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  [Illustration: PAUL REVERE AROUSING THE INHABITANTS ALONG THE
  ROAD TO LEXINGTON.]



  AMERICAN LEADERS
  AND HEROES

  A PRELIMINARY TEXT-BOOK IN
  UNITED STATES HISTORY

  BY

  WILBUR F. GORDY


  PRINCIPAL OF THE NORTH SCHOOL, HARTFORD, CONN.; AUTHOR OF
  "A HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FOR SCHOOLS"; AND
  CO-AUTHOR OF "A PATHFINDER IN AMERICAN HISTORY"

  _WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS_

  NEW YORK
  CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
  1907



  COPYRIGHT, 1901, BY
  CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

  [Illustration]




PREFACE


In teaching history to boys and girls from ten to twelve years old
simple material should be used. Children of that age like action. They
crave the dramatic, the picturesque, the concrete, the personal. When
they read about Daniel Boone or Abraham Lincoln they do far more than
admire their hero. By a mysterious, sympathetic process they so identify
themselves with him as to feel that what they see in him is possible for
them. Herein is suggested the ethical value of history. But such ethical
stimulus, be it noted, can come only in so far as actions are translated
into the thoughts and feelings embodied in the actions.

In this process of passing from deeds to the hearts and heads of the
doers the image-forming power plays a leading part. Therefore a special
effort should be made to train the sensuous imagination by furnishing
picturesque and dramatic incidents, and then so skilfully presenting
them that the children may get living pictures. This I have endeavored
to do in the preparation of this historical reader, by making prominent
the personal traits of the heroes and leaders, as they are seen, in
boyhood and manhood alike, in the environment of their every-day home
and social life.

With the purpose of quickening the imagination, questions "To the Pupil"
are introduced at intervals throughout the book, and on almost every
page additional questions of the same kind might be supplied to
advantage. "What picture do you get in that paragraph?" may well be
asked over and over again, as children read the book. If they get clear
and definite pictures, they will be likely to see the past as a living
present, and thus will experience anew the thoughts and feelings of
those who now live only in their words and deeds. The steps in this
vital process are imagination, sympathy, and assimilation.

To the same end the excellent maps and illustrations contribute a
prominent and valuable feature of the book. If, in the elementary stages
of historical reading, the image-forming power is developed, when the
later work in the study of organized history is reached the imagination
can hold the outward event before the mind for the judgment to determine
its inner significance. For historical interpretation is based upon the
inner life quite as much as upon the outward expression of that life in
action.

Attention is called to the fact that while the biographical element
predominates, around the heroes and leaders are clustered typical and
significant events in such a way as to give the basal facts of American
history. It is hoped, therefore, that this little volume will furnish
the young mind some conception of what our history is, and at the same
time stimulate an abiding interest in historical and biographical
reading.

Perhaps it is needless to say that the "Review Outline" may be used in
many ways. It certainly will furnish excellent material for language
work, oral or written. In so using it pupils may well be encouraged to
enlarge the number of topics.

I wish to acknowledge my obligations to Professor William E. Mead, of
Wesleyan University, who has read the manuscript and made invaluable
suggestions; also to my wife, whose interest and assistance have done
much to give the book whatever of merit it may possess.

                                                    WILBUR F. GORDY.

HARTFORD, CONN., May 1, 1901.




CONTENTS


  CHAPTER                                                         PAGE
      I. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA,          1
     II. HERNANDO DE SOTO AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,     22
    III. SIR WALTER RALEIGH AND THE FIRST ENGLISH ATTEMPTS TO
            COLONIZE AMERICA,                                       31
     IV. JOHN SMITH AND THE SETTLEMENT OF JAMESTOWN,                42
      V. NATHANIEL BACON AND THE UPRISING OF THE PEOPLE IN
            VIRGINIA IN 1676,                                       55
     VI. MILES STANDISH AND THE PILGRIMS,                           64
    VII. ROGER WILLIAMS AND THE PURITANS,                           81
   VIII. WILLIAM PENN AND THE SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA,           92
     IX. CAVELIER DE LA SALLE AND THE FRENCH IN THE MISSISSIPPI
            VALLEY,                                                103
      X. GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE BOY SURVEYOR AND YOUNG SOLDIER,    116
     XI. JAMES WOLFE, THE HERO OF QUEBEC,                          136
    XII. PATRICK HENRY AND THE STAMP ACT,                          146
   XIII. SAMUEL ADAMS AND THE BOSTON TEA PARTY,                    156
    XIV. PAUL REVERE AND THE BATTLE OF CONCORD AND LEXINGTON,      165
     XV. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AND AID FROM FRANCE,                    175
    XVI. GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE VIRGINIA PLANTER AND THE
            REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIER,                                 189
   XVII. NATHANIEL GREENE, THE HERO OF THE SOUTH, AND FRANCIS
            MARION, THE "SWAMP FOX,"                               211
  XVIII. DANIEL BOONE, THE KENTUCKY PIONEER,                       222
    XIX. THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE,              234
     XX. ROBERT FULTON AND THE STEAMBOAT,                          246
    XXI. ANDREW JACKSON, THE UPHOLDER OF THE UNION,                253
   XXII. DANIEL WEBSTER, THE DEFENDER AND EXPOUNDER OF THE
            CONSTITUTION,                                          264
  XXIII. SAMUEL FINLEY BREESE MORSE AND THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH,    273
   XXIV. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE LIBERATOR OF THE SLAVES,             282
    XXV. ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT AND THE CIVIL WAR,                  302
   XXVI. SOME LEADERS AND HEROES IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN,            314




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


                                                                  PAGE
  Christopher Columbus,                                              1
  The Santa Maria,                                                   7
  The Nina,                                                          8
  The Pinta,                                                         9
  The Triumphal Return of Columbus to Spain,                        13
  An Indian Stone Maul,                                             20
  Hernando De Soto,                                                 22
  De Soto Discovering the Mississippi,                              25
  Sir Walter Raleigh,                                               31
  Queen Elizabeth,                                                  35
  Entrance to Raleigh's Cell in the Tower,                          38
  Tower of London,                                                  39
  An Indian Pipe,                                                   40
  John Smith,                                                       42
  John Smith and the Indians,                                       45
  Indian Weapons,                                                   46
  Ruins of Jamestown,                                               47
  Apache's War-club,                                                50
  Sioux Indian Bow and Arrow with Stone Point,                      50
  Navajo Sling,                                                     51
  A Pappoose Case,                                                  51
  Tobacco Plant,                                                    56
  Loading Tobacco,                                                  57
  The Burning of Jamestown,                                         61
  Miles Standish,                                                   64
  The Mayflower,                                                    70
  A Matchlock Gun,                                                  74
  A Group of Pilgrim Relics,                                        75
  Pilgrims Returning from Church,                                   77
  Brewster's and Standish's Swords,                                 79
  Roger Williams on his Way to Visit the Chief of the Narragansett
      Indians,                                                      83
  A Block House,                                                    84
  Roger Williams's Meeting-House,                                   85
  A Puritan Fireplace,                                              87
  William Penn,                                                     92
  William Penn's Famous Treaty with the Indians,                    95
  Penn's Slate-roof House, Philadelphia,                            98
  A Belt of Wampum Given to Penn by the Indians,                    99
  Cavelier De La Salle,                                            103
  Long House of the Iroquois,                                      104
  The Murder of La Salle by his Followers,                         113
  George Washington,                                               116
  Washington's Birthplace,                                         117
  Washington Crossing the Alleghany River,                         119
  The Death of Braddock,                                           129
  James Wolfe,                                                     136
  General Montcalm,                                                139
  The Death of Wolfe,                                              141
  Patrick Henry,                                                   146
  George III.,                                                     149
  St. John's Church, Richmond,                                     152
  Samuel Adams,                                                    156
  Faneuil Hall, Boston,                                            160
  The Old South Church, Boston,                                    161
  The "Boston Tea Party,"                                          163
  Paul Revere,                                                     165
  The Old North Church,                                            168
  Stone in Front of the Harrington House, Lexington, Marking
      the Line of the Minute-Men,                                  170
  The Retreat of the British from Concord,                         172
  Benjamin Franklin,                                               175
  Franklin in the Streets of Philadelphia,                         180
  Franklin Experimenting with Electricity,                         184
  Lafayette Offering His Services to Franklin,                     186
  George Washington,                                               189
  Washington's Coach,                                              190
  A Stage Coach of the Eighteenth Century,                         191
  Washington's Retreat through New Jersey,                         199
  Winter at Valley Forge,                                          204
  Washington's Home--Mount Vernon,                                 208
  Nathaniel Greene,                                                211
  Lord Cornwallis,                                                 215
  General Francis Marion,                                          218
  Marion and His Men Swooping Down on a British Camp,              219
  Daniel Boone,                                                    222
  Indian Costume (Female),                                         224
  Indian Costume (Male),                                           225
  Daniel Boone in his Cabin,                                       228
  A Hand Corn Mill,                                                229
  A Wigwam,                                                        231
  Indian Implements,                                               232
  Thomas Jefferson,                                                234
  Monticello,                                                      237
  Thomas Jefferson at Work upon the First Draft of the Declaration
      of Independence,                                             238
  Robert Fulton,                                                   246
  A Pack Horse,                                                    247
  A Flat Boat,                                                     248
  The Clermont,                                                    251
  Andrew Jackson,                                                  253
  Andrew Jackson's Cradle,                                         254
  A Spinning Wheel,                                                255
  Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans,                            261
  Daniel Webster,                                                  264
  Marshfield--Home of Daniel Webster,                              271
  S. F. B. Morse,                                                  273
  Telegraph and Railroad,                                          280
  Abraham Lincoln,                                                 282
  Lincoln's Birthplace,                                            283
  Lincoln Studying,                                                287
  Slaves on a Cotton Plantation,                                   299
  Ulysses S. Grant,                                                302
  The Meeting of Generals Grant and Lee at Appomattox,             310
  The McLean House,                                                311
  General R. E. Lee,                                               312
  The Wreck of the Maine,                                          316
  Admiral Dewey,                                                   318
  President MCKinley,                                              319
  "Escolta," Manila's Main Street,                                 320




LIST OF MAPS


                                                                  PAGE
  Places of Interest in Connection with Columbus's Earlier Life,     3
  The First Voyage of Columbus, and Places of Interest in
      Connection with his Later Voyages,                            11
  Routes Traversed by De Soto and De Leon,                          27
  Cabot's Route. Land Discovered by him Darkened,                   33
  Section where Raleigh's various Colonies were Located,            37
  Jamestown and the Surrounding Country,                            48
  The Pilgrims in England and Holland,                              67
  The Pilgrim Settlement,                                           72
  The Rhode Island Settlement,                                      88
  The Pennsylvania Settlement,                                      97
  Map Showing Routes of Cartier, Champlain, and La Salle, also
      French and English Possessions at the Time of the Last
      French War,                                                  107
  The English Colonies and the French Claims in 1754,              121
  The French in the Ohio Valley,                                   123
  Quebec and Surroundings,                                         138
  Paul Revere's Ride,                                              167
  Franklin's Journey from New York to Philadelphia,                178
  Map Illustrating the Battle of Long Island,                      196
  Map Illustrating the Struggle for the Hudson River and the
      Middle States,                                               201
  Map Showing the War in the South,                                213
  The Kentucky Settlement,                                         223
  Map of Louisiana Purchase: also United States in 1803,           242
  Map Illustrating Two of Andrew Jackson's Campaigns,              258
  Map of the United States showing the Southern Confederacy,
      the Slave States that did not Secede, and the Territories,   297
  Map Illustrating Campaigns in the West in 1862-63,               307
  The United States Coast and the West Indies,                     315
  Portion of the Coast of China and the Philippine Islands,        325




CHAPTER I

Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of America

[1436-1506]

[Illustration: Christopher Columbus.]


From very early times there existed overland routes of trade between
Europe and Asia. During the Middle Ages traffic over these routes
greatly increased, so that by the fifteenth century a large and
profitable trade was carried on between the West and the East. Merchants
in Western Europe grew rich through trade in the silks, spices, and
precious stones that were brought by caravan and ship from India, China,
and Japan. But in 1453 the Turks conquered Constantinople, and by
frequent attacks upon Christian vessels in the Mediterranean made the
old routes unsafe. A more practicable one became necessary.

Already in the early part of the fifteenth century Portuguese
sea-captains had skirted the western coast of Africa, and by the close
of the century others of their number had rounded the Cape of Good Hope,
in their search for a water route to the Indies. But Spain, at that
time the most powerful nation of Europe, adopted a plan quite different
from that of the Portuguese. What this plan was and how it was carried
out, we can best understand by an acquaintance with the life and work of
the great sea-captain and navigator, Christopher Columbus.

More than four hundred and fifty years ago there lived in the city of
Genoa a poor workingman, who made his living by preparing wool for the
spinners. Of his four sons, the eldest was Christopher, born in 1436.
Young Christopher was not, so far as we know, very different from most
other boys in Genoa. He doubtless joined in their every-day sports,
going with them to see the many vessels that sailed in and out of that
famous sea-port, and listening for hours to the stories of sailors about
distant lands.

But he did not spend all his time in playing and visiting the wharves,
for we know that he learned his father's trade, and in school studied,
among other things, reading, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and
map-drawing. We can easily believe that he liked geography best of all,
since it would carry his imagination far out over the