7. After some time an Indian chief, called Massasoit, came near to the settlement, with some of his men. He was a sort of king, and ruled over several tribes. He was at first afraid to go down into the village, but by and by he went down, and the people saluted him with a drum and fife, which he liked very much. Then he went into the governor's house, where he ate a very hearty dinner, and drank a prodigious draught of rum. He then made a treaty with the white people, and agreed to be at peace with them. Tliis treaty he and his tribe kept faithfully for many years. 8. The settlers found their situation extremely uncom- fortable. The winter was very severe, their houses were miserable, and they were destitute of all those conven- iences which they had been accustomed to enjoy in Eng- land. Borne down with suffering, many of them were taken sick ; and when the spring ai-rived, half of their number had died. Notwithstanding these discouraging circum- stances, other persons came out from England and joined the settlers, so that, in ten years after, the whole number amounted to about three hundi-ed. 9. In 1628 the settlement of a new colony was com- menced at Salem, called the colony of Massachusetts Bay; and in the year 1630 more tlian fifteen hundred persons came from England, and settled at Boston, Dor- chester, Salem, and other places in the vicinity. These 34 FIRST LKS::ONrf IN IIISTOKY. people were nearly all l'in-itari>, but nuuiy of tlieni pos- sessed wealtli, and had been brouglit up in a very delicate manner. Their sole object in coming to America was to enjoy their religious opinions without restraint. But they had not foreseen the sufferings that were before them. 10. The winter set in with unu.^ual severity. The snow fell to a great depth, and the cold became intense. Assem- bled in log houses, which afforded but a poor shelter from the driving blasts, the emigrants had to endure hunger as well as cold. Their stock of provisions became nearly ex'.uuisted, and many of them were compelled to subsist on clams, muscles, nuts, and acorns. 11. Unable to sustain these ju-ivations, many of them died. Among these was one woman whose fate has always excited peculiar sympathy. This was Lady Arabella John- son. Her father was a rich man in England, and she had been brought up in the enjoyment of every luxury. But in America she was deprived of the common comforts of life. Iler delicate frame could not endure these trials. Although her husband came with her, and great care and kindness were bestowed upon lier, yet in about a montli after her arrival she died. 12. Such were the sufferings that attended the fii-st set- tlers in New England. Yet these were sustained with the utmost fortitude. Those who died left a state of sorrow, in the consciousness of having done their duty, and the strong hope of entering a state of peace beyond the grave. Those who lived prayed to Heaven for strength to support them in their troubles, and their prayers seemed to Ije answered. Tims prepared for life or death, they continued to struggle with their misfortunes, with a degree of firm- ness which we cannot fail to admire. 13. The settlement at Plymouth was the first perma- nent English settlement in New England. Tlie colony of SETTLEMENTS. MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ETC. OO Massachusetts was so named from a native Indian tribe. This colony increased much more rapidly than Plymouth. Such favorable accounts were given of it in England, that many persons of distinction came from that country and settled in Boston and other parts of the colony. Among these was Sir Henry Vane. He was but twenty-five years old when he arrived ; but he was so grave that he won the hearts of the people, and they made him governor. 14. In the year 1623 the first permanent settlement •was made in Maine, at Saco. In 1652 Maine was united to Massachusetts, and continued to form a part of it until 1820, when it was made a separate state. The first set- tlement in New Hampshire was also made in "1623. . It was united to Massachusetts in 1641 ; but in 1679 it was made a royal province by order of the King of England. In the year 1635 the first settlement was made in Con- necticut. In 1636 Roger Williams, having been banished from Massachusetts, settled in Rhode Island. In 1638 a settlement was made at New Haven, which was after- wards called the colony of New Haven. Vermont was not settled till 1724. 15. For a long time the Indians did not molest the inhabitants of the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies. The treaty made with Massasoit, as before stated, was faithfully observed by them ; but the Pequods, who lived in Connecticut, troubled the people there very much. In 1637 they killed three men at Saybrook, and at Weathers- field they killed six men, three women, and twenty cows. 16. These things caused great alarm. Consequently some of the people met at Hartford to consider what should be done. It was determined to send a body of men against the Indians. About ninety white men and seventy friendly Indians were soon assembled. They were all placed under the command of Captain Mason. 36 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. They entered some boats at Hai-tford, and went down the Connecticut River to Saybrook. Here they resolved to make a sudden attack upon Mystic, an Indian fort, situated where Stonington now stands. This was one of the pi'in- cipal places belonging to the Indians. 17. They reached the spot about daybreak. The Pe- quods had no suspicion that an enemy was near. But by and by a dog barked, and then one of the Indians, who saw the white men, gave the alann. At this instant the soldiers tired upon the Indians. Many of the savages were killed ; but very soon the rest recovered from theii' aston- ishment, and then they fought bravely. 18. They shot their arrows and guns at the white men, and hurled stones and sticks at them with the greatest fury. The Indians were far more numerous than the white men, and the latter were at lengtli nearly exhausted. At tins moment Captain Maaon ordered their fort to be set on fire. The tlames caught quickly, and spreading I'rom wigwam to wigwam, soon set them all in a blaze. It was an awful scene, and the struggle was soon terminated. Seventy wigwams were reduced to ashes, and six or seven hundred Lidians were killed, either Dy the bullets or the fire. 19. This dreadful event alarmed the Pequods, and they fled, with their chief, Sassacus, to the west. They were followed by the white men, who overtook tliem in a swanq) near Fairfield. Here a battle was fought, and the Indians were entirely defeated. This was followed by a ti'eaty Avith the remaining Indians, and the Pequods gave the colonies no more trouble. 20. In 1643 the four colonies of Pljinouth, Massachu- setts, Connecticut, and New Haven entered into an agree- ment for purposes of mutual defence. They were led to do this by fear of the Indians, who were now very un- SETTLEMENTS. KING PHILIP's WAR. 37 friendly, and who watched every oj^portvuiity to do the white people mischief. 21. We now approach a period of great interest in the history of New England. The Indians perceived that the English were rapidly increasing in numbers, while they themselves were as fast diminishing. They foresaw that in a short time the English colonies would overspread the whole land, while they should themselves be driven back into the wilderness. This excited their jealousy, and led them bitterly to hate the English. Besides this, quan-els occasionally arose between the white inhabitants and the savages. Whether these originated with the English or the Indians, the latter were always sure to be thought in the wrong, and were punished by the white people accordingly. 22. In short, the Indians had discovered that the Eng- lish, being wiser and more artful than they, were likely soon to become their masters ; and the hatred thus excited was aggi-avated by acts of injustice and oppression, com- mitted on the part of the English towards the savages. 23. There lived, about this time, in Rhode Island, an Indian, Avho was called King Philip by the English. He was chief of the Wampanoags, and lived at Mount Hope, near Bristol. The country was then called Pokanoket. Philip, being a man of great sagacity, saw that unless the English colonies were checked, the Indians would, in the course of a few years, cease to exist as independent tribes. After reflecting upon • these things, he resolved to make one gi'eat effort to drive the English from the land, and free his country from such dangerous intruders. 24. Accordingly he visited, in secret, several of the tribes in New England. He conversed with the chiefs, and told them that if they remained inactive, in a few years the beautiful rivers, and hills, and forests, which 4 38 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. had descended from their fathers, would cease to be their inheritance. lie described the English as crafty, long- sighted, and greedy, who added township to township, and colony to colony, and who would never be content until they possessed every foot of land east of the Hudson. 25. He prophesied the gradual decrease, and the final extinction, of all those tribes who once reigned over the whole land. He told them that their foi-ests would be cut down, that their hunting grounds would be soon taken from them, that their warriors would be slain, their chil- dren wander forth in poverty, their chiefs be beggars, and their tribes be scattered and lost like the autumn leaves. To remedy these evils, Philip projjosed that a mighty effort should be made, by all the ti-ibes in New England, to destroy the English. He had little difficulty in bring- ing the chiefs into his schemes. A general effijrt was agreed upon, and soon the war began. 26. In June, 1675, as the people of Swanzey, in Plym- outh colony, were returning home from church, a sudden attack Avas made by some Indians upon them. At this period, the Indians were suj)plied with muskets, powder, and ball, and they had learned to use firearms with con- siderable skill. In a few moments, therefore, eight or nine of the inhabitants of Swanzey were killed. The country was immediately alarmed, and the people flew to the suc- cor of the inhabitants from all quarters. An attack was made upon the Indians the next morning, and several of them were killed. 27. This resolute conduct awed the Indians ; and Philip himself, expecting an attack, fled from Mount Hope with his warriors. It was soon ascertained that they had gone to a swamp in Pocasset, now Tiverton. The white people followed them thither, and entering the swamp, pursued them till night. They were then obliged to retreat. The SETTLEMENTS. KING THILIP'S WAK. 39 English, finding it impossible to encounter the enemy in the swamp, determined to surround it, and starve them out. But Philip guessed their design, and privately stole away with his men. 28. In all parts of New England the Indians seemed to be moved by a spirit of deadly revenge. They set the town of Springfield on fire, and no less than thirty houses were consumed. About eighty young men were attacked at Muddy Brook, as they were employed in transporting some grain from Deertield to Hadley. They had no idea that an enemy Avas at hand. They had stopped a moment with their teams, and were gathering some grapes by the roadside. Sudden as the thunderbolt, the savage yell broke upon their ears. They w^ere immediately sur- rounded by the Indians ; and having no arms, they were incapable of defence. Seventy of them were shot down, and these were all buried in one grave. 29. In New Hampshire and Maine, the Indians fell upon the towns, set the houses on fire, and killed the in- habitants. At vSaco, Dover, Exeter, and other places, they committed the most dreadful outrages. In Massachusetts, they attacked Quaboag, now Brookfield, and burned all the houses except one, in which the inhabitants had taken refuge. This they also assailed ; and for two days, inces- santly, they poured their musket shot upon it. A great multitude of balls passed tlu-ough the sides of the house, but only one person in it was killed. 30. Finding it impossible to destroy the people in this way, they attempted to set fire to the house. With long poles, they thrust against it firebrands, and rags dipped in brimstone. They shot arrows of fii-e upon it, and finally they loaded a cart with flax and tow, set it on fire, and pushed it against the house. The curling flame was soon communicated to the building ; and now, feeling certain of 40 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. their prey, the savages took their station so that they might cut down those who shouhl attempt to escape. But in this moment of peril, the white men were saved, as if by the Indians setting fire to a houso at Brookfield. hand of Heaven. A sudden shower fell upon the flames, and at once extinguished them. Soon after, Major "Wil- lard, with some soldiers, came to their relief. He attacked the Indians, killed a number of them, and the rest fled. 31. At length it Avas thought necessary to humble the Narragansetts. They were a powerful tribe in llhodc Island, and occupied a fort of great strength. Near two thousand white men went against them. The fort was built on a hill in the centre of a swamp, and in it there were four thousand Indian warriors. There was but one entrance to the fort. This was accidentally discovered by the white men, and they gallantly rushed in to attack the enemy. But the Indians met them, and many of the English w^ere killed. They were at length obliged to re- treat ; but by and by some Connecticut troops entered SETTLEMENTS. KING PITILTP's WAR. 41 the fort on the opposite side, and at the same moment the attack was vigorously renewed at the entrance. 32. The Indians were now cut down with dreadful slaughter. The fort was taken, and six hundred wigwams were set on fire, and burned to the ground. More than one thousand of the Indian warriors were killed, and three hundred were taken prisoners. 33. Such were some of the events of this remarkable war. For near two years, almost every part of New Eng- land Avas a scene of bloodshed. But although the Indians killed great numbers of white people, yet their own loss was far greater. In truth, they never recovered from the many reverses which they experienced. Although there were, perhaps, ten times as many of them as of the white people, yet such were the superior skill and management of the latter, that the Indians were effectually defeated, and their power in New England was finally overthrown. Si. At length the war was closed by the death of Pliilip. He was found in a swamp near Mount Hope, with several other Indians. Captain Church, with a few white men, surrounded the swamp at night. When the morning came, Philip, perceiving that he could not escape, rushed towards the spot where some of the white men lay. An English soldier levelled his gun, but it missed fire. An Indian, who was of the party, took deliberate aim, and shot the chief through the heart. Thus fell the most celebrated of all the Indian chiefs. From this time, the Indians, finding further resistance vain, began to submit to the English. The struggle was continued a while in Maine ; but that soon ended, and no general effort was ever after made, on the part of the Indians, to subdue the English. 35. This war continued from the year 1675 till 1G78. About six hundred white men Avere killed in the struggle, thirteen towns were destroyed, and six hlnulred dwelling 4 * 42 FmST LESSONS IN niSTORT. houses burned. These were dreadful losses to the poor col- onists, but the unhappy Indians suffered still more. Their chiefs and their principal men were nearly all killed ; their wigwams were burned ; they were driven from their homes ; and now, defeated and subdued, their situation was one which may well excite our pity. Savage life, in its hap- piest state, is a miserable condition ; but the New England Indians had now lost their independence, and all that sav- ages hold most dear. From that period they rapidly diminished. Most of the tribes are now extinct, and a few hundreds are all that remain of a mighty people, that once threatened to drive our forefathers from this land. 86. Soon after Philip's war, the colonies began to be involved in dilliculty with England. The King of Eng- land claimed these colonies as his ovra, and he, with the Parliament, made certain laws respecting trade and com- merce with America. 37. Now it was pretended that the colonies had violated these laws, and therefore the. king determined to take away their charters. These charters were of great impor- tance, for they gave the colonies many privileges. The king who reigned in England at the time was James II. In the year 1686 he sent Sir Edmund Andros over to this country, to take away the charters of all the Nf w England colonies except Plymoutli. 38. He also appointed Sir Edmund governor over all the colonies whose charters he thus proposed to take away. Accordingly he came. The charter of Connecticut was hid in an oak tree ; but Sir Edmund assumed the govern- ment of the New England colonies, although he could not find that charter. 39. At first he governed the people pretty well ; but by and by lie did many tilings which displeased them very much. Many unjust and oppressive laws were passed, SETTLEMENTS. "WITCHCRAFT. 43 and the people saw that Sir Edmund had no regard to their happiness and prosperity in his administration. 40. Sir Edmund began to rule in 1686. Two years after, the news arrived that James II., King of England, had become so unpopular as to be obliged to leave the country, and that a new king, William III., had taken his place on the throne. This news gave the colonies great joy, for they hated James II. on account of his conduct towai-ds them, and especially on account of the governor, Sir Edmund Andi'os, whom he had sent to rule over them. Under the excitement of this joy, the people of Boston seized Sir Edmund and about fifty of his associates, and put them in prison. There they remained for some time ; they were then sent to England, to be tried for their mis- conduct. 41. A strange delusion arose in relation to witchcraft. In the year 1692, two children of Mr. Parris, a minister in Salem, Massachusetts, were taken sick. They were affected in a very singular manner, and the physicians were sent for. They were at a loss to account for the dis- order, and one of them finally said they must be be- witched. 42. The children, hearing this, and being in gi'eat dis- tress, declared that an Indian Avoman, living in the house, had bewitched them. Mr. Parris believed what the chil- dren said ; the Indian woman Avas accused of the crime, and in a state of agitation and alarm, partially confessed herself guilty. This affair excited great attention ; many people came to see these little children, and they were very much pitied. 43. By and by other children imagined that they were aflected in a similar manner, and they said that they were secretly tormented by an old woman in the neighborhood. All those things were believed, and more children and 44 FIRST LKSSOXS IN HISTORY. several women soon declared themselves bewitched. They charged several persons Avith being the authors of their distress. They pretended that these persons entered their rooms through keyholes, or cracks in the window, pinched their flesh, pricked them with needles, and tormented them in the most cruel manner. Nobody could see these tormentors but the sufferers themselves, although several persons might be in the room where one of the bewitched Avas wailing and shrieking, from the pinches of the witch. 44. Strange as it may seem, this matter, instead of being regarded as a delusion, was thought to be founded in real- ity. The people in those days believed that the devil sometimes gave to certain persons great power for purposes of evih These persons were said to deal with the devil, and they were considered very wicked. 45. The business they were supposed to caiTy on with him was called witchcraft, and any person under tlieir influ- ence was said to be bewitched. In England, Parliament had thought it necessary to make severe laws against witchcraft. Several persons there had been condemned and executed under those laws. It was now thought proper to proceed in a similar manner at Salem. Accord- ingly, those persons accused of practising witchcraft upon their neighbors were put in prison, and a court was formed to try them. 46. Many of them were examined and found guilty, and some, under the influence of a distempered imagina- tion, confessed that they were guilty. The business at length reached a very alarming height. Nineteen persons had been executed, one hundred and fifty were in prison, and many more were accused. 47. In this state of things, the people began to doubt the correctness of their proceedings. They examined the subject more careiully, and were very soon satisfied that SETTLEMENTS. WILLIAM. 45 they had acted rashly. The judges of the court also began to take diiferent views of the suljject. Those who were brought to trial were therefore acquitted, and those in prison were released. 48. Thus ended this extraordinary delusion. We at the present day, who know that there is no such thing as witchcraft, cannot but wonder that our ancestors should have believed in it, and that many persons should have been hanged for a crime that was only imaginary. But we should remember that it was a common error of that age. It was not an invention of their own. They received their notions from England, and it was natural that they should act agreeably to them. "VVe must do them the justice to say, however, that they very soon discovered their error, and expressed their sorrow for it. 49. Soon after the accession of William III. to the throne of England, a w^ar broke out between that country and France. At this time the French had several settle- ments in Canada, extending along the River St. Lawrence, and including Montreal and Quebec. They had also sev- eral forts on Lake Champlain and Lake George. The war between France and England, in Europe, of course extended to their American colonies. The French from Canada, assisted by large numbers of Indians, invaded several parts of New England, burned the houses of the inhabitants, killed many of the people, and carried large numbers of men, women, and children into captivity. The cruelties practised almost exceed belief. Towns were at- tacked at midnight, and in midwinter ; the people were often killed in their beds, and those whose lives were spared were torn from their homes, and obliged to endure sufferings worse than death. 50. In the spring of 1G97 a party of Indians made an attack on the to\\Ti of Haverhill, Massachusetts. Among 46 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. the people of that town was a Mr. Dustan. He was in a field at work when the news of the attack reached his ears. He immediately started and ran to his house to save his family. He had seven children, and these he collected for the purpose of taking them to a place of safety before the Indians should arrive. His wife was sick, and she had an infant but a week old. He now hur- ried to her, but before she could get ready to leave the house, Mr. Dustan perceived tliat a party of the savages were already close to his dwelling. Expecting that all would be slain, he ran to the door and mounted his horse, and telling the children to run forward, he placed him- self between them and the Indians. The savages dis- charged their guns at him, but did not hit him. He had a gun too, and he fired back at them. 51. He then hurried his children along, loaded his gun as he went, and fired at his pursuers. Thus he pro- ceeded for more tlian a mile, protecting his little family, defending himself, and keeping the enemy at a distance. At length he reached a place of safety, and there, with feelings of joy which cannot be described, he placed his children beyond the reach of the Indians. 52. But Mrs. Dustan was destined to undergo the severest trials. Although she was very ill, the savages compelled her, with the nurse and her httle infant, to go home with them, a distance of one hundred and fifty miles. It was winter, and the journey was to be per- formed on foot through the wilderness. 53. Mrs. Dustan and the nurse were soon overcome with fatigue. The Indians, perceiving that the little infant occupied much of their attention, snatched it from the mother, and killed the Httle innocent by striking it against a tree. After a toilsome march and the greatest suffering, Mrs. Dustan and lier companion completed the journey. SETTLEMENTS. QUEEN ANNE's "WAR. 47 54. But now the Indians concluded to remove ..o a distant place, and these two women were forced to accom- pany them. When they reached the end of their journey, they discovered they were to undergo severe torture. They therefore determined, if possible, to make their es- cape. One night, Mrs. Dustan, the nurse, and a white boy rose secretly while the Indians were asleep. There were twelve of them in the wigwam where they were. These the women killed with their own hands, and then departed. After wandering a long time in the woods they reached Haverhill, and Mrs. Dustan was restored to her family. 55. A few years after King "William's war, another war occurred between England and France, which also ex- tended to the colonies in this country, and occasioned great distress. It was called Queen Anne's war.' This war commenced in 1702, and the French and Indians imme- diately invaded New England. In 1704 a party of French and Indians made an attack on Deerfield. It was at night, and in the midst of winter. All the peoule were asleep ; they had no fear that an enemy was at hand. The sud- den yell of the savages burst on their ears, and they then knew the dreadful scene that was coming. SC). The town was set on fire, forty-seven of the people were killed, and one hundred men, women, and children were carried into captivity. Among these were Mr. Wil- liams, a clergyman, and his wife and five children. They set out on foot, and began their journey through the snow. On the second day Mrs. Williams, who was in bad health, ' England, Holland, and Germany formed an alliance against France in 1701, to prevent the union of France and Spain. The war which followed in 1702 is known in English histories by the name of " the war of the Spanish succession." In this country it was called " Queen Anne's war." 48 FIRST LESSOXS IN HISTORY. was very weary, and unable to keep up with the rest. Her husband was not allowed to assist her, and she seemed to be on the point of fainting from weakness and fatigue* At this time one of the Indians came up to her and killed her. 57. The other party then went on, but seventeen otheir persons were killed by the savages before they arrived in Canada. Mr. Williams was kindly treated by the French people there, and after two years he returned, with fifty- seven other captives, to Deerfield. He was minister of that town for twelve years after his return, and then died. This story afibrds a fair example of the cruelties of this war. It continued till the year 1713, when the French and English made peace with each other in Europe, and the war ceased there, and in the colonies also. From this time Nova Scotia and Newfoundland belonged to the EngUsh. Canada still belonged to the French, and con- tinued so till it was ceded to the British in 1763. ; 58. About the year 1722 the Indian tribes in MaineJ and along the e^ern and northern border, made war upon! the English semers. These Indians often attacked the! people in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, andj annoyed thera very much. But in 1725 this war ceased. ' 59. In 1741 England and France were again involved in strife. George II. was then King of England, and this! war is called King George's war, or the war of the Aus-' trian succession. The most imjwrtant event to New Eng- land that took place during this period was the capturei of Louisburg. This was a very strongly fortified town 1)clonging to the French, on the Island of Cape Breton, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. • Here they kept many ships, and in time of war these drove away the English and American sailors who went to the banks of New- foundland to catch codfish. To take Louisburg was, there- N?3. SETTLEMENTS. CAPTURE OF LOUISBURG. 49 fore, a great object. To accomplisli this the colonies united, and sent about four thousand three hundred men against it, under the command of Sir WilHam Pepperelh They went in twelve ships and some smaller vessels. GO. They arrived at Louisburg the last of April, 1745. They were occupied fourteen days in drawing their cannon across a swamp, so as to bring them near the town. They then besieged it ; that is, they surrounded it both by land Suldiers di'agging cannon across the morass. and water. They also made frequent attacks upon the soldiers in the forts. This continued till the 15th June, when the F'rench commander requested them to stop, and on the 17th he surrendered the place into the hands of the Americans. Thus Louisburg and the Island of Cape Breton came into the possession of the English. 61. In 1748 France and England again made peace, and the colonies once more enjoyed tranquillity. But this did npt last long. A still more extensive and important 5 50 FIRST LESSOXS IN HISTORY. war was at hand. It commenced in 1755, and it is called in this country the French and Indian war, an ac- count of which will be given hereafter. v. — SETTLEMENTS, CONCLUDED. NEAV JERSEY, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, PEXXSYLVAXIA, CAKOLINAS, AND GEORGIA. 1. The first settlement in New Jer?ey was made by the Dutch in 1623, and soon after, other settlements were commenced by Dutch and Swedes ; but it did not receive the name of Jersey until 1064, when it was conquei'cd* from the Dutch by the EngH.-h. Sir George Carteret was one of the proprietors, and the colony received the name of Jersey, in compliment to him, as he was governor of the Island of Jersey, on the northern coast of France. In 1G76 the jjrovince was divided into Ivist and West Jersey, and so continued until 1702. The government was then surrendered to Queen Anne of England, and East and West Jersey were united, under the title of New Jersey. 2. The settlement of Delaware was commenced at Cape Henlopen, in 1G27, by some Swedes and Fins. It was a beautiful spot, covered with green trees, beneath which sported the wild deer, with their young fawns. The people were so charmed with the place that they called it Para- dise Point. They now proceeded farther up the bay, and had some intercourse with the Indians. The latter treated them kindly, and sold them land on both sides of the w^ater. The settlers now established themselves near Wilmington, and called the country New Sweden. 3. But the colony was not permitted to enjoy its fine SETTLEMENTS. DELAWARE. 51 lands and delightful climate in peace. The Dutch claimed the territoiy, and after annoying them in various ways, finally built a fort at New Castle. A man by the name of Risingh was then governor of the Swedish colony. One day he proposed to the commander of the Dutch fort to pay him a friendly visit. This was accepted, and Risingh went, accompanied by thirty men. They were received with kindness anil treated with great hospitality. But, disregarding this, they treacherously took possession of the fort, and made prisoners of the garrison. 4. The governor of New York at this time was Peter Stuyvesant, whom history describes as possessing a pretty hot temper. Such a man was not likely to permit the treachery of Risingh to go unavenged. So he fitted out an armament, which went against the Swedes in several vessels, in the year 1655. The Dutch were victorious, and having taken the Swedish forts, they allowed a few of the inhabitants to remain, and sent the rest prisoners to Holland. The settlement continued in the hands of the Dutch till 1664, when it came into the possession of the English with the surrender of New York. 5. In 1682 the territory was purchased by WiUiam Penn, and until 1703 formed a part of Pennsylvania. At that time it was partially separated from that colony, having a distinct assembly chosen by the people, though the same governor that ruled over Pennsylvania ruled also over Delaware. The colony remained in this situa- tion till 1775, when it became an independent state. 6. At the time of these settlements in America, the Catholics in England were persecuted, as the Puritans had been before. One of them, Loi'd Baltimore, determined, therefore, to come to America. Accordingly he went to Virginia, which had now been settled for some time. But he found the people there as little disposed to treat the 52 FIRST LESSONS IX IIISTOKY. Catholics kindly as in England. So he went back to Eng- land, and begged the king to give him a charter of the land lying on Chesapeake Bay, then occupied only by the Indians. 7. This request was granted ; but before the business was completed he died. His son Cecil, also called Lord Baltimore, determined to carry into eilect the plans of his father. So he obtained the graut for himself, and in 1034 sent his brother, Leonard Calvert, with two hundred Catholic emigrants, to settle upon the land on the Chesa- peake. 8. When they arrived at the mouth of the Potomac River, they found an Indian village there, called Yoaraaco. This village they purchased of the savages, and thus ob- tained good shelter till they could build better houses. They also acquired some good land, which had been culti- vated. Their situation was therefore very comfortable. 9. The colonists found plenty of wild deer in the woods, and abundance of fish along the shores of the bay. The sea fowl were also numerous. There were countless flocks of ducks skimming along the water, and settling down around the islands ; and there Avere numbers of wild gin^se at the mouths of the creeks and rivers. 10. The colony flourished, as well in consequence of its pleasant situation as the liberal policy of its government. These Catholics did not persecute those wlio differed from them in religious opinion. Lord Baltimore, and Koger Williams, of Rhode Island, seem to have discovered, about the same time, that every man has a right to worship God as he i)leases. Thus Rhode Island and Miuyland, at this early date, enjoyed the blessings of entire religious freedom. 11. Yet the colony had its share of troubles. A man by the name of Clayborne stirred up the Indians to hos- SETTLEMENTS. BALTIMORE. 53 tility, and they made war on the settlers. This continued for several yeai's, and the people suifered great distress. In 1645 the same Clayborne induced some of the settlers to rebel against their rulers, and Calvert, the governor, was obliged to fly to Virginia. But the next year the revolt was suppressed. Governor Calvert returned, and the colony once more enjoyed a state of peace. 12. In 1666 the colony contained about twelve thou- sand inhabitants. In 1676 Lord Baltimore, the founder of the colony, died, leaving behind him the enviable charac- ter of a wise and good man. He was succeeded by his son Charles as proprietor of the colony, who possessed the amiable qualities of his father. 13. In 1689 King William assumed the government of the colony; but in 1716 it was restored to Lord Baltimore, and continued in the family till 1775. The people then engaged with the other colonies in the revolution, and Lord Baltimore's claims ceased. 14. There was, for many years, a dispute about the boundary of this state, between the heirs of William Penn, proprietor of what is now the State of Pennsylva- nia, and the heirs of Lord Baltimore, proprietor of what is now the State of Maryland. In 1762 Mr. Charles Mason, of the English Royal Observatory, London, and Mr. Jere- miah Dixon, were appointed to run a line between the lands of the two parties. This line was called Mason and Dixon's line. 15. In 1681 King Charles granted to William Penn, who was a Quaker, a large tract of land between New Jersey and Maryland. This included Pennsylvania and Delaware. In the fall of the same year, a good many persons, chiefly Quakers, to whom he had sold some of the land, set out in three ships, and came to America. These 5* 54 FIUST LESSONS IN niSTORY. people settled on the Delaware River, near where Phila- delphia now stands. 16. They brought with them a letter from Penn to the Indians. In this he said to them, " that the great God had been pleased to make him eoncenied in their part of the world, and that the king of the country where he lived had given him a great province therein, but that he did not desire to enjoy it without their consent ; that he was a man of peace, and that the people whom he sent were men of the same disposition ; and if any difference should happen between them, it might be adjusted by an equal number of men chosen on both sides." 17. In the fall of 1682 Penn himself came to the colony, with two thousand emigrants. While he was in the country, he met some of the Indian chiefs, and made a treaty with them. His mild and gentle manners made a great impi'ession on the sav'ages. He walked with them, sat with them on the ground, and ate with them of their roasted acorns and hominy. At this they expressed great delight, and soon began to show how they could hop and jump. Penn, it is said, then got up and began to hop, too, and soon sliowed that he could beat them all. Whether this is true or not I cannot say ; but it is certain the Indians long remembered liim with feelings of love and veneration. 18. Penn also marked out the plan of a great city, to which he gave the name of Pliihuk'ljjhia, by which is meant " the city of brotherly love." Before the end of the year this place contained eighty buildings. In 1684 Penn returned to Enghiiid, leaving the province in a happy and prosperous condition. 19. No pai't of America Avas settled more rapidly than Pennsylvania. The soil was fertile, the climate mild and agreeable, and the deer and other wild animals were SETTLEMENTS. PENNSYLVANIA. 55 abundant. The government, too, arranged by Penn was just and liberal, giving perfect freedom to every man to worship God in his own way. Thus at peace among themselves, the Indians being made their friends by justice and gentleness, the people of this colony afforded a striking contrast to the less fortunate settlements in the north and east. Attracted by the favorable circumstances I have mentioned, numerous emigrants flocked to Pennsylvania ; and in four years after Penn received the grant, the province contained twenty settlements, and the city of Philadelphia two thousand inhabitants. 20. In 1G99 Penn returned to the province. He found some uneasiness among the people, to remove which he gave them a new charter in 1701. This was submitted to the assembly chosen by the people, and accei^ted. But the inhabitants in that part of the province wliich now forms the State of Delaware did not like the charter, and refused to accept it. They were therefore separated from Pennsylvania in 1703, and had a distinct assembly, chosen by the people, who made their laws. The same governor, however, presided over Pennsylvania and Del- aware. 21. Penn soon returned to England, and never visited America again. He died in 1718, leaving behind him the character of a truly pious and good man. He was twice imi)risoned in England, by the government, for his reli- gious opinions, and his enemies accused him of A'^ery wicked conduct. But he lived to see every suspicion wiped away from his reputation ; and his life teaches us that the world fails not to honor a man of active kindness, piety, and truth. 22. His colony continued to flourish, and its increase in population was unexampled. The Indians, conciliated by kindness, remained for seventy years at peace with the 56 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY, inliabitants ; and thus, until the French war, nothing oc- curred in Pennsylvania to iuten'upt her prosperity. 23. North Carolina was first settled by the English' about the year 1650. The settlers of Virginia were not Puritans, but Churchmen, or Episcopalians. They were, hoAvevej", almost as zealous as the New England fathers,! and persecuted those Avlio did not believe with them in; matters of religion. Several pei'sons, distressed by these- persecutions, left t^e colony, and proceeding to the northj side of Albemarle Sound, settled along the shore, about! the time above mentioned. Here, in the wilderness, they; found peace and plenty. < The soil was fertile, and the climat^ soft and gentle. Free from the biting winters of : the north, undisturbed by the persecutions of their fellow- men, they lived for a time without government, yet with- out anarchy. 24. Attracted by these favorable circumstances, t)ther ] settlers came to them, until their number was considerable. In 1663 the territory of North and South Carolina was granted by the King of England to Lord Clarendon and others.. To induce people to settle here, they gave public ; notice that the inhabitants should enjoy perfect religious freedom, and have an assembly of their own choosing, to make laws for them. Accordingly a good many persons came, and Mr. Di-ummond was made governor of the i colony. 25. In 1670 William Sayle made a settlement at a, place then called Port Royal. The next year he removed j to a neck of land between two rivers, called Cooper and I Ashley Rivers. The settlement he called Charleston, in honor of the King of England, Charles II., then on the throne. This place grew very rapidly, and being at a ; great distance from Albemarle Sound, it had a distinct • government to superintend its affairs. Hence arose the 1 two names of North and South Cai-olina. N"5 SETTLEMENTS. CAROLINAS. 57 i 26. In 1707 some French people, forced from their homes by persecution, settled on the River Trent, near Pamlico Sound. In 1710 some Germans, di-iveu by the same cause from their native land, took I'efuge near the same spot. Here, for a time, these settlers lived happily ; but by and by a sudden and awful calamity fell upon them. 27. Not far from the white people, two powerful tribes of Indians, named Tuscaroras and Corees, inhabited the forests. Irritated by some injuries they had received, and fearing that the white people would soon spread them- selves over the whole land, they secretly plotted the entire destruction of the French and German settlers. 28. The Indians were always very artful in war. In the present instance, they privately sent their families to a distant fort, and then twelve hundred Avarriors, armed with bows and spears, prepared for the attack. They waited until it was night ; then, dividing into several par- ties, they secretly approached the difierent settlements. The inhabitants, who had gone to rest in peace, and with- out fear, were suddenly waked by the dreadful war whoop. Men, women, and children were killed. The Indians, furious as tigers, ran from house to house, slaying all they met. Shrieks, prayers, and cries for mercy availed not. The innocent, the helpless, and the unresisting all perished alike. 29. A few only of the inhabitants escaped. These, w ith the cries of their murdered countrymen in their ears, lied swiftly through the woods, to the settlement in South Carolina, for assistance. About a thousand men were immediately despatched, under Colonel Barnwell, against the Indians. They had a Jong and tedious march ; but at length they met the enemy. The latter fought bravely, but were defeated, and fled to the fortified town, where they had sent their women and children. Here the white 58 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. men pursued them, and were on the point of storming the place, wlien the Indians begged for peace. This was granted by Colonel Barnwell, and the white men returned to their homes. 30. But this iDcace did not last long ; the Indians soon made war again, and Colonel Moore, with forty white men, and eight hundred friendly Indians, were sent against the enemy. The latter again fled to one of their fortified towns ; but after a siege of several days, this was taken, wuth eight hundi-ed prisoners. The Corees and Tuscaroras were now quite disheartened ; they gave up their hopes of driving the wliite people from the country, and the former continued to be peaceable ever after. The latter, in 1713, bade adieu to the forests, and hills, and rivers, which ttey had once called their own, and moving to the north, joined the Five Nations. From this time tliese celebrated tribes were called the Six Nations. A remnant of the Tusca- rora tribe may still be seen at Vernon, in the State of New York. 31. In 1729 the two Carolinas, which till this time had been one colony, were separated, and ever since they have remained distinct. The interior of North Carolina was soon explored, and iiuding it very fertile, many settlers established themselves there. The colony increased rap- idly, and under a succession of good governors, it flour- ished till the approach of the revolutionary war, in 1775. 32. In 1732 one hundred and thirteen persons, under James Oglethorpe, came from England, and made the first settlement in Georgia. They established themselves at YamacraAV Bluff, and there laid the foundation of the pres- ent city of Savannah. The object of those persons in England who planned the settlement of Georgia was, to provide a place where the j)oor people of Great Britain SETTLEMENTS. GEORGIA. td might go and live comfortably. They also desired to fur- nish an asylum, where the persecuted and oppressed of all nations might go and live in peace. 33. In 1733 five hundred poor people emigrated from England to Georgia, and in 1735 four hundred settlers came from Germany, Switzerland, and Scotland. Thus the number of inhabitants increased rapidly ; but still the colony did not flourish. The greater part of the people remained poor, although half a million of dollars had been spent in sending them across the Atlantic, and in providing them with the necessaries and comforts of life. 34. In the year 1740 there was war between England and Spain. Now the latter government possessed Florida, and had several settlements there. Accordingly, Mr. Oglethorpe, the excellent governor of Georgia, determined to make war upon these Spanish settlements. So he took with him two thousand men, a part of them from Virginia and South Carolina, and proceeded against St. Augustine. This place he besieged ; but the Spaniards defended them- selves bravely, and he was obliged to march back again with his two thousand men. 35. Two years after this the Spaniards came with thirty vessels and three thousand soldiers, to punish the English settlers for their attack on St. Augustine. Their intention was to take possession of Georgia first, and the two Caro- linas afterwards. 3G. General Oglethorpe had but seven hundred men and a small body of Indians under his command. Ac- cordingly he sent to South Carolina for assistance ; but the people would not send him any. So he and his little band Avere left to defend themselves, as well as they could, against four times their number. Oglethorpe knew his danger, and determined to scare the Spaniards away, if possible. He therefore contrived to make them believe 60 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. that he had more men than he actually had, and that a great body of English soldiers were coming to help him. 37. One day the Spaniards saw three vessels of war off the coast ; sujiposing that these had brought the reenforce- ments, they became very much alarmed, ran aboard their ships as fast as possible, and sailed away. Thus Ogle- thorpe got rid of his troublesome visitors. 38. In 1754 the j^roprietors gave up the colony to the king, and after that time it prospered very much. The people began to cultivate rice and indigo, wliich they found very proiitable. Sometimes the Florida Indians were troublesome, but no war of much intei'est occurred. VI. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 1. The old French war, as it is called in American his- tory, commenced in 17.3.J. At that period the country now occupied by New England, the five Bliddle States, and the four Southern States lying along tlie Atlantic embraced thirteen colonies, all belonging to Great Britain, and all acknowledging the government of that country. None of the country lying west of the states above mentioned was then occupied by English settlers. 2. The French had settlements in Canada, extending from tlie mouth of the St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario. Along the shores of that lake they had established sevei'al forts and trading houses, to promote their trade with the Indians, which was now esteemed a matter of great conse- quence. They had also planted New Orleans, near the mouth of the Mississipi)i, and having ascended that i-iver, had laid claim to the beautiful and fertile valley through which it flows. They had also built tradmg liouses on the FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 61 River Ohio, and had finally determined to connect their northern and southern settlements by a chain of forts, ex- tending from Lake Ontario to their establishments on the Ohio, and thence down the River Mississippi to New Orleans. 3. While the French were busy in carrying this project into effect, some English people, from Virginia, established themselves on the Ohio River, not far from the French settlements. As the French now claimed the country, they seized some of these settlers, and carried them pris- oners to Canada. The land in question was considered as a part of the colony of Virginia by the English, and it was supposed to belong to certain English people to whom it had been granted. These persons, regarding the con- duct of the French as very wrong, applied to Governor Dinwiddle, of Virginia, for redi'ess. 4. The governor thought it best, in the first place, to send a messenger to the commander of the French forces on the Ohio, and require him to march his troops away, and thus quit the country. The person chosen for this purpose was George Washington, then but twenty-one years old. At this early age he began that public career which has endeared liis name to every American, and ren- dered it illustrious throughout the world. 5. Washington went to the French commander, and delivered to him a letter from Governor Dinwiddle, ex- plaining the nature of his business. The French officer replied that he would forward the letter to his general, who was then in Canada, and that he should strictly abide by his instructions. This answer did not satisfy Governor Dinwiddie ; so he raised four hundred troops, and sent th')m, under the command of Washington, against the French, in the spring of 1754. They proceeded through the woods, and over the mountains, till they came near 6 62 FIEST LESSOKS IX HISTORY. Fort Du Quesne, where Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania, now stands. 6. Wlien Washington had nearly reached this fort, about nine hundred French soldiers came out to attack him. He had scarcely time to throw up some hasty works for defence before the French came upon him. The num- ber of the French was more than double that of the Eng- lish, but AYashington did not mind that ; he cheered his men, and they fought very bravely. By and by, the French were tired of the battle, and so they made an agreement with Washington, that he and his men should return to Virginia, which they did accordingly. 7. Being informed of all these things, the British gov- ernment laerceived that they must either drive the French away by force, or relinquish the whole Valley of the JVIis- sissippi. They determined to do the former, and sent out a great many troops to America to accomplish this object. In the spring of 17 5i), General Braddock, an English offi- cer, began to make preparations, in Virginia, to proceed with a large army against Fort Du Quesne. 8. It is necessary for an army that is going on a march to have a great number of horses and wagons to carry their baggage. It Avas found very difiicult to procure enough of these ; and General Braddock, becoming impa- tient, determined to set out with a j)art of the army only. Accordingly he proceeded with twelve hundred men, leav- ing Colonel Dunbar to come on with the rest of the troops, as soon as the preparations were ready. General Brad- dock was a brave man, and knew very well liow to manage a battle with regular soldiers ; but he knew nothing of the Indian method of skulking behind trees, and rocks, and thickets, and shooting down men like so many squirrels. 9. So he proceeded through the woods, trusting in his own skill, and fearing nothing. He was advised to be on FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 63 his guard, lest the cunning savages should surprise him. But he treated this counsel with scorn. On the 9th of July, the English ti'oops had approached within a few miles of Fort Du Quesne. At length they came to a nar- row valley, vdtli high rocks on each side. It was midsum- mer, and the trees were covered with a thick mantle of leaves. All was peaceful and quiet around, and the troops marched on, never dreaming that behind every bush, and rock, and tree around lay a lurking savage, taking a sure aim, and ready to send a fatal bullet after them. 10. At once a wild and hideous yell burst from the rocky sides of the valley, and at the same instant, hundreds of muskets flashed from the many hiding-places of the foe. Astounded at this, the forward ranks of the English were thrown into confusion. But in a few minutes General Braddock came u.p, v/ith the main body of the army, and order was restored ; but it was to no purpose. The enemy did not come out in regular platoons to be fired at, as Gen- eral Braddock expected ; they remained in their coverts, and shot down the British soldiers like a herd of deer. 11. Braddock was too proud to retreat. He and his officers remained on the ground, bravely exerting them- selves to overcome the enemy ; but in this they only sacri- ficed their lives. One by one they were shot dovt^n, and Braddock at length fell. Tlie British soldiers then fled in dismay. Washington, with his Virginia troops, sheltered the retreating army fiojn flie French and Indians who pursued them. But for him nearly all the men under Braddock's command would have fallen a sacrifice to their commander's rashness. As it was, one half of tlie number perished in the battle. This disastrous enterprise was closed by a return of the troops to Philadelphia, leaving the frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia exposed to the enemy. 64 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. 1 2. Two other expeditions were undertaken against the French during the summer of 1755. One was against Foi't Niagara, situated near tlie great cataract, and the other against Crown Point, an important post on the western shore of Lake Champlain. Both of tliese expe- ditions were unsuccessful. 13. In the spring of 1756 great preparations were made for war in America, both by the French and Eng- lish ; yet it is remarkable that the two nations in Europe yet continued to be on terms of the greatest apparent friendshii). But this did not last long. England declared war in May, and France in June following. A great many troops were assembled in America ; but instead of being placed under the command of American officers, who were well acquainted with the country, and who would of course be anxious to carry on the war with success, they were commanded by British officers, who spent a great deal of time in show and parade, but did very little else. The whole season was wasted in indolence on the part of the English, while the French prosecuted the war with activity and vigor. 14. The next year (1757) was like that which preceded it. The King and Parliament of Great Britain were jealous of the colonies at this early date. They were not willing to intrust Americans with the direction of their own affairs, and therefore continued to employ the officers who had exhibited nothing but indolence and weakness before. 15. The principal event of this campaign was the cap- ture of Fort AYilliam Henry. This was situated on Lake George, and had a garrison of three thousand men, under the command of Colonel Mnnroe. Fifteen miles to the south of this post was Fort Edward, on the east side of the Hudson River, occupied by General "Webb, with four thousand troops. FRENCH AXn INDIAN WAR. 65 16. The French commander, Montcalm, collected near ten thousand men, many of them Indians, and suddenly appeared before Fort William Henry. They came sailing down the lake, covering its bright surface with a multitude of boats and canoes. The whole army landed, and imme- diately began the attack. 17. Colonel Munroe was surprised, but not disheart- ened. Though his little garrison was surrounded by ten thousand men, he made a bold and successful defence. The soldiers kept off the enemy with muskets and with cannon, which shook the hills around with their thunder, and often sent death among the ranks of the besiegers. For six days the fort Avas thus defended ; but Colonel Munroe knew he could not hold out long, unless assistance came from General Webb. He sent to that officer repeat- edly, entreating him for help ; but none came. Thus de- serted in the most cowardly and cruel manner, he was obliged to surrender the fort to Montcalm. The English marched out of the fort, and the French took possession of it. But the saddest part of this story I have yet to tell. Montcalm promised to protect the English prisoners from the savages ; but this he failed to do. The Indians first fell upon the sick, and plundered and killed them ; thus they became excited, and surrounding the disarmed Eng- lish soldiers, who had no means of defence, began to slay them also. 18. There were several thousands of the savages, and they now filled the air with their horrid yells. They struck down the English with their tomahawks, and tore tlie reeking scalps from their heads. As the slaughter proceeded, they grew more frantic. Their yells became still more wild, and these were now mingled with the shrieks of the wounded and the dying. At this awful moment, Munroe besought Montcalm to protect his poor 6* G6 FIRST LESSONS IN IIISTORT. soldiers, as he had promised ; but that officer would not interfere. His bloodj allies were permitted to do their work of death without restraint. The carnage went on, and hundreds of the British soldiers were slaughtered, or carried captives into the wilderness. 19. The day after this fearful tragedy, Major Putnam was sent by General Webb to watch the motions of the enemy. They had already left the place, and set out for Ticonderoga. They had destroyed the fort, leaving the buildings still on fire. The ground, far and near, was cov- ered with dead bodies, cut and mangled in the most shock- ing manner. Some were still broiling in the flames, and others were torn limb from limb. Thus ended this melan- choly affair. Althougli it occurred near a hundred years ago, who, without shuddering, can read the detail of such barbarities ? 20. The next year (1758) the war assumed a different aspect. AVilliara Pitt, a man of great talents, was placed at the head of affairs iu England. He caused new officers to be appointed to the command of the armies, and the result showed that he selected them wisely. Louis])urg, a strong town on the Island of Cape Breton, which had been before captured from the French in 1744, and afterwards restored to them, was taken by Lord Amherst, and Fort Du Quesne was taken by General Forbes. 21. Lord Abercrombie was sent, with an army of seven- teen thousand men, against Ticonderoga. This was a strong French fort, on the western shore of Lake Cham- plain. The English army crossed the lake in boats. It was truly a magnificent display, as they covefed the blue water, seemingly as countless as the wild fowl that some- times hover over its surface. 22. But amid this proud array, there was many a heart, bounding with youth and hope, destined soon to beat no li-RENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 67 more. When the English had landed, they inarched towards the fort. They were met by a small party of the French, and in a skirmish that followed, Lord Howe was killed. He was a brave yoimg officer, and all the soldiers loved him. When they saw him fall dead upon the field, they rushed forward, determined to avenge his death. They surrounded the fort, and attacked it with the great- est fury. They had muskets and cannon, and kept up a continual fire against the walls of the fort. If a French- man showed his head over the ramparts, he was immedi- ately shot by the British soldiers. 23. They tried every means in their powder to get pos- session of the place. They procured ladders, and attempt- ed to climb over the walls. For four hours they stormed tlie fort with the utmost boldness and bravery ; but it was defended with equal courage. The French poured down from the walls a dreadful fire of cannon and musketry. The noise of the battle was heard to the distance of fifty miles. It seemed like continued thunder ; a thick cloud of smoke rose up from the place, and, stretching itself far across the sky, appeared to tell of the awful scene it had witnessed. 24. Finding it impossible to take the fort. Lord Aber- crombie was forced to abandon the enterprise. Two thousand of his men had been killed or wounded ; and with this heavy loss he retreated. He, however, despatched three thousand men, under Colonel Bradstreet, against Fort Frontenac, situated on Lake Ontario. This place was taken, and the French were thus deprived of a station of great importance. 25. In the next year (1759) several important places were taken by the English. Among these were the forts of Niagara, Ticonderoga, and Crown Point ; but the most important event was the capture of Quebec. This place, G8 FIRST LESSON'S IX ITISTORT. situated on the north-west side of the St. Lawrence, was deemed one of tlie strongest in the world. It was de- fended by a great many cannon, placed in several forts built upon high rocks. It was thought impossible for soldiers in any way to climb up these rocks, or to get pos- session of the fortifications. 2G. But William Pitt believed that the place might be taken ; so he sent a large and powerful army against it, commanded by General Wolfe. This officer was a young man, full of bold and daring thoughts. Three officers, Moncton, Townshend, and Murray, all young and brave like himself, were associated with him. 27. It was towards the last of June that the English army landed on the Island of Orleans, a few miles below Quebec. Here Wolfe had an opportunity to examine the difficulties he had to overcome. lie perceived that they were very great, but declared to his friends that he would either take the city or die in the attemi)t. He devised various schemes, and made several efforts, but without success. Montcalm, the French commander, was exceed- ingly vigilant, and even the confident spirit of Wolfe began to be dejected. 28. But at length a narrow path was discovered, by which the soldiers might climb the Heights of Abraham, and thus overlook the forts and the town. Wolfe knew that if he could get possession of these heights, he should obtain a great advantage. Accordingly he resolved to make the attempt. But it was necessary that the enter- prise should be conducted with the greatest secrecy. 29. In the stillness of night, a part of the army landed at the foot of the cliff which overhung the river. They were ready to climb the rocks by daybreak. Wolfe was himself among them, and they began their difficult ta:^k. Clambering up the steep, they caught hold of roots, bushes. FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 69 and angles of tlie rocks, and at length stood safe upon the plain above. Before sunrise the whole army had gained the heights, and were all arranged under . their several leaders. 30. "When Montcalm heard of all this, he thought it impossible, and would not believe the story ; but he soon found it to be true. Knowing that he must now come to battle, he drew out his men upon the plain in front of the English army. When all was ready, the French advanced briskly. The English stood still, and received them with a dreadful fire. A fierce engagement followed, and after a long struggle, the French were defeated. Montcalm and "Wolfe were both mortally wounded. 31. General Wolfe died on the field of battle. He had received a bullet in his wrist, and another in his leg ; but he concealed these wounds, and pressed into the thickest of the fight ; but by and by he was shot in the body, and carried off' the field. When he was dying, he heard some one say, " They fly ! they fly ! " " Who fly ? " asked he. " The French," was the answer. " Then I die contented," said the hero, and expired. 32. Five days after this battle Quebec surrendered to the English, and it has ever since remained in their pos- session. It has been the capital of the British possessions in America ; but the governor, appointed by the king, now lives at Toronto. 33. The next year the French made some feeble attempts to recover Quebec, but without success. In September, Montreal was taken by the English, and in 1763 the war was closed by a peace, made at Paris. By this treaty France ceded to England all her northern col- onies, and these still remain subject to Great Britain. 70 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. \TI. — THE REVOLUTIOXARY WAR. 1. Wi: ;irc now coming; to events of great interest and great importance. Soon after the French war the King and Parliament of Great Britain began to treat the colonies very unjustly. Tliey had never conducted generously towards them ; on tlie conti-ary, their proceedings had generally fcihovvn a desire to make them profitable to England, rather than prosperous and happy among themselves. Yet the people in this country loved England so well that they easily forgot these things; and it is ^'I'obable that all might have gone on in harmony for many years, if the British government had not attempted to oppress and enslave the people. 2. It is hardly necessary to tell all the difliculties which preceded the war ; but the principal one related to taxing the Americans. The British government, being very much in debt, wanted to raise large sums of money, and so determined to get a pai't of it by taxation. Now, the Americans maintained that England had no right to tax them. They thought it very hard, and very unjust, that Parliament, consisting of men Avho lived in England, at a distance of three thousand miles, should take away the money of the people hei'e, just because they happened to want it. Yet this was what Parhament claimed the right to do, and they acted accordingly. 3. In ojiposing this the Americans were perfectly right ; but still Parliament passed laws imposing duties upon various articles of merchandise brought into the country. These acts produced a great foi-ment throughout the colo- nies. The people of Boston were particularly excited ; and fearing rebellion. General Gage, the British commander, assembled two regiments of soldiers to keep them in awe. 4. These troops took possession of the State House THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 71 without leave, and there they lived. They paraded about the streets, and filled the ears of the inhabitants with the constant din of their music. These were foreign soldiers, sent with cannon, muskets, and bayonets, to restrain a people who considered themselves free. It is easy to per- ceive that all this was not calculated to soothe their jeal- ous feelings ; on the contrary, it exasperated the people, and prepared them to take up arms against, their op- pressors. 5. Such was the state of irritation in Boston, in the spring of 1770, that quarrels occurred almost every day between the soldiers and the populace. On the 2d of March, as one of the British soldiers was going by the shop of one Gray, a ropemaker, he was beaten severely. He ran oif, but returned with some of his comrades, and the soldiers and ropemakers fell together by the ears in good earnest. The latter got the worst of it. 6. The people were now more angry than ever. A gi-eat tumult broke out, between seven and eight o'clock, on the evening of the 5th of March. The mob, armed with clubs, ran towards King Street, now State Street, crying, " Let us drive out these rascals ! They have no business here ! Drive them out ! Drive out the rascals ! " About this time some one cried out that the town had been set on fire. Then the bells rang, and the crowd became greater and more noisy ; they rushed furiously to the custom house, and seeing an English soldier stationed there, shouted, " Kill him ! kill him ! " The people at- tacked him with snowballs, pieces of ice, and whatever they could find. 7. The sentinel called for the guard, and Captain Pres- ton sent a corporal with a fcAv soldiers to defend him. They marched with their guns loaded, and the captain fol- lowed them. They met a crowd of the people, led on by 72 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. a giant of a negro, named Attacks ; they brandished their clubs, and pelted the soldiers with snowballs, abused them with all manner of" barsh words, shouted in their faces, surrounded them, and challenged them to fire. 8. They even rushed upon the points of the bayonets. The soldiers stood Uke statues, the bells ringing, and the mob pressing upon them. At last, Attucks, with twelve of his men, began to strike upon their muskets with clubs, and cried out to the multitude, " Don't be afraid ! They dare not fire — tbe miserable cowards ! KiU the rascals ! Crush them under foot ! " Attucks lifted his arm against Captain Preston, and seized upon a bayonet. " They dare not fire ! " shouted the mob again. At this instant the firmg began. The negro dropped dead upon the ground. The soldiers fired twice more. Three men were killed and others were wounded. The mob dispersed, but soon returned to carry off the bodies. 9. The whole town was now in an uproar. Thousands of men, women, and children rushed through the streets. The sound of drums, and cries of " To arms ! to arms ! " were heard from all quarters. The soldiers v.'lio had fired on the people were arrested, and the govei-nor at last per- suaded the multitude to go home quietly. The troops were ordered off to Castle "Wilham, now Fort Independ- ence. The three slain citizens were buried with great ceremony on the 8th ; the shops were all closed, while the bells in Boston and the towns around were all tolling. 10. The bodies were followed to the churchyard from King Street, through the city, by a long file of coaches, and an immense crowd of people on foot. The soldiers were soon after tried. Two were condemned and impris- oned ; six of them were acquitted, much to the honor of the jury, and of John Adams and Josiah Quincy, who pleaded for them. The irritated and unreasonable popu- THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 73 lace would have torn the soldiers in pieces, if they could have had their wav. 11. Ill March, 1770, the English Parliament concluded - to repeal the duties upon glass, paint, and other articles, but continued a tax of threei)ence a pound upon tea. This was a sad mistake. If Parliament had repealed aU, and said no more about taxes, the Americans might have been satisfied. As it was, they began to buy goods of the English merchants again, tea alone excepted ; this they would have nothing to do with. 12. So matters went on during the year 1771. The officers of the revenue were every where despised. In Boston, one of them undertook to seize upon a vessel for some violation of the law. He was seized upon himself by the people, for what they thought a violation of the law, stripped, carted through the town, besmeared with tar, and covered with a coat of feathers, so that he looked more like an ostrich than a man. 13. In 1772 the English government, intending to put down the rebellious sjjirit of the Americans, made several new laws, which only served to increase the difficulty. The Americans now began to think of doing something for themselves in earnest. Committees were chosen in every part of the country to attend to public affairs, and to write to each other. 14. In 1773 large shijjs, loaded with immense cargoes of tea, were sent out to America by some mei'chants in England. But the colonists had made up their minds what to do. In Philadelphia and New York not a man could be found to receive the English tea, or have any thing to do with it. A few chests, which one Captain Chambers had brought to Philadelphia, Avere let down very quietly to the bottom of the river, by some people who went slyly on board the ship. In Charleston it 7 74 FIRST LESSONS IN HISTORY. was landed and lodged in cellars so damp that it was soon spoiled. 15. The people of Boston took a keen interest in this business. The English agents there, when the tea was first known to be on the way, were required by the people to give up all concern with it. They made no answer, but withdrew, as fast as convenient, into the fortress. Captain Hall soon arrived in port with one hundred chests of tea. The people colhicted in great iury, ordered hina to keep it on board, as he valued his life, and placed a guard close by the vessel, upon Griffin's Wharf, east of Fort Hill. 16. Two other vessels, having arrived, were obliged to anchor by the side of Hall's ship. A town meeting, meanwhile, was summoned, and the people agreed to call upon the governor, and request him to have the ships sent off. But the governor would do no such tiling. A great upi'oar now began. A person in the gallery of the hall, dressed like an Indian, shouted the cry of war. Throwing the tea OTerboard. THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 75 17. The meeting was dissolved in the twinlding of an eye, and the multitude rushed to Grifiin's Wharf. Here were seventeen sea captains, carpenters, and others, dis- guised as Indians. It was night, and these persons went on board the three vessels, and in less than two hours, three hundred and forty chests of tea were staved and emptied 'mif> the sea. This done, they went quietly home, and the crowd dispersed, yery Avell satisfied. 18. Early in 1774, an account of these disturbances having reached England, the government then determined, by way of punishing the people of Boston, to destroy the tiade of that town by forbidding all kmds of goods to be landed there. Accordingly the Boston Port ^ Bill was passed in Parliaraeut, and the news of it was received in Boston May 10. .Like other unjust laws, this also did more hurt than good. 19. In a few days after the Port Bill was passed, other laws were ma