Hero Stories from American History, by Albert F. Blaisdell and Francis K. Ball This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Hero Stories from American History For Elementary Schools Author: Albert F. Blaisdell Francis K. Ball Release Date: January 26, 2010 [EBook #31092] Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY *** Produced by Ron Swanson [Frontispiece: "'Tis the star-spangled banner: O, long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"] HERO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Hero Stories from American History, by 1 BY ALBERT F. BLAISDELL AUTHOR OF "STORIES FROM ENGLISH HISTORY," "THE STORY OF AMERICAN HISTORY," ETC., ETC. AND FRANCIS K. BALL INSTRUCTOR IN THE PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY GINN AND COMPANY BOSTON . NEW YORK . CHICAGO . LONDON ATLANTA . DALLAS . COLUMBUS . SAN FRANCISCO ENTERED AT STATIONERS' HALL COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY ALBERT F. BLAISDELL AND FRANCIS K. BALL ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA The Athenaeum Press GINN AND COMPANY . PROPRIETORS . BOSTON . U.S.A. TO Edwin Ginn FINANCIER EDUCATOR PHILANTHROPIST PREFACE This book is intended to be used as a supplementary historical reader for the sixth and seventh grades of our public schools, or for any other pupils from twelve to fifteen years of age. It is also designed for collateral reading in connection with the study of a formal text-book on American history. The period here included is the first fifty years of our national life. No attempt has been made, however, to present a connected account, or to furnish a bird's-eye view, of this half century. It is the universal testimony of experienced teachers that such materials as are pervaded with reality serve a useful purpose with young pupils. The reason is plain. Historical matter that is instinct with human life attracts and holds the attention of boys and girls, and whets their desire to know more of the real meaning of their country's history. For this reason the authors have selected rapid historical narratives, treating of notable and dramatic events, and have embellished them with more details than is feasible within the limits of most school-books. Free use has been made of personal incidents and anecdotes, which thrill us because of their human element, and smack of the picturesque life of our forefathers. It has seemed advisable to arrange the subjects in chronological order. As the various chapters have appeared in proof, they have been put to a practical test in the sixth grade in several grammar schools. In a number of instances the pupils learned that, in the first reading, some of the stories were less difficult than others. From the nature of the subject-matter this is inevitable. For instance, it was found easier, and doubtless more interesting, to read "The Patriot Spy" and "A Daring Exploit" before beginning "The Hero of Vincennes" and "The Crisis." "Old Ironsides" will at first probably appeal to more young people than "The Final Victory." An historical reader would truly be of little value if it could be read at a glance, like so many insipid storybooks, and then thrown aside. Hence, it is suggested that teachers, after becoming familiar with the general scope of this book and gauging with some care the capabilities of their pupils, should, if they find it for the best interests of their classes, change the order of the chapters for the first reading. But in the second, or review reading, they should follow the chronological order. Hero Stories from American History, by 2 The attention of teachers is called to the questions for review, the pronunciation of proper names, and the reference books and supplementary reading in American history mentioned after the chapters below. The index (also below) is made full for purposes of reference and review. In the preparation of this book, old journals, original records and documents, and sundry other trustworthy sources have been diligently consulted and freely utilized. We would acknowledge our indebtedness to Mrs. Janet Nettleton Ball, who has aided us materially at several stages of our work; and to Mr. Ralph Hartt Bowles, Instructor in English in The Phillips Exeter Academy, for valuable assistance in reading the manuscript and the proofs. ALBERT F. BLAISDELL, FRANCIS K. BALL. BOSTON, March, 1903. CONTENTS Hero Stories from American History, by 3 CHAPTER I PAGE THE HERO OF VINCENNES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 CHAPTER I 4 CHAPTER II A MIDWINTER CAMPAIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 CHAPTER II 5 CHAPTER III HOW PALMETTO LOGS MAY BE USED . . . . . . . . . . . 36 CHAPTER III 6 CHAPTER IV THE PATRIOT SPY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 CHAPTER IV 7 CHAPTER V OUR GREATEST PATRIOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 CHAPTER V 8 CHAPTER VI A MIDNIGHT SURPRISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 CHAPTER VI 9 CHAPTER VII THE DEFEAT OF THE RED DRAGOONS . . . . . . . . . . 90 CHAPTER VII 10 [...]... QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 217 PRONUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES 231 BOOKS FOR REFERENCE AND READING IN THE STUDY OF AMERICAN HISTORY 233 INDEX 241 {1} HERO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY CHAPTER I 18 CHAPTER I THE HERO OF VINCENNES Early in 1775 Daniel Boone, the famous hunter and Indian fighter, with thirty other backwoodsmen, set out from the... they did not care for the British, and were much afraid of the pioneers Clark was a keen and far-sighted soldier He knew that it took all the wisdom and courage of his fellow settlers to defend their own homes He must bring the main part of his force from Virginia Two weeks before Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, he tramped through the woods for the third time, to lay his cause before Patrick Henry,... deserted French fort opposite the mouth of the Tennessee River, and from there to march across the country against Kaskaskia, the nearest Illinois town He did not dare to go up the Mississippi, the usual way of the fur traders, for fear of discovery At the landing place, the army was joined by a band of American hunters who had just come from the French settlements These hunters said that the fort at Kaskaskia... half a dozen rifles outside the fort "That is Clark, and your time is short!" cried Captain Helm, who was Hamilton's prisoner at this time; "he will have this fort tumbling on your heads before to-morrow morning." [Illustration: Defending a Frontier Fort against the British and Indians] During the night the Americans threw up an intrenchment within rifle shot of the fort, and at daybreak opened a hot... But, even from the first, things did not turn out as the British expected After firing some fifty shells, which buried themselves in the loose sand and did not explode, the bomb vessel broke down About noon, the flagship signaled to three of the men-of-war, "Move down and take position southwest of the fort." Once there, the platforms inside the fort could be raked from end to end As good fortune would... Meanwhile, where was Sir Henry Clinton? For nearly three weeks he had been encamped with some two thousand men on the sand bar known as Long Island The men had suffered fearfully from the heat, from lack of water, and from the mosquitoes During the bombardment of Fort Sullivan, Sir Henry marched his men down to the end of the sand island, but could not cross; for the water in the inlet proved to be... party of ladies, and presented a silk banner to the fort Calling for Sergeant Jasper, he took his own short sword from his side, buckled it on him, and thanked him in the name of his country He also offered him a lieutenant's commission, but the young hero modestly refused the honor, saying, "I am not fitted for an officer; I am only a sergeant." For several days, the crippled British fleet lay in... there was a great swamp In this bog two companies lost their way, and waded knee-deep in the mire for ten miles in endless circles Reaching a little hillock after dark, they stood up all night long to keep from freezing Each man was for himself in the struggle for life The strong dared not halt to help the weak for fear they too should perish "Alas! alas!" writes one soldier, "these horrid spectacles! my... sailed from Boston for the Cape Fear River The minutemen of the Old North State rallied from far and near, as they had done in Massachusetts after the battle of Lexington Within ten days, there were ten thousand men ready to fight the redcoats And so when Sir Henry arrived off the coast, he decided, {37} like a prudent man, not to land; but cruised along the shore, waiting for the coming of war vessels from. .. to the ground, to give room for the fire of cannon and muskets from various lines of earthworks; seven hundred wagons belonging to loyalists were pressed into service, to help build redoubts; owners of houses gave the lead from their windows, to be cast into bullets; fire boats were made ready to burn the enemy's vessels, if they passed the forts The militia came pouring in from the neighboring colonies . brave!"] HERO STORIES FROM AMERICAN HISTORY FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Hero Stories from American History, by 1 BY ALBERT F. BLAISDELL AUTHOR OF " ;STORIES FROM. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: Hero Stories from American History For Elementary Schools Author: Albert F. Blaisdell Francis K. Ball Release