Textile Fabrics. The difficulty of paying for imported goods in Massachusetts, about 1640, stimulated the people to new kinds of industry. Among other things, cotton and woollen cloths were manufactured. The cultivation of hemp and flax

was

United States. But his operations were only in spinning the yarn. It remained for a citizen of the United States, Francis C. Lowell, a merchant of Boston, to introduce the weaving of cotton cloth here. He invented a power loom, and in 1812 he and Francis S. Jackson erected a mill in Waltham, Mass. The machinery was constructed by Paul Moody. After many failures and alterations, they succeeded in perfecting looms that worked well, and in 1813 they had also a spinning-wheel, with 1,300 spindles. Slater's Rhode Island mill had then only 144 spindles. See COTTON.

successfully undertaken. Vessels were sent to the West Indies for cotton, and, at Rowley, where a colony of Yorkshire clothiers had recently settled, the fabrication of linen, woollen, and cotton cloth was set on foot. The first cotton factory in the United States was started in Beverly, Mass., in 1789, by a company who only succeeded in introducing that Thacher, JAMES, physician; born in industry, with very imperfect machinery. Barnstable, Mass., Feb. 14, 1754; joined A woollen factory was in operation in the Continental army at Cambridge in Hartford, Conn., in 1789, and in 1794 one 1775, and served through the war as surwas established in Byfield, Mass. The geon, being present at many of the promisame year a carding-machine for wool was nent battles in the North. He kept a first put into operation in the United diary, and in 1824 published a Military States. It was constructed under the Journal of the Revolution, a work of great direction of John and Arthur Schofield. historical value. He was author, also, of SAMUEL SLATER (q. v.) may be considered several other works, scientific, philosophi

cal, and historical. He died in Plymouth, myself fortunate to collect a sufficiency Mass., May 26, 1844. to mount the general officers." Harrison Thacher, JOHN BOYD, author; born in did pursue. On Oct. 1 he was joined by Ballston, N. Y., Sept. 11, 1847; gradu- Col. Richard M. Johnson, with his cavalry, ated at Williams College in 1869; served at Sandwich. There a council of officers in the State Senate in 1884-85, where he was held. Only two lines of pursuit introduced measures which later resulted were feasible-one by Lake Erie to Long in the reform of the tenement-house con- Point, the other by land to the rear of struction and management; was mayor of the fugitives. The latter was chosen. Albany in 1886-87 and 1896–97; was McArthur and his brigade were left to appointed by President Harrison a mem- hold Detroit; Cass's brigade and Ball's ber of the World's Columbian Exposi- regiment were left at Sandwich, and 3,500 tion Commission, and became chairman men, mostly Kentucky volunteers, startof its bureau of awards. He wrote The Continent of America, its Discovery and its Baptism; The Cabotian Discovery,

etc.

Thames, BATTLE OF THE. When General Harrison landed his invading army near Fort Malden, Canada, in 1813, General Proctor, in command of the British troops there, fled northward, leaving the fort, navy buildings, and store-houses in flames. Proctor had impressed into his service all the horses of the inhabitants to facilitate his flight. Harrison wrote to the Secretary of War (Sept. 27): "I will pursue the enemy to-morrow, although there is no probability of overtaking him, as he has upwards of 1,000 horses and we have not one in the army. I shall think

ed in pursuit towards Chatham, on the Thames River, where, it was ascertained, Proctor had encamped. General Cass accompanied Harrison as volunteer aide.

Learning that some small vessels containing the enemy's artillery and baggage were escaping on Lake St. Clair towards the mouth of the Thames, Commodore Perry despatched a portion of his fleet, under Captain Elliott, in pursuit. Perry soon followed in the Ariel, accompanied by the Caledonia. The little squadron reached (Oct. 2) the mouth of the Thames, with the baggage, provisions, and ammunition wagons of the Americans, but the vessels of the enemy had escaped up that stream. Harrison pressed forward rapidly, along the border of the lake and

up the Thames. Three of Perry's armed and scorned by honorable men for his vessels also went up the river as convoys career of cruelty and cowardice in Amer

to transports. The British had encamped
at Dolsen's-700 white men and 1,200
Indians-but on the approach of Harrison
they continued their flight, Tecumseh
cursing Proctor for his coward-
ice. The former boasted of the
victory he should win, but kept
on retreating, destroying bridges
and other property in his flight,
burning his own vessels and
leaving arms behind. At last
the pursuit was so sharp and
close that Proctor was compelled
to make a stand on the bank of
the Thames, near the Moravian
town, his left on the river, where
the bank is high and precipitous,
and on his right a marsh, run-
ning almost parallel with the
river for about 2 miles. The
space between was covered with
woods, with very little under-
growth.

The British regulars were formed in two lines between a smaller swamp and the river, their artillery being planted in the road, near the bank of that stream. The Indians were posted between the two swamps, and so disposed as easily to flank Harrison's left. They were commanded by Tecumseh, assisted by Oshawahnah, a brave Chippewa chief. Harrison's force

ica, Proctor sank into merited obscurity.

Harrison's victory was complete. The whole country resounded with his praises. Congress gave him and Shelby the thanks

OSHAWAHNAH.*

At the battle of the Thames six brass cannon taken from Hull at Detroit were recovered, on two of which were engraved the words, "Surrendered by Burgoyne at

These may now be seen at West Point. The loss in this short but decisive battle is not exactly known. It

was now little more than 3,000 in num- of the nation and each a gold medal. ber, composed of 120 regulars, five brigades of Kentucky volunteers, under Governor Shelby, and Colonel Johnson's regiment of mounted men. Harrison attacked (Oct. 5), and a severe battle ensued. Saratoga." Tecumseh was slain, and his amazed followers, who had fought desperately, broke and fled to the shelter of the swamp. The whole British force was speedily vanquished, and most of them were made prisoners. Proctor escaped in a carriage, with his personal staff, a few dragoons, and mounted Indians, hotly pursued some distance by Johnson and his horsemen. He made his way to the western end of Lake Ontario, and there his military was ended. Censured by his superiors, rebuked by the Prince

career

*This picture is from a photograph from life of Tecumseh's lieutenant at the battle of

the Thames, taken at Brantford, Canada, in September, 1858, when he was attending a peared with all his testimonials of bravery grand council there. In that council he aphis "stars and garters "-as seen in the picture. Around his hat was a silver band. also displayed a silver gorget, medals, etc., a sash of bead-work, strings of wampum, and an ornamented tomahawk pipe. He was then about ninety years of age. He had been a Regent, famous warrior-the hero of fifteen battles.

He

reciting the occasion which prompted the observance. With only one exception, Congress suspended business on the days appointed for thanksgiving.

lasted only about fifteen minutes. The Americans lost about forty-five killed and wounded; the British forty-four, besides 600 made prisoners. Harrison had recovered all that Hull had lost. He had gained Washington issued a proclamation for much. He had subdued western Canada, a general thanksgiving by the Continental broken up the Indian Confederacy, and army on Thursday, Dec. 18, 1777; and ended the war on the northwestern border again, at Valley Forge, May 7, 1778. As of the Union. The frontier being secured, President, Washington appointed ThursHarrison dismissed a greater portion of day, Nov. 26, 1789, a day for general the volunteers. Leaving General Cass thanksgiving throughout the Union; also (whom he had appointed civil and military governor of Michigan) in command of a garrison at Detroit, composed of 1,000 regulars, he proceeded (Oct. 23) with the remainder of his troops to Niagara, to join the Army of the Centre. For some unexplained reason General Armstrong, the Secretary of War, treated Harrison so badly that the latter left the army, and the country was deprived of his valuable services at a most critical time. See HARRISON, WILLIAM HENRY.

Thanksgiving Day. The first recorded public thanksgiving appointed by authority, in America, was proclaimed in Massachusetts Bay in 1631. Owing to the great scarcity of provisions and consequent menace of starvation, Feb. 22 was appointed to be observed as a fast-day. Before that time a long-expected vessel arrived, laden with provisions, and the fast-day was changed into one of thanks giving. The practice was sometimes observed in New Netherland. Governor Kieft proclaimed a public thanksgiving, to be held in February, 1644, on account of a victory over the Indians; and again, in 1645, because of the conclusion of peace. Thanksgivings and fasts, sometimes general and sometimes partial, were appointed in the several colonies, and early in the Revolutionary War the Continental Congress adopted the practice. The days appointed during the war were as follows: Thursday, July 20, 1775; Friday, May 17, 1776; and another, to be fixed by the several States, ordered by resolution, Dec. 11, 1776; Wednesday, April 22, 1778; Thursday, May 6, 1779; Wednesday, April 6, 1780; Thursday, May 3, 1781; Thursday, April 25, 1782. These eight several appointments of thanksgiving days were made by the Continental Congress, in the form of recommendations to the executive heads of the several State governments,

Thursday, Feb. 19, 1795. Successive Presidents of the United States were moved to do likewise, from time to time. The Book of Common Prayer, revised (1789) for the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, directed the first Thursday of November (unless another day be appointed by the civil authorities) "to be observed as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God for the fruits of the earth," etc. In New England, especially, a day of thanksgiving has been annually celebrated for a century and more, and made the occasion for family reunions. The custom gradually extended to other States, and for several years the President of the United States has issued a proclamation for a day of public thanksgiving throughout the Union-usually the last Thursday in November-and the State executives have chosen the same day, so that the custom is now general. Thanksgiving Day is now a legal holiday.

Tharin, ROBERT SEYMOUR SYMMES, lawyer; born in Magnolia, S. C., Jan. 10, 1830; graduated at the College of Charleston in 1857 and at the Law Department of the University of New York in 1859; was strongly in favor of the Union prior to the Civil War, and owing to his opinions was attacked by a mob in 1861. He fled to Cincinnati; afterwards settled in Richmond, Ind.; and served in the Union army in 1861-62. In 1888 he declined a nomination, by the Industrial Conference in Washington, for President of the United States; and was later engaged in the auditor's office in Washington. His publications include Arbitrary Arrests in the South; and Letters on the Political Situation.

Thatcher, BENJAMIN BUSSEY, author: born in Warren, Me., Oct. 8, 1809; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1826; studied law and was admitted to the bar, but

turned his attention to literary work. He ber of Congress in 1863-67; judge of the was the author of Biography of North district court of Philadelphia in 1867-96. American Indians; Memoir of Phillis He is the author of The Duties of CitizenWheatley; Memoir of S. Osgood Wright; ship; The Great Victory [of the Civil Traits of the Boston Tea-party; Traits War], its Cost and its Value; The Batof Indian Manners, etc.; and Tales of the tle of Germantown; The Philippines: American Revolution. He died in Boston, What is Demanded of the United States Mass., July 14, 1840. by the Obligations of Duty and National Honor, etc.

Thatcher, HENRY KNOX, naval officer; born in Thomaston, Me., May 26, 1806; Thayer, SIMEON, military officer; born grandson of Gen. Henry Knox; entered in Mendon, Mass., April 30, 1737; he the navy in 1823; was made captain in served with the Rhode Island troops in the 1831, and commodore in July, 1862. In French and Indian War, and in 1757 in the 1862-63 he commanded the Mediterranean Massachusetts line, under Colonel Frye Squadron, and was in command of the and Rogers the Ranger. He was taken steam-frigate Colorado, of the North At- prisoner in 1757 at Fort William Henry. lantic Squadron, in both attacks on Fort He accompanied Arnold in his famous exFisher. He afterwards commanded the pedition to Quebec (1775), and was made West Gulf Squadron, and assisted Gen- prisoner; but was exchanged in July, 1777, eral Canby in the reduction of Mobile. and was prominent in the defence of Red On May 10, 1865, Thatcher received the Bank and Fort Mifflin, where he was mɔsurrender of the Confederate naval forces jor. He was wounded in the battle of at Mobile and on the Alabama River. In Monmouth; served in New Jersey in 1780, July, 1866, he was made rear-admiral, and in 1781 retired from the service. He and in May, 1868, retired. He died in left a Journal of the Invasion of Canada Boston, Mass., April 5, 1880. in 1775, which was published in 1867. Thayer, ELI, educator; born in Mendon, He died in Cumberland, R. I., Oct. 14, Mass., June 11, 1819; graduated at Brown 1800. College in 1845; established the Oread Institute, Worcester, Mass., in 1848; member of the legislature in 1853-54, during which period he organized and founded the Emigrant Aid Company and endeavored to unite the North in favor of his scheme to send into Kansas anti-slavery settlers. His company founded Topeka, Lawrence, Manhattan, and Ossawatomie, of which places Gov. Charles Robinson said: "Without these settlements Kansas would have been a slave State without a struggle; without the Aid Society these towns would never have existed; and that society was born of the brain of Eli Thayer." Mr. Thayer was a member of Congress in 1857-61. He invented an automatic boiler cleaner, an hydraulic elevator, and a sectional safety steamboiler. His publications include a history of the Emigrant Aid Company; several lectures; a volume of his speeches in Congress; and the Kansas Crusade. He died in Worcester, Mass., April 15, 1899.

Thayer, SYLVANUS, military officer; born in Braintree, Mass., June 9, 1785; graduated at Dartmouth College in 1807 and at West Point in 1808, entering the corps of engineers. He was chief engineer of Dearborn's army in 1812, and of Hampton's division in 1813. He was chief engineer in the defence of Norfolk, Va., in 1814. In 1815 he was sent with Colonel McRae to Belgium and France to examine the fortifications there; and from 1817 to 1833 he was superintendent at West Point, and established the academy on its present basis. In 1838 he was made lieutenantcolonel, and from 1833 to 1857 was constructing engineer of the defences of Boston Harbor, and temporary chief of the engineer corps from 1857 to 1859. was commissioned colonel in March, 1863; brevetted brigadier-general in May; and resigned June 1. He died in South Braintree, Mass., Sept. 7, 1872.

He

Thayer, WILLIAM MAKEPEACE, author; born in Franklin, Mass., Feb. 23, 1820; Thayer, MARTIN RUSSELL, jurist; born graduated at Brown University in 1843; in Petersburg, Va., Jan. 27, 1819; grad- later studied theology; was in charge of uated at the University of Pennsylvania in the Orthodox Congregational Church, 1840; admitted to the bar in 1842; mem- Ashland, Mass., in 1849-57; and subse