Pictorical History of the United States of America, from the earliest period to the close of President Taylor's Administration ... with additions and corrections, by H. C. Watson. Illustrated with numerous engravings, from original designs, by W. Croome

Front matter

LANDING OF COLUMBUS. PICTORIAL HISTORY OP THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE CLOSE OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR'S ADMINISTRATION. COMPRISING THE EARLY DISCOVERIES OP THE SPANIARDS, FRENCH, AND ESC. LISH NAVIGATORS ; THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SEVERAL COLO- NIES ; THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS ; THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ; THE WAR OF 1812 ; AND THE MEXICAN WAR ; ALSO, THE DISCOVERIES OF THE GOLD REGIONS AJTD SETTLEMENT OP CALIFORNIA. DCTEBSPEBSED WITH ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES OP DISTINGUISHED LEADING MEN. BY HUGH MURRAY, ESQ., _.THOR OP THE ■ V C T O 1 O f M D I _ OF __00__FH WITH ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS, BY HENRY C. WATSON. CLLUSTRATED WITH NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS FROM ORIGINAL DESIGNS, BY W. CROOME. BOSTON: CROSBY, NICHOLS, LEE AND COMPANY. 1861. Entered according to Act of Congiess, in the year 1851, by PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, & CO., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District cf Massachusetts.

Preface

. BY THE EDITOR. Mr. Murray's History of the United States has long, been respected in this country for its candour and impartiality, as well as for its accuracy in nar rative. It is drawn chiefly from American authorities and official state papers, and written with remarkable clearness and force of expression. In preparing this edition for the press, the editor has somewhat condensed a portion of the colonial history, in order to bring in the narrative of recent events, (written by himself, to complete the work to the present time,) without inordinately increasing the bulk of the volume. Some corrections and additions have also been made in that portion of

PREFACE.

the work which relates to the second war with Great Britain. These changes, it is believed, will materially in crease the interest and value of the work for American readers. CONTENTS. tf

CHAPTER L

DlSOOVEBl OF NOMH AMERICA, AND ATTEMPTS OF THE 8PA_fIAI_D8 TO |\)M51_-- THE COUNTRT- CHAPTER U. French E__.editions ...-.— - 23 CHAPTER m. Settlement op Virginia ~ -.._— 3(1

CHAPTER IV.

8ettle_e!_. of Maryland • — ~ — - — w

CHAPTER V.

B-Ttlekent op New England — .... — 72

CHAPTER VI.

Settlement op Pennsylvania - 12" CHAPTER VH. Settlement of New York* • •«_ — — !35 CHAPTER Vffl. Settlement of Carolina and Georgia- ••■-* — • 166

CHAPTER IX

General Affairs of the Colontto the Peace of 1763 - 172

CHAPTER X.

Revolution, from its Commencement to the Declaration of Independence ■•■ 185

CHAPTER XL

Revolution, prom the Declaration op Independence to the Alliance with France- • 228 CHAPTER X_t. Revolution, from the Alliance with France to the Peace of 1783 26C CHAPTER HE r_tB new Constitution, and Proceedings ittoerit -- 33S CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXV.

Origin and Events op the second War with Great Britain 401

CHAPTER XV.

From the second War with Great Britain to the War with Mexico 447

CHAPTER XVI.

The Campaign op General Scott's Army — 478 chapter xvti. Close op Folk's Administration, and Administration op Taylor. — —- EMBELLISHMENTS. Landing of Oolumbcs- •••■ .—_-...,..._ — „ Prtmtupiec* Landing op Ferdinand De Soto- ..«._*-_-.. — — - - 18 Landing of the Pilgrims • — - -" 79 King Philip escaping fboh his Enemies ■ — — — 106 Washington at the Battle of Princeton ••* - 238 Capture op Stony Point — •- • — ~ 276 Capture of Major Andes- •-• — — , 811 Lafayette taejng a Redoubt at Voektown - 323 Escape of the Constitution feom a British Squadron 414 Captuee of the Gueerieee -...,,_. -> 415 Engagement between the Enterprise and Boxes - 427 Battle of Resaca de la Palma • — - •— •• — - — - 409 Stoeming of Monterey — — - 472 View of "Monterey and the Bishop's Palace 474 Landing at Vera Cruz — — „~™.__, 478 Qenkral Scott entering the City of Mexico -- 48. (T)

Chapter I. Discovery Of North America, And Attempts Of The Spaniards To

COLONIZE THE COUNTRY. The coast of the United States, notwithstanding its proximity to Europe, was not the earliest discovered part of the New World. The course of Columbus led him to Guanahani, one of the eastern Bahamas, thence to His paniola, and in his subsequent researches, still farther to wards the south and west. In 1497, John Cabot, from Bris tol,arrived at Newfoundland, or more probably Labrador ; but no intimation is afforded of his having sailed to any distance along the coast. In 1498, however, his son Sebastian, with two vessels, made a most extensive sur vey, beginning in the latitude of 56°, and terminating, it is said, in that of the Straits of Gibraltar, or about 36°. This must have brought him to the mouth of the Chesa peake, or even of Albemarle Sound ; and it is impossi ble not to regret that no details should be extant of this memorable voyage.

He soon after sought the service of the Spanish monarch, and was created a member of the council of the Indies. In 1517, he is again found employed, though only as second, to Sir Thomas Pen, in an expedition from England, by which the explora tion of Hudson's Bay was certainly effected, though not actively followed up. Returning to Spain, he was pro moted to the rank of chief pilot of that kingdom, and, sailing under its flag, made the important discovery of the Rio de la Plata. Lastly, at an advanced age, being again in England, he was nominated grand pilot, and governor of the company of Merchant Adventurers, in which capacity he drew up instructions for Sir Hugh Willoughby's north-eastern expedition. He appears to have ranked second to Columbus among the navigators of that age, superior in science, and rivalling him in en terprise, gallantry, and honorable feeling.

Spain carried off the first and great prizes of transatlantic discovery. The wise or fortunate resolution of Isabella to patronize Columbus, conveyed to her a do minion over empires of almost boundless extent, and rich in those treasures which mankind most eagerly covet. That navigator, when he landed at Guanahani, was not very distant from the coast of Florida ; but the hope of a passage to the East Indies, and other circumstances, induced him to steer in a south and south-western direction. All the great islands of the archipelago had been discovered, the coast of Terra Firma examined, and Nunez de Balboa had obtained his celebrated prospect of the Pacific, before the Spaniards even suspected the existence of that vast region which now forms the United States. It was brought into view by accidental and somewhat singular incidents.

Juan Ponce de Leon, after distinguishing himself in the wars of Granada, had embarked with Columbus in his second voyage. He then added greatly to his repu tation, and being intrusted by Ovando, the governor, with a command in the eastern part of Hispaniola, had an opportunity of observing the rich aspect of the adjacent shores of Porto Rico. Having proposed to his superior officer to conquer it, he was allowed a body of troops to try his fortune. In this he completely succeeded, and*. obtained gold, not in the expected abundance, but to a considerable amount ; being accused, however of those cruelties which were much too familiar to the Spanish adventurers. His claims as governor being also con sidered as conflicting with those of Columbus, he with drew, and obtained, in compensation, Bimini, one of the Bahamas which lay nearest to the continent.

Here an object, very different from conquest or plun der, engrossed the whole soul of the warlike veteran. In an age of comparative ignorance, and after witnessing so many wonders, his mind was prepared to credit almost any extravagance. Ponce de Leon had somehow im bibed the full belief, that on one of those insular shores there existed a fountain endued with such miraculous virtue, that any man, however worn out with age, who should have once dipped himself it its waters, would rise restored to the full bloom and vigor of youth. In this delusive search, he beat about restlessly from shore to shore, landing at every point, and plunging into every stream, however shallow or muddy, in the vain hope of springing up in this blissful state of renovation. On the contrary, his eager and incessant activity under a burn ing sun, brought upon him, it is said, all the infirmities of a premature old age ; and, according to Oviedo, instead of a second youth, he arrived at a second childhood, STAt-uS. 12 never after displaying his former energy of thought o action.

Extraordinary exertions, even when misapplied, com monly lead to something. While the Spaniard was sail ing in every direction after his miraculous fountain, he came unexpectedly, on the 27th of March 1512, in sight of an extensive country, hitherto unknown. Magnificent forests, intermingled with flowering shrubs, exhibited so gay an aspect, that he named it Florida. He landed on the 8th of April, near the present site of St. Augustine ; and, notwithstanding the dangers of navigation amid the violent currents produced by the gulf-stream running among the islands, he spent a considerable time in tracing its outline, and finally rounded the southern point. Thus, though still supposing it to be an island, he ascertained that it must be both large and important. This great discovery seems to have weaned the mind of the Spanish chief from his engrossing chimera.

He repaired to Porto Rico, and thence to Spain, laid before the king the particulars of the new country, and obtained permission to conquer and rule it under the pompous title of adelantado. A considerable time, however, was consumed in preparations ; and while thus busied, he was obliged to engage in suppressing an insurrection among the Caribs. This contest was attended with re verses, by which he lost much of his reputation ; and nine years elapsed before he could conduct two ships to his promised dominion. While planning a site for a colony, he was surprised by a large body of Indians ; his men were completely routed, and himself severely wounded by an arrow. As these people were never _0>le afterwards to cope in the field with Spanish troops, this disaster may lead us to suspect that he really had lost his former military talent.

Having regained the ship, he sailed to Cuba, where he soon after died of his wound, The fate of Ponce de Leon for a considerable time discouraged all such adventurers. The coast was, how ever, visited by individual merchants ; and Diego Mi ruelo is said to have made repeated voyages from Cuba, obtaining, among other commodities, some gold, which confirmed the delusive ideas entertained of its wealth. Fernandez, Grijalva, and Garay made surveys of some extent along the southern coast, but without reaching Florida, or connecting their discoveries with that of De Leon. The idea of island which the Spaniards had at first attached to the country, gave way before additional intelligence and the assurances of the natives ; and it became evident that a vast expanse of land lay in this direction. They, accordingly, from thenceforth claimed as Florida the whole continent of North America, in cluding even Quebec.

But this pretension, being en countered by the rivalry of more active European nations, could not be enforced ; and, at no distant period, another sway and other names were established over nearly the whole of this vast range of territory. The knowledge, however, that such countries existed was turned to a cruel a count by Spanish avidity. Slaves to cultivate the rich soil of the Antilles became an early object of demand, and could be procured from these savage coasts : hence a company was formed, and Lucas Vazquez de Ayllon was sent with two ships on this ne farious mission. He reached South Carolina, entered Ihe river Combahee, which he named Jordan, and experienced the usual facility of a stranger, in opening a friendly intercourse with the natives. After the usual interchange of visits and friendship, they were easily lured in crowds on board the vessel; when, in the height of their confidence, .the treacherous Spaniard set sail, and stood for the West Indies.

Yet the crime was nearly abortive ; — one of the ships sunk, and sickness thinned greatly the number of captives in the other. Another expedition, with a more legitimate design, was undertaken by Stephen Gomez, a Portuguese, who had been a companion of the great Magellan. Between the countries hitherto explored and Baccalaos, or the Codfish Island, as Newfoundland was then termed, there extended a vast space, within which there might still exist the eagerly desired passage to Hindostan. Gomez, employed by the council of the Indies, appears by the meager narratives extant to have sailed northward to the latitudes of 40° and 41°. He consequently discovered New York, and part of New England, which are desig nated in early Spanish maps as the " Land of Gomez." Finding the continuity of coast still unbroken, he gave up the pursuit, but endeavoured to compensate his fail ure by the measure, not only unauthorized, but ex pressly prohibited, of enslaving a number ofthe natives, — a step which served only to increase the ridicule at tached to the abortive issue of an expedition from which very sanguine hopes had been cherished.

Meantime the attention of mankind was almost wholly engrossed by the exploits of Cortes in Mexico, — a region so vast that it might almost be called an empire, and abounding beyond any yet known in the precious metals. With reference to his success, a desire naturally arose to effect a similar achievement elsewhere. Florida was as extensive ; and no reason was yet known why it should not be equally rich. Pamphilo de Narvaez, the unfor tunate rival of Cortes, first sought it as a theatre of glory and wealth. He had been employed by the governor of Cuba to seize and supersede that chief, whom he equalled in valour, but by no means in prudence and conduct. He was surprised, wounded, and completely defeated, upon which most of his troops went over to his adversary. He possessed still, Tiowever, sufficient influence to obtain the means of trying his fortune on another field.

He was invested in Spain with the title of adelantado of Florida, which included the functions of general and governor, giving authority at once to conquer and rule that territory. Narvaez, in June, 1527, sailed from St. Lucar, with an armament of five vessels and six hundred men. At Dominica, however, one hundred and forty of the num ber were induced, by promises held out by the settlers, and probably by a dread of what they might encounter, to stop short. The commander then proceeded to com plete his equipments at St. Jago de Cuba ; but, being there assailed by a tremendous hurricane, which shat tered all and completely destroyed one of the vessels, his force was reduced to four hundred men and eighty horses. On the 20th of February, 1528, with his four remaining ships, he set sail, and after coasting along Cuba, where he suffered severely from a violent tempest, left the Havana for Florida.

He landed in April at a point difficult to ascertain, but probably near the Bay of Spiritu Santo, where was a village of some importance, with a house large enough to contain three hundred persons. With this force he marched into the interior, and after a ramble of eight hundred miles, finally re turned to the coast, in great penury. Here Narvaez and his men, made rude boats, in which they embarked, and nearly all perished in a storm. Four persons sur vived, and reached Mexico, and declared that Florida was the richest country in the world. Alvaro Nunez, who gives a history of this expedition, remained among the Indians nine years, and finally escaped to Mexico. Having recruited himself by a stay of two months in the city of Mexico, he set sail, and arrived at Lisbon on the 9th of August, 1537.

It could scarcely have been expected, after such a series of calamities, and the destruction of an entire ex pedition, that Florida would have borne any attraction in Spanish eyes. Notwithstanding, when Alvaro reached home, he found a fresh and greater armament ready to sail ; new and memorable events having whetted more than ever among that people the appetite for gold and conquest. Peru discovered, conquered, and its treasures grasped by a handful of adventurers, had given birth to the most brilliant ideas of American wealth. Fernando de Soto, originally owning nothing but courage and his sword, had followed the fortunes of Pizarro, and been a chief instrument in annexing to Spain that golden region. He accompanied the first embassy to Atahualpa, com manding one of the three companies of horse which made captive that unfortunate prince ; and afterwards proceeding to Cusco, he was active in the reduction of that im perial city.

Having shared amply in Peruvian treasure, he returned to his country laden with wealth, and with that dark but lofty fame which attended those memora- LANDING OF FERDINAND DE SOTO. ble exploits. His reception was briliant; he obtained in marriage the daughter of the nobleman under whom he had first served, and appeared in pomp at the court 01 Charles V. Having accommodated that monarch with a liberal loan, he paved the way for obtaining almost any object on which he should set his heart. But he sued for a fatal gift. His present ample wealth and glory were prized only as a step to something higher; having in Peru been second to Pizarro, he now sought a country, the honour of conquering and ruling which might be wholly his own. He had fixed his eyes on Florida. Charles was exceedingly ready to bestow a boon which cost him nothing, and might place another bright gem in his crown.

Soto was created adelantado of that province, and allowed to select thirty leagues in it, to be erected into a marquisate. Just as the agreement was concluded, Alvaro arrived with his doleful tale ; yet he is said to have given favourable accounts of the country itself. Thero was even a negotiation for his accompanying the new commander ; but they did not agree upon terms, and he obtained a command on the Rio de la Plata. Soto, now gratified to his utmost wish, proceeded to embark his whole fortune in this grand expedition. As the report spread that he was setting forth to conquer another Peru, many enterprising youths made haste to offer their services ; and some, even selling their pro perty, embarked it in the cause. He selected nine hun dred and fifty men, most of whom were trained to arms, and of daring valour ; a force which, small as it may appear, was superior in number and equipments to those which had subverted the Mexican and Peruvian em pires. 2' On the 6th of April, 1538, Soto embarked his troops in ten vessels, and sailed for Cuba, which was even placed under his command, that he might draw from it every needful resource.

There he spent a year in preparation, and Vasco Porcalho, a veteran, who, like him self, had gained by the sword an immense fortune, and was living in splendid retirement, was so delighted with the noble appointment and bold spirit of the expedition, that he joined it with a train of followers and large supplies. He was created lieutenant-general. On the 18th of May, 1539, the adelantado sailed with nine vessels from the Havana ; on the 25th, he saw the coast of Florida ; and, on the 30th, landed in the bay of Spiritu Santo, which appears to be not very far from the point chosen by Narvaez. Had Florida, like Mexico, been under one great go vernment, Soto, with his brave band, would have beaten the army, entered the capital, and been master of the country. But he struggled helplessly against a multitude of fierce petty tribes, whom even now the whole force of the United States has proved unable to put down.

They offered no point at which a blow could be struck, and never left him master of more than th. spot on which his army stood. He continued, however, to advance, and after many battles with the natives, and a tedious march through what are now the states of Alabama and Mississippi, he discovered the Mississippi river, and having con structed barges, crossed it, and marched with his army to the north-west till he entered Missouri, always hoping to find gold. Learning that there lay a mountainous region to the northwest, which seems to be that at the head of the White River, he proceeded thither, in the vain hope that the rocks might contain gold. Disappointed once more, he bent his course southwards in search of a pro ductive soil, which he found at Cayas, amid the hot and saline springs on the Upper Washita.

Descending that river, he arrived at Autiamque (Utiangue), where he resolved to pass his fourth dreary winter. After this long and unfortunate march, and with his troops so miserably reduced, he determined at last upon the measure, from which his mind had so strongly revolted, of returning to the coast, and seeking reinforcements from Cuba or Mexico. He therefore hastily descended the Washita to its junction with the Red River, and the lat ter stream to its confluence with the Mississippi, where he found himself in the territory of Guachoya, filled with a brave and numerous population. His men being now reduced to fewer than five hundred, and his horses, which had formed his chief strength, to forty, he could no longer hope to vanquish in the field, a brave though barbarous foe. He was obliged to employ art, and act on their superstitious impressions by stating that he was the child of the sun ; and availing himself of their astonishment at seeing themselves in a mirror, pretended that in that glass he could see whatever they did at any distance, and thus detect any plot which might be formed against him.

He was much concerned to learn that the sea was yet far off, and the road thither greatly obstructed by streams and entangled woods. Amid these anxieties and distresses, he was seized with fever, which, not being treated with due attention, closed in a few days his earthly career. Soto did not merit quite so hard a destiny, though he was one of that bold bad race who, inflamed by the lust of gold, trampled on prostrate America. The unjust and tyrannical principles sanctioned by false views of loyalty and religion, which impelled to these enormities, were in him tempered at once by much prudence and discretion, and also by more than the usual degree of humanity. Had not his aims been frustrated by the nature of the country and the fierce valour of the people, he might have founded a dominion on a better basis than any of the other Spanish conquerors.

The troops on the death of their commander, were struck with deep alarm. Moscoso, his successor, endea vored to conceal the event from the Indians, pretending that the general had merely gone up on a visit to heaven, whence he would quickly return. Lest his grave should lead to other conclusions, the body was carried out at midnight into the centre of the great river, and, with a weight attached, sunk to the bottom. The cacique, how ever, politely intimated his consciousness of the true state of the case by presenting two handsome youths, in order that, their heads being cut off, they might serve the chief in the land of souls. Moscoso, declining this gift, endeavoured still to gain belief for his first statement, t'iough probably with little success. The party, mean while, felt themselves seriously called upon to consider their future plans.

To reach a Spanish settlement by water, without vessels, pilots, or charts, appearing quite desperate, they determined rather to attempt a march to Mexico, not without a faint hope of discovering some golden region which might compensate all their toils They pushed, accordingly, about three hundered miles westward, when, after passing a great river, the Colorado de Texas, or the Rio del Norte, the country became almost a desert, and they could not make themselves understood by the inhabitants. They gave up all hope, and determined, at whatever cost, to return and descend the Mississippi. On regaining its banks, they had, like Narvaez's party, to perform the tedious task of constructing seven brigantines. But they fortunately had among their number a sawyer, four or five carpenters, a caulker, and a cooper, and these instructed the rest.

The jealousy of the Indians, however, led to a confederacy which might have been fatal, had it not been dis closed by the female captives. The rising of the river enabled them to avoid the danger by immediately setting sail ; though a numerous fleet of canoes pursued, cut off a detachment, and harassed them during a great part of the voyage. In fifty-two days they arrived, reduced to the number of three hundred and eleven, at the port of Panuco in Mexico, where they were kiudly received both by the governor and people. They had marched in four years up-"T-rr!s of five thousand miles, through a savage and hostile region. They had achieved nothing ; not having left even a vestige of their route, except the track of blood by which it had been too often stained. The Spaniards, when refreshed from their toils, bega__ to look around them ; and seeing themselves on a deso late shore, and in a state of utter destitution, bitterly la mented that they had quitted fertile regions, where, in dependently of gold, they might have established a flourishing colony.

Schemes of returning were even formed, but which, from want of union, were ultimately relinquished. These dreadful reverses damped the zeal of Spain to conquer or colonize Floiida; but Cancello, a Dominican missionary, who undertook to visit the country with a view to conversion, received ample encouragement from the government. The sinister impression, however, at tached to his nation, being extended to every individual of it, he and his companions were put to death. The Spaniards, notwithstanding, continued to claim Florida, and even the whole extent of North America ; yet there was not a spot in that vast territory on which one of them dared to set his foot

Chapter II. French Expeditions

Francis I., a powerful monarch, ambitious of every kind of glory, was animated also with eager rivalry of Charles V., who derived much lustre from his possessions in the new world. He therefore ardently desired to follow successfully in the same career ; and with this view he supplied to Giovanni Verazzano, a noble Flu rentine, four vessels destined to America. This chief, after being driven back by a storm, was refitted, and engaged in some successful naval operations on the Spanish coast ; and it was then determined, that in the Dolphin with fifty men, provisioned for eight months, he should prosecute his original design of discovery. After encountering a severe tempest, he came, in the middle of March, upon a coast which Mr. Bancroft, with great probability, supposes to be that of North Carolina ; and having sailed fifty leagues southward in search of a port without success, he turned again towards the North with the same object.

He was once more dis appointed as to a harbour; but seeing a fine populous country, he landed in boats, and held some friendly in tercourse with the natives. He next proceeded in an eastern direction along a low coast, where even a boat could not touch : but a sailor swam ashore, and though alarmed by some strange gestures, found the natives kind. A change of course to the northward marks the rounding of Cape Hatteras ; and a run of fifty leagues brought him to a fertile region, covered with rich ver dure and luxuriant forests. This was Virginia, near the mouth of the Chesapeake, though no mention is made of that great inlet. A sail of one hundred leagues in the same direction led to a spacious bay receiving a noble river, evidently the Hudson. They ascended it a short way in boats, and were delighted with its banks.

The coast then trended eastward ; and after following it fifty leagues, they reached an island of pleasing aspect, which, being of a triangular form, and about the size of Rhodes, clearly appears to be that named Martha's Vineyard. The weather prevented his landing ; and, fifteen leagues farther, he found a very convenient port, where he had again much satisfaction in communicating with the peo ple. Though the latitude of 41° 40' be about half a de gree too low, it seems impossible not to recognize Bos ton. He then made a course of one hundred and fifty leagues along a country of similarcharacter,but somewhat more elevated, without landing at any point. Another stretch of fifty leagues, first west and then north, brought him to a bolder territory, Nova Scotia, covered with dense forests of fir, pine, and other trees of a northern climate.

The inhabitants were fiercer, and carried on trade only under jealous precautions. In a subsequent run of the same extent, he discovered thirty small islands, with narrow channels running between them, being such as are known to stud the northern coast of that country and the adjacent one of Cape Breton. Lastly, by sailing one hundred and fifty leagues farther, he reached in fifty de grees, the land discovered by the Britons (Newfound iand or Labrador.) His stock of victuals being spent, he here took in water and returned to France. Verazzano, on the 8th of July, 1524, wrote to the king from Dieppe, a narrative of this voyage. Ramusio heard from different quarters that he had submitted to that monarch the plan of a colony; and the general belief is, that he was again employed by him. Claims so extensive and so feebly supported as those of Spain to North America were not likely to remain long undisputed.