The Pictorial History of the United States of America

O furnish, within a reasonable compass, a complete history of the United States, suited to the purposes of the general reader, has been my object in preparing the work which is now offered to the public. In pursuing

this design, the difficulties have been by no means inconsiderable. From the great mass of materials furnished by previous writers, to select what was essential in order to form a continuous and clear narrative of the leading events, was not an easy task. The large number of distinct communities of which the republic is composed; the different views which actuated their founders; and the extent of territory over which they were originally spread, render it difficult to combine their annals into a single work. Yet that there is a proper unity in the history of our country, no one can doubt, who has paid much attention to the subject. Although the nation derives its origin from so many isolated colonies, composed of diverse materials, still it is evident that there was a period when it arrived at what may be termed a national consciousness; and that from that period it has been actuated by a national purpose

which gives singleness and distinct effect to its history. This fact renders it possible to make the narrative compact and clear; and to accomplish this object has been my purpose; how far I have been successful, it remains with the reader to decide.

It may be thought that, considering the limited space which is assigned to the whole work, too much attention has been devoted to the early history of the colonies; but it should be remembered that the character of the republic was determined by its founders; that the spirit of our institutions had its origin in their peculiar views; and that what may seem trivial in the records of these early days nevertheless exerted an important influence on the subsequent course of events.

The plan originally prescribed for the work has rendered it inexpedient to dwell upon disputed points, or to enter into extended disquisitions. The known and established facts of our national history have afforded abundant materials for my purpose; and the principal difficulty has been to select what was important and influential, and to present it in such a light as should render it striking and effective.

If particular characters have been made conspicuous, and single events have been dwelt upon with emphasis, it was because they were considered more influential than others, that have been passed over or comparatively thrown into the shade. To carry forward the narrative in such a manner that the mind of the reader might not be distracted with too great a variety of details, it was necessary to bestow but slight attention on many transactions which could be dwelt upon with propriety in a more minute and extensive work; yet it is believed that no topic of real importance has been neglected.

In the process of selecting and condensing the accounts of various writers, I have sometimes quoted their language, varying it where the style was too diffuse, and giving credit at the bottom of the page, that the reader might be enabled to refer to the original authority.

In every part of the work, I have considered it a paramount duty to respect the claims of truth and justice; and if in recording questionable actions which find their apology in the spirit of the age when they were performed, I have sometimes omitted to explain their probable motives, it has been because I deemed it proper to trust to the intelligence of the reader for a suitable commentary. I am conscious of no undue bias towards any sect or party; and I have adopted no theory respecting government or policy, which could influence my selection or representation of facts. What I have recorded of past transactions, has been drawn from authorities which are universally respected; and my general design did not permit me to turn aside for lengthened explanations or even for the introduction of such philosophical reflections as the subjects presented frequently suggest. To tell a plain and intelligible story, and to render my countrymen familiar with the leading facts of our history, has been my main object.

If I have had any considerable success in the pursuit of this object, I am by no means insensible of the great assistance for which I am indebted to the accomplished artist who has furnished the pictorial embellishments of the work. The effect which pictures, well conceived and ably executed, have in impressing historical events upon the mind, must be apparent to every attentive reader. i Such delineations furnish luminous points, around which are clustered a host of agreeable and lasting associations. The portrait of a distinguished man gives additional force and distinctness to our recollection of his character; the picture of a battle, although it is necessarily incomplete and imperfect, takes a stronger hold of the imagination than any effort of descriptive power; and even the sketch of a remarkable place will give it a local habitation in the mind, which will remain longer and produce a livelier satisfaction than any mere record of language.

In selecting the subjects for his designs, Mr. Croome has taken those which it was deemed important to impress upon the mind of the reader, those prominent incidents and characters which deserve

to be cherished in the memory of every American. In order to give his delineations as much of the authenticity of history as it is competent for the pictorial art to attain, he has had recourse to original portraits and approved engraved likenesses; and he has made the costumes of the different periods comprised in the history, the subject of careful and attentive study. If in these respects there is any error, he has erred with the countenance of learned and respected authorities.

It would be ungrateful in me not to avail myself of the present opportunity of acknowledging the aid which I have derived from my literary friends in preparing this work. Every library to which I have desired access has been freely thrown open to me; and from the invaluable collection of original historical portraits in the Philadelphia Museum, Mr. Croome has been permitted, by a vote of the directors, to take such copies as were thought appropriate to the design of the work. From the families of some of the illustrious men whose names adorn the annals of the revolutionary war, I have received original documents, which throw considerable light on the events of that momentous struggle; and from some of the surviving officers who were distinguished by their services in the more recent contest with Great Britain, I have drawn information which could have been obtained in so authentic a form from no other source. To these friends I render my heartiest thanks: and I trust that the assistance which they have so kindly rendered me, will not be without its use to our common country.