ONIH'CTKD HY —
HARPER & BROTHERS
THi.
LIBRARY
OF
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
OON6UCTED
BY JARED SPARKS.
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS,
FOR ALSTON MYGATT.
1848.
LIVES
OF
ROBERT FULTON,
JOSEPH WARREN,
HENRY HUDSON,
AND
FATHER MARQUETTE
NEW YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHER^
FOR ALSTON MYGAT1
1848
Entered according to act of Congress in the jear 183?,.
by JAR ED SPARKS,
In the Clerk's office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts
CONTENTS
LIFE OF ROBERT FULTON,
BY JAMES RENWICK.
CHAPTER I.
Page.
Introduction
CHAPTER II.
Birth of Fulton. — He chooses the Profession
of a Painter. — His early Taste for Me
chanics — He settles in Philadelphia. — Em-
larks for England. — Resides in the Family
of West. — Removes to Devonshire. . . . 11
CHAPTER III.
His Acquaintance with the Duke of Bridge-
water and Earl Stanhope. — His Removal
from Devonshire, and Residence in Birming
ham. — He abandons Painting for the Pro
fession of an Engineer. — His first Idea of
a Steamboat communicated to Stanhope
He makes the Acquaintance of Watt 17
VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
His Plan of an Inclined Plane. — Work on
Inland Navigation. — His Torpedo. — His
Removal to France, and Residence there. . 23
CHAPTER V.
His Inventions while residing in Birmingham.
— His Letters to Washington, and the Gov
ernor of Pennsylvania. — His Submarine
Vessel. — Experiment with it at the Mouth
of the Seine. — He aids in introducing the
Panorama into France 29
CHAPTER VI.
Steam Navigation. — Watt. — Evans. — Fitch.
— Rumsey. — Miller, of Dalswinton. — Sym
ington 35
CHAPTER VII.
Further Attempts at Steam Navigation in the
United States. — Stevens. — Livingston. —
Roosevelt. — Livingston goes as Minister to
France. — Becomes acquainted with Fulton.
— Their Contract. — Experiments at Plom-
lieres. — Experimental Boat on the Seine. —
Engine ordered from Watt. — Its Pecu
liarities 45
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
Application of Livingston to the State of New
York for exclusive Privileges. — Fulton re
visits England. — Returns to the United
Slates. — First Steamboat built and tried. —
First Voyage to Albany. — Transactions of
the Summer of 1807 53
CHAPTER, IX.
Steamboat rebuilt. — Occupations of the Sum
mer of 1808. — Causes of Opposition to Ful
ton's Rights. — Rival Boats upon the Hud
son 60
CHAPTER X.
Fulton's Marriage. — His Success speedily cloud
ed by Opposition. — Nature and Sources of
the Opposition. — Claims derived from Fitch.
— Fulton's two Patents. — Simplicity of his
Methods 67
CHAPTER XI.
Conflicting Claims of the States of New York
and New Jersey. — Attempt to obtain a Re
peal of the Grant from the State of New
York. — Fulton's Steam Ferryboats. — Boat
for the Navigation of the Sound. — Boats
Vlll CON T E N T 3 .
planned by Fulton, and left unfinished at the
Time of his Death 73
CHAPTER XII.
Fulton's Torpedoes. — His Submarine Guns.
— Steam Frigate. — Submarine Vessel. —
He is called before the Legislature of New
Jersey as a Witness. — /s detained *on the
Hudson by the Ice. — His Illness. — Death
and Character . .82
LIFE OF JOSEPH WARREN,
BY ALEXANDER H. EVERETT.
CHAPTER I.
His Family and Education 93
CHAPTER II.
His Professional Studies and Practice. — En
trance into Political Life 99
CHAPTER III.
Events of the 5th of March, 1770. — War
ren's Anniversary Addresses 106
CONTENTS. lX
CHAPTER IV.
Political Organization of Massachusetts. —
Warren is elected President of the Provin
cial Congress, and Chairman of the Com
mittee of Public Safety. — Events of the
\3th of April, 1775 114
CHAPTER V.
Formation and Character of the New England
Army. — Warren is elected Major-General.
— Gridley. — Prescott. — Putnam. . . .124
CHAPTER VI
Strength and Disposition of the British Troops.
— The Americans occupy the Heights of
Charhstown 134
CHAPTER VII.
Commencement of the Action of the 17th of
June. — The British open their Batteries
upon the American Works. — The Americans
send for Reinforcements, and are joined by
the New Hampshire Troops, under Colonels
Stark and Reed. 144
CHAPTER VIII.
Progress of the Action. — A Detachment of
British Troops lands at Charlestown.—
X CONTENTS.
of the two Peninsulas and the neighboring
Country. — General Warren comes upon the
Field 152
CHAPTER IX.
General Howe attempts to storm the American
Works. — He is repulsed with great Loss.
— /// Conduct of the American Artillery. —
Gridley. — Gcrrish. — Callender 160
CHAPTER X.
Conflagration of Charlestown. — General Howe
attempts a second Time to storm the Amer
ican Works. — He is again repulsed with
great Loss. — Anecdote of General Putnam
and Major Small of the British Army. . 167
CHAPTER XL
Third Attack upon the American Works, which
proves successful. — The Americans leave the
Redoubt. — Death of Warren. . . . .172
CHAPTER XII.
Resolutions of the Continental Congress in
Honor of Warren.— His Wife and Family.
— Concluding Reflections 179
CONTENTS.
LIFE OF HENRY HUDSON,
BY HENRY R. CLEVELAND.
CHAPTER I.
Hudson's early History little known. — First
Voyage, in 1607. — Sails from Gravesend. —
Makes Discoveries on the Coast of Green-
land. — Sails thence to Spitzbergen. — Pro
ceeds Northward, to the Eighty-second Degree
of Latitude. — Attempts to find a Passage
around the North of Greenland. — Driven
back by the Ice. — Returns to the Southern
Parts of Spitzbcrgcn, and thence to England. 187
CHAPTER II.
Hudson's Second Voyage. — Sails from London
with the Design of seeking a Northeastern
Passage to India. — Passes the North Cape.
— Obstructed by Ice. — Arrives at Nova
Zcmbla. — Abandons the Hope of going
further North. — Explores an Inlet, or River ,
in Nova Zambia. — Resolves to return. —
Searches for Willoughby's Land.— Arrives
in England. ..... .... 199
CHAPTER III.
Hudson's Third Voyage. — He seeks Employ-
me?it from the Dutch East India Company.
Xll CONTENTS.
— Sails from Amsterdam. — Disappointed in
the Hope of passing through the Vaygats.
— Sails Westward, to the Bank of New
foundland, and thence to the Coast of Amer
ica. — Enters Penobscot Bay. — Intercourse
with the Natives. — Sails to Cape Cod, and
explores the Coast to the Southward. — Re
turns to the North. — Discovers the Outlet
of Hudson's River, and anchors in New
York Bay 209
CHAPTER IV.
Hudson explores the River which now bears his
Name. — Escape of the Hostages. — Strange
Experiment with the Natives,— Anchors near
the present Site of Albany. — Returns down
the River. — Battle icitli the Natives, near
HcboTcen. — Sails from the Bay, and leaves
America. — Arrives in England. .... 222
CHAPTER V.
Hudson1 s Fourth Voyage. — He engages in the
Service of the London Company. — Sails to
Iceland. — Disturbances among his Crew. —
Advances Westward. — In great Danger from
the Ice. — Enters and explores Hudson's
Bay. — Unsuccessful in the Search for a
Western Passage. — Determines to winter
in the Bay 233
CONT ENTS. Xlll
CHAPTER VI.
Dreary Prospect for the Winter. — Disturb
ances and Sufferings of the Crew. — Unex
pected Supply of Provisions. — Distress from
Famine. — Hudson sails from Ms Wintering-
Place. — Mutiny of Greene and Others. —
J>'ate oj Hudson and Eight of the Crew.
Fate of Greene and Others of the Muti
neers. — Return of the Vessel to England. 244
LIFE OF FATHER MARQUETTE,
BY JARED SPARKS 205
LlST OF THE LlVES IN THE FlRST TfiN VoL-
UMES 301
GENERAL INDEX TO THE FIRST TEN VOLUMES. 303
LIFE
ROBERT FULTON,
JAMES RENWICK, LL. D,
VOL. X. IB
ROBERT FULTON
CHAPTER I.
Introduction.
THE gratitude of mankind has not failed to
record with honor the names of those, who have
been the inventors of useful improvements in the
arts. However quiet and unassuming they may
have been in their lives ; however strong the in
fluence of prejudice, or interested opposition, in
robbing them of all direct benefit from their dis
coveries ; posterity has never failed to reverse
the judgment of their contemporaries, and award
the deserved, although perhaps tardy, meed of
praise.
In the early history of our race we find, that
such acknowledgments for important discoveries
did not stop short of the attribution of divine
honors to the shades of the illustrious benefac
tors, who had advanced the progress of civiliza
tion, or increased the comforts and the conven-
4 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
iences of social life. Although veiled by the
mist of unnumbered ages, and shrouded in the
obscurities of fabulous narration, the records of
authentic history disclose to us the time, when
the inventors of letters and the plough were re
vered as divinities ; and such honors did not
cease to be rendered, until the influence of re
vealed religion put an end to all idolatrous wor
ship among civilized nations. If there can ever
be an excuse, in the absence of the divine light,
by which alone the path of true piety can be
directed, for ascribing to the creature honors due
to the Creator alone, that idolatry is the least
worthy of blame, which canonizes those who have
proved themselves benefactors of our race.
In remote times, when the means of improving
the faculties of the mind, which are now familiar
to us, were wanting, to invent was the attribute of
superior and lofty genius alone. As society made
progress, and the means of education were ex
tended, minds of a more ordinary character might
be made to grasp some particular subject, to
detect the deficiences of existing processes, and
study the means of improving them. Hence
even inventions acknowledged to be original, and
attended with the most happy consequences, no
longer raise the author to such preeminence among
his fellow men, or entitle him to so large a por-
*ion of posthumous renown.
ROBERT FULTON. 5
At the present day, the stock of mechanical
and practical knowledge, handed down by tradi
tion, or preserved by means of the press, has
become so enormous, that the most brilliant dis
covery in the useful arts bears but a small pro
portion to the whole extent of human knowledge.
In remote times, the aids, which modern inventors
derive from the records of the reasonings, the
combinations, and even the abortive attempts of
others, were wholly wanting ; and, if no one of the
inventions of antiquity, when taken by itself, can
rank in apparent importance with some of modern
date, the former were in many instances far more
conspicuous as steps in the progress of human im
provement. In many cases, too, they must have
produced an almost magical effect upon the com
forts, the happiness, and even on the means of
sustaining the lives, of men at the time.
While the rights of property, even of a mate
rial character, were imperfectly understood, and
those of an immaterial nature unknown, he, who
by his inventions had made himself a benefactor
of his species, sought no other reward than pub
lic consideration and popular applause. Thus it
may, and no doubt did, often happen, that the
early improvers of the arts derived not only
present reputation, but power and influence from
their discoveries, as surely as they became enti
tled to the gratitude of posterity. The wants
6 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
which grow upon man at each step towards high
civilization, were not yet made manifest ; and it
was neither necessary to keep processes in the
arts secret, lest others should anticipate the due
reward of their discovery, nor to seek the pro
tection of laws for the security of an exclusive
use to the inventor. Those who reaped the
benefit of a new art, or enjoyed the advantages
of an important discovery, were not called upon
to pay in money for the use of them ; and thus
reaped all these benefits and advantages, without
being compelled to furnish an equivalent. Hon
or, praise, and posthumous fame are of no cost
to those who award them, and are, therefore,
willingly allowed ; while pecuniary compensation
is often dispensed with a niggard hand, and the
demand of it creates anger, or arouses oppo
sition.
In the dawn of civilization, inventions were
usually unexpected, and, although often calcu
lated to supply the most pressing wants, excited
surprise, because the wants themselves had not
been perceived. At the present day, discoveries
often appear as the almost inevitable result of
previous improvements. Several projectors are
ofttimes in pursuit of the same object, and this,
one which the admitted wants of society point
out as important to be attained ; and he, who
finally achieves success, is exposed to the envy,
ROBERT FULTON. 7
the competition, and the detraction of his less
fortunate rivals. Inventions often derive their
highest merit from their peculiar adaptation to
the circumstances of the times ; the very meth
od, which comes at a given instant into imme
diate and successful operation, may have floated
in the minds of earlier inquirers, or even have
assumed the form of a working model ; and yet,
for the want of some collateral improvement, or
through the absence of public demand, may have
fallen into • neglect, and been wholly forgotten.
But, no sooner has the successful step in inven
tion been taken, and at a fitting time, than all
forgotten, neglected, or abortive attempts at the
same great end, are raked from the oblivion to
which they had been consigned, and blazoned
to the world as the types or originals of the
improvement.
In addition to the annoyance and opposition,
which may thus arise from rivals and detractors,
inventors are subjected to inconvenience from the
policy of the legislative provisions by which it
is attempted to secure their due reward. In
most countries, this is made to assume the odi
ous form of a monopoly ; and the public feeling
is thus speedily enlisted in opposition to the
chartered or patented privileges. An expensive
lawsuit, determined resistance, or cunning eva
sion, is often the sole reward, with which the most
8 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
important inventions are attended during the life
time of their authors.
The highest degree of merit is to be awarded,
in the present age, to those, who, aware of the
wants of a community, or of the world at large,
set to themselves as a task, the discovery of the
means of supplying these wants. In such pur
suits, great learning and research must be united
to high mechanical skill. All the attempts which
have been previously made to attain the same ob
ject must be carefully studied ; the causes of their
failure inquired into ; and whatever may exist in
them of good and applicable, separated and re-
combined. Such inquiries often demand the
united exertion of high ingenuity and profound
science ; yet those, who pursue them, taking for
the foundation of their researches the discoveries
and ineffectual attempts of others, often appear
to be wholly wanting in ingenuity.
When, however, we examine to whom wre are
actually indebted for the practical benefits we
enjoy, no possible comparison can exist between
the merits of those who have thrown out the
original, crude, and, in their hands, impractica
ble ideas, and those who, by a happy union of
.mechanical skill and scientific knowledge, have
brought the plans to a successful application.
Yet to this most valuable class of improvers of
the arts it is difficult, if not impossible, to as-
ROBERT FULTON. 9
sign, by legal enactment, any adequate remuner
ation. There are few instances in which they
have not been deprived of their just meed of
recompense, if they have attempted to secure it
by patent. The shades, which separate the in
complete and abortive attempt from the finished
and successful invention, are often almost insen
sible, and admit of no technical specification. A
remedy has at last been found for this defect.
The calling of the civil engineer has taken its
just station, in point of honor and emolument,
among the learned professions ; and it has be
come almost disreputable for its members to at
tempt to appropriate their mental riches by pa
tent rights. They in return reap no inadequate
reward in the direct emoluments to which their
advice and services are now considered as en
titling them.
In the days of the subject of our memoir, this
profession was hardly known by name among us ;
its value was not understood by the community ;
and the proper means of rewarding it unknown.
It was, therefore, his misfortune, that he sought,
although ineffectually, to secure by exclusive
legislative grants, and the monopoly held out by
the patent laws, that reward which in a more
happy state of things would have been attained
in a more efficient and less obnoxious manner.
If we consider Fulton as an inventor, it may
10 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
be difficult to say, in what exact particular his
merits consist. As the blow of the mallet, by
which the mighty mass of a ship of the line is
caused to start upon its ways, in the act of
launching, is undistinguishable among the numer
ous strokes by which that mass is gradually
raised, so the minute particulars, in which his
labors differ from former abortive attempts, may
almost escape research. But, if we contemplate
him in the light of a civil engineer, confidently
building a finished and solid structure upon the
incomplete foundation left by others, we must
rank him among the first of his age, and place
him, in the extent of his usefulness to mankind
as second to Watt alone.
ROBERT FULTON. 11
CHAPTER II.
Birth of Fulton. — He chooses the Profession
of a Painter. — His early Taste for Me
chanics. — He settles in Philadelphia. — Em
barks for England. — Resides in the Family
of West. — Removes to Devonshire.
ROBERT FULTON was bora at Little Britain,
in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the year
1765. His parents were respectable, although
far from affluent ; his father a native of Ireland,
his mother descended from an Irish family.
From his name it appears probable, that his
more remote ancestors were of Scottish origin,
which is in some degree confirmed by their pro
fession of the Presbyterian faith. Fulton him
self attached no importance to circumstances of
birth, and took pride in being the maker of
his own fortune, the probable founder of a
family. Indeed, except so far as an elementary
education is concerned, he was under little ob
ligation to his progenitors ; being left without
patrimony at the death of his father, which
occurred when he was but three years old.
Aware that he was to trust entirely to his
own exertions, even for the means of subsist-
12 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ence, he cultivated from an early age a taste
for drawing, in the hope of qualifying himself
for the profession of a painter. To these ex
ertions he was probably stimulated by the repu
tation and honors acquired by West, who, with
advantages of education and connexion little su
perior to his own, had raised himself to the
first rank, not only among the painters of Eng
land, but of the civilized world.
From a familiar acquaintance with his per
formances as an artist, at a later date, when he
applied to the easel merely as a relaxation, it
may be stated, that there is little doubt, that,
had he devoted himself to the profession of
painting, he must have become highly distin
guished as a professor of that art.
Painting, although chosen by him as a pro
fession, had less charms for him than the pur
suits of practical mechanics ; and it is recorded
of him, that, while yet a mere child, he spent
hours, usually devoted at that age to play, in
the workshops of the mechanics of Lancaster.
At the early age of seventeen he proceeded
to Philadelphia, for the purpose of practising as
a painter of portraits and landscapes, and was so
successful, as not merely to support himself, but
to lay up a small amount of money. His first
savings were devoted to the comfort of his wid
owed mother ; and, before he reached the age
ROBERT FULTON. 13
of twenty-one, he had, by the joint aid of strict
economy and persevering labor, acquired suf
ficient funds to purchase a small farm in Wash
ington County, Pennsylvania.
The journey to that region, for the purpose
of establishing his mother upon this purchase,
opened new views to him for the occupation of
his future life. His patrons in Philadelphia had
been among the humbler classes; and, although
he must have sighed for an opportunity of vis
iting those regions in which alone good models
of taste, and specimens of excellence in paint
ing, were then to be found, yet, friendless and
alone, he could hardly have hoped that such
aspirations would be realized.
On his return, however, from Washington
County, in the unrestrained intercourse of a
watering-place, he found acquaintances, who were
both able to appreciate his promise as an artist,
and to facilitate his plans of improving himself
as a painter. By these he was advised to pro
ceed immediately to England, and throw him
self upon the protection of West ; and the
means of favorable introduction to that distin
guished artist were tendered and supplied. It
is to be recorded to the honor of West, that
he was the zealous and efficient promoter of
the interests of all his countrymen, who desired
to study the art in which he himself excelled.
C
14 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
To Fulton even more than usual liberality was
vouchsafed ; he was at once invited to become
an inmate of the house of the great artist, and
remained his guest and pupil for several years.
The wealth and taste of the British nobility
have gradually accumulated in that island many
of the finest specimens of the pictorial art. Al
though many of these are now assembled in
collections at their residences in the metropolis,
a still greater number are distributed through the
numerous and magnificent baronial residences,
with which the agricultural regions of England
abound. At the period of which we speak, the
formation of collections in London had hardly
been thought of; and he who wished to profit
by the treasures which the superiority of Brit
ish wealth had drawn from the continent, or
which munificent patronage had commanded from
the artists themselves, was compelled to peram
bulate the kingdom.
In order to avail himself of these scattered
riches, Fulton, on leaving the family of West,
procured introductions to the stewards and agents
to whom the care of their estates and collec
tions are committed by the nobility, and com
menced a tour. We find him, in consequence,
a short time after he left London, at Exeter,
in the County of Devon. He was for a time
domiciliated, as we have been informed at Povv-
ROBERT FULTON. 15
derham Castle, the chief seat of the Courte-
nays. This family draws its proud lineage from
the Merovingian kings, the emperors of Con
stantinople, and the Plantagenets. In wedding
an heiress of the family, a Capet assumed the
name as more distinguished than his own; and
the pretensions of the English branch to the
throne of that kingdom, roused the vengeful
jealousy of the Tudors. The fatal consequences
of such lofty claims had confined the ambition
of the succeeding possessors of Powderham to
the cultivation of the arts, and the castle be
came filled with masterpieces.
Fulton seems to have entitled himself to the
patronage of the possessor of the title. He at
any rate was for a time an inmate of this mag
nificent baronial residence, and was occupied in
copying the pictures it contains. Affecting on
their own domains a state little less than that
of royalty, the barons of Powderham left the
entertainment of guests undistinguished by rank
to their steward, himself a gentleman by con
nexion and education. It is, therefore, no de
rogation to Fulton, however repugnant it may
be to our notions of equality, that, in enjoying
the advantages which this rich collection afford
ed him as an artist, he was the associate, not
of the lord of the mansion, but of one whom
we may consider as his upper servant. Envy
has not failed to point at this period of Ful-
Ib AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ton's life as a matter of reproach, and to treat
fcim as having been at this time the companion
«yf menials, if not actually so himself.
Whatever may have been the nature of Ful
ton's obligations to this noble family, he did
not hesitate to express his gratitude for them ;
and, in the height of his subsequent reputation,
he had an opportunity of repaying them. The
heir of the title and the fortunes of the Cour-
tenays became a refugee in our land, under
circumstances of disgrace and humiliation, even
more terrible than those which led to the as
sumption of the mournful motto of his race.*
Suspected and accused of an infamous crime,
his birth and title, which have in many other
instances served as passports even for vice and
frivolity to American hospitality, did not avail
him, and every door was closed against him
except that of Fulton. The feelings of Fulton
were probably those, which lead the benevolent
to minister to the comforts, and to soothe the
mental anguish of the last hours of the con
demned criminal ; but, in the instance we allude
to, it required not only the existence of such
feelings, but a high degree of courage, to ex
ercise them, in the face of a popular impres
sion, which, whether well or ill founded, was
universally entertained.
* Ubi lapsus, quid feci ?
ROBERT FULTON. 17
CHAPTER III.
His Acquaintance with the Duke of Bridge
water and Earl Stanhope. — His Removal
from Devonshire, and Residence in Birming
ham. — He abandons Painting for the Pro
fession of an Engineer. — His first Idea of
a Steamboat communicated to Stanhope. —
He makes the Acquaintance of Watt.
FULTON remained for two years in the neigh
borhood of Exeter, where his intelligence and
ability obtained for him many useful and inter
esting acquaintances. Among these, ^the most
important were the Duke of Bridgewater and Earl
Stanhope. The first of these noblemen fills a
large space in the history of the internal improve
ments of Great Britain ; and he was in fact the
father of the vast system of inland navigation,
which has spread its ramifications over every ac
cessible part of that island. Bom to the inher
itance of an extensive estate, abounding in min
eral wealth, he was, notwithstanding, compara
tively poor, because that estate was unimproved ;
and his mines were useless, because inaccessible.
At that moment, no better mode of supplying
the growing town of Manchester with coal had
VOL. x.
18 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
been introduced, than to convey it in sacks upon
pack-horses. The Duke of Bridgewater was not
slow to perceive the vast advantages which might
be derived from the introduction of a better and
cheaper mode of carriage. English writers have
not hesitated to ascribe the plans of canal navi
gation, which he adopted and carried . into suc
cessful operation, to the unassisted native genius
of his engineer, Brindley. Yet it cannot be
believed that the Duke was wholly ignorant of
the celebrated canal of Languedoc, in which the
structure of canals and all their accessory works
had attained, in the hands of Riquet, the pro
jector, and by the improvements of Vauban, a
degree of perfection, which has hardly been sur
passed even at the present day. It is not within
the limits of our subject to inquire, whence the
ideas, which directed the Duke's operations, were
derived. Suffice it to say, that, after a series of
appalling difficulties, after having been brought
to the verge of ruin, and after having narrowly
escaped being confined as a lunatic, he succeeded
in his enterprise.
At the moment that Fulton made his acquaint
ance, the Duke was in the full enjoyment of the
vast wealth, which his success had created, a
wealth at that time unexampled in annual amount,
even in Great Britain ; and of the high reputa
tion, which, so often denied to talent and genius,
ROBERT FULTON. 19
while struggling with difficulties, is liberally as
cribed to successful projectors. His canals be
came the models for similar enterprises, and
himself, from his rapid accumulation of capital,
the largest proprietor of many new navigation
companies. It appears to have been at the in
stance of this distinguished man, that Fulton
abandoned painting as a profession, and entered
into that of a civil engineer. We at any rate
next find him residing in Birmingham, and en
gaged in the construction of the canals then
making in that vicinity, by which that great toy
shop was brought into communication with the
ports of London, Liverpool, and Bristol. Ful
ton's name does not, however, figure upon the
list of the principal engineers engaged in these
important works ; and he, no doubt, filled no
more than a subordinate station, as might, in
deed, have been anticipated, from his inexperi
ence and youth.
With Earl Stanhope, Fulton's intercourse was
still more intimate, and probably of an earlier
date. This nobleman was endowed by nature
with high mechanical talent, which had been
improved by an education very different from
the mere classical routine to which the youth
of the higher classes in Great Britain are usually
confined. Had he been impelled by the stimu
lus of necessity, there is little doubt, that he
20 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
might have become distinguished as a successful
inventor. As it was, he exhibited practical skill
as a canal engineer ; but here his reputation faded
before the prior claims of the Duke of Bridge-
water ; while his inventions remained incomplete,
and few of them have been carried into effect.
Among other projects, this peer entertained
the hope of being able to apply the steam en
gine to navigation, by the aid of a peculiar ap
paratus, modelled after the foot of an aquatic
fowl. On communicating this plan to Fulton,
the latter saw reason to doubt its feasibility ; and,
in consequence, addressed a letter to his Lord
ship, in which the very views were suggested,
that were afterwards successful upon the Hud
son. This letter was written in 1793, immedi
ately before the removal of Fulton from Devon
shire to Birmingham. The justice of Fulton's
objections to the plans of Earl Stanhope was
afterwards demonstrated in an ineffectual experi
ment made by the latter in the London docks. It
is to be regretted, that this experiment had not
been made before he received the communica
tion of Fulton. His Lordship might then have
received it with the same feelings, which Chancel
lor Livingston afterwards exhibited, when marked
failure had attended his own plans. In this
event, the important invention of a successful
steamboat might have been given to the world
ROBERT FULTON. 21
ten years earlier than its actual introduction.
Although prejudiced in favor of his own inven
tion, Earl Stanhope did not fail to appreciate
the ingenuity of Fulton, and became his warm
friend on a subsequent occasion, when his influ
ence with the British ministry enabled him to
aid Fulton's views.
Fulton's residence in Birmingham brought him
into communication with Watt, who had just
succeeded in giving to his steam engine that
perfect form, which fits it for universal applica
tion as a prime mover. That Fulton became
intimately acquainted, not only with Watt him
self, but with the structure of his engine, we
learn from two facts in his subsequent life ; for
we find him entering into a confidential corre
spondence with that great improver of the appli
cation of steam, and actually superintending the
construction of an engine, in a place where no
aid was to be obtained.
To have become favorably known to such men
as Bridgewater, Stanhope, and Watt, and to have
received the patronage of the first of them, is
no small proof of the talent and acquirements
of Fulton at an early age. Those, who know
the artificial structure of British society, under
stand the nice distinctions by which the several
degrees of rank are separated from each other ;
and, although it is no doubt true, that those
22 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
who are possessed of the highest rank are not
deterred from associating with any persons in
whom they may take an interest, by the fear of
losing caste, which has so powerful an influ
ence upon those whose position in society is
not firmly established, still the higher circles
are fenced in by artificial barriers, which, in the
case of an unfriended and humble foreigner, can
be forced only by obvious merit. When, there
fore, the detractors of Fulton's fame venture to
characterize his productions as wanting in orig
inality, " either of r^atter or manner," we may
confidently appeal to '-his part of his early his-
*ory for the refutation of their aspersions.
ROBERTFUL'ION 23
CHAPTER IV.
His Plan of an Inclined Plane. — Work on
Inland Navigation. — His Torpedo. — His
Removal to France, and Residence there.
THE residence of Fulton in Birmingham is
distinguished from the other parts of his early
history by a number of patented inventions and
several published works. The more level parts
of Great Britain had now been rendered acces
sible by canals, and some projects were enter
tained for penetrating by the mode of artificial
navigation into the mountainous regions.
In the primitive form of canals, of which a
specimen still exists in the great canal of China,
two methods of passing from one level to an
other had been practised, — the sluice and the
inclined plane. An addition, probably growing
out of an accidental circumstance, had converted
the former into a lock ; but the inclined plane
had remained without improvement. It is, how
ever, obvious, that, could it be rendered self-act
ing, as the lock is, it was susceptible of far more
extended application. The lock is necessarily
limited to small changes of level, while the in
clined plane will adapt itself to every possible
24 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
variation in the surface of the ground. If, then,
locks be taken as the basis of a plan of inland
navigation, it will necessarily be confined to
countries of little elevation ; while one based
upon the inclined plane may overcome consid
erable elevations.
Impressed with the advantages which would
attend the introduction of the inclined plane in
inland navigation, Fulton applied his fertile inge
nuity to plan one. For this he took out a patent,
in the year 1793, and in 1796 embodied it with
other projects of a similar nature in a work
on Inland Navigation. At the time when he
wrote, the engineers of England were engaged
in reducing their canals to the smallest practicable
dimensions ; for it had been ascertained, that the
capacity for business of the large canals far ex
ceeded any trade, which had yet made its ap
pearance upon them. The object of Fulton's
work appears to have been to show, that canals,
of dimensions below the smallest which had yet
been proposed, were capable of being success
fully applied, and that such canals were not
necessarily limited to countries of small differ
ences of level. Considered in reference to this
object, the work is a masterly one; but, if we
test it by inquiring, whether canals of such small
dimensions are adapted to general purposes, we
shall find, that his argument rests upon an in-
ROBERT FULTON. 25
sufficient foundation. This work is, therefore, to
be quoted as exhibiting a high degree of origi
nality, ingenuity, and talent, but as inapplicable
to any useful purpose.
The war of the French revolution had broken
out a short time before Fulton's removal to
Birmingham. In him, as a native of a republican
country, and deriving his earliest impressions
from the events of the struggle between Amer
ica and the mother country, there is little doubt
that the cause of the French democracy must
have excited a powerful sympathy. Such sym
pathy was felt not only by a majority of the
American people, but by a large portion of the
population of Great Britain. The crimes and
excesses, with which that revolution was stained,
speedily excited the indignation of Britons ; and
Pitt was enabled to apply that indignant feeling
to the support of the war in which the two
rival nations were speedily engaged.
It is probable that a similar revulsion of feel
ing took place in the breast of Fulton. But,
in the year 1796, the excesses of the French
revolution had ceased, while, at the same mo
ment, a system of aggression and insolent ex
ertion of her power upon the ocean, had been
manifested by Great Britain. By this system,
the United States were the greatest sufferers.
Our flag afforded but little protection for prop-
1)
26 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
erty, and none for personal liberty, against the
license of British naval commanders. Fulton
shared deeply in the resentment which this con
duct excited in every American breast ; a re
sentment which finally led to the war of 1812.
The power of Great Britain resting to so great
an extent upon her naval supremacy, the thoughts
of Fulton were turned to the discovery of a
method, by which the boasted skill of her seamen
might be set at nought, and her numerous ves
sels rendered inefficient in maintaining her mari
time superiority. Fulton was old enough to
have heard of the abortive attempt of Bushnell
upon the British fleet in the harbor of Phila
delphia ; and, although this had failed, from being
planned upon erroneous principles, enough of
alarm had been excited, and such a degree of
confusion caused, as to encourage him to attempt
to improve upon it. It was obvious, that no en
couragement was to be hoped from the govern
ment of Great Britain towards experiments upon
a mode of warfare whose success would destroy
her principal arm ; nor could Fulton with any
propriety have asked aid from it. It was oth
erwise with France. The insolence, with which
she also invaded the rights of neutrals, had not
yet been clearly manifested ; and Fulton, with
many others, saw in her Directory the cham
pions of the liberty of the seas. As such, he
ROBERT FULTON. 27
felt justified in offering the fruits of his ingenu
ity to that government. Abandoning, therefore,
his pursuits as a civil engineer, he proceeded to
Paris, for the purpose of completing the detail
of his plan, and of seeking assistance to bring it
to the test of experiment.
To his instrument for destroying vessels of
war, he gave the name of the Torpedo. It con
sisted of an oval copper case, charged with gun
powder. To this he proposed to attach a lock,
regulated by clock-work, which, after any re
quired time, might cause the lock to spring, and
thus communicate fire to the charge.
It would be painful to follow Fulton through
that period of life in which he appeared under
the character of a projector, soliciting the patron
age, first of the government of France, and sub
sequently, when he had been dismissed with
contumely by Napoleon, from that of England.
Without venturing to give an opinion on the in
fluence that his Torpedo might have had upon
warfare, it may be safely stated, that, in the hands
of bold and determined men, it might be applied
in a position where it would certainly act, and in
acting insure the destruction of the stoutest ves
sel. As he himself well argues, " its use is
attended with risks as great, but not exceeding
those to which the crew of a fire-ship are ex
posed ; and there are innumerable instances where
28 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the-se dangers have been boldly confronted." His
plan has the advantage over the fire-ship of
being less expensive ; but, like that, is attended
with such uncertainty, that it cannot be surely
relied upon, and thus cannot be trusted to as
the only means of offence.
His subsequent attempts to bring the Torpedo
into use, during the war with Great Britain, and
for the defence of his native country, although
entertained with greater courtesy, were equally
fruitless ; and, in the opposition of our own naval
officers, he met with obstacles as great, as had
stood in his way in the bureaux of France, and
the public offices in England. It must, there
fore, be admitted, that we cannot cite this inven
tion as one which has been brought into suc
cessful action. Still, if the fears of an enemy
may be received in proof of the value of the
Torpedo, it would be easy to cite the sleepless
nights and anxious days of many British com
manders, who felt, that the vicinity of Fulton's
operations was attended with dangers which could
only be prevented by unremitting diligence and
attention.
ROBERT FULTON. 29
CHAPTER V.
His Inventions while residing in Birmingham. —
His Letters to Washington, and the Gover
nor of Pennsylvania. — His Submarine Ves
sel. — Experiment with it at the Mouth of
the Seine. — He aids in introducing the Pan"
orama into France.
BEFORE we proceed to the history of the
more important of the subjects, which attracted
the attention of Fulton, and of which his resi
dence in France was the epoch, we have to
mention some other fruits of his ingenuity. While
residing in Birmingham, he took out patents for
a mill for sawing marble ; a method of spinning
flax and making ropes ; and of excavators for
digging canals. If none of these was introduced
into extensive use at the time, and if the latter
object still remains a desideratum in practical
mechanics, the two former at least served as
steps in the career of improvement, and have
been guides and landmarks to subsequent inven
tors. These patents bear date in 1794.
Anxious that his views in respect to small
canals might be productive of benefit to his na
tive country, a copy of his work on Inland Navi
D2
30 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
gation was transmitted to General Washington,
who still held the reins of the government of
the United States. This was accompanied by a
letter, explanatory of the advantages by which
the introduction of his system into America might
be attended. With the work itself was pub
lished a letter to the Governor of Pennsylvania,
in which the same views were enforced, and a
comparison drawn between the relative advan
tages of canals and turnpike roads.
Although the letter to Washington was honored
with a reply, in which the merit of Fulton's in
ventions was admitted, no action followed ; for the
general government was at that time confined by
the necessity of economy to a system of non
interference with local improvements ; and it is
useless to speculate upon what might have been
done by so enlightened an administration, had
it possessed the overflowing treasury, which the
churlish policy of one of his successors locked
up from public use. The letter to the Gover
nor of Pennsylvania produced even less effect
That State adhered pertinaciously to its plan of
turnpike roads ; a plan, which, if it did create a
better mode of communication than had before
been enjoyed, was not less expensive than canals
on Fulton's plan would have been, and far less
beneficial.
Pennsylvania, after a lapse of more than forty
ROBERT FULTON. 31
years, has at last seen the mistake which was
then committed, and is now engaged in the cre
ation of a system of internal improvement adapt
ed to the great increase which has taken place
in its wealth in the interim. But, by this very
change, the whole of the capital invested in turn
pike roads will be at once rendered unproduc
tive ; while, had small canals formed the orig
inal scheme, their gradual enlargement to meet
the growing wants of the community might have
been defrayed out of the income, and the whole
capital preserved. It is not probable, indeed, that
Fulton's own inventions, or canals of so small
a size as he proposed, would have effected the
desired object. They in fact could have been
useful only in a few limited cases ; but that the
investment of the funds, which were expended
upon turnpikes, in canal navigation, would have
been more conducive to the prosperity of the
country, is a fact, which will not now be ques
tioned. Fulton, also, during his residence in Bir
mingham, wrote several tracts on subjects of a gen
eral political nature ; but, as these do not appear
to have been published, or, if published, to have
attracted no more than an ephemeral notice, it
is unnecessary that we should cite them by name.
In such occupations the time of Fulton was
spent until he determined to proceed to France,
for the purpose of laying his system of Torpedo
32 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
warfare before the government of that country.
The investigations, into which he entered for the
purpose of completing this system, led him to
undertake the construction of a vessel, which
might be capable of moving either at or beneath
the surface of the water. So far as the power
of easily rising to the surface, and descending
at pleasure to any required depth, is a valuable
object, this attempt was attended with complete
success. But the difficulty of governing a sub
marine vessel, and of giving to it such velocity
as will enable it to move rapidly from place to
place, or even to stem a rapid current, is insu
perable by the aid of any prime mover which
has hitherto been applied. This difficulty is of
the same character as that which opposes the
management of balloons ; and, if any mode of
directing the one should be discovered, the power,
which will be efficient in the one case, will prob
ably be applicable to the other.
In a boat of this construction, the passage over
the wide and stormy estuary of the Seine was
safely and easily accomplished, and Fulton with
his assistants remained several hours under water.
In this position . they were supplied with a suf
ficient quantity of wholesome air, not only for
their own respiration, but for lights also. But
the actual passage may be said to have been
performed wholly on the surface of the water;
ROBERT FULTON. 33
for the progress, after the whole vessel was im
mersed, was so slow as to have no material effect
upon the passage. This experiment, then, con
firmed the truth of the received opinion, that
a body wholly immersed in a single fluid can
not carry the machinery necessary for its own
propulsion, and that the valuable properties of
ships are due to the circumstances of their posi
tion, partly supported upon one fluid, and having
the greater part of their bulk buoyed up into a
fluid of a different character, and less density.
In this position they are easily guided, and the
prime movers act with great energy in their
propulsion.
The account, which Fulton occasionally gave
his friends of his experiments at the mouth of
the Seine, was full of thrilling interest. Those,
who, in calm weather and in a land-locked har
bour, have descended for the first time in a com
mon diving-bell, have not failed to experience
the sensations of sublimity which such an enter
prise is calculated to awaken. But in this, as
sured of a supply of air by a perfect and effi
cient machinery, supported by strong chains, and
confident in the watchful attention of an active
crew, trained to obey a set of preconcerted sig
nals, the danger is trifling, or rather can hardly
be said to exist. How far such sensations must
have been increased, may be imagined, when it
VOL. x. 3
34 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
is considered, that, in the experiment of Fulton,
all the means of safety, and even of insuring
respiration, were shut up with him in a narrow
space, and that any failure in the action of his
machinery would have been followed by speedy
suffocation, or by the loss of the power of ever
again revisiting the light of day.
Fulton, on leaving England for the continent,
carried with him some of the improvements in
the arts which had appeared in that country after
all commercial intercourse with France had ceased.
A short time before, a wealthy American had
become the purchaser of a part of the national
domain, consisting of a large piece of ground
in a central position in the city of Paris. Upon
this he was in the act of erecting a number of
shops, arranged along the sides of covered pas
sages. In addition, at the suggestion, it is believ
ed, of Fulton, two lofty circular buildings were
constructed for the exhibition of Panoramas.
These still exist and are applied to their original
purpose. It has also been stated, that, in- the first
exhibitions with which they were opened, much
of the attraction was due to the good taste and
graphic skill of the subject of our memoir
ROBERT FULTON. 35
CHAPTER VI.
Steam Navigation. — Watt. — Evans. — Fitch.
— Ruinsey. — Miller, of Dalswinton. — Sym
ington.
THE art with which Fulton's name is insep
arably connected, as the principal agent in its
creation, is that of navigation by steam. That
this subject had attracted his attention at an early
period, we have already seen ; it now remains
for us to inquire in what state he found it, and
to what extent he carried it.*
* In the first volume of Navarrete's Coleccion de los
Viagcs y Descubrimientos, &c., published at Madrid,
in 1825, there is a remarkable statement, in which the
invention of the steamboat is ascribed to a Spaniard,
three hundred years ago. The particulars were derived
from the public archives at Simancas. The following
is a translation of a part of this statement
" Blasco de Garay, a sea captain, exhibited to the
emperor and king, Charles the Fifth, in the year 1543,
an engine by which ships and vessels of the larger
size could be propelled, even in a calm, without the
aid of oars or sails. Notwithstanding the opposition,
which this project encountered, the emperor resolved,
that an experiment should be made, as in fact it was
with success, in the harbor of Barcelona, on the 17th
of June, 1543.
"Garay never publicly exposed the construction of
36 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Until Watt had completed the structure of
the double-acting condensing engine, the appli
cation of steam to any but the single object of
pumping water, had been almost impracticable.
It was not enough, in order to render it appli
cable to general purposes, that the condensation
of the water should take place in a separate
vessel, and that steam should itself be used, in
stead of atmospheric pressure, as the moving-
power ; but it was also necessary, that the steam
his engine ; but it was observed at the time of the
experiment, that it consisted of a large caldron or ves
sel of boiling water, and a movable wheel attached
to each side of the ship. The experiment was made
on a ship of two hundred tons, arrived from Colibre
to discharge a cargo of wheat at Barcelona ; it was
called the Trinity, and the captain's name was Peter
de Scarza.
" By order of Charles the Fifth, and the prince, Philip
the Second, his son, there were present at the time,
Henry de Toledo, the governor Peter Cardona, the
treasurer Ravage, the vice-chancellor Francis Gralla,
and many other persons of rank, both Castilians and
Catalonians ; and, among others, several sea captains
witnessed the operation, some in the vessel, and others
on the shore. The emperor and prince, and others
with them, applauded the engine, and especially the
expertness with which the ship could be tacked. The
treasurer, Ravage, an enemy to the project, said it
would move two leagues in three hours. It was very
complicated and expensive, and exposed to the constant
danger of bursting the boiler. The other commission-
ROBERT FULTON. 37
should act as well during the ascent, as during
the descent, of the piston. Before the method
of paddle wheels could be successfully intro
duced, it was in addition necessary, that a ready
and convenient mode of changing the motion of
the piston, into one continuous and rotary, should
be discovered. All these improvements upon
the original form of the steam engine are due
to Watt, and he did not complete their perfect
combination before the year 1786.
Evans, who, in this country, saw the possi-
ers affirmed that the vessel could be tacked twice as
quick as a galley, served by the common method, and
that, at its slowest rate, it would move a league in
an hour. The exhibition being finished, Garay took
from the ship his engine, and, having deposited the
wood work in the arsenal of Barcelona, kept the rest
himself.
"Notwithstanding the difficulties and opposition thrown
in the way by Ravage, the invention was approved ; and,
if the expedition, in which Charles the Fifth was then
engaged, had not failed, it would undoubtedly have
been favored by him. As it was, he raised Garay to
a higher station, gave him a sum of money (200,000
maravedies) as a present, ordered all the expenses of
the experiment to be paid out of the general treasury,
and conferred upon him other rewards.
"Such are the facts collected from the original reg
isters, preserved in the royal archives at Simancas,
among the public papers of Catalonia, and those of
the secretary of war for the year 1543." — See North
American Review, Vol. XXIII. p. 488.
38 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
bility of constructing a double-acting engine, even
before Watt, and had made a model of his ma
chine, did not succeed in obtaining funds to make
an experiment upon a large scale before 1801.
We conceive, therefore, that all those who pro
jected the application of steam to vessels be
fore 1786, may be excluded, without ceremony,
from the list of those entitled to compete with
Fulton for the honors of invention. No one,
indeed, could have seen the powerful action of
a pumping engine, without being convinced, that
the energy, which .was applied so successfully to
that single purpose, might be made applicable
to many others ; but those, who entertained a
belief, that the original atmospheric engine, or
even the single-acting engine of Watt, could be
applied to propel boats by paddle wheels, showed
a total ignorance of mechanical principles. This
is more particularly the case with all those
whose projects bore the strongest resemblance
to the plan, which Fulton afterwards carried suc
cessfully into effect. Those, who approached
most nearly to the attainment of success, were
they, who were farthest removed from the plan
of Fulton. His application was founded on the
properties of Watt's double-acting engine, and
could not have been used at all, until that in
strument of universal application had received
the last finish of its inventor.
ROBERT FULTON. 39
In this list of failures, from proposing to do
what the instrument they employed was inca
pable of performing, we do not hesitate to in
clude Savary, Papin, Jonathan Hulls, Perier, the
Marquis de Jouffroy, and all the other names
of earlier date than 1786, whom the jealousy of
the French and English nations have drawn from
oblivion, for the purpose of contesting the pri
ority of Fulton's claims. The only competitor,
whom they might have brought forward, with
some shadow of plausibility, is Watt himself.
No sooner had that illustrious inventor completed
his double-acting engine, than he saw, at a
glance, the vast field of its application. Navi
gation and locomotion were not omitted ; but,
living in an inland town, and in a country pos
sessing no rivers of importance, his views were
limited to canals alone. In this direction, he
saw an immediate objection to the use of any
apparatus, of which so powerful an agent as his
engine should be the mover; for it was clear,
that the injury, which would be done to the
banks of the canal, would prevent the possibil
ity of its introduction. Watt, therefore, after
having conceived the idea of a steamboat, laid
it aside, as unlikely to be of any practical value.
The idea of applying stearn to navigation was
not confined to Europe. Numerous Americans
entertained hopes of attaining the same object;
40 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
but, before 1786, with the same want of any rea
sonable hopes of success. Their fruitless projects
were, however, rebuked by Franklin ; who, rea
soning upon the capabilities of the engine in its
original form, did not hesitate to declare all their
schemes impracticable ; and the correctness of
his judgment is at present unquestionable.
Among those, who, before the completion of
Watt's invention, attempted the structure of steam
boats, must be named with praise Fitch and Rum
sey. They, unlike those whose names have
been cited, were well aware of the real diffi
culties, which they were to overcome ; and both
were the authors of plans, which, if the engine
had been incapable of farther improvement, might
have had a partial and limited success. Fitch's
trial was made in 1783, and Rumsey's in 1787.
The latter date is subsequent to Watt's double-
acting engine ; but, as the project consisted mere
ly in pumping in water, to be afterwards forced
out at the stern, the single-acting engine was
probably employed. Evans, whose engine might
have answered the purpose, was employed in
the daily business of a mill-wright ; and, although
he might, at any time, have driven these com
petitors from the field, took no steps to apply
his dormant invention.
Fitch, who had watched the graceful and rapid
way of the Indian pirogue, saw in the oscillating
ROBERT FULTON. 41
motion of the old pumping engine the means of
impelling paddles, in a manner similar to that
given them by the human arm. This idea is
extremely ingenious, and was applied in a sim
ple and beautiful manner ; but the engine was
yet too feeble and cumbrous to yield an ade
quate force ; and, when it received its great im
provement from Watt, a more efficient mode of
propulsion became practicable, and must have
superseded Fitch's paddles, had they even come
into general use.*
* Fitch had sanguine expectations of success ; and
it appears by the following extract from a letter to Dr.
Franklin, dated October ]2th, 1785, that he anticipated
some of the important advantages of steam navigation,
which have since been realized. He says, in writing
to Dr. Franklin ;
"The subscriber begs leave to trouble you with
something further on the subject of a steamboat. His
sanguine opinion in favor of its answering the pur
pose, to his utmost wishes, emboldens him to presume
this letter will not give offence. And, if his opinion
carries him to excess, he doubts not but your Excel
lency will make proper allowance.
"It is a matter, in his opinion, of the first magni
tude, not only to the United States, but to every mari
time power in the world; and he is full in the belief,
that it will answer for sea voyages, as well as for in
land navigation, in particular for packets, where there
may be a great number of passengers. He is also of
opinion, that fuel for a short voyage would not exceed
the weight of water for a long one, and it would pro-
E2
42 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
In the latter stages of Fitch's investigations,
he became aware of the value of Watt's double-
acting engine, and refers to it as a valuable ad
dition to his means of success ; but it does not
appear to have occurred to him, that, with this
duce a constant supply of fresh water. He also be
lieves, that the boat would make head against the most
violent tempests, and thereby escape the danger of a
lee shore ; and that the same force may be applied to
a pump, to free a leaky ship of her water. What
emboldens him to be thus presuming, as to the good
effects of the machine, is, the almost omnipotent force
by which it is actuated, and the very simple, easy, and
natural way by which the screws or paddles are turned
to answer the purpose of oars."
Rittenhouse, after seeing repeated experiments, en
tertained a favorable opinion of Fitch's machine, as
is proved by the following certificate to that effect,
given more than two years after the above letter was
written.
" Philadelphia, 12 December, 1787.
"These may certify, that the subscriber has fre
quently seen Mr. Fitch's steamboat, which, with great
labor and perseverance, he has at length completed ;
and has likewise been on board when the boat was
worked against both wind and tide, with a very con
siderable degree of velocity, by the force of steam
only. Mr. Fitch's merit, in constructing a good steam
engine, and applying • it to so useful a purpose, will,
no doubt, meet with the encouragement he so justly
deserves from the generosity of his countrymen, espe
cially those who wish to promote every improvement
of the useful arts in America.
"DAVID RITTENHOUSE."
ROBERT FULTON. 43
improved power, methods of far greater efficiency,
than those to which he had been limited before
this invention was completed, had now become
practicable.
When the properties of Watt's double-acting
engine became known to the public, an imme
diate attempt was made to apply it to navigation.
This was done by Miller, of Dalswinton, who
employed Symington as his engineer. Miller
seems to have been the real author ; for, as early
as 1787, he published his belief, that boats might
be propelled by employing a steam engine to
turn paddle wheels. It was not until 1791, that
Symington completed a model for him, of a size
sufficient for a satisfactory experiment. If we
may credit the evidence, which has since been
adduced, the experiment was as successful as the
first attempts of Fulton ; but it did not give to
the inventor that degree of confidence, which was
necessary to induce him to embark his fortune
in the enterprise. The experiment of Miller was,
therefore, ranked by the public among unsuc
cessful enterprises, and wras rather calculated to
deter from imitation, than to encourage others to
pursue the same path.
Symington, at a subsequent period, resumed
the plans of Miller, and, by the aid of funds fur
nished by Lord Dundas, put a boat in motion
on the Forth arid Clyde canal in 1801.
There can be little doubt that Symington was
44 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
a mechanic of great practical skill, and consid
erable ingenuity ; but he can have no claim to
be considered as an original inventor; for he was,
in the first instance, no more than the workman,
who carried into effect the ideas of Miller, and
his second boat was a mere copy of the first.
It is with pain, too, that we are compelled to
notice a most disingenuous attempt, on his part,
to defraud the memory of Fulton of its due
honor.
In a narrative which he drew up, after Ful
ton's death, he states, that, while his first boat
was in existence, probably in 1802, he received
a visit from Fulton, and, at his request, put the
boat in motion. Now it appears to be estab
lished, beyond all question, that Fulton was not
in Great Britain between 1796 and 1804, when
he returned to that country on the invitation of
Mr. Pitt, who held out hopes that his torpedoes
would be experimented upon by that govern
ment. At all events, we know, that Fulton
could not have made the copious notes, which
Symington says he took, and we have reason to
believe, that he had never seen the boat of that
artist ; for the author of this memoir, long after
the successful enterprise of Fulton, actually fur
nished him, for the purpose of reference, with a
work containing a draft of Symington's boat,
of which he could have had no need, had the
assertions of the latter been true.
ROBER1 FULTON. 45
CHAPTER VIL
Farther Attempts at Steam Navigation in the
United Stales. — Stevens. — Livingston. —
Roosevelt. — Livingston goes as Minister to
France. — Becomes acquainted with Fulton.
— Their Contract. — Experiments at Plom-
bieres. — Experimental Boat on the Seine. — •
Engine ordered from Watt. — Its Peculiar
ities.
THE experiments of Fitch and Rumsey in the
United States, although generally considered as
unsuccessful, did not deter others from similar
attempts. The great rivers and arms of the sea,
which intersect the Atlantic coast, and still more,
the innumerable navigable arms of the Father
of Waters, appeared to call upon the ingenious
machinist to contrive means for their more con
venient navigation.
The improvement of the engine by Watt was
now familiarly known ; and it was evident, that it
possessed sufficient powers for the purpose. The
only difficulty which existed, was in the mode of
applying it. The first person who entered into
the inquiry was John Stevens, of Hoboken, who
commenced his researches in 1791. In these he
46 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
was steadily engaged for nine years, when he
became the associate of Chancellor Livingston
and Nicholas Roosevelt. Among the persons
employed by this association was Brunei, who
has since become distinguished in Europe, as
the inventor of the block machinery used in
the British navy yards, and as the engineer of
the tunnel beneath the Thames.
Even with the aid of such talent, the efforts
of this association were unsuccessful, as we now
know, from no error in principle, but from defects
in the boat to which it was applied. The ap
pointment of Livingston as ambassador to France
broke up this joint effort ; and, like all pre
vious schemes, it was considered as abortive, and
contributed to throw discredit upon all undertak
ings of the kind. A grant of exclusive privileges
on the waters of the State of New York was
made to this association without any difficulty,
it being believed that the scheme was little short
of madness.
Livingston, on his arrival in France, found Ful
ton domiciliated with Joel Barlow. The con
formity in their pursuits led to intimacy, and Ful
ton speedily communicated to Livingston the
scheme, which he had laid before Earl Stanhope
in 1793. Livingston was so well pleased with
it, that he at once offered to provide the funds
necessary for an experiment, and to enter into
ROBERT FULTON. 47
a contract for Fulton's aid in introducing the
method into the United States, provided the
experiment were successful.
Fulton had, in his early discussion with Lord
Stanhope, repudiated the idea of an apparatus
acting on the principle of the foot of an aquatic
bird, and had proposed paddle wheels in its stead.
On resuming his inquiries, after his arrangements
with Livingston, it occurred to him to compose
wheels with a set of paddles revolving upon an
endless chain, extending from the stem to the
stern of the boat. It is probable, that the appar
ent want of success, which had attended the ex
periments of Symington, led him to doubt the
correctness of his own original views.
That such doubt should be entirely removed,
he had recourse to a series of experiments upan
a small scale. These were performed at Plom-
bieres, a French watering place, where he spent
the summer of 1802. In these experiments, the
superiority of the paddle wheel over every other
method of propulsion, that had yet been proposed,
was fully established. His original impressions
being thus confirmed, he proceeded, late in the
year 1803, to construct a working model of his
intended boat, which model was deposited with
a commission of French savans. He at the
same time commenced building a vessel sixty-six
feet in length and eight feet in width. To this
48 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
an engine was adapted ; and the experiment made
with it was so satisfactory, as to leave little doubt
of final success.
Measures were therefore immediately taken,
preparatory to constructing a steamboat on a
large scale in the United States. For this pur
pose, as the workshops of neither France nor
America could at that time furnish an engine of
good quality, it became necessary to resort to
England for the purpose. Fulton had already
experienced the difficulty of being compelled to
employ artists unacquainted with the subject. It
is indeed more than probable, that, had he not,
during his residence in Birmingham, made him
self familiar, not only with the general features,
but with the most minute details of the engine
of Watt, the experiment on the Seine could not
have been made. In this experiment, and in the
previous investigations, it became obvious, that the
engine of Watt required important modifications
in order to adapt it to navigation. These modi
fications had been planned by Fulton ; but it now
became important, that they should be more fully
tested. An engine was therefore ordered from
Watt and Bolton, without any specification of the
object to which it was to be applied ; and its form
was directed to be varied from their usual models,
in conformity to sketches furnished by Fulton.
As this engine was in fact the type of many of
ROBERT FULTON. 49
those used in the steam navigation of both Europe
and America, it may not be uninteresting to in
quire into its original form.
The cylinder having the usual proportions, the
capacity of the condenser was increased, from
one eighth of that of the cylinder, to one half.
By this fourfold increase of capacity, the neces
sity of a cold water cistern was done away with.
The water of injection was supplied by a pipe
intended to be passed through the bottom of the
boat. Instead of the parallel motion of Watt,
the piston rod had a cross head, and worked in
guides. From the cross head was suspended,
by connecting rods, two lever beams, whose cen
tres were no more elevated above the floor tim
bers of the vessel than was sufficient for their
free oscillation. As these would lie in an unfa
vorable position to work the wheels, the beam
was made nearly in the form of an inverted X ;
and, from the upper end of the stem, a con
necting rod proceeded to a crank formed upon
the axle of each wheel. This connecting rod
lay, while passing the centre, in a horizontal po
sition. On the same axle with the cranks were
toothed wheels, which gave motion to pinions,
and to the axles of these pinions was adjusted
a heavy fly wheel. Provision was made for
throwing either wheel out of gear, and it was
even proposed to cause the two wheels to revolve
VOL. x. 4
50 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
at pleasure in opposite directions. These two
adjustments were intended to aid in turning the
vessel.
In his subsequent experience, Fulton soon dis
covered that this engine was unnecessarily com
plicated ; he therefore suppressed the working
beam in his next vessel, making the connecting
rods apply themselves to the cranks of the wheels
without any intervening machinery. The possi
bility of backing either wheel, while the other
continued its motion was thus dispensed with ; but
the fly wheel, and the gear for driving it, were
retained. A small lever was used to supply that
office of the working beam, which consists in giv
ing motion to the bucket of the air pump. This
last construction, with the omission of the fly
wheel, is still the most usual form of boat engines
in the United States ; but the proportions of the
cylinder have been changed, and the length of
stroke much increased. By the latter change,
the crank is made to act much more favorably
in giving motion to the wheel.
Among the wrorkmen sent out from Soho for
the purpose of putting up the engine purchased
from Watt and Bolton, was one of the name of
Bell. This person, after performing his task,
returned to Europe. The success of Fulton's
experiment being known, Bell was employed to
build a steamboat. This he did not do until
ROBERT FULTON. 51
the year 1812, four years after Fulton's boats
bad been in active operation upon the Hudson.
The vessel built by Bell, it may be stated from
actual inspection, is obviously a copy of that of
Fulton. The engines subsequently constructed
in England have, with little variation, followed
the original model. The lever beam is still plac
ed near the keelson of the vessels, but is usually
suspended by a parallel motion ; the wheels are
moved by cranks attached to the beam by con
necting rods, which in passing the centre are
vertical. But, while the American engineers have
sought to obtain a more favorable position for
the impelled point of the crank, by increasing
the stroke of the piston, the English have worked
for an advantage of another description, namely,
that of greater stability, in the opposite practice
of diminishing the height of the cylinder, until
it may work wholly beneath the deck.
The advantage gained in the latter way is at
best problematical ; for it by no means follows,
that a vessel is rendered safer by every increase
of stability ; and, as a suppression of a part at
least of the masts and sails, increases the stabil
ity also, it appears more than probable, that ves
sels, whose Jading is thus purposely lowered,
must labor much more in heavy seas, than those
in which the centre of gravity is higher. By
lessening the stroke of the piston, the action of
52 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the crank is rendered unfavorable ; and it is no
doubt owing to this structure of the engine, that,
with equal power, and more accurate workman
ship in the engine, the steamboats of Great Britain
fall far short of the speed attained by those of
America.
ROBERT FULTON. 53
CHAPTER VIII.
Application of Livingston to the State of New
York for exclusive Privileges. — Fulton revis
its England. — Returns to the United States.
— First Steamboat built and tried. — First
Voyage to Albany. — Transactions of the
Summer of 1807.
THE order for an engine, intended to propel
a vessel of large size, was transmitted to Watt
and Bolton in 1803. Much about the same
time, Chancellor Livingston, having full confi
dence in the success of the enterprise, caused
an application to be made to the legislature of
New York, for an exclusive privilege of navigat
ing the waters of that State by steam, that granted
on a former occasion having expired.
This was granted with little opposition. In
deed, those who might have been inclined to ob
ject, saw so much of the impracticable and even
of the ridiculous in the project, that they con
ceived the application unworthy of serious debate.
The condition attached to the grant was, that a
vessel should be propelled by steam at the rate
of four miles an hour, within a prescribed space
of time. This reliance upon the reserved rights
F2
54 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
of the States proved a fruitful source of vexation
to Livingston and Fulton, embittered the close
of the life of the latter, and reduced his family
to penury. It can hardly be doubted, that, had
an expectation been entertained, that the grant
of a State was ineffectual, and that the jurisdic
tion was vested in the general government, a
similar grant might have been obtained from Con
gress. The influence of Livingston with the
administration was deservedly high, and that ad
ministration was supported by a powerful majori
ty ; nor would it have been consistent with the
principles of the opposition to vote against any
act of liberality to the introducer of a valuable
application of science. Livingston, however, con
fiding in his skill as a lawyer, preferred the appli
cation to the State, and was thus, by his own act,
restricted to a limited field.
Before the engine ordered from Watt and Bol-
ton was completed, Fulton visited England. Dis
gusted by the delays and want of consideration
exhibited by the French government, he had
listened to an overture from that of England.
This was made to him at the instance of Earl
Stanhope, who urged upon the administration the
dangers to be apprehended by the navy of Great
Britain, in case the invention of Fulton fell into
the possession of France. After a long negotia-
tiou, protracted by the difficulty of communicating
ROBERT FULTON. 55
on such a subject between two hostile countries,
he at last revisited England. Here, for a time,
he was flattered with hopes of being employed
for the purpose of using his invention. Experi
ments were made with such success, as to induce
a serious effort to destroy the flotilla lying in the
harbor of Boulogne by means of torpedoes.
This effort, however, did not produce much ef
fect ; and finally, when the British government
demanded a pledge that the invention should be
communicated to no other nation, Fulton, whose
views had always been directed to the application
of these new military engines to the service of his
native country, refused to comply with the de
mand.
In these experiments, Earl Stanhope took a
strong interest, which was shared by his daughter,
Lady Hester ; whose talents and singularity have
since excited so much attention, and who now
almost reigns as a queen among the tribes of the
Libanus.
Although the visit of Fulton to England was
ineffectual, so far as his project of torpedoes was
concerned, it gave him the opportunity of visiting
Birmingham, and directing, in person, the con
struction of the engine ordered from Watt and Bol-
ton. It could only have been at this time, if ever,
that he saw the boat of Symington ; but a view
of it could have produced no effect upon his own
56 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
plans, which had been matured in France, and
carried, so far as the engine was concerned, to
such an extent as to admit of no alteration.
The engine was at last completed, and reached
New York in 1806. Fulton, who returned to
his native country about the same period, imme
diately undertook the construction of a boat in
which to place it. In the ordering of this engine,
and in planning the boat, Fulton exhibited plainly,
how far his scientific researches and practical ex
periments had placed him before all his competi
tors. He had evidently ascertained, what each
successive year's experience proves more fully, the
great advantages possessed by large steamboats over
those of smaller size ; and thus, while all previous
attempts were made in small vessels, he alone re
solved to make his final experiment in one of
great dimensions. That a vessel, intended to be
propelled by steam, ought to have very different
proportions, and lines of a character wholly dis
tinct from those of vessels intended to be navi
gated by sails, was evident to him. No other
theory, however, of the resistance of fluids was
admitted at the time, than that of Bossut, and
there were no published experiments except those
of the British Society of Arts. Judged in refer
ence to these, the model chosen by Fulton was
faultless, although it will not stand the test of an
examination founded upon a better theory and
more accurate experiments.
ROBERT FULTON. 57
The vessel was finished and fitted with hei
machinery in August, 1807. An experimental
excursion was forthwith made, at which a num
ber of gentlemen of science and intelligence were
present. Many of these were either skeptical, or
absolute unbelievers. But a few minutes served
to convert the whole party, and satisfy the most
obstinate doubters, that the long-desired object
was at last accomplished. Only a few weeks
before, the cost of constructing and finishing the
vessel threatening to exceed the funds with which
he had been provided by Livingston, he had
attempted to obtain a supply by the sale of one
third of the exclusive right granted by the State
of New York. No person was found possessed of
the faith requisite to induce him to embark in the
project. Those, who had rejected this opportu
nity of investment, were now the witnesses of the
completion of the scheme, which they had con
sidered as an inadequate security for the desired
funds.
Within a few days from the time of the first
experiment with the steamboat, a voyage was
undertaken in it to Albany. This city, situated
at the natural head of the navigation of the Hud
son, is distant, by the line of the channel of the
river, rather less than one hundred and fifty miles
from New York. By the old post road, the dis
tance is one hundred and sixty miles, at which
58 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
that by water is usually estimated. Although
the greater part of the channel of the Hudson is
both deep and wide, yet, for about fourteen miles
below Albany, this character is not preserved,
and the stream, confined within comparatively
small limits, is obstructed by bars of sand, or
spreads itself over shallows. In a few remarka
ble instances, the sloops, which then exclusively
navigated the Hudson, had effected a passage in
about sixteen hours, but a whole week was not
unfrequently employed in this voyage, and the
average time of passage was not less than four
entire days. In Fulton's first attempt to navi
gate this stream, the passage to Albany was per
formed in thirty-two hours, and the return in
thirty.
Up to this time, although the exclusive grant
had been sought and obtained from the State of
New York, it does not appear, that either he or
his associate had been fully aware of the vast
opening which the navigation of the Hudson pre
sented for the use of steam. They looked to
the rapid Mississippi and its branches, as the
place where their triumph was to be achieved ;
and the original boat, modelled for shallow waters,
was announced as intended for the navigation of
that river. But, even in the very first attempt,
numbers, called by business or pleasure to the
northern or western parts of the State of New
York, crowded into the yet untried vessel, and,
ROBERT FULTON. 59
when the success of the attempt was beyond
question, no little anxiety wras manifested, that
the steamboat should be established as a regular
packet between New York and Albany.
With these indications of public feeling, Ful
ton immediately complied, and regular voyages
were made at stated times until the end of the
season. These voyages were not, however, un
attended with inconvenience. The boat, design
ed for a mere experiment, was incommodious,
and many of the minor arrangements by which
facility of working, and safety from accident to
the machinery, were to be insured, were yet want
ing. Fulton continued a close and attentive ob
server of the performance of the vessel ; every
difficulty, as it manifested itself, was met and re
moved by the most masterly as well as simple
contrivances. Some of these were at once adopt
ed, while others remained to be applied while
the boat should be laid up for the winter. He
thus gradually formed in his mind the idea of a
complete and perfect vessel ; and, in his plan, no
one part, which has since been found to be essen
tial to ease of manoeuvre or security, wras omitted.
But the eyes of the whole community were now
fixed upon the steamboat ; and, as all, of compe
tent mechanical knowledge, were as alive to the
defects of the original vessel as Fulton himself,
his right to priority of invention of various im
portant acce-ssories has been disputed.
60 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER IX.
Steamboat rebuilt. — Occupations of the Sum
mer of 1808. — Causes of Opposition to Ful
ton's Rights. — Rival Boats upon the Hud'
son.
THE winter of 1807 — 8, was occupied in
remodelling and rebuilding the vessel, to which
the name of the Clermont was now given. The
guards and housings for the wheels, which had
been but temporary structures, applied as their
value was pointed out by experience, became
solid and essential parts of the boat. For a
rudder of the ordinary form, one of surface much
more extended in its horizontal dimensions was
substituted. This, instead of being moved by a
tiller, was acted upon by ropes applied to its
extremity, and these ropes were adapted to a
steering wheel, which was raised aloft towards
the bow of the vessel.
It had been shown by the numbers, who were
transported during the first summer, that, at the
same price for passage, many were willing to
undergo all the inconveniences of the original
rude accommodations, in preference to encoun
tering the delays and uncertainty to which the
ROBERT FULTON. 61
passage in sloops was exposed. Fulton did not
however take advantage of his monopoly, but,
with the most liberal spirit, provided such accom
modations for passengers, as, in convenience and
even splendor, had not before been approached
in vessels intended for the transportation of trav
ellers. This was, on his part, an exercise of
almost improvident liberality. By his contract
with Chancellor Livingston, the latter undertook
to defray the whole cost of the engine and vessel,
until the experiment should result in success ; but,
from that hour, each was to furnish an equal
share of all subsequent investments. Fulton had
no patrimonial fortune, and what little he had
saved from the product of his ingenuity was now
exhausted. But the success of the experiment
had inspired the banks and capitalists with confi
dence, and he now found no difficulty in obtaining,
in the way of loan, all that was needed. Still,
however, a debt was thus contracted, which the
continued demands made upon him for new in
vestments never permitted him to discharge.
The Clermont, thus converted into a floating
palace, gay with ornamental painting, gilding,
and polished woods, commenced her course of
passages for the second year in the month of
April.
The first voyage of this year was of the most
discouraging character. Chancellor Livingston,
G
62 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
who had, by his own experiments, approached
as near to success as any other person, who, be
fore Fulton, had endeavoured to navigate by
steam, and who had furnished all the capital
necessary for the experiment, had plans and pro
jects of his own. These he urged into execu
tion in spite of the opposition of Fulton. The
boiler furnished by Watt and Bolton, was not
adapted to the object. Copied from those used
on the land, it required that its fireplace and
flues should be constructed of masonry. These
added so much weight to the apparatus, that the
rebuilt boat would hardly have floated had they
been retained. In order to replace this boiler,
Livingston had planned a compound structure of
wood and copper, which he insisted should be
tried.
It is only necessary for us to say, that this
ooiler proved a complete failure. Steam began
to issue from its joints a few hours after the
Clermont left New York. It then became im
possible to keep up a proper degree of tension,
and the passage was thus prolonged to forty-eight
hours. These defects increased after leaving
Albany on the return, and the boiler finally gave
way altogether within a few miles of New York.
The time of the downward passage was thus
extended to fifty-six hours. Fulton was, how
ever, thus relieved from all further interference j
ROBERT FULTON. 63
this fruitless experiment was decisive as to his
superiority over his colleague in mechanical skill.
He therefore immediately planned and directed
the execution of a new boiler, which answered
the purpose perfectly ; and, although there are
many reasons why boilers of a totally different
form, and of subsequent invention, should be pre
ferred, it is for its many good properties exten
sively used, with little alteration, up to the pres
ent day. But a few weeks sufficed to build and
set this boiler, and in the month of June the
regular passages of the Clermont were renewed.
In observing the hour appointed for departure,
both from New York and Albany, Fulton de
termined to insist upon the utmost regularity. It
required no little perseverance and resolution to
carry this system of punctuality into effect. Per
sons, accustomed to be waited for by packet boats
and stages, assented with great reluctance to what
they conceived to be a useless adherence to pre
cision of time. The benefits of this punctuality
were speedily perceptible ; the whole system of
internal communication of the State of New York
was soon regulated by the hours of arrival and
departure of Fulton's steamboats ; and the same
system of precision was copied in all other steam
boat lines. The certainty of conveyance at stated
times being thus secured, the number of travellers
was instantly augmented ; and, before the end of
64 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the second summer, the boat became far too small
for the passengers, who crowded to avail them
selves of this novel, punctual, and unprecedently
rapid method of transport.
Such success, however, was not without its
alloy. The citizens of Albany and the River
towns saw, as they thought, in the steamboat,
the means of enticing their customers from their
ancient marts, to the more extensive market of
the chief city ; the skippers of the river mourned
the inevitable loss of a valuable part of their
business ; and innumerable projectors beheld with
envy the successful enterprise of Fulton.
Among the latter class was one, who, misled
by false notions of mechanical principles, fancied
that in the mere oscillations of a pendulum lay
a power sufficient for any purpose whatever.
Availing himself of a well constructed model,
he exhibited to the inhabitants of Albany a pen
dulum, which continued its motions for a con
siderable time, without requiring any new impulse,
and at the same time propelled a pair of wheels.
These wheels, however, did not work in water.
Those persons, who felt themselves aggrieved by
the introduction of steamboats, quickly embraced
this project, prompted by an enmity to Fulton ;
and determined, if they could not defeat his
object, at least to share in the profits of its
success.
ROBERT FULTON. 65
It soon appeared from preliminary experiments,
made in a sloop purchased for the purpose, that
a steam engine would be required to give motion
to the pendulum ; and it was observed, that the
water wheels, when in connexion with the pen
dulum, had a very irregular motion. A fly wheel
was therefore added, and the pendulum was now
found to be a useless incumbrance. Enlightened
by these experiments, the association proceeded
to build two boats ; and these were exact copies,
not only of the hull and all the accessories of the
Clermont, but the engine turned out to be iden
tical in form and structure with one, which Fulton
was at the very time engaged in fitting to his
second boat, The Car of Neptune.
The pretence of bringing into use a new de
scription of prime mover was of course necessa
rily abandoned, and the owTners of the new steam
boats determined boldly to test the constitutionality
of the exclusive grant to Fulton. Fulton and
Livingston, in consequence, applied to the Court
of Chancery of the State of New York for an
injunction, which was refused. On an appeal to
the Court of Errors this decision of the chancellor
was reversed, but the whole of the profits which
might have been derived from the business of the
year, were prevented from accruing to Livingston
and Fulton, who, compelled to contend in price
with an opposition supported by popular feeling
VOL. x 5
66 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
in Albany, were losers rather than gainers by the
operations of the season.
As no appeal was taken from this last decision,
the waters of the State of New York remained in
the exclusive possession of Fulton and his partner,
until the death of the former. This exclusive
possession was not, however, attended with all
the advantages, that might have been anticipated.
The immense increase of travel, which the facili
ties of communication created, rendered it imper
ative upon the holders of the monopoly to provide
new facilities by the construction of new vessels.
The cost of these could not be defrayed out of
the profits. Hence new and heavy debts were
necessarily contracted by Fulton, while Living
ston, possessed of an ample fortune, required no
pecuniary aid, beyond what he was able to meet
from his own resources.
ROBERT FULTON. 67
CHAPTER X.
Fulton9 s Marriage. — His Success speedily cloud
ed by Opposition. — Nature and Sources of
the Opposition. — Claims derived from Fitch.
— Fulton's two Patents. — Simplicity of his
Methods.
THE success of Fulton's first experiment, was
speedily followed by his marriage. On his ar
rival in the United States, his connexion in busi
ness with Chancellor Livingston brought him in
contact with the relatives and friends of that
gentleman. Of this circle Miss Harriet Living
ston, the niece of the Chancellor, was, at that
time, the ornament. Preeminent in beauty, grace,
and accomplishments, she speedily attracted the
ardent admiration of Fulton ; and this was re
turned by an estimate of his talent and genius,
amounting almost to enthusiasm.
The epoch of their nuptials, the spring of 1808,
was that of Fulton's greatest glory. Every thing,
in fact, appeared to concur in enhancing the ad
vantages of his position. Leaving out of view
all questions of romance, his bride was such as
the most impartial judgment would have select
ed ; young, lovely, highly educated, intelligent,
68 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
possessed of what, in those days, was accounted
wealth. His long labors in adapting the steam-
engine to the purposes of navigation, had been
followed by complete success ; and that very
success had opened to him, through the exclu
sive grant of the navigation of the Hudson, the
prospect of vast riches. Esteemed and honored,
even by those who had been most incredulous
while his scheme was in embryo, he felt him
self placed on the highest step of the social
scale. Nothing, in short, seemed wanting to
complete the blessings of his lot.
We have seen, in a former chapter, how
speedily his apparently well-grounded hopes of
immediate profit from his invention, were frus
trated by the opposition steamboats construct
ed in Albany, and how slow was his legal
remedy for the damage he thus incurred. This
opposition was, as we have stated, supported by
those who anticipated injury from his success.
When it was clearly to be seen, that any such
anticipation was groundless, and that Albany, so
far from being injured, was to be largely ben
efited by the steam navigation of the Hudson,
other causes of discontent and opposition speed
ily arose ; and, however important were the ser
vices conferred upon travellers, and the commu
nity in general, by the introduction of steamboats,
ROBEBT FULTON. 69
those of Fulton and Livingston speedily ceased
to enjoy popularity.
In the early part of the enterprise, before its
rapidity and certainty had actually created a
traffic beyond the capacity of the vessels to ac
commodate, nothing could be imagined more
agreeable than a summer passage to Albany in
the steamboats. Gliding along, at a steady,
but by no means rapid rate, the passenger had
leisure to dwell upon the beauties of a scenery
almost unrivalled in beauty, and to view it in all
its aspects and under every variety of light.
The time had not yet arrived when prudence
would require a separation of one's self from all
unknown persons ; for the very fact of being a
steamboat passenger, was, for a time, almost a
guaranty of respectability. A society, therefore,
existed on board, of the most easy and polished
character. Rudeness and vulgarity, if accident
ally present, were controlled by a preponderating
force of good manners and refinement.
Such happy influences, however, continued
but a few months, and the steamboats were
speedily crowded by persons of every descrip
tion, in such numbers as to defy all attempts on
the part of the owners to render them comfort
able. Most of the additions to the number,
were of that class, who, from calculation, found
that the saving of time in the steamboat was
70 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
more than equivalent to its additional cost. These
nice calculators also speedily found, that the cost
of the provisions they consumed, and of the fuel
which conveyed them, was far less than the sum
they paid ; and, leaving out of account the vast
cost and labor expended on the preliminary ex
periments, they not only grumbled at the incon
veniences arising from their own unexpected
numbers, but complained of the extortions of
which they conceived themselves the victims.
Of such impressions, each passenger became
in his turn the vehicle ; and those, to whom the
steamboats were known only by name, were
speedily aware of all their discomforts. The
crowded sleeping-rooms, the decks strewed with
couches, the confined and offensive air, meals
scrambled for, food ravenously swallowed, were
all laid to the charge of the exclusive privileges
of the owners. These feelings it was attempted
to counteract by the most liberal, nay, profuse,
expenditure ; but this liberality produced no other
good effect than to enrich the stewards and pur
veyors ; in the hands of some of whom, the
wealth gained in his service, was made the most
efficient means of depriving his family of the
rights Fulton bequeathed them. Thus, while with
the intelligent, the educated, and the high-minded,
the name of Fulton was regarded with esteem and
reverence, it became hateful to the ignorant and
ROBERT FULTON. 71
selfish, of whom, even in our more enlightened
times, the majority is made up.
It is, however, to be admitted, that the op
position to Fulton's monopoly was not wholly
confined to persons of the latter description. In
the legal disputes which arose out of the at
tempts to set aside the exclusive privileges
granted to Fulton, and in the debates which
arose in the legislatures of several of the States,
there were men enlisted on the side of the op
position, who were not mere professional advo
cates, but had the firmest reliance upon the
justice of the cause they espoused. They be
lieved, conscientiously, that Fulton had arrogated
to himself the merit of discoveries, which had
been made by others. To these pure and dis
interested gentlemen we must allow the praise
of proper and patriotic motives.
The most formidable opposition which was
made to the privileges of Fulton, was founded
upon the discoveries of Fitch. We have seen,
that he had constructed a boat, which made
some passages between Trenton and Philadel
phia ; but the method, which he used, was that
of paddles, which are far inferior to the paddle-
wheel. Of the inferiority of the method of pad
dles, had any doubt remained, positive evidence
was afforded in the progress of this dispute ; for,
in order to bring the question to the test of a
72 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
legal decision, a boat propelled by them was
brought into the waters of the State of New
York. The result of the experiment was so
decisive, that, when the parties engaged in the
enterprise had succeeded in their designs, they
made no attempt to propel their boats by any
other method than that of wheels.
Fulton, assailed in his exclusive privileges de
rived from State grants, took, for his further
protection, a patent from the general govern
ment. This is dated in 1809, and was followed
by another, for improvements upon it, in 1811.
It now appeared, that the very circumstance in
which the greatest merit of his method consists,
was to be the obstacle to his maintaining an
exclusive privilege. Discarding all complexity,
he had limited himself to the simple means of
adapting paddle-wheels to the axle of the crank
of Watt's engine; and, under the patent laws,
it seems hardly possible that such a simple,
yet effectual method, could be guarded by a
specification. As has been the case with many
other important discoveries, the most ignorant
conceived that they might themselves have dis
covered it ; and those acquainted with the his
tory of the attempts at navigation by steam
were compelled to wonder, that it had been left
for Fulton to bring into successful operation.
ROBERT FULTON. 73
CHAPTER XL
Conflicting Claims of the Stales of New York
and New Jersey. — Attempt to obtain a Re
peal of the Grant from the State of New
York. — Fulton's Steam Ferryboats. — Boat
for the Navigation of the Sound. — Boats
planned by Fulton, and left unfinished at the
Time of his Death.
IN considering the history of the remaining
years of Fulton's life, it is impossible not to be
struck with the obvious fact, that he had made
a false step in forming a partnership with Liv
ingston, and in looking to exclusive legislative
grants for his remuneration. Had he acted simply
as Livingston's engineer, and kept aloof from all
more intimate connexion, he would have been
consulted, as a matter of course, by all those who
embarked in the enterprise of extending steam
navigation.
From such professional service, fortune and
popularity could not fail to have followed. But
becoming, as he did, the partner in a monopoly,
every new extension of the method he had
brought into successful use, and every improve
ment made in it, was hostile to his interests, and
H
74 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
those, who, under other circumstances, would
have been his firmest supporters became his
opponents and enemies.
The State of New York, at the time when
its grant to Fulton and Livingston was in force,
claimed jurisdiction over the whole of the waters
lying between its own shores and those of New
Jersey. The latter State resisted this claim ; but,
in the intercourse by ferries between the two
States, the influence of individual interests had
prevented any inconvenience arising from the con
flicting jurisdictions.
It is probable, that, had Fulton himself been
the sole proprietor of the grant from the State
of New York, a spirit of compromise with the
citizens of New Jersey would have governed him.
But the partnership, instead of treating on fair
terms with the parties holding ferry rights in that
State, transferred the whole of the rights they
held under the State of New York to a near
relation of Chancellor Livingston. The boat
constructed under this grant, on commencing its
passages, came into immediate competition with
the ferry owners in New Jersey, and left them
no option except between the total abandonment
of their property in the ferries and a competition
by means of steamboats.
For this latter object, grants made to Fitch
by the State of New Jersey, which, although
ROBERT FCLTON. 75
nevei acted upon, were still in force, were resorted
to. Not content with an opposition upon the
debatable waters, the parties engaged in this at
tempt resolved to try the validity of the grant to
Livingston within the acknowledged jurisdiction
of the State of New York. With this view an
application was made in the winter of 1808 — 9
for a repeal of the law. This application, being
referred to a committee of the Legislature, was
favorably received, and a bill for the repeal was
reported. Fulton and Livingston, however, hav
ing obtained permission to be heard by counsel
at the bar of the House of Assembly, succeeded
in preventing this bill from becoming a law.
The action of the State of New Jersey was ef
fectual in causing the steamboat, constructed by
virtue of the grant from Fulton and Livingston,
to suspend her passages ; and, in retaliation, her
proprietors, in opposition, as is believed, to the
wishes of Fulton, brought the law of the State
of New York to bear upon a ferryboat belonging
to John Stevens, of Hoboken, which was in con
sequence prevented from plying.
It thus happened, that the persons, who were
entitled to all the merit of introducing steam suc
cessfully into the service of navigation, were the
greatest sufferers by the contest. Fulton lost the
income for which he had stipulated out of the
profits of the steamboats plying to New Jersey ;
76 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
while Stevens, who had constructed and set in
motion a steamboat of unobjectionable construc
tion, within a few weeks after Fulton's successful
experiment, was prevented from using it.
We may here pause to remark, on what small
circumstances the claim to original invention may
rest. Stevens had now been engaged for seven
teen years in attempts to apply the steam engine
to the purposes of navigation, and was on the
very eve of success, when forestalled by Fulton,
while the latter was entitled to his right of priority
by no more than a few weeks. It is, however,
to be remarked, that the engine, with which Ful
ton's successful experiment was made, had been
planned and constructed several years before ; and
it appears probable, that the exertions of Stevens,
and of his son, who had now come forward as
his father's engineer, were stimulated by the
knowledge of Fulton's confidence in a successful
issue of his experiments. If, however, it were
necessary for us to decide to whom, of all the
rivals of Fulton, any share of the honors of suc
cess were due, there could be no hesitation in
awarding them to Stevens.
This controversy with the State of New Jer
sey, which embarrassed, and often interrupted
wholly, the communication by steam between
Philadelphia and New York, was not adjusted
during the life of Fulton, and may indeed be said
ROBERT FULTON. 77
to have continued Until the grant of the State of
New York was finally decided to be unconstitu
tional by the Supreme Court of the United States.
Although thus harassed by litigation, Fulton
did not permit his mind to be wholly diverted
from mechanical pursuits. The insular position
of the City of New York, however favorable to
commerce, both domestic and inland, subjected
it to great difficulty in its communications with
the adjacent country, and diminished materially
the value of the lands situated on the opposite
shores of its rivers and bay. From the magni
tude of these masses of water, row-boats were an
unsafe mode of communication, which, if attempt
ed by them, was subject to continual interruptions ;
and large sail-boats, although more safe, were, in
consequence of the rapidity of the tides and the
irregularity of the winds, liable to great uncer
tainty in their passage. That these difficulties
might be overcome by steam was now obvious,
and Fulton tasked himself to contrive the most
appropriate means of applying that mover to the
object.
It appeared necessary that the vessels should
be so constructed, that carriages might be driven
into them without difficulty. He was in conse
quence led to adopt the plan of twin boats, having
the paddle-wheels between them, and connected
by a deck, sufficiently strong to bear the feet of
H2
78 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
horses and the weight of loaded carriages. It is
probable, that he now, for the first time, availed
himself of the experiment of Symington, whose
boat was of similar structure ; and it was at this
period, that he consulted the work which contains
a drawing of that vessel. The assistance he de
rived from an inspection of this draft was how
ever but small ; for there is not the slightest
resemblance in the arrangement and distribution
of the two inventions, with the exception of both
being twin boats, and both moved by a single
paddle-wheel set in motion by a steam engine
Fulton had found no difficulty in the navigation
of rivers, in the direction of their length, by a
single boat with wheels on each side ; but the
circumstances of the case were far different, when
a movable road, bearing both foot passengers
and carriages, was to be employed to cross a
stream. So far as the theory then received of
the resistance of fluids could be a guide, the form
selected by Fulton wras a good one ; but it is now
determined, by observations upon the ferryboats
constructed by him and others, that twin boats
are retarded by a resistance of a more powerful
character than single ones.
This increase of resistance, to an amount far
greater than is pointed out by theory, appears to
be due to a wedge of wrater which lies between the
two conjoined boats, and which must be removed
ROBERT FULTON. 79
as the vessel advances. Of this Fulton could
not have been aware, as no observations or ex
periments existed by which it could have been
determined. With this exception, the ferryboat
of Fulton is to be classed with the very few
machines, which come perfect, on the first trial,
from the hands of the inventor ; and, with the
substitution of a single hull for the twin boat,
it has in its arrangement and distribution under
gone little or no change.
Steam ferryboats were first established upon
the ferry between New York and Brooklyn, and
a short time afterwards, between the former city
and Paulus Hook. The latter were completed
shortly after the breaking out of the war between
Great Britain and the United States. An imme
diate opportunity was afforded to prove the impor
tance of the invention. It became necessary to
transport a troop of flying artillery, with its battery
of guns and other carnages. The whole were
conveyed across this ferry, whose breadth is about
a mile, in less than an hour, by a single boat,
although comprising upwards of a hundred mount
ed men, and more than twenty carriages, each
drawn by four horses.
A difficulty existed, on account of the ebb and
flow of the tide, in making his ferryboats ans\ver
the purpose of a movable road, into and from
which carriages might be driven without delay
80 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
or danger. This was obviated, in a simple and
ingenious way, by means of a floating bridge ;
and the danger to the wharves and the vessel
itself arising from the shock attending their con
tact, was prevented by an apparatus governed by
a floating counterpoise. These exhibited much
skill in practical mechanics, and knowledge of the
laws of hydrostatics. The latter part of his inven
tion has, however, been rendered useless by the
dexterity, which the ferrymen have attained in the
management of the boats, but was at first of the
utmost importance to prevent injury, not only to
the machines themselves, but to the passengers.
The steamboats on the Hudson River were
increased in number, before the death of Fulton,
to five. A sixth was built under his direction
for the navigation of the Sound ; and, this water
being rendered unsafe by the presence of an
enemy's squadron, the boat plied for a time upon
the Hudson. In the construction of this boat, he
had, in his own opinion, exhausted the power of
steam in navigation, having given it a speed of
nine miles an hour ; and it is a remarkable fact,
which manifests his acquaintance with theory and
skill in calculation, that he in all cases predicted,
with almost absolute accuracy, the velocity of the
vessels he caused to be constructed. The engi
neers of Great Britain came long after to a sim
ilar conclusion in respect to the maximum of
speed.
ROBERT FULTON. 81
It is now, however, well known, that with a
proper construction of prows, the resistance to
vessels moving at higher velocities than nine miles
an hour, increases in a much less ratio than had
been inferred from experiments made upon wedge-
shaped bodies ; and that the velocity of the pis
tons of steam engines may be conveniently in
creased beyond the limit fixed by the practice
of Watt.
For these important discoveries, the world is
indebted principally to Robert L. Stevens. That
Fulton must have reached them in the course of
his own practice can hardly be doubted, had his
valuable life been spared to watch the perform
ances of the vessels he was engaged in building
at the time of his premature death. These
were, a large boat, intended for the navigation of
the Hudson, to which the name of his partner,
Chancellor Livingston, was given, and one planned
for the navigation of the ocean. The latter was
constructed with the intention of making a pas
sage to St. Petersburg!] ; but this scheme was
interrupted by his death, which took place at the
moment he was about to add to his glory, as the
first constructor of a successful steamboat, that
of being the first navigator of the ocean by this
new and mighty agent.
VOL. x, 6
82 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER XII.
Fulton's Torpedoes. — His Submarine Guns. —
Steam Frigate. — Submarine Vessel. — He is
catted before the Legislature of New Jersey
as a Witness. — Is detained on the Hudson
by the Ice. — His Illness. — Death and Char
acter.
THE prime of Fulton's life had been spent
in ineffectual attempts to introduce a novel mode
of warfare. In these efforts, he was encouraged
by the hope, that, were its efficacy once estab
lished, his native country would be safe from
the aggressions of European powers. The war
of 1812 promised an opportunity of applying his
carefully matured schemes to tke purpose for
which they were originally intended, and of
realizing his long-cherished hopes. He had,
almost immediately after his return to the United
States, instituted a set of experiments with his
torpedo ; these were successful in destroying a
vessel anchored in the bay of New York. The
attention of the general government being thus
awakened, he had received instructions to per
form another set of experiments, in which he
was to receive the aid of officers of the navy ;
ROBERT FULTON. 83
or, rather, was to attempt the application of
his torpedoes to a vessel, which they were to
defend.
It is no dishonor to Fulton, that, in the course
of these experiments, he was foiled. The of
ficers of the navy, fully aware of the manner
of his approach, took such measures as pre
vented all access to the vessel to be attacked.
It is, however, obvious, that the very necessity
of taking such precautions as they found indis
pensable, was a proof of the greatness of the
danger; and it was evident, that, had they not
had weeks for preparation, and all the means,
both in men and material, furnished by a large
navy yard at their disposal, some one or other of
the means proposed by Fulton must have been
successful.
In spite, then, of the advantage which the
highest degree of naval skill, and the command
of means, that could not be within the reach of
an enemy's vessel upon our shores, gained over
Fulton's embryo scheme, we must conclude, that
it would have been a powerful and efficient
means of annoyance against an enemy anchoring
in our waters. It was viewed in this light by
the government, not as a substitute for the or
dinary modes of warfare, but as a useful and
powerful addition to the means of harbor defence
When, therefore, the entrances of our harbors
84 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
were blockaded, Fulton's talents were called into
the service of the government ; but, as his en
terprises were conducted with the most profound
secrecy, little was said of them at the time. It
is now, however, well known, that, although no
actual injury was done to the British fleet, yet
the motions of the squadron in Long Island
Sound, were paralyzed, although commanded by
the favorite captain of Nelson, and its crews
kept in a state of continual alarm, by a fear
of the invention of Fulton.
It is not to be wondered, that his motions
were watched by spies, arid regularly reported
to the British commander ; who, on one occa
sion, landed a strong party, which invested the
house at which Fulton had intended to sleep.
By a lucky accident, he was prevented reach
ing his intended quarters, or he would certainly
have been made prisoner.
In the course of his experiments upon the
mode of attaching the Torpedo, he had planned
an instrument, by which a cable was to be cut.
This consisted of an arrow, projected beneath
the surface of the water, by a small piece of
ordnance. A trial of this instrument showed
the practicability of firing artillery beneath the
surface of the water, and doing execution with
it, at moderate distances. Upon this observa
tion, he founded a method of arming vessels
ROBERT FULTON. 85
with submarine guns ; by the use of which, they
would, in close action, have acquired a vast
superiority over those armed in the usual- man
ner.
His attention was next directed to the con
struction of a vessel of war, to be propelled by
steam ; and he succeeded in producing perhaps
the most formidable engine of naval war, which
has ever been planned. Viewed in the light of
a floating battery, intended solely for the defence
of harbors, this vessel left little to be desired ;
but he had no intention of fitting it for the
general purposes of navigation ; and hence we
have no right, in estimating its value, in com
parison with that of subsequent constructions of
the same sort, to take its fitness for any other
object into account.
When death arrested the career of Fulton,
he was busily engaged in constructing an im
proved form of the submarine vessel, which he
had used in France. Aware, by experience,
of the difficulty of moving a vessel when wholly
submerged, he limited his views, in this case,
to bringing the deck to a level with the surface
of the water. This deck was to be rendered
ball-proof. In this position, a large wheel, in
tended as the propelling apparatus, would have
wrorked partly in air and partly in water. Such
were the obvious features of the plan ; but, of
I
86 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
many accessory parts, the idea was confined to
his own breast ; and thus, upon his demise, no
person was to be found able or willing to un
dertake the completion of the unfinished inven
tion. The object of this vessel was to furnish
a safe and convenient mode of using his torpe
does and submarine guns.
The energies of Fulton's mind were arrested
by death, in the midst of these active and in
teresting pursuits. The controversy, in which
the parties holding under him were engaged
with the owners of the monopoly granted by the
State of New Jersey, had never been closed.
A favorable opportunity seemed to present itself
for obtaining a repeal of the law of that State,
which was seized by the former party. Fulton,
having no direct interest in the question, was a
competent witness, and was summoned, as such,
to attend the legislature of New Jersey, in Jan
uary, 1815. On his return, the Hudson River
was found to be filled with floating ice, which
put a stop to the usual means of passage. Ful
ton, anxious to rejoin his family, attempted the
passage in an open row-boat, and was thus ex
posed for several hours to the inclemency of the
weather. The consequence was a severe attack
of illness.
Before he had wholly recovered, his anxiety
in relation to the steam frigate and his subma
ROBERT FULTON. 87
rine vessel was such as to induce him, in defi
ance of the suggestions of prudence, to visit the
Navy Yard at Brooklyn, and expose himself for
some hours upon the decks of the former. The
result of this imprudence was a relapse of such
violence, that his constitution, enfeebled by con
stant labors and anxieties, was unable to resist it.
His death took place on the 24th of February,
1815.
Rarely has it happened, that the natural death
of any citizen excited so general mourning as
that of Fulton. Cut off in the very height of
his usefulness, and in the zenith of his reputa
tion, his countrymen felt it as a loss almost
irreparable.
Fulton was in person considerably above the
middle height ; his countenance bore marks of
intelligence and .talent. Natural refinement, and
long intercourse with the most polished societies
both of Europe and America, had given him
grace and elegance of manners. His great suc
cess, and the belief that his invention had se
cured the certainty of great wealth, however
unfounded this belief was proved to be after his
death, never, for a moment, rendered him arro
gant or assuming. Fond of society, he was the
soul of the intelligent circle in which he moved,
and of which his hospitable mansion was the
centre. The fine arts, once his chosen profes
88 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
sion, were his recreation and delight in after
life ; and he not only practised them himself, but
bountifully encouraged the efforts of others.
Our memoir has exhibited the extent of his
mechanical knowledge and ingenuity ; and, in the
midst of the most prolific creations of American
industry, the services rendered by Fulton are at
length admitted to be superior to those of any
other inventor, with the sole exception of Whit
ney. This rank is now awarded him, not only
by the- tardy justice of his own countrymen, but
by the almost universal suffrage of the whole
civilized world, the bonds of whose union are
daily drawn closer and closer, by an invention
which, however long sought and nearly attained
by others, was at last introduced into use by his
talent and perseverance.
In forming this estimate of his services, it is
not necessary that we should undervalue the ef
forts of those, who preceded him in the attempt
to apply steam to navigation. It is very prob
able, indeed, that, had it not been for the ex
periments of Fitch, Fulton might never have
applied his attention to steam navigation. But
it is not less certain, that, had he not been suc
cessful, the merits of Fitch would have been
forgotten, and unknown to the present genera
tion. It may even be questioned, whether the
public would have believed in the success of
ROBERT FULTON. 89
Stevens, and afforded him the encouragement
necessary to carry on his enterprise, had not
conviction been forced upon it, by the more
brilliant and conspicuous experiment of Fulton.
Compared with these two names, the superiority
of reputation, which the future historian will not
fail to ascribe to Fulton, may be as much due
to good fortune as to actual merit ; but, with
this exception, he has no competitor for the
glory of having introduced one of the most use
ful applications of mechanics, with which the
civilized world has yet been favored.
LIFE
JOSEPH WARREN,
ALEXANDER H. EVERETT, LL. D
JOSEPH WARREN.
CHAPTER I.
His Family and Education.
THE name of JOSEPH WARREN is one of the
most conspicuous in the annals of the Revolution.
His memory is cherished with even warmer re
gard than that of some others, who, from the
greater length of their career, and the wider
sphere in which they acted, may be supposed
to have rendered more important services to the
country. This distinction in his favor is owing
in part to the chivalrous beauty of his character,
which naturally excites a sympathetic glow in
every feeling mind ; and in part to that un
timely but glorious fate, which consecrated him
as the first distinguished martyr in the cause of
independence and liberty.
It is much to be regretted, that the materials
for the biography of one, in whom we feel so
deep an interest, are not more abundant ; but
94 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the circumstances of his active life were not such
as to create a large mass of written and pub
lished documents for the information of future
ages. The short period of time during which
he was prominent in public affairs, and the con
fined circle that limited his efforts, afforded no
scope for the voluminous correspondence, which
forms the basis of the biography of most dis
tinguished men. It is chiefly, therefore, as the
young martyr of Bunker's Hill, that he lives, and
will for ever live, in the memory of his country
men. What ambition could desire a more glo
rious destiny ? In consequence of this deficiency
of materials, the present brief notice will be
necessarily confined, in a great measure, to a
rapid sketch of the events that filled up, or
immediately preceded, that memorable day. A
few particulars of his early life, which have
been preserved by the affectionate care of his
family, may serve as an introduction.
JOSEPH WARREN was born at Roxbury, in
Massachusetts, in the year 1741. The house
in which his father resided is still standing, near
the centre of the principal village, in a street
which has received his name. The father was
chiefly employed in the cultivation of land, and
particularly in raising fruit. He was the person
who introduced into the neighborhood of Boston
the species of apple denominated from him the
JOSEPH WARREN. 95
Warren Russet. One day in autumn, as he
was walking in his orchard, after the apples
had been mostly gathered, he saw one remain
ing upon the top of a tree, which tempted him
by its uncommon beauty. He climbed the tree
to pluck it ; but, just as he was putting his
hand upon the apple, the branch upon which
he stood broke under him, and precipitated him
to the ground a lifeless corpse. His youngest
son, the late Dr. John Warren, of Boston,
then four years old, who had been despatched
by his mother to the orchard, to call his father
to dinner, met the body borne by two laborers.
By this fatal accident, the mother of Warren
was left a widow, with the charge of four boys,
of whom the eldest, Joseph, was then about six
teen years of age. The fidelity, with which she
executed this arduous trust, is sufficiently at
tested by the eminent virtues and talents of her
children. She lived to a very advanced age,
at the house in Roxbury, surrounded by the
younger members of the family, and reaping, in
their affectionate attention, the best reward for
the exemplary care with which she had her
self discharged the maternal duties.
Joseph Warren was instructed in the rudiments
of learning at the public school in Roxbury,
one of the best endowed and most flourishing
in Massachusetts, and entered Harvard College
96 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
at fourteen years of age. He was remarked at
school and at college, as a young man of su
perior talents, gentle manners, and a frank, in
dependent, and fearless character. A trifling
incident, which occurred during his residence at
Cambridge, and of which an account has heen
handed down by tradition, illustrates very agree
ably the last of these qualities, and may, per
haps, be worth repeating.
- A number of Warren's classmates were en
gaged in one of those youthful frolics, which
occur periodically at all colleges, but of which
they knew that Warren did not approve. The
leaders, apprehending, that, if he were present
at their meetings, his eloquence and influence
would draw off their followers and defeat the
plan, determined to prevent him from attending.
They accordingly fastened the door of the room
in which they met, and which was in the upper
story of one of the college buildings. Finding
that he could not get in at the door, and per
ceiving that there was an open window in the
room, Warren determined to effect his entrance
by that way, from the roof. He accordingly
ascended the stairs to the top of the building,
and getting out upon the roof, let himself down
to the eaves, and thence, by the aid of a spout,
to a level with the open window, through which
he leaped into the midst of the conspirators.
JOSEPH WARREN. 97
The spout, which was of wood, was old, and
so much decayed, that it fell to the ground as
soon as Warren relaxed his hold upon it. His
companions, hearing the crash, rushed to the win
dow, and, when they perceived the cause, loudly
congratulated him upon his escape. He coolly
remarked, that the spout had retained its po
sition just long enough to serve his purpose, and,
without further notice of the accident, proceeded
to harangue his audience upon the matter in
hand. We are not informed of the result ; but
it can hardly be doubted, that prudent counsels,
advanced with so much fearlessness and address,
were adopted.
This little anecdote was related fifty years
after the occurrence of the incident described,
that is, about the year 1807, by a person who
was present at the time, and who pointed out
the window, which was the scene of a part of
the action. There is, therefore, little doubt of
the correctness of the statement. It exhibits, on
a small scale, the same combination of qualities,
which afterwards led Warren, at the most event
ful period of his life, first, to dissuade his more
aged and experienced colleagues in council, from
engaging in the attempt to occupy the heights
of Charlestown ; and, when his efforts proved
ineffectual, to throw himself forward, into the
midst of danger, and perish in endeavoring to
VOL. x. 7
98 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
give effect to the plan, which he had vainly
opposed. He seems, in fact, to have possessed
by nature, and to have exercised through life,
that precious union of valor and discretion, which
is so .rarely to be met with ; and which, when
it does exist, constitutes the perfection of prac
tical wisdom.
JOSEPH WARREN.
CHAPTER II.
His Professional Studies and Practice. — En
trance into Political Life.
WARREN left college at the close of the usual
period of residence, and applied himself imme
diately to the study of medicine. At the age
of twenty-tufee, he established himself at Bos
ton, and commenced the practice of his pro
fession, which he pursued with distinguished
success.
He is represented as having been particularly
fortunate in his treatment of the smallpox, which
prevailed about this time in Boston, and was
then a much more formidable disease than it is
now. In fact, the zeal with which he entered
upon the study and practice of his profession,
his fine talents and finished education, together
with his agreeable person and manners, and nat
urally frank and amiable character, opened be
fore him an easy path to wealth and eminence.
In quiet times, he would have risen rapidly to
the highest rank as a physician, passed his life
in the active and literary pursuits belonging to
that profession, and bequeathed to posterity a
name distinguished only by the peaceful triumphs
100 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
of science and letters. During the brief period
of his professional career, he had acquired so
much distinction, that, at the opening of the war,
Khe was designated as Surgeon-General of the
army ; and it was after having declined this
place, that he was elected Major-General.
But the circumstances, in which the country
was then placed, almost necessarily directed the
attention of Warren from professional pursuits,
and concentrated it upon political affairs. The
same superiority of talent, and ardor of temper
ament, which would have given him an easy
success in any profession, rendered him more
than ordinarily susceptible of the influences, which
then operated upon the community ; and threw
him forward into the front rank of the asserters
of liberal principles. The fact, however, that
men like Warren, of the finest talents, and in
every respect the fairest promise, were among
the first to join in the opposition to the meas
ures of the government, shows sufficiently how
completely the whole mind of the colonies had
given itself up to the cause, and how utterly im
possible it was for the ministry to sustain their
pretensions by any power that could be brought
to bear upon the people of America.
The establishment of Warren in Boston, as a
physician, coincided with the close of the Seven
Years' War, which was terminated by the de
JOSEPH WARREN. 101
finitive treaty of Paris, of 1763. By that
treaty, France, then in the last stages of that
long disease of misgovernment, which finally pro
duced, hy reaction, the convulsions that marked
the termination of the century, threw from her,
as if in wantonness, the whole splendid domain,
which she had previously possessed on this con
tinent ; and which, had it been retained, and wrell
administered, must have ultimately rendered her
mistress of the whole. The two Canadas and
Florida were ceded to England. Louisiana, the
boundaries of which were then unsettled, but
which, as claimed by France, included the whole
vast valley on both sides of the Mississippi, from
the foot of the Alleganies on the east, to that
of the Rocky Mountains on the west, wras trans
ferred to Spain. This arrangement, so fatal to
the greatness of France, was generally considered,
at the time, as securing to the British crown the
dominion of the whole of North America. Pos
sessing, already, an unbroken line of coast, from
Hudson's Bay round to the mouth of the Mis
sissippi, with nothing to oppose her inland pro
gress, but a torpid Spanish colonial government,
there was every reason to expect, that, as pop
ulation and civilization advanced in the colonies,
the British government would gradually, by con
quest and purchase, push the unsettled boundary
of Louisiana farther and farther to the westward,
J02 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
until they had driven the Spaniards from the
continent. The same career, in short, was an
ticipated for America, as an appendage to Britain,
which she has already pursued, and is still pur
suing, as a union of independent States.
This was one of those cases, in which the
course of events belies the most probable con
jectures. The cession of the Canadas to Great
Britain, instead of increasing her power upon the
continent, was one of the most active immediate
causes of the dismemberment of the empire.
While the French, in close alliance with the
natives, over whom they have always exercised
a much stronger influence than any other Euro
pean nation, hung upon the rear of the colonies,
and, whenever Great Britain and France were
at war, carried fire and sword through their
peaceful villages, their whole military and politi
cal activity was exhausted in efforts to ward off
this imminent danger. The cooperation of the
mother country in effecting this object, naturally
generated good feeling between the parties ; and,
as long as this relation continued to exist, it did
much to prevent any considerable difference upon
any subject. Never had this cooperation be
tween the parent country and the colonies been
so cordial; and never had the colonies distin
guished themselves so much by their zeal and
success in supporting the pretensions of the
JOSEPH WARREN. 103
crown, against a foreign enemy, as in the bril
liant campaigns of the Seven Years', or, as it
has often been called, in this country, the Old
French War, the great school in which our
fathers disciplined and exercised themselves for
the desperate struggles of the Revolution.
The cession of the Canadas to Great Britian,
delivered the colonies from this dangerous neigh
borhood, and left them no employment for the
intense political activity to which they had always
been accustomed, but the adjustment of their
relations with the parent country. By a sort
of fatality, the ministry seized the moment to
enter upon a new system of policy, involving
pretensions and principles, which had never been
put forth before, and to which the colonies
could hardly be expected to give a quiet as
sent. Till now, they had paid no taxes, ex
cept such as were imposed by their own legis
latures, for the purpose of defraying their own
colonial and municipal expenses. They were
now called upon to contribute to the general
expenses of the empire, by taxes imposed, with
out their participation, by the general govern
ment. The effect was electric; and the mag
nitude of the results is hardly less astonishing,
than the rapidity with which they were brought
about.
Between the conclusion of the definitive treaty
104 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
of peace, which terminated the French war,
and the battles of Lexington and Bunker's Hill,
which opened that of the Revolution, there in
tervened a period of only eleven years. Many
of the officers, who had distinguished themselves
in the preceding wars, were still surviving, in
the full vigor of their faculties, to give their
countrymen the benefit of their experience and
skill in this new struggle. The same unerring
eye, which, at the first capture of Louisburg, on
the 17th of June, 1745, directed the shell, which
fell upon the citadel, and occasioned the sur
render of the place, was employed, on the thir
teenth anniversary of that day, in laying out a
position for the first regular engagement between
the colonial and British armies. So rapid, in
some cases, are the movements that regulate
the fortunes of nations, and change the aspect
of the world.
This period of eleven years, which intervened
between the close of the French war, and the
opening of that of Independence, was filled up
by a succession of interesting events, many of
which occurred in the neighborhood of Boston.
The Stamp Act ; the tumults which followed
it ; its repeal ; the Tea Act ; the troubles which
attended its enforcement, and which terminated
in the celebrated Boston Tea Party; the mili
tary occupation of Boston by the British army ;
JOSEPH WARREN. 105
the hostile encounters, that occurred so frequent
ly between the troops and the citizens, including
the fatal events of the 5th of March, 1770;
these occurrences, with various others, of less
importance but similar character, were the pre
ludes to the far-famed tragedies of the 19th of
April, and the 17th of June, 1775. A detailed
review of these events, would, of course, be ir
relevant to the present occasion. They belong
to the history of the country. It may be proper,
however, to advert to the part taken by General
Warren, on one or two of these occasions, be
fore proceeding to a somewhat fuller account of
the brief period, during which he may be said
to have been the leading spirit of the colony,
and which will be for ever distinguished in our
annals by the memorable battles of Lexington
and Bunker's Hill.
106 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER III.
Events of the 5th of March, 1770.— -Warren's
Anniversary Addresses.
THE great authority and influence, which Dr.
Warren exercised over his fellow citizens a few
years afterwards, evidently show, that he must
have taken an active and zealous part in polit
ical affairs, from the commencement of his resi
dence at Boston, which coincided, as has been
remarked, with the close of the French war. For
some time, however, his activity must, of course,
have been confined to a secondary sphere. The
foreground of the stage was already occupied by
the great men, who will figure In history as the
fathers of the Revolution, John Hancock, John
and Samuel Adams, James Otis, Josiah Quincy.
While these eminent characters were on the
spot, and in full activity, the patriots of a younger
class labored, of course, under their direction.
This was the position of Warren for the first
seven or eight years of his residence at Boston.
At the close of that time, accidental circum
stances removed, or deprived of their capacity
for usefulness, at once, nearly all the persons who
had acted as leaders in Massachusetts. Otis lost
JOSEPH WARREN. 107
his health, and retired into the country. Quincy
left the colony to visit Europe, and returned the
next year, only to breathe his last sigh upon
the shores of his beloved country. Hancock
and the two Adamses, with Robert Treat Paine
and Elbridge Gerry, represented the colony in
the Continental Congress. In their absence, the
direction of affairs passed, of course, into the
hands of the prominent patriots of the next suc
ceeding generation ; and it was then, that the
commanding genius of Warren carried him, at
once, to the helm, and rendered him, for the
brief period of his subsequent life, both in civil
and military affairs, the most prominent man in
New England.
It was one of the distinguishing traits in the
character of Warren, that he combined in a re
markable degree the qualities requisite for excel
lence in civil pursuits, with a strong taste and
aptitude for war. In this particular, he stood
alone among the leading patriots of Massachu
setts ; and the circumstance, had his life been
prolonged, would have contributed very much to
establish and extend his political influence. He
also possessed, in high perfection, the gift of
eloquence ; and, in exercising it, he is repre
sented as having exhibited the discretion, which,
in all respects, tempered so honorably the ardor
of his character. His voice was often raised in
108 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
public, for the purpose of dissuading the people
from tumultuous movements, and exhorting them
to seek redress for their wrongs, as much as
possible, according to the forms of law, and with
out detriment to the rights of individuals, or a
breach of the public peace.
The first occasion, however, on which the
name of Dr. Warren appears in connexion with
any public proceedings, was one when his elo
quence was exerted for a purpose more congen
ial to the feelings of an ardent patriot. I allude
to the addresses which he delivered on the 5th
of March, 1772 and 1775, in commemoration of
the sanguinary scene which was exhibited in
Boston, on the same day of the year 1770.
The riots, which followed the attempt to en
force the new revenue laws at Boston, however
natural under the circumstances, produced, as
must have been expected, the military occupa
tion of the place by British troops. In the
course of the year 1768, two regiments, which
had previously been stationed at Halifax, and
two from Ireland, making, with part of a regi
ment of artillery, a corps of about four thousand
men, arrived at Boston. They were placed
under the command of General Gage, an officer
who had honorably distinguished himself in the
preceding French war. The General, whose
head-quarters were at New York, came to Bos-
JOSEPH WARREN. 109
ton, to superintend the arrangements for quar
tering the troops, which were not effected without
great difficulty, and much opposition from the in
habitants. It was, in fact, found impossible to
induce them to furnish barracks, agreeably to the
act of Parliament, providing for the occupation ;
and the General was compelled to hire houses
for the accommodation of three of the regiments.
The fourth, with the artillery, was quartered in
tents upon the Common.
The military occupation of Boston, although,
on the view of things which was taken by the
ministry, a matter of indispensable necessity, led,
of course, to frequent quarrels between the troops
and the citizens. In these, the latter were, prob
ably, from the nature of the case, pretty often
in the wrong. This was certainly the fact on
the famous occasion of the 5th of March, 1770.
On the evening of that day, a mob of citi
zens, armed with clubs, without any previous
provocation, insulted, arid finally assaulted, the
soldiers, who were on guard at the Custom
House, in King Street, now State Street. The
guard exhibited great forbearance, and it was not
until one of their number had been actually
knocked dov^^at his post by one of the mob,
that they fired ; whether with or without orders
was afterwards disputed. The first discharge
killed three persons on the spot, and mortally
L
110 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
wounded two others. Here the affray termin
ated ; and, so clearly were the citizens in the
wrong, that Captain Preston, who, as command
ing officer of the guard, had been brought to
trial, was acquitted by a verdict of the jury,
having been defended by the two great leaders
of the patriotic party, John Adams and Josiah
Quincy.
But, whatever might be the merits of the case
on this occasion, as between the parties imme
diately engaged, it was impossible, on a general
view of the subject, not to regard the occurrence
as one of the unfortunate results of the new line
of policy adopted by the British government.
If the bloody retribution, which unreflecting cit
izens had brought upon themselves, by excesses
growing out of the exasperation produced by the
ministerial measures, were in itself technically,
and even substantially, as between the immedi
ate parties, just, this was only an additional
reason for regretting and reprobating a policy,
which almost inevitably drew the people into
that worst of all misfortunes, the commission of
voluntary wrong ; which first led them into temp
tation, and then punished them for yielding to
it. Considering the occurrence u^fer this aspect,
the leading patriots determined to set apart the
day for an annual celebration ; and it was ac
cordingly so observed for several years, until the
JOSEPH WARREN 111
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
was finally substituted for it, as furnishing, on
the whole, a more suitable occasion for com
memorating the great results of the controversy
between the mother country and the United
Colonies. This arrangement has been continued
ever since, and will probably never be aban
doned, while the union of the States is permit
ted to endure.
On the second of the anniversary celebrations
of the 5th of March, in the year 1772, Samuel
Adams was invited to deliver the address. He de
clined the task, which was then committed to Dr.
Warren, who acquitted himself with great ability.
On a similar occasion, three years afterwards, he
again delivered an address, which has attracted
more attention than the former one, from the
thrilling interest of the circumstances in which
the orator was placed, and the more excited
state of the whole community.
The mutual exasperation between the troops
and the citizens had then reached a very high
point ; and it had come to be considered as a
service of a somewhat critical character, to de
liver the anniversary oration. Warren volun
teered to perform the duty. When the day
arrived, the aisles of the church, the pulpit
stairs, the pulpit itself, were occupied by the
officers and soldiers of the garrison, who were
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
doubtless stationed there to overawe the orator,
and, perhaps, prevent him, by force, from pro
ceeding. Warren, to avoid interruption and con
fusion, entered from the rear, by the pulpit
window ; and, unmoved by the hostile military
array that surrounded him, and pressed upon
his person, delivered the bold and stirring ad
dress, which we have in print. It combines,
with a somewhat exuberant display of imagina
tion, a firm exposition of the rights of the col
onies, and the sternest denunciation of the pre
vious excesses of the troops, in whose prebence
he stood. Such was the influence of his cour
age and eloquence, that he was listened to with
out a murmur.
I am informed, however, by the Rev. Dr. Ho
mer, of Newton, Massachusetts, who was present
on this occasion in the Old South Church, where
the address was delivered, that there was, at
least, one silent but not wholly insignificant de
monstration of feeling, from the military part of
the audience. While the oration was in progress,
an officer, who was seated on the pulpit stairs,
held up one of his hands, in view of the orator,
with several pistol bullets on the open palm.
Warren observed the action, anAj without dis
continuing his discourse, dropped a white hand
kerchief upon the officer's hand. How happy
had it been for the country, if this gentle and
JOSEPH WARREN. 113
graceful admonition could have arrested the march
of violence, and averted the fatal presage afford
ed by this sinister occurrence of the future fate
of the patriotic speaker ; a presage too soon and
too exactly realized, on the following 17th of
June !
VOL. X.
114 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER IV.
Political Organization of Massachusetts. —
ren is elected President of the Provincial
Congress, and Chairman of the Committee
of Public Safety. — Events of the 19th of
April, 1775.
THE first public appearance of Dr. Warren,
in connexion with the political affairs of the day,
was, as I have remarked, on the occasion of the
delivery of the anniversary address of 1772.
In that year, the Committee of Correspondence
was formed at Boston ; an institution which ex
ercised, in a private way, a very strong influence
in promoting the progress of the Revolution.*
Of this Committee, Dr. Warren was an original
member. The earliest active proceedings, of a
* This Committee was designed for corresponding with
the several towns in Massachusetts. The plan was first
suggested by James Warren, of Plymouth. The Com
mittees of Correspondence for the Colonies were organ
ized the year following, and were first proposed by the
Virginia House of Burgesses, in March, 17?3. The
same system of Committees of Correspondence had
likewise been adopted to some extent in the time of the
Stamp Act. See Sparks's edition of FRANKLIN'S WRIT
INGS, Vol. VII. p. 264.
JOSEPH WARREN. 115
public character, in which he took a part, were
those which grew out of Governor Gage's de
termination to fortify the southern entrance of
Boston, by lines drawn across the isthmus or
Neck, which unites it with Roxbury.
On this occasion, a convention was held, of
delegates from all the towns in the county of
Suffolk, which then comprehended the present
county of Norfolk, for the purpose of endeav
oring to prevent this measure from being carried
into effect. Dr. Warren was a delegate to this
convention, and was made chairman of the com
mittee, which was appointed to prepare an ad
dress to the Governor upon the subject. The
Governor replied, in a brief and unsatisfactory
manner. The committee rejoined in another ad
dress, of greater length, which was transmitted
to the Governor, but received no answer. These
papers were written by Dr. Warren, and they
give a very favorable idea of his literary taste
and talent, as well as of his courage and patri
otism. The correspondence was communicated
by Dr. Warren, as chairman of the committee,
to the Continental Congress ; and that body, in
their reply, notice, in terms of high approba
tion, the part taken in it by the committee.
Dr. Warren had never served as a repre
sentative in the General Court of Massachusetts,
under the colonial government. The representa-
116 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
tion of Boston was, at that time, very limited
in number, and naturally fell into the hands of
the more experienced among the patriotic leaders.
These, however, as has been already stated, were
removed, by a concurrence of accidental circum
stances, from this quarter of the country, at about
the time when the government was reorganized,
under the direction of the popular party, in the
autumn of 1774. The legislative power was
intrusted, under this arrangement, to a body of
delegates, denominated the Massachusetts Con
gress ; and the executive power was exercised
by a committee of thirteen from that body, called
the Committee of Public Safety.
The high sense, which was now entertained
by his fellow citizens, of the value of the ser
vices of Warren to the cause of liberty, was
strikingly evinced on this occasion ; first, by his
election as a delegate from Boston to the Con
gress ; and secondly, by his designation as Pres
ident of that body, and Chairman of the Com
mittee of Public Safety. By virtue of these
places, he united in his person the chief re
sponsibility for the conduct of the whole civil
and military affairs of the new commonwealth,
and became a sort of popular dictator. The
Congress was organized at Salem, but shortly
after removed to Concord, and, a few days be
fore the battle of Lexington, adjourned to meet
JOSEPH WARREN. 117
again at Watertown, on the 10th of May, 1775.
The Committee of Safety held its meetings, at
this time, in a public house at West Cambridge,
and seems to have been in session every day.
It was soon apparent, that the station now
occupied by Warren in the councils of Massa
chusetts would be no sinecure. The second
anniversary address which he delivered on the
6th of March, 1775, was the bold and spirit-
stirring overture to the events of the following
19th of April and 17th of June.
The events of the 19th of April, including
the battles of Lexington and Concord, were of
such a character, that no individual could well
occupy a very conspicuous position in the field.
There was no commander-in-chief, and, properly
speaking, no regular engagement or battle. The
object of the British was to destroy the military
stores at Concord ; that of the Americans, to
prevent this, if possible, and to show, at all
events, that, in this quarter of the country at
least, every inch of ground would be desperately
contested. For the vigor and determination,
which marked the conduct of the people on this
important day, it is not too much to say, that
the country is mainly indebted to the vigilance,
activity, and energy of Warren.
It had been the intention of the British com
mander, to surprise the Americans ; and so severe
118 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
were the precautions taken for this purpose, that
the officers employed in the expedition were
only informed of it on the preceding day. In
formation of a meditated attack had been, how
ever, for some time in possession of the Amer
icans ; the first intimation having been given, as
is said, by a patriotic lady of Boston, the wife
of a royalist officer. A most vigilant observation
was, in consequence, maintained upon the move
ments of the British ; and, in this operation,
great advantage was derived from the services
of an association, composed chiefly of Boston
mechanics, which had been formed in the autumn
of the preceding year. The late Colonel Paul
Revere was an active member of this society,
and was employed by Dr. Warren, on this oc
casion, as his principal confidential messenger.
Some preparatory movements took place among
the British troops, on the 15th of April, which
attracted the attention of Warren. It was known,
that the principal objects of the contemplated
expedition were to seize the stores at Concord.
Presuming that the movement would now be made
without delay, the Committee of Safety took meas
ures for securing the stores, by distributing a part
of them among the neighboring towns. John
Hancock and Samuel Adams were then at the
house of the Reverend Mr. Clark, in Lexington,
and Colonel Revere was despatched as a special
JOSEPH WARREN. 119
messenger to inform them of the probable designs
of General Gage. On his return to Boston, he
made an agreement with friends in Charlestown,
that, if the expedition proceeded by water, two
lights should be displayed on the steeple of the
North Church ; if it moved over the Neck,
through Roxbury, only one.
The British commander finally fixed upon the
] 9th for the intended attempt ; and, on the
evening of the 18th, he sent for the officers
whom he had designated for this service, and
communicated to them, for the first time, the
nature of the expedition upon which they were
to be employed. So strict had been the secrecy
observed by the Governor, in regard to this
matter. The same discretion had not been
maintained in other quarters ; for Lord Percy,
who was to command the reserve, on his way
home to his lodgings, heard the expedition talked
of, by a group of citizens, at the corner of one
of the streets. He hastened back to the Gov
ernor's head-quarters, and informed him, that
he had been betrayed. An order was instantly
issued, to prevent any American from leaving
town ; but it came a few minutes too late to
produce effect. Dr. Warren, who had returned
in the evening from the meeting of the Com
mittee of Public Safety, at West Cambridge,
was already informed of the movement of the
120 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
British army, and had taken the necessary meas
ures for spreading the intelligence through the
country.
At about nine o'clock, on the evening of the
18th, the British troops intended for the expe
dition were embarked, under the command of
Colonel Small, in boats at the bottom of the
Common. Dr. Warren inspected the embarka
tion in person ; and, having returned home im
mediately after, sent for Colonel Revere, who
reached his house about ten o'clock. He had
already despatched Mr. Dawes over land as a
special messenger to Lexington, and he now
requested Colonel Revere to proceed through
Charlestown on the same errand.
The Colonel made arrangements, in the first
place, for displaying the two lights on the stee
ple of the North Church, agreeably to the un
derstanding with his friends in Charlestown, and
then repaired to a wharf, at the north part of
the town, where he kept his boat. He was
rowed over by two friends, a little to the eastward
of the British ship-of-war Somerset, which lay at
anchor in this part of the channel, and was
landed on the Charlestown side. He pursued
his way through Charlestown and West Cam
bridge, not without several perilous encounters
with British officers, who were patrolling the
neighborhood, and finally arrived safely at Lex-
JOSEPH WARREN. 121
ington, where he met the other messenger, Mr.
Davves, whom he had, however, anticipated.
After reposing a short time, they proceeded
together to Concord, alarming the whole coun
try as they went, by literally knocking at the
door of almost every house upon the road.
They had, of course, been in part anticipated
by the signals on the North Church steeple,
which had spread intelligence of the intended
movement, with the speed of light, through all
the neighboring towns.
By the effect of these well judged and well
executed measures, Hancock and Adams were
enabled to provide in season for their personal
security, and the whole population of the towns,
through which the British troops were to pass,
were roused and on foot before they made their
appearance. On reaching Lexington Green, they
found a corps of militia under arms and pre
pared to meet them. At Concord, they found
another ; and when, after effecting, as far as they
could, the objects of their expedition, they turned
their steps homeward, they were enveloped, as
it were, in a cloud of the armed yeomanry,
which thickened around them at every step, and
did such fearful execution in their ranks, that
nothing but their timely meeting with the rein
forcements under Lord Percy, at West Cam-
M
12S AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
bridge, could have saved them from entire dis
organization and actual surrender.
Colonel Revere, many years afterwards, drew
up a very curious and interesting account of his
adventures on this expedition, in the form of a
letter to the corresponding secretary of the Mas
sachusetts Historical Society, which is printed in
the Collections of that body, and is now familiar
to the public.
It would be irrelevant to the present purpose
to enter into the detail of the events of the 19th
of April, in which Dr. Warren took no further
part, until the British troops reached West Cam
bridge, on their return from Concord. Warren
was at this place, in attendance on the Com
mittee of Safety. On the approach of the Brit
ish, he armed himself and went out, in company
with General Heath, to meet them. On this
occasion, he displayed his usual fearlessness, by
exposing his person very freely to the fire of
the enemy ; and a bullet passed so near his head,
as to carry away one of the long, close, hori
zontal curls, which, agreeably to the fashion of
the day, he wore above the ears.
In other times this accident might, perhaps,
have been regarded as a sinister omen. When
the priests of the ancient religions sacrificed a
victim to their divinities, they commonly began
by cutting off a lock of his hair, and throwing
JOSEPH WARREN. 123
it into the fire. By this ceremony, he was
supposed to be devoted to the god. A mind
under the influence of such a prejudice might
have seen, in the loss of General Warren's hair,
a presage of the doom that awaited him. But
Warren himself, even in a superstitious age, would
never have yielded to any such notions. His
frank, fearless, and generous character would have
rather led him to sympathize with the gallant
Trojan hero, in the Iliad, who, when he was
advised to wait, before he entered upon a bat
tle, till the omens, deduced from the flight of
birds, should become favorable, replied, "What
care I for the flight of birds, whether they take
their course to the right or the left? I ask no
better omen than to draw my sword in the
cause of my country."
"Without a sign his sword the brave man draws;
And asks no omen but his country's cause."
124 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER V.
Formation and Character of the New England
Army. — Warren is elected Major- General.
— Gridley. — Prescott. — Putnam.
THE events of the 19th of April announced
to all the world, abroad and at home, that the
long anticipated crisis had arrived ; and that the
questions at issue, between the parent country
and the colonies, must be settled by an appeal
to arms.
The public mind throughout the colonies was
prepared for the result. At their first meeting,
after the battle of Lexington, the Massachusetts
Congress resolved, that an army of thirty thou
sand men was wanted for the defence of New
England ; that, of this number, Massachusetts
would raise thirteen thousand six hundred ; and
that the other New England States should be
requested to furnish their respective proportions.
It was resolved, at the same time, to raise a
regiment of artillery, the train to consist of nine
field pieces ; and Richard Gridley, a brother of
the celebrated lawyer of that name, himself al
ready distinguished by his services in both the
preceding French wars, was appointed its colonel.
JOSEPH WARREN. 125
The troops began to assemble about the middle
of May ; and, before the middle of June, fifteen
thousand men had reached the neighborhood of
Boston. Of these, Massachusetts furnished ten
thousand, and Connecticut three. The rest were
supplied by the other New England Colonies
The troops were distributed into companies ot
fifty, of which ten composed a regiment.
On the 21st of May, General Ward was com
missioned as commander-in-chief of the Massa
chusetts forces, and his orders were obeyed by
all the other troops within the limits of the col
ony. His head-quarters were at Cambridge,
where he had with him about eight thousand of
the Massachusetts troops, and one thousand of
those from Connecticut. The latter, with Sar
gent's regiment from New Hampshire, and Pat
terson's from Berkshire county, were under the
immediate command of General Putnam, who
was stationed in advance of the main body, at
Inman's Farm, where a redoubt and breastwork
had been thrown up, near the Charlestown road.
General Ward had with him at Cambridge five
companies of artillery.
The right wing of the army, consisting of two
thousand troops from Massachusetts, two thou
sand from Connecticut, and one thousand from
Rhode Island, was stationed at Roxbury, under
the command of Brigadier-General Thomas, who
M 2
126 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
had also with him three or four companies of
artillery. A thousand of the New Hampshire
troops, under Colonels Stark and Reed, stationed
at Medford, and another detachment of the same
troops, with three companies from Gerrish's reg
iment, stationed at Chelsea, composed the left
wing.
On the 14th of June, Dr. Warren was elected
by Congress a major-general. He had already
received his commission, when he went upon
the field as a volunteer, three days after, at the
battle of Bunker's Hill.
Such were the strength and composition of
the little army, which the events of the 19th
of April and the resolutions of the Congress had
summoned, from all parts of New England, to
the neighborhood of Boston. In regard to the
character of the troops, it is sufficient to say,
that they were the flower and pride of our hardy
yeomanry. They were not, like the rank and
file of the regular armies of Europe, the refuse
of society, enlisted in the worst haunts of crowd
ed cities, under the influence of a large bounty,
or perhaps an inspiration of a still inferior kind.
They were, as they are correctly described, in
the British "circumstantial account'' of the bat
tle of Lexington, the "country people."
Though generally unaccustomed to regular ser
vice, and not well skilled in the technical learn*
JOSEPH WARREN. 127
ing of the art of war, they were all, officers and
men, expert in the use of arms, and in the habit
of employing them in continual conflicts with the
Indians. Many of the officers had already dis
tinguished themselves in the French wars of 1745
and J 756, when the old Provincial standard was
displayed, with so much glory, in the Canadas.
It is remarkable, indeed, on examining the com
position of the New England army of 1775, how
many names we find of men, either previously
or subsequently illustrious in the history of the
country. The fact is one, among many other
proofs, how completely the spirit of the times
had taken possession of the whole mind of the
colonies, and drawn within the sphere of its in
fluence the most eminent professional, political,
and military characters, as well as the mass of
the people.
Of the officers, who commanded in this army,
Warren has been rendered, by subsequent events,
by far the most conspicuous. Prescott and Put
nam, both veterans of the former wars, occupied
with him, at the time, the highest place in the
confidence of the country. But, in addition to
these, there were many others whose names are
not much less extensively known throughout the
world than theirs. General Greene, by common
acknowledgment second only to Washington in
military service during the revolutionary war, was
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the colonel of one of the Rhode Island regiments.
General Pomroy, of Northampton, was at head
quarters as a volunteer. He had served, with
the rank of captain, under Sir William Johnson,
in the war of 1756; and he was distinguished in
the celebrated battle with the French and In
dians under Baron Dieskau. Stark, afterwards
the hero of Bennington, was the colonel of one
of the New Hampshire regiments, in which the
late General Dearborn was a captain. The late
Governor Brooks, of Massachusetts, had the rank
of major ; the late Governor Eustis was a sur
geon of artillery ; Knox, afterwards a general in
the continental army, appeared as a volunteer.
Gridley, the veteran colonel of artillery, then
sixty-four years of age, was an officer of high
distinction. In the war of 1745, when Massa
chusetts alone raised an army of three thousand
two hundred men for the expedition against
Cape Breton, he commanded the artillery, and,
as was remarked before, pointed, with scientific
accuracy, the mortar, which, on the third fire,
threw into the citadel of Louisburg the shell,
which determined its surrender. He was re
warded by a captaincy in Shirley's regiment.
In the war of 1756, he again entered the ser
vice, as chief engineer .and colonel of infantry.
Two years afterwards, he assisted at the second
taking of Louisburg, with so much distinction,
JOSEPH WARREN. 129
that General Amherst tendered him the valuable
furniture of the French commander's head-quar
ters, as a present ; which he, with chivalrous
delicacy, declined to receive. At the siege of
Quebec, he commanded the provincial artillery
under General Wolfe, and was fighting by his side
when he fell. At the close of the war, the King
rewarded his gallantry by a grant of the Mag
dalen Islands, with an extensive cod and seal
fishery, and half pay as a British officer. At the
opening of the Revolution, his agent at London
inquired of him, by order of the British govern
ment, what part he intended to take. "I shall
fight," he replied, " for justice and my country."
His pay as a British officer, was of course,
stopped. The arrears, which were offered him,
he, with characteristic spirit, refused to receive.
To this list of distinguished persons, whose
presence graced the New England army, may
be added the name of one now more exten
sively known, perhaps, than any of the others,
though in a different line ; and who, subsequently
to this period, entered the British service. I mean
that of Benjamin Thompson, afterwards Count
Rumford. He held no commission in the New
England army, but was present at head-quarters,
and, on the day of the battle of Bunker's Hill,
accompanied Major Brooks as a volunteer, with
the last reinforcements that were sent from
VOL. x. 9
130 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Cambridge. He had solicited in vain the place
of major in the artillery, which was due to his
eminent merit, but which the parental partiality
of Gridley had reserved for his own son. For
this act of venial frailty the veteran was se
verely punished, by the misconduct of his son
in his first action on the 17th of June, and by
the loss to the country of the great talents of
his competitor ; a loss, however, which we need
not regret, considering with how much brilliancy
and success those talents were afterwards em
ployed, on a still more extensive scale, in the
cause of humanity and the world.
While these and other kindred spirits, of
perhaps not inferior merit, though somewhat less
distinguished fame, filled the ranks of the New
England army, the two persons who, with War
ren, occupied the most conspicuous place in
the public eye, were undoubtedly Prescott and
Putnam.
Prescott, the colonel of one of the Middlesex
regiments, was the officer, who, on the 16th
of June, received the orders of the commander-
in-chief to occupy and fortify the heights of
Charlestown, and who commanded in the re
doubt on the day of the battle. He was a
native of Pepperell, in the county of Middlesex,
where his family, one of the most distinguished
and respected in the State, still reside during a
JOSEPH WARREN. 131
part of the year. Prescott inherited an ample
fortune from his father ; but he seems to have
possessed a natural aptitude for military pur
suits; and, at the opening of the war of 1756,
he, with so many others of the noble spirits
of New England, joined the expedition against
Nova Scotia, under General Winslow, with a
provincial commission. '
He served with such distinction, that, after the
close of the war, he was urged to accept a com
mission in the British line; but he declined the
honor, and preferred returning to the paternal es
tate.. Here he resided, occupied in the peaceful
pursuits of agriculture, and in dispensing a frank
and liberal hospitality to his neighbors, many
of whom were his old companions in arms,
until the opening of the Revolution called him,
already a veteran, to the council and the field.
He was tall and commanding in his person, of
a grave aspect, and the simplest manners ; hold
ing in utter contempt the parade and pageantry,
which constitute with many the essence of war.
During the progress of the battle of Bunker's
Hill, he was frequently seen on the top of the
parapet, attired in a calico frock, with his bald
head uncovered to the sun, observing the enemy,
or encouraging his men to action. Governor
Gage, who, at one of these moments, was recon-
-)itring the American works through a tele-
132 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
scope, remarked the singular appearance of Pres-
cott, and inquired of Willard, one of the council,
who he was. " My brother-in-law, Colonel Pres-
cott," was the reply. "Will he fight?" re
turned the Governor. "Ay," said Willard, "to
the last drop of his blood."
Putnam, another veteran of the French wars,
was not less bold in action, and equally regard
less of unnecessary show and ceremony. He
was a native of Salem, in Massachusetts, but
emigrated early in life to Pomfret, in Con
necticut, where he employed himself, like Pres-
cott, in agriculture, though on a smaller scale,
until he was called, like him, into the military
service, by the opening of the war of 1756.
He commanded a company of provincial ran
gers, and, in this capacity, rendered the most
essential services; passing through a series of
adventures, the details of which, though resting
on unquestionable evidence, seem like a wild and
extravagant fable. After the close of the Seven
Years' War, Putnam returned to the plough, and
was in the act of guiding it, when he heard the
news of the battle of Lexington. Like Cincinna-
tus of old, he left it in the furrow, and repaired at
once to Cambridge, though now more than sixty
years of age. After consulting with the leading
characters at the camp, he returned to Connec
ticut, to organize a regiment, with which he ap-
JOSEPH WARREN. 133
peared shortly after at head-quarters, as brigadier-
general.
Putnam was athletic and active in person ; en
ergetic even to coarseness, but keen and pointed
in conversation ; and his face, though deeply
furrowed by the savage tomahawk, as well as by
the finger of time, was always radiant with a
broad good-humor, which rendered him the idol
of the army. He was particularly earnest, in the
council of war, in recommending the measure of
fortifying Bunker's Hill ; a part of his regiment
was detached for the service, and he was pres
ent and active himself on the field, through the
night before the battle, and during the action.
Whether, as some suppose, he was charged by
the Council of War with a general superintend
ence of the whole affair ; or whether, like War
ren, he appeared upon the field as a volunteer,
is not now known with certainty; for the of
ficial record of the orders of the day is lost ;
and the want of it is not supplied, for this pur
pose, by any other evidence. It is certain, how
ever, from all the accounts, that his agency in
the action was great and effectual.
N
134 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER VI.
Strength and Disposition of the British Troops
— The Americans occupy the Heights of
Charlestown.
SUCH were the composition of the New Eng
land army, and the character of some of the
prominent officers. The British army, which
they were to encounter, was quartered within
the limits of Boston. It consisted, at the time
of the battle of Lexington, of about four thou
sand men ; but, before the end of May, large
reinforcements arrived, which raised the number
to about ten thousand. On the 14th of May.
General Gage, who had recently superseded
Hutchinson in the government of the colony,
arrived from New York. He had served with
honor in Europe and America, had married an
American lady, and, in other times, would have
possessed a great personal popularity. The
troops were the flower of the British army, and
the officers were generally men of distinguished
merit. Among the principal, were Generals
Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne, Pigot, Grant, and
Robertson. Earl Percy and Lord Rawdon, after
wards Earl of Moira and Marquis of Hastings,
JOSEPH WARREN. 135
had each of them a command. Earl Percy and
his hardy Northumbrians took a pride in braving
the severity of the climate in an encampment
on the Common ; and, to secure themselves from
the cold, made use of double tents, having the
space between them stuffed with hay. The
light-infantry were encamped on the heights of
West Boston, then called Beacon Hill. There
was a squadron of cavalry, for whose use the
Old South Church had been appropriated as a
place of exercise. A strong battery for cannon
and mortars had been thrown up on Cops
Hill, opposite to Charlestown ; and this point
was the post of observation of the British com
mander and his staff, during the action of the
17th of June. A strongly fortified line had been
drawn across the Neck, at the southern entrance
of the town from Roxbury. There was also a
battery at the northern extremity of the town,
and others on the Common, on Fort Hill, and
on the shore opposite to Cambridge.
The British troops were in the highest state
of equipment and discipline, and were amply fur
nished with every description of necessary stores
and ammunition. In these respects, their con
dition formed a complete contrast to that of the
Americans. To aid them in their operations,
they had several ships of war stationed in the
waters around the peninsula. The Glasgow lay
136 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
in Charles River, not far from the present po
sition of Craigie's Bridge, and enfiladed with her
battery the isthmus that connects Charlestown
with the continent. The Somerset, the Lively,
and the Falcon, were stationed in the channel
between Boston and Charlestown, and, during the
action of the 17th of June, pointed their guns
directly at the American works.
It may be remarked, that the principal British
and American officers were personally known to
each other. They had served together in the
French wars, and, in some instances, had con
tracted a close and intimate friendship. Not
long after the battle of Lexington, there was an
interview at Charlestown, between some of the
officers on both sides, to regulate an exchange
of prisoners ; and Governor Brooks, who was
present, was accustomed to relate, that General
Putnam and Major Small, of the British army,
no sooner met, than they ran into each other's
arms.
In this state of the hostile preparations of the
two parties, and with the strong feeling of mutual
exasperation, which, notwithstanding occasional
instances of a different character, prevailed gener
ally between the masses of both, it was apparent,
that a trial of strength on a more extensive scale,
and of a much more serious and decisive kind,
than any that had yet occurred, must soon take
JOSEPH WARREN. 137
place. In this, as in other cases of a similar
description, accidental causes would naturally reg
ulate, in some degree, the time, place, and other
circumstances, under which the trial should be
made. The concentration of the New England
troops around the peninsula of Boston would,
of course, suggest to the British commander, if
he intended to retain that position, the impor
tance of occupying the neighboring heights of
Dorchester and Charlestown. He had accord
ingly determined upon this measure, and was
making his arrangements for taking possession of
Dorchester Heights, now South Boston, on the
13th of June.
Information of these intentions and arrange
ments had been conveyed to the American army,
and had become the subject of frequent and se
rious discussion in the Council of War and the
Committee of Safety. It was proposed, on one
side, to anticipate this movement of the British,
by a corresponding one of our own, and to oc
cupy the heights of Charlestown at once. The
troops were full of zeal, and eager for action.
It was thought wise to take advantage of this
disposition, while it still existed in all its fresh
ness, unimpaired by the weariness that would
soon be created by absence from home, and the
privations and hardships of military life. It was
also necessary, that the attempt, if made at all,
N2
138 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
should be made immediately ; for, if the British
were permitted to intrench themselves in these
positions, it would be impossible to dislodge them,
and all hope of recovering Boston must be
given up.
It was urged, on the other hand, that the
attempt to occupy the heights of Charlestown
would, of course, be resisted by the British ;
and, if sustained, would bring on a general en
gagement, for which the army was entirely un
prepared, from a want of ammunition. There
were, at that time, only eleven barrels of pow
der in the camp, and only sixty-seven within
the State of Massachusetts. It is remarkable,
that the more decisive, not to say rash, course,
was recommended, on this occasion, by the vet
erans of the council, Prescott and Putnam ; while
the part of prudence was sustained by the young
and ardent Warren. The result evinced the
correctness of his views. The attempt failed,
as had been anticipated, precisely for want of
powder. Strict prudence might, perhaps, have
counselled the delay, or rather abandonment, of
the enterprise ; for, if not attempted at once, it
could not, as was intimated above, be attempted
at all.
But it may be said, on the other hand, that
strict prudence would hardly have lent her sanc
tion to any of the proceedings of the Revolution,
JOSEPH WARREN. 139
from first to last. It was throughout, in all its
parts, an effort of noble and generous feeling,
made in defiance of cool calculation ; and the
result furnishes one among the numerous in
stances to be found in the history of the world,
in which such attempts have been crowned with
success. Almost all the great political and
moral revolutions have been the triumph of
truth and justice over an overwhelming superi
ority of mere material force.
The feeling, that predominated in the Coun
cil of War and the Committee of Safety, was
the same that prevailed in the army and through
out the country. It called for immediate action.
Colonels Gridley and Henshaw, accompanied by
Mr. Devens, had already, by direction of Gen
eral Ward, surveyed the country, and pointed
out Prospect, Bunker's, and Breed's Hills, as
the points proper to be occupied. On the 15th
of June, it was accordingly voted in the Com
mittee of Safety, which, as has been remarked,
constituted the real executive power, to recom
mend to the Council of War to occupy and
fortify Bunker's Hill at once, and Dorchester
Heights as soon as might be practicable.
The Council of War proceeded in conformity
with this suggestion; and, on the following day,
the 16th of June, General Ward, under their
direction, issued orders to Colonel Prescott, to
140 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
proceed to Charlestown, and to occupy and for
tify Bunker's Hill. He was directed to take
with him, upon this expedition, his own regi
ment, and those of Colonels Bridge and Frye;
a hundred and twelve men from that of Gen
eral Putnam, and Captain Gridley's company of
artillery, with two fieldpieces. Colonel Frye
being absent on other duty, his regiment was
commanded at the time by Lieutenant Colonel
Brickett ; but the Colonel, as I shall have oc
casion to mention, joined it in the course of
the action.
The whole corps amounted to about a thou
sand men. They were ordered to take with
them provisions for one day ; and reinforcements,
with additional provisions, were to be sent, if
they should be found necessary. The detach
ment was mustered, early in the evening of the
16th, on Cambridge Common, near the Col
leges, on which the main body of the army had
been quartered. Religious service was performed
by President Langdon ; after which the troops
took up the line of march. Colonel Prescott
led the way, attired in his calico frock, preceded
by two sergeants with dark lanterns, and accom
panied by Colonel Gridley and Judge Winthrop,
of Cambridge. Brooks, then a major in Bridge's
regiment, joined him at the Neck.
For the information of those, who are unac-
JOSEPH WARREN. 141
quainted with the geography of the neighborhood
of Boston, it may be proper to say, that Charles-
town is a peninsula, about a mile long, and half
a mile wide at the broadest part, where it is
separated from Boston by a narrow channel ;
that it diminishes gradually in breadth from this
part, until it terminates in a neck a hundred and
thirty yards over, which connects it with the con
tinent ; and that it rises from the channel, and
from the banks of the rivers Mystic and Charles,
into a height of land composed of two eminences,
denominated Bunker's and Breed's Hills. At
the time of the battle, the latter name was less
known, and that of Bunker's Hill was popularly
applied to the whole height of land.
When the troops had reached the ground, and
were preparing to execute their orders, the ques
tion arose, which of the two hills was intended
as Bunker's Hill, and was, of course, the one
to be fortified. The northern eminence was more
generally spoken of under that name ; while the
southern, commonly called Breed's Hill, was
evidently the one best fitted for the purpose.
A good deal of time was consumed in discuss
ing this question ; but it was at length deter
mined to construct the principal work on Breed's
Hill, and to erect an additional and subsidiary
one on Bunker's Hill. Colonel Gridley accord
ingly proceeded to lay out the principal work.
142 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
He placed a redoubt eight rods square on the sum
mit of the hill, with the strongest side secured by
projecting angles, looking towards Charlestown,
and with an open entrance from the north, on
the other side. From the northeastern corner
of the redoubt he ran a breastwork, on a line
with its side, to a marsh, which lay between the
hill and the bank of the river. There was an
opening, or sally-port, secured by a blind, be
tween the redoubt and the breastwork. So much
time had been lost in discussing the question
where the works should be placed, that it was
midnight before a spade entered the ground, and
there remained less than four hours before day
light, when the operations would, of course, be
seen by the British. The men, however, went
to work with alacrity.
In the mean time a strong guard, under Cap
tain Manners, was stationed on the Charlestown
shore, to observe the enemy. The day had
been fair, and it was a clear, starlight night.
Colonel Prescott, accompanied by Major Brooks,
went down twice to the shore, to reconnoitre,
and distinctly heard the British sentries relieving
guard, and uttering, as they walked their rounds,
the customary, but, in this instance, deceptive
cry, Jill 's well.
It may be remarked here, that Major Brooks,
who was so conspicuous and useful through the
JOSEPH \TARREN. 143
day, was not at Cambridge when the detach
ment was ordered to march. He had appeared
as a major in Bridge's regiment of militia, at
the battle of Lexington, and received, soon after,
a similar rank in the line. On the day pre
ceding the battle, he was at home, at Medford,
on account of illness in his family ; but, hearing
that his regiment was ordered on duty, he vol
untarily repaired to his post, and, as has been
remarked, joined his companions on their way
at Charlestown Neck.
144 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER VII.
Commencement of the Action of the 17 th of
June. — The British open their Batteries
upon the American Works. — The Americans
send for Reinforcements, and are joined by
the New Hampshire Troops, under Colonels
Stark and Reed.
THE American troops continued their work
unmolested until daylight, when they were dis
covered by the British. A heavy fire was im
mediately opened upon them, from the battery
on Cops Hill, and from the ships in the river.
It continued for some time without effect ; until,
at length, Asa Pollard, of Billerica, a private
soldier, who had ventured without the works,
was struck by a ball, and killed on the spot.
Such were the circumstances under which the
first blood was shed.
Not long after the British had opened their
fire, some of the American officers, perceiving
that the men were fatigued with the labors of
the night, proposed to Colonel Prescott, that
they should be relieved by another detachment.
The Colonel immediately assembled a council of
war, in which the same proposition was renewed.
JOSEPH WARREN, 145
Prescott, however, strenuously opposed it. The
enemy, he thought, would not venture to attack ;
if they did, they would be repulsed ; the men
who had raised the works were best able to
defend them ; they had the merit of the labor,
and ought to have the honor of the victory.
The proposition to send for relief was rejected.
At about nine o'clock, movements were ob
served among the British troops in Boston, in
dicating the intention to attack ; the men were
now exhausted by fatigue and want of refresh
ment ; the proposition to send for relief was
renewed. Prescott again assembled a council,
but still discountenanced the proposed plan,
which was again rejected. It was thought ex
pedient, however, to send immediately for re
inforcements and provisions ; and Major Brooks
was ordered to proceed to Cambridge, and ap
ply to General Ward for this purpose. For
greater expedition, he was directed to take one
of the horses belonging to Captain Gridley's
company of artillery. To this proposal the cap
tain demurred. Our fathers, as we shall pres
ently see in another instance, seem, on this
eventful day, to have been more anxious for
the safety of their horses, than they were for
their own. Captain Gridley's scruples prevailed,
and Major Brooks was ordered to proceed, as
rapidly as he could, on foot. He arrived at
VOL. x, 10
146 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Cambridge at about ten o'clock, and delivered
his message to General Ward.
The General hesitated about the propriety
of sending reinforcements to Charlestown. He
feared that the enemy might seize the occasion
to make an attempt upon the public stores at
Cambridge and Watertown ; and thought it hard
ly prudent to leave them unprotected. The
Committee of Safety, who were then in session
at head-quarters, were consulted upon the sub
ject ; and in this body there was also a dif
ference of opinion. Mr. Devens, of Charles-
town, who was a member of the Committee,
influenced perhaps in some degree by local
feeling, urged very strongly the necessity of
sending a large reinforcement; and his opinion
so far prevailed, that General Ward despatched
orders to Colonels Stark and Reed, who were
stationed, as has been remarked, at Medford,
with the New Hampshire troops, to join Colonel
Prescott.
Without intending to impute the slightest
blame to General Ward, or to the Committee
of Safety, whose conduct, through the whole
affair, is above all praise, it may be conjectured,
that, if they had perceived at the moment more
distinctly the importance of sending reinforce
ments, and especially ammunition, the fortune
of the day might perhaps have been different.
JOSEPH WARREN. 147
Had the Americans been supplied with powder
enough to meet the enemy on the third attack,
as they did on the two first, it is hardly prob
able that the British would have returned a fourth
time to the charge.
Stark and Reed received their orders at about
eleven o'clock, and, having supplied their men
with powder and ball, an affair which, from
the total want of preparation, occupied two
hours, they took up the line of march at
about one. When they reached Charlestown
Neck, they found the entrance occupied by one
or two regiments, who had been stationed there
the day before, but had not yet received orders
to march. Maclary, the inajor of Stark's reg
iment, rode forward, by his order, and requested
the colonels of these regiments, if they did not
intend to proceed, to open to the right and left,
and let the New Hampshire troops pass through,
which they did.
The troops were marching to slow time, and
the Neck, as has been said, was enfiladed by
the fire of the Glasgow. "My company ^being
in front," says General, then Captain, Dearborn,
in his account of the battle, " and I, of course,
marching by the side of Stark, I suggested to
him the propriety of quickening our pace, that
we might relieve the men the sooner from the
enemy's fire. ' Dearborn,' he replied, 'one fresh
148 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
man, in action, is worth a dozen fatigued ones.'"
The march proceeded in slow time.
Stark, like Prescott, Putnam, and Gridley,
was a veteran of the French wars. He had
served as a captain of rangers, with the highest
distinction ; had fought with Wolfe, at Quebec ;
had been received, after the war, into the Brit
ish service ; and, like Gridley, had sacrificed rank
and pay in the cause. Major Maclary was,
likewise, an officer of great repute.
The New Hampshire troops arrived upon the
field at about two o'clock. In the mean time,
the American lines had been extended on the
left, where advantage had been taken of a fence,
composed of stone, surmounted by wooden rails,
which ran about two hundred yards in the rear
of the breastwork, from the hill to the bank of
Mystic River. A little in front of this fence,
the troops formed another, of a similar kind, out
of the other fences in the neighborhood ; and, by
filling up the space between the two with the
hay which was lying upon the field, constructed
an imperfect substitute for a regular breastwork.
Between the south end of the rail fence and the
north end of the breastwork, there was an open
ing of about two hundred yards, which was en
tirely unprotected by any work whatever. This
was the weak point in the American defences,
and the one through which the British finally
JOSEPH WARREN. 149
poured in the raking fire from their artillery,
which compelled the Americans to leave the re
doubt.
General Putnam had posted his company of
Connecticut troops, under Captain Knowlton, at
the rail fence ; and, when the New Hampshire
troops came upon the field, he was employed,
with a part of the original detachment, in throw
ing up a secondj subsidiary work upon the north
ern eminence, properly called Bunker's Hill, in
distinction from Breed's, which he seems to have
regarded as a very important part of the opera
tions of the day. He retained a portion of the
New Hampshire troops to aid him at this point,
and advised the rest to post themselves, with the
Connecticut troops, at the rail fence. Stark ac
cordingly took that course. Having encouraged
his men by a short address, and ordered them
to give three cheers, he put them at last into
quick time, and marched up rapidly to the lines.
These were the principal reinforcements, that
came upon the field in season to be of any use.
At about one o'clock, when it had become ap
parent that the British intended to attack the
works, General Ward ordered all the troops at
Cambridge, with the exception of five regiments,
to reinforce those which were engaged ; but it
was now so late in the day, that this order pro
duced but little effect. Most of the troops did
03
150 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
not reach the ground ; and those that did, came
too late to be of much service.
The disposition of the American troops at the
opening of the action was, therefore, as follows.
Colonel Prescott, with Colonel Bridge, Lieu
tenant-Colonel Brickett, and the greater part of
the original detachment of a thousand men, were
in the redoubt and at the breastwork. Captain
Gridley, with his company of artillery and two
fieldpieces, and Captain Callender, with another
of the same force, were at the opening between
the redoubt and the breastwork. Colonels Stark
and Reed, with the New Hampshire troops, and
Captain Knowlton, with the Connecticut com
pany, were at the rail fence on the left. Cap
tain Manners, with the troops that had been
stationed on the Charlestown shore in the morn
ing, were at another rail fence, which had been
formed on the right, between the redoubt and
the road. General Putnam, who was on horse
back, superintended the work on Bunker's Hill,
whence he rode, as occasion required, to the
rail fence, and once or twice in the course of
the morning to head-quarters at Cambridge.
Pomroy, who, as has been said, held no
commission in the line, when he heard the ar
tillery, felt it as a summons to action, and could
not resist the inclination to repair to the field.
He accordingly requested General Ward to lend
JOSEPH WARREN. 151
him a horse, and, taking his musket, set off at
full speed for Charlestown. On reaching the
Neck, and finding it enfiladed by a hot and
heavy fire of round, bar, and chain shot, from
the Glasgow, he began to be alarmed ; not, as
may well be supposed, for his own safety, but
for that of General Ward's horse. Horses, as
has been already remarked, were at this time
almost as rare and precious as the nobler animals
that rode them. Too honest to expose his bor
rowed horse to " the pelting of this pitiless storm,"
and too bold to dream for a moment of shrink
ing from it himself, the conqueror of Baron Dies-
kau dismounted, delivered the horse to a sentry,
shouldered his musket, and marched on foot across
the Neck. On reaching the hill, he took his
station at the rail fence. His person was known
to the soldiers, and the name of Pomroy rang
with shouts along the line.
152 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER VIII.
Progress of the Action. — A Detachment oj
British Troops lands at Charlestown. — View
of the two Peninsulas and the neighboring
Country. — General Warren comes upon the
Field.
WHILE the Americans were employed in for
tifying the heights of Charlestown, and in pre
paring to defend them against the enemy, the
British, on their part, were not less busily en
gaged in preparations for attack. At daybreak,
when the movements of the Americans were
first discovered, a fire was opened upon them
from all the batteries, which was continued, but
without doing much execution, through the day.
At an early hour in the morning, Governor
Gage summoned a council of war, at the build
ing now called the City Hall. They were all,
of course, agreed as to the propriety of dislodg
ing the Americans, but there was some differ
ence of opinion upon the mode of making the
attack. Generals Clinton and Grant were for
landing at Charlestown Neck, and taking the
works in the rear; but this plan was considered
by the Governor as too hazardous. It would
JOSEPH WARREN. 153
place the British between two armies, one su
perior in force, and the other strongly intrenched,
by which they might be attacked at once in
front and rear, without the possibility of a re
treat. The plan preferred by the council was
to attack the works in front.
Accordingly, at about noon, twenty-eight barges
left the end of Long Wharf, filled with the prin
cipal part of the first detachment of the British
troops, which consisted of four battalions of in
fantry, ten companies of light infantry, and ten
of grenadiers. They had six pieces of artillery,
one of which was placed in each of the six
leading boats. The barges formed in single file,
and in two parallel lines. The day was with
out a cloud, and the regular movement of this
splendid naval procession, with the glow of the
brazen artillery and the scarlet dresses and bur
nished arms of the troops, exhibited to the un
accustomed eyes of the Americans a brilliant
and imposing spectacle. The barges proceeded
in good order, and landed their freight at the
southeastern point of the peninsula, commonly
called Morton's Point.
Immediately after they had landed, it was
discovered, that most of the cannon balls, which
had been brought over, were too large for the
pieces, and that it was necessary to send them
back, and obtain a fresh supply. "This wretched
154 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
blunder of oversized balls," says a British writer
of the day, " arose from the dotage of an officer
of high rank, who spends all his time with the
schoolmaster's daughters." It seems, that Gen
eral Cleveland, " who," as the same author says,
"though no Samson, must have his Delilah,"
was enamored of the beautiful daughter of Mas
ter Lovell, and, in order to win favor with the
damsel, had given her young brother an appoint
ment in the ordnance department, for which he
was not qualified. The accident, to whatever
cause it may have been owing, created delay,
and somewhat diminished the British fire during
the first two attacks.
While the British commander was preparing
and sending off his second detachment, the first
remained unmolested at Morton's Point, and
quietly dined, most of the men for the last time,
from the contents of their knapsacks. At about
two o'clock, the second detachment left Winni-
simmett Ferry in the barges, and joined the first
at Morton's Point ; soon after which the rein
forcements, consisting of a few companies of
grenadiers and light infantry, the forty -seventh
battalion of infantry, and a battalion of marines
landed at Madlin's shipyard, now the Navy
Yard, near the east end of Breed's Hill. The
detachment consisted altogether of about four
thousand men, and was commanded by General
JOSEPH WARREN, 155
Howe. He had under him General Pigot, and
Colonels Nesbit, Abercrombie, and Clark.
Such were the respective forces and positions
of the two armies at the moment immediately
preceding the battle. The spectacle, which was
exhibited at this time by the two peninsulas and
the surrounding waters and country, must have
been of a highly varied and brilliant character.
General Burgoyne, in a letter written two or
three days after the battle, has given a spirited
sketch of this splendid panorama, as seen by the
British officers from the heights at the northern
extremity of Boston. Immediately below them
flowed the river Charles, not, as now, inter
rupted by numerous bridges, but pursuing a
smooth, unbroken way to the ocean. Between
them and the Charlestown shore, lay at anchor
the ships of war the Somerset, the Lively, and
the Falcon; and farther on the left, within the
bay, the Glasgow. Their black and threatening
hulks poured forth at every new discharge fresh
volumes of smoke, which hung like fleecy clouds
upon the air.
From time to time, as the veil of smoke was
cleared away by the wind, the spectator could
see, upon the opposite side of the river, rising
from the shore by a gentle ascent, the sister
hills of Charlestown, clothed in the green luxu
riance of the first flush of vegetation, excepting
156 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
where their summits were broken by the low
and hasty works of the Americans. Behind these
scanty defences could be seen our gallant fathers,
swarming to the rescue of freedom and their
country. Their homely apparel had but little to
attract the eye, but now and then, when some
favorite officer made his appearance, a shout of
gratulation passed along their ranks, which showed
the zeal that inspired them for the cause. Be
low the hill, the flourishing village of Charles-
town extended its white dwellings, interspersed
with trees and gardens, along the shore ; and
farther to the right, the British troops spread
forth their long and brilliant lines.
While both the armies, and the assembled
multitude, were hushed in breathless expectation,
awaiting eagerly the signal for the action, a
horseman was seen advancing from Charlestown
Neck at full speed towards the American works.
As he crossed Bunker's Hill, General Putnam,
who was there, and also on horseback, rode for
ward to meet him, and recognised General War
ren. "General Warren!" exclaimed the veteran,
"is it you? I rejoice and regret to see you.
Your life is too precious to be exposed in this
battle ; but, since you are here, I take your
orders." "General Putnam, I have none to
give. You have made your arrangements. I
come to aid you as a volunteer. Tell me where
JOSEPH WARREN. 157
I can be useful." "Go, then," said Putnam,
"to the redoubt; you will there be covered."
"I came not to be covered," replied Warren ;
"tell me where I shall be most in danger; tell
me where the action will be hottest." "The
redoubt," said Putnam, " will be the enemy's
object. If that can be defended, the day is
ours." General Warren pursued his way to
the redoubt. As he came in view of the
troops, they recognised his person, though he
wore no uniform, and welcomed him with loud
acclamations. When he reached the redoubt,
Colonel Prescott offered to take his orders.
"No, Colonel Prescott," he replied, "give me
yours ; give me a musket. I have come to take
a lesson of a veteran soldier in the art of
war."
These particulars, including the dialogue, are
given substantially as reported afterwards by Gen
eral Putnam and Colonel Prescott, and may be
depended on as authentic. Warren, as has been
already intimated, was originally opposed to the
plan of fortifying the heights of Charlestown ;
but, when the majority of the Council of War
had decided in favor of it, he told them, that
he should personally take a part in carrying it
into effect. He was strongly urged not to do
so, but his resolution was immovable.
On the day preceding the battle, he officiated
P
158 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
as President of the Congress, which was in ses
sion at Watertown ; and had passed the night
in transacting business. At daylight he rode to
head-quarters at Cambridge., where he arrived,
suffering severely with headache, and retired soon
after to take some repose. When information
was received, that the British were moving,
General Ward sent to give him notice. He rose
immediately, declared that his headache was gone,
and attended the meeting of the Committee of
Safety, of which he was chairman. At this
meeting, Elbridge Gerry, who entertained the
same opinion with Warren upon the prudence
of the attempt, earnestly requested him not to
expose his person. "I am aware of the dan
ger," replied the young hero, "but I should
die with shame, if I were to remain at home
in safety, while my friends and fellow citizens
are shedding their blood and hazarding their
lives in the cause." "Your ardent temper,"
replied Gerry, "will carry you forward into the
midst of peril, and you will probably fall." "I
know that I may fall," returned Warren ; " but
where is the man who does not think it glori
ous and delightful to die for his country?
'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.'"
Such, as reported by the friends who heard
it, was the language of Warren, in the Com-
JOSEPH WARREN. 159
mittee of Safety, on the morning of the 17th
of June. After the adjournment of the Com
mittee, he mounted his horse, and rode to
Charlestown, where he arrived with the rein
forcements a short time only oefore the com
mencement of the battle.
160 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER IX.
General Hoive attempts to storm the American
Works. — He is repulsed with great Loss
— Ill Conduct of the American Artillery. —
Gridley. — Gerrish. — Callender.
THE plan of attack determined on in the
British council of war, as has been already re
marked, was to land in front of the works, and
attempt to carry them by storm.
At about three o'clock in the afternoon, the
force intended for the service being all in po
sition, and every necessary preparation made,
the signal was given for action, by a general
discharge of artillery along the whole British
line. The troops advanced in two divisions.
General Howe, in person, led the right, towards
the rail fence; General Pigot, with the left,
aimed directly at the redoubt.
It would seem, that the order for a fresh sup
ply of balls, had not yet been answered ; as the
fire of the British artillery is represented as
having been suspended soon after it commenced,
because those on hand were too large. It was,
however, renewed immediately with grape shot.
The little battery, which -was stationed at the
JOSEPH WARREN. 161
opening between the redoubt and breastwork, in
the American lines, replied with effect. In the
mean time, the American drums beat to arms.
General Putnam, who was still at work on Bun
ker's Hill, quitted his intrenchment, and led his
men into action. " Powder is scarce/3 said the
veteran, addressing them in his usual pointed
and laconic style ; " powder is scarce, and must
not be wasted. Reserve your fire till you see
the whites of their eyes. Then take aim at the
officers."
The substance of these remarks was repeated
as an order along the line ; but when the Brit
ish had come within gunshot of the works, a
few sharp-shooters disobeyed the injunction, and
fired. "Fire again before the word is given at
your peril," exclaimed Prescott ; "the next man
that disobeys orders shall be instantly shot."
Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, who, with Colonel
Buttrick, had led the troops so gallantly at Con
cord, on the 19th of April, ran round the top of
the parapet, and threw up the muskets. At
length the British were at only eight rods dis
tance. "Now, men! now is your time!" said
Prescott. "Make ready! take aim! fire!"
So effectually was the order obeyed, that, when
the smoke cleared away, the whole hill side was
covered, as it were, with the fallen. The British
returned the fire; they attempted to rally and
VOL. X. 11
162 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
advance, but without success. After a moment's
irresolution, they turned their backs, and hurried
from the hill.
Such was the issue of the first attempt to
storm the works. It was, in all respects, auspi
cious for the future fortunes of the day ; and it
may be safely said, that the timely arrival at
this moment, of the reinforcements of artillery
and supplies of ammunition, which had been
ordered from Cambridge, would have insured
the most brilliant success. It was now, that the
practical mischief, resulting from Colonel Grid-
ley's ill-judged exhibition of parental partiality, in
giving the place of major in the artillery to his
own son, in preference to Count Rumford, was
severely felt.
Major Gridley, as his subsequent conduct
proved, was entirely incompetent to the duty
assigned him. Could the thorough science, with
the vigorous and energetic character of Rumford,
have been employed in doing justice to the or
ders of the veteran conqueror of Louisburg,
there would, in all probability, have been no
want of ammunition ; powder enough would, in
one way or another, have found its way into the
works, and the day might still have been ours.
But it was the fortune of America, on this oc
casion, to pay the penalty of Colonel Gridley's
fatherly weakness, as Great Britain did, though
JOSEPH WARREN. 163
to a less disastrous extent, that of General Cleve
land's superannuated gallantry.
The American artillery was badly served
through the whole action. Early in the day,
Captain Callender, who, as has been said, was
stationed with his company and two fieldpieces
at the opening between the redoubt and breast
work, drew off his pieces from the post assigned
him, to Bunker's Hill, in order, as he said, that
he might prepare his ammunition in safety.
General Putnam attempted in vain to induce
him to return, and was finally obliged to employ
Captain Ford, who was crossing the hill with
his company of infantry, and knew nothing of
the artillery service, to drag the pieces back.
By him, and by Captain Perkins of Boston,
who was also stationed at the opening between
the redoubt and the breastwork, they were served
through the day.
Major Gridley had been ordered to proceed
with his battalion from Cambridge to the lines ;
but had advanced only a few yards beyond the
Neck, when he made a halt, determined^ as he
said, to wait and cover the retreat, which he
deemed inevitable. At that moment, Colonel
Frye, a veteran of the old French wars, whose
regiment was in the redoubt, but who, being on
other duty, as was remarked before, had not
yet joined it, was riding toward the hill, and
164 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
perceived Major Gridley with his artillery in the
position which I have described. Frye galloped
up to him, and demanded what it meant. "We
are waiting," said Gridley, " to cover the re
treat." " Retreat?" replied the veteran; "who
talks of retreating ? This day, thirty years ago,
I was present at the first taking of Louisburg,
when your father, with his own hand, lodged a
shell in the citadel. His son was not born to
talk of retreating. Forward to the lines ! "
Gridley proceeded a short distance with his
artillery ; but, overcome with terror, and unequal
to the horrors of the scene, he ordered his men to
recross the Neck, and take a position on Cob
ble Hill, where they were to fire with their
three-pounders upon the Glasgow. The order
was so absurd, that Captain Trevett refused to
obey it, and proceeded with his two pieces. He
lost one of them by a cannon-shot on Bunker's
Hill ; the other he brought to the lines. This
little fragment of Major Gridley's battalion was
the only reinforcement of artillery that came into
action.
Colonel Gerrish, with his regiment of infantry,
reached the top of Bunker's Hill, on his way
to the lines ; but there his courage failed. He
had served with distinction as a captain in the
provincial army of 1756, but had now become
unwieldy from excessive corpulence. On reach
JOSEPH WARREN. 165
ing the top of Bunker's Hill, he declared that
he could not go a step farther, and threw him
self prostrate upon the ground. Putnam, who
was on the hill, attempted in vain to induce him
to proceed. His men, discouraged, probably, by
the conduct of their commander, were equally
indisposed for action. "They could not proceed
without their officers." Putnam offered to lead
them himself. "The cannon were abandoned,
and there was no chance without artillery." In
short, the service of the regiment was entirely
lost.
Gerrish, by some unaccountable accident, was
not only not tried for his conduct on this oc
casion, but was even employed after the battle
upon another service, in which his behavior
was not much better. He was then brought to
a court-martial for his delinquency in both the
actions, convicted of conduct unworthy of an
officer, and cashiered.
Major Gridley was tried for neglect of duty,
and dismissed from the service.
Captain Callender was also brought to a court-
martial, convicted of cowardice, and dismissed
from the service ; but he determined to clear
away the stain upon his character in the most
honorable manner. He continued with the army
as a volunteer, and exposed himself desperately
in every action. Finally, at the battle of Long
166 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Island, after the captain and lieutenant of the
artillery company in which he served as a pri
vate had been shot, he assumed the command,
and, refusing to retreat, fought his pieces till
the enemy were just upon him, when a British
officer, admiring his intrepidity, interfered, and
saved his life. He continued in the service till
the end of the war, and sustained the character
of a brave and energetic officer.*
* See Washington's Writings, Vol. III. p. 490.
JOSEPH WARREN. 1 67
CHAPTER X.
Conflagration of Charhstown. — General Howe
attempts a second Time to storm the Amer
ican Works. — He is again repulsed with
great Loss. — Anecdote of General Putnam
and Major Small, of the British Army.
AFTER the repulse of the British troops in
their first attack upon the works, an ominous
pause, like the lull that sometimes interrupts
the wildest tempest, prevailed upon the scene
of action, only broken by the occasional dis
charges of artillery from the ships and batteries.
It was not, however, of long duration. Gen
eral Howe determined, at once, upon a second
attack ; and, having rallied and reorganized his
men, gave the order to advance. With un
shaken intrepidity they proceeded through the
long grass, under the heat of a blazing summer
sun, loaded with knapsacks of more than a hun
dred pounds each, towards the lines. The ar
tillery pushed forward, to within three hundred
yards of the rail fence, and opened their bat
tery to prepare the way for the infantry. In
the mean time, a deep silence brooded over the
American lines. The men were ordered to re-
168 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
serve their fire till the enemy should be within
six rods' distance.
While the troops were thus advancing, a new
spectacle burst suddenly upon the eyes of the
assembled multitude, and added another feature,
more startling, if possible, than the rest, to the
terrible sublimity of the scene. Clouds of
smoke were seen to overspread the air, from
which sheets of fire flashed forth in all direc
tions, and it soon became apparent that Charles-
town was in flames. The British general had
been annoyed, at his first attack upon the works,
by the fire of a detachment stationed in the
town, and had given orders that it should be
burned. For this purpose, combustibles were
hurled into it from Boston, which commenced
the conflagration ; and a detachment of marines,
from the Somerset., wrere directed to land, and
aid in giving it effect. The flames spread with
great rapidity through the town, devouring, with
unrelenting fury, house on house, and street on
street. At length the large church took fire.
As the flames ascended from the body of the
building along the lofty spire, it exhibited a cu
rious and splendid spectacle. When they reached
the steeple, the beams that suspended the bel]
were pretty soon burned off, and the bell itself
fell to the ground, ringing continuously with a
strange and startling alarm, which was heard
JOSEPH WARREN. 169
distinctly through the noise of crackling flames
and crashing edifices.
Unmoved by scenes like these, which, in or
dinary times, would drive the dullest souls to
desperation, the armies coolly prosecuted their
work. The British troops ascended the hill by
slow and regular approaches, firing in platoons
with all the precision of a holiday review, and
though without aim, not entirely without effect.
Colonels Brewer and Nixon were carried off
wounded. Colonel Buckminster was crippled for
life, by a ball through the shoulder. Major
Moore was shot through the thigh. While his
men were carrying him from the field, he re
ceived another wound in the body, which after
wards proved mortal. He called for water, but
none could now be obtained short of the Neck,
and two of his men set forth to get it for him.
In the mean time, the Americans, agreeably
to their orders, reserved their fire till the British
were at six rods' distance. The word was then
given, and the discharge took place with still
more fatal effect than in the former attack.
Hundreds of the men, including a large propor
tion of the best officers, were prostrated ' by it.
General Howe remained almost alone. Nearly
every officer of his staff was killed or wounded
by his side, and among them his aids, Colonels
Gordon, Balfour, and Addison ; the last belong-
Q
170 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ing to the family of the author of the " Spectator."
So tremendous was the havoc, that it was found
impossible to pursue the attack; and, for the
second time on this eventful day, the order was
given for the British army to retreat from the
hill.
At this period in the progress of the battle,
a little incident occurred, in which General Put
nam, and Major Small of the British army, were
the parties concerned, and which throws over
the various horrors of the scene a momentary
gleam of kindness and chivalry. It has already
been remarked, that these two officers were
personally known to each other, and had, in
fact, while serving together in the former wars,
against the French, contracted a close friendship.
After the fire from the American works had
taken effect, Major Small, like his commander,
remained almost alone upon the field. His com
panions in arms had been all swept away, and,
standing thus apart, he became immediately, from
the brilliancy of his dress, a conspicuous mark
for the Americans within the redoubt. They
had already pointed their unerring rifles at his
heart, and the delay of another minute would,
probably, have stopped its pulses for ever. At
this moment, General Putnam recognised his
friend, and perceiving the imminent danger in
which he was placed, sprang upon the parapet, and
JOSEPH WARREN. 171
threw himself before the levelled rifles. " Spare
that officer, my gallant comrades," said the
noble-minded veteran ; " we are friends ; we are
brothers ; do you not remember how we rushed
into each other's arms at the meeting for the
exchange of prisoners?" This appeal, urged in
the well known voice of a favorite old chief, was
successful, and Small retired unmolested from
the field.
The anecdote, though it wears a rather poet
ical aspect, is understood to rest upon the well
attested authority of both the parties, and may
probably be relied on as substantially true. Its
authenticity is, in fact, placed beyond a reasonable
doubt by the connexion of the incident related
with another of a similar kind, which occurred
in the farther progress of the action and will be
mentioned in the next chapter.
172 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER XI.
Third Attack upon the American Works, which
proves successful. — The Americans leave the
Redoubt. — Death of Warren.
THE British general, undaunted by the new
and fatal evidence, afforded by this second re
pulse, of the determination of the Americans to
defend themselves to the last extremity, gave
orders, at once, for a third attack. He was
now, however, so far enlightened by the lessons
he had received, as to adopt a more judicious
plan than before. He concentrated his whole
force upon- the redoubt and breastwork, instead
of directing a portion of it against the rail fence.
He also directed his men to throw aside their
knapsacks, reserve their fire, and trust wholly to
the bayonet.
He had discovered the vulnerable point in the
American defences, and pushed forward his ar
tillery to the opening between the redoubt and
breastwork, where it turned our works, and en
filaded the whole line. General Howe, as before,
commanded on the right, and General Pigot on
the left. General Clinton, who had seen from
Cops Hill the defeat of his countrymen, though
JOSEPH WARREN. 173
not himself on duty, volunteered his services,
and hastened to the rescue. His well known
gallantry and talents inspired new confidence.
He took his station with General Pigot, on the
left.
In the mean time, the Americans were re
duced to the last extremity. Their ammunition
was exhausted ; they had no bayonets ; no rein
forcements appeared. Colonel Gardiner, who had
been stationed with his regiment at Charlestown
Neck, but had received no orders to march,
through the day, volunteered his services, and
reached Bunker's Hill with three hundred men.
Just as he was descending to the lines, he re
ceived a wound from a musket ball, which after
wards proved mortal.
As his men were carrying him from the field,
his son, a youth of nineteen, second lieutenant
in Trevett's artillery company, which had just
come up, met and recognised his father. Dis
tracted at seeing him in this condition, he of
fered to aid in conducting him from the field.
"Think not of me," replied the father, with a
spirit worthy of a Bayard, " think not of me.
I am well. Go forward to your duty!" The
son obeyed his orders, and the father retired
from the field to die. He was a member of
the General Court, from Cambridge, and one
of the principal men of the colony. His regi-
Q2
174 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ment was broken by the loss of their leader,
and only one company came into action. This
was the Charlestown company, commanded by
Captain Harris. It was the last to leave the
field.
Their line enfiladed, without ammunition, with
out bayonets, the Americans awaited with des
perate resolution the onset of the British ; pre
pared to repel them, as they best might, with
the few remaining charges of powder and ball,
with the stocks of their muskets, and with stones.
Having reached the works, the foremost of the
British attempted to scale them. Richardson,
a private in the Royal Irish regiment, was the
first to mount the parapet. He was shot down
at once. Major Pitcairn followed him. As he
stepped upon the parapet, he was heard to utter
the exulting cry, " The day is ours ! " But,
while the words were still upon his lips, he
was shot through the body by a black soldier,
named Salem. His son received him in his
arms as he fell, and carried him from the hill.
He led the detachment, which first encountered
our troops upon Lexington Green, on the 19th of
April, had a horse shot under him on that day,
and was left upon the field for dead.
General Pigot, who had mounted the south
east corner of the redoubt, by the aid of a tree,
which had been left standing there, was the first
JOSEPH WARREN. 175
person to enter the works. He was followed by
his men. The Americans, however, still held
out. Gridley received, at this time, a ball through
the leg, and was carried from the field. Col
onel Bridge, who had come with the first de
tachment the night before, remained till the
last, and was twice severely wounded with a
broadsword. Lieutenant Prescott, a nephew of
the Colonel, was wounded in the arm, which
hung broken and lifeless by his side. His uncle
advised him to content himself with encouraging
the men ; but he continued to load his musket,
and was passing through the sallyport, to point
it at the enemy, when a cannon ball cut him
to pieces. Major Moore remained at the last
extremity. His men, who had gone to the Neck
for water, returned and offered to assist him, but
he told them to provide for themselves, and
leave him to his fate. Perceiving, at length,
that further resistance would be only a wanton
and useless sacrifice of valuable life, Colonel
Prescott ordered a retreat. The Americans left
the redoubt, and retired with little molestation
from the hill.
General Warren had come upon the field, as
he said, to learn the art of war from a veteran
soldier. He had offered to take Colonel Pres-
cott's orders ; but his desperate courage would
hardly permit him to obey the last. It was not
176 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
without extreme reluctance, and at the very
latest moment, that he quitted the redoubt; and
he was slowly retreating from it, being still at
a few rods' distance only, when the British had
obtained full possession. His person was, of
course, in imminent danger. At this critical
moment, Major Small, whose life, as has been
mentioned in the preceding chapter, had been
saved in a similar emergency by the interfer
ence of General Putnam, attempted to requite
the service by rendering one of a like character
to Warren. He called out to him by name
from the redoubt, and begged him to surrender,
at the same time ordering the men around him
to suspend their fire. Warren turned his head,
as if he recognised the voice, but the effort was
too late. While his face was directed toward
the works, a ball struck him on the forehead,
and inflicted a wound which was instantly fatal.
These particulars of the death of Warren are
understood to rest on the authority of Major
Small himself, and are believed to be authentic.
His body was identified the following day, by
General Isaac Winslow, of Boston, then a youth,
and by various other visiters of the field, who
had been familiar with his person. The bullet,
which terminated his life, was taken from the
body by Mr. Savage, an officer in the Custom
House, and was carried by him to England
JOSEPH WARREN. 177
Several years afterwards, it was given by him
at London, to the Reverend Mr. Montague, of
Dedham, Massachusetts, and is now in possession
of his family. The remains of Warren were
buried on the spot where he fell. The next
year, they were removed to a tomb in the Tre-
mont Cemetery, and were finally deposited in
the family vault, under St. Paul's Church, in
Boston.
General Howe, though slightly wounded in
the foot, passed the night on the field of battle.
The next morning, as he lay wrapped in his
cloak upon a mound of hay, word was brought
to him, that the body of Warren was found
among the dead. Howe refused, at first, to credit
the intelligence. It was impossible, that the
President of Congress could have exposed his
life in such a battle. When assured of the
fact, he declared that his death was a full off
set for the loss of five hundred men.
The battle, which commenced at three o'clock,
lasted about two hours. The number of Amer
icans engaged is estimated at about three thou
sand five hundred. The loss was a hundred and
fifteen killed and missing, three hundred and five
wounded, and thirty taken prisoners. Prescott's
regiment suffered more than any other ; in that
alone, there were forty-two killed, and twenty-
eight wounded. The other regiments, which com
VOL. X. 12
178 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
posed the original detachment, and the New
Hampshire troops, also suffered severely. Col
onel Gardiner, Lieutenant-Colonel Parker, of
Chelmsford, Major Moore, and Major Maclary,
were the only officers, above the rank of cap
tain, who fell in the battle.
The number of British troops engaged was
estimated, as has been said, at about four thou
sand. Their loss was rated by the Massachu
setts Congress, in their official account of the
action, at fifteen hundred. Governor Gage, in
his official account, acknowledges a loss of one
thousand and fifty-four; twro hundred and twenty-
six killed, eight hundred and twenty-eight wound
ed, including nineteen officers killed, and twenty-
eight wounded. Charlestown was entirely de
stroyed by the flames. After the battle, the
British took possession of Bunker's Hill, from
which they kept up a fire of artillery through
the night. The Americans occupied Prospect
and Winter Hills. It was apprehended, that the
British would pursue their advantage, by making
an attempt on the stores at Cambridge ; but
their loss was probably too severe. They in
trenched themselves on Bunker's Hill, and the
Americans resumed their former position.*
* For many facts in the preceding narrative, we have
been indebted to Colonel Swett's valuable and interesting
"History of the Battle of Bunker's ffiZZ," where the reader
may find all the details of the action fully explained.
JOSEPH WARREN. 179
CHAPTER XII.
Resolutions of the Continental Congress in Hon
or of Warren. — His Wife and Family. -
Concluding Reflections.
IN the official account of the battle of Bun
ker's Hill, by the Massachusetts Congress, the
character of Warren is noticed in the most hon
orable terms. "Among the dead," says the ac
count, " was Major-General Joseph Warren, a
man, whose memory will be endeared to his coun
trymen and to the worthy in every part and age
of the world, so long as virtue and valor shall
be esteemed among mankind."
General Warren married, soon after his estab
lishment in Boston, Elizabeth Hooton, the daugh
ter of a respectable physician of that place.
She died about six years afterwards, leaving four
children, two sons and two daughters. After
the death of Mrs. Warren, the children were
committed to the care of their paternal grand
mother, with whom they remained until the
marriage of Dr. John Warren, the youngest
brother of the General. They were then taken
home by him, and were considered afterwards
180 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
as a part of his family.* Within a year after
the death of Warren, it was resolved, by the
Continental Congress, that his eldest son should
be educated at the public expense ; and two or
three years later, it was further resolved, that
public provision should be made for the educa
tion of the other children, until the youngest
should be of age. The sons both died soon
after they reached maturity. The daughters
were distinguished for their amiable qualities and
personal beauty. One of them married the late
General Arnold Welles, of Boston, and died
without issue. The other married Richard New-
combe of Greenfield, Massachusetts. Their chil
dren are the only surviving descendants of the
hero of Bunker's Hill.
In addition to the public provision made by the
Congress for the children of Warren, it was also
resolved by that body, that a monument should
be erected, at the national expense, to his mem
ory. This resolution, like the similar one in
honor of Washington, remains, as yet, without
effect. The duty imposed by it will, doubtless,
be discharged by the piety and patriotism of
* The three younger children were for some time
under the care of Miss Mercy Scollay, of Boston, to
whose solicitude and kindness they were much in
debted. — See SPARKS'S Isfe and Treason of Benedict
Arnold, p. 126.
JOSEPH WARREN. 181
some succeeding generation; but the noblest and
most appropriate monument of both these great
men, is, after all, to be found in the constantly
increasing prosperity and power of their country.
Such are the only particulars of interest, that
are now known, of the brief and brilliant career
of Joseph Warren. Had it been his fortune to
live out the usual term of human existence, . he
would probably have passed with distinction
through a high career of usefulness and glory.
His great powers, no longer limited to the sphere
of a single province, would have directed the
councils or led the armies of a vast confederate
empire. We should have seen him, like his
contemporaries and fellow patriots, Washington,
Adams, and Jefferson, sustaining the highest
magistracies at home, or securing the rights and
interests of the country, in her most important
embassies, abroad ; and, at length, in declining
age, illuminating, like them, the whole social
sphere, with the mild splendor of a long and
peaceful retirement. This destiny was reserved
for them, — for others.
To Warren, distinguished as he was among
the bravest, wisest, and best of the patriotic band,
was assigned, in the inscrutable decrees of Prov
idence, the crown of early martyrdom. It be
comes not human frailty to murmur at the will
of Heaven ; and however painful may be the
R
182 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
first emotions excited in the mind by the sud
den and premature eclipse of so much talent
and virtue, it may perhaps well be doubted,
whether, by any course of active service, in a
civil or military department, General Warren
could have rendered more essential benefit to the
country, or to the cause of liberty throughout
the world, than by the single act of heroic self-
devotion, which closed his existence. The blood
of martyrs has been, in all ages, the nourishing
rain of religion and liberty.
There are many among the patriots and he
roes of the revolutionary war, whose names are
connected with a greater number of important
transactions ; whose biography, correspondence,
and writings fill more pages ; and whose names
will occupy a larger space in general history ;
but there is hardly one whose example will ex
ercise a more inspiring and elevating influence
upon his countrymen and the world, than that
of the brave, blooming, generous, self-devoted
martyr of Bunker's Hill. The contemplation of
such a character is the noblest spectacle which
the moral world affords. It is declared by a
poet to be a spectacle worthy of the gods. It
awakens, with tenfold force, the purifying emo
tions of admiration and tenderness, which are
represented as the legitimate objects of tragedy.
A death like that of Warren is, in fact, the
JOSEPH WARREN. 183
most affecting and impressive catastrophe, that
can ever occur, in the splendid tragedy, which
is constantly going on around us, — far more im
posing and interesting, for those who can enjoy
it, than any of the mimic wonders of the dra
ma, — the real action of life. The ennobling
and softening influence of such events is not
confined to contemporaries and countrymen. The
friends of liberty, from all countries, and through
out all time, as they kneel upon the spot that
was moistened by the blood of Warren, will
find their better feelings strengthened by the in
fluence of the place, and will gather from it a
virtue in some degree allied to his own.
LIFE
HENRY HUDSON,
BY
HENRY R. CLEVELAND
HENRY HUDSON.
CHAPTER I.
Hudson's early History little known. — First
Voyage, in 1607. — Sails from Gravesend. —
Makes Discoveries on the Coast of Green
land. — Sails thence to Spitzbergen. — Pro
ceeds northward, to the Eighty-second Degree
of Latitude. — Attempts to find a Passage
around the North of Greenland. — Driven
back by the Ice. — Returns to the southern
Parts of Spitzbergcn, and thence to England.
IN few men are more rare combinations of
talents required, than in discoverers and explor
ers of new countries and seas. Invincible cour
age, patience and fortitude under suffering, daring
enterprise tempered by prudence, promptness and
decision united with calm reflection, sagacity and
fertility of invention, strong -common sense com
bined with enthusiasm and vivid imagination, the
power of commanding other minds joined to gen-
188 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
tleness of manner %and ready sympathy, are some
of the more prominent traits in the character of
this class of men.
Among those, who were peculiarly gifted in
these attributes, was the subject of the present
memoir, HENRY HUDSON, the bold navigator of
the Arctic Seas, the discoverer of the vast in
land sea, and of the river in North America,
which bear his name.
Of the early history of Hudson hardly any
thing is known. He was a native of England, a
scientific and professed navigator, and ranked
with the most distinguished seamen of his age.
He was a contemporary and friend of the famous
Captain John Smith, and rivalled him in intre
pidity and perseverance. He resided in London,
was married, and had one son.* We are not
informed in what way he acquired his practical
skill in navigation ; but, as he lived in an age
immediately succeeding the most dazzling discov
eries, and while these discoveries .were occupy
ing, with absorbing interest, the mind of the
whole civilized world, it is not improbable, that
his nautical education may have been received
from some one of the great navigators, who fol
lowed immediately in the footsteps of Columbus,
* Yates and Moulton's History of the State of New
York, Vol. I. p. 198.
HENRY HUDSON. 180
and explored the new world, which his genius
had revealed.
'" We are first introduced to him by his own
journal of a voyage, undertaken at the charge
of "certaine worshipfull Merchants of London,"
in the year 1607. The object of the voyage
was to explore the coast of Greenland, and pass
round it to the northwest, or directly under the
Pole ; or, in his own words, "for to discover
a passage by the North Pole to Japan and
China."*
The crew consisted in all of twelve persons,
including Henry Hudson, the master, and his
son John, a boy ; all of whom, we are informed,
went to the church of Saint Ethelburge, in
Bishopsgate Street, a few days before sailing, to
partake solemnly of the holy sacrament ; a pious
practice, which seems to have been very general
in those days, and which was highly appropriate
for men who were about to encounter the hard
ships, terrors, and uncertainties of a voyage of
discovery in unknown regions.
They sailed from Gravesend, on the 1st of
May, 1607, and, taking a northerly course, made
the Shetland Islands in twenty-six days. The
needle was here found to have no variation ; but,
four days afterwards, Hudson " found the needle to
* Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 567.
190 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
incline seventy-nine degrees under the horizon";
and, on the 4th of June, he observed a varia
tion of five degrees westwardly. His course,
after losing sight of the Shetland Isles, was north
westerly ; the object being to reach the coast of
Greenland.
On the llth of June, he saw six or seven
whales near the ship, the promise of a harvest,
which was destined subsequently to prove of
such immense profit to his country and to Hol
land. Two days afterwards, early in the morn
ing, land was discovered ahead, with ice ; and,
there being a thick fog, he stood away south by
east, six or eight leagues. The weather was so
cold, that the sails and ropes were coated with
ice ; the wind blowing a gale from the northeast.
About eight o'clock in the morning, it cleared
up, and Hudson was able to see the land dis
tinctly, stretching away northeast by north, and
northeast, to the distance of about nine leagues.
In his journal, he says, "This was very high
land, most part covered with snow. The nether
part was uncovered. At the top, it looked red
dish, and underneath a blackish clay, with much
ice lying about it."* There was a quantity of
fowl on this coast, and a whale was seen close
by the shore. Hudson named the headland, thus
* Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 567
HENRY HUDSON. 191
discovered, Young's Cape, probably from its be
ing first seen by James Young, one of his crew.
Near this cape was a "very high mount, like
a round castle," which he named the Mount of
God's Mercy. This was on the coast of Green
land.
He continued northeasterly along the coast,
encountering a succession of fogs, gales of wind,
rains, and snows, occasionally driven from his
course by head winds, and at one time lying to
for the space of forty-eight hours. His purpose
was, to ascertain whether the land he had seen
was an island, or part of Greenland ; but, being
discouraged by the continued fogs, which hid the
land from his view, he determined to steer for
Newland, or Spitzbergen, and the course was
altered to the northeast. At length the weather
cleared up, and they enjoyed the comfort of a
bright sun, after eighteen days of continued fogs
and clouds.
After sailing on this course about fifteen or
sixteen leagues, he saw land on the larboard, or
left hand, about four leagues distant, stretching
northeast and southwest. There was a vast
number of birds circling around the land, with
black backs and white bodies ; and many floating
pieces of ice, which they were obliged carefully
to avoid. The fog returned again, and Hudson
feared that he was embayed, from the quan
192 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
titles of ice about the ship. He therefore steered
northeast for five or six leagues, keeping a dili
gent lookout for the eastward termination of the
land, and afterwards stood to the south.
He soon changed his course to the northeast
again ; and, the weather clearing up, he saw
land at the distance of about twelve leagues,
in the latitude of seventy-three degrees. This
land appeared lofty and covered with snow, and
in the north part were seen some very high
mountains. The weather in this latitude was
much less severe than that which they expe
rienced in the neighborhood of Young's Cape.
This land he did not explore any further, being
prevented by fogs, calms, and contrary winds ;
he named it the Land of Hold with Hope.
In his journal, Hudson apologizes for steering
so far westwardly, instead of making due north
for the Pole. He says, that he was prompted
by a desire to see that part of Greenland, which
he supposed was hitherto undiscovered. More
over, being in the vicinity of this land, it was
natural to expect westerly winds, which would
greatly favor his approach to the Pole. "And,"
he adds, "considering we found lands contrary
to that which our cards make mention of, we
accounted our labor so much the more worth.
And, for aught that we could see, it is like to
be a good land and worth the seeing."*
* Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 5G8.
HENRY HUDSON. 193
On the 24th, the master's mate again saw
high land on the larboard, which fell away to
the northwest the more they advanced; and this
was the last point of Greenland which present
ed itself to them. Hudson now turned to the
northward and eastward, encountering constant
fogs ; but, being in so high latitude, that the sun
was above the horizon the whole twenty-four
hours, he was the less incommoded by the thick
weather.
By the 26th of June, he saw flocks of birds
similar to those he had seen on the coast of
Greenland ; he concluded that land was not far
off, though, from the dense fog, he could see
nothing of it. But the next morning, about one
or two o'clock, the fog cleared up from the sea,
and he saw the coast of Spitzbergen, or New-
land, a name, which he says the Dutch had
given to it. The land was covered with fog, and
the ice was lying very thick all along the shore,
for fifteen or sixteen leagues. At noon, he
found himself to be in the latitude of seventy-
eight degrees, and he supposed the land in sight
to be Vogelhoeck, a projecting point in the
western coast of Spitzbergen.*
* Forster remarks, that "the honor of the discovery
of Spitzbergen belongs to Hudson." — History of the
Voyages and Discoveries in the North, p. 326. It is
also asserted in Yates and Moulton's History of the
VOL. x. 13
194 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
He continued to ply to the north and north
east, in the hope of finding a passage to the
north of the island, until the middle of July.
And it was in this part of the voyage, that his
patience and fortitude seem to have been most
severely tried. Constantly hemmed in with ice,
and in danger of having his ship crushed by the
masses, encountering head winds and storms, and
State of Neiv York, (Vol. T. p. 199,) that to Hudson is
awarded the honor of discovering Spitzbergen. The
same statement had been previously made by Dr. Bel-
knap, (Amer. Biog., Vol. I. p. 395.) and by Dr. Miller,
(Collect. N. Y. Hist. Soc., Vol. I. p. 28.) It appears very
clearly, however, that Hudson was not the first discov
erer of Spitzbergen ; as the journal written by himself
proves to us, that he knew of its existence and posi
tion previously to seeing it, and he recognised the por
tion of it, which he first saw, as the cape or headland
called Vogelhoeck by the Dutch. The island was cer
tainly seen, and probably first discovered, by William
Barentz, of Amsterdam. This appears from a Latin work,
entitled, Descriptio ac Delineatio Geographica Detectionis
Freti sive Transitus ad Occasion supra Terras Ameri
canos in Chinam atque Japonem ducturi, published at
Amsterdam, in 1613, twelve years before Hudson's
Journal was published in Purchas's Pilgrims. The au
thor of this work says, that Barentz and Cornelius, in
the year 1596, being on a voyage of discovery, in the
hope of finding a northern passage to China, saw land
in latitude 79° 50', and that they named this land Spitz-
bergen, from its mountainous aspect, and the quantity
of snow and ice that was seen. They also named a
HENRY HUDSON. 195
obliged to change his course almost daily, with
disappointment meeting him at every step, he
still continued to buffet the storms, availing him
self of every moment of favorable weather to
work to the northward, till fairly convinced of
the impossibility, on account of the ice, of find
ing a passage by this side of the island. The
sea appeared, at different times, blue, green, or
remarkable promontory of this island fogdhoeck, from
the number of birds they found there. The island was,
therefore, certainly discovered before Hudson saw it.
Scoresby, in his Account of the Arctic Regions, (Vol.
I. p. 20,) speaks of the re-discovery of Spitzbergen by
Hudson. This expression seems incorrect, as Hudson
himself mentions the name by which it was called by
the Hollanders ; from which it is evident, that the ex
istence of the island was generally known before his
voyage in 1607.
When Hudson first approaches the land, he speaks
of it as the same that was "called Newland by the
Hollanders," (Purchas, Vol. III. p. 571.) That the coun
try was at first called by the two names of Spitzbergen
and Newland is proved by the fact, that there is now
in existence a small quarto volume, entitled, Histoire
du Pays nomme Spitzberg, ou Vide de Teire Neuve,
published at Amsterdam, in 1613. The error of ascrib
ing the first discovery to Hudson probably originated
in a marginal note of Purchas, in which he says, "New-
land, or Greenland, of which the Hollanders made a
little discovery by Barentz." Hence it was inferred,
that the Newland mentioned by Hudson was Green
land ; which is refuted by his Journal.
196 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
black ; and they saw a large number of morses,
seals," and bears; which last animal afforded food
to the crew, who ate so freely of the flesh one
day, that many of them were made sick by it.
On the 14th of July, they saw a bay open
towards the west, the shores of which were very
high and rugged. The northerly point they
named Collinses Cape, in honor of the boatswain,
who first discovered it. A great number of
whales were swimming about in the bay, one
of which came under the keel, and " made her
held," but did them no harm. Though there
was a quantity of snow lying in the swamps
and valleys near the shore, the weather was
hot. Several of the crew xvent on shore, where
they found and brought on board a pair of
morse's teeth in the jaw; they also found some
dozen or more deer's horns, and saw the foot
steps of other animals. Two or three streams
of fresh water pouring into the bay proved very
grateful to the men, who were made thirsty by
the heat of the weather. In the evening, a
fine gale springing up, they steered northeast
again.
The weather was warm and clear on the
morning of the 16th, and Hudson perceived that
he was almost encompassed with ice. The land
extended northeast far into the eighty-first de
gree of latitude ; but, on account of the ice,
HENRY HUDSON. 197
there was no passage to the north of it. Hud
son therefore determined to sail round the south
ern extremity of the island, and then seek a
passage to the northeast. He accordingly put
the ship about, and laid his course southwardly,
having been as far north as the eighty-second
degree ; a higher latitude than had yet been at
tained by any navigator.
He continued soathwardly along the coast of
Spitzbergen, having occasional glimpses of land,
till the 25th of July, when he saw the land
bearing north. He was now convinced, from the
general prevalence of the winds since he had
been on the coast, that it would be impossible
to work his way to the northeast ; he therefore
abandoned the plan he had formed, of sailing
round the southern extremity of the island, and
determined to "prove his fortunes" by the west
once more, hoping to go round the north of
Greenland, and then return, by Davis's Straits,
to England. His course was now, accordingly,
shaped westward.
On the 27th, being nearly becalmed, they
heard a great noise, occasioned by the ice and
sea, and found that the sea was heaving them
westward towards a large body of ice. The
boat was got out, in the hope of towing the
ship away from it, but the sea ran so high, that
their efforts would have been of little avail. "In
this extremity," says Hudson, "it pleased God
198 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
to give us a small gale at northwest and by west.
We steered away four leagues, till noon. Here
we had finished our discovery, if the wind had
continued that brought us hither, or if it had
continued calm ; but it pleased God to make
this northwest and by west wind the means of
our deliverance ; which wind we had not found
common in this voyage. God give us thankful
hearts for so great deliverance."
At noon the weather cleared up, and Hudson
was convinced by the sky, which reflected the
ice, that he could find no passage to the north
of Greenland. He therefore took advantage of
a westerly wind, and steered to the southeast.
He again saw the southern extremity of Spitz-
bero-en, and continued his course to the south.
C5 '
For, finding the fogs more thick and troublesome
than before, and that many of the stores were
beginning to fail ; the season, moreover, being so
far advanced, that it would be impossible to make
the projected voyage this year, even if it were
practicable at the proper season ; he determined
to return to England.
He passed in sight of Cheries Island, and,
the weather being clear, he had a distinct view
of the land, covered with craggy rocks. Con
tinuing a southerly course through the month of
August, he arrived at Tilbury Hope, on the
Thames, September 15th, having been absent
four months and a half.
HENRY HUDSON. 199
CHAPTER II.
Hudson's Second Voyage. — Sails from London
ivith the Design of seeking a Northeastern
Passage to India. — Passes the North Cape.
— Obstructed lij Ice. — Arrives at Nova
Zembla. — Abandons the Hope of going
further North. — Explores an Inlet, or River,
in Nova Zembla. — Resolves to return. —
Searches for Willoughbi/s Land. — Arrives
in England.
As soon as the season was sufficiently ad
vanced, Hudson prepared for a second voyage
of discovery, the object of which was to find a
northeast passage to the East Indies, by going
to the north of Nova Zembla. The crew
amounted to fifteen persons, including Hudson
and his young son, who accompanied him on all
his voyages. The masters mate was a certain
Robert Juet,* a man of considerable nautical skill
and some education, who accompanied Hudson
on all his subsequent voyages, and was destined
to act a conspicuous part in his adventures.
* So, with Belknap, we prefer to modernize the spell
ing in Purchas, which is always luet (like lune, luly,
iudge], except once Juet (p. 576), and once I VET (p. 581,
where it is printed in capitals, like HVDSON.) Yet in
Harris's Collection of Voyages, where Purchas is copied
and the spelling reformed, it is constantly printed Ivet.
200 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
He sailed from London on the 22d of April
1608, and after a month's sailing northward, till
the 24th of May, he judged himself to be dis
tant only sixteen leagues from the coast of Nor
way, in latitude of sixty-seven degrees. He had
encountered constant fogs till this time, though
generally with favorable winds; but the weather
now cleared up, and continued fair, yet so cold,
that it caused the sickness of the carpenter and
several of the crew. He plied constantly to the
northward and northeast, as the wind permitted,
and, in three days more, was in latitude so high
north, that he took an observation at midnight,
the sun being on the north meridian, five degrees
and a half above the horizon.
On the 1st of June, there came a severe
gale, with snow. This continued for two days,
when the weather became fair again, and he
saw the North Cape about eight leagues distant
There were also several Norway fishermen in
sight. Continuing a northeasterly course, he
came into the neighborhood of ice, the first he
had seen upon the voyage. His wish was to
make his way through it, and he consequently
held his course, loosening some of it, and bear
ing away from the larger portions, till late m
the afternoon, when he found the ice so thick
ana firm, that it was impossible to force a fur
ther passage through it, and he was obliged to
HENRY HUDSON. 201
return, having suffered no other harm than
slightly rubbing the sides of his ship.
From this time, he made but a small advance
to the north, the highest latitude which he
reached being a little more than seventy-five de
grees. He was on soundings nearly every day,
finding much green ooze, and the water being
whitish green. He saw great numbers of whales
and porpoises, and he says the sea was covered
with fowl. He also heard the bears roaring upon
the ice, and saw an immense number of seals.
The quantities of ice, by which he was beset,
and the head winds, constantly obstructed his
progress northward, so that, instead of gaining,
he found himself drifting to the south.
He was here compelled to abandon the hope
of going to the north of Nova Zembla, being
very near its western coast, and unable, from
the ice, to work to northward. Turning south
ward, he saw the part of Nova Zembla called
Swart-ClifF by the Dutch. On one occasion, the
ship only two miles from the land, he sent six
of the men on shore, to examine the appear
ance of the country, and to fill the water casks.
They found the shore covered with long grass,
and the ground boggy and overflowed in places
with streams from melting snow ; the weather
being very hot. They also saw traces of deer,
foxes, and bears, and picked up some fins of
202 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
whales. In returning to the ship, they saw two
or three troops or herds of morses swimming
near the boat. Soon after this, several of the
crew landed, in the hope of killing some of the
morses ; and they found a cross standing near
the shore, with the signs of fires that had been
kindled there.
After remaining in this place a short time,
they saw a great number of morses in the wa
ter, and hoisted sail, and got out the boat to
tow the vessel along ; in the hope, that by fol
lowing the morses, they might discover their
place of landing, where they might kill them.
They continued the chase till they doubled a
point, and came to anchor in the mouth of a
broad river, or sound, near a small island. They
found the position so dangerous, however, from
the ice which was borne down the stream, that
they were obliged to weigh anchor in the night,
and stand out, a fine gale springing up just
in season to free them from their danger; but
they returned to the same anchorage as soon
as the ice had been carried out to sea by the
current.
Constantly on the watch for any thing that
might aid his discovery of the northeast passage,
Hudson had no sooner perceived the broad riv
er, near the mouth of which he had anchored,
than he formed hopes that he might here find
HENRY HUDSON. 203
a way to the other side of Nova Zembla.
When he had ascertained the impossibility of
sailing north of this island, it had been his in
tention to try the passage of the Vaygats, * a
strait which he knew would conduct him to the
eastern side, unless obstructed with ice. "But,"
he says, "being here, and hoping by the plenty
of morses we saw here to defray the charge of
our voyage, and also that this sound might for
some reasons be a better passage to the east of
Nova Zembla than the Vaygats, if it held ac
cording to a hope conceived by the likeness it
gave," he resolved to remain till he could ex
plore it.
Soon after coming to anchor, he observed a
large number of morses asleep on a projecting
rock of the little island near him, and he there
fore despatched the whole crew to hunt them.
They only succeeded in killing one ; all the
rest having plunged into the water at their ap
proach. The men landed, and found the shores
high and steep; but, on ascending them, the
land appeared quite level. After killing a great
quantity of fowl, they returned on board. Sev
eral men were now sent, under the command
of the mate, to examine the mouth of the
* The Vaygats, Waygats, or Faigatz, is a strait be
tween the southernmost parts of Nova Zembla and the
northern coast of Russia.
204 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
river, or sound, by which he hoped to find a
passage. After an absence of about twenty-four
hours, they returned, bringing a very large deer's
horn, and a lock of white hair; also a large
number of fowl, which they had shot. They
had seen a herd of white deer, and they report
ed that the shore was covered with drift-wood,
that there were convenient bays, and a river
coming from the north, which appeared to be a
favorite resort of the morses. As for the sound,
which they had been sent to examine, they had
found it to be two or three leagues in breadth,
the water of the color of the sea and very salt,
and a strong current setting out ; and they had
no soundings at twenty fathoms.
This report determined him to explore the
sound, and he accordingly weighed anchor, and
stood in for the mouth of the river. He crossed
a reef where the water was shallow ; but after
that it deepened again ; and, having entered the
river, he found it to be more than twenty fath
oms deep. After ascending the stream to the
distance of nine or ten leagues, he anchored
again, the wind being ahead, and the current too
strong to allow any farther advance that day.
He, however, sent his mate Juet and five of the
men in the boat, with provision and weapons,
directing them to explore the stream, provided
it continued deep, till they found it bending to
HENRY HUDSON. 205
the east or southward, promising to follow them
with the ship as soon as the wind should prove
favorable. The men returned the next day,
much fatigued with the labor they had under
gone. They had explored the river to the
distance of six or seven leagues, when the water
became very shallow, not more than four feet
deep. Finding that it would be impossible for
their ship to pass these shallows, they had not
thought it worth while to explore the river be
yond this point.
There was no choice, therefore, but to return ;
and accordingly he set sail and stood to the
southwest again, as he tells us in his Journal,
" with sorrow that our labor was in vain ; for,
had this sound held as it did make show of, for
depth, breadth, safeness of harbor, and good an
chor ground, it might have yielded an excellent
passage to a more easterly sea."
The month of July was somewhat advanc
ed, and Hudson had failed in two attempts to
discover a northeast passage. The ship was
not now provided with stores or conveniences
sufficient for attempting the passage of the Vay-
gats, and there was nothing left but to return to
England. He determined, however, to visit Wil-
loughby's Land* on the way, as he wished to
* It has been asserted by English writers, and
frequently repeated, that Sir Hugrh Willoughby had
T
206 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ascertain whether it was laid down correctly or
not on the chart ; and he supposed that he should
find a large number of morses there, as they were
driven from the coast of Nova Zembla by the
ice. His course was, therefore, laid westerly,
being in the latitude of seventy-one degrees. He
discovered Spitzbergen. It appears, however, from Hud
son's Journal of his second voyage, that he was not of
this opinion, but considered Willoughby's Land as en
tirely distinct from Spitzbergen. He steered west for
this land, being in latitude 71°, while he well knew,
that the most southerly point of Spitzbergen was sev
eral degrees to the north of this. In the old Dutch
maps, Willoughby' 's Land is placed to the southeast of
Spitzbergen.
The author of the Latin work cited in a former note,
who is very accurate in his statements, maintains stout
ly, that Willoughby's Land was not Spitzbergen, and
cites a passage from the manuscript Journal of Wil-
loughby to prove it. This passage agrees exactly with
the Journal afterwards published in Purchas's PilgrimSj
except in some slight variations of orthography. It is
as follows; "The 14th day, earely in the morning, we
descovered land, which land we bare withal, hoising
out our boat to descover what land it might be, but the
boat could not come to land, the water was so shoare,
where was very much yse also, but there was no si
militude of habitation, and this land lyeth from Seynam
1GO leagues, being in latitude 72 degrees ; then we
plyed to the northward the 15th, 16th, and 17th day."
There is no mention in Willoughby's Journal, published
in Purchas's Pilgrims of his bavins reached a higher
HENRY HUDSON. 207
did not, however, come within sight of this land.
After having sailed nearly west for about ten
days, he perceived the promontory of Wardhus,
on the coast of Lapland, and soon after doubled
the North Cape. By the end of July, being off
the coast of Norway, the nights had become dark,
northern latitude than 72° ; and it is very evident, that
Hudson expected to find Willoughby's Land considera
bly to the south of Spitzbergen.
It may be satisfactory to some of our readers to ex
amine for themselves the Latin passage referred to in
this note. We therefore cite it entire.
" Q,ui Anglican® Navigationis cognitionem habent,
non ignorant quam iniquis rationibus nitantur, et de-
fendere conentur Angli, Equitem Hugonem Willougby
(Capitaneum trium Navium, vocatarum Bona Esperen-
za, Eduardus Bona Adventurus, et Bona Confidentia)
invenisse et detegisse magnam illam insulam Spitsber-
gensem, idque septimo anno Regni Eduardi Sexti, an
no nimirum Domini J553. Nam eorum rerum mariti-
marum ipsa? lucubrationes atque scripta contrarium
manifesto testantur, nimirum praBdictum Equitem cum
tribus istis navibus ex portu Anglicano Ratcliff solvisse
(ut Septentrionem versus Regnum Cathaya detegeret)
10 May, 1553, et ab insula Norvegiss Seyna 30 Julii;
eumque duabus navibus, matutino tempore 14 Augusti,
terrain quandam detegisse sitam a dicta Insula Seynarn
(Mesocsecias) 160 Anglicanis Leucis (milliaribus Ger-
manicis 120) ad altitudinem 72 graduum. Quod qui-
dem praefatus Eques propria manu Anglice conscripsit
his verbis." The writer then quotes the passage in
English from Willoughby's journal, as contained above.
208 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
so that a light was required in the binacle, not
having been used for two months before.
Hudson would have been glad to pursue his
course to Greenland from this point, to attempt
the northwest passage ; but the season was now
so far advanced as to render such a plan im
practicable, and he determined to waste no more
time and money in an unavailing search ; and,
therefore, made sail for England, where he ar
rived on the 26th of August, having been absent
about four months.
HENRY HUDSON. 209
CHAPTER III.
Hudson' 's third Voyage. — He seeks Employment
from the Dutch East India Company. — .Sails
from Amsterdam. — Disappointed in the Hope
of passing through the Vaygats. — Sails
Westward^ to the Banlc of Newfoundland,
and thence to the Coast of America, — Enters
Penobscot Bay. — Intercourse with the Na
tives. — Sails to Cape Cod, and explores the
Coast to the Southward. — Returns to the
North. — Discovers the Outlet of Hudson's
River, and anchors in New York Bay.
THE London Company had become discour
aged by two unsuccessful attempts to find a
northern passage to China ; and Hudson, whose
mind was completely bent upon making the dis
covery, sought employment from the Dutch East
India Company. The fame of his adventures
had already reached Holland, and he had re
ceived from the Dutch the appellations of the
bold Englishman, the expert pilot, the famous
navigator.* The company were generally in fa-
* Yates and Moulton's History of New York, Vol. I.
p. 201. These writers, in their account of Hudson's
third voyage, make frequent references to a history of
VOL. x. 14
210 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
vor of accepting the offer of his services, though
the scheme was strongly opposed by Balthazar
Moucheron, one of their number, who had some
acquaintance with the Arctic seas. They accord
ingly gave him the command of a small vessel,
named the Half Moon, with a crew of twenty
men. Dutch and English, among whom was Rob
ert Juet, who had accompanied him as mate on
his second voyage. The Journal of the present
voyage, which is published in Purchas's Pilgrims,
was written by Juet.
He sailed from Amsterdam the 25th of March,
1609, and doubled the North Cape in about a
month. His object was to pass through the Vay-
gats, or perhaps to the north of Nova Zembla,
and thus reach China by the northeast passage.
But after contending for more than a fortnight
with head winds, continual fogs, and ice, and
finding it impossible to reach even the coast of
Nova Zembla, he determined to abandon this
plan, and endeavor to discover a passage by the
northwest. He accordingly directed his course
westerly, doubled the North Cape again, and in
the same expedition by Lambrechtsen, President of the
Zeeland Society of Sciences, who appears to have had
access to the records of the Dutch East India Com
pany. A translation of his Kort Beschryving was made
by Mr. Van der Kemp, and was consulted in manuscript
by Yates and Moulton.
HENRY HUDSON. 211
a few days saw a part of the western coast of
Norway, in the latitude of sixty-eight degrees.
From this point he sailed for the Faroe Islands,
where he arrived about the end of May.
Having replenished his water casks at one of
these islands, he again hoisted sail, and steered
southwest, in the hope of making Buss Island,
which had been discovered by Sir Martin Fro-
bisher, in 1578, as he wished to ascertain if it
was correctly laid down on the chart. As he did
not succeed in finding it, he continued this course
for nearly a month, having much severe weather,
and a succession of gales, in one of which the
foremast was carried away. Having arrived at
the forty-fifth degree of latitude, he judged it
best to shape his course westward, with the in
tention of making Newfoundland. While pro
ceeding in this direction, he one day saw a ves
sel standing to the eastward, and, wishing to
speak her, he put the ship about, and gave
chase ; but finding, as night came on, that he
could not overtake her, he resumed the west
erly course again.
On the 2d of July, he had soundings on the
Grand Bank of Newfoundland, and saw a whole
fleet of Frenchmen fishing there. Being on
soundings for several days, he determined to try
his luck at fishing ; and, the weather falling calm,
he set the whole crew at work to so much
212 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
purpose, that, in the course of the morning, they
took between one and two hundred very large
cod. After two or three days of calm, the
wind sprang up again, and he continued his course
westward, till the 12th, when he first had sight
of the coast of North America. The fog was
so thick, however, that he did not venture
nearer the coast for several days ; but at length,
the weather clearing up, he ran into a bay at
the mouth of a large river, in the latitude of forty-
four degrees. This was Penobscot Bay, on the
coast of Maine.
He already had some notion of the kind of
inhabitants he was to find here ; for, a few days
before, he had been visited by six savages, who
came on board in a very friendly manner, and
ate and drank with him. He found, that, from
their intercourse with the French traders, they
had learned a few words of their language. Soon
after coming to anchor, he was visited by sev
eral of the natives, who appeared very harm
less and inoffensive ; and, in the afternoon, two
boats full of them came to the ship, bringing
beaver skins and other fine furs, which they
wished to exchange for articles of dress. They
offered no violence whatever, though we find in
Juet's Journal constant expressions of distrust,
apparently without foundation.
They remained in this bay long enough to
HENRY HUDSON.
cut and rig a new foremast; and, being now
ready for sea, the men were sent on shore upon
an expedition, that disgraced the whole com
pany. What Hudson's sentiments or motives,
with regard to this transaction, were, we can
only conjecture from a general knowledge of his
character, as we have no account of it from
himself. But it seems highly probable, that, if
he did not project it, he at least gave his con
sent to its perpetration. The account is in the
words of Juet, as follows. "In the morning we
manned our scute with four muskets and six
men, and took one of their shallops and brought
it aboard. Then we manned our boat and scute
with twelve men and muskets, and two stone
pieces, or murderers, and drave the salvages
from their houses, and took the spoil of them,
as they would have done of us." After this
exploit, they returned to the ship, and set sail
immediately. It does not appear from the Jour
nal that the natives had ever offered them any
harm, or given any provocation for so wanton
an act. The writer only asserts, that they would
have done it, if they could. No plea is more
commonly used to justify tyranny and cruelty,
than the supposed bad intentions of the op
pressed.
He now continued southward along the coast
of America. It appears that Hudson had been
214 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
informed by his friend, Captain John Smith, that
there was a passage to the western Pacific Ocean
south of Virginia, and that, when he had proved
the impossibility of going by the northeast, he
had offered his crew the choice, either to ex
plore this passage spoken of by Captain Smith,
or to seek the northwest passage, by going
through Davis's Strait. Many of the men had
been in the East India service, and in the
habit of sailing in tropical climates, and were
consequently very unwilling to endure the sever
ities of a high northern latitude. It was there
fore voted, that they should go in search of
the passage to the south of Virginia.
In a few days they saw land extending north,
and terminating in a remarkable headland, which
he recognised to be Cape Cod. Wishing to
double the headland, he sent some of the men
in the boat to sound along the shore, before
venturing nearer with the ship. The water was
five fathoms deep within bowshot of the shore,
and, landing, they found, as the Journal informs
us, " goodly grapes and rose trees," which they
brought on board with them. He then weighed
anchor, and advanced as far as the northern ex
tremity of the headland.* Here he heard the
* There is some confusion in that part of the Jour
nal, in which these particulars are related. The north
ernmost point of Cape Cod is in the latitude of 4.2° 1'
HENRY HUDSON. 215
voice of some one calling to them ; and, thinking
it possible some unfortunate European might have
been left there, he immediately despatched some
of the men to the shore. They found only a few
savages ; but, as these appeared very friendly,
But the first "headland" described in the Journal was
in 41° 45', which corresponds very nearly with the south
end of Chatham Beach. The course thence pursued
was to the southeast, and we are told, two days after
wards, of another headland, "that lyeth in 41° 10'."
And the journalist adds, "This is that headland, which
Captaine Bartholomew Gosnold discovered in the yeere
1602, and called Cape Cod, because of the store of cod
fish that he found thereabout." But, if the latitude as
here stated be correct, this headland was that of the
southwest point of Nantucket.
De Laet's great work on the "New World" was
published at Leyden, in the year 1625. He is said to
have had in his possession a part of the Journal of this
voyage, written by Hudson himself. He tells us, that
Hudson first saw the land in latitude 41° 43', and, sup
posing it to be an island, called it New Holland; but
that he afterwards discovered it to be connected with
the continent, and the same as the White Cape, or Cape
Cod, (promontorium Blancum, sive Cod.) He moreover
adds, that Hudson ascertained this cape to be seventy-
five miles farther westward from Europe, than the po
sition assigned to it in the charts. — JVovus Orbis, Lib.
III. c. 7. These discrepancies may perhaps be in some
degree accounted for by the inaccuracy of the lati
tudes, or errors of figures in transcribing or printing
the Journal ; but, after all, it is doubtful what parts of
thp» promontory of Cape Cod were seen by Hudson.
216 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
they brought one of them on board, where they
gave him refreshments, and also a present of
three or four glass buttons, with which he seemed
greatly delighted. The savages were observed
to have green tobacco, and pipes, the bowls of
which were made of clay, and the stems of
red copper.
The wind not being favorable for passing west
of this headland into the bay, Hudson deter
mined to explore the coast farther south ; and
the next day he saw the southern point of
Cape Cod, which had been discovered and
named by Bartholomew Gosnold, in the year
1602. He passed in sight of Nantucket and
Martha's Vineyard, and continued a southerly
course till the middle of August, when he ar
rived at the entrance of Chesapeake Bay.
"This," says the writer of the Journal, "is the
entrance into the King's river,* in Virginia,
where our Englishmen are."j- The colony, un
der the command of Newport, consisting of one
hundred and five persons, among whom were
Smith, Gosnold, Wingfield, and Ratcliffe, had
arrived here a little more than two years before ;
and, if Hudson could have landed, he would have
enjoyed the satisfaction of seeing and conversing
with his own countrymen, and in his own lan-
* James River, thus called in honor of King James.
t Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 589.
HENRY HUDSON.
guage, in the midst of the forests of the New
World. But the wind was blowing a gale from
the northeast, and, probably dreading a shore with
which he was unacquainted, he made no attempt
to find them.
He continued to ply to the south for several
days, till he reached the latitude of thirty-five
degrees forty-one minutes, when he again changed
his course to the north. It is highly probable,
that, if the journal of the voyage had been kept
by Hudson himself, we should have been in
formed of his reasons for changing the southerly
course at this point. The cause, however, is
not difficult to conjecture. He had gone far
enough to ascertain, that the information given
him by Captain Smith, with respect to a pas
sage into the Pacific south of Virginia, was in
correct ; and he probably did not think it worth
while to spend more time in so hopeless a search.
He therefore retraced his steps ; and, on the 28th
of August, discovered Delaware Bay, where he
examined the currents, soundings, and the ap
pearance of the shores, without attempting to
land. From this anchorage, he coasted north
wards, the shore appearing low, like sunken
ground, dotted with islands, till the 2d of Sep
tember, when he saw the highlands of Never-
sink, which, the journalist remarks, "is a very
good land to fall with and a pleasant land to
218 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
The entrance into the southern waters of New
York is thus described in the Journal. "At
three of the clock in the afternoon, we came
to three great rivers. So we stood along to the
northernmost, thinking to have gone into it ; but
we found it to have a very shoal bar before it, for
we had but ten foot water. Then wre cast about
to the southward, and found two fathoms, three
fathoms, and three and a quarter, till we came
to the southern side of them ; then we had five
and six fathoms, and anchored. So we sent in
our boat to sound, and they found no less water
than four, five, six, and seven fathoms, and re
turned in an hour and a half. So we weighed and
went in, and rode in five fathoms, oozy ground,
and saw many salmons, and mullets, and rays
very great." The next morning, having ascer
tained by sending in the boat, that there was a
very good harbor before him, he ran in, and an
chored at two cables' length from the shore. This
was within Sandy Hook Bay.
He was very soon visited by the natives, who
came on board his vessel, and seemed to be great
ly rejoiced at his arrival among them. They
brought green tobacco, which they desired to
exchange for knives and beads ; and Hudson ob
served, that they had copper pipes, and orna
ments of copper. They also appeared to have
plenty of maize, from which they made good
HENRY HUDSON. 219
bread. Their dress was of deerskins, well cured,
and hanging loosely about them. There is a
tradition, that some of his men, being sent out
to fish, landed on Coney Island. They found
the soil sandy, but supporting a vast number of
plurn trees loaded with fruit, and grape vines
growing round them.*
The next day, the men, being sent in the
boat to explore the bay still farther, landed,
probably on the Jersey Shore, where they were
very kindly received by the savages, who gave
them plenty of tobacco. They found the land
covered with large oaks. Several of the natives
also came on board, dressed in mantles of feath
ers and fine furs. Among the presents they
brought, were dried currants, which were found
extremely palatable.
Soon afterwards five of the men were sent in
the boat to examine the north side of the bay,
and sound the river, which was perceived at the
distance of four leagues. They passed through
the Narrows, sounding all along, and saw " a
narrow river to the westward, between two
islands " ; supposed to be Staten Island and Ber
gen Neck. They described the land as covered
with trees, grass, and flowers, and filled with de
lightful fragrance. On their return to tbe ship,
* Yates and Moulton's History of New York, Vol. I. p
210
220 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
they were assaulted by two canoes, one contain
ing twelve, and the other fourteen savages. It
was nearly dark, and the rain \vhich was falling
had extinguished their match, so that they could
only trust to their oars for escape. One of the
men, John Colman, who had accompanied Hud
son on his first voyage, was killed by an arrow
shot into his throat, and two more were wound
ed. The darkness probably saved them from
the savages, but at the same time it prevented
their finding the vessel ; so that they did not
return till the next day, when they appeared
bringing the body of their comrade. Hudson
ordered him to be carried on shore and buried,
and named the place, in memory of the event,
Colman's Point.*
He now expected an attack from the natives,
and accordingly hoisted in the boat, and erected
a sort of bulwark along the sides of the vessel,
for the better defence. But these precautions
were needless. Several of the natives came on
board, but in a friendly manner, wishing to ex
change tobacco and Indian corn for the trifles
which the sailors could spare them. They did
not appear to know any thing of the affray, which
had taken place. But, the day after, two large
canoes came off to the vessel, the one filled
* Probably the point since known as Sandy Hook,
HENRY HUDSON. 221
with armed men, the other under the pretence
of trading. Hudson, however, would only allow
two of the savages to come on board, keeping the
rest at a distance. The two who came on board
were detained, and Hudson dressed them up in
red coats ; the remainder returned to the shore
Presently another canoe, with two men in it,
came to the vessel. Hudson also detained one
of these, probably wishing to keep him as a
hostage ; but he very soon jumped overboard,
and swam to the shore. On the llth Hudson
sailed through the Narrows^ and anchored in
New York bay.
Ir2
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER IV.
Hudson explores the River which now bears his
Name. — Escape of the Hostages. — Strange
Experiment with the Natives. — Anchors near
the present Site of Albany. — Returns down
the River. — Battle with the Natives, near
HoboTccn. — Sails from the Bay, and leaves
America. — Arrives in England.
HUDSON now prepared to explore the mag
nificent river, which came rolling its waters into
the sea from unknown regions. Whither he
would be conducted in tracing its course, he
could form no conjecture. A hope may be
supposed to have entered his mind, that the
long desired passage to the Indies was now at
length discovered ; that here was to be the end
of his toils ; that here, in this mild climate, and
amidst these pleasant scenes, was to be found
that object, which he had sought in vain through
the snows and ice of the Arctic zone. With a
glad heart, then, he weighed anchor, on the
12th of September, and commenced his mem
orable voyage up that majestic stream, which
now bears his name.
The wind only allowed him to advance a few
HENRY HUDSON. 223
miles the first two days of the voyage ; but the
time, which he was obliged to spend at anchor,
was fully occupied in trading with the natives,
who came off from the shore in great numbers,
bringing oysters and vegetables. He observed
that they had copper pipes, and earthen vessels
to cook their meat in. They seemed very harm
less and well disposed ; but the crew were un
willing to trust these appearances, and would
not allow any of them to come on board. The
next day, a fine breeze springing up from the
southeast, he was able to make great progress,
so that he anchored at night nearly forty miles
from the place of starting in the morning. He
observes, that "here the land grew very high
and mountainous," so that he had undoubtedly
anchored in the midst of the fine scenery of
the Highlands.
When he awoke in the morning, he found a
heavy mist overhanging the river and its shores,
and concealing the summits of the mountains.
But it was dispelled by the sun in a short time ;
and, taking advantage of a fair wind, he weighed
anchor, and continued the voyage. A little cir
cumstance occurred this morning, which was des
tined to be afterwards painfully remembered.
The two savages, whom he held as hostages,
made their escape through the portholes of the
vessel, and swam to the shore ; and, as soon
224 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
as the ship was under sail, they took pains to
express their indignation at the treatment they
had received, by uttering loud and angry cries.
Towards night, he came to other mountains,
which, he says, " lie from the river's side," and
anchored, it is supposed, near the present site
of Catskill Landing. "There," says the Jour
nal, " we found very loving people, and very
old men ; where we were well used. Our boat
went to fish, and caught great store of very
good fish." -*
The next morning, September 16th, the men
were sent again to catch fish, but were not so
successful as they had been the day before, in
consequence of the savages having been there
in their canoes all night. A large number of
the natives came off to the ship, bringing Indian
corn, pumpkins, and tobacco. The day was con
sumed in trading with the natives, and in filling
the casks with fresh water ; so that they did not
weigh anchor till towards night. After sailing
about five miles, finding the water shoal, they
came to anchor, probably near the spot where
the city of Hudson now stands. The weather
was hot, and Hudson determined to set his men
at work in the cool of the morning. He ac
cordingly, on the 17th, weighed anchor at dawn,
* Purchases Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 593.
HENRY HUDSON. 225
and ran up the river about fifteen miles ; when,
finding shoals and small islands, he thought it best
to anchor again. Towards night, the vessel hav
ing drifted near the shore, grounded in shoal
water, but was easily drawn off, by carrying out
the small anchor. She was aground again in a
short time in the channel, but, the tide rising,
she floated off.
The two days following, he advanced only
about five miles, being much occupied by his
intercourse with the natives. Being in the neigh
borhood of the present town of Castleton, he
went on shore, where he was very kindly re
ceived by an old savage, "the governor of the
country," who took him to his house, and gave
him the best cheer he could. At his anchorage,
also, five miles above this place, the natives came
fiocking on board, bringing a great variety of ar
ticles, such as grapes, pumpkins, beaver and otter
skins, which they exchanged for beads, knives,
and hatchets, or whatever trifles the sailors could
spare them. The next day was occupied in ex
ploring the river ; four men being sent in the
boat, under the command of the mate, for that
purpose. They ascended several miles, and found
the channel narrow, and in some places only two
fathoms deep, but, after that, seven or eight fath
oms. In the afternoon, they returned to the ship.
Hudson resolved to pursue the examination of
VOL. X. 15
226 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the channel on the following morning, but was
interrupted by the number of natives who came
on board. Finding that he was not likely to gain
any progress this day, he sent the carpenter
ashore to prepare a new foreyard ; and, in the
mean time, prepared to make an extraordinary
experiment on board.
From the whole tenor of the Journal, it is
evident, that great distrust was entertained by
Hudson and his men towards the natives. He
now determined to ascertain, by intoxicating some
of the chiefs, and thus throwing them off their
guard, whether they were plotting any treachery.
He accordingly invited several of them into the
cabin, and gave them plenty of brandy to drink.
One of these men had his wife with him, who,
the Journal informs us, "sate so modestly as any
one of our countrywomen would do in a strange
place"; but the men had less delicacy, and \vere
soon quite merry with the brandy. One of them,
who had been on board from the first arrival of
the ship, was completely intoxicated, and fell
sound asleep, to the great astonishment of his
companions, who probably feared that he had
been poisoned ; for they all took to their canoes
and made for the shore, leaving their unlucky
comrade on board. Their anxiety for his welfare,
however, soon induced them to return ; and they
brought a quantity of beads, which they gave
HENRY HUDSON. 227
him, perhaps to enable him to purchase his free
dom from the spell that had been laid upon him.
The poor savage slept quietly all night, and,
when his friends came to visit him the next morn
ing, they found him quite well. This restored
their confidence, so that they came to the ship
again in crowds, in the afternoon, bringing vari
ous presents for Hudson. Their visit, which was
one of unusual ceremony, is thus described in the
Journal. "So, at three of the clock in the after
noon, they came aboard, and brought tobacco and
more beads, and gave them to our master, and
made an oration, and showed him all the coun
try round about. Then they sent one of their
company on land, who presently returned, and
brought a great platter full of venison, dressed
by themselves, and they caused him to eat with
them. Then they made him reverence, and de
parted, all save the old man that lay aboard."*
At night the mate returned in the boat, having
been sent again to explore the river. He re
ported, that he had ascended eight or nine leagues,
and found but seven feet of water, and irregular
soundings.
It was evidently useless to attempt to ascend
the river any further with the ship, and Hudson
therefore determined to return. We may well
* Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 594.
228 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
imagine, that he was satisfied already with the
result of the voyage, even supposing him to have
been disappointed in not finding here a passage to
the Indies. He had explored a great and navi
gable river to the distance of nearly a hundred
and forty miles; he had found the country along
the banks extremely fertile, the climate delight
ful, and the scenery displaying every variety of
beauty and grandeur ; and he knew that he had
opened the way for his patrons to possessions,
which might prove of inestimable value.
It is supposed, that the highest place which
the Half Moon reached in the river, was the
neighborhood of the present site of Albany ; and
that the boats, being sent out to explore, as
cended as high as Waterford, and probably some
distance beyond. The voyage down the river
was not more expeditious than it had been in
ascending ; the prevalent winds were southerly,
and for several days the ship could advance but
very slowly. The time, however, passed agree
ably, in making excursions on the shore ; where
they found "good ground for corn and other gar
den herbs, with a great store of goodly oaks,
and walnut trees, and chesnut trees, ewe trees,
and trees of sweet wood in great abundance,
and great store of slate for houses, and other
good stones;" or in receiving visits from the na
tives, who came off to the ship in numbers.
HENRY HUDSON. 229
While Hudson was at anchor near the spot
where the city bearing his name now stands,
two canoes came from the place where the scene
of the intoxication had occurred, and in one of
them was the old man, who had been the suf
ferer under the strange experiment. He brought
another old man with him, who presented Hud
son with a string of beads, and "showed all the
country there about, as though it were at his
command." Hudson entertained them at dinner,
with four of their women, and in the afternoon
dismissed them with presents.
He continued the voyage down the river, taking
advantage of wind and tide as he could, and em
ploying the time, when at anchor, in fishing or
in trading with the natives, who came to the ship
nearly every day, tHl, on the 1st of October, he
anchored near Stony Point.
The vessel was no sooner perceived from the
shore to be stationary, than a party of the na
tive mountaineers came off in their canoes to
visit it, and were filled with wonder at every
thing it contained. While the attention of the
crew was taken up with their visiters upon deck,
one of the savages managed to run his canoe
under the stern, and, climbing up the rudder,
found his way into the cabin by the window ;
where, having seized a pillow and a few articles
of wearing apparel, he made off with them in
X
230 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the canoe. The mate detected him as he fled,
fired at, and killed him. Upon this, all the other
savages departed with the utmost precipitation ;
some taking to their canoes, and others plunging
into the water. The boat was manned and sent
after the stolen goods, which were easily recov
ered ; but, as the men were returning to the
vessel, one of the savages, who were in the water,
seized hold of the keel of the boat, with the in
tention, as was supposed, of upsetting it. The
cook took a sword and lopped his hand off, and
the poor wretch immediately sunk. They then
weighed anchor and advanced about five miles.
The next day, Hudson descended about seven
leagues, and anchored. Here he was visited in a
canoe by one of the two savages, who had es
caped from the ship as he was going up. But
fearing treachery, he would not allow him or
his companions to come on board. TWTO canoes
filled with armed warriors then came under the
stern, and commenced an attack with arrows.
The men fired at them with their muskets, and
killed three of them. More than a hundred sav
ages now came down upon the nearest point of
land, to shoot at the vessel. One of the can
non was brought to bear upon these warriors,
and, at the first discharge, two of them wrere
killed, and the rest fled to the woods.
The savages were not yet discouraged. They
HENRY HUDSON. 231
had, doubtless, been instigated to make this at
tack by the two, who escaped near West Point,
and who had probably incited their countrymen
by the story of their imprisonment, as well as
by representing to them the value of the spoil,
if they could capture the vessel, and the small
number of men who guarded it. Nine or ten of
the boldest warriors now threw themselves into
a canoe, and put off towards the ship ; but a
shot from the cannon made a hole in the canoe,
and killed one of the men. This was followed
by a discharge of musketry, which destroyed three
or four more. This put an end to the battle ;
and in the evening, having descended about five
miles, Hudson anchored in a part of the river
out of the reach of his enemies, probably near
Hoboken.
Hudson had now explored the bay of New
York, and the noble stream which pours into it
from the north. For his employers he had se
cured possessions, which would beyond measure
reward them for the expense they had incurred
in fitting out the expedition. For himself, he
had gained a name, that was destined to live in
the gratitude of a great nation, through unnum
bered generations. Happy in the result of his
labors, and in the brilliant promise they afforded,
he spread his sails again for the Old World, on
the 4th of October, and, in a little more than a
month, arrived safelv at Dartmouth, in England,
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
The Journal kept by Juet ends abruptly at
this place. The question, therefore, immediately
arises, whether Hudson pursued his voyage to
Holland, or whether he remained in England, and
sent the vessel home. Several Dutch authors
assert, that Hudson was not allowed, after reach
ing England, to pursue his voyage to Amsterdam ;
and this seems highly probable, when we remem
ber the well known jealousy with which the mari
time enterprises of the Dutch were regarded by
King James.
Whether Hudson went to Holland himself, or
not, it seems clear from various circumstances,
that he secured to the Dutch Company all the
benefits of his discoveries, by sending to them his
papers and charts. It is worthy of note, that the
earliest histories of this voyage, with the excep
tion of Juet's Journal, were published by Dutch
authors. Moreover, as we have already seen,
Hudson's own Journal, or some portion of it at
least, was in Holland, and was used by De Laet
previously to the publication of Juet's Journal in
Purchas's Pilgrims. But the most substantial
proof, that the Dutch enjoyed the benefit of his
discoveries earlier than any other nation, is the
fact, that the very next year they were trading
in Hudson's River ; which it is not probable would
have happened, if they had not had possession
of Hudson's charts and Journal.
HENRY HUDSON. 233
CHAPTER V.
Hudson's Fourth Voyage. — He engages in the
Service of the London Company. — Sails to
Iceland. — Disturbances among his Crew. —
Advances westward. — In great Danger from
the Ice. — Enters and explores Hudson's Bay.
— Unsuccessful in the Search for a Western
Passage. — Determines to winter in the Bay.
THE success of Hudson's last voyage probably
stimulated the London Company to take him
again into their employment, and to fit out an
other vessel in search of that great object of dis
covery, the northwest passage. We find him
setting out on a voyage, under their auspices,
early in the spring of 1610. His crew num
bered several persons, who were destined to act
a conspicuous part in the melancholy events of
this expedition. Among these were Robert Ju-
et, who had already sailed with him as mate in
two of his voyages; Habakuk Pricket, a man
of some intelligence and education, who had been
in the service of Sir Dudley Digges, one of the
London Company, and from whose Journal we
learn chiefly the events of the voyage ; and
Henry Greene, of whose character and circum
X2
234 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
stances it is necessary here to give a brief ac
count.
It appears from the Journal, that Greene was
a young man of good abilities and education, born
of highly respectable parents, but of such aban
doned character, that he had forced his family
to cast him off. Hudson found him in this con
dition, took pity upon him, and received him
into his house in London. When it was de
termined, that he should command this expedi
tion, Hudson resolved to take Greene with him,
in the hope, that, by exciting his ambition, and
by withdrawing him from his accustomed haunts,
he might reclaim him. Greene was also a good
penman, and would be useful to Hudson in that
capacity. With much difficulty Greene's mother
was persuaded to advance four pounds, to buy
clothes for him ; and, at last, the money was
placed in the hands of an agent, for fear that
it would be wasted if given directly to him. He
was not registered in the Company's books, nor
did he sail in their pay ; but Hudson, to stim
ulate him to reform, promised to give him wages,
and on his return to get him appointed one of
the Prince's guards, provided he should behave
well on the voyage.
Hudson was also accompanied, as usual, by
his son. The crew consisted of twenty-three
men ; and the vessel was named the Discovery.
HENRY HUDSON. 235
The London Company had insisted upon Hud
son's taking in the ship a person, who was to
aid him by his knowledge and experience, and
in whom they felt great confidence. This ar
rangement seems to have been very disagree^
ble to Hudson, as he put the man into another
vessel before he reached the mouth of ine
Thames, and sent him back to London, with a
letter to his employers stating his reasons for so
doing. What these reasons were, we can form
no conjecture, as there is no hint given in the
Journal.
He sailed from London on the 17th of April,
1610. Steering north from the mouth of the
Thames, and passing in sight of the northern
part of Scotland, the Orkney, Shetland, and Faroe
Isles, and having, in a little more than a month,
sailed along the southern coast of Iceland, where
he could see the flames ascending from Mount
Hecla, he anchored in a bay on the western
side of that island. Here they found a spring
so hot, that "it would scald a fowl," in which
the crew bathed freely. At this place, Hudson
discovered signs of a turbulent and mutinous dis
position in his crew. The chief plotter seems
to have been Robert Juet, the mate. Before
reaching Iceland, Juet had remarked to one of
the crew, that there would be bloodshed before
the voyage was over ; and he was evidently at
236 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
that time contriving some mischief.* While the
ship was at anchor in this bay. a circumstance
occurred, which gave Juet an opportunity to com
mence his intrigues. It is thus narrated by
Pricket.
"At Iceland, the surgeon and he [Henry
Greene] fell out in Dutch, and he beat him
ashore in English, which set all the company in
a rage, so that we had much ado to get the
surgeon aboard. I told the master of it, but he
bade me let it alone ; for, said he, the surgeon
had a tongue that would wrong the best friend
he had. But Robert Juet, the master's mate,
would needs burn his finger in the embers, and
told the carpenter a long tale, when he was drunk,
that our master had brought in Greene to crack
his credit that should displease him ; which words
came to the master's ears, who, when he under
stood it, would have gone back to Iceland, when
he was forty leagues from thence, to have sent
home his mate, Robert Juet, in a fisherman.
But, being otherwise persuaded, all was well. So
Henry Greene stood upright, and very inward
with the master, and was a serviceable man every
way for manhood ; but for religion, he would say,
he was clean paper, whereon he might write
what he would. "f
* Wydhouse's note ; Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 609.
f Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p. 601.
HENRY HUDSON. 237
He sailed from Iceland on the 1st of June,
and for several days Juet continued to instigate
the crew to mutiny, persuading them to put the
ship about and return to England.* This, as
we have seen, came to the knowledge of Hud
son, and he threatened to send Juet back, but
was finally pacified. In a few days he made the
coast of Greenland, which appeared very moun
tainous, the hills rising like sugar loaves, and
covered with snow. But the ice was so thick
all along the shore, that it was found impossible
to land. He therefore steered for the south of
Greenland, where he encountered great numbers
of whales. Two of these monsters passed under
the ship, but did no harm ; for which the jour
nalist was devoutly thankful. Having doubled
the southern point of Greenland, he steered north
west, passed in sight of Desolation Island, in the
neighborhood of which he saw a huge island or
mountain of ice, and continued northwest till the
latter part of June, when he came in sight of
land bearing north, which he supposed to be an
island set down in his chart in the northerly part
of Davis's Strait. His wish was to sail along the
western coast of this island, and thus get to the
north of it; but adverse winds and the quanti-
* Wydhouse's note ; Purchas's Pilgrims, Vol. III. p
609.
238 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ties of ice, which he encountered every day, pre
vented him.
Being south of this land, he fell into a current
setting westwardly, which h-e followed, hut was
in constant danger from the ice. One day, an
enormous mountain of ice turned over near the
ship, but fortunately without touching it. This
served as a warning to keep at a distance from
these masses, to prevent the ship from being
crushed by them. He encountered a severe
storm, which brought the ice so thick about the
ship, that he judged it best to run her among
the largest masses, and there let her lie. In this
situation, says the journalist, "some of our men
fell sick ; I will not say it was of fear, although
I saw small sign of other grief." As soon as
the storm abated, Hudson endeavoured to extri
cate himself from the ice. Wherever any open
space appeared, he directed his course, sailing in
almost every direction ; but the longer he con
tended with the ice, the more completely did
he seem to be enclosed, till at last he could go
no further. The ship seemed to be hemmed
in on every side, and in danger of being soon
closely wedged, so as to be immovable. In this
perilous situation, even the stout heart of Hud
son almost yielded to the feeling of despair ; and,
as he afterwards confessed to one of the men, he
thought he should never escape from the ice, but
tha* he was doomed to perish there.
HENRY HUDSON. 239
He did not, however, allow his crew, at the
time, to be aware what his apprehensions really
were ; but, assembling them all around him, he
brought out his chart, and showed them that they
had advanced in this direction a hundred leagues
further than any Englishman had done before ;
and gave them their choice whether to proceed,
or to return home. The men could come to no
agreement ; some were in favor of returning,
others were for pushing forward. This was prol>
ably what Hudson expected ; the men were mu
tinous, and yet knew not what they wanted
themselves. Having fairly convinced them of
this, it was easier to set them at work to extri
cate the ship from her immediate danger. After
much lime and labor, they made room to turn
the ship round, and then by little and little they
worked their way along for a league or two,
when they found a clear sea.
The scene which has just been described, seems
rndeed a subject worthy of the talents of a skil
ful painter. The fancy of the artist would rep
resent the dreary and frightful appearance of the
ice-covered sea, stretching away as far as the eye
could reach, a bleak and boundless waste ; the
dark and broken clouds driving across the fitful
sky ; the ship motionless amidst the islands and
mountains of ice, her shrouds and sails being
fringed and stiffened with the frozen spray. On
240 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
the deck would appear the form of Hudson him
self, displaying the chart to his men ; his coun
tenance care-worn and sad, but still concealing,
under the appearance of calmness and indiffer-
, ence, the apprehensions and forebodings, which
harrowed his mind. About him would be seen
the rude and ruffian-like men; some examining
the chart with eager curiosity, some glaring on
their commander with eyes of hatred and ven
geance, and expressing in their looks those mur
derous intentions, which they at last so fatally
executed.
Having reached a clear sea, Hudson pursued
his course northwest, and in a short time saw
land bearing southwest, which appeared very
mountainous and covered with snow. This he
named Desire Provokes. He had now entered
the Strait which bears his name, and, steering west,
he occupied nearly the whole month of July in
passing through it. To the various capes, islands,
and promontories, which he saw, he gave names
either in commemoration of some circumstance,
which happened at the time, or in honor of per
sons and places at home, or else for the reward
of the discoverer.
Some islands, near which he anchored, and
where his ship was but just saved from the rocks,
he called the Isles of God's Mercies. On the
I9th, he passed a point of land, which he named
HENRY HUDSON. 241
Hold uith Hope. To the main land, which he
soon after discovered, he gave the name of
Magna Britannia. On the 2d of September,
lie saw a headland on the northern shore, which
he named Salisbury^ Foreland; and, running
southwest from this point about fourteen leagues,
he entered a passage not more than five miles
in width, the southern cape at the entrance of
which he named Cape Worsenholme, and that
on the north side, Cape Digges.
He now hoped, that the passage to the west
ern sea was open before him, and that the great
discovery was at length achieved. He there
fore sent a number of the men on shore at
Cape Digges, to ascend the hills, in the hope
that they would see the great ocean open to
them beyond the Strait. The exploring party,
however, were prevented from making any dis
covery, by a violent thunder storm, which soon
drove them back to the ship. They saw plenty
of deer, and soon after espied a number of small
piles of stones, which they at first supposed
must be the work of some civilized person.
On approaching them, and lifting up one of
the stones, they found them to be hollow, and
filled with fowls, hung by the neck. They
endeavored to persuade their commander to wait
here, till they could prevision the ship from the
stores, which were thus remarkably provided for
VOL. x. 16
242 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
them. But his ardor was so great to find his
way into the ocean, which he felt convinced was
immediately in the vicinity, that he could suffer
no delay, but ordered his men to weigh anchor
at oace; a precipitancy which he had afterwards
reason bitterly to regret. Having advanced about
ten leagues through the Strait, he came into the
great open Bay or sea which bears his name.
Having entered the Bay, he pursued a south
erly course for nearly a month, till he arrived
at the bottom of the Bay ; when, finding that he
was disappointed in his expectation of thus reach
ing the western seas, he changed his course to
the north, in order to retrace his steps. On
the 10th of September, he found it necessary
to inquire into the conduct of some of the men,
whose mutinous disposition had manifested itself
a good deal of late. Upon investigation, it ap
peared, that the mate, Robert Juet, and Fran
cis Clement, the boatswain, had been the most
forward in exciting a spirit of insubordination.
The conduct of Juet at Iceland was again
brought up, and, as it appeared that both he and
Clement had been lately plotting against the
commander, they were both deposed, and Rob
ert Billet was appointed mate, and William Wil
son boatswain.
The remaining part of September and all
October were passed in exploring the great Bay
HENRY HUDSON. 243
At times the weather was so bad, that they
were compelled to run into some bay and an
chor ; and in one of the storms they were
obliged to cut away the cable, and so lost their
anchor. At another time they ran upon a sunken
ledge of rocks, where the ship stuck fast for
twelve hours, but was at last got off witnout
oeing much injured. The last of October hav
ing now arrived, and winter beginning to set in,
Hudson ran the vessel into a small bay, and
sent a party in search of a good place to in
trench themselves till the spring. They soon
found a convenient station ; and, bringing the
ship thither, they hauled her aground. This
was on the 1st of November. In ten days they
were completely frozen in, and the ship fiimty
fixed m tne ice.
244 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
CHAPTER VI.
Dreary Prospect for the Winter* — Disturbances
and Sufferings of the Crew. — Unexpected
Supply of Provisions. — Distress from Fam
ine. — Hudson sails from his Wintering- Place.
— Mutiny of Greene and Others. — Fate of
Hudson and Eight of the Crew. — Fate of
Greene and Others of the Mutineers. — Re
turn of the Vessel to England.
THE prospect for Hudson and his men was
now dreary and disheartening. In addition to
the rigors of a long winter, in a high northern
latitude, they had to apprehend the suffering,
which would arise from a scarcity of provisions.
The vessel had been victualled for six months,
and that time having now expired, and their
Stores falling short, while, at the same time, the
chance of obtaining supplies from hunting and
fishing was very precarious, it was found neces
sary to put the crew upon an allowance. In
order, however, to stimulate the men to greater
exertions, Hudson offered a reward or bounty
for every beast, fish, or fowl, which they should
kill ; hoping, that in this way the scanty stock
HENRI HUDSON. 245
of provisions might be made to hold out till
the breaking up of the ice in the spring.
About the middle of November, John Wil
liams, the gunner, died. We are not informed
what was his disease, but we are led to sup
pose from the Journal, that his death was has
tened, if not caused, by the unkind treatment he
experienced from Hudson. It appears very evi
dent from the simple narration by Pricket, that
"the master," as he calls him, had become hasty
and irritable in his temper. This is more to be
regretted, than wondered at. The continual hard
ships and disappointments, to which he had been
exposed, and especially the last unhappy failure
in discovering the northwest passage, when he
had believed himself actually within sight of it,
must have operated powerfully upon an ardent
and enthusiastic mind like his, in which the feel
ing of regret at failure is always proportionate to
the strength and confidence of hope when first
formed. In addition to this, the troublesome
disposition of the crew, which must have caused
ceaseless anxiety, undoubtedly contributed much
to disturb his calmness and self-possession, and
render him precipitate and irritable in his con
duct. Many proofs of this soon occurred.
The death of the gunner was followed by
consequences, which may be regarded as the be
ginning of troubles, that in the end proved fatal.
Y2
246 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
It appears, that it was the custom in those times,
when a man died at sea, to sell his clothes to
the crew by auction. In one respect, Hudson
violated this custom, and probably gained no little
ill will thereby. The gunner had a gray cloth
gown or wrapper, which Henry Greene had set
his heart upon possessing ; and Hudson, wishing
to gratify his favorite, refused to put it up to
public sale, but gave Greene the sole choice of
purchasing it.
Not long after this, Hudson ordered the car
penter to go on shore, and build a house, or
hut, for the accommodation of the crew. The
man replied, that it would now be impossible to do
such a piece of work, from the severity of the
weather, and the quantity of snow. The house
ought to have been erected when they had first
fixed their station there, but now it. was too late,
and Hudson had refused to have it done at first.
The carpenter's refusal to perform the work ex
cited the anger of the master to such a degree,
that he drove him violently from the cabin, using
the most opprobrious language, and finally threat
ening to hang him.
Greene appeared to take sides with the car
penter, which made Hudson so angry, that he
gave the gown, which Greene had coveted so
much, to Billet, the mate ; telling Greene, with
much abusive language, that, as not one of his
HEN II Y HUDSON. 247
friends at home would trust him to the value of
twenty shillings, he could not be expected to
trust him for the value of the gown • and that,
O ' 7
as for wages, he should have none if he did not
behave better. These bitter taunts sunk deep
into Greene's heart, and no doubt incited him
to further mutinous conduct.
The sufferings of the men were not less, during
the winter, than they had had reason to apprehend.
Many of them were made lame, probably from
chilblains and freezing their feet ; and Pricket
complains in the Journal, written after the close
of the voyage, that he was still suffering from
the effects of this winter. They were, however,
much better supplied with provisions than they
had anticipated. For three months they had
such an abundance of white partridges about the
ship, that they killed a hundred dozen of them ;
and, on the departure of these, when spring
came, they found a great plenty of swans, geese,
ducks, and other waterfowl.
Hudson was in hopes, when he saw these
wild fowl, that they had come to breed in these
regions, which would have rendered it much
easier to catch them ; but he found that they
went still further north for this purpose. Before
the ice had broken up, these birds too had disap
peared, and the horror of starvation began to
stare them in the face. They were forced to
248 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
search the hills, woods, and valleys, for any thing
that might afford them subsistence ; even the moss
growing on the ground, and disgusting reptiles, were
not spared. Their sufferings were somewhat re
lieved, at last, by the use of a bud, which is
described as "full of turpentine matter."* Of
these buds the surgeon made a decoction, which
he gave the men to drink, and also applied them
hot to their bodies, wherever any part was af
fected. This was undoubtedly very effectual in
curing the scurvy.
About the time that the ice began to break
up, they were visited by a savage, whom Hud
son treated so well, that he returned the day
after to the ship, bringing several skins, some
of which he gave in return for presents he had
received the day before. For others Hudson
traded with him, but made such hard bargains,
that he never visited them again. As soon as
the ice would allow of it, some of the men were
sent out to fish. The first day they were very
successful, catching about five hundred fish ;
but after this, they never succeeded in taking
a quarter part of this number in one day. Be
ing greatly distressed by want of provisions,
Hudson took the boat and coasted along the
* Probably the bud of the Tacamahaca tree, the Pop-
balsamifera of Linnseus.
HENRY HUDSON. 249
bay to the southwest, in the hope of meeting
some of the natives, from whom lie might ob
tain supplies. He saw the woods blazing at a
distance, where they had been set on fire by
the natives ; but he was not able at any time
to come within sight of the people themselves.
After an absence of several days, he returned
unsuccessful to the ship.
The only effect of this little expedition was
defeating a conspiracy, formed by Greene, Wil
son, and some others, to seize the boat and
make off with her. They were prevented from
putting this scheme in execution by Hudson's
unexpected determination to use the boat him
self. Well would it have been for him, if they
had been allowed to follow their wishes.
Having returned to the ship, and finding every
thing now prepared for their departure accord
ing to his directions, before weighing anchor he
went through the mournful task of distributing
to his crew the small remnant of the provisions,
about a pound of bread to each man ; which
he did with tears in his eyes. He also gave
them a bill of return, as a sort of certificate for
any who might live to reach home. Some of
the men were so ravenous, that they devoured
in a day or two the whole of their allowance
of bread.
They sailed from the bay, in which they had
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
passed the winter, about the middle of June,
and, in three or four days, being surrounded
with ice, were obliged to anchor. The bread
he had given the men, and a few pounds of
cheese, which had remained, were consumed.
Hudson now intimated to one of the crew, that
the chests of all the men would be searched,
to find any provisions that might have been
concealed there; and ordered him at the same
time to bring all that was in his. The man
obeyed, and produced thirty cakes in a bag.
This indiscretion on the part of Hudson appears
to have greatly exasperated his crew, and to
have been the immediate cause of open mutiny.
They had been detained at anchor in the ice
about a week, when the first signs of this mu
tiny appeared. Greene, and Wilson, the boat
swain, came in the night to Pricket, who was
lying in his berth very lame, and told him, that
they and several of the crew had resolved to
seize Hudson, and set him adrift in the boat,
with all on board who were disabled by sick
ness ; that there were but few days' provisions
left, and the master appeared entirely irresolute
which way to go ; that for themselves they had
eaten nothing for three days ; their only hope,
therefore, was in taking command of the ship,
and escaping from these regions as quickly as
possible ; and that they would carry their plot
into execution, or perish in the attempt.
HENRY HUDSON. 251
Pricket remonstrated with them in the most
earnest manner, entreating them to abandon such
a wicked intention, and reminding them of their
wives and children, from whom they would be
banished for ever, if they stained themselves with
so great a crime. But all he could say had
no effect. He then besought them to delay the
execution for three days, for two days, for only
twelve hours ; but they sternly refused. Pricket
then told them, that it was not their safety for
which they were anxious, but that they were
bent upon shedding blood and revenging them
selves, which made them so hasty. Upon this,
Greene took up the bible which lay there, and
swore upon it, that he would do no man harm,
and that what he did was for the good of the
voyage, and for nothing else. Wilson took the
same oath, and after him came Juet and the
other conspirators separately, and swore in the
same words. The words of the oath are re
corded by Pricket, because, after his return to
England, he was much blamed for administering
any oath, as he seemed by so doing to side with
the mutineers. The oath, as administered by
him, ran as follows ;
" You shall swear truth to God, your Prince,
and Country; you shall do nothing but to the
glory of God and the good of the action in hand,
and harm to no man." How little regard was paid
to this oath by the mutineers, will shortly appear.
AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
It was decided, that the plot should be put
in execution at daylight ; and, in the mean time,
Greene went into Hudson's cabin to keep him
company, and prevent his suspicions from being
excited. They had determined to put the car
penter and John King into the boat with Hud
son and the sick, having some grudge against
them for their attachment to the master. King
and the carpenter had slept upon deck this night.
But about daybreak, King was observed to go
down into the hold with the cook, who was
going for water. Some of the mutineers ran and
shut down the hatch over them, while Greene
and another engaged the attention of the car
penter, so that he did not observe what was
going on.
Hudson now came up from the cabin, and was
immediately seized by Thomas, and Bennet, the
cook, who had come up from the hold, while
Wilson ran behind and bound his arms. He
asked them what they meant, and they told him
he would know when he was in the shallop.
Hudson called on the carpenter to help him,
telling him that he was bound ; but he could
render him no assistance, being surrounded by
mutineers. In the mean time, Juet had gone
down into the hold, where King was ; but the
latter, having armed himself with a sword, at
tacked Juet, and would have killed him, if the
HENRY HUDSON. 253
noise had not been heard upon deck by the con
spirators, some of whom ran down and over
powered him. While this was done, two of the
sick men, Lodlo and Bute, boldly reproached
their shipmates for their wickedness, telling them,
that their knavery would show itself, and that
their actions were prompted by mere vengeance,
not the wish to preserve their lives. But their
words had no effect.
The boat was now hauled along side, and the
sick and lame were called up from their berths.
Pricket crawled upon deck as well as he could,
and Hudson, seeing him, called to him to come
to the hatchway to speak with him. Pricket
entreated the men, on his knees, for the love
of God to remember their duty, and do as they
would be done by ; but they only told him to
go back to his berth, and would not allow him
to have any communication with Hudson. When
Hudson was in the boat, he called again to
Pricket, who was at the horn window, which
lighted his cabin, and told him that Juet would
"overthrow" them all. "Nay," said Pricket,
"it is that villain, Henry Greene ;" and this he
said as loud as he could.
After Hudson was put into the boat, the car
penter was set at liberty, but he refused to re
main in the ship unless they forced him ; so they
told him he might go in the boat, and allowed
254 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
him to take his chest with him. Before he
got into the boat, he went down to take leave
of Pricket, who entreated him to remain in the
ship ; but the carpenter said he believed that
they would soon be taken on board again, as
there was no one left who knew enough to bring
the ship home ; and that he was determined not
to desert the master. He thought the boat would
be kept in tow ; but, if they should be parted,
he begged Pricket to leave some token for them
if he should reach Digges's Cape first. They
then took leave of each other with tears in their
eyes, and the carpenter went into the boat, taking
a musket and some powder and shot, an iron
pot, a small quantity of meal, and other provi
sions. Hudson's son and six of the men were
also put into 'the boat. The sails were now
hoisted, and they stood eastward with a fair
wind, dragging the shallop from the stern ; and
in a few hours, being clear of the ice, they cut
the rope by which the boat was dragged, and
5oon after lost sight of her for ever.
The account here given of the mutiny, is
nearly in the words of Pricket, an eyewitness
of the event. It is difficult at first to perceive
the whole enormity of the crime. The more
we reflect upon it, the blacker it appears. Scarce
ly a circumstance is wanting, that could add to
the baseness of the villany, or the horror of the
HENRY HUDSON. 255
suffering inflicted. The principal conspirators
were men, who were bound to Hudson by long
friendship, by lasting obligations, and by common
interests, adventures, and sufferings. Juet had
sailed with him on two of his former voyages,
and had shared in the glory of his discoveries.
Greene had been received into his house, when
abandoned even by his own mother ; had been
kindly and hospitably entertained, encouraged to
reform, and taken, on Hudson's private respon
sibility, into a service in which he might gain
celebrity and wealth. Wilson had been selected
from among the crew, by the approving eye of
the commander, and appointed to a place of
trust and honor. Yet these men conspired to
murder their benefactor, and instigated the crew
to join in their execrable schemft
Not contented with the destruction of their
commander, that nothing might be wanting to
fill up the measure of their wickedness, they
formed the horrible plan of destroying, at the
same time, all of their companions, whom sick
ness and suffering had rendered a helpless and
unresisting prey to their cruelty. The manner
of effecting this massacre was worthy of the au
thors of such a plot. To have killed their un
happy victims outright would have been com
paratively merciful ; but a long, lingering, and
painful death was chosen for them. The imagi-
256 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
nation turns with intense and fearful interest to
the scene. The form of the commander is be
fore us, bound hand and foot, condescending to
no supplication to the mutineers, but calling in
vain for assistance from those, who would gladly
have helped him, but who were overpowered
by numbers, or disabled by sickness. The cry
of the suffering and dying rings in our ears, as
they are dragged from their beds, to be exposed
to the inclemencies of the ice-covered sea in an
open boat. Among them appears the young son
of Hudson, whose tender years can wake no com
passion in the cold-blooded murderers.
We refrain from following them, even in fancy,
through their sufferings after they are separated
from the ship ; their days and nights of agony,
their cry of distress, and the frenzy of starva
tion, their hopes of relief defeated, their despair,
and their raving as death comes on. Over these
awful scenes the hand of God has hung a veil,
which hides them from us for ever. Let us
not seek to penetrate, even in imagination, the
terrors which it conceals.
How far Pricket's account, in regard to the
course pursued by Hudson, is worthy of confi
dence, must be left to conjecture. It should be
remembered, however, that Pricket was not free
from the suspicion of having been in some de
gree implicated in the conspiracy, and that his
HENRY HUDSON. 257
narrative was designed in part as a vindication
of himself. The indiscreet severity charged upon
Hudson, and the hasty temper he is represented
to have shown, in embroiling himself with his
men, for apparently trifling reasons, are not con
sistent with the moderation, good sense, and
equanimity, with which his conduct had been
marked in all his preceding voyages. It is more
over hardly credible, that, knowing as he did,
the mutinous spirit of some of the crew, he
should so rashly inflame this spirit, at a time
when he was surrounded by imminent dangers,
and when his safety depended on the united sup
port of all the men under his command. Hence,
whatever reliance may be placed on the veracity
of Pricket, it is due to the memory of Hudson
not to overlook the circumstances, by which his
pen may have been biased.
When Hudson and the men were deposited
in the boat, the mutineers busied themselves
with breaking open chests and pillaging the ship.
They found in the cabin a considerable quan
tity of biscuit, and a butt of beer; and there
were a few pieces of pork, some meal, and a
half bushel of pease in the hold. These sup
plies were enough to save them from immediate
starvation ; and they expected to find plenty of
game at Digges's Cape.
Henry Greene was appointed commander,
VOL. x. 17 Z 2
258 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
though evidently too ignorant for the place.
It was a full month before they could find their
way to the Strait, which leads out of the great
Bay in which they had wintered. Part of this
time they were detained by the ice ; but sev
eral days were spent in searching for the pas
sage into Davis's Strait. During this time they
landed often, and sometimes succeeded in catch
ing a few fish or wild fowl ; but supplied their
wants principally by gathering the cockle-grass,
which was growing in abundance on every part
of the shore. They arrived within sight of
Digges's Cape about the last of July, and im
mediately sent the boat on shore for provisions.
The men who landed found considerable quan
tities of game, as it was a place where the wild
fowl breed. There were great numbers of sav
ages about the shore, who appeared very friendly,
and testified their joy by lively gestures.
The next day Henry Greene went ashore,
accompanied by Wilson, Thomas, Perse, Mo-
ter, and Pricket. The last was left in the boat,
which was made fast to a large rock, and the
others went on shore in search of provisions.
While some of the men were busy in gather
ing sorrel from the rocks, and Greene was sur
rounded by the natives, with whom he was
trading, Pricket, who was lying in the stern of
the boata observed one of the savages coming
HENRY HUDSON. 259
in at the bows. Pricket made signs to him to
keep off; and while he was thus occupied,
another savage stole round behind him. Pricket
suddenly saw the leg and foot of a man by him,
and looking up, perceived a savage with a knife
in his hand, aiming a blow at him. He pre
vented the wound from being fatal, by raising
his arm and warding off the blow ; but was still
severely cut. Springing up, he grappled with
the savage, and drawing his dagger, at length
put him to death.
In the mean time, Greene and the others were
assaulted by the savages on shore, and with dif
ficulty reached the boat, all of them wounded
except Perse and Moter. The latter saved his
life by plunging into the water, and catching
hold of the stern of the boat. No sooner had
they pushed off, than the savages let fly a
shower of arrows, which killed Greene outright,
and mortally wounded some of the others, among
them Perse, who had hitherto escaped. Perse
and Moter began to row toward the ship, but
Perse soon fainted, and Moter was left to man
age the boat alone, as he had escaped un-
wounded. The body of Greene was thrown
immediately into the sea. Wilson and Thomas
died that day in great torture, and Perse two
days afterwards.
The remainder of the crew were glad to de-
260 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
part from the scene of this fatal combat, and
immediately set sail, with the intention of reach
ing Ireland as soon as possible. While they
were in the Strait, they managed to kill a few
wild fowl occasionally; but the supply was so
small, that they were obliged to limit the crew
to half a fowl a day, which they cooked with
meal ; but this soon failed, and they were forced
to devour the candles. The cook fried the
bones of the fowls in tallow, and mixed this
mess with vinegar, which, says Pricket, was "a
great daintie."
Before they reached Ireland, they were so
weakened, that they were forced to sit at the
helm to steer, as no one among them was able
to stand. Just before they came in sight of
land, Juet died of want, thus meeting the very
fate, to avoid which he had murdered his com
mander and friend. The men were now in utter
despair. Only one fowl was left for their sub
sistence, and another day would be their last.
They abandoned all care of the vessel, and
prepared to meet their fate, when the joyful
cry of aa sail/' was heard. It proved to be
a fishing vessel, which took them into a harbor
in Ireland, from which they hired a pilot to
take them to England ; where they all arrived
in safety, after an absence of a year and five
months.
HENRY HUDSON. 261
The year following, the Discovery, the ves
sel in which Hudson made his last voyage, and
the Resolution, were sent out, under the com
mand of Captain Thomas Button, who was ac
companied by Pricket, in the hope of learning
something of the fate of Hudson, and of reliev
ing him; and, at the same time, to discover, if
possible, the northwest passage. Pricket had
observed, in the voyage with Hudson, when the
ship had struck upon a rock near Digges's Island,
that a strong tide from the westward had float
ed her off again. The London Company had
hopes, from this fact, that there might be a
passage to the western ocean at no great dis
tance from this place. The expedition was un
successful in both objects. No tidings of Hud
son could ever be gained ; and the discovery of
the northwest passage is a problem, which, after
the lapse of more than two centuries, has scarcely
yet been solved.
LIFE
FATHER MARQUETTE,
BY
JARED SPARKS.
FATHER MARQUETTE.
IT is generally believed, that the Mississippi
River was first discovered by Ferdinand de Soto,
as early as 1541. The accounts of his expedi
tion in Florida are so highly exaggerated, so in
definite, and in many parts so obviously false,
that little more can be inferred from them, than
that he passed far into the country, had many
combats with the natives, and finally died in the
interior. The probability is so strong, however,
that he and his party actually crossed the Mis
sissippi, that it has usually been assumed as a
historical fact.
Soto had distinguished himself as a military
leader under Pizarro, in the conquest of Peru.
He returned to Spain, renowned for his exploits,
and enriched by the spoils of the Peruvians and
of their unfortunate monarch Atahualpa, extorted
* A large part of this Memoir has heretofore been
published in the appendix to the second edition of BUT
LER'S History of Kentucky. It is here reprinted with
considerable additions.
266 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
by iniquity and violence. He appeared in much
splendor at the court of Spain, and, becoming
acquainted with one of the companions of Nar-
vaez, who had made an unsuccessful attempt to
conquer "^lorida, he formed the project of achiev
ing the conquest of that country. He solicited
permission from Charles the Fifth to undertake
the enterprise at his own expense, and his re
quest was granted. The fame of Soto, the great
wealth he had acquired in Peru, and the hope
of making similar acquisitions in Florida, drew
around htm many adventurers, some of whom be
longed to the first families in Spain. Several
persons also joined him from the town of Elvas,
in Portugal. In a short time he procured seven
ships, and supplied them with every thing neces
sary for the voyage. The fleet sailed from St.
Lucar, in the month of April, 1538, proceeding
first to St. Jago in Cuba, and thence to Havana.
The number of men that accompanied him is not
precisely known. The most authentic account
states it to have been six hundred ; according to
others it was much larger.
The Emperor had appointed Soto governor of
Cuba, with the title of General of Florida, and
Marquis of all the lands he might conquer.
Leaving his wife at Havana, he sailed from that
port on the 18th of May, 1539, and landed at
the Bay of Espiritu Santo, in Florida. After
FATHER MARQUETTE. 267
many wanderings and adventures, he arrived at
the Great River, so called in the narrative, (sup
posed to be the Mississippi,) and crossed it in
June or July, 1541. He died the next year,
on the 21st of May; and his followers, under
Moscoso, as the story says, constructed brigan-
tines, in which they sailed down the river to its
mouth, and, after a voyage of fifty days, they
entered the river Panuco, in Mexico, on the 10th
of September, 1543.
The first account of Soto's expedition purports
to have been written by one of the Portuguese
adventurers, who accompanied it throughout, and
returned to his native country ; and who styles
himself, in the titlepage of his narrative, "Fi-
dalgo d'Elvas," rendered by Hakluyt, "A Gen
tleman of Elvas" The name of the writer has
never been ascertained. The book was first pub
lished at Evora, in 1557, more than fifteen years
after the principal events it narrates.* There
is much show of exactness in regard to dates,
* The title of this edition is as follows. "Relacam
Verdadeira dos Trabalhos que ho Governador don Fer
nando de Souto y certos Fidalgos Portugeses passarom
no Descobrimento da Provincia la Frodida. Jlgora no-
vamente feita per hum Fidalgo d'Elvas" Copies are ex
tremely rare. The price of one, mentioned in Mr. Rich's
"Catalogue of Books relating principally to America,"
is stated at £31 105. sterling. It is a small octavo, in
black letter.
268 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
but the account was evidently drawn up for the
most part from memory, being vague in its de
scriptions, and indefinite as to localities, distances,
and other points usually noted by journalists.
This account was translated into English by
Hakluyt, and published in 1609, with a very
long title, beginning, " Virginia richly valued, by
the Description of the Main Land of Florida"
&c. This little volume is extremely rare, not
being included in either of the editions of Hak-
luyt's celebrated collection, though reprinted in
the Supplement to that of 1809. The transla
tor's object was to advance the purposes of the
"Virginia Company," which had then recently
been formed. Another English translation was
published anonymously in the year 1686, entitled
" A Relation of the Conquest of Florida by
the Spaniards under the command of Fernando
de Soto." This was translated from the French
version of Citri de la Guette, which appeared
in Paris the year before.
The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega completed
his work on Florida in the year 1591. It was
first printed at Lisbon, in 1605.* The author's
* Entitled, " La Florida del Ynca ; Historic* del Ade-
lantado Hernando de Soto, Governador y Capitan Gen
eral del Reyno de la Florida, y de otros heroicos Cavatte-
ros Espanoles e Indios ; escrita por el Ynca Garcilasso de
la Vega" The volume is a small quarto. A handsome
FATHER MARQUETTE 269
style is flowing and agreeable, but his fancy con
stantly takes the lead of his judgment, and no
tale is too marvellous for his pen. It was one
of his chief objects, as stated in his Preface,
"to render justice to the memory of the brave
Ferdinand de Soto, which has been cruelly de
famed by certain English, French, and Italian
writers." Hence a large portion of his work is
taken up with the adventures of Soto. Although
he wrote more than forty years after the death
of his hero, yet he had no other written ma
terials for his guidance, than those which had
been furnished by the "Gentleman of Elvas" ;
and in fact, the narrative of this unknown per
son is the only authority, which can be con
sidered of any value, respecting the wanderings
of Soto. In several points Garcilaso differs from
his original. Citri de la Guette says, that he
took his account chiefly from the narration of
a common soldier, who was in Soto's expedi
tion, and this at least forty years after the
events. Little could be gathered from such a
source, which is worthy of confidence. Both of the
accounts are too romantic and vague for history ;
edition in folio was printed at Madrid, in 1723. It has
been twice translated into French, first by Baudoin, and
afterwards by Richelet, and several times printed. A
German translation was also published, in 1753 ; but the
book has never been translated into English.
A A2
270 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
yet some of the names of places and of Indian
tribes, and descriptions of the country, in the
narrative of the anonymous Portuguese writer,
could hardly have been given except from per
sonal observation ; and they render it in the
highest degree probable, that Soto crossed the
Mississippi near the thirty-fourth degree of lat
itude.
It may be doubted, at least, whether either
of these works can be trusted, as affording gen
uine historical materials. They have been cited
by respectable writers in default of other author
ities ; but they border so closely upon the re
gions of romance, that they may as justly be
ranked in this class of compositions, as in that
of history. This is generally conceded in re
gard to Garcilaso.* His predecessor, the Gentle
man of Elvas, is thought to have higher claims ;
and perhaps he has ; yet whoever follows him
closely will be likely to run into ten errors in
* The French biographer of Garcilaso de la Vega,
in the Biographic Univcrselle, apologizing for his want
of accuracy, as compared with Herrera, says, "Get
ecrivain recommandable a compose son histoire du
Nouveau-Monde sur un grand nombre de materiaux,
tandis que, pour ecrire celle du Perou et de la Florida,
Garcilaso n'avait que son patriotisme et son g&nie."
Patriotism and genius are undoubtedly qualities of a
high order in a historian ; but it is equally certain, that,
if he relies only on these, he will write a very indif
ferent history.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 271
arriving at a single truth, with the additional
uncertainty of being able to distinguish the for
mer from the latter. The narrative is moreover
disfigured with descriptions of atrocious acts of
injustice, oppression, and cruelty committed against
the natives, as revolting to humanity as they
were disgraceful to the adventurers. The thirst
for gold, which was the stimulating motive to
this enterprise, seems tp have absorbed every
other passion and every generous sentiment.
Robbery, slavery, mutilation, and death were
practised, not only without compunction, but ap
parently as means supposed to be justified by
the cause in which they were engaged. In
short, if this narrative is worthy of credit, few
readers will be inclined to dissent from the re
mark of Philip Briet, in his Annales Mundi,
that it is difficult to decide whether cruelty or
avarice was the predominant trait in the char
acter of Soto.
British writers have mentioned a subsequent
discovery of the Mississippi, in 1654, by an
Englishman named Wood. It will be difficult,
if not impossible, to find any proofs, that the
Mississippi was ever seen by this person.*
* Professor Keating says, " This is not the same Col
onel Wood of Virginia, whom Coxe mentions as having
discovered several branches of the great rivers Ohio and
Meschasebe." — LONG'S Expedition, Vol. I. p. 236. But
he gives us no clue for ascertaining what Wood it was
272 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
In short, the first Europeans, who are cer
tainly known to have discovered and explored
this river, were two Frenchmen, Father MAR-
Q.UETTE and M. Joliet, in the year 1673. Mar-
quette was a native of Picardy, and Charlevoix
calls him "one of the most illustrious mission
aries of New France," adding, that he travelled
widely, and made many discoveries besides that
of the Mississippi. He had resided some time
in Canada, and attained a proficiency in the
languages of the principal native tribes, who re
sided in the regions bordering on the Upper
Lakes. The first settlement of the old town of
Michillimackinac, in 1671, is ascribed to his ex
ertions and influence.
The Indians had given many accounts of a
great river at the West, which flowed south
wardly, and which they called Mississipy, as
the word is written by Marquette. It became
a matter of curious speculation, what course
this river pursued, and at what place it dis
embogued itself into the sea. There were three
opinions on this subject. First, that it ran
towards the southwest, and entered the Gulf of
California ; secondly, that it flowed into the Gulf
of Mexico; and thirdly, that it found its way
in a more easterly direction, and discharged it
self into the Atlantic Ocean somewhere on the
coast of Virginia. The question was not less
FATHER MARQUETTE. 273
important in a commercial and political view, than
interesting as a geographical problem.
To establish the point, and to make such other
discoveries as opportunities would admit, M. de
Frontenac, the governor of Canada, encouraged
an expedition to be undertaken. The persons,
to whom it was intrusted, were M. Joliet, then
residing at Quebec, and Father Marquette, who
was at Michillimackinac, or in the vicinity of
that place. Marquette wrote an account of his
tour, and voyage down the Mississippi, which
was sent to France, and published eight years
afterwards in Paris. From this account the fol
lowing particulars are chiefly taken. In some
parts the translation is nearly literal, and all the
prominent facts are retained.
On the 13th of May, 1673, Father Marquette
and M. Joliet, with five other Frenchmen, em
barked in two canoes, with a small provision of In
dian corn and smoked meat, having previously
acquired from the Indians all the intelligence they
could afford respecting their proposed route.
The first nation through which they passed,
was the Folks Jlvoines, (Wild Rice,) so called
from the grain of that name, which abounds in
the rivers and marshy lands. This plant is de
scribed as growing about two feet above the water,
resembling European oats, and gathered by the
savages during the month of September. The
VOL. x. 18
274 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ears are dried, separated from the chaff, and pre
pared for food either by pounding into meal, or
simply boiling the grain in water.*
The natives, having been made acquainted by
Father Marquette with his design of visiting the
most remote nations, and preaching to them the
Gospel, did their utmost to dissuade him from
it, representing the cruelty of some of the tribes,
and their warlike state, the dangerous navigation
of the river, the dreadful monsters that were
found in it, and, finally, the excessive heat of the
climate.
He thanked them for their good advice, but
declined following it ; assuring them, that, to se
cure the success of his undertaking, he would glad
ly give his life ; that he felt no fear of the mon
sters they described ; and that their information
would only oblige him to keep more on his guard
against surprise. After having prayed, and given
them some instructions, he parted from them, and
arrived at the Bay of Puans, now called Green
Bay, where considerable progress had been made
by the French priests in the conversion of the
Indians.
* Charlevoix mentions the Folles Avoines as residing
on a small river, which flows into the Bay of Puans from
the west. Malhomines was the name by which they
were known among the Indians, and they were supposed
to be a branch of the Potto wattomies. — Histoire de la
JVbuvelk France, Tom. III. p. 291.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 275
The name of this bay has a less unpleasant
meaning in the Indian, than in the French lan
guage, signifying also salt bay, which induced
Father Marquette to make strict researches for
salt springs in this vicinity, but without success.
He concluded, therefore, that the name was given
to it in consequence of the ooze and mud, de
posited there, from whence, as he thought, arise
vapors, that produce frequent and violent thun
der storms. He speaks of this bay as about
thirty leagues long, and eight leagues wide at its
entrance, gradually contracting towards its head,
where the flux and reflux of the tides, much like
those of the sea, may be easily observed.*
Leaving this bay, they ascended the river,
since known as Fox River, that empties into
it. At its mouth, he says, the river is broad
and deep, and flows gently ; but, as you ad
vance, its course is interrupted by rapids and
rocks ; which he passed, however, in safety. It
abounds with bustards, ducks, and teal, attracted
by the wild rice, which grows there. Approach
ing the village of Maskoutins, or nation of fire,
he had the curiosity to taste the mineral water
*The appearance of these tides has attracted the no
tice of travellers from the earliest times, and has re
cently engaged the attention of scientific observers. Mr.
Schoolcraft has collected many facts on the subject. —
Journal of the Expedition under Governor Cass, p. 373.
276 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
of a stream in its vicinity. The village consisted
of three several nations, namely, Miamis, Mas
koutins, and Kikabeaux. The first were the
most friendly and liberal, and the finest looking
men. Their hair was long over their ears. They
were good warriors, successful in their expedi
tions, docile, and fond of instruction. They were
so eager to listen to Father Allouez, when he
was among them, that they allowed him no re
pose, even in the night.* The Maskoutins and
Kikabeaux were coarser, and less civilized ; their
wigwams were constructed of rushes, (birch bark
being scarce in this country,) and might be rolled
up in bundles and carried where they pleased.
In visiting these people, Father Marquette was
much gratified at seeing a large cross erected in
the centre of the village, decorated with thank-
offerings to the Great Spirit, for their success
during the last winter. The situation of the vil
lage was striking and beautiful, it being built on
an eminence, whence the eye overlooked on all
sides a boundless extent of prairie, interspersed
with groves and forests. The soil was good,
* Father Allouez was an enterprising and successful
missionary. He arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie in
1668, and traversed the country between Lake Supe
rior and Lake Michigan. Charlevoix speaks of his hav
ing visited the Miamis and Maskoutins the year before
Marquette's expedition. — Histoire, &c. Tom. I. p. 448.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 277
producing abundantly Indian corn, grapes, and
plums.
Immediately on their arrival, Father Marquette
and M. Joliet assembled the chiefs, and explained
to them the objects of their expedition, express
ing their determination to proceed at all risks,
and making them some presents. They requested
the assistance of two guides, to put them in their
way ; which request the natives readily granted,
returning for their presents a mat, which served
them as a bed during the voyage. The next
day, being the 10th of June, the two Miamis,
their guides, embarked with them in sight of all
the inhabitants of the village, who looked with
astonishment on the hardihood of seven French
men in undertaking such an expedition.
They knew, that within three leagues of the
Maskoutins was a river, which discharged itself
into the Mississippi ; and further, that their course
must^be west southwest; but so many marshes
and small lakes intervened, that the route was
intricate ; the more so, as the river was over
grown with wild rice, which obstructed the chan
nel to such a degree, that it was difficult to
follow it. On this account their guides were
necessary, who conducted them safely to a por-
ta^e, which was about two thousand seven hun-
O /
dred paces across. The guides aided them in
transporting their canoes over the portage to the
PB
278 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
river, which ran towards the west, and then they
left them and returned.*
The travellers quitted the waters, which flow
towards Quebec, five or six hundred leagues from
that place, and embarked on an unknown stream.
This river was called Mescousin (Wisconsin).
It was very broad, but its bottom was sandy,
and the navigation was rendered difficult by the
shoals. It was full of islands, overgrown with
vines; and the fertile banks through which it
flowed were interspersed with woods, prairies, and
groves of nut, oak, and other trees. Numbers
of bucks and buffaloes were seen, but no other
animals. Within thirty leagues of their place of
embarkation, they found iron mines, which ap
peared abundant and of a good quality. After con
tinuing their route for forty leagues, they arrived
at the mouth of the river, in forty-two degrees
and a half of latitude ;f and on the 17th of June,
* This description of the wild rice in the river, and
of the portage, agrees very exactly with that of Mr
Schoolcraft. He says the portage is a mile and a half,
being equal to two thousand six hundred and forty paces
And of the river he tells us, " It is filled with wild rice,
which so chokes up the channel, that it is difficult to
find a passage through it." — Journal, &c. pp. 363, 364.
f Father Marquette's estimate of the latitude approach
es very near the truth. By a series of observations, Fort
Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, four or five miles above
the mouth of the Wisconsin, has been ascertained to be
43° 3' 31".— -LONG'S Expedition, p. 245.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 279
they entered with great joy the waters of the Mis
sissippi.
This river derives its source from several lakes
in the north. At the mouth of the Mescousin
its channel was narrow, and it flowed onwards
with a gentle current. On the right was seen a
chain of high mountains, and on the left fertile
fields interrupted by islands in many places.
They slowly followed the course of the stream
to the south and southwest, until, in forty-two
degrees of latitude, they perceived a sensible
change in the surrounding country. There were
but few hills and forests. The islands were cov
ered with beautiful trees.
From the time of leaving their guides, they
descended the two rivgrs more than one hundred
leagues, without discovering any other inhabitants
of the forests, than birds and beasts. They were
always on their guard, kindling a fire on the shore
towards evening, to cook their food, and after
wards anchoring their canoes in the middle of the
stream during the night. They proceeded thus
for more than sixty leagues from the place where
they entered the Mississippi, when, on the 25th
of June, they perceived on the bank of the river
the footsteps of men, and a well beaten path
leading into a beautiful prairie. They landed,
and, leaving the canoes under the guard of their
boatmen, Father Marquette and M. Joliet set
280 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
forth to make discoveries. After silently follovr
ing the path for about two leagues, they per
ceived a village, situate on the margin of a river,
and two others on a hill, within half a leagufc
of the first. As they approached nearer, they
gave notice of their arrival by a loud call. Hear
ing the noise, the Indians came out of their cab
ins, and, having looked at the strangers for a
while, they deputed four of their elders to talk
with them, who slowly advanced. Two of them
brought pipes ornamented with feathers, which,
without speaking, they elevated towards the sun,
as a token of friendship. Gaining assurance from
this ceremony, Father Marquette addressed them,
inquiring of what nation they were. They an
swered, that they were Illinois, and, offering their
pipes, invited the strangers to enter the village ;
where they were received with every mark of
attention, conducted to the cabin of the chief, and
complimented on their arrival by the natives, who
gathered round them, gazing in silence.
After they were seated, the calumet was pre
sented to them, and, while the old men were
smoking for their entertainment, the chief of all
the Illinois tribes sent them an invitation to at
tend a council at his village. They were treated
by him with great kindness, and Father Mar
quette, having explained to him the motives of
Jhis voyage, enforcing each part of his speech
FATHER MARQUETTE. 281
with a present, the chief in reply expressed his
approbation ; but urged him, in the name of the
whole nation, not to incur the risks of a further
voyage, and rewarded his presents by the gift of
a calumet.
The council was followed by a feast, consist
ing of four courses, from each of which they
were fed with much ceremony ; and afterwards
they were conducted in state through the village,
receiving many presents of girdles and garters
from the natives. The following day, they took
leave of the chief, promising to return in four
moons, and were accompanied to their canoes,
with every demonstration of joy, by more than
six hundred savages.
Before leaving this nation, Father Marquette
remarked some of their peculiarities. The name
Illinois, in the native language, signifies men^ as
if implying thereby, that other tribes are brutes
in comparison, which in some sense Father Mar
quette thought to be true, as they were more
civilized than most of the tribes. Their language,
on the borders of the river, was a dialect of the
•Algonquin, and was understood by Father Mar
quette. In the form of their bodies the Illinois
were light and active. They were skilful in the
use of arms, brave, but mild and tractable in dis
position. They were entirely ignorant of the use
282 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
of leather, and iron tools, their weapons being
made of stone, and their clothing of the skins of
wild beasts. The soil was rich and productive,
and game abundant.
After this peaceful interview with the natives,
the voyagers embarked again, and passed down
the stream, looking out for the river Pekitanoni
(Missouri), which empties into the Mississippi
from the northwest. They observed high and
steep rocks, on the face of which were the fig
ures of two monsters, which appeared as if
painted in green, red, and blue colors ; frightful
in appearance, but so well executed, as to leave
Father Marquette in doubt, whether they could
be the work of savages, they being also at so
great a height on the rocks as to be inacces
sible to a painter.
As they floated quietly down a clear and
placid stream, conversing about the figures they
had just passed, they were interrupted by the
sound of rapids before them ; and a mass of
floating timber, trunks and branches of trees, was
swept from the mouth of the Pekitanoni with
such a degree of violence, as to render the pas
sage dangerous. So great was the agitation, that
the water was thereby made very muddy, and
it did not again become clear. The Pekitanoni
is described as a large river flowing into the
FATHER MARQUETTE. 283
Mississippi from the northwest, with several vil
lages on its banks.*
At this place Father Marquette decided, that,
unless the Mississippi altered its previous course,
it must empty its waters into the Gulf of Mex
ico; and he conjectured from the accounts of
the natives, that, by following the stream of the
Pekitanoni, a river would be discovered, which
flowed into the Gulf of California.
About twenty leagues south of the Pekita
noni, and a little more to the southeast, they
discovered the mouth of another river, called
OuabousJcigou (Ohio), in the latitude of thirty-six
degrees ; a short distance above which, they came
to a place formidable to the savages, who, be
lieving it the residence of a demon, had warned
Father Marquette of its dangers. It proved noth
ing more than a ledge of rocks, thirty feet high,
again st which the waves, being contracted by an
island, ran with violence, and, being thrown back
with a loud noise, flowed rapidly on through a
narrow and unsafe channel.
* This relation agrees with facts, although the mud-
diness of the waters of the Missouri has been found to
be produced by a different cause. "The painted mon
sters," says Stoddard, " on the side of a high perpen
dicular rock, apparently inaccessible to man, between
the Missouri and Illinois, and known to the moderns by
the name of Piesa, still remain in a good degree of
preservation " — History of Louisiana, p. 17.
284 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
The Ouabouskigou came from the eastward,
where the country was thickly inhabited by the
tribe of Chuouanons, a harmless and peaceful
people, much annoyed by the Iroquois, who were
said to capture them as slaves, and kill and
torture them cruelly.
A little above the entrance of this river were
steep banks, in which the boatmen discovered
iron ore, several veins of which were visible,
about a foot in thickness, portions of it adher
ing to the flint-stones ; and also a species of rich
earth, of three different colors, namely, purple,
violet, and red, and a very heavy red sand, some
of which, being laid on an oar, left a stain dur
ing fifteen days. They here first saw tall reeds,
or canes, growing on the shores, and began to
find the maringouins (musquitoes) very trouble
some ; the attacks of which, with the heat of the
weather, obliged the voyagers to construct an
awning of the sails of their canoes.
Shortly afterwards they saw savages armed with
muskets, waiting their approach on the bank of
the river. While the boatmen prepared for a
defence, Father Marquette presented his calumet
and addressed them in Huron, to which they gave
no answer, but made signals to them to land, and
accept some food. They consequently disem-
barjted, and, entering their cabins, were presented
with buffalo's meat, bear's oil, and fine plums.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 285
These savages had guns, hatchets, knives, hoes,
and glass bottles for their gunpowder. They in
formed Father Marquette, that he was within ten
days' journey of the sea ; that they purchased their
goods of Europeans, who came from the east; that
these Europeans had images and beads, played
on many instruments, and were dressed like him
self; and that they had treated them with much
kindness.* As they had no knowledge of Chris
tianity, the worthy Father gave them what in
struction he could, and made them a present of
some medals. Encouraged by the information
received from these savages, the party proceed
ed with renewed ardor on their voyage, between
banks covered with thick forests, that intercepted
their view of the prairies ; in which, however,
they heard at no great distance the bellowing of
buffaloes. They also saw quails upon the shores,
and shot a small parrot.
They had nearly reached the thirty-third de
gree of latitude, steering towards the south, when
they discovered a village on the river's side, called
Metchigamea. The natives, armed with bows
and arrows, clubs, and tomahawks, prepared to
* Channels of trade had been opened with the Span
iards in Florida, and other Europeans in Carolina and
Virginia. Colonel Wood is said to have crossed the
Alleganies from Virginia, in 1670; doubtless for this
object.
286 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
attack them ; some in canoes, trying to intercept
their course, others remaining on shore. Father
Marquette in vain presented his calumet of peace.
They were ready to attack, when the elders,
perceiving at last the calumet, commanded the
young warriors to stop, and, throwing their arms
at the feet of the strangers, as a sign of peace,
entered their canoes, and constrained them to
land, though not without some uneasiness.
As the savages were not acquainted with any
of the six languages spoken by Father Mar
quette, he addressed them by signs, until an old
man was found, who understood a little Illinois.
Through this interpreter, he explained their in
tention of going to the borders of the sea, and
gave the natives some religious instruction. In
reply they answered, that whatever information
he desired might be obtained at Jlkamsca (Ar
kansas), a village ten leagues lower down the
river; and presented them with food. After
passing a night of some anxiety, they embarked
the following morning with their interpreter; a
canoe with ten savages preceding them. About
half a league from Akamsca, they were met by
two canoes full of Indians, the chief of whom
presented his calumet, and conducted them to the
diore, where they were hospitably received and
supplied with provisions. Here they found a
young man well acquainted with the Illinois Ian-
FATHER MARQUETTE. 287
guage, and through him Father Marquette ad
dressed the natives, making them the usual pres
ents, and requesting information from them re
specting the sea. They answered, that it was
within five days' journey of Akamsca, that they
knew nothing of the inhabitants on its borders,
being prevented by their enemies from holding
intercourse with these Europeans ; that their
knives and other weapons wrere purchased part
ly from the eastern nations, and partly from a
tribe of Illinois, four days' journey to the west
ward ; that the armed savages, whom the travel
lers had met, were their enemies ; that they were
continually on the river between that place and
the sea ; and that, if the voyagers proceeded fur
ther, great danger might be apprehended from
them. After this communication, food was of
fered, and the rest of the day was spent in
feasting.
These people were friendly and hospitable, but
poor, although their Indian corn produced three
abundant crops in a year, which Father Mar
quette saw in its different stages of growth. It
was prepared for food in pots, which, with plates
and other utensils, were neatly made of baked
earth by the Indians. Their language was so
very difficult, that Father Marquette despaired of
being able to pronounce a word of it. Their cli
mate in winter* was rainy, but they had no snow,
and the soil was extremely fertile.
288 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
During the evening the old men held a secret
council. Some of them proposed to murder the
strangers, and seize their effects. The chief,
however, overruled this advice, and, sending for
Father Marquette and M. Joliet, invited them to
attend a dance of the calumet, which he after
wards presented to them as a sign of peace.
The good Father and his companion began
now to consider what further course they should
pursue. As it was supposed, that the Gulf of
Mexico extended as far north as thirty-one de
grees and forty minutes,* they believed them
selves not to be more than two or three days'
journey from it ; and it appeared to them certain,
that the Mississippi must empty itself into that
gulf, and not into the sea through Virginia, at the
eastward, because the coast of Virginia was in the
latitude of thirty-four degrees, at which they had
already arrived ; nor yet into the Gulf of California,
at the southwest, because they had found the course
of the river to be invariably south. Being thus
persuaded, that the main object of their expedi
tion was attained ; and considering, moreover, that
they were unable to resist the armed savages,
who infested the lower parts of the river, and
* It is hardly necessary to say, that, although this is
nearly accurate, in regard to the most northerly part
of the Gulf of Mexico, it is an error as to the mouth
of the Mississippi, which is below twenty-nine degrees.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 289
that, should they fall into the hands of the Span
iards, the fruits of their voyage and discoveries
would be lost, they resolved to proceed no fur
ther, and, having informed the natives of their
determination and rested another day, they pre
pared for their return.
After a month's navigation on the Mississippi,
having followed its course from the forty-second
to the thirty-fourth degree of latitude, they left
the village of Akarnsca, on the 17th of July,
to return up the river. They retraced their
way, slowly ascending the stream, until, in about
the thirty-eighth degree of latitude, they turned
into another river (Illinois), which abridged their
route and brought them directly to Lake Elinois
(Michigan). They were struck with the fer
tility of the country through which that river
flowred, the beauty of the forests and prairies,
the variety of the game, and the numerous small
lakes and streams which they saw. The river
was broad and deep, and navigable for sixty-five
leagues, there being, in the season of spring and
part of the summer, only half a league of port
age between its waters and those flowing into
Lake Illinois. On its banks they found a vil
lage, the inhabitants of which received them kind
ly, and, on their departure, extorted a promise
from Father Marque tte to return and instruct
them. One of the chiefs, accompanied by the
VOL. X. 19
290 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
young men, conducted them as far as the Lake ;
whence they proceeded to the Bay of Puans,
where they arrived near the end of September,
having been absent about four months.*
Such is the substance of Father Marquette's
narrative ; and the whole of it accords so remark
ably with the descriptions of subsequent travel
lers, and with the actual features of the country
through which he passed, as to remove every
doubt of its genuineness. The melancholy fate
of the author, which followed soon afterwards, was
probably the reason why his expedition was not
in a more conspicuous manner brought before
the public.
* The following distances have been communicated
by General Wool, Inspector General of the Army of the
United States, who is personally acquainted with the
route, and has had the best means of forming an accu
rate estimate.
Miles.
From Green Bay up Fox River to the portage, . 175
From the portage down the Wisconsin to the Mis
sissippi, 175
From the mouth of the Wisconsin to the mouth of
the Arkansas, 1087
From the Arkansas to the Illinois River, . . 547
From the mouth of the Illinois to Chicago, . 305
From Chicago to Green Bay by the Lake shore, . 260
Total, . . 2549
General Wool observes, that some persons estimate
the route about fifty miles more, but he thinks it will
FATHER MARQUETTE. 291
In addition to this narrative, nothing is known
of Marquette, except what is said of him by
Charlevoix.* After returning from this last ex
pedition, he took up his residence, and pursued
the vocation of a missionary, among the Miamis
in the neighborhood of Chicago. While passing
by water along the eastern shore of Lake Michi
gan towards Michillimackinac, he entered a small
river, on the 18th of May, 1675. Having land
ed, he constructed an altar, performed mass, and
then retired a short distance into the wood, re
questing the two men, who had charge of his
vather fall short than exceed the above result. It would
appear, therefore, that the whole distance, passed over
'jy Marquette and Joliet in this tour, was at least two
^lousand five hundred miles.
Considering the manner in which Father Marquette*
travelled, being conveyed in boats up and down rivers,
through an unknown country, it cannot be supposed that
<iis estimate of distances would be exact, particularly as
he had no means of deciding the velocity with which"
he was carried along by the currents of the streams.
Deceived by the rapid motion of the water, he reckoned
the distance from the portage to the mouth of the Wis
consin to be forty leagues, or one hundred and twenty
miles, whereas General Wool states it to be one hun
dred and seventy-five ; and Mr. Schoolcraft, who as
cended the river, estimates the distance at one hundred
and eighty-two miles from Prairie du Chien to the
portage.
* Histoire de Nouvelle France, Tom. III. p. 314.
292 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
canoe, to leave him alone for half an hour. When
the time had elapsed, the men went to seek for
him and found him dead. They were greatly
surprised, as they had not discovered any symp
toms of illness ; but they remembered, that, when
he was entering the river, he expressed a pre
sentiment that his voyage would end there. To
this day the river retains the name of Marquette.
The place of his grave, near its bank, is still
pointed out to the traveller ; but his remains were
removed the year after his death to Michilli-
mackinac.
The manuscript of Father Marquette, contain
ing the particulars of his voyage, was sent to
France, where it fell into the hands of Thevenot,
who had recently published a large collection of
miscellaneous pieces, entitled, " Relations de di
vers Voyages Curieux" &c. in two large folio
volumes. Having subsequently collected a few
other curious tracts, he gave these to the public,
under the title of " Recueil de Voyages," a small
duodecimo volume, printed at Paris in 1681. In
this work the Narrative of Marquette first ap
peared, under the title of " Decouverte de quel-
ques Pays et Nations de I'Amerique Septcntri-
onale, " accompanied with a map. It occupies
forty-three pages.
A very defective and erroneous translation was
published at London, in 1698, as a supplement to
FATHER MARQUETTE. 293
an edition of Hennepin ; but it was here thrown
into the shade by the pretended discoveries of
that mendacious traveller, who, several years af
ter the death of La Salle, falsely assumed to
himself the merit of having descended the Mis
sissippi to its mouth. Hennepin was never
below the confluence of the Illinois with the
Mississippi. By the order of La Salle, and in
company with M. Dacan, he went down the
former river, and up the latter as high at least
as the Falls of St. Anthony. This was in
1680, seven years after Marquette's expedition.
All the discoveries made by Hennepin were above
the mouth of the Wisconsin. He claimed noth
ing more in the first edition of his work; but,
after La Salle's death, he fabricated the tale of
his voyage down the Mississippi, and mingled so
much falsehood with truth, that it is now difficult
to separate the one from the other. To him
belongs the honor, however, of naming the Falls
of St. Anthony and .the country of Louisiana.
It is said by Charlevoix, * that the name of
Louisiana was given by La Salle, who descend
ed the Mississippi in the year 1682 ; but it is
doubtful whether it can be found in any printed
work before Henne pin's " Description de la
Louisiane, Paris, 1683." This contains a dedi
cation to Louis the Fourteenth, adulatory in the
*Histoiret &c. Tom. I. p. 571.
294 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
extreme, and it is believed the name was given
for the same end. In his second edition, which
was prepared in Holland, he complains of being
neglected by the King of France, and changes
the title of his book to "NouveRe Decouverte d'un
tres Grand Pays situe dans FAmerique, &c.
Utrecht, 1697." To this edition is prefixed a
dedication to William the Third, King of Great
Britain, more laudatory if possible than the one
to Louis. In the Preface he utters bitter invec
tives against his enemies, who, from his own ac
count, were very numerous ; and he endeavors
to explain, by a series of puerile and improbable
statements, the reasons why he did not claim the
discovery of the Mississippi, from the mouth of
the Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico, before the
death of La Salle.
The publications of Hennepin, the descrip
tions of the enterprising adventures and discov
eries of La Salle, and the premature death of
Marquette, were among the principal causes why
the services and the Narrative of the last were
overlooked, and in a measure forgotten. Indeed,
they would hardly have escaped from oblivion,
had not Charlevoix brought them to light, in
his great work on Canada, nearly seventy years
after the events.*
* There is a curious passage relating to this subject
in a volume, entitled "A Description of the English
FATHER MARQUETTE. 295
The narrative itself is written in a terse,
simple, and unpretending style. The author re
lates what occurs, and describes what he sees,
without embellishment or display. He writes as
a scholar, and as a man of careful observation
and practical sense. There is no tendency to
Province of Carolana, by the Spaniards called Florida,
and by the French La Louisiane ; by Daniel Coxe."
This volume was printed at London in 1722, and contains
a full description of the country bordering on the Mis
sissippi. The author's father claimed a large territory
in Louisiana by virtue of a charter, which had been
granted to Sir Robert Heath by King Charles the First.
He endeavors to prove, that the English discovered the
country before the French, and among other proofs ho
adduces the following.
"In the year 1678, a considerable number of persons
went from New England upon discovery, and proceed
ed as far as New Mexico, one hundred and fifty
leagues beyond the river Mississippi ; and at their re
turn rendered an account to the government of Bos
ton, as will be attested, among others, by Colonel
Dudley, then one of the magistrates, afterwards Gov
ernor of New England, and at present Deputy Gov
ernor of the Isle of Wight, under the Honorable the
Lord Cutts. The war soon after breaking out between
the English and the Indians, many of the Indians, who
were in that expedition, retreated to Canada, from
whom Monsieur La Salle received most of his infor
mation concerning that country, by him afterwards
more fully discovered. And they served him for guides
and interpreters, as is attested by Monsieur Le Tonty,
who accompanied Monsieur La Salle; as also by Mon-
296 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
exaggeration, nor any attempt to magnify the
difficulties he had to encounter, or the impor
tance of his discoveries. In every point of
view this tract is one of the most interesting
among those, which illustrate the early history
of America.
sieur Le Clerc, in a book published by order of the
French King." — p. 117.
This extract is from a memorial presented to King
William, in favor of Coxe's claim, in the year 1699.
The Attorney-General reported that Coxe's title was
good in law.
The substance of the above paragraph is repeated
in a pamphlet, published in the year 1762, after the
preliminaries of peace between England and France
had been made known, and entitled " An impartial In
quiry into the Right of the French King to the Ter
ritory west of the Great River Mississippi, in North
America, not ceded by the Preliminaries; including a
Summary Account of the River and the Country adja
cent." It is stated in this pamphlet, that, "in the year
1678, some New England men went on discovery, and
proceeded the whole length of the southern coast of
the continent as far as Mexico; at their return ren
dering an account of their proceedings to the gov
ernment of Boston." — p. 53. How far these state
ments are borne out by other testimony, I have not
had the means of ascertaining; but, if they are cor
rect, the lower waters of the Mississippi were discov
ered and crossed by these adventurers from Massa
chusetts, four years before the river was descended by
La Salle, and five years after the upper waters had
been discovered by Marquette.
FATHER MARQUETTE. 297
Marquette's map, attached to the Narrative
in Thevenot's " Recueil" is unquestionably the
first that was ever published of the Mississippi
River. In this light it is extremely curious ;
but it is also valuable as confirming the gen
uineness of the Narrative. It was impossible
to construct it, without having seen the prin
cipal objects delineated. The five great rivers,
Arkansas, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin,
in regard to their relative positions and general
courses, are placed with a considerable degree
of accuracy. Several names are entered on the
map, which are still retained, and near the
same places, with slight differences in the or
thography. The Wisconsin (or, as the French
write it, Ouisconsin) is written " Missiousing "
in the map. It is " Mescousin " in the Nar
rative, perhaps by a typographical mistake for
'(Mesconsin." The Missouri, it is true, is named
in the Narrative " Pekifanoni" which it may at
that time have been called by the natives ; but
in the map a village is placed on the bank of
that river, called " Oumissouri."
The Ohio River is named " Ouabouquigou"
in which we may see the elements of Ouabache,
which name it retains in all the early French
maps, the river itself being denominated by what
is now regarded as one of its principal branches.
The Arkansas is not named on the map, but
298 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
in the Narrative we are told of the village of
" Akamsca" near the banks of that river, which
is evidently the same name.
To the northward of the Arkansas is a place
on the map called " Metchigamea." The same
name is found to this day on French maps,
applied to a lake very near the same place,
and a little to the northward of the River St.
Francis.
It should be kept in mind, that this map was
published at Paris in the year 1681, and con
sequently the year before the discoveries of La
Salleon the Mississippi, and that no intelligence
respecting the country it represents could then
have been obtained from any source subsequent
ly to the voyage of Marquette. There is a
slight error in the map in regard to the dotted
line marked " Chemin du retour" because the
Narrative is very explicit in stating, that the voy
agers returned up a river, which, from the de
scription given of it, could be no other than
the Illinois. This dotted line, therefore, must
have been a conjectural addition.
M. Joliet separated from Marquette at Green
Bay, and returned to Montreal. In passing the
rapids, just before he reached that city, his ca
noe was overset, and his journal and all his oth
er papers were lost. He dictated a few particu
lars relative to his voyage down the Mississip-
FATHER MARQUETTE. 299
pi, amounting to no more than three or four
pages, which were published, and which agree,
as far as they extend, with Father Marquette's
Narrative.
In Francis de Creux's Historia Canadensis is
a map of Canada, which purports to have been
drawn in 1660. It includes the Island of New
foundland, Nova Scotia, and New England, ex
tending to the westward so far as to take in a
small part of Lakes Superior and Michigan.
The latter is called Lacus Magnus Jllgonqui-
norum. The river St. Lawrence and its branch
es, and the Lakes Ontario, Erie, and Huron, are
well delineated on this map ; but it does not
cover any part of the territory embraced in the
one, which accompanies the Narrative of Mar-
quette. As before said, this map is manifestly
original, and the first that was sketched of the
Mississippi and its great tributary streams.
LIST OF THE LIVES
CONTAINED IN
THE FIRST TEN VOLUMES.
Vol. Page,
Life of John Stark, I. 1
By Edward Everett
Life of Charles Brockden Brown, . I. 117
By William H. Prescott.
Life of Richard Montgomery, . . . I. 181
By John Armstrong.
Life of Ethan Allen, I. 227
By Jared Sparks.
Life of Alexander Wilson, .... II. 1
By William B. O. Peabody.
Life of Captain John Smith, . , .II. 171
By George S, Hillard.
Life and Treason of Benedict Arnold, III. 1
By Jared Sparks.
Life of Anthony Wayne, .... IV. 1
By John Armstrong.
Life of Sir Henry Vane, .... IV. 85
By Charles W. Upham.
Life of John Eliot, V. 1
By Convers Francis.
Life of William Pinkney, .... VI. 1
By Henry Wheaton.
Life of William Ellery, VI. 85
By Edward T. Channin*y.
DD
302 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Vol. Page.
Life of Cotton Mather, VI. 161
By William B. O. Peabody.
Life of Sir William Phips, . . . VII. 1
By Francis Bowen.
Life of Israel Putnam, .... VII. 103
By Oliver W. B. Peabody.
Memoir of Lucretia Maria Davidson, VII. 219
By the Author of "Redwood," &c.
Life of David Rittenhouse, . . . VII. 295
By James Renwick.
Life of Jonathan Edwards, . . . VIII. 1
By Samuel Miller.
Life of David Brainerd, .... VIII. 257
By William B. O. Peabody.
Life of Baron Steuben, .... IX. 1
By Francis Bowen.
Life of Sebastian Cabot, ... IX. 89
By Charles Hayward, Jr.
Life of William Eaton, .... IX. 163
By Cornelius C. Felton.
Life of Robert Fulton, X. 1
By James Renwick.
Life of Joseph Warren, X. 91
By Alexander H. Everett.
Life of Henry Hudson, X. 185
By Henry R. Cleveland.
Life of Father Marquette, .... X. 263
By Jared Sparks.
GENERAL INDEX
TO THE
FIRST TEN VOLUMES.
GENERAL INDEX
TO THE FIRST TEN VOLUMES.
A.
ABERCROMBY, JAMES, Major-General, supersedes Shirley in
command, i. 24. Extent of his command, 36. In the expe
dition against Ticonderoga, 41, vii. 136. Defeated, i. 187,
vu. 139. Forces sent to aid, i. 187. Orders Putnam to
South Bay, vu. 134. His position at the attack on Ticon
deroga, 139.
Abercromby, Captain, accompanies the New Hampshire
rangers to Crown Point, i. 25.
Acadia, successful expedition against, under Phips, vu. 38.
Adams, John, defends Captain Preston, x. 110.
Adams, Samuel, sends an agent to Canada in March, 1775,
i. 270. Situation of, at the Lexington battle, x. 118, 121.
Adderley, a ship-master of Providence, facts respecting, vu.
23.
Afflictions, remarks on, by Sir Henry Vane, iv. 317 ; by
Ellery, vi. 101, 102.
Age, remarks on and views of, vi. 131. Ellery's remarks on,
133.
Aguesseau, M. d', remark of Talon respecting, vi. 67, 68.
Ainsworth, Henry, The Booke of Psalmes in English Metre
by, v. 28.
Alba Regalis, besieged and captured, u. 188.
Albany, Convention at, i. 14. Fulton's first steamboat ex
cursion to, x. 57. Hudson supposed to have anchored near
the present site of, 228.
Albemarle, Duke of, sends out Phips, on a cruise for ship
wrecked treasures, vu. 20.
Algiers, reception of Eaton by the Dey of ix. 182. O'Brien
consul at, 238.
VOL. X. 20
306 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Allen, Ethan, Montgomery's mission of, to Laprairie, i. 201
Captured, 201 Life of, by Jared Sparks, 227. Introduc
tion, 229. His birthplace, connexions, and early history,
230. Notice of his brothers, 230. His emigration to the
New Hampshire Grants, 235. Agent for the inhabitants of
Vermont before the court at Albany, 240. Chosen colonel
in the organized opposition to the New York government,
246. His activity in opposing the sheriffs and constables,
246, 247. Dispossesses New York settlers of their lands,
247. Rewards offered for and by, 248, 265. His views and
justification of his conduct, 249. Excepted in Governor
Tryon's proposition to the Green Mountain Boys, 252.
His remonstrance to the Governor, 252. Collects Green
Mountain Boys and marches towards Ticonderoga, 272.
Appointed commander of the expedition, and has difficulty
with Arnold, 272, vn. 16. Arrives near Ticonderoga, r.
274. Engages Nathan Beman as a guide, 274. Surprises
and captures Ticonderoga in company with Arnold, 275,
r vn. 17. Appointed commander there, i. 279. His ex
pedition and Arnold's to St. John's, 279, 281, vii. 18. Re
turns to Ticonderoga, i. 281. Visits the Continental Con
gress, 289. Visits the New York Provincial Congress, 289.
Admitted to the floor of the House, 291. His return to
Vermont, 291. Conciliatory letter of, to the New York
Congress, 292. Joins Schuyler at Ticonderoga, 292. His
mission, with an address from Schuyler to the Canadians,
293. His return and report to Schuyler, 294. Despatched
again to Canada, 294. Accedes to Brown's project of
attacking Montreal, 296. Surrenders to the British, 297.
Prescott's treatment of, 297. Letter of, to Prescott, 298.
Treatment of, on board the Gaspee, 299. Captain Little-
John's kindness to, 300. Sent to England in charge of
Brook Watson, 300. Treatment of, on shipboard, 301.
His personal appearance on arriving at Pendennis Cas
tle, 302. His treatment and conduct there, 303. His let
ter to Congress, delivered to Lord North, 304. Leni
ent measures of the British ministry towards, 305. His
captors captured, 305. Treatment of, on board the Sole-
GENERAL INDEX. 307
bay frigate, 306, 309, 310; at Cork, 308. Sails from Cork
with the British armament, under Parker and Cornwallis,
309. Arrives at Cape Fear River, 310. Treatment of, on
board the Mercury, 310, 312. Treatment of, at Hali
fax, 312. Meets James Lovell in jail, 314. Not ad
mitted to parole, 314. On the exchange of, 315, 320,
321 . Project for liberating, 315. Treatment of, on board
the Lark frigate, 315. Quells a conspiracy, 317. Ad
mitted to parole in New York, 318 ; witnesses the suffer
ings of American prisoners there, 318. Solicited to join
the British, 319. Imprisoned in New York, 320. Exchange
of, for Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, 321. Repairs to the
Commander-in-chief at Valley Forge, 322. His journey to
Bennington, 323. Proceedings of Congress in regard to,
323. His address, animadverting on Governor Clinton's
proclamation, 327. Appointed general and commander
of the Vermont militia, 333. His mission to Congress,
334. His report to the legislature of Vermont, 336. Pub
lishes a tract in vindication of Vermont, 337. Overtures
to, towards effecting a union of Vermont with Canada,
338. Beverly Robinson's letters to, 338, 344. Writes and
sends Robinson's letters to Congress, 344. His retirement
from public life, 349. Publishes his Reason, the only
Oracle of Man, 349. His religious opinions, 351. His
reprimand of Shays and his associates, 352. His family
353. Remarks on his character, 355.
Allen, Ira, brother of Ethan Allen, i. 230. His History of
Vermont, 231. Shares with his brother in the corre
spondence with the British, 347.
Allen, Levi, brother of Ethan Allen, j. 230. His plan of
liberating his brother at Halifax, 315.
Allen, Solomon, Andre in the charge of, in. 230.
Allouez, Father, a missionary, x. 276.
America, public feeling in England, in John Smith's time,
as to colonizing the coast of, n. 204. First settlement of
the United States of, and reflections thereon, 214. Smith's
interest in, 391. Extent and prevalence of the early interest
in, iv. 93. Character and names of early emigrants to, 94.
308 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Aspinwall's and Rich's collections of books on, v. 214.
The first discovery of the continent of, made by Cabot,
and not by Columbus, ix. 98, 103.
American army. See Army.
American Biography, design of the work, i. i.
American government, poverty of the, in the American
Revolution, 1. 106.
American history, remarks on, iv. 91.
American Philosophical Society, observations on the transit
of Venus by a committee of the, vn. 349. Rittenhouse
secretary of the, 365. Prosperity of the, interrupted, 365.
Amherst, Sir Jeffery, Major-General, distinguished at Louis-
burg, i. 45, 185. Commander-in-chief on the Canada fron
tier, 45. Delayed in his movements, 45. Takes up the
station at Crown Point, 46. Cited respecting Wolfe's move
ments at Louisburg, 186. Goes to aid Abercromby, after his
defeat at Ticonderoga, 187. Reduction of Ticonderoga and
Crown Point by, in 1759, vn. 153. Expedition of, against
Montreal, in 1760, 154.
Amir Khan, a poem, vn. 238, 252, 260, 292.
Amsterdam, New York once called; notice of, vn. 303.
Anderson, James, ministry of, in the first Presbyterian
Church in New York City, vm. 24.
Anderson, John, name assumed by John Andre", in. 162.
Passport given to him, under this assumed name, by Ar
nold, 210.
Andre, John, remarks respecting him, in. 7, Preface. Cor
respondence of, with Mrs. Arnold, 153, 162. Takes the
signature John Anderson, 162. Mission of, to Arnold,
169, 170. Captivity of, at St. John's, 171. Incidents in the
life of, 170. Accomplishments of, 172. Adjutant-General,
173. Various schemes for effecting an interview of, with
Arnold, 175 ; their interview effected, 202; plans matured,
207. Passes in disguise through the American posts, 212.
Capture of, at Tarrytown, 222. Delivered to Jameson, 226.
Papers taken from the boots of, 228. Cow Chase by, 228.
Articles of, claimed by his captors, 230. His letter to
Washington, making known his true character, 235. Let-
GENERAL INDEX. 309
ter of Beverly Robinson respecting, 250. Conducted to
West Point and Tappan, 254, 256. Tallmadge's letter
respecting, 255. His examination by a board of officers,
260. Letter of, to Sir Henry Clinton, 263, 278. Ineffec
tual attempts to procure the release of, 267, 306. Attempt
to secure Arnold in order to his release, 267. Hamilton
cited respecting, 277. His letter to Washington respecting
the mode of his death, 278, 289. Description of his portrait
by himself, 280. His execution, 281. Observations on his
case, 285. Buried, and monument raised to, in West
minster Abbey, 290. Recompense to the captors of, 291.
Smith's Narrative respecting, 297. Case of, compared with
Nathan Hale's, 299. Sir Henry Clinton's communications
to the British ministry respecting, 307. The King's pleas
ure in relation to the family of, 308.
Andros, Sir Edmund, appointed governor-general of New
England, v. 294. Arrival of, in New England, vi. 199, vn.
26. Extortions by, vi. 200. Deposition of, at Boston, 204,
vir. 33. Goes to Virginia, vi. 208. Reliance of, on the ad
vice of Randolph, vu. 27.
Androscoggin, Stark's excursion to the head waters of the,
1.12.
Anne, Queen, Captain Smith's- letter to, respecting Pocahon-
tas. ii. 372.
Annual Register projected, and the first volume edited by
Brown, i. 165.
Antinomian controversy in New England, account of the, iv.
108, 122. Vane's interest in the, 141. Measures for sup
pressing the, 146, 161. Eliot's connexion with the, v. 21.
Aphanasia, a Kamschatkadale, in love with and married to
Count de Bieniewsky, ix. 73.
Arbuthnot, M., Admiral, action of, with Destouches, ix. 64.
Archangel, expedition to, under VVilloughby and Chancellor,
ix. 154.
Archer, Captain, intention of, to abandon the Jamestown col
ony, n. 228. Returns to England, 253. Author of factions
and disturbances, 292. Arrives at Jamestown, 337. Im
prisoned ; plots against the life of Smith, 343.
310 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Argall, Samuel, Captain, arrival of, at Jamestown, n. 331.
Deceived ; makes prisoner of Pocahontas, 368.
Arks on the Ohio River, described, u. 144.
Armine, Lady, donation of, v. 130.
Arminian controversy, vin. 59.
Armstrong, John, General, at the battle of Germantown, iv
27, 30.
Armstrong, John, junior, his Life of Richard Montgomery, i.
183. His pursuit of Arnold, at Behmus's Heights, 117.
His Life of Anthony Wayne, iv. 1.
Army, American, first steps towards the formation of the, x.
124. Character of the first troops of the, 126. Officers of
the, in the French Wars. 127. Scarcity of powder in the,
at the time of Bunker's Hill battle, 138.
Arnold, Benedict, Governor, facts respecting, in. 3.
Arnold, Benedict, General, expedition of, through the wilder
ness of Maine to Quebec ; operations there, and junction
with Montgomery, i. 66, 193, 208, ni. 26, 43. Joined by
Montgomery, i. 208, in. 49. Mutinous conduct of the
troops under, i. 211. His movements at the attack on Que
bec, 213, 214, in. 51. Joins the expedition against Ticon
deroga, i. 273. Opposition to him, 273. His conduct at
Ticonderoga, 278, in. 14. His capture of St. John's, i. 279,
in. 18. Life and Treason of, by Jared Sparks, 1 ; pref
ace to it, 1. Birth and early years of, 3. Begins his mili
tary career, 6, 12. Conduct of, at Quebec, in the winter of
1775-6,52. Treatment of, by Congress, 53, 85, 91, 108.
His efforts after the catastrophe at the Cedars, 56. Dif
ficulty with, as to the seizure of goods at Montreal, 66. His
quarrel with Major Brown, at Quebec, 70, 93. Commander
of a fleet on Lake Champlain, 73. Naval combat under, 76.
Escape of, to Crown Point, 79. Joins Washington, and is
stationed in Rhode Island, 83. Superseded in rank, 85, 91.
Complains of injustice, ingratitude, and ill treatment, 86,
149. Bravery of, in the affair at Danbury, 89. Grudgingly
appointed major-general, 91. Difficulties of, with Con
gress, on visiting them, 92, 148. Commands at Philadel
phia, 97. Joins the northern army, 100. Commands an
GENERAL INDEX. 311
expedition to Fort Schuyler, 108. Rejoins the main army
on the Hudson, 112. Conduct of, in the battles with Bur-
goyne, 113, 117, 329. Serious difficulty of, with Gates,
114. Rank restored to, 119. Epaulettes and a sword-knot
presented to, 120. Takes command at Philadelphia, 121.
Proposes joining the navy, 123. His lively interest in Gen
eral Warren's children, 126, 128. Charges against him by
the Council of Pennsylvania, 129. His plan for a settle
ment in the western part of New York, 134. Trial of, by a
court-martial, 138. His first ideas of betraying his coun
try, 145, 151. His expensive style of living, and pecuniary
embarrassments, 146. Application of, to the French am
bassador, 148. Marriage of, to Miss Shippen, 152. He
obtains the command at West Point, 154, 164. Assumes
the name Gustavus, 162. Progress of his conspiracy, on
the part of the British commander, 162. Corresponds
under an assumed name, 162. Various schemes for effect
ing an interview of, with Andre, 175 ; their interview
effected, 202 ; plans of, matured, 207. Account of his pass
port to John Anderson, 210. Escape of, from West Point,
241, 247, 248. Detection of his treason, 246. Letter of, to
Washington, 249. Project for recovering, with a view to
release Andre, 267, 270. Letter of, to Washington, to pro
cure Andre's release, 273. Recompensed by Clinton, 309.
His Address to the Inhabitants of America, 309. Procla
mation by, 312. Further conduct of, in New York, 314.
Expedition of, against Virginia, and projects for seizing,
318, ix. 54, 61 ; against New London, in. 324. Sails for
England, 327. Subsequent history of, 328. Treatment of,
in England, 331, 334. His residence at St. John's, 332 ; in
the West Indies, 334. Death of, 335. Anecdote of Steu-
ben respecting a soldier named, ix. 48.
Arnold, Hannah, in. 10, 11.
Arnold, Mrs., daughter of Edward Shippen, in. 152, 153.
Correspondence of, with Andre, 153, 162. Joins her hus
band at West Point, 191, 248. Struck with horror at the
intelligence of the conspiracy, 241,247. Hamilton cited
312 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
respecting, 247 Arnold's solicitations of Washington re
specting, 249. Courtesy to, 298.
Aspinwall, Thomas, the library of, v. 214.
Association, the principle of, recommended by Cotton Math
er, vi. 178; the consequence, 179.
Astronomy, historical observations on, vii. 298. Instruments
for, 301.
Atherton, Humphrey, Major, administers the affairs of the In
dians at Natick, v. 208.
Auckland, Lord, on a commission to treat with American
Plenipotentiaries, vi. 22.
Audubon, commencement of his ornithological career, n. 42.
B.
Bacon, Lord, remark of, on reading, conversation, and writing,
vm. 41.
Badajos, Cabot chief member of the council at, ix. 114.
Bainbridge, William, Captain, arrival of, at Tunis, ix. 255.
Disapproves Eaton's project respecting Hamet, 272.
Baker, Remember, Captain of the Green Mountain Boys, i.
246. At the capture of Crown Point, 278.
Baker's River, Stark's excursion to, i. 7.
Baldwin, Captain, a veteran killed at Bunker's Hill, i. 62, 64.
Baldwin, Ebenezer, cited in relation to Andre's miniature, in
280.
Balloons, on the navigation of, x. 32.
Baltimore Oriole, remarks on the nests of the, n. 50.
Baptism, Brainerd's mode of administering to the Indian con
verts, vm. 334.
Barbary, Captain Smith's voyage to, n. 203.
Barentz, discovery of Spitzbergen by, x. 194.
Barron, Samuel, Captain, disapproves Eaton's measures re
specting Hamet, ix. 272. Commander-in-chief of the ex
pedition against the Bashaw, 291.
Barton, Thomas, intimacy of Rittenhouse with, vii. 313.
Professor at the College of Philadelphia, 315. Obnoxious
in the Revolution. 374, Death of, 375.
GENERAL INDEX. 313
Bartram, John, Linnoens's commendation of, 11. 42, 43.
Bartram, William, a botanist and ornithologist, n. 44. Assists
Wilson, 57. Wilson states his plan of an American Orni
thology to, 67 ; sympathizes with him in an affliction, 69.
Wilson's obligations to, 100. His project of a western ex
cursion with Wilson, 104.
Baum, a Hessian colonel, detached by Burgoyne, i. 82. Or
ders to, 82. His favorable position, 84. Driven from the
field, 86. Reinforced by Breyman, 87. Rallies, 87. Routed,
89. Mortally wounded and made prisoner, 89.
Baxter, Richard, his Call to the Unconverted translated into
Indian, v. 243. His opinion of Eliot's labors, 337.
Bayly, Lewis, notice of the Practice of Piety by, and its
translation into the Indian language, v. 244.
Beaumarchais, M. de, ix. 15. Aids Steuben to go to Amer
ica, 16.
Behmus's Heights, battles of, HI. 113, 117.
Beman, JNathan, guide of Ethan Allen's expedition to Ticon-
deroga, i. 274, 276.
Bennington, Stark's arrival at, i. 82. Preparations for the
battle of, 83. Situation of the forces at, before the action,
84. Plan for the attack, 85. Baum routed at, 86. Arrival
of Breyman and of Warner, 87. Second rout at, 89. Loss
at, 89. Remarks on the battle of, 90 ; the important con
sequences of it, 92. Trophies of the battle of, 93, 95. Fur
ther remarks and anecdotes in relation to the battle of, 97.
Stark's reply to an invitation to a celebration at, 114. Ethan
Allen and his brothers settlers of, 235. Organization in, to
defend property against claimants from New York, 242.
Rejoicings at, upon the return of the Green Mountain Boys'
delegates from New York, 255. Punishment of an Arling
ton doctor in, 261. Reception of Allen at, on his return
from captivity, 323.
Berkshire County, militia of, join Stark at Bennington, i. 84.
Anecdote respecting a clergyman from, 97.
Bermuda, memorial from the inhabitants of, to Congress, and
tiie disposition of it. vi. 111.
EE
314 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Bible, the Indian, the first ever printed in America, v. 226.
See Indian Bible.
Biddle, Richard, life of Cabot by, ix. 92.
Bieniewsky, Count de, romantic history of, ix. 72. Proposi
tion of, to Congress, 74. Fate of, 75.
Billet, Robert, appointed mate by Henry Hudson in place of
Robert Juet, x. 242.
Birds, observations on the periodical migration of, n. 47, 82.
Their provision for their wants. 48. Habits of, in making
nests, 50. Their means of security and defence, 52.
Their voice and powers of song, 54. Fascination of, by
serpents, 61. See Ornithology.
Blackbird, value of the redwinged, n. 76.
Blackstone's Commentaries, popularity and sale of, in Ameri
ca, vi. 6.
Blake, Admiral in the naval war against Holland, iv. 231.
Action of, with Van Tromp, 232. Defeated, 233. Beats
the Dutch, 234.
Blanchard, Colonel of a New Hampshire regiment in the
Seven Years' War, 1. 15. Stationed at Fort Edward, 15.
Block Island, Governor Vane's visit to, iv. 120.
Bloody Pond, i. 22.
Bluejay, Wilson's experiments with the, n. 81.
Boarding schools, remarks on, vii. 267.
Bonaparte, remark of, at Marengo, i. 213.
Boscawen, Admiral of the expedition against Louisburg, i.
185.
Boston, evacuation of, by the British troops, i. 67, vii. 180,
182. Proceedings at, respecting Sir Henry Vane's election
as governor, iv. 144. Respect shewn to Vane there, at the
time of his embarkation for England, 157. Indians re
moved to islands in the harbour of, v. 277, 281, 283, 285.
Proceedings in, against Sir Edmund Andros, vi. 204, vii.
33. Reception of Governor Phips at, on his arrival from
England, 77. Arrival of Sir Francis Wheeler at, with
troops, 90. Situation and character of the American troops
in the vicinity of, in the spring of 1775, 165, x. 124,
126, 138. Putnam's removal of cattle from islands in the
GENERAL INDEX. 315
harbor of, vii. 166. Plan for attacking, 180. Riot in, on
the 5th of March, 1770, x. 108, 109. Difficulty of procuring
accommodations there, for the troops in 1770, 109. The
scene from, at the action on Bunker's Hill, 155.
Bougainville, detached against Wolfe, i. 221.
Bowen, Francis, his Life of Sir William Phips, vii. 1 ; of
Baron Steuben, ix. 1.
Boyd, Captain, interview of Smith and Andre with, in. 214.
Boyle, Robert, befriends the Society for the Propagation of
the Gospel in New England, v. 135 ; Governor of it, 137.
Correspondence of, with Eliot, 137. Eliot's letter to, re
specting his Indian Grammar, 250. Information gathered
from Eliot's letters to, 289.
Boylston, Zabdiel, introduces inoculation into America, vi.
314. His self-defence, 315. Elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society, 326.
Braddock, Edward, General, his arrival in America; call of
a convention of governors ; expedition and defeat, i. 38
185, vii. 112,113,115.
Bradford, Samuel F., n. 109. Engages to publish Wilson's
Ornithology, 110.
Bradstreet, Simon, Governor of Massachusetts, return of, to
office, vii. 34. Phips's offer of services to, 34. His in
structions to Phips respecting an expedition to Port Royal,
41. Orders him to restore plunder to M. de Meneval, 47.
Resignation of, 78.
Brainerd, David, his connexion with Yale College, and his
expulsion, vm. 89, 94, 271, 274. Jonathan Edwards's in
timacy with him, and hospitality to him, 89, 94, 361. Life
and account of, by Edwards, 95, 223, 361. Naturally in
clined to melancholy, 96. Life of, by William B. O.
Peabody, 257. Sources of information respecting, 259.
Peculiar character of, 261. Birth and parentage of, 262.
Circumstances of his childhood, 263. Mental sufferings of,
269. His conversion, 270. His preparation for the minis
try, 275. His appointment as a missionary to the Indians,
279. Sent to Kanaumeek, 284. His manner of life, 285
291. Fails to regain his standing at New Haven, 287
316 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
His charities, 294, 321. Refuses invitations to settle m
the ministry, 299. His parting from the Indians at Kan-
aumeek, 301. Goes to Delaware, 305. Ordained, 306.
Journeys to New England, 311 ; to the Susquehanna
River, 312 ; to the East, 313; to Philadelphia, 316; to the
Susquehanna, 317. His sufferings on the way, 317. Orig
inal letter of, 319. His preaching at Crossweeksung, 328.
His enforcing the marriage law, 333. His mode of ad
ministering baptism, 334. At an Indian festival on the
island Juneauta, 338. Relieves the Indians from debt,
345. His last visit to the Susquehanna Indians, 350, 352.
His removal to Cranberry, 354. Carried by Indians to ad
minister the Lord's Supper, 355. Sickness of, at Elizabeth-
town, 356. His farewell to the Indians, 359. Succeeded
by his brother, 359. His journey to Northampton, 361.
Visits Boston with Miss Edwards, 363. Returns to North
ampton, 368. His death, 369.
Brandy wine, battle of the, iv. 17.
Breckenridge, James, exploit of the Green Mountain Boys at
the house of, i. 244.
Breed's Hill, particulars of the action on, i. 57, vii. 171, x.
144. Described, vn. 169, x. 140. Putnam's connexion
with the action on, vn. 169. Want of powder in the action
on, x. 138. See Bunker's Hill.
Brewer, Colonel, wounded at the Bunker's Hill battle, x. 169.
Breyman, Colonel, despatched to reinforce Baum, I. 84.
Arrives to his aid, 87. Routed, 89.
Bridge, Colonel, at Bunker's Hill battle, x. 140. Wounded,
175.
Bridgewater, Duke of, Fulton's acquaintance with, x. 17.
Father of inland navigation in England, 17.
British army, Washington's pursuit of the, across the Jer
seys, iv. 37. Character of the, in Boston in 1775, x. 134.
British ministrv, lenient measures of the, towards Ethan
Allen, i. 305. Their expectations of a union between
Vermont and Canada, 348. Sentiments of, respecting
Arnold's defection, m. 316,
GENERAL INDEX. 317
Broadstreet, Colonel, success of, against Fort Frontenac, i.
43.
Brooks, John, Major, despatched from Bunker s Hill to
Cambridge, i. 58 Stratagem suggested by, m. 110. At
the battle of Bunker's Hill, x. 129,140.142. His recon
noitring the enemy, 142.
Brown, Charles Brockden, Life of, by William H. Prescott,
i 117. Introduction, 119. His origin and birthplace,
121. His early studious propensities, 121. Placed under
the tuition of Robert Proud, 122. Fondness of, for soli
tude, 122, 126. His first poetical attempts, 123. Com
mences the study of law, 125. Bad consequences of his
abandoning it, 128. His Rights of Women, 129, 134. His
despondency, 129. His resources for dissipating melan
choly, 132. Establishes himself in New-York, 133. His
Wieland, 134. His Ormond, 146. Sickens with the yel
low fever, 149. His Arthur Mervyn, 149. Editor of the
Monthly Magazine and American Review, 151. His
Edgar Huntly, 151. Compared with Cooper, 159. Second
part of his Arthur Mervyn, 160. His rapidity in com
position, 160. His Clara Howard and Jane Talbot, 162.
Returns to Philadelphia, 163. Marries Elizabeth Linn,
165. Edits the Annual Register, 165. Various writ
ings by, 166. Journeys, 168. Letter of, indicating a life of
disease, 169. His sufferings and death, 170. His writings,
174. His admiration of Godwin, 176. Remarks on his
style, 177. His peculiar merits, 179.
Brown, Major, repulsed at St. John's, i. 198. Gets possession
of Chamblee, 202. Moves against Ticonderoga, 271. His
project of attacking Montreal, 296. Quarrel of, with Ar
nold, m. 70, 93.
Buckminster, Colonel, wounded at Bunker's Hill battle, x.
169.
Buffon, Count, his libel on the woodpecker repelled by Wil
son, ii. 29. Wilson ridicules the credulity of, 84.
Bunker's Hill, Wilson's enthusiasm on visiting, n. 120. De
scribed, vii. 168, 169. Fortified, 170, 171. Battle of, x.
144-177. See Breed's Hill.
ET, O
Hi >-•
318 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Burgoyne, General, his purpose of effecting a junction with
Sir William Howe, i. 75. Washington's anticipations re
specting, 75. Character of his army, 76. Detaches Colonel
Baum, 82. Effects of the battle of Bennington on his situ
ation, 92. Stark puts his army in the rear of, 100. Ad
vance of, to St. John's, in. 62 ; towards Albany, 98. Battles
with, 113. Notices of the surrender of, by Ellery, vi. 118.
Burke, Edmund, on the study of law in America, vi. 6.
Burnet, Gilbert, on Sir Henry Vane's religious principles, iv.
203.
Burns, Robert, Alexander Wilson compared to, n. 15, 21, 25.
Wilson's interview with, 20.
Burr, Aaron, President of New Jersey College, vm. 133.
Death of, 144, 159.
Burr, Aaron, Vice-President of the United States, parentage
of, vm. 165. Eaton's deposition at the trial of, ix. 175, 343.
Burr, Esther, wife of President Burr, vm. 133, 144. Her
sickness and death, 161, 162, 165.
Burroughs, John, tried for witchcraft, vi. 228, 243. Execu
tion of, 244.
Bushnell, David, boat invented by, vn. 184.
Butler, Adjutant- General, Eaton's altercation with, ix. 172.
Button, Thomas, Captain, sent out to find Hudson, x. 261.
C.
Cabot, John, ix. 94. Henry the Seventh grants a patent to,
and to his sons, 96. Second patent granted to him and his
deputies, 100, 101. Death of, 101. Errors in regard to the
knighting of, 143.
Cabot, Sebastian, 11. 214. Life of, by Charles Hayward, Jun.?
vn. 89. Preface, 91. Birth and youth of, 94. Patent to,
with his father and two brothers, 96. Discovers the Amer
ican continent earlier than Columbus, 98, 103. Penetrates
Hudson's Bay, 99, 112. Returns to England, 100. His
second voyage, 101, 102. Fate of his papers and maps, 102,
107. Attempts to colonize Labrador, 102. Injustice shown
GENERAL INDEX. 319
to, upon his return to England, 103. Invited to Spain, 308.
Member of the Council of the Indies, 109. Appointed to
command an expedition, 109. Jealousies respecting, 110.
Pilot-Major of Spain, 113. Captain- General in the Molucca
trade, 115. Sails on his expedition, 118, 119. Quells the
mutiny of Mendez and the Rojas, 121. Enters the La
Plata, 122. Contest with the natives, 125. His mission to
Charles the Fifth, to counteract the calumnies of Garcia,
129. His return to Spain, and reception, 134, 135. Re
turns to England, 139. Charles the Fifth demands the re
turn of, to Spain, 140. Pension granted to, 141. Errors in
regard to the knighting of, 143. Observes the magnetic
variation, 14G. Consulted respecting the English com
merce, 148. Edward's gift to, 150. Expedition to the
North projected by, 150 ; instructions for it, 151; its fate,
153. Governor of a chartered company for trade with Rus
sia, 155. Change in the fortune of, 157. Treatment of, in
regard to his pension, 158, 100. His death, 161.
Calef, Robert, vi. 239. Book of, burnt in Harvard College
yard, 240. Hostility of Cotton Mather to, 241, 259. In
fluence of his writings on witchcraft, 242.
Callender, John, Captain, conduct of, at Bunker's Hill battle,
x. 163. Tried and dismissed, 165. Subsequent bravery of,
105.
Calvin, John, vin. 199. Hoyle cited respecting, 200.
Cambridge, New England, synod at, in 1637, v. 22; in 1647,
90. State, character, and number of the troops at, in the
spring of 1775, vn. 165, x. 124, 126, 127, 138.
Canada, evacuation of, in 1776, i. 68. Plan for operations
against, in 1775, 193. Expedition undertaken against, 287.
Scheme for uniting Vermont to, 338 ; Allen's letter respect
ing the union, 345. Retreat from, iv. 12. Expedition
against, under Phips, vn. 50. Difficulties in consequence
of its failure, 68. Project against, in 1693, 90. Effects of
the cession of, to Great Britain, by the French, x. 102.
Canadians, an armed corps of, raised by James Livingston, I.
201. Schuyler's address to the, 292.
320 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Canals, in England, improvements in, by the Duke of Bridge
water, x. 18 •; by Fulton, 23.
Carleton, Sir Guy, at Montreal, i. 194, 196. His forces, 202.
His project of attacking Montgomery, 202. Escapes to
Quebec in a boat, 205. Wolfe's quartermaster-general,
207. Respect shown by, to Montgomery's remains, 214.
Kind treatment of prisoners by, in. 54. Sends General
Montgomery's watch to his wife, 54. Takes possession of
Crown Point, and retires to Canada, 83.
Cathcart, James L., United States Consul at Tripoli, ix. 181.
Leaves Eaton at Tunis, and sails for Tripoli, 206. Leaves
Tripoli, 241. Eaton's correspondence with, in America,
355.
Caverns, Wilson's visit to the western, described, u. 154.
Cedars, catastrophe at the, in. 56.
Chad's Ford, committed to the charge of Wayne, iv. 18.
Chalmers, Dr., cited, vin. 171, 219.
Chamblee, forces at, i. 196. Captured, 202.
Champlain, Lake, British fleet on, i. 341. Arnold commander
of a fleet on, in. 73. Naval combat on, 76.
Chancellor, Richard, second in command in an expedition to
Russia, ix. 150. Arrival of, at Archangel, 154. Visits the
emperor at Moscow, 155.
Channing, Edward T., Life of William Ellery by, vi. 86.
Charles the First, quarrel of, witli the Parliament, 11. 220.
Treaty with, 227. Execution of, and Sir Henrv Vane's op
position to it, 228, 230. Reflections on his death, 382, 383,
386.
Charles the Second, restored, iv*. 298. Peculiar attitude sus
tained by, to Vane, 334, 342; letter of, respecting him, 336
Effect of Vane's death on, 371. Dedication of Eliot's In
dian Bible to, v. 220, 223 ; copy of it sent to him, 221, 222.
Charles the Fifth, ix. 110. Appoints Cabot pilot-major, 113.
Favors Cabot's expedition to South America, 131 ; disap
points him, 132. Demands the return of Cabot from Eng
land, 140. Approves Blasco de Garay's project of a steam
boat, x. 37.
Charlestown, vii. 169, x. 140. Burnt, 168. See Breed's Hill
GENERAL INDEX. 321
Charter, the Massachusetts, surrender of, demanded by
Charles the Second, vi. 200. Mather's efforts to obtain the
restoration of the, 207, 208, vn. 28, 71. Effects of the for
feiture of it, 26. Further negotiations for the renewal of
the, 71, 74. Remarks on the new one, 74. Its extent, 77.
Chase, Samuel, vi. 5.
Chesapeake Bay, explored by Captain Smith, n. 256, 277.
Smith's map of, 277, 293. Hudson's arrival at the, x. 216.
Chesapeake frigate, attack on the, vi. 25, 27.
Christian Commonwealth, by Eliot, v. 210. Its scarcity, 214
Christianity, Brown's testimony to the value of, i. 164.
Vane's description of, iv. 306. Unwillingness of Uncas and
other Indians to have it introduced among them, 156. See
Religion.
Church, Benjamin, Captain, cited, v. 290. Marches to Pe-
nobscot, and burns Taconet, vii. 88.
Clarendon, Lord, on the character of Sir Henry Vane, iv. 176,
202, 204, 221 ; on Vane's speech, 225. Decision of, in rela
tion to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New
England, v. 136.
Clergy, iv. 115. Their influence, 124. Jealous of Anne
Hutchinson, 124, 125. Influence of, 387, vi. 167, 200.
Dudley declines consulting them, 283. Exertions of the,
respecting inoculation, 314. Observations on poverty among
the, vin. 207.
Cleveland, Henry R., Life of Henry Hudson by, x. 187.
Cleveland, British General, error committed by, at Bunker's
Hill battle, x. 154.
Cleveland, Marquis of, iv. 378.
Clinton, George, ^Governor of New York, i. 325. Ethan Al
len's reply to, 327.
Clinton, Sir Henry, project of, to attack the French at New
port, in. 158. Arnold's treasonable advances to, 162. Pro
gress of the conspiracy on the part of, 162. Andre's letter
to, after his condemnation, 263, 271. Washington's mes
sage to, 265, 271. His statements respecting Andre, 288.
Narrative of Arnold's plot communicated to the British
ministry by, 307. Successor of Sir William Howe? iv. 36.
VOL. X. 21
322 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Evacuation of Philadelphia by, 37. At the battle of Mon
mouth, 40. In the action on Long Island, vii. 186. Put
nam's letter to, respecting a spy, 200. Makes an excursion
into New Jersey, 201 ; to Forts Clinton and Montgomery,
202.
Clinton, Fort, vii. 203.
Cochran, Colonel, Steuben's sympathy with the family of, ix
76.
Cod, Cape, arrival of Hudson at, x. 214. Remarks in relation
to the discovery of, 215, 216.
Cohannet, situation of, v. 180. Jealousy among the Indians
at, respecting Eliot, 181.
Coke, Roger, on the character of the Long Parliament, iv
245.
Colman, Benjamin, writes respecting inoculation, vi. 318
Cited, 341.
Colonies, want of political concert among the, in the French
wars, i. 11. Project for a union among them, 14.
Commerce, English, state of, in 1551, ix. 147. Improvement
of, in consequence of Cabot's advice, 156.
Commercial treaty in 1815, vi. 51.
Concord, measures for improvement among the Indians at, v
83.
Concord and Lexington battle, detailed account of the, i. 55
x. 117.
Congregational principle, remarks on the, vi. 185.
Congregationalism, designs against, vi. 201. Remarks on,
vnr. 112.
Congress, Continental, proceedings of, in relation to General
Stark, i. 81 , 96. Appoints officers, 192. Provision of, for
the maintenance of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, 282.
Allen's letter to, from Pendennis Castle, 305. Grants made
to Ethan Allen by, 323. In regard to the independence of
Vermont, 334, 336. Allen sends Beverly Robinson's letters
to, 344. Treatment of Arnold by, in regard to rank, in. 22,
53, 85, 91, 98, 119. Sends a committee to the army in
Canada, 61. Gold medal voted to Wayne by, iv. 47. Res
olutions of, for the promotion of religion and morals, vi. 104
GENERAL INDEX. 323
Responsibility of a delegate to, 108. Discussion in, as to a
petition from the inhabitants of Bermuda, 111; as to the
right of the Rhode Island delegates to seats in, 113. Baron
Steuben's interview with a committee of, ix. 19. Count de
Bieniewsky's proposition to, 74.
Connecticut, troops raised by, in 1758, i. 36. Its charter,
232. Prisoners taken at Ticonderoga sent to, 277. Move
ments in, after the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown
Point, 281, 282; after the battle of Lexington, in. 12.
Constitution, first proposal for a written, iv. 250, 255. De
fined and described, 251. Reported by Vane, 295.
Conventions and Committees, early adoption of the plan of,
in Vermont, i. 332.
Converse, Captain, his brave defence of Wells, vn. 86. De
feats a party of Indians, 91. Excursion of, 91.
Cops Hill, battery on, x. 135. Americans annoyed from,
144.
Corey, Giles, pressed to death for witchcraft, vi. 231.
Cornwallis, Earl, Stark's anticipations respecting his surren
der, i. 110. His armament against .North Carolina, 306.
Movements of, at the battle of Brandywine, iv. 18. Move
ments against, in Virginia, 57. Omission of, to pursue La
fayette, 60. Takes post at Yorktown, and surrenders, 61,
82, ix. 68.
Coronation of Powhatan, n. 285.
Cotton. John, of Boston, a supporter of Anne Hutchinson, iv.
136, 142. Vane presents his estate in Boston to, 158.
Cotton, John, of Plymouth, aids Eliot on the second edition of
the Indian Bible, v. 231.
Cowbird, Wilson's experiment with the, n. 81.
Cowboys, described, in. 219.
Coxe, Daniel, citation from, respecting the discovery of the
Mississippi by New Englanders, x. 295.
Cranberry, removal of Indians to, viu. 348. Brainerd re
moves to, 354.
Cranfield, Edward, Governor of New Hampshire, opposition
to his taxing the people, vii. 164.
Creux, Francis de, map in his " Historia Canadensis," x. 299.
324 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Cromwell, Oliver, iv. 222, 224. Quietness of, at the execu
tion of Charles the First, 229. Prevails on Vane to be a
member of the Council, 230. His treasonable ambition,
237. His dispersion of the Parliament, 241. His religious
professions, 247. The fast proclaimed by, and its conse
quences, 248, 250, 256. Reproved in Vane's " Healing
Question," 250, 264, 270. Persecutes Vane, 276 ; impris
ons him, 279. Character of, 279. His death, 286, 288.
Succeeded by his son, 287, 288. Vane's remarks on, 293.
Cromwell, Richard, succeeds his father, iv. 287, 288. New
Parliament summoned on the accession of, 288. Vane's
opposition to, 292, 293. Abdicates the protectorate, 294.
Crossweeksung, Brainerd's preaching at, vm. 328, 344.
Change in the character of the Indians at, 347. Removal
of the Indians from, 348.
Crow, consequences of the destruction of the, in Virginia, ir.
46. Remarks on the, 54.
Crown Point, expedition against, in 1755, i. 14, vn. 113. Sir
Jeffery Amherst stationed at, i. 46. Road opened from, to
N-umber Four, 46. Taken by Colonel Warner, 277. Meas
ures for the maintenance of, 282. Sullivan retreats to, in.
63. Abandoned, 64. Taken possession of by Carleton, 83
Expedition against, vii. 133, 153.
Cryrn-Tartars, Captain John Smith's account of the, n. 199.
Cuba, expedition against, i. 188, vii. 156. Loss sustained by
the British army there, i. 188. A portion of, surrenders to
Albemarle and Pococke, 189.
Cutshamakin, an Indian sachem, treaty with, v. 71. Con
verted, 72. Anecdote of discipline in his family. 72. His
opposition to the settlement at Natick, 74. Anecdote in
relation to the wife of, pertaining to the Sabbath, 95.
Measures taken by, to apprehend murderers, 114. Sub
jects of, at Martha's Vineyard, 127. Misconduct of, 171,
172. His death, 181.
Cuyler, Hanyost, stratagem of, in. 11(5.
GENERAL INDEX. 325
D.
Dale, Richard, Commodore, despatched with a squadron to
the Mediterranean, ix. 251. Arrival of, at Tunis, 255.
Dallas, Alexander James, Pinkney's tribute to, vi. 37.
Dalzell, Captain, vn. 143. Bravery of, at the time of Put
nam's captivity by the Indians, 144. Death of, at Detroit
158.
Danbury, British expedition to, in. 89.
Davenport, James, vin. 78.
Davidson, Lucretia Maria, Life of, by the author of "Red
wood," vn. 219. Her birth and parentage, 223. Her
humanity, 227. At a celebration of Washington's birth-
night, 223. Her reading, 231. Instance of her filial affec
tion, 234. Her habits of composition, 237. Her " Amir
Khan," 238, 252, 260. Visits Canada, 239. Her study of
the Scriptures, 242. Resumes her literary pursuits, 250
Her visits to Canada, 251, 252. Describes her return to
Plattsburg on the Fourth of July, 253. Religious stanzas
by, 257. Becomes acquainted with her patron, 262, 263.
A pupil at Mrs. Willard's Seminary at Troy, 263. Stan
zas to her mother, 264. Extracts from her letters, 265. 266,
274. Kindness of her patron, and her gratitude, 266, 267
271, 273, 289. Her sufferings from the dread of public
examination, 269, 271, 274 ; her stanzas respecting it, 275.
Perilous situation of, from ice, 277. Mrs. Willard's ac
count of, 279. Her paintings. 281. Her return to Platts
burg, 283. Returns to Albany, 285, 286. Extract from
her letter to her sister in Canada, 285. Sick, 287. Vis
ited by her mother, 287, 288. Number and extent of
her poetical writings, 291. Her death, 291. Tribute to her
memory by her sister, 293.
Davidson, Margaret, mother of Lucretia Maria Davidson, vn.
223. Stanzas to, by her daughter, 264. Visits her daugh
ter in Albany, 288.
Davis, John, cited respecting Eliot's Letter to Governor
Prince, v. 268.
FF
326 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Deane, Silas, endeavors to induce Baron Steuben to go to
America, ix. 15.
Dearborn, Henry, in the action at Bunker's Hill, 1.56, x. 128.
In Arnold's Expedition, i. 67.
Death, Vane's Meditations on, iv. 312.
Declaration of Independence, made known at Ticonderoga,
i. 69. On the signing of the, by the members in Congress,
vi. 107.
Deer Island, removal of Indians to, v. 277, 281, 283.
Defiance, Fort, built by Wayne, iv. 75.
Delaplace, Captain, at Ticonderoga, i. 275. Surprised and
captured, 276. Allen's treatment of, 298.
Delaware, Lord, n. 332. Captain-general of the Virginia
colony, 335. Sails from England, 336.
Delaware Bay, examined by Hudson, x. 217.
Democracy, distinction between a republic and, iv. 251.
Democratic Societies, organization of, vii. 392.
Denmark, Eaton takes charge of the affairs of, at Tunis, is.
226. Tunis declares war against, 226. Eaton's disinterest
ed conduct in regard to vessels of, 228.
Derne, arrival of Eaton at, with troops, ix. 319. Battles
with the troops stationed at, 320. Captured, 321. Subse
quent events at, 324. Evacuated, 328.
Destouches, Chevalier, detaches ships of war to the Chesa
peake, ix. 61. Sails for the Chesapeake, 62. Action of,
with the British, 64.
Dieskau, the Baron, i. 15. His movements against the
American army, 16. Mortally wounded and captured, 21,
vn. 115, x. 128.
Dorchester Heights taken possession of, vn. 180.
Douglass, William, opposition of, to inoculation, vi. 314, 322.
Drums, people summoned to public worship by, v. 176.
Dudley, Governor, vi. 282. Hostility of the Mathers to, 285,
288, 293. Cotton Mather's letter to, 288 ; his answer, 291.
His arrest of Phips, vn. 98.
Duelling, remarks on, by Eaton, ix. 353.
Dummer, Jort, the early jurisdiction of, i. 233.
GENERAL INDEX. 327
Duncan, William, n. 34. Wilson's advice to, 36. Wilson's
correspondence with, 98, 161.
Dumnore, Lord, complaints made to, against the Green
Mountain Boys, i. 244.
Dunster, Henry, President of Harvard College, v. 28. Sits
in judgment on an Indian, 94.
Dunion, John, notice of Eliot and his labors by, v. 295.
Duponceau, Peter S., ix. 15. Arrival of, in America, 16.
Secretary of Baron Steuben, 20, 36. Cited, 41.
Duquesne, Fort, Braddock's expedition against, vn. 113.
Durkee, Robert, vn. 118. Burned to death, 118. Bravery
of, at South Bay, 135.
Dutch, early possessions of the, in America, vn. 303. Early
trading of, in Hudson's River, x. 232. See Slake.
Dutch East India Company, x. 209. Send Hudson on a
voyage of discovery, in 1609, 210.
D wight, Timothy, cited, HI. 304, vn. 217.
E.
Eagle, habits of the, n. 49.
Eastman, Amos, surprised by Indians, i. 7. Captured, 8.
Sent to St. Francis, 9. Runs the gantlet, 9. Redeemed,
10.
Easton, James, Colonel, opposes the British fleet at the
mouth of the Sorel, i. 205. Movement of, against Ticonde-
roga, 271.
Eaton, William, Life of, by Cornelius C. Felton, ix. 163
Preface, 165. His birth and early years, 167. His col
lege life, 168. Captain in the army, 170. Joins the West
ern army, 172. Arrives at Cincinnati, 174. His ser
vice in Georgia, 175. Embarks for Algiers, 181. Presen
tation of, at Court, 182. His voyage to Tunis, 182. In
structions to him and his colleagues respecting Famin'a
treaty, 187. His interviews with the Bey, 191,195,197,
217, 220. Subjected to vexatious extortions, 209. Takes
charge of the Danish affairs at Tunis, 226. Gold box
328 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY,
presented to, by the King of Denmark, 230. His quarrel
with Famin, 230, 28G. The Bey importunes for jewels, 240,
242. His projected commercial convention with Tunis,
246. Demands satisfaction for the outrage on Cathcart,
253. His project of dethroning the reigning Bashaw and
restoring his brother, 257, 200, 272. His voyage to Leg
horn, 260. Returns to Tunis, 261. Treatment of his meas
ures with Hamet, by the American commanders, 272.
Letter of, lo Hamet, furnishing him with funds, 275. His
letter to the Secretary of State, 283. Quarrels with the
Bey and returns to the United States, 286, 288. His
letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
289. Appointed Navy Agent of the United States for the
Barbary powers, 290. Returns to the Mediterranean, 292.
Arrival of, in Egypt, 293. Reception of, by the Viceroy,
295. Arrested at the Turkish lines on his way to join
Hamet, 297. Effects a junction with the Bashaw, 298.
Convention of, with Hamet Bashaw, 299. Particulars of
his march across the desert, 300. Captures Derne, 321.
Arrival of, in the United States, 335, 337. Grant to, by
Massachusetts, 338. His deposition at the trial of Aaron
Burr, 343. His conduct as representative in the Legisla
ture, 349. His correspondence with the Ex-Bashaw, 354 ;
with Cathcart, 355. Speech of, at a town meeting in
Brimfield, 355. Last illness and death of, 355.
Ebeling, Professor, his descriptive titlepage of the Indian
Bible, v. 237.
Eberspaught, Lord, n. 185. Siege of, at Olympach, 186.
Edward the Sixth, ix. 139. Cabot's return to Spain demand
ed of, by Charles the Fifth, 140. Pensions Cabot, 141.
His notice of Cabot's theory of magnetic variation, 146.
Cited respecting The Stilyard, 149. His sickness and
death, 152, 158.
Kdward, Fort, i. 15, 16. Detachment sent to the relief of,
17. Stark stationed at, 35. Situation of, in. 100, 101.
Taken possession of, by the British, 107. General Webb
commander at, vn. 120, 126. General Lyman commander
GENERAL. INDEX. 329
at, 129. Attack on, 129. Fire at, and Putnam's ardor and
activity, 131.
Edwards, Jonathan, Life of, by Samuel Miller, vm. 1. Birth
and parentage of, 5. Early education of, 6. His collegiate
life, 8. Licensed to preach, 23. Temporary ministry of,
in New York City. 23. Resolutions by, 26, 44. Tutorship
of, in Yale College, 38. Colleague with Stoddard at
Northampton, 50. His habits, 52, 149, 198, 209. Minis
terial success of, 5G, 59. His first publication, 58. Other
publications by, 67. Opposition of, to lay preaching, 70.
His European correspondence, 83, 97. His " Treatise con
cerning Religious Affections," 88, 220. His intimacy with
David Brainerd, 89. His Life of Brainerd, 95. His " Free
dom of the Will," 98, 134, 223. Origin and history of his
troubles at Northampton, 102. Work by, on Church Com
munion, 108, 240. Dismission of, from his pastoral charge,
110, 130. Invitation of, to Scotland, 118 ; to Stockbridge,
125, 126. New and important publications by, 132. Elec
tion of, to the Presidency of New Jersey College, 145 ; his
letter respecting it, 147. His removal to Princeton, 156.
Inaugurated, 158. Sickness and death of, 159. His epitaph,
167. General survey of his character, 187. His intellec
tual powers, 187 ; character as a preacher, 195. Compared
with Calvin, 199. His writings, 214, 215. His sermons,
245. Posthumous works, 246. Influence of his writings,
248. Children and descendants of, 252. List of the works
of, 254. See Brainerd.
Edwards, Jonathan, junior, vm. 169, 253.
Edwards, Pierrepont, vm. 253.
Edwards, Sarah, wife of Jonathan Edwards, vm. 54, 66, 159,
204. Doctor Shippen's letter to, 160. Her letter to her
daughter, 163. Death of, 166.
Edwards, Susannah, vm. 164, 253.
Egede, remark of, respecting Greenland boys, v. 126.
"Eliot, Anne, v. 318, 325. Her death, 326.
Eliot, Benjamin, v. 324.
Eliot, John, Apostle to the Indians, Life of, by Convers
Francis, v, 1. His birth and education, 3. Ministry
Fr2
330 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
of, in Boston, 8. Settlement of, at Roxbury, 11. Animad
versions of, on the Pequot treaty, 16. His connexion with
the trial of Anne Hutchinson, 23. Agency of, in the New
England Version of the Psalms, 26, 221 . Learns the Indian
language, 40, 43. His labors for civilizing the Indians at
Nonantum, 67. His preaching at Neponset, 71 , 77. Visits
the Concord Indians, 84. His visits to Passaconaway, at
Pautucket, 106; to the Nashaway sachem, and his kind
treatment, 111, 139. Exposure and sufferings of, 113. Vis
its Yarmouth and Cape Cod, 116. Letters of, to Winslow,
140. Importuned to establish a town for the Praying In
dians, 150, 161. Opposed by the powaws, 152; by the
sachems, 154. His selection of Natick for an Indian set
tlement, 162. His form of polity for the Indians, 166. His
plan of forming Indian preachers, 177. Address to Crom
well by, 188. His examination of Praying Indians at Rox
bury, 197, 200. His "Christian Commonwealth," 210.
His translation of the Scriptures into the Indian language,
216. Further translations by, 243. Indian Catechism and
Primer by, 247. His "Indian Grammar," 248, 259; his
letter to Boyle, 250. His " Communion of Churches," 253.
His "Indian Logick Primer," 259. His visits to various
towns of Praying Indians, 261. Letter from, to Governor
Prince, 267. His solicitude for the Praying Indians during
Philip's war, 267, 276. His " Harmony of the Gospels,"
288. Notice of, by Dunton, 295; by Increase Mather, 296.
His charity, 317. General habits of, 320. His dress, 321.
His hostility to long hair and wigs, 323 ; to tobacco, 323.
His children, 324, 325, 354. His old age, 328 Death of,
335. Respect for, among the Indians, 336, 356. Character
of his writings, 338. His remarkable humility, 341. Tracts
giving an account of his labors among the Indians, 345.
Ellery, William, Life of, by Edward T. Channing, vi. 85.
Introductory remarks, 87. Ancestors of, 88. Birth of,
and residence in Cambridge, 89. Settles at Newport, 91
His taste for gardening, 95. Practice and success of, as
a lawyer, 96. His interest in the early movements of the
Revolution, 97, 99, 105. Extracts from his letters to Red-
GENERAL INDEX. 331
wood, 100. Chosen delegate to Congress, 107, 108. Signs
the Declaration of Independence, 107, 126. His services in
the old Congress, 109. Extracts from his diaries, 117. His
character as a public man, 124. Withdraws himself from
public life, 129. Collector of the Customs, 129. Employ
ments and habits of, in his declining years, 142. His
death, 145, 147.
Elliot, Andrew, exertions of, to procure Andrews release, n
271.
Elvas, persons from, join Ferdinand de Soto, in his expedition
to Florida, x. 266. Account of Soto's expedition, by a Gen
tleman of, 267, 270.
Endicott, John, Governor of Massachusetts, visits Natick, v.
173, 175, 176.
Engineering, observations on, x. 9.
England, attempts of, to colonize America, n. 206. Expedi
tion from, 208, 224. Civil war in, iv. 220, 223. Perplexities
in, after the death of Cromwell, 286. Commencement of
liberty in, 384. See Great Britain.
Enos, Roger, Lieutenant-Colonel in Arnold's expedition, in.
27. Abandons the expedition, 37.
Episcopacy, great debate on, in the House of Commons, iv.
217. Sir Henry Vane's speech on, 218, 395.
Erskine, Dr., invites Jonathan Edwards to Scotland, Tin.
118. His estimate of Edwards's character, 175.
Ettwein, a clergyman of the Moravian Society, vi. 122.
Evans, Oliver, his project for steam navigation, x. 37.
Everett, Alexander H., Life of Joseph Warren by, x. 93.
Everett, Edward, Life of John Stark by, i. 1. Cited, v. 242,
293.
Exeter, opposition there to Cranfield's taxation, vn. 164.
Expansion by heat, Rittenhouse's experiments on, vn. 333.
332 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY
F.
Fall of man, Sir Henry Vane's views of the, iv. 213.
Famin, Joseph Etienne, United States agent at Tunis, ix. 183,
190. Eaton takes up his abode with, 183. Character of,
183, 190, 194. Treaty negotiated by, with the Bey and
government of Tunis, 185. Promised the American con
sulate at Tunis by Mr. Barlow, 190. Introduces Eaton to
the Bey, 191. Intrigues against Eaton, and receives from
him a personal chastisement, 230. Summons him before
the Bey, 231. His chastisement justified by Eaton, 280.
Fasts, proclaimed by Cromwell, and the consequences, iv. 248?
250, 256, 275. For the Indians at Natick. v. 170. Cotton
Mather's habits in regard to, vi. 176, 185, 187, 190,271,285,
293. In Boston, on account of witchcraft, 216, 223.
Felton, Cornelius C., Life of William Eaton by, ix. 163.
Ferdinand, the Catholic, invites Cabot to Spain, ix. 108.
Death of, 110.
Fitch, Governor of Connecticut, Putnam's conversation with,
respecting the Stamp Act, vn. 162.
Fitch, project of a steamboat by, x. 40, 88. Letter of, cited,
41, 45. Claims of, 71.
Fleury, Lewis, Colonel, brigade inspector, ix. 26. Cited, 27.
Florida, Ferdinand de Soto's project of subduing, x. 266.
Fox, Charles James, cited respecting George Monk, iv. 341.
Expectations in America upon his return to power, vi. 21.
Death of, 23. Succeeded by Canning, 23.
Fox River, Father Marquette's ascent of, x. 275.
Francis, Convers, Life of John Eliot by, v. 1.
Franklin, Benjamin, i. 124, ix. 15.
Frobisher, Sir Martin, x. 211.
Frontenac, Louis, Count, commander at Quebec, at the time
of Phips's expedition, vn. 50. Fortifies Montreal and ar
rives at Quebec, 56. His treatment of a messenger from
GENERAL INDEX. 333
Phips, 57. Sends Marquette and Joliet on an expedition of
discovery to the Mississippi River, x. 273.
Frontenac, Fort, expedition against, i. 43, VH. 113, 151.
Frye, Joseph, Colonel, x. 140, 1G4.
Fulton, Robert, Life of, by James Renwick, x. 1. His birth,
11. Chooses the profession of painting, 12. His early
taste for mechanics, 12. Settles in Philadelphia, 12. His
residence with West, in England, 13; with the Courtenays,
at Powderham Castle, 15. His acquaintance with the Duke
of Bridgewater and Earl Stanhope, 37, 19, 21. Abandons
painting for engineering, 19. His first idea of a steamboat
communicated to Stanhope and Livingston, 20, 46. His
acquaintance with Watt, 21. His plan of an inclined plane,
23. His work on Inland Navigation, 24, 29. His Torpedo,
27,31,82. His inventions while residing at Birmingham,
29. His letters to Washington and the Governor of Penn
sylvania, 30. His submarine vessel, 32, 85, 86. Aids in
introducing the Panorama into France, 34. Domiciliated
•with Barlow, 46. Acquaintance of, with Livingston, 46;
their contract, 47, 73. Experiments of, at Plombieres, 47.
His experimental boat on, the Seine, 48. Description of the
engine ordered from Watt and Bolton, 48, 54. His visit to
England, 54. Returns to the United States, 56. His first
steamboat built and tried, 57. Rebuilds his boat and names
it The Clermont, 60. Causes of opposition to his rights, 64.
Rivalry with, on the Hudson, 65. Success of, clouded by
opposition, 68. Claims derived from Fitch set up in oppo
sition to, 71. His two patents, 72. Embarrassed by the
controversy between New York and New Jersey, 74. His
steam ferry-boats, 77. His boat for navigating the Sound,
80. Boats planned by, 81. His submarine guns, 84. His
steam frigate, 85, 8G. A witness before the legislature of
New Jersey, 86. His exposure and illness, 86. His death
and character, 87.
334 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
G.
Gage, General, Putnam's intimacy with, vii. 163. Arrival
of, in Boston from New York, x. 108, 134. Fortifies Bos
ton Neck, 115; 117. Reply to his question respecting
Colonel Prescott, 132. His measures for an attack, 152
Gaither, Colonel, ix. 175.
Gambling, Eliot's instructions to the Indians respecting, v
81.
Gantlet, the ceremony of running the, i. 9. Stark's con
duct on the occasion, 10.
Garay, Blasco de, invention of a steamboat by, in 1543, x. 35.
Garcia, Diego, preparations of, to embarrass Cabot, ix. 116.
Account of his persecution of Cabot, 126.
Gardiner, Colonel, mortally wounded at Bunker's Hill bat
tie, x. 173.
Gates, Horatio, General, i. 70. Ordered to reinforce Wash
ington, 70. Rapidly reinforced after the battle of Benning-
ton, 92, 100. Stark's message to, 93. Joined by Stark, 99,
102. Arrives at Albany, m. 64. Goes to Crown Point,
64. Supersedes Schuyler, 109. Difficulties of Arnold
with, 114. His conduct in the battles of Behmus's Heights,
119. Defeated in South Carolina, 167. Supersedes Sulli
van and marches eight regiments to Washington's army,
iv. 13.
Gentleman of Elvas, his account of Soto's expedition, x. 267,
269. Its character, 270.
George the Third, befriend's Andrews relatives, m. 308.
George, Lake, battle near, in 1758, i. 43.
Georgia, Greene's and Wayne's operations in, iv. 62. Evac
uated by the British, 67.
Gerard, M., French Minister, entertainment of, by Arnold,
in. 146.
Germain, George, Lord, expectations of, respecting the union
of Vermont and Canada, i. 348. Cited, in. 308, 317.
Germans, i. 76. Sent to Virginia, n. 271, 291. Reveal
Smith's plot to Powhatan, 299. Favor Powhatan, 319, 221.
GENERAL INDEX. 335
Unsuccessful measures for regaining to the colony, 329.
Their fate, 352.
Germantown, battle of, iv. 25, 33.
Gerrish, Colonel, conduct of, at Bunker's Hill, x. 164.
Gerry, Elbridge, x. 158.
Gibbons, Lieutenant, ix. 29.
Godwin, William, his "History of the Common wealth of
England," iv. 276 ; cited, 276, 280, 281.
Goodwin, John, case of witchcraft in the family of, vi. 216.
Gookin, Daniel, remarks upon his character ; the first ma
gistrate among the Indians at Natick, v. 207. Defends
tithes among the Indians, 209. Gratuity to the widow of,
231. Towns of Praying Indians visited by, 261. His
" Historical Account of the Praying Indians" in 1G75 - 6-7,
272. His exertions for the Praying Indians during Philip's
War, 280. Cited, 283; on Indian warfare, 290.
Gore, Christopher, American commissioner to Great Britain,
in 1796, vi. 11.
Gosnold, Bartholomew, n. 206. Second expedition of, 208.
Adventurers with, 209. Death of, 223. Discovery of
Cape Cod by, x. 215, 216.
Grafton, thirty persons from, killed in the Seven Years'
War, i. 54.
Grant, British General, in the action on Long Island, vn.
180.
Great Britain, American Commissioners to, vi. 11. Ministers
Plenipotentiary at, 21.
Green, Ashbel, cited, vm. 183, 192.
Green Bay, Father Marquette's visit to, x. 274. Tides in,
275. Marquette's return to, 290.
Green Mountain Boys, excitement of, upon being ordered to
repay for their lands, i. 237, 242. Claimants under the
New Hampshire Grants summoned before the New York
Governor and Council, and refuse to obey, 238. Despatch
an agent, to England, 239. Their mode of punishing the
New York civil officers, 245, 260. Extraordinary laws
passed against, 264. Effects of the Revolutionary War on
their quarrel, 268 Join Allen in his expedition against
336 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Ticonderoga, 272, 277. New regiment of, raised, 291.
Declare their state independent, and call it Vermont, 324.
Remarks on their government and quarrel during Ethan
Allen's absence, 324. Overtures to the, from the gov
ernor of New York, 326. Allen's Address to them, 327.
The cause of their orderly political progress, 331. On
allegiance to Congress, 347. See Vermont.
Green Spring, surprise of Wayne at, iv. 59.
Greene, Christopher, Lieutenant-Colonel in Arnold's expe
dition, nr. 27.
Greene, Henry, accompanies Hudson on his fourth voyage
of discovery, x. 233, 234, 236, 249, 251, 255, 257. Killed
by the Indians, 258.
Greene, Nathanael, General, in. 251. Interview of, with
General Robertson, 272, 275. At the battle of German-
town, iv. 27, 29. Tribute of, to Wayne, 61. His opera
tions at the South, 62, ix. 49. Wayne's letter to, iv. 63.
Commendation of Wayne by, 69. Colonel of one of the
Rhode Island regiments at Cambridge, in the spring of
1775, x. 127.
Greenland, Hudson's voyage to, x. 189 ; his attempt to find a
passage around the north of, 197 ; his unsuccessful at
tempt to land there, 237.
Gregg, Lieutenant-Colonel, detached against Indians near
Bennington, i. 83. Stark marches to his assistance, 83.
Gridley, Richard, Colonel of artillerv in the army at Cam
bridge, x. 124. Services of, at Louisburar, 128, 148 ; at
Bunker's Hill, 141.
Gridley, Richard, junior, Major of artillery, x. 130, 162, 163.
Dismissed, 165.
Grous, Wilson's observation on the Pinnated, n. 73.
Gueristasego, a chief of the Creek Indians, killed, iv. 67.
Guette, Citri de la, translator of an account of De Soto's
expedition, x. 268. Remark of, respecting Garcilaso, 269.
Gunpowder, n. 324. Amount of, in Massachusetts at the
time of Bunker's Hill battle, x. 138.
Gustavus, name assumed by Arnold, in. 162.
GENERAL INDEX. 337
H.
Hale, Nathan, Captain, in. 258. Case of, compared with
Andre's, 299.
Halifax, troops ordered to, i. 35.
Hall, Robert, cited, vm. 137, 175.
Hallam, Henry, on the character of Sir Henry Vane, iv.
177.
Hamet, Caramelli, rightful Bashaw of Tripoli, ix. 257.
Proposition to, by his brother, 261. Eaton's letter to,
275. Leaves Malta for Derne, 282. Condition of, on the
arrival of the American squadron, 294. His march across
the Desert, 300. His alarming situation, 332. Eaton's
subsequent correspondence with, 354.
Hamilton, Alexander, in. 243, 246. Mission of, in pursuit
of Arnold, 247, 248. Cited, 247, 277. Mission of, to Put
nam, on Hudson's River, vu. 205.
Hancock, John, vi. 121. Situation of, at Lexington battle,
x. 118,121.
Harmar, Josiah, General, expedition of, against the Indians,
iv. 72, 79.
Harris, Thaddeus Mason, v. 223.
Harvard College, Indians educated at, v. 256, 258. Remarks
on Increase Mather's election to the Presidency of, vi.
165. Calef 's book burnt in the yard of, 240.
Havana, British expedition against, i. 188, vu. 156. Suffer
ings at, i. 188. Surrenders, 189.
Haviland, Colonel at Fort Edward, vu. 131.
Hayward, Charles, jun., Life of Sebastian Cabot by, ix. 89.
Hazen, Moses, Colonel, difficulty of, with Arnold, in. 66,
69. Acquittal of, 68.
Heath, William, General, x. 122.
Heckewelder, John, his " Account of the Indians," v. 32.
Heister, General de, in the action on Long Island, vu. 186
Hendricks, a Mohawk chief, killed, i. 18.
Hennepin, extent of his travels in the West, x. 293.
VOL. x. 22
338 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Henry the Seventh, grants a patent to John Cabot and his
three sons, ix. 96. Second patent granted by, 100, 104
His avarice, 104. His injustice to Sebastian Cabot, 104.
Cabot quits the service of, 105. Death of, 108.
Henry the Eighth, prospects of Cabot upon his accession, ix»
108. Furnishes ships for Cabot, 111.
Heresy, Anne Hutchinson accused of, iv. 127. Vane's views
in regard to, 153.
Herrick, Colonel, his movements at the battle of Bennington
i. 85. His welcome of Ethan Allen from captivity, 323
Hessians. See Germans.
Hiacoomes, the first Indian convert, ordained as pastor of a
church at Martha's Vineyard, v. 263.
Higginson, Nathaniel, and others, send a memorial to the
Queen respecting Governor Dudley, vi. 284.
Hill, George, cited, vm. 233.
Hillard, George S., Life and Adventures of Captain John
Smith by, n. 171.
Hinman, Colonel, marches to the defence of Ticonderoga
with Connecticut troops, i. 282.
Hoboken, Hudson's battle with the Indians near, x. 230.
Holland, Lord, vi. 22.
Holland, naval war between England and, iv. 231.
Hontan, Baron, vii. 56.
Hooker, Thomas, a teacher, v. 5. Eliot's connexion with, 5,
6. Escapes to Holland, 7. Arrives in New England, 12.
Death of, 13.
Hopson, Admiral, in the campaign of 1757, 1. 185.
Horseneck, Putnam's perilous adventure at, vn. 212.
House of Representatives of the United States, on the power
of, as to treaties, vi. 51.
Howard, John Eager, Colonel, in the battle of Germantown ;
his letter referred to, iv. 28.
Howe, Jemima, and her sons, ransomed by Colonel Schuyler
in Canada, vn. 152.
Howe, Lord, consultation of, with Stark, i. 37. His advance
against Ticonderoga, 37. Killed, 39, vn. 137, 138. Effect
GENERAL INDEX. 339
of his death, i. 39, 41. Monument to, in Westminster Ab
bey, 39.
Howe, Sir William, General, at Bunker's Hill battle, i. 60, x.
154, 160, 167, 170, 173, 177. His treatment of American
prisoners in New York, i. 318. Endeavors to draw Wash
ington from Middlebrook, iv. 15, 17. Action with, at Ger-
mantown, 25. Resignation of, 36. His offer of a major-
generalship to Putnam, vn. 177. His respect for Kitten
house's orreries, 373.
Hubbard, Colonel, at the battle of Bennington, i. 85.
Hubbardston, Colonel Warner's loss at, i. 87.
Hudson, Henry, the navigator, Life of, by Henry R. Cleve
land, x. 185. Early history of, 186. His first voyage, in
1607,189. Sails from Gravesend, 189. Discoveries by, on
the coast of Greenland, 190. Sails to Spitzbergen, 191.
Proceeds northward to the eighty-second degree of latitude,
197. Attempts to find a passage round the north of Green
land, 197. Driven back by the ice, 198. Returns to Eng
land, 198. Sails, in 1608, to discover a northeast passage
to India, 199. Arrival of, near North Cape, 200 ; at Nova
Zembla, 201 ; his discoveries there, 204. Searches for
Willoughby's Land, 205. Arrival of, in England, 208.
Employed by the Dutch East India Company, 209. Sails
from Amsterdam, in 1609, 210. Arrival of, at North Cape,
210; at the Faroe Islands, 211 ; at Newfoundland, 211 ; at
Penobscot Bay, and his treatment of the natives there, 210.
Arrives at Cape Cod, 214, 216; at the entrance of 'Chesa
peake Bay, 216. Discovers Delaware Bay, 217; the outlet
of Hudson's River, 218. Intercourse of, with the natives,
218.221,224. Anchors in New York Harbor, 221. Ex
plores Hudson's River, 222. Escape of Indian hostages
from, 223, 231 . Experiment of, by intoxicating the Indians,
226. Anchors near the present site of Albany, 228. Bat
tle of, with the natives near Hoboken, 230. His return to
England, 231. His journal, 232. His fourth voyage, in
1610, in the service of the London Company, 233. Persons
accompanying, 234. Sails to Iceland, 235. Intrigues
against, by Juet, 235, 237. In great danger from the ice
340 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
238. Enters and explores Hudson's Bay, 242; determines
to winter there, 243. Dreary prospects of, for the winter,
244. Death of his gunner, 245. Disturbances and suffer
ings among his crew, 245. Sails from his wintering place,
250. Mutiny of Greene and others against, 250. Oath
taken by the conspirators against, 251. Fate of, and of eight
of the crew, 252. Reflections on the conduct of the con
spirators against, 254. Charges made against, 257. Meas
ures taken to learn the fate of, 261.
Hudson's Bay, penetrated by Cabot, ix. 99, 112. Explored
by Hudson, x. 242 ; his residence there and sufferings
through the winter, 245.
Hudson's River, discovery of, x. 219. Explored, 222.
Hull, William, General, his advice to Captain Hale, in. 301.
Hume, David, cited respecting Sir Henry Vane's religious
writings, iv. 203.
Humpton, Colonel, charge brought against Wayne by, iv. 22.
Hunt, Robert, clergyman in the expedition to Virginia, n.
209. Restores peace, 209, 221. Losses of, by fire, 249.
Hunt, Thomas, Captain, accompanies Smith to New England,
in 1614, n. 354. Enslaves and sells twenty-four Indians,
356, 359.
Hutchinson, Anne, notice of, iv. 123. Her weekly religious
meetings for females, 124. Regarded with jealousy. 124,
126. Accused of heresy, 127, 130. Violent contentions on
her account, 128. Tenets and conduct of, 128. Her char
acter, 139. Vane an adherent of, 142. Sequel of her his
tory, 161. Character of, calumniated, 163. Eliot's con
nexion with the trial of, v, 21, 23.
I.
Iceland, ix. 97. Cabot's arrival and delay at, 98. Hudson
sails to, x. 235.
Independence, Declaration of, made known at Ticonderoga,
i. 69. On the signing of the, by the members of Congress,
vi. 107.
GENERAL INDEX. 34 1
Indian Bible, by Eliot, v. 134,219. Account of it, 216. Time
of its publication, 220. Its dedications, 220, 222, 223. The
first Bible printed in America, 226. Second edition of it,
223. Persons employed in the translation of it, 231. Its
present value, 238.
Indian Dance described, n. 283.
Indian Grammar, by John Eliot, v. 248. Letter to Boyle re
specting it, 250.
Indian Language, parts of Scripture translated into the, v. 41.
Remarks on the, 41. The dialects and diversity of the, an
obstacle to the diffusion of Christianity, 116. Books in the,
221, 243 to 248, 259.
Indian Warfare, observations and citations respecting, v. 290.
Indians, at Bennington battle, i. 84, 85. Disposition of, to
wards the settlers in Virginia, n. 211, 212,224. Number and
confederacy of, in Virginia, in 1607, 216. Attack the colo
nists, 220. Smith's mode of procuring provisions from, 227.
Captivity of Smith by, 231. Anecdote illustrating their
benevolence, 233. Strange ceremony of, respecting Captain
Smith, 236. Instance of affection among, 273. Remarks
on Smith's treatment of, 350. Enraged at Hunt's deception
and slavery, 356, 359. Murder of inhabitants in Kentucky
by, iv. 7J. Hannar's and St. Clair's expeditions against,
72. Wayne's expedition against, 73. General remarks on
them, v. 30. Their religion, 33. Early interest in their
conversion, 37. On their being descendants of the lost
tribes of Israel, 39, 140. Eliot's first visits to, at Nonantum,
47. Questions proposed to Eliot and others by, 52, 56, 60.
90, 92. On the civilization of, at Nonantum, 67. Ques
tions and difficulties proposed by, at Neponset, 78. State
ments of, respecting the religious knowledge of their fathers,
118. Intemperance among the, and laws respecting it, 194,
350. Frequency of consumptions among the, 198. Edu
cation of, at Harvard College, 256. Attack Wells, vn. 86.
Killed near Wells, 91. Putnam's expedition against the
western, 157. Treatment of, by Hudson, at Penobscot Bay,
x. 213 : at New York, 218,220, 221. Hudson's experiment
of intoxicating, 226, 22!). Treatment of, by Hudson, at
342 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Stony Point, 229 ; his battle with them near Hoboken. 229.
See Brainerd, Eliot, and Praying Indians.
Indians, Arkansas, Marquette's visit to the, x. 286.
Caghnawaga, Allen's message to, i. 293.
Choctavv, called to relieve Savannah, and captured
by Wayne, iv. 64.
Creek, dispersed by Wayne, iv. 65, 66.
Folles Avoines, visit to, by Marquette, x. 273. Sup
posed to be a branch of the Pottowattomies, 274.
Illinois, reception of Marquette by the, x. 280. Re
marks respecting them and their language, 281 .
Maskoutin, visited by Marquette, and described, x.
275. Their reception of him, 277.
Massawomec, notice of, n. 264.
Nansemond, Captain Smith's skirmish with, n. 276.
Provisions procured of, by Smith, 294. Attack Martin,
and kill many of his men, 341.
Narraganset, Eliot's missionaries to the, v. 178.
Rappahanna, kindness of, to the early Virginia set
tlers, n. 212. Ambuscade Captain Smith, 268, 269. Captain
Smith makes peace with, 273.
St. Francis, Stark captured by, i. 7 ; compel him to
ran the gantlet, 9. Their kind treatment of Stark, 12. Ex
pedition against, under Rogers, 46.
Stockbridge, in the Provincial service, in the Seven
Years' War, i. 25.
Susquesahoc, Smith's account of, n. 266. Venera
tion of, for Captain Smith, 267.
Wamesit, persecuted, v. 279. Committee sent to,
with a message of friendship, 280.
Inland Navigation, the Duke of Bridge water the father of, in
England, x. 17. Work on, by Fulton, 24, 29.
Inman's Farm, Putnam stationed at, vn. 165, x. 125
Inoculation, remarks on, and on the first introduction of, into
America, vi. 311, 314.
Intemperance, among the Indians and measures for prevent
ing it, v. 194, 350. Cotton Mather's exertions respecting,
vi. 304.
GENERAL INDEX. 343
Intoxication of Indians by Hudson, x. 226.
Ipswich, Cotton Mather's journey to, vi. 301.
Iron mines found in the West, x. 278, 284.
Irvine, Colonel, at the expedition against Trois Rivieres, iv. 9.
Isle-aux-Noix, Allen's purpose of taking post at, i. 285. Lu-
cretia Maria Davidson's description of, vn. 239.
Isle-aux-Tetes, in. 73.
Isles of Shoals, called Smith's Isles, u. 357.
J.
James, the Indian printer, notice of, and of his labors on the
Indian Bible, v. 232.
James the Second, expulsion of, from his throne and king
dom, iv. 383.
James River, first settlement at, n. 21] , 214. Early struggles
of the colony at, 218. Attempt to settle at the Falls on,
341, 351. British expedition up the, rx. 64, 66. See James-
town.
Jameson, John, Lieutenant-Colonel, at North Castle, in. 177.
Andre delivered to, 226. Extraordinary conduct of, 227.
Jamestown, in Virginia, n. 214. Smith's exertions in building
up, 225. Mutinies at, 244, 262. Fire at, 249. Gold fever
there, 250. Character of the colonists of, 251. Rebuilding
of, 253. Arrival of Captain Nelson at, 253. Great indus
try and improvements at, 325. Germans conspire against,
330. Argall's arrival at, 331. Expedition despatched to,
from England, 336. Confused government at, 338. Re
marks on Smith's administration there, 345. Massacre at,
by the Indians, 385.
Japazaws, a chief of the Potomac Indians, betrays Pocahontas
into the hands of Argall, u. 368.
Jay, John, on a tract by Ethan Allen, i. 337.
Jay's Treaty, measures for the revision of the commercial ar
ticles of, vi. 22, 25.
Jefferson, Thomas, i. 113. An ornithologist, u. 96. His at
tentions to Wilson, 96. Wilson's letter to, 103. Cited on
344 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
classical learning, vi. 75; as to Steuben's conduct in Vir
ginia, ix. 57. His project for taking Arnold, 58. Caution
of, as to the measures in relation to the exiled Bashaw
of Tripoli, 290.
Jenner, minister of Wey mouth, library of, presented to Har
vard College, v. 146.
Johnson, Marmaduke, agency of, in printing the Indian
Bible, v. 226.
Johnson, William, encamped at Fort George, i. 15. His
success against Dieskau, 20. Made Baronet, 22. Arrives
with Indians near Ticonderoga, 41. Expedition of, agamst
Crown Point, vn. 113. His solicitations to march to the
relief of Fort William Henry, 127.
Joliet, M., explores the Mississippi River, x. 272. His
separation from Marquette, 298. See Marquette.
Judicial policy, remarks connected with the organization of
the, vi. 33.
Juet, Robert, master's mate under Hudson, x. 199, 210.
Cited as to the treatment of Indians at Penobscot Bay, 213.
His intrigues against Hudson, 233, 237. Deposed, 242.
Oath taken by, 251. Dies from want, 260.
Jurisprudence in America, remarks on, vi. 36. See Law
K.
Kanaumeek, an Indian town in New York, vm. 283, 284,
285,291,294,298.
Keeling, Sergeant, abuse of Sir Henry Vane by, iv. 343.
Kemp, Attorney-general of New York, i. 241. Allen's reply
to, 241. Reward offered for, by Allen, 248. Visits Allen
on board the Mercury frigate, 311.
Kennebec River, in. 26. See Arnold.
Kennedy, Lieutenant, killed, i. 28.
Kentucky, murders in, by the Indians, iv. 71.
Kissell, Baron, n. 186. Success of, at Olympach, 187.
Knowlton, Captain, his position at the battle of Bunker a
Hill, i. 59. x. 149, 150.
GENERAL INDEX. 345
Knox, Henry, General, letter of, to Wayne, iv. 74. Volun
teer in the New England army at Cambridge, x. 128.
Knyphausen, a Hessian General, movements of, at Chad s
Ford, iv. 18. At the battle of Monmouth, 40. Courtesy
shown to Steuben by, ix. 32.
L.
Labrador, discovery of, by Cabot, ix. 98. Attempt by Cabot
to colonize, 102.
Laet, John de, his "Novus Orbis," x. 215, 232.
Lafayette, General, HI. 160. Conceals from Arnold the
names of spies in New York, 161. Washington's instruc
tions to, 321. Arnold's attempt to correspond with, 321.
Movements of, against the British before the battle of
Monmouth, iv. 39. His operations in Virginia, 57, 58, ix.
62, 63, 64, 69.
Lambrechtsen, history of Hudson's second voyage by, x. 210.
Langdon, John, i. 78.
Langdon, Samuel, President of Harvard College, x. 140.
La Plata River, ix. 122.
Laprairie, i. 196. General Montgomery's mission of Ethan
Allen to, 201.
Lark frigate, treatment of American prisoners on board the,
i. 315. Conspiracy on board the, 316. Arrives at New
York, 318.
Lattice, anecdote as to the translation of the word, in Eliot's
Indian Bible, v. 236.
Law, Brown's mode of reasoning against, i. 126. Remarks
on, 127. Extensive study and knowledge of, in America,
at the time of the Revolution, vi. 6. See Jurisprudence.
Lawrence, General, in the expedition against Louisburg, I.
185. Anecdote of, 185.
Lawson, Wilson solicits aid and instruction of, n. 101.
Readiness of, to share in Wilson's sacrifices, 139.
Lay preaching, opposition to, by Jonathan Edwards, vin. 70;
by Gilbert Tennent, 72, 73.
346 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Lear, Tobias, ix. 326. His precipitation as to a treaty, 330
Measures of, censured by Eaton, 335. -
Lee, Charles, i. 185, iv. 39. Cited respecting Wayne's
attack on Stony Point, 47. Appointed major-general, vn.
178. Fortifies New York, 181. Takes command of the
southern department, 182. Abandons Washington in his
retreat across the Jerseys, 191.
Lee, Fort, Wayne's expedition to, iv. 49.
Leverett, John, election of; as President of Harvard College,
vi. 285.
Leveridge, William, minister of Sandwich, v. 187.
Lewis, Meriwether, grave of, visited by Wilson, n. 156.
His death, 157.
Lewis, Morgan, Colonel, anecdotes of Arnold's treatment of,
nr. 329, 330.
Lexington, Massachusetts, battle at, i. 55, x. 117.
Lexington, Kentucky, n. 152.
Liberty, Sir Henry Vane one of the earliest advocates of
religious, iv. 144, 156. Inconsistency of the Puritans in
regard to, considered, 147. Vane's and Winthrop's con
troversy respecting, 150. Various writers on, 155, 156.
Vane cited on, 260. Commencement of, in England, 382.
Lincoln, Benjamin, i. 81. Takes command at Behmus's
Heights, in. 115, 116. Epaulettes and a sword-knot pre
sented to, 120.
Literature, remarks on American, in the eighteenth century,
i.]19.
Littlejohn, Captain, his treatment of Ethan Allen, i. 300.
Livingston, James, raises an armed corps of Canadians, i.
201. Colonel, in. 194. Drives away the ship Vulture
from Verplanck's Point, 206. Smith's visit to, 213.
Livingston, Robert R., Montgomery's letter to, i. 206.
Writes to Washington respecting Arnold, in. 155. As
sociated with Stevens and Roosevelt in a steam project, x.
46. Ambassador to France, 46. His intimacy with Ful
ton, 46; their contract, 47. His application to the State
of New York for special privileges, 53.
Loan Offices, objects of. VH, 386
GENERAL INDEX. 347
Logan, an Indian chief, 11. 148.
London Company, Hudson in the service of the, x. 233.
Londonderry, New Hampshire, settled by Scotch Presby
terians, i. 6. Befriended by Father Rasles, 7.
Long Island, American troops stationed on, vii. 185. British
army lands on, 185. The battle of, 186. The Americans
withdraw from, 188.
Long Parliament, remarks on the, iv. 173. Impeaches the
Earl of Strafford, 180. Dispersed by Cromwell, 241. Its
character, 244.
Longueil, Carleton's movement towards, i. 203. Warner's
attack on the British at, 203.
Loudoun, Earl of, i. 25. His return to England, 36. His
abortive campaign, 185. Incompetency of, as a commander,
vu. 123.
Louisburg, General Wolfe at, i. 45. Its importance, 184
Expedition against, in 1758, 185. Termination of the
siege of, 187.
Louisiana, probable origin of the name, x. 293.
Lovelace, Thomas, executed as a spy, i. 109.
Lovell, James, imprisoned at Halifax, i. 314. Not admitted
to parole, 314. Proposition to exchange for Governor
Skene, 315, 318. Treatment of, by the British, on board
the Lark frigate, 315.
Lovell, Colonel, commander of an exploring company, i. 12.
Ludlow, General, cited on the character of Sir Henry Vane,
iv. 177. On Vane's Reform Bill, 240. On the Long
Parliament, 244; on Vane's deportment, 372.
Luzerne, the Chevalier de la, in. 148. Expostulates with
Arnold, 150. Journey of, to Washington's head-quartera
with Steuben, ix. 42.
Lyman, Phinehas, General, commander at Fort Edward, vn.
129. In the expedition against Havana, in 1762, 156.
Further particulars respecting, 162
348 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
M.
McClary , Andrew, Major, i. 56 Killed at Bunker's Hill, 62,
63, x. 178.
McClean, stationed at the mouth of the Sorel, i. 202. De
scends the St. Lawrence, 203.
McCrea, Jane, incidents of her life and account of her mur
der by the Indians, in. 101.
McDougall, Alexander, iv. 47. Commands in the High
lands, vn. 209.
McGinnis, Captain, killed near Fort Edward, i. 21.
Mackintosh, Sir James, cited, iv. 144, 203, vin. 176, 222.
Macpherson, a Scotch captain, wounded at Princeton, Put
nam's attention to, vn. 195.
Madison, James, i. 113. His work on Neutral Trade, vi. 19.
Madockewandos, an Indian sachem, vn. 93.
Magnetic variation, Cabot's theory of, ix. 146. In Hudson's
voyage, in 1607, x. 189.
Maine, Colony in, n. 354.
Manchester, Colonel Warner takes post at, i. 80. Troops
ordered from, to Stark's aid at Benriington, 83.
Manchester, in England, early mode of supplying with coal,
x. 17.
Manhegin, arrival of Captains Smith and Hunt at, n. 355
Manittos, remarks on the Indian, v. 34.
Marbois, Barbe, cited, in. 145.
Marlborough, seizure of Indians at, and their trial on the
charge of murdering several persons in Lancaster, v. 276.
Marquette, Father, Life of, by Jared Sparks, 263. First ex
plored the Mississippi River, 272, 279. His account of his
tour, 273, 292. Passes through the country of the Wild
Rice Indians, 273. Arrival of, at Green Bay, 274 ; his
account of it, 275. His ascent of Fox River, 275. Re
ception of, by the Maskoutins, 275. Embarks on the
Wisconsin River, 278. Descends the Mississippi River,
279. Visits the Illinois Indians, 280. Observes figures
of monsters on a rock, 282. Arrives at the junction of
GENERAL. INDEX. 349
the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers, 282; and the
Ohio, 283. His account of the Ohio River, 283. His
interview with Indians, 284. Returns and passes up
the Illinois River to Lake Michigan, 289. Distance
passed over by, 291. A missionary near Chicago, 291.
Death and grave of, 292. River named from, 292. His
manuscript Journal, 292. Remarks on his Map, 297.
Marriage, vm. 333.
Martha's Vineyard, v. 127. Hiacoomes, an Indian, ordained
pastor at, 2C3.
Martin, John, member of the Virginia Council, u. 218, 223,
245. Ill health of, 228. Returns to Jamestown, 337.
Resigns the government to Smith, 340. Experiment of,
in settling Nansemond, 340.
Martin, Joseph, Governor of North Carolina, iv. 62.
Martin, Joshua, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, his singular
preservation, i. 32.
Martinico, British expedition against, i. 188. Surrendered
to Moncton and Rodney, 189.
Marshpee, Indian church at, v. 263.
Mason and Dixon's line, vn. 326, 327, 328, 377.
Massachusetts, troops raised by, in 1758, i. 36. Movements
in, at the time of Burgoyne's Expedition, 77. Extent of
the charter of, westward, 232. Sir Henry Vane chosen
governor of, TV. 107. Legislation" in, adverse to the rights
of conscience, 146. Resistance made to the demand of its
charter by Charles the Second, vi. 200. Demarkation of
territory reserved by, in the State of New York, vn. 381.
Massachusetts Committee of Public Safety recommend tak
ing possession of Bunker's Hill, vn. 168. Notice of the
x. 116. Joseph Warren, President of the, 116.
Massachusetts Government, Stark's presents and letter to
the, after the battle of Bennington, i. 93. Their reply, 94.
Their present to Stark, 95. Compromises with New York
as to the boundary line, 232. Order by the, for the diffu
sion of Christianity among the Indians, v. 38 ; for the
establishment of a judiciary among them, 88. The juris
diction of, over certain Indian murderers, 114. Legisla-
HH
350 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
tion of, respecting the Indians at Natick, 207 ; respecting
intemperance among the Indians, 850. Orders passed by,
for an expedition against Acadia, vii. 30, 40 ; against
Canada, 52. Arrival of a new charter for, 77. Grants
land to Eaton, ix. 338.
Massachusetts Provincial Congress, x. 116. Resolutions of,
for raising an army, 124.
Massasoit, an Indian chief, his view of Christianity, v. 138.
Mather Family, account of the, vi. 163.
Mather, Cotton, his description of John Eliot's discourses
and manner of preaching, v. 311. Life of Eliot by, 336.
Life of, by William B. O. Peabody, vi. 161. Birth of, 166.
His conduct in relation to witchcraft, 170, 211. Education
and early life of, 171. Enters Harvard College, 172. His
religious impressions and studies, 174. Prayers and fasts,
174, 176. His "Essays to do Good," 178. Settled in the
ministry with his father, 184, 187. His Diary, 186. His
rules of preaching, 188. His manner of discharging paro
chial duties, 189. Singular meditations and ejaculations
of, 192. Marriage of, 195. His mode of instructing and
governing his children, 197, 348. Interest and agency of,
in the troubles during Sir Edmund Andres's administra
tion, 203, 204. His agency in promoting the delusion of
witchcraft, 211, 238, 246, 248, 250, 346. Offended by the
part taken by Robert Calef, 241. Extracts from his Diary,
254, 261. Supernatural intimations to, 264. His "Magna-
lia Christi Americana," 266, 350. Influence of, in the ap
pointment of Dudley as governor, 282. Enmity of. to
wards Dudley, 285,288,293. His letter to Dudley, 288.
Belief of, in special interpositions of Providence, 294.
Llected Fellow of the Royal Society, 299. Philanthropic
undertakings by, 304. Trials of, 307. His manner of
employing his time, 309, 342, 344. His zeal in introducing
inoculation into America, 313, "21, 323. Violent opposi
tion to, 324. His son Increase, and his death, 331. De
pressed state of his mind, 333. Last sickness and death,
339. Remarks on his character and writings, 341. His
Life of Sir William Phips, vii. 3. His influence over
Phips, 35.
GENERAL INDEX. 351
Mather, Increase, v. 29G, vi. 1G4. Opposes the proceedings
respecting witchcraft, 170, 224. Efforts of, to form his
son's religious character, 173. His sermons, 188. Resists
the demand of the surrender of the Massachusetts charter,
200. Randolph's efforts to ruin, 202. Mission of, to Eng
land, 203. Power given to, by the crown, to appoint offi
cers, 208. Selects Sir William Phips to be governor, 209,
vu. 75. Causes Calef 's book to be burnt in Harvard Col
lege yard, vi. 240. Writes a letter to Governor Dudley,
291, 293. Further remarks on his exertions respecting the
charter, vn. 28, 71, 74.
Mather, Richard, v. 26, vi. 164.
Mather, Samuel, Life of Cotton Mather by, vi. 196, 339.
Matoax, the real name of Pocahontas, n. 378.
Mayhew, Thomas, v. 127. At an examination of Indians at
Roxbury, 198, 199,
Maxwell, William, General, movements of, against the British
in crossing the Jerseys, iv. 37, 38.
Meldrltch, Count, n. 187. Leaves Duke Mercury and joins
Sigismund, 189. Sent to reduce the Waywode of Walla-
chia, 195. His escape, 196.
Mendez, Martin, Lieutenant- General under Cabot, ix. 116.
Disaffection of, 120. Put on shore, 121.
Meneval, M. de, commander at Port Royal, captured, vu. 42,
48. Demands a hearing respecting the plunder of Port
Royal, 45.
Mercury, Duke, at Alba Regalis, u. 188. Success of, on the
plains of Girke, 189.
Meridian Lines, remarks on tracing, vu. 328.
Metempsychosis, Ethan Allen's belief as to, I. 351.
Miami, Fort, Wayne's military movements near, iv. 76.
Michaux, Andre, Wilson's correspondence with, u. 139.
Michillimackinac, the first settlement of, x. 272.
Middlebrook, General Howe's attempt to draw Washington
from, iv. 15, 17.
Middleton, Erasmus, vm. 185.
Migration of birds, remarks on, n. 47, 82.
Militia laws in New England antecedent to the Revolution,
i. 54.
352 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Miller, Samuel, Life of Jonathan Edwards by, vm. 1.
Miller, of Dalswinton, attempts steam navigation, x. 43.
Miller, Fort, Putnam's descent over the Rapids at, vn. 141.
Milton, John, panegyrizes Vane, iv. 236.
Minden, Welsh Fusileers at the battle of, opposed to Stark at
Bunker's Hill, i. 58.
Minorca captured, i. 185.
Mississippi River, the first map of the, x. 263, 297. The first
discovery of the, 265, 272, 295. Father Marquette and
M. Joliet first explored it, 272, 279. Speculations as to the
course of the, 272. Journeying on the, 279, 289. Discove
ries said to be made there by New Englanders, in 1678, 295.
Missouri River, seen by Marquette, x. 282. Muddiness of
the, 282, 283.
Missouri State, Pinkney's speech on the admission of, into
the Union, vi. 8, 59, 82.
Mohawk River, troops detached to, by Montcalm, i. 40.
Molang, Putnam's encounter with, at South Bay, vii. 134;
Second encounter with, 143. Rescues Putnam at the
stake, 148.
Monequassun, a Natick Indian schoolmaster, v. 176, 177.
Prolixity of his religious confession, 186.
Monk, George, General, the treachery of, iv. 297. His con
duct in relation to Vane, 341. Fox cited respecting his
character, 341.
Monmouth, battle of, iv. 40. Importance of Steuben's ser
vices at the, ix. 31.
Monroe, James, vi. 21.
Monroe, Colonel, commander at Fort William Henry, at the
time of its capitulation, vn. 127.
Montcalm, forces under, at Ticonderoga, i. 40. His impru
dence at Wolfe's attack on Quebec, 207. Fall of, 223.
His successful assault on Fort William Henry, vn. 124,
127. Examination of Putnam by, at Ticonderoga, 150.
Montgomery, Alexander, in Wolfe's expedition, i. 183, note.
Montgomery, Richard, Life of, by John Armstrong, i. 181.
His birth, parentage, and connexions, 183. Educated at
the College of Dublin, 183. Commissioned in the British
army, 183. In the expedition against Louisburg, 183. De-
GENERAL INDEX. 353
spatched to Lake Champlain, 187. At the surrender of Mont
real, 183. His conduct in the expedition to the West Indies,
189. His mode oflife in Europe during the nine years' suc
ceeding peace, 189. His intimacy with Fox, Burke, and
Barre", 189. Abandons the King's service, and settles at
llhinebeck in New York, 190. A member of the first Pro
vincial Convention, 191. Appointed brigadier-general by
Congress, 192. Takes command of an expedition against
Canada, 193, 294. Proceeds to Ticonderoga, 194; to Isle-
aux-Noix, 194. Skirmishes near St. John's, 195. Returns
to Jsle-aux-Noix, 197. Reinforced, and resumes his position
before St. John's, 108. Attacks the place, 199. Mutinous
spirit of his soldiers, 200. His mission of Ethan Allen to
Laprairie, 201. Despatches Warner to Longueil, 203.
Takes advantage of Warner's success, 204. Joins Arnold,
208. Takes post before Quebec, 209. Summons the city
to surrender, 209. Calls a council of war, 212. Proceeds
to attack the city, 212, 1 1 1. 48. Killed, i. 214. His burial,
214. Remarks on his person and character, 214. Monu
ment to, 215.
Montgomery, Fort, Clinton's expedition against, vn. 203.
Montreal, captured by the English, in 1760, i. 188, vu. 153,
156. General Carleton at, i. 194, 196. Projected attack
on, by Brown and Allen, 201, 296. Capitulation of, to
Montgomery, 204. Wooster at, in. 55. Abandoned, 62.
Projected expedition against, in the time of Phips, vn.
50, 53, 56.
Montresor, British colonel, excursion of, in Maine, in. 28.
Moore, Major, wounded at Bunker's Hill battle, x. 169.
Moravians, opposed to bearing arms, vi. 123.
Morgan, Daniel, Captain in Arnold's expedition, in. 27.
Movements of, at the time of Howe's demonstrations in
New Jersey, iv. 16; in pursuit of the British in retiring
across the Jerseys, 38.
Morris, Gouverneur, anecdote of, respecting Steuben, ix. 11.
Morris, Commodore, arrival and arrest of, at Tunis, ix
284.
Morton's Point, landing of the British at, x. 153.
VOL. X. 23
354 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Mosco, a Virginia Indian, n. 268. Changes his name, in to
ken of his love to the English, 274.
Mounds, Wilson's visit to the western, n. 147.
Mouse, Wilson cited respecting the, n. 65.
Muhlenberg, Peter, Brigadier-general, ix. 57. Measures of,
to seize Arnold, 58.
Mulligan, ix. 84, 85. Bequests to, by Steuben, 86.
Murray, Captain, ix. 271. Opposed to Eaton's measures
respecting Hamet, 272, 282.
Musgrave, a British colonel, takes possession of Chew's
house at Germantown, iv. 27. Measures in regard to, 31 .
Naples, Pinkney special minister to the court of, vi. 57, 58.
Napoleon, his Berlin and Milan decrees, vi. 24, 25.
Nashaway, Eliot's visits to the sachem of, v. Ill, 112, 139.
Nashobah, Christian worship at, v. 85.
Natick, Indian place of worship at, v. 71, 165. Cutshama-
kin's opposition to settling at, 74. Account of the first
settlement, 160, 162. Labors of the Indians at, 163. Form
of polity for the Indians at, 166. Visited by Endicott and
others, 173. Organization of a church at, 184, 191, 192,
202. Examination of the Indians there, 186. System of
judicature at, 207. Eliot sets up a lecture in logic and
theology at, 259. Takawombpait ordained at, 297. Pres
ent state of the Indians there, 297.
Necessity, Fort, capitulation at, i. 14.
Neponset, Indian religious meetings at, v. 71.
Nereide, the celebrated case of the vessel, vi. 37.
Neutral trade, vi. 17. Put an end to, in 1807, 25. Case yf
the Nereide, 37.
Newburg Addresses, Stark's conduct in relation to the, i. 111.
New England, alarmed at Burgoyne's progress, i. 77. De
scription of, ii. 136. Settlement in, attempted in 1607,
354. Smith's first voyage to, 354. Smith's map of, 355,
356. So named by Smith, 356. Smith sails a second time
for, 360. Smith's narrative of his voyages to, 365, 36G.
GENERAL INDEX. 355
Obligations of, to Smith, 39(5. Troubles there, in the time
of Sir Edmund Andros, vi. 199, vu. 20.
New England troops, expedition of, against Crown Point, in.
1705, i. 14. Loss of, at Ticonderoga, 43. Raised in the
spring of 1775, x. 124.
New England Version of the Psalms, v. 26. Shepard's
view of the, 27. Improved and extensively used, 28.
Translated into the Indian language, 221.
Newfoundland, x. 211.
New Hampshire, i. 55, 77. Conduct of, as to the independ
ence of Vermont, 335. Opposition in, to Cranfield's taxa
tion, vu. 1G4.
New Hampshire Grants. See Green Mountain Boys and
Vermont.
New Hampshire Rangers, a corps of, enlisted by Robert
Rogers, in the Seven Years' War, i. 15. Their operations,
10. Stationed at Fort Edward, 17. New company of,
raised, 24. Severe engagement of a party of them, 26.
Their retreat to Fort William Henry, 31. New enlistment
of, in 1759, 44.
New Hampshire Troops, concentration of, at Medford, i. 56.
Their valor at Bunker's Hill battle, CO, 64. See Stark.
New Jersey, march of the British across, iv. 37. Retreat of
the American army across, vu. 191.
New London, Arnold's expedition against, m. 324.
New Netherlands, extent of, vu. 303. Conquest of, 304.
Newland, Spitzbergen so called, x. 191, 193.
Newport, Christopher, Captain, transports a colony to James
River, n. 209. Expedition of, to discover the head of James
River, 219. Visits Powhatan, 220. Sails for England, 222.
Arrives at Jamestown, 245. Cheated by Powhatan in trade,
248, 254. Freights his vessel with yellow sand and returns
to England, 253. Subsequent arrival of, 279. Failure of
his expedition for discovery, 286, 291. Plots against Smith,
289. Returns to England, 290, 293. Vice-admiral of the
expedition to Virginia under the new charter, 336.
Newport, Rhode Island, possession of, by the British, in. 84.
Arrival of French troops at, 158. Notice of, before the
Revolution, vi. 91 . Abandoned by Sullivan, ix. 35.
356 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
New York, boundaries of, i. 231. Governor and Council of,
remonstrate against Governor Wentworth's grants in Ver
mont, 233, 236 ; grant patents covering the lands patented
by Wentworth, 237. 239. Sheriffs from, opposed by the
Green Mountain Boys, 244, 245, 246. At open war with
Vermont, 246. Reception of Vermont delegates by the
governor of, 254. Concessions of the government of, 254,
256. Renewed war between Vermont and, 264. Extra
ordinary law passed by the legislature of, 264. Effects of
the Revolution on the quarrel, 268. Proclamation by the
governor of, 325. Land reserved to Massachusetts in, vir.
381. Conflicting claims of, with New Jersey, as to water
jurisdiction, x. 74
New York City, treatment of American prisoners at, i. 318.
Taken possession of, by the American army, vn. 182.
Evacuation of, by the Americans, 188, 190. The first
Presbyterian Church in, vui. 24. Hudson anchors in the
harbor of, x. 221.
New York Provincial Congress, Ethan Allen's letter to,
recommending an invasion of Canada, i. 283. Concur in
raising a regiment of Green Mountain Boys, 291.
Niagara, Fort, expeditions against, vn. 113, 153.
Nichols, Colonel, at the battle of Bennington, i. 85.
Nielson, Colonel, attacks troops on Lawrence's Neck, in New
Jersey, vn. 197.
Nighthawks, distinction between whippoorwills and, u. 58.
Nixon, Colonel, wounded at Bunker's Hill battle, x. 169.
Nonantum, Eliot's first visits to the Indians at, v. 47. Pro
gress of civilization at, 67, 124. Called by various names,
68, Visit to, by Shepard and others, 86. Indians return
to, after Philip's War, 285.
North, William, Captain, aid-de-camp to Baron Steuben, ix.
36. Anecdote of Steuben's generosity to, 70.
Northampton, in Massachusetts, ministry of Stoddard and
Edwards in, vui. 5, 50, 106.
North Cape, in Norway, Hudson's arrival near, x. 200;
doubled by him, 207.
North Carolina, armament from Ireland against, i. 306.
Wilson's notice of the characteristics of, n. 129.
GENERAL INDEX. 357
North River. See Hudson's River.
Northeast Passage to the Indies, Hudson's voyage for dis
covering the, x. 199.
Northwest Passage, Henry the Seventh's first patent to the
Cabots for discovering the, ix. 96. Cabot's first expedition
therefor, 97. Second patent granted, 100. Hudson's
voyage for discovering the, x. 189.
Nova Zembla, arrival of Hudson at, x. 201 ; his discoveries
at, 202.
O.
Oakes, Urian, President of Harvard College, vi. 172.
O'Bannon, Lieutenant, conduct of, in crossing the Desert
with Eaton, ix. 300.
O'Brien, Richard, United States Consul-General for the
Barbary coast, ix. 181, 238, 244, 253.
Ogden, Aaron, Captain, sent by Washington on a mission
respecting Arnold, in. 2G7. Desertion of his sergeant,
at Paulus Hook, 270.
Orrery, projected by Rittenhouse, vn. 337, 358.
Ohio Company, i. 14.
Ohio River, Wilson's voyage on the, n. 143. Scene on the,
144. Improvements on the, 145. Marquette's and Joliet's
arrival at the, x. 283.
Old French War. See Seven Years' War.
Olympach, Captain John Smith's plan of telegraphic com
munication at the siege of, n. 186.
Opechancanough, king of Pamunkey in Virginia, n. 230.
Smith carried to the residence of, 236. Negotiation with,
249. Smith's adventures with, 308. Kind treatment of
Rolfe and Sparks by, 370. Succeeds Powhatan and in
stigates the massacre at Jamestown, 385.
Ornithology, remarks on, i. 3, 44. Effects of Wilson's labors
on, 6. General ignorance respecting, 44. Errors correct
ed by a knowledge of, 45.
Oswegatchie, vessels captured near the mouth of, by Putnam,
vii. 154. Fort at, captured, 155.
Oswego. Fort, raptured, i. 185, vn. 117, 123.
358 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
P.
Paine, Thomas, Wilson's visit to, n. 122.
Paintings, remarks on collections of, in England, x. 14.
Palmer, Edmund, a spy, Putnam's letter respecting, vn 200.
Pamunkey Smith carried to, n. 236. Strange ceremony at,
236. Smith's visit to, 309.
Paper Manufactory, the first established in America, vn. 305.
Paper Money, issue of, after Phips's unsuccessful expedition
against Quebec, vn. 68.
Parker, Sir Peter, armament of, with troops to act against
North Carolina, i. 306.
Parliament, at war with the King, iv. 220. Vane's bill for
reform in, 235, 240. Dispersion of, by Cromwell, 241.
Summoned after the death of Cromwell, 288. Parties in,
after the death of Cromwell, 290.
Parris, Samuel, witchcraft in the family of, vi. 223.
Party, remarks on adherence to, ix. 339, 350.
Passaconaway, an Indian, v. 104. His reception of Eliot,
106, 107, 108. His conversion, 108. Wannalancet, son
of, 259.
Paulding, John, one of the captors of Andre, in 222. His
account of the affair, 223. Recompensed, 291.
Pautucket, situation of, v. 104. Eliot's visits to, 106.
Peabody, Oliver W. B., Life of Israel Putnam by, vn. 103.
Peabody, William B. O., Life of Alexander Wilson by, n. 1 ;
Life of Cotton Mather, v.i. 161 ; Life of David Brainerd,
vin. 257.
Pemaquid, Fort, captured by the Indians, vn. 38. Fort
William Henry built at, 88. Treaty at, 92.
Pendennis Castle, Ethan Allen's confinement in, i. 302.
Penn, William, anecdote of, on witchcraft, vi. 234. The
lines defining the bounds of his territory, vn. 325, 378.
Pennsylvania, difficulty as to the boundary line of, vn. 325,
377, 378. Gift by the Assembly of, to Rittenhouse, 364.
Penobscot Bay, visited by Henry Hudson, x. 212.
Pequot Treaty, animadversions on the, v. 16, 20.
Percy, Lord, vn. 163. Communicates information to Gov-
GENERAL INDEX. 359
ernor Gage, x. 119. Reinforces the British on their return
from Concord, 121. Titles of, 132. Encampment of, on
Boston Common, 135.
Persecution, inconsistency of the Puritans as to, iv. 147
Remarks on, 163.
Pert, Sir Thomas, ix. 111.
Peters, Hugh, at the trial of Mrs. Hutchinson, v. 24.
Peters, Richard, ix. 21.
Philadelphia, Arnold commander at, in. 97, 121. Captured,
iv. 14. Means for the defence of, 24. Evacuation of, by
the British, 36. Wayne's entry into, after his Indian
expedition, iv. 78. Putnam commands at, vn. 193.
Philip, the Indian Sachem, anecdotes of, v. 270. Effect of
his war, 286. Wife and son of, sold into slavery, 293.
Phillips, William, a British major-general, arrival of, at Ports
mouth, ix. 64. His expedition up James River, 64, 66.
Death of, 67.
Phips, Sir William, Governor of Massachusetts, vi. 209,
210, vn. 75, 76. Calef 's mode of speaking of, vi. 239. Life
of, by Francis Bowen, vn. 1. His birth and early years,
6. Goes to Boston as a ship-carpenter, 8. His attempt
to build a vessel on Sheepscot River, 9. Finds a wreck
about the Bahama Islands, 14. Goes to England and ob
tains the command of the Rose-Algier, 14. His unsuc
cessful cruise for shipwrecked treasure, 15. Sent out
again by the Duke of Albemarle, 20. Returns with
Spanish treasure, 22, 24. Receives the honor of knight
hood, 25. Returns to New England, 30. Goes again to
England, 32. Returns, 34. Expedition of, against Port
Royal and Acadia, 38 Unsuccessful expedition under,
against Quebec, 50. Goes to England, 71. His return
and reception at Boston as governor, 77. Connexion of,
with the Salem witchcraft, 80. Expedition of, to Pema-
quid, 87. Recalled to England, 98. Two projects of, 99.
His death and character, 100.
Pickering, Timothy, Colonel, in the battle of Germantown,
iv. 28. On the publication of Steuben's military work, ix.
39. Instructions of, to American consuls at Tunis re-
siipoiiiifv Fninin's treaty. 1S7.
360 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Pierrepont, James, facts respecting, vin. 54.
Piesa, figures of monsters on the side of a rock on the Mis
sissippi River, x. 282, 283.
Pigot, British general, at Bunker's Hill battle, x. 100.
Pinkney, William, Life of, by Henry Wheaton, vi. 1. His
birth, education, and early life, 3. Study of the law,
5. His election to the Convention of the State of Mary
land and to Congress, 7. Speeches by, on the emanci
pation of slaves, 8. jChosen delegate to the Maryland
legislature, 9. At the head of the bar, 9, 69. Com
missioner to Great Britain, 11. His return to Amer
ica, 13, 14, 16. Establishes himself at Baltimore, 15, 16.
Minister Plenipotentiary to Great Britain, 21, 26. Ap
pointed attorney-general of the United States, 30. A
partisan in relation to the war of 1812, 49. Wounded in
the attack on Washington city, 50. Representative in
Congress, 50. His habits of labor, 54. Envoy to the
court of Russia, 57, 59. Special minister to the court of
Naples, 57, 58. His manners and habits of dress, 58.
His speech on the right of States to tax a national bank,
59 ; on the admission of Missouri into the Union, 59, 82.
Sickness of, 61. His death, 62. His great intellectual
exertion, 65. His professional talents and attainments, 66,
72, 81 ; intense labor and persevering application, 69 ;
favorite mode of reasoning, 72; literary accomplishments,
73. Anecdote of, respecting classical studies, 74.
Pitcairn, Major, death of, at Bunker's Hill battle, x. 174.
Pitt, William, vii. 132.
Pizarro, ix. 131.
Planetary machines, remarks on, vn. 337.
Plymouth Company, colony established by the, n. 354. En
gages the services of Captain Smith, 357.
Pocahontas, saves the life of Captain Smith, n. 240, 373.
Account of, 240, 373. Kindness of, 244, 373. Entertain
ment of Smith by, 283. Reveals Povvhatan's plot against
the English, 306. Secretes Wiffin, 315. Forsakes her
father, 367, 381. Deceived and made prisoner by Argall,
368. Advantage taken of her captivity, in relation to her
GENERAL INDEX. 361
father, 369. Measures for compelling Powhatan to ran
som, 370. Married to John Rolfe and goes to England
371, 374. Her attainments, 371. Reception of, in Eng
land, 372, 378. Smith's letter to Queen Anne respecting,
372. Her interview and conversation with Smith, 376.
Her real name, 378. Her death and character, 379. Her
moral qualities, 360. Her descendants, 383.
Poetry, remarks on, by Brown, I. 175.
Politics, remarks on, n. 107.
Pollard, Asa, the first person killed at Bunker's Hill, x. 144.
Pomfret, Putnam's adventure in killing a wolf at, vn. 109.
Pomroy, Seth, General, supposed to have wounded Dieskau
i. 21. Facts respecting, x. 128, 151.
Poor, Enoch, Colonel of New Hampshire troops, i. 56.
Popham, Major, anecdote by, respecting Steuben, ix. 40.
Port Royal, successful expedition against, vn. 38, 44.
Potomac River, n. 259, 261.
Powhatan, an Indian chief, n. 217, 220, 238. His reception
of Captain Smith in captivity, 239. The daughter of,
saves Smith's life, 240. His generous conduct to Smith,
242. Visit to, by Smith and Newport, 246. Cheats New
port in trade, 248, 254. Instigated against the Virginia
colonists, 2GO. Presents brought from England for, 281.
Refuses to go to Jamestown, 284. Presents delivered to
him, 285. Unfriendly to Smith, 294. His plan of killing
Smith revealed by Pocahontas, 306. Desires peace, 324.
Supplies the colonists with corn, 326. Neutrality of, in
a conspiracy against the colonists, 330. Pocahontas for
sakes him, 367, 381. Advantage taken of Pocahontas's
captivity to procure favorable terms from, 369. Measures
lor compelling him to ransom Pocahontas, 370. Death of,
379
Powhatan, purchased, ir. 341. Removal of colonists tc 343.
Praying Indians, at Nonantum, v. 71. Judiciary established
among them, 88. Their visit to the synod at Cambridge,
90. Strict observance of the Sabbath by, 94. The project
of establishing a town for the, 150, 160. Lay the founda
tion of Natick, 162. Their labors at Natick, 163, 164
II
362 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Form of polity for the, 1C6. Religious exercises by the,
172, 173, 175, 177, 178. Examination and confessions of
the, at Natick, 186. Pay tithes, 208. The towns of the,
261. Statistics respecting the, 262. Their services, 275,
283. Removed to islands in Boston Harbor, 277, 281 , 2s3.
Taken to Cambridge, 284. Their subsequent settlements,
285. Reduction of the number of their places for worship,
293. .Remarks on Eliot's labors among the, 298.
Prescott, Robert, British general, his treatment of Ethan Al
len, i. 207. Allen's letter to, 298.
Prescott, William, Colonel, commander at Bunker's Hill bat
tle, i. 58, vii. 169. Refuses to be relieved on the heights,
but consents to apply for aid, 171. The confidence in, x.
127,130. Willard's reply to General Gage respecting, 132.
Proceeds to fortify Bunker's Hill, 139. Reconnoitres the
enemy, 142. Further exertions and orders of, 161. Losses
in his regiment, 177.
Prescott, William H., Life of Charles Brockden Brown by. i.
119.
Preston, Captain, acquittal of, x. 110.
Pricket, Habakuk, a journalist in Hudson's voyage, x. 233.
Cited, 236. Remonstrates against the proposed treatment
of Hudson, 251,253. Peril of, at Digges's Cape, 258.
Prideaux, General, captures the fortress at Niagara, vn. 153.
Priestley, Joseph, vni. 186, 226.
Prince, Thomas, Governor of Plymouth, v. 267, 268.
Prisoners, custom of redeeming from the Indians, i. 10, 12.
Treatment of American, in New York,~318.
Privy Council, iv. 179. Members of the, first put on oath in
the case of the Earl of Strafford, 184, 187.
Proby, Major, killed at Ticonderoga, i. 42.
Proud, Robert, tutor of Charles Brockden Brown, i. 122.
Psalms, New England Version of the, v. 27, 28. See New
England Version,
Punkapog, project of a settlement at, for the Praying Indinns,
v. 181. Indians removed from, to Deer Island, 281.
Puritans, iv. 147. Defence of the, 383, 388.
Putnam, Israel, raptured by the Indiana, i. 44. vn. 145, 147.
GENERAL INDEX. 363
His activity at Bunker's Hill battle, i. 60, x. 133, 15G. Life
of, by Oliver W. B. Peabody, vir. 103. His birth and edu
cation, 106. A practical farmer at Pomfret, 108, x. 132.
His adventure in killing a wolf, vn. 109. Enters the army
in the Seven Years' War, as captain of a company of Ran
gers, 113. Intimacy of, with Major Rogers, 116. Military
character and services of, on the frontiers, 119. Appointed
major, 123. At the assault on Fort William Henry, 125.
At an attack on Fort Edward, 130. Encounters the enemy
at South Bay, 134. Perilous descent of, over the Rapids,
near Fort Miller, 141. Sent to Ticonderoga, and thence to
Montreal, 150. Exchanged, 151. Lieutenant-Colonel at
Crown Point, 153. Engaged in the expedition against Ha
vana, 156; against the western Indians, 157. Retires from
the army, 158. Opposition of, to the Stamp Act, 161. Goes
to Mississippi River, to select lands, 163. His intimacy
with Gage and other British officers in Boston, 163, x. 136.
Hastens to the army on hearing of the battle of Lexington,
vn. 164, x. 132. Brigadier-General of the Connecticut
troops, vn. 165. Anecdotes of, in relation to Major Small,
175. x. 136, 170. Major-generalship offered to, by Sir Wil
liam Howe, vii. 177. Appointed major-general by Con
gress, 178. Commands at New York, 182. His plans for
destroying the British fleet, and for obstructing its progress
up the North River, 183, 199. Commands on Long Island,
185. Commands at Philadelphia, 193. Takes post at
Princeton, 195. Anecdotes of, 195. Commands in the
Highlands, 199. His letter respecting a spy, 200. Super
intends the construction of fortifications at West Point 208.
Superseded, 209. Prejudices against, 209. Quells a spirit
of insubordination, 211. His perilous adventure at Horse-
neck, 212. Attacked with paralysis, and retires from the
army, 213. Death of, 215.
Pym, speech of, in relation to the Earl of Strafford, iv. 180.
Evidence produced by, against the Earl, 189, 191.
Pynchon, the request made of, to search for Indian murderers,
and his reply, v. 114.
364 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Q.
Quaboag, now Brookfield, Eliot's visit to, v. 112.
Quail, anecdote respecting the, u. 72.
Quebec, plan of operations against, i. 45, vn. 153. Carleton s
escape to, i. 205, in. 48. Montgomery cited respecting the
conquest of, i. 206. Wolfe's success at, 207, 216. Troops
in, at the time of Montgomery's arrival, 209, in. 49. Sum
moned to surrender, i. 209. Plans for attacking, 210, 212.
Particulars of Wolfe's assault on, and success, 216. Ethan
Allen recommends the conquest of, in June, 1775, 284.
Arnold's operations at, in. 44. Naval expedition against,
under Phips, vii. 50; difficulties in consequence of its fail
ure, 68.
Quincy, Josiah, death of, x. 107. Captain Preston defended
by, 110.
R.
Raleigh, Sir Walter, n. 280, 297, 328, 329.
Randolph, Edward, appointed licenser of publications, vi. 201.
Efforts of, to ruin Mather with the government, 202. Re
liance of Andros on the advice of, vn. 27.
Randolph, John, a descendant of Pocahontas, 11. 384.
Rangers, services rendered by the, during the Seven Years
War, vn. 113. See New Hampshire Rangers.
Rappahannoc River, u. 268, 270.
Rasles, Sebastian, a Jesuit at Norridgewock, i. 7, in. 31.
Ratcliffe, John, Captain, member of the Virginia Council, n.
218, 245. Succeeds Wingfield as governor of Virginia, 223
Deposed, 263. A prisoner for mutiny, 278. Plots against
Smith, 289, 343. Author of factions and disturbances, 292.
Sent to England, 292. Return of, to Jamestown, 337. Im
prisoned, 343. Fate of, 367.
Reed, James, Colonel of New Hampshire troops, i. 56. Sta
tioned at Medford, vn. 165, x. 126, 146. At Bunker's Hill
battle, x. 147.
GENERAL INDEX. 365
Reform in Parliament, Vane's bill for, iv. 235; Cromwell's
opposition to it, 238, 240.
Regal, siege of, n.190. Personal encounters there, 191. Sur
render of, 103.
Religion, remarks on, in the time of Sir Henry Vane, iv. 199.
Of the Indians, v. 33, 118. See Christianity.
Renwick, James, Life of David Rittenhouse by,vir. 295. Life
of Robert Fulton, x. 1.
Republic, distinguished from a democracy, iv. 251.
Revere, Paul, Colonel, despatched to Hancock and Adams, x.
118. Sent out of Boston to alarm the people, 120. His
account of adventures on the occasion, 122.
Revivals of religion, at Northampton, vm. 59,69; elsewhere,
75, 7G, 85. Work on, by Edwards, 218.
Revolution, American, i. 3, x. 127. Commencement of hos
tilities in the, i. 55. Circumstances leading to the, x. 102.
Rhode Island, iv. 158, 159, vi. 113. Action at, and evacuated
by Sullivan, rx. 35.
Rich, Obadiah, his " Bibliotheca Nova," v. 214.
Riedesel, Baron de, i. 82.
Ridfffield, skirmish and Arnold's bravery at, in. 90.
Rittenhouse, David, Life of, by James Renwick, vn. 295.
His birth and parentage, 303. Education of, 310. His pro
gress in mathematical learning, 312. Aided by Thomas
Barton, 313. Agricultural occupations of, 317. His choice of
a profession, 318. Becomes eminent as an artist and astron
omer, 322. Settles the boundary line of Pennsylvania, 327,
377 ; and of other States, 330, 381. His experiments on ex
pansion by heat, 333 ; application of them to the pendulum,
333. His metallic thermometer, 334. His adaptation of
planetary machines to clocks, 336. Projects and constructs
an orrery, 338, 358. Observes the transit of Venus, 347,
349, 350 ; of Mercury, 356. His second orrery, 362, 372.
Secretary of the American Philosophical Society, 365.
Proposed public observatory for, 367. On the Committee
of Safety, 370, 372. Treasurer of the State, 371. Observes
a transit of Mercury, and eclipses of the sun, 375. Trus
tee of the Loan Office, 384. Retires from the office of State
366 AMERICAN B I O G II A P II Y .
treasurer, 334. Private observatory of, 383. Commis
sioner to organize a Bank of the United States. 368. Di
rector of the mint, 380, 390. President of the Democratic
Society, 392. His declining health, and death, 394 ; lit
erary and scientific honors, 395. Certificate of, respecting
Fitch's steamboat, x. 42.
llittenhouse, Matthias, father of David Rittenhouse, vn. 306,
316, 317.
Robertson, James, British general, in. 271. Interview of,
with Greene, 272, 275. Subsequent letter of, to Washing
ton, 276.
Robinson, Beverly, Colonel, his letter to Ethan Allen, i. 338.
Accompanies Andre, in. 180. Connexion of, with the con
spiracy, 184. On board the Vulture with Andre, .191). De
mands Andre of Washington, 250. Former intimacy of,
with Washington, 251.
Robinson, Lieutenant-Colonel, bravery of, at Bunker's Hill
battle, x. 161.
Rogers, Richard, Captain in the Seven Yeats' War, 1.24.
Rogers, Robert, Major, a partisan officer in the Seven Years'
War, 1. 14. Recruits troops, 23. His " Journal," 23, vn. 114.
In a severe engagement, i. 26. Wounded, 28, 29,33. His
obligations to Stark, 33. His operations under Lord Howe,
38. His expedition against the^St. Francis Jndians, 46.
In England, 50. Joins the British in the Revolutionary
War, 50. Intimacy of, with Putnam, vn. 116. Life of,
saved by Putnam, 116. Despatched with Putnam to re
cover baggage and provisions, 119. Conduct of, near Ti-
conderoga, 137. Cited respecting Lord Howe's fall, 138.
Rojas, Miguel and Francisco de, in Cabot's expedition, is.
117. Disaffection of, 120. Put on shore, 121.
Rolfe, John, on an expedition with Pocahontas to Powhatan,
n. 370. Married to Pocahontas, 371. Return of, to Vir
ginia, 383. Descendants of, by Pocahontas, 383.
Romayne, Nicholas, Eaton's apprehension of, ix. 179.
Roosevelt, Nicholas, engaged in a project for steam naviga
tion, x. 46.
Roxbury, settlement of, v. 11. Clergymen in, 11. Eliox's
GENERAL INDEX. 367
examination of Praying Indians at, 197. Account of Eliot's
ministry at, 306. High school established at, by Eliot, 313.
Birthplace of General Warren, x. 94. General Thomas
stationed at, 125.
Rule, Margaret, case of the witchcraft of, vi. 250.
Rumford, Count, (Benjamin Thompson,) at the battle of Bun
ker's Hill, x. 129. The loss of, to his country, 130.
Rnmney, Stark's excursion to, i. 7.
Rump Parliament, account of the, iv. 228.
Rumsey, James, project of a steamboat by, x. 40, 45.
Russia, Pinkney envoy to the court of, vi. 57, 59. Expedi
tion to, under Willoughby and Chancellor, ix. 150; its fate,
153. Commencement of English commerce with, 155.
Early objects of barter with, 15C.
Sabbathday Point, carnage at, vn. 120.
Sacrament, custom of partaking of the, before going on a
voyage of discovery, x. 189.
Saiibrd, Samuel, at Manchester, i. 87. Major of a regiment
of Green Mountain Boys, 291.
St. Clair, Arthur, Colonel, in the expedition to Three Rivers,
i. G3, iv. 9. Fatal expedition of, against the Indians west
of the Ohio, 72, 79.
St. Gabriel, opposition to Cabot at, ix. 123.
St. Germain, Count de, Baron Steuben's first acquaintance
with, ix. 12; his interview with him about going to Amer
ica, 13, 14.
St. John's, New Brunswick, Arnold's residence at, in. 332.
St. John's, on Sorel River, movements against, under Mont
gomery, i. 193. Skirmish near, 195. Forces at, 196. Ren
counters near, 198. Attacked by Montgomery, 199, 294.
Change of position before, 200. Capitulation of, 204.
Movements against, by Allen and Arnold, 280, in. 18, 19.
Retreat to, from Montreal, 62. Andre captured at, 171.
St. Leger, invests Fort Schuyler, HI. 108; abandons it, 111. ,
368 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
St. Pierre, a French officer, killed, i. 18.
Salem, Governor Vane's entrance into, iv. 117. Benefactions
to, by Cotton Mather, vi. 260. Cotton Mather's journey to,
301.
Salle, La, x. 293, 295.
Salmon Falls, in New Hampshire, captured by the Indians,
vn. 38.
Savage, Captain, dangerous situation of, near Quebec, vn. 59.
Savannah, movements against, by Greene and Wayne, iv. 63
Indians at, 64. Wayne's terms to the inhabitants of, 67
Evacuated by the British, 69.
Saybrook, Yale College commencements held at, vm. 8.
Schenectady, in New York, captured by Indians, vu. 38.
Schuyler, Peter, Colonel, prisoner at Montreal, vn. 150. Ran
soms Jemima Howe and her children, 152.
Schuyler, Philip, General, assumes the command of the Ca
nadian army, i. 69. Washington's letter to, 75. House of,
robbed, 109. Commander-in-chief of the expedition against
Canada, 193. Arrives at Isle-aux-Noix, 195. His tribute
to Montgomery, and his return to Albany, 197. Joined by
Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga, 292. Address of, to the Ca
nadians, 292. Superseded by Gates, in. 109.
Schuyler, Fort, Arnold's expedition to, in. 108. Siege of,
raised, 111.
Scilly, Vane's imprisonment in the Isles of, iv. 298, 299.
Scollay, Mercy, takes the charge of General Warren's chil
dren, in. 126, x. 180.
Scotch Presbyterians, settlements by, i. 5. Befriended by
Father Rasles, 7.
Scotland, alliance of the patriots of, with those of England,
iv. 221.
Scott, Lieutenant, killed at Bunker's Hill battle, i. 62.
Scrivener, Matthew, member of the Virginia Council, n. 246.
Diligence of, in rebuilding Jamestown, 253. Deputy gov
ernor, 263. Expedition of, to Nansemond, for corn, 294.
Opposes Smith's measures against Powhatan, 296. Gov
ernment left in the hands of, 296. His fate, 315.
Seamen, Cotton Mather's exertions for, vi. 333.
GENERAL INDEX. 369
Sergeant, missionary to the Stockbridge Indians, vm. 283.
Teaches the Indian language to Brainerd, 296. Letter to,
by Brainerd, 319.
Serpents, fascination of birds by, n. 61.
Seven Years' War, its importance to the American Revolu
tion, i. 3, 52, x. 127. Its commencement, in 1754, i. 13.
Causes leading to the, 14. Operations for the campaigns
of 1755 and 175G, 14, vn. 113, 117; for the campaign of 1758,'
i. 35; of 1759 and 1760, 45, vn. 152, 153. Its termination,
i. 48. Disasters in the campaigns of 1755, 1756, and 1757,
185. Cessions made in the treaty at the close of the, and
the consequences, x. 101. The period between the, and the
war of Independence, 104. Officers of the, in the Revolu
tionary war, 127.
Sewall, Stepken, Mather's letter to, on witchcraft, vi. 249.
Seward, Miss, in. 170. Cited respecting Andre, 171.
Shawanon, sachem of the Nashaway Indians, visited by Eliot,
and befriends him, v. Ill, 139. Converted, 138. Death of,
and the consequences, 139.
Shays, Daniel, Captain, Ethan Allen reprimands, i. 352.
Sheepscot River, Phips's attempt to build a ship at, vn. 9.
Sheerwater, the bill of the bird so called, n. 74.
Sheldon, Elisha, Colonel, HI. 177, 178.
Shepard, Thomas, cited as to the New England Version of the
Psalms, v. 27. Account of the visit of, to Nonantum, 86 ;
to Yarmouth, 116. Tells the story of a dream, 122. Death
of, 129. Papers of, sent to England, 131. Treatises by,
translated into the Indian language, 245. Cited respecting
Eliot, 343.
Sherburne, Henry, Major, prisoner of war, in. 58.
Shetland Islands, visited by Hudson, x. 189.
Shippen, Edward, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, in. 152.
Arnold marries the daughter of, 153.
Shippen, William, his letter on the death of Jonathan Ed
wards, vin. 161.
Shirley, William, Governor of Massachusetts, i. 15. Super
seded by Abercromby, 24. His expedition against Forts
Niagara and Frontenac, vn. 113.
VOL. X. 24
370 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Short, Phips's quarrel with, vn. 95. Carried to England, 96.
Sicklemore, Michael, sent to inquire after Sir Walter Raleigh's
colony, 11. 297. Unsuccessful, 328.
Sidney, Algernon, on the character of the Long Parliament,
iv. 245.
Sigismund, n. 189. Acknowledges the Emperor's authority,
194.
Sikes, George, Life and Death of Sir Henry Vane by, iv. 98.
Silliman, Selleck G.; General, in the skirmish near Danbury,
in. 89.
Silver, thought to be found by Captain Smith, n. 2GO ; by
Captain Newport, 287.
Simcoe, a British colonel, operations of, in Virginia, ix. 54,
56. Expedition of, to the Fork, 68.
Singing of birds, remarks on the, n. 55.
Skene, Major, measures for apprehending, i. 272. Made pris
oner, 279. Exchange of, for James Lovell, 315, 318.
Skinners, a kind of banditti, described, in. 219.
Slavery, Indians sold into, v. 275, 291, 293; Eliot's efforts in
behalf of them, 292. The wife and son of Philip sold into,
293. Pinkney's speeches on emancipation from, vi. 8; on
the permission of, in Missouri, 59, 82. Cotton Mather's
labors and views respecting, 305, 334. Steuben's redemp
tion of a boy from, ix. 71.
Small, a British officer, at Bunker's Hill battle, anecdotes of
Putnam in relation to, vn. 175, 177, x. 120, 136, 170. An
ecdote of, in relation to General Warren, 176.
Smallpox, first introduction of inoculation for, into America
vi. 304, 311, 314.
Smith, John, Captain, Life and Adventures of, by George S
Hillard, n. 171. His birth, 177. Early adventures of, 178
His residence in the woods, 179. First stage of his journey
against the Turks, 180. His encounter with robbers, 180
182. Cast into the sea, 184. His valor in the capture of a
Venetian vessel, 185. Aid rendered by, at the siege of
Olympach, 186. Kills Lord Turbashaw and Grualgo in sin
gle combat, 191. Patent of nobility conferred on, 194. Left
as dead on the battle-field, 197. Sold to the Bashaw Bogall,
GENERAL INDEX. 37 1
197. The princess's attachment and kindness to, 108. Hia
account of the Crym-Tartars, 199. His escape and arrival
at Ecopolis, 201. Voyage of, to Barbarv, 203. Becomes
interested in the colonization of the coast of America, 207.
Arrival of, in James River, 211. His expedition up the James
River, 219. Captivity of, by the Indians, 231. Life of,
saved by Pocahontas, 240, 372. Powhatan's generous con
duct to, 241. Suppresses a mutiny, 244. Influence of,
over the natives, 245, 207, 330, 351. Visits Powhatan with
Captain Newport, 240. His treatment of thieving Indians,
255. Explores the Chesapeake Bay in two expeditions,
250, 277, 293. President of the colony, 2C3, 278, 343. Op
poses the powers and schemes of Newport, 281. His rem
edy for oaths, 287. His reply to complaints of the Council
in England, 291, 335. Adventures of, withOpechancanough,
309; his daring conduct towards him, 312. Further trou
bles of, with the Germans and Indians, 319. Prejudice and
opposition to, in England, 333. Justification of his conduct
and administration, 334, 345. Dismissed from office, 335.
Resumes his station, 340. Plot for putting him to death,
343. Departs from Virginia for England, 344. Remarks
on his administration, 345. First voyage of, to New Eng
land, 354, 355. Employed by the Plymouth company, 357.
Sails again for New England, 300. Publishes his " Descrip
tion of New England," 3G5, 3G6. Letter to Queen Anne,
respecting Pocahontas, 372. Interview of. with Pocahontas,
370. Examination of, by commissioners for the reformation
of Virginia, 387. Death of, 388. Account of his writings,
398.
Smith, Joshua Hett, nr. 180. Connexion of, with Arnold's
treason, 190, 210, 211, 213, 218. Exculpated by Arnold,
250. Trial of, 254.
Smith, William, Chief Justice of New York, exertions of, to
procure the release of Andre, nr. 271.
Smith, Captain of the British frigate Lark, his kindness to
Ethan Allen, i. 315. Allen's recompense to, 317.
Solebay frigate, Allen's treatment in the, i. 306; his remark
to the captain of the, 307.
372 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Solemn League and Covenant between the patriots of Eng
land and Scotland, iv. 221.
Somnambulism, Brown's use of, in fiction, i. 152.
Sorel, evacuation of, iv. 11.
Soto, Ferdinand de, x. 2G5. His project of conquering Flor
ida, 2G6. Lands at the Bay of Espiritu Santo, 266. His
discovery of the Mississippi River, 267. The first account
of h:s expedition, by a Gentleman of Elvas, considered, 267.
Soufn Bay, in Lake George, Putnam's encounter with the en
emy at, vii. 134.
Southey, Robert, vii. 231, 292.
South Sea, scheme for the discovery of the, by Captain New
port, and its failure, 11. 280, 286.
Sparks, Jared, his Life of Ethan Allen, r. 228; of Arnold, in.
1 ; of Father Marquette, x. 263.
Speene, John, an Indian, gives a quitclaim of Natick, v. 180.
Spencer, Joseph, General, commander of the troops at Rhode
Island, in. 83.
Spikeman, Captain, i. 26. Killed, 28, 33.
Spitzbergen, x. 191. Question as to its discovery, 193, 205.
Stamp Act, Putnam's opposition to the, vii. 162.
Standish, Samuel, captured, in. 102. His relation of the mur
der of Jane McCrea, 107.
Stanhope, Earl, Fulton's intimacy with, x. 19. His mechan
ical talent, 19. His project of a steamboat, 20, 46.
Stanhope, Lady Hester, x. 55.
Stark, John, General, Life of, by Edward Everett, i. 1. His
birth and ancestry, 5. Captured, 7. Anecdotes of, 8, 10,
11. His running the gantlet at St. Francis, 9. Redeemed,
10. His excursion to the head waters of the Androscoggin,
12. Lieutenant in the action at Lake George, 22. Repairs
to Fort Edward, 24. His valor. 29, 33. Importance of his
services, 33. Saves Fort William Henry, 34. Stationed at
Fort Edward, 35, 36. Consulted by Lord Howe before the
attack on Ticonderoga, 37. His attachment to Lord Howe,
39. Returns home, 44. Opens a road from Crown Point
to Number Four, 46. His regard for the St. Francis In
dians, 47. Retires from service, 48. His exertions at the
GENERAL INDEX. 373
beginning of the Revolution, 55. Particulars of his opera
lions at Bunker's Hill battle, 57, viz. 171, x. 147. Takes
post on Winter Hill, i. 65, 67. Proceeds to Canada, 67.
Stationed at Chimney Point, 69. Appointed brigadier-gen
eral ; joins the main army, under Washington, 70. Leads
the vanguard in the attack on Trenton, 71. In the battle
of Princeton, 72. Ordered to New Hampshire to effect en
listments, 72. Superseded, and resigns, 73. His subsequenl
patriotic conduct, 73. Proceeds to oppose Burgoyne, 80.
His arrival at Bennington, 82. His movements in the bat
tle of Bennington, 85. His communications of intelligence
after the battle, 93. His neglect to inform Congress of his
victory, 96. Congress commends and appoints him briga
dier-general, 96, 100. Northern department intrusted to,
101. Joins Gates in Rhode Island, 102. Takes possession
of Newport, 103. His return to West Point, 103. On the
court-martial which condemned Andre, 104. His appeal to
Congress in behalf of the troops, 105. Commander of the
Northern department, 108. His conduct in relation to the
Newburg Addresses, 111. History of the neldpieces taken
by, 113. His death, 114.
Stark, William, surprised by Indians, i. 7. His escape, 8.
Espouses the British cause in the American Revolutionary
war, 50, 53.
Steamboat, projected by Earl Stanhope, x. 20, 46; by Blasco
de Garay, in 1543, 35; by Fitch and Rumsey, 40, 88; by
Miller of Dalswinton, 43 ; by Symington, 43 ; by Stevens,
45.76; by Livingston and Roosevelt, 46; by Fulton, 46,
18. The first, built and tried by Fulton, 57.
Steam ferryboats, invented by Fulton, x. 77.
Steam frigates, Fulton's plan of, x. 85.
Steam navigation, state of, as found by Fulton, x. 36. Projects
and improvements in, by Watt, 36, 39, 42, 43; by Evans,
37; by Fitch and Rumsey, 40; by Miller and Symington,
43; by Stevens, 45, 76; by Livingston and Roosevelt, 46;
by Fulton, 46, 48. Established between New York and Al
bany, 58, 59.
Steuben, Frederic William, Baron, Life of, by Francis Bowen,
KK
374 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
ix. 1. Birth of, 7, 8. Aid-de-camp to the King of Prussia,
7, 9. Situation of, at the courts of Baden and Hohenzollern,
10, 12. Solicited to go to America by the French ministry,
14,16; by the American commissioners, 15. Embarks at
Marseilles, and arrives at Portsmouth, 17. His letter to
Washington, 18. His interview with a committee of Con
gress, at Yorktown, 18. Joins the army at Valley Forge,
20. Appointed inspector-general, 26, 32. Anecdote of his
sense of justice, 29. At the battle of Monmouth, 31. At
Rhode Island, 35. Treatise by, on military discipline and
inspection, 38. His journey to head-quarters, with the Chev
alier de la Luzerne, 42. Concerts operations with the beard
of war, 44. Anecdotes respecting his discipline, 46. Con
nected with the trial of Andre, 47. Commands in Virginia,
49. His operations in relation to Arnold in Virginia, 54.
His perilous situation, 68. Joins Lafayette, 69. His gen
erosity to Major North, 70. Conduct of, towards a negro
boy, 71. Introduces Count de Bieniewsky to Washington,
72. Mission of, to Canada, 77. Washington's letter to, 78.
His plan of a Continental legion, 79. Distributes land given
to him by New York, 82. His manner of life, 83, 84. Sick
ness and death of, 85. His character, 87.
Stevens, John, inquiries of, into steam navigation, x. 45, 76.
Stevens, Robert L., discoveries made by, in relation to the
steamboat, x. 81.
Stevens, Captain, a commissioner to the Indians, for redeem
ing captives, i. 10.
Stewart, Dugald, vm. 183.
Stickney, Colonel, at the battle of Bennington, i. 85.
Stilyard, The, a corporation in London possessing a monop
oly of the trade to the North of Europe, ix. 148.
Stinson, David, surprised by Indians, i. 7. Killed, 8.
Stirling, Lord, in the action on Long Island, vn. 186. Cap
tured, 187.
Stockbridge, Jonathan Edwards's ministry at, vm. 125, 126.
Sergeant missionary at, 283. Indians remove to, from
Kanaumeek, 298.
Stoddard, John, Colonel, vm. 100.
GENERAL, INDEX. 375
Stoddard, Solomon, pastor of the church at Northampton, vni.
5, IOC. Jonathan Edwards colleague with, 50. Death of, 57.
Stony Point, iv. 2. Account of the expedition against, 44.
Hudson anchors near, in 1GU9, x. 229.
Stoughlon, William, Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts,
vn. 7S. Presiding judge at the trials for witchcraft, 81.
Slrafford, Earl of, quarrel of Vane the elder with, iv. 1G8.
Impeachment of, ISO, 182. Pym's speech in relation to,
ISO. Privy counsellors first put upon oath in his case, 184,
1S7. Sir Henry Vane's testimony respecting, 187, 189
Condemned, 195. His character, 19G.
Submarine Guns, Fulton's plan of, x. 84.
Submarine Vessel, by Robert Fulton, x. 32, 85.
Sullivan, John, General, succeeds General Thomas in Canada,
and retreats, i. G3, in. G2. In the battle of Trenton, i. 71.
Superseded by General Gates, iv. 13. Conduct of, at the
battle of the Brandywine, 18; at Germantown, 26, 27.
Cited, 30. Commended by Washington, 33- At the action
on Long Island, vn. 186. His evacuation of Rhode Island,
ix. 35. °
Superstitions, on the use of, in fiction, i. 143.
Swallows, remarks on the migration and torpidity of, 11. 47,
59.
Swett, Samuel, his account of Bunker's Hill battle, vn. 176,
x. 178.
Symington, the steamboat of, x. 43.
Symonds, Colonel, with Berkshire militia, joins Stark at
Bennington, i. 34.
Synod, the first assembled in New England by the General
Court, v. 22. At Cambridge, in 1G47 ; visited by Indians, 90.
T.
Taconet, burnt by Captain Church, vii. 88.
Takawombpait, an Indian, ordained at Natick, v. 297.
Tallmadge, Benjamin, Major of dragoons, at North Castle, in.
177, 183. His surprise and suggestions in relation to An-
376 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
dre, 231. Guards Andre to Tappan, 233. Andre discloses
his character to, 238. Proceeds with Andre to Robinson's
House, 254. Account of his interviews with Andre, 255.
Telegraph, Captain John Smith's, at Olympach, u. 187.
Tennent, Gilbert, opposes lay-preaching, vin. 72, 73.
Ternant, John, Lieutenant-Colonel, ix. 2(5, 36, 38.
Thacher, James, his account of the execution of Andre, in.
281. Cited, ix. 25.
'Theatrical Entertainments, resolutions of Congress respecting,
vi. 104.
Thermometer, Metallic, invented by Rittenhouse, vn 334.
Thomas, John, Brigadier-General, i. 68. Retreat of, in. 61.
Succeeded by Sullivan, 62, iv. 13. Stationed at Roxbury,
vii. 165, 166, x. 125.
Thompson, Benjamin. See Rumford.
Thompson, William, Brigadier-General, commander at Sorel,
i. 68. Wayne attached to the brigade of, iv. 8. Move
ments of, in the expedition against Trois Rivieres, 9.
Thornton, Matthew, Stark 's letter to, i. 62.
Thorowgood, Thomas, his " Je\ves in America," v. 39.
Three Rivers, expedition against, i. 68, iv. 8.
Ticonderoga, expedition against, in 1758, i. 36, vn. 133, 136.
Death of Lord Howe near, i. 39, vii. 137, 138. Fate of the
expedition, i. 41. Loss there; Putnam sent to, 43, 187,
vn. 150. American army retreats to, in 1776; Wayne
commands at, i. 69, iv. 12, 14. Retreat of the American
army from, on the approach of Burgoyne, i. 75, 77, in. 65,
72, 98. Early measures for capturing, in 1775, i. 270.
Plan concerted against, in Connecticut, 27J, in. 14. Ethan
Allen, commander of the expedition against, i. 272. Plans
for getting possession of, 272. Arnold joins the expedition
against, 273. Surprised and captured by Allen and Arnold,
276, 277, in. 17. Allen appointed commander there, i. 279.
Measures for the maintenance of, 262, in. 21. Troops un
der Hinman arrive at, i. 288. Compensation to the captors
of, 289. Allen joins Schuyler at, 292. Troops from, join
Washington, in. 83.
Tilly, M. de, despatched to the Chesapeake, ix. Gl, 62.
GENERAL INDEX. 377
Tithes, payment of, by the Natick Indians, v. 208.
Toleration, extracts from the writings of Sir Henry Vane on,
iv. 207,201.
Torpedo, by Robert Fulton, x. 27, 82.
Toteswamp, an Indian ruler at Natick, v. 194, 19G.
Tragabigzanda, Charatza, Captain John Smith given to, ir.
197. Attachment of, to Smith, 198. Smith's confidence in
aid from, 200.
Tragabigzanda, Cape Ann so called by Smith, 357.
Transits of Venus, remarks and observations on, vn. 340,348.
Treaties, discussions in Congress as to what gives validity to,
vi. 51.
Treaty, with Great Britain, in 1806, vi. 24. Returned by
Jefferson, 25, Of Paris, at the close of the Seven Years'
War, x. 101. With the Bey and government of Tunis, ne
gotiated by Famin, ix. 185, 187, 191, 195. See Tunis.
Trenton, battle of, i. 71.
Tripoli, ix. 181, 206. Difficulties between the United Slates
and, 238, 240. Blockaded, 256, 282. Project of dethron
ing the Bashaw of, 257. Intervention of the Bey of Tunis
in the affairs of, 267. Overtures of peace by the Bashaw
of, 327.
Trois Rivieres. See Three Ricers.
Trueman, Alexander, Major, murdered by the Indians, iv. 73
Tryon, William, Governor of New York, i. 250. His recep
tion of deputies, 254. Angry at Allen's treatment of in
truders near Otter Creek, 258. His perplexity about the
law in regard to Vermonters, 259. Met by Allen on board
the Mercury frigate, 311. Expedition of, to Danbury in
Connecticut, in. 89.
Tunis, reception of Eaton at, ix. 183. Character of the Bey
of, 184. Famin's treaty with the Bey and government of,
185. Eaton's interviews with the Bey of, and negotiations
with his ministers, 191, 195, 197, 217. War of, with Den
mark, 226. Jewels demanded by the Bey of, 240, 242.
Project of a commercial convention with, 245. Interven
tion of the Bey of, in the affairs of Tripoli and the United
States, 207. Eaton's rupture with the Bey of, 286.
K K 2
378 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Turbashaw, Lord, killed by Captain John Smith in single
combat, n. 191.
Turenne, General, remark of, iv. 34.
Turks, Captain John Smith's journey against the, n. 180.
At war with the Germans, 185. Destruction of, at Olym-
pach, 186 ; at Alba Regalis, 188 ; on the plains of Girke,
189. Put to the sword at Regal, 193.
Turner, William, has charge of the United States affairs at
Tunis, ix. 259.
I.
Upham, Charles Wentvvorth, Life of Sir Henry Vane by, iv.
85.
Uttamatornakkin, one of Powhatan's council, sent to number
the people in England, n. 377. His report, 377.
V.
Valley Forge, i. 322. Sufferings of the army at, iv. 34, vn
207, ix. 20. Wayne's foraging excursion for the relief of
the troops at, iv. 35.
Van der Kemp, Adrian, x. 210.
Vane, Sir Henry, Life of, by Charles W. Upham, iv. 85. Pa
rentage and family of, 99. Early travels of, on the conti
nent, 103. Becomes a Puritan, 103. Removal of, to Amer
ica, 105. Chosen governor of Massachusetts, 107. Entrance
of, into Salem, 117. His conference with Indian chiefs,
120. An adherent of Anne Hutchinson, 142. One of the
earliest advocates of religious liberty, 144, 156. Sir James
Mackintosh's eulogium on, 144, 203. Controversy of, with
Winthrop, in relation to colonial legislation, 146, 150. Em
barks for England, 157. Elected by Kingston upon Hull to
Parliament, 166. Made treasurer of the navy, 166. Knight
ed, 166. Member of the Long Parliament, 172. Informa
tion obtained from, against the Earl of Slrafford, 189, 191
GENERAL INDEX. 379
Collision between him and his father, 193. His religious
character, views, and principles, 200, 391. A Calvinist,
205. Tolerant to all sects, 206. Selections from his writ
ings on toleration, 209. Commissioner to procure the co
operation of Scotland against Charles, 22], Retires from
Parliament, 228. A member of the Council, 230. Conducts
the naval war with Holland, 231, 233. His bill for reform
in Parliament, 235, 240. Milton's panegyric on, 230. Re
tires to private life, 246. Persecution and imprisonment of,
by Cromwell, 276, 279, 282, 264. His reelection to Parlia
ment, and the opposition to it, 289. Imprisoned, 298. Con
fined in Scilly, 299. Removedlcfthe tower, and arraigned,
321, 322. Trial of, 327. HJKS conduct at passing sentence
on him, 338. His exhortatre«k. to his children, 347.
Speech of, on the scaffold, 360. Effect of his death, 371,
381. Estates and honors of, restored to his family, 377.
Prosperity of his descendants, 378. Reflections on his life
and character, 382. List of his publications, 401.
Vane, William Harry, Marquis of Cleveland, iv. 378. Ad
herence of, to liberal principles, 378, 380.
Van Tromp, Admiral of the Dutch fleet, action of, with
Blake, iv. 232. Beaten, 234.
Van Wart, Isaac, one of the captors of Andre, in. 222. Rec
ompense to, 291.
Varick, Richard, Colonel, HI. 116, 117, 250.
V ay gats, Hudson's purpose of passing through the, x. 209,
210. Situation of the, 203.
Vega, Garcilaso de la, his work on Florida, x. 268. Sources
of his information considered, 269. Character of his work,
269, 270.
Ventriloquism, Brown's use of, in fiction, i. 142, 145.
Venus, remarks and observations on the transits of, vii. 340,
348.
Vermont, alarm in, at the time of Burgoyne's expedition, i.
77. Troops of, reinforced, 80. Remarks on the early set
tlement of, 229. Early settlers in, 230, 231. Settlement
of the Aliens in, 230, 235. Wentworth's grant of lands
in, 233, 234. Declares itself an independent State, 325.
380 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Allen's exertions for maintaining the supremacy of, 328,
329. Allen's mission to Congress respecting the indepen
dence of, 334. A lien's writings in vindication of, 337, 347.
British scheme for bringing into a union with Canada, 338,
344. Obligations of, to Ethan Allen, 356. See Green
Mountain Boys.
Viceroy of Egypt, favors the exiled Hamet, ix. 295.
Virginia, n. 211, 214. Early struggles in the colony of, 218,
222, x. 216. First arrival of Englishwomen in, n. 279.
Rights and privileges of the colonists in, 335. Difficulty as
to the boundary line of, vn. 377, 378. Condition of, before
Cornwallis's capitulation, ix. 50. See Jamestown.
Virginia Company, letters patent granted to the, n. 207. Dis
satisfied with Smith, 290. Dissolution of the, 387.
Volday, a Swiss in the Virginia colony, n. 329. Conspiracy
of, 329. Fate of, 353.
W.
Waban, an Indian chief, v. 48, 55. Forms a plan of settle
ment, 68. Speech made by, 286.
Walker, Captain, Aid-de-camp, to Steuben, ix. 23, 36, 84.
Walley, John, in Phips's expedition against Canada, vn. 51,
58, 60, 63, 66.
Walter, Nehemiah, colleague of John Eliot, v. 332.
Wampas, an Indian, v. 60. Account of the wife of, 87, 97.
Wannalancet, an Indian, v. 260. Flight of, in Philip's war,
231.
Ward, Artemas, General, gives orders to fortify Bunker's
Hill; connexion of, with the events of the 17th of June, i.
58, vn. 165, x. 125, 139, 145.
Warner, Seth, i. 80. His opportune arrival to aid Stark at
Bennington, 87. His loss in the action at Hubbardston, 87.
His operations at Longueil, 203. Captain of the Green
Mountain Boys, 246. Reward offered for, by the governor
of New York, 248. Excepted in Tryon's proposition to the
Vermonters, 252. Third in command in the expedition
GENERAL INDEX. 381
against Ticonderoga, 272. Takes Crown Point, 277. Vis
its the Continental Congress, 289 ; the New York Provincial
Congress, 289. Admitted to the floor of the House, 291.
Lieutenant-colonel of a new regiment, 291. Part of th$
regiment of, sent to Quebec, in. 53.
Warren, Joseph, General, sends an agent to Canada, i. 270
Arnold's interest in the children of, in. ]26. Accompanie
Putnam on an expedition to islands in Boston Harbor, vn
167. Apprehensions of, respecting the issue of an engage
ment with the British, 1C8. Declines the command at Bun
ker's Hill battle, 173. Fall of, 17G. Life of, by Alexander
H. Everett, x. 91. Birthplace of, 94. His father and fam
ily, 94. Early education of, 95. His professional studies
and practice, 99. Entrance of, into political life, 100, 106,
114. His addresses on the 5th of March, 108, 111,117.
Remonstrates against fortifying Boston Neck, 115. Presi
dent of the Provincial Congress, 116. His exertions in
relation to the affairs of the 19th of April, 1775, 117, 122.
Elected major-general, 126. Opposes taking possession
of Charlestown Heights, 138, 157. Hastens to the scene
of action, on the 17th of June, 156. His reluctance to quit
the redoubt, 176. Major Small's exertions to save him, 176.
Particulars of his death, 176. Burial-place of, 177. Reso
lutions of Congress respecting, 179. His wife and family,
179. Reflections on him and his early death, 181.
Warren Tavern, action near the, iv. 20.
Washington, Bushrod, vi. 33.
Washington, George, General, orders Arnold's expedition to
Canada, i. 66. Reinforced by troops from the Canadian
frontier, 70, iv. 13. His movements at Trenton, i. 71. His
opinion as to the treaty at the Cedars, in. GO. Presents
epaulettes and a sword-knot to Arnold, ] 20. Charges against
Arnold referred to. 130. Arnold reprimanded by, 144.
Andre's letter to, 235. Hamilton discloses Arnold's treason
to him, 246. His self-possession, 247. His measures for
the security of West Point, 251 ; for the recovery of Arnold
267. Embarrassing situation of, in New Jersey, iv. 13,
Howe's attempt to draw from Middlebrook, 15. 17. Posi
382 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
tion of, on the Schuylkill, 20. Remark of, respecting the
battle of Germantown, 34. His suppression of a revolt of
Wayne's troops, 54. Declines acceding to a request of the
House of Representatives for papers, vi. 53. Appointed
commander-in-chief of the American army, and repairs to
Cambridge, vn. 178. His commendations of Putnam, 178
Takes possession of Dorchester Heights, 180. Moves to
New York, 182. His retreat across the Jerseys, 191.
Cited as to the adjournment of Congress from Philadelphia,
192. Cited respecting Baron Steuben, ix. 25. Letter of, to
Steuben, on the day of his resignation, 78.
Washington City, n. 125. Attack on, by the British, vi. 50.
Water, experiments on the incompressibility of, vn. 335.
Watson, Brook, i. 300. Treatment of Ethan Allen by, 301.
Mayor of London, 302.
Watt, James, Fulton's acquaintance with, x. 21. His improve
ments on the original form of the steam engine, 36, 39, 42,
43, 45. Description of the steam engine ordered from, by
Fulton, 48.
Wayne, Anthony, the elder, notice of, iv. 3.
Wayne Anthony, Life of, by John Armstrong, iv. 1. Birth
and boyhood of, 4. Agent for a land association, 6. Com
mencement of his military career in the Revolutionary war,
7. Conduct of, at Trois Rivieres, 9, 11. Covers the retreat
from Canada, 12. Commander at Ticonderoga, 14. Ap
pointed brigadier-general, 14, Movements of, at the time
of Howe's demonstrations in New Jersey, 16. Commended
by Washington, 16, 33, 43, 46. Defence of Chad's Ford
intrusted to, 18. Leads the attack near the Warren Tav
ern, 19. Position of, near Tredyfrin, 20; his vigilance
there, 21. At the battle of Germantown, 27, 33. At Val
ley Forge, 35. Movements of, against the British, while
crossing the Jerseys, 38. At the battle of Monmouth, 42.
Expedition of, against Stony Point, 44. Gold medal voted
to, by Congress, 47. Enterprise of, against Fort Lee, 49.
Conduct of, in a time of revolt among his troops, 51. De
spatched to Virginia, 57. Surprised at Green Spring, and
makes a daring charge, 59. Agency of, in the affair at
GENERAL INDEX. 383
Yorktown, 61, 82. Detached to the army of Greene, 62.
Captures Choctaw and disperses Creek Indians, 64, 65, 66.
Terms of, to the inhabitants of Savannah, 67. Recalled to
South Carolina, 69. His subsequent employments, 70.
Expedition of, against Indians in the West, 73. His suc
cess, 78. Appointed commissioner, and returns to the West,
79. Death of, 79. Inscription on his monument, 80.
Webb, General, at Fort Edward, vn. 120. Movements of, on
occasion of the capture of Fort William Henry, 124, 125.
Weld, Thomas, cited respecting the Antinomian controversy,
iv. 131. Colleague with John Eliot, v. 11. Agency of,
in the New England Version of the Psalms, 26. The libra
ry of, purchased, and given to Eliot, 146.
Wells, in Maine, vn. 43. Treaty at, 70. Attack on, 86.
Party of Indians killed near, 91.
Wellwood, Sir Henry Moncrieff, vin. 175, 222, 232.
Wentworth, Benning, Governor of New Hampshire, i. 55.
Makes grants of lands in Vermont, 233.
Wentworth, Sir Thomas, quarrel of, with Sir Henry Vane,
the elder, iv. 168.
"West, Benjamin, a patron of Fulton, x. 13.
West Indies, British, expedition against, i. 188.
Westminster Abbey, Lord Howe's monument in, i. 39. Mon
ument raised to Andre in, in. 290.
West Point, in. 154. Arnold takes the command there, 160.
Washington's return to, from Hartford, 240. Arnold's es
cape from, 241, 247. Measures for the immediate security
of, 251. Putnam superintends the construction of fortifica
tions at, vn. 208.
Wetmore, General, in the expedition against Louisburg, i.
185.
Wharton, Henry, manuscript Life of Captain John Smith by,
ii. 174.
Wheaton, Henry, Life of William Pinkney by, vi. 1.
Wheelwright, John, brother-in-law of Anne Hutchinson, iv
123. Banished, 161.
Wheelwright, a commissioner to the Indians, for redeeming
captives, i. 10.
384 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Whippoorwills, distinguished from night-hawks, n. 58.
White Plains, action at, VH. 190.
Wild Rice, in the western rivers, x. 273, 277.
Wilkinson, James, Aid-de-camp to Arnold, in. 62. His cen
sure of Arnold, unmerited, 73. Adjutant-General, 114.
An accomplice with Burr, ix. 346.
Willard, Captain, of Concord, accompanies Eliot to Pautuck-
et, v. 106.
Willard, reply of, to General Gage, respecting Colonel Pres-
cott, x. 132.
William Henry, Fort, at Lake George, garrisoned, i. 22, 26.
Rangers march from, and return to, 26, 31. Stark procures
sleighs from, for the wounded, 31. Saved by Stark's fore
thought and vigilance, 34. Capitulates, 35, 185, VH. 124,
127. Situation of, 124. Massacre at, 128.
William Henry, Fort, at Pemaquid, built, vii. 83. Assaulted,
88. Treaty at, 92.
Williams, David, one of the captors of Andre, in. 222. Tes
timony of, in regard to the searching of Andre, 224. Re
compense to, 291.
Williams, Ephraim, Colonel, betrayed into an ambuscade, i.
17. Killed, 18, 22. Biographical notice of, 18. Founder
of Williams College, 20.
Williams, John, in Hudson's fourth voyage, x. 245.
Williams, Roger, iv. 156. Benefited by Vane, 158, 159.
Animadverts on the Pequot Treaty, v. 20.
Williamstown, foundation of the college in, i. 20.
Willoughby, Sir Hugh, ix. 150. His fate, 153.
Willoughby's Land, Hudson's search for, x. 205.
Wilson, Alexander, Life of, by William B. O. Peabody, n. 1.
His interest in ornithology, 5. Leaves his father's house, 7.
Apprentice to a weaver, 10. Publishes his poems, 1(5, 19,
20. Interview of, with Burns, 20. His sentiments on the
French Revolution, 25. Emigrates to America, 27. Ped-
ler in America, 30. Employed by a copperplate printer,
30. A weaver, 30. Teacher of a village school for many
years, 31, 33, 98. His literary application, 33. His pedes
trian excursion, 34. Letter of, to his father, cited, 39. A
GENERAL, INDEX. 385
teacher near Philadelphia, 42. The commencement of his
history as an ornithologist, 42. His attempts at drawing,
64, G5. His plan of an American Ornithology, 66. Ridicules
Buffon's and Latham's credulity, 84. Contributions of, to
the " Literary Magazine," 88. His pilgrimage to Niagara,
(J1. Becomes acquainted with Jefferson, and visits him, 96,
126. Enters upon his profession as ornithologist, 100. Com
mences the art of etching, 101. Meditates a southwestern
excursion, 109. Superintends Rees's Cyclopaedia, 109. Pub
lishes the first volume of his " American Ornithology," 112.
His eastern tour, 116, 163. His visit to Thomas Paine, 122.
His southern tour, 125. His return to New York, and pub
lication of the second volume of his Ornithology, 138, 139.
His journey to the West, 1 39. His visit to the mounds,
147. Commences a journey to New Orleans, 156. Re
turns from New Orleans to Philadelphia, 161. Appre
hension of, at Haverhill, New Hampshire, 164. Death of,
166. Inscription on his monument, 167.
Wilson, John, opposition of, to Anne Hutchinson, iv. 137.
Harangues electors from a tree, 143. His visit to Yarmouth
and Cape Cod, v. 116; to Natick, 173, 175.
Wilson, William, with Henry Hudson, x. 242. Conspires
against Hudson, 249. Mortally wounded by savages, 259.
Wingfield, Edward W., n. 219, 221. Unpopular, and deposed,
223. Returns to England, 253.
Winslow, Edward, v. 131. Exertions of, for the Indians, 131,
132. Letters of Eliot to, 140
Winthrop, James, at Bunker's Hill battle, x. 140.
Winthrop, John, Governor, n. 404, iv. 144. Advocates a
constitutional law against conscience, and vindicates it,
14-6, 150. Honorable testimony of, to Vane, 158 ; v. 8.
Winthrop, John, Professor in Harvard University, vii. 343.
Wisconsin River, wild rice in the, x. 277, 278. Navigated by
Marquette and Joliet, 278.
Witchcraft, Increase Mather's opposition to persecution for,
vi. 170, 224. Cotton Mather's agency in promoting the
aelusions of, 170, 211, 238, 246, 248. Cases of, 214, 241,
250. Anecdote of Penn in relation to, 234. Influence of
VOL. X. 25 M M
386 AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
Calef's writings in allaying it, 240. Phips's agency in the
affair, vn. 80. Anecdote of Pliips's wife respecting, 82.
vVolcott, Oliver, vi. 118.
Wolfe, James, General, i. 45. In the expedition against Lou-
isburg, 186. His expedition against Quebec, 207, 210, vn.
153. Particulars of his assault and success, i. 216.
Wood, Anthony, on Sir Henry Vane, iv. 175, 202.
Wood Thrush, Jefferson's inquiries respecting the, n. 96.
Described, 97.
Wool, General, distances in the West furnished by, x. 290.
Wooster, David, General, in Canada, in. 55, 56. Bravery of,
in the affair at Danbury, 89. His death, 90. Succeeded
by General Thomas, iv. 13.
Wyman, Isaac, Lieutenant-Colonel, i. 56. Despatched by
Stark to Bunker's Hill battle, 59.
Y.
Yale College, early history of, vnr. 8. Excitement at, in the
time of Whitefield, 272. Expulsion of Brainerd from, 274.
Brairierd's subsequent visits to, 278, 287.
Yarmouth, visited by Eliot and others, v. 116. Opposition to
Eliot's preaching at, 117.
Yorktown, Cornwallis takes post at, iv. 61, ix. 69. Siege and
surrender of, iv. 82, ix. 70.
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