History of the United States of America, from the discovery of the continent in 1492, to the fiftieth anniversary of their independence

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Dedication

To the Youth connected icith the Sunday School Union of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Dear Youth :— I have written the following pages expressly for you. There are a great many reasons why you should become acquainted with the history of the country where you were born, and the particulars by which that country is disUnguished from other portions of

the world.

Among other things you have probably beef? taught, and certainly you should never forget, that your highest interests, and your greatest felicity, depend on your being good ; and it is a truth of equal importance, that the second object of your existence is, that you may do good.

Preface

The following history was undertaken at the request of the editors of the Sabbath School and Youth's Library of the Methodist Episcopal

Church.

It embraces an account of the discovery ot the American continent, and the various settle, ments made by different nations, within the present limits of the United States ; together with notices of the population, government, rehgion, arts, and employments of its original inhabitants. It also describes the growth of the colonies, the many distressing wars and calamities in which they were involved, and a particular detail of the'circumstances which finally separated them from the government of England, and established their national independence. It is interspersed with narrations of many interesting incidents and remarkable facts ; and the whole is accompanied with observations and reflections designed to illustrate and set forth the most prominent features in the manners, customs, and government of the people of this country.

It has not been the author's aim to adapt his language to the nursery in the composition of

6 PREFACE.

the following pages, because the book may possibly be read by young people. He has endeavoured to avoid the too frequent dryness of mere annals on the one hand, and the tiresome diffuseness of laboured description on the other, and to render this book such a one as may not be read without some pleasure and profit, both by the young and the old.

No history in the world presents so many interesting combinations of piety, wisdom, patriotism, and daring enterprise, as that of these United States, and none exhibits more striking instances of a Divine Providence in the government and direction of the aliairs of men. For this reason its study should be one of the first things to interest the attention of our youth, while its pages may assist the pleasing reminiscences of riper years.

The want of time prevents that revision and polish which this work ought to receive before it goes to the press ; but this is impossible, as every page of it has been written in the course of a few weeks, while the author has been under the hands of a physician, and upon a journey for the benefit of his health.

New. York, Sept. 8,1834.

Introduction

History — Its object — Advantages to be derived from its study.

1. History, in general, is a narrative, or description, of past or present events. It calls up and sets before the mind of the reader the causes which have contributed to the formation of the characters of eminent men, as well as those which have aided more or less in the rise and fall of empires. It sets before us instances of virtue and patriotism, which are worthy of our imitation, while at the same time it warns us against the repetition of those vices, which have always been followed with misery and the curse of God.

2. The dealings of God with his intelligent creatures, his disposition toward them, and his general government over the world, may be traced on the pages of the faithful historian. Here we learn that there can be no real prosperity without his blessing ; — that he holds the sceptre of universal dominion, and dispenses his blessings upon nations and individuals, that he may secure their faithfulness in the discharge of the various duties which they respectively owe to him.

3. The people of these United States enjoy many blessings, with which no other nation

8 INTRODUCTION,

since the beginning of tiie world was ever favoured. Hence it becomes exceedingly important for all to acquaint themselves with the means which have made this nation what it is ; — that we may acknowledge our gratitude to the great Disposer of all events, and learn not to forfeit, by our vices and infidelity, the manifold mercies by which we have been distinguished.

HISTORY

UNITED STATES.

CHAPTER I. Discovery of America by Cabot and Columbus

1. That portion of the world generally denominated America, was accidentally discovered in the attempts which were made in A. D. 1492, to reach the East Indies trom the ports of Europe. There is no evidence that this continent was ever known to any of the ancient Europeans previous to this time. The Portuguese, some years before, had attempted to find a passage to tiie East Indies, by sailing round the southern extremity of x\frica, but without success.

2. It is supposed that these efforts of the Portuguese, together with the circumstance of pieces of carved wood, a canoe, and two human bodies, of a different complexion from any known to Europeans, having been driven, by westerly winds, upon the shores of some islands which lay near to Europe, induced Christopher Columbus to engage in the enterprise of seeking a passage to the East Indies, by sailing directly

west.

3. Columbus himself, however, was not able to meet the expenses of such an expedition ;

but unwilling to abandon it on this account, he applied tor assistance from his native city, Genoa. The appeal was ineflectual. His countrymen saw no cause for advancing funds to aid in an undertaking which appeared to them so perfectly futile and visionary.

4. This enterprising navigator made a number of unsuccessful efforts to obtain assistance, and it was not till he had spent a number of years in fruitless begging, that he finally sueceeded in obtaining the help which he so much desired. This was granted by Ferdinand and Isabella, who were then on the united thrones of Castile and Aragon.

Columbus set sail from Palos, in Spain, on the 3d of August, 1492. His fleet consisted of three vessels, the Santa Maria, Pinta, and JVina, which were manned with ninety men,

5. In nine days after his departure he touched at the Canary islands ; and after having taken in some provisions for the voyage, he began again to trace his way upon the trackless ocean. They had proceeded about six hundred miles from the most westerly of the Canaries, when an event occurred which exceedingly alarmed the pilots and mariners. It was observed that the magnetic needle did not point, as usual, directly to the north star. Columbus, however, contrived some method which seems to have quieted their fears for awhile ; but this quiet did not last long. The crew now became generally discontented, and some of them insisted, peremptorily, on his immediate return to Spain ; others pro-

HISTORY OF THE U>ITED STATES. 11

posed to cast liim into the sea, and return without him ; and they were pacitied only by his promising to return, if land should not be discovered within the space of three days.

6. Happily, at ten o'clock in the evening of October 11, a light was discovered by Columbus, which was hailed with loud acclamations of joy, as the sign of their immediate approach to land. The whole crew kept watch that night in sleepless anxiety. Early the next morning the boats were manned and armed, and they put for the shore. In the meantime, the sight of their ships, arid their music, had drawn multitudes of the natives to the surrounding shore, who were seen gazing upon this strange scene with mingled emotions of astonishment and surprise.

7. Columbus, with his drawn sword, and richly ornamented with his finest dress, stepped first upon the land ; the crew followed, when they all fell upon their knees, and kissed the ground with tears of gratitude and joy. Columbus took possession of the island in the name of his king and queen, by erecting the flag of his country, and calling it San Salvador ; but the natives called it Guanahaiii.

8. Columbus tarried at this island but a kw days, and then proceeded to make further discoveries. October 27, he discovered the island of Cuba, which he called Juanna. He sailed from Cuba on the .5th of December, and on the following day discovered Hayti, which he called Hispaniola, in honour of his own country. While here, he unfortunately lost one of his ships. By this misfortune the sympathy of the natives was exceedingly excited. They brought their canoes to save what they could from the wreck. The Indian cazique, or chief, prepared a house for the accommodation of the Spaniards, appointed his men to guard their property, and did all in his power to promote their comfort.

9. On January 16, 1493, Columbus set sail for Spain. They were overtaken by a most violent storm, February 14, and threatened with immediate destruction. In this extremity the admiral and the whole crew united in commending themselves to the care and protection of almighty God. To prevent the total loss of his discoveries, he wrote an account of them, folded the manuscript in a piece of oiled cloth, and sealed this up in wax ; and putting it into a light cask, he threw it into the sea, in hopes that if himself and crew were all lost, this writing might float to some distant shore, and make known the success of his adventures.

10. But Columbus and his companions were providentially preserved. On the 15th of March he arrived at Palos, where he was received with joy, and distinguished with special marks of honour by the king and queen, under whose patronage he had sailed.

The fame of this voyage led the way for the discovery of America. This honour, however, was reserved for two Venetians, John Cabot, and his son Sabastian. The father, under a commission from Henry Vli., king of England, commenced the voyage v/hich resulted in this

HISTORY OF THE U>'ITED STATES. 13

important event, in May, 1497. This voyage was undertaken with the hope of finding a northwest passage to India. On June 2'ith they discovered Newfoundland, and a few days after St. John's ; an island which they so named, from the circumstance of its having been first seen on the day of John the Baptist, which is a feast day among the Roman Catholics. They then stretched along the coast of this new world, till they had proceeded as far south as Florida. The want of provisions, and difficulty among the sailors, now induced them to return to England. It was upon the discoveries made in this voyage, that the English founded their claim to the eastern portion of North America.

11. The spirit of discovery now began to spread itself extensively throughout Europe. In 1499 a voyage to the new world was undertaken by Alonso de Ojeda, who had formerly been an officer under Columbus in his first voyage. Ojeda was accompanied by a Florentine gentleman of more than ordinary accomplishments, by the name of Amerigo Vespucci. It was the interesting account which he gave of the new continent, which led to its being called America^ after his name.

12. No attempt was made to settle a colony in any part of America, which is now included within the bounds of the United States, till the year 1502. And this first attempt appears to have been started by religious persecution. It was planned by a company of French Protestants. They are supposed to have landed some.

where within the present limits of South Carohna, where a fort was built. The effort, however, was unsuccessful.

13. In 1584 two ships were sent to America by Sir Walter Raleigh. They arrived on the coast of North America, July 4. They first landed on the island of Wocokon, and proceeded to take formal possession of the country in the name of the then queen of England. They then went to an island called Roanoke, which lies at the mouth of Albemarle sound in North Carolina. After continuing here awhile, and trading with the natives, in September they returned to England. The description which these adventurers gave of this new country on their return, so interested Queen Elizabeth, that she determined to call it Virginia, in commemoration of its having been discovered during her reign, and while she was unmarried.

14. After this, a number of unsuccessful efforts were made, at ditierent times, to efiect the settlement of a permanent colony on this coast. In 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold sailed from England to the coast of North America, by a new route. Instead of taking the Canaries and West Indies in his course as others had done before him, he sailed directly west, and in a veiy short time he discovered land. To one place he gave the name of Cape Cod, from the circum.slance of a large quantity of cod fish being found in the waters around it. He also discovered Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, Buzzard's Bay, and one of the Elizabeth Islands.

Chapter II

British Colonies — The first permanent settlement in Virginia.

1. The first permanent settlement which was ever effected \vithin the limits of the United States was commenced in 1607. A fleet of three ships, under the command of Christopher Newport, with about one hundred emigrants on board, sailed from England in December 1606. A storm prevented their landing at Roanoke, as they designed, and by whicli they were driven to the north as far as the Chesapeake Bay, into which they entered, April 26, 1607. Until the middle of the next month they were employed in searching for a suitable place for commencing a settlement. They finally landed and took possession of a place about forty miles from the mouth of the Powhatan River, but which they called James River. They immediatel}^ proceeded to fell the trees and make preparations for their intended settlement, and in honour of the king under whose patent they sailed, the place was called Jamestown.

2. The government of this colony consisted of a council of seven persons, who were appointed by the company under whose auspices they had sailed. The names of this council, together with the instructions from the king, were brought over from England with the emigrants, sealed up in a box, and were not made known to any one till after they had gained the place of their destination.

3. These adventurers had proceeded but a littie way in their labours, before they were thwarted by sad calamities. Before the conclusion of this year, the store house, containing their provisions, took fire, and was entirely consumed, together with the principal part of their private goods and dwellings ; and during the summer and fall more than fifty persons died from the effects of the chmate.

4. In November, of this year. Captain John Smith, who was a member of the council, started with a company of fifteen men to discover the source of the Chickahominy. He was very soon after surprised by the Indians and taken prisoner. The Indians, it is probable, were provoked to this attack by Captain Smith's conduct toward them before this, as he had cheated the natives, it seems, in his attempts to obtain corn of them, and at one time he had stolen an idol from them, for the redemption of which they paid a large quantity of corn. This conduct in Captain Smith was certainly reprehensible, exceedingly so ; and as the sequel proves, it like to have cost him his life.

5. He was now carried in triumph through a number of their villages, to their chief or king. After being detained six weeks, a council was called to deliberate on his fate. He was doomed to have his brains beaten out with a war club. To this end he was forcibly dragged to a couple of large stones which had been brought for this purpose, his head was placed upon them, and the weapon of death raised to complete the work of destruction. At this moment, Pocahontas, a

HISTORY OF THE Ur^ITED STATES. 17

favourite daughter of the king, rushed to the prisoner, clasped his head in her arms, and in tears, entreated her father to spare his hte. She prevailed. The war club dropped from the brawny hand of the savage, and in two days after Smith was sent back to Jamestown with twelve Indians for his guides.

6. It is not known that the natives, found in any part of this country, were ever unkind to strangers unless they were first provoked to revenge by the whites. On the contrary, they were always hospitable to such as approached them as friends, and seemed to feel pecuhar delight in administering to their wants. When Captain Newport and his company first landed, after their arrival from England, large numbers of the natives came down to the shore to confer with him on the object of his coming ; and when the English made signs of peace, they were received by^ the untutored sons of the forest with the utmost cordiality and friendship, and were offered as much land for the purpose of settlements as they desired.

7. In August, 1607, a company of emigrants to the number of one hundred sailed from Plymouth, England, and landed on a peninsula or island, at the mouth of Kennebec River. The first thing they did after reaching the shore was to hear a sermon from their minister, after which the laws were read by which they were to be governed. The ships in which they sailed returned in the following December, and forty-five persons were left in the colony. But these became discouraged in the course of the next year, and where so overwhelmed ^\ ith a series of misfortunes that befell them, that they all returned to the mother country, and the colony was given up.

8. The company in London, for colonizing Virginia, in 1609 obtained a new charter from the king, with greater privileges than the first. They immediately despatched nine ships, with five hundred emigrants on board, to augment the rising colony ; but all of them did not arrive till some time in the fall. Circumstances now seemed to render the natives jealous of the increasing numbers of the whites. Accordingly a plan was fixed for their destruction ; and but for the timely notice given by the same girl who saved the life of Captain Smith, (see 5, above,) this plot had proved latal. She was now only about twelve years of age, and yet, at the hazard of her life, she walked to the settlement of Jamestown, in a dark and dreary night, on purpose to make tlie English acquainted with her father's design, whicii had been formed for their destruction. This attempt of the natives was provoked by an attack ^^•hich a party of the whites made on some Indians at the falls of James River.

In the beginning of 1610 the colony became exceedingly disheartened and reduced by a dreadful famine. It prevailed to such an extent, that the people were induced to subsist on the skins of animals, and finally on human flesh. In the space of six months the colony was reduced from five hundred persons to sixty.

9. It was some time during the year 1612 that a Captain Argal, while on a voyage for trade to the Potomac, visited Pocahontas, who was then somewhere in the vicinity ; he prevailed on her to accompany him to his vessel. He supposed that by detaining her among the English at Jamestown, the hostile feelings of her father, who was then at war with the whites, would he subdued. Powhatan, however, refused to be brought to terms of peace in this way. Her stay at Jamestown, in the meantime, was not without its advantages to the English. The sympathy and noble interest which she had manifested for the whites, won the affections of Mr. Rolfe, a young man, who was a planter in the colony. Powhatan consented to their marriage ; and as the consequence of this union peace was restored between the contending parties. This couple afterward went over to England, where the young princess was treated with great respect and attention by the king and nobility. She died when about to return to America, universally beloved for her kindness and friendship to the white people.

10. The Dutch commenced a settlement and built a fort on Hudson's River, where Albany now stands, in 1614 ; and the next year they commenced another settlement on what was then called Manhattan, now Ncw-York. John Smith, who has been mentioned before, (see 4, above,) having some time previously returned to England, was sent out this year with two ships to New-England, which was then known by the name of North Virginia. After visiting this coast to some considerable extent, and trading with the natives, he returned to England. The description which he gave of that part of the country which he visited was exceedingly interesting to Prince Charles, hence he determined that it should be called New-England.

11. It is worthy of notice here, that efforts were made to found a college or university, within the bounds of the Virginia colon)-, as early as 1619; and one thousand five hundred pounds sterling were collected for this noble purpose in England. And another event occurred about this time which marked this period as one never to be forgotten. Twenty innocent and defenceless Africans were brought into James River, and offered for sale as slaves by the Dutch. They were purchased ^^ithout any hesitancy by the colonists, and doomed to unending bondage. "This," says Hale, "was the commencement, in the English American colonies, of a traffic, abhorrent to humanity, disgraceful to civilization, and fixing the foulest blot upon the character of the age and people."

CHAPTER III. British Colonies — Settlement of New-England

1. It would seem that every American must feel a peculiar interest in tracing the early history of his native country. In this kind of history there is a peculiar charm, which the combined excellencies of truth, and heroism, and virtue, and enterprise cannot fail to spread before the mind.

In this chapter we shall find instances of cou. rage, and faith, and perseverance, which will be held in pleasing remembrance by the virtuous and good as long as the world shall endure.

2. The first permanent settlement which was ever effected in that part of the United States called New-England, was formed in 1620, by a sect known by the name of PwitansJ* This name appears to have been given them in the same way that the name of " Methodist" was first given to the Messrs. Wesleys at Oxford college, in England. They were persecuted in many instances with unrelenting severity ; and to avoid which, a company of them formed the design of escaping to America. After many protracted hardships, which they suffered in their attempts to find a resting place for themselves and posterity, they anchored in Cape Cod harbour, November 10.

3. The next day, after having engaged in solemn prayer and thanksgiving to God, the company formed a kind of contract with each other, for their future government. After this, some of the men armed themselves and went on shore for wood, and to make discoveries ; they all returned, in the evening, without having seen any of the natives or the places of their habitation.

* Because they professed the attainment of greater purity than others.

They did not find a place which they judged suitable for a permanent residence, till Monday, December 11. This place they afterward called Plymouth, in memory of the Christian friends whom they left at a town of this name, when they took their departure from the mother country. The whole company went on shore, December 23, and very soon engaged in building, and in preparations to defend themselves against the inclemency of the winter and the attacks of the savages.

A most distressing mortality broke out among the colonists, and within three months after their arrival, scarcely fifty, out of the one hundred and one of their original number, remained alive. But in November, 1621, another ship arrived from England with thirty. five emigrants, who were now added to the colony.

4. During this year a.fiee school was founded in Virginia. The college also at Henrico, mentioned chap, ii, 11, received new additions to its funds. That the cause of education should receive such attention at this early period, certainly shows well in the history of those ancient times. Connected with this also may be mentioned, the provision which the Virginia company made at this time for the support of the Gospel ministry. Each minister was allowed a quantity of produce, estimated at two hundred pounds per year.

5. March 22, 1622. A terrible massacre was perpetrated by the Indians on the Virginia colony. It is said to have been planned by the

HISTOKY OF THE UNITED STATES. 23

savages to revenge the death of one of their warriors who was slain by the whites. And it is acknowledged by ail who have examined the history of this country, that in too many instances the English were not at all careful about preserving the friendship and good will of the natives. Frequent hostilities and bloodshed were the consequence.

Three hundred and forty-seven persons, of both sexes, and of all ages, fell victims to savage barbarity in this conflict, during one day; and it was followed with a fierce and exterminating war ; and to this was added the horrors and miseries of a most severe famine.

A reinforcement of one thousand three hundred persons was made to the colony from England this year ; so that the losses by war and famine were more than counterbalanced.

6. In the beginning of 1623, a most severe drought prevailed among the people in Plymouth, which induced the government to appoint a day of fasting and prayer ; and a day of public thanksgiving also was soon after set apart to acknowledge the goodness of God in the showers which he sent them. This was probably the commencement of the custom which prevails in New-England, and some others of the states, of appointing days of public fasting and thanksgiving.

A settlement at Cape Ann was commenced in 1624, and another at a place which the settlers called Weymouth ; both being within the bounds of what afterward became the state of Massachusetts.

7. The foundation for the colony of Massachusetts was commenced this year, 1628. The first settlement was begun by a small company under the government of John Endicot, at a place called Naumkeak by the Indians, but the settlers gave it the name of Salem, and by this name it has ever since been known. In the course of the next year a company left this place, and began a settlement at Mishawum. To this place they gave the name of Charlestown.

Measures were taken during the fall of this year, 1629, to plant a colony within the bounds of what is now called the state of New-Hampshire. Two small settlements, however, had been commenced within these bounds as early as 1623, one of them at a place called Little Hober, and the other at Dover.

8. During the summer of 1630 a settlement was begun where the city of Boston now stands. The place was then called, by the Indians* Shawmut ; — and others also at Dorchester, Watertown, and Roxbury, in the same vicinity. Much suffering among the people of Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies was occasioned during the winter of this year by the severity of the weather ; such intense cold had never been experienced by any of the inhabitants before ; there was a scarcity of provision also among them, and many of the people died. Notwithstanding the hardships and calamities with which those early settlers of this soil were assailed, yet they continued firm and unshaken in their pur-

HISTOltY OF THE UNITED STATES. '25

pose, without ever regretting the pains and expense they had taken to secure for themselves and posterity the privileges and blessings of religious freedom.

9. Various laws were passed by the Massachusetts legislature during the years 16,32-3. The court of assistants ordered that no member of the colony should make any use of tobaccopuftlicly, and that every person should pay the sum of one penny as a tax or fine for making use of this noxious weed in any place. However singular this law may seem to us at this time, there can be no doubt but that it would add much to the health of the people were such a law to be made and enforced in every state throughout the union.

A law was passed requiring constables to present to the magistrates for correction, all " unprofitable fowlers" and " tobacco fakers" The prices of labour were fixed also by the government for mechanics ; and it was ordered, that no articles for trade imported from England should be sold for more than four pence on a shilling, above the first cost.

To account for these and other laws passed by those early settlers of this country, we must consider the object which they had in view in coming here, which was the establishment of a commonwealth, strictly religious in its cha. racter and operations. Hence, in 1681, it was decreed by a general court, that no one should be admitted a member of the corporation, or be allowed the privilege of voting,

26 IIlSTOllY OF THE UNITED STATES.

who had not previously made a pubUc profession of rehgion.