This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com 3 3433 08173400 0 UNITED STATES BOOK; OH, INTERESTING EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES: SEIKO A FtLECTION OP THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INTEREST ING EVENTS WHICH HAVE TRANSPIRED SINCE THE DISCO VERY OP THIS COUNTRY, TO THE PRESENT TIME ; WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PERSONS DISTINGUISHED IN AMERICAN HISTORY COMPILED FROM THE MOST APPROVED At'THOKITIES, BY J. W. BARBER. NEW HAVEN : 1834. ~ f 1968715 [Entered according to ati 01 Barber, arber, inin the Clerk's Office of PREFACE. AUTHENTIC accounts of important events which have taken place in past ages, are of much utility ; especially to the coun tries and people whose affairs are related. In a country like ours, it seems necessary to the existence of true and enlight ened patriotism, that every person should possess some know ledge of the history of his own country. By the aid of history we can call up past scenes and events in review — we can see the effects they have had upon the nations before us, and from ihence we can learn wisdom for the future. It is, in reality, interesting and instructive to every intelligent mind, to be transported back to the time of the first settlement of our coun try, to observe the courage, fortitude, and self-denial of our forefathers, amidst many surrounding dangers, difficulties, and privations, — their unconquerable love of freedom, — the resist ance they manifested to tyranny in all its shapes, — anil the final success of their efforts to preserve the freedom and in dependence of their country entire. This work is not designed for the information of those who are conversant with the history of our country in all its parts ; (this class of community is comparatively small;) but for those who cannot spare the time or expense of reading or procuring a full and complete history. The object of the work is to give an account, in a short but comprehensive manner, of the most important and interesting events which have taken place in our country, nearly all of which are arranged in chronological order. Those events which are deemed of minor importance, are inserted in the Chronological Tables, at the end of the hook, as every event which is mentioned could not be detailed, without swelling the book to an expensive size. 39x688 4 PREFACE. It is believed that this work will be found useful as a refer ence book, for events recorded in American history ; there be ing, it is presumed, no event of any very considerable impor tance, which is not noticed in its pages. In making the selection of events, care has been taken to consult the most approved authorities ; and the compiler would here state, that he feels himself under particular obligations to HOLMES' AMERICAS ANNALS, the most valuable work of the kiml which has ever appeared in this country, — a work from which a great proportion of the late Histones of the United States have been benefited, either directly or indirect!}'. Other authors have also been consulted, and extracts taken from them in man)' instance?, as will be perceived in exam ining the work. In this edition, many accounts given in the previous ones are considerably enlarged, an outline history of the United States is prefixed, and a short biographical sketch of some of the most distinguished men in American history, is given ; the constitution of the United States, and Washington's farewell address, besides other additions. The numerous en gravings interspersed through the book, it is thought, will be of utility in making the work interesting, and of filing the facts more firmly in the mind. J. W. B. CONTENTS. Outline History of the United States, - - - PAGE 9 North American Indians, 27 Expeditions of Ferdinand de Soto and M. de la Salle, - 32 Introduction of the use of Tobacco, - ... 33 Settlement of Jamestown, Va., - - - - ' - 34 Pocahontas, --.-.,... 36 Plymouth settlers, 38 Discovery of Indian corn, ...... 39 Massasoit, the Indian Sachem, ..... 40 Exploits of Capt. Standish, ---•.-. 41 First settlements in Connecticut, ..... 43 Blue Laws of Connecticut, ..... 44 Earthquakes, ....47 Indian cunning and sagacity, ..... 49 Expedition against the Pequots, ----- 49 Elliot, the Indian Missionary, ..... 53 King Philip's War.— Attack on Brookfield, 53 Swamp fight with the Narragansetts, .... 54 Death of King Philip, 56 Bacon's Insurrection in Virginia, •i 57 The Regicides, Goffe and Whalley, 58 William Penn, -- 60 Tyranny of Andros, - - - -- - - 61 Preservation of the Charter of Connecticut, - 62 Destruction of Schenectady, --.... 64 First culture of Rice in the Colonies, .... 64 Salem Witchcraft, 65 Captain Kidd, the Pirate, ...... 66 Great Snow Storm, ----....68 Dark Days, 71 Northern Lights, -.---...72 Gov. Fletcher and Capt. Wadsworth, .... 71* 6 CONTENTS. War with the Tuscaroras, ----- page 75 War with the Yamasees, ------ 76 Inoculation introduced, ----- 78 Father Ralle, the French Jesuit, ----- 80 Natchez Indians extirpated, ------ 81 Negro Insurrection in Carolina, 82 Invasion of Georgia, - - - - - - • - 83 Capture of Louisburg, - - 85 D'Anville's Expedition, 86 Tumult in Boston, 88 Braddock's Defeat, - - - - ' - - - - 89 Massacre at Fort 'William Henry, ... - 90 Abercrombie's Defeat, 92 Capture of Quebec, - -- -- -- 93 War with the Cherokees, 95 Expeditions against the Spanish settlements in the W. Indies, 99 Dr. Franklin's Experiment in Electricity, - - - 100 Whitefield, the celebrated Preacher, - - - - 102 Col. Boon's first settlement of Kentucky, - - - 103 Stamp Act, 107 Massacre in Boston, 108 Destruction of Tea in Boston, - - - - 110 First .Continental Congress, Ill Battle of Lexington, 113 Taking of Ticonderoga by Col. Allen, - 115 Battle of Bunker Hill, 117 Arnold's march through the Wilderness, ... 125 Death of Gen. Montgomery, 126 Washington Commander in Chief of the American Army, 128 Attack on Sullivan's Island, 130 Declaration of Independence, ----- 132 Battle on Long Island, 134 Death of Capt. Hale, - - 137 Battle of Trenton, 139 Battle of Princeton, 141 Battle of Brandy wine, 142 Battle of Germantown, and attack on Red Bank, - - 144 Murder of Miss McCrea, - - ^ - - - - 145 CONTENTS. 7 Battle of Bennington and Capture of Burgoyne, - PIOE 146 Treaty with France, ------- 150 Battle of Monmouth or Freehold, 151 Taking of Savannah and Charleston, ... 153 Paul Jones' Naval Battle, 154 Gen. Putnam's Escape at Horseneck, and Wolf Den, - 155 Storming of Stony Point, - - - - - - 157 Battle of Camden, 158 Murder of Mrs. and Mr. Caldwell, 159 Massacre of Wyoming, 161 Distress and mutiny of the American Army, - - 162 Capture of Andre and Treason of Arnold, - * - ••' 165 Battle at King's Mountain, ------ 167 Battle of the Cowpens, - 170 Battle of Guilford, -------- 171 Battle of Eutaw Springs, 172 Storming of Fort Griswold, ------ 174 Siege of Yorktown and Surrender of Cornwallis, - 175 -Washington taking leave of the Army, - - - 178 Continental Money, ....... 178 Shays' Insurrection in Massachusetts, ... - 180 Adoption of the Federal Constitution, - - - 181 Inauguration of President Washington, ... 183 Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania, ... 184 Yellow Fever in Philadelphia in 1793, 185 St. Clair's Defeat and Wayne's Victory,- - * - 187 Difficulties with the French, - .189 Death of Washington, 191 Invention of Steamboats, 193 Wars with the Barbary States, 196 Burr's Conspiracy, ..---.. 200 Expeditions of Captains Lewis and Clark to thePaciflc Ocean, 204 Burning of the Theatre at Richmond, Va., - - 205 Second War with Great Britain, 207 Mob in Baltimore, 209 Gen. Hull's Surrender, 211 Capture of the Guerriere, ------ 213 Battle of Clueenstown, - - - 214 8 CONTENTS. Massacre at Fort Mimms, ..... PIGE 216 Capture of York, U. C., 217 Battle on Lake Erie, ---...- 219 Death of Tecumseh, 220 Barbarities of the British at Hampton, Va., - - 222 Battle of Niagara, 225 Burning of Washington City, ..... 228 Battle of Plattsburg, 230 Hartford Convention, 236 Gen. Jackson's Victory at New Orleans, - - - . 237 Bank of the United States, 240 Piracies in the West Indies, 246 Conspiracy of the Blacks in Charleston, S. C., - - 247 Western Antiquities, ....... 254 Erie Canal, 258 Gen. Lafayette's Visit, 26* Insurrection and Massacre in Virginia, (1831,) - - 262 Riot in Providence, R. I., (1831J 268- Chronological Table. — Discoveries, &c., ... 375 Wars and Military Events, ...... 377 Remarkable Events, 283 Colleges, 290 Biographical Sketches, ...... 391 Declaration of Independence, ..... 337 Constitution of the United States, .... 331 Farewell Address of Washington, 350 Circular Letter to the Governors of the States, - - 367 Farewell Orders to the Army of the U. States, - - 378 Indian Eloquence. — Speech of Logan, ... 385 Speeches of .the Seneca Chiefs, ..... 386 Speach of Farmer's Brother, ..... 393 Speeches of Red Jacket, 393 Speech at the Grave of Black Buffalo, ... 399 Speech of Red Jacket at Buffalo,, in 1805, 400 UNITED STATES BOOK, &c. OUTLINE HISTORY. AFTER the first daring and successful voyage of Co lumbus, the attention of the European governments was directed towards exploring the " new world." In the year 1497, John Cabot, a Venetian in the service of Henry VII. of England, first discovered the Island of Newfoundland, and from thence ranged the coast of the United States to Florida. The country was peopled by uncivilized nations, who subsisted chiefly by hunting and fishing. The Europeans who first visited our shores, treated the natives as wild beasts of the forest, which have no property in the forests through which they roam; and therefore planted the standard of their respective masters on the spot where they first landed, and in their names took possession of the country, which they claimed by right of discovery. Previous to any settlement in North America, many titles of this kind were acquired by the English, Dutch, French, and Spanish navigators. Slight as these claims were, they were afterwards the causes of much dispute and contention between the European go vernments.