The Story Of The Louisiana Purchase - Paperback

THE OF THE Louisiana Purchase. VIRGIL A. I wis, M. A., Ex-State Superintendent of Free Schools of West Virginia Member Trans-Allegheny Historical Society Member American Historical Association Author of a General History of West Virginia His tory and Government of West Virginia, etc. ST. LOUIS WOODWARD TIERNAN PRINTING Co. 1903. JEAN BAPTISTE LEMOINE DE BIENV1LLE. The Father of the Louisiana Purchase. THE AUTHORS PREFACED The present is eminently a proper time in which to pre pare the Story of the Louisiana Purchase, for a cen tury ago that region was largely inhabited by wild beasts and savage men. The issuance of this little volume falls fittingly into the one hundredth anniversary of the transfer of that vast domain to the United States little apology should, therefore, be made for the publication of a work of its kind at this time. Whatever may be the de fects in its composition and arrangement, the subject must be one of much interest, and, therefore, a justifica tion for the appearance of the work. It is a theme which will grow in interest in the future, and thus will be added an increasing charm to the story. It contains a succinct account of the principal events in the annals of the region known to American history for a hundred years as the Louisiana Purchase, and it is fit ting that these should come vividly to the minds of the people of the United States in this its centennial year. This pxirchase more than doubled the area of our country at that time, and made possible the later extension of our boundaries to the Pacific Coast. It may be said that the Louisiana Purchase has a litera ture of its own that is true, and this narrative has been written from a great mass of matterpertaining to that region, now easy of access to all students, but not at all available to general readers. Much of the material on which this volume is based is to be found in the - publica-3-P A. fSWV Xs wF 1 fty S PREFACE. tions of. fclje . American Government. Among these are the ArBa5i J Congress, containing the debates and proceedings of the Congress of the United States Poores Federal and State Constitutions and Colonial Charters 5 Waites American State Papers and Docu ments the Diplomatic Correspondence of the Office of the Secretary of State, from 1800 to 1803, inclusive the Treaties and Conventions between the United States and other Powers since July 4, 1776 together with the reports and journals of explorers and travelers, such as those of Lewis and Clark, Pike, Dunbar, Long, and others. In addition to the foregoing, the works of many au thors who have had access to original sources of informa tion, have been carefully examined and data compiled therefrom. Of such are Du Pratz, La Harpe, Shea, Mar gry, Parkman, Monette, Marbois, Flint, Gayarre, Martin, Bonner, Windsor and Coues, with the authors of the his tories of States in and adjoining the Louisiana Purchase, and others far too numerous to be cited here. It is, therefore, believed that in the following pages there will be found the internal evidence of that re search so necessary to make a volume of unimpeachable history, however humble it may be. Its preparation, in stead of being a task, has been a labor of love, for the theme that of history is one in which the author finds constant pleasure. Cordially he sends the Story of the Louisiana Purchase to a generous public, whose approval he hopes to win. V. A. L. POINTPLEASANT, WEST VIRGINIA. THE PUBLISHERS PREFACE. On the 4th of May, 1903, the author visited the Admin istration Building of the Worlds Fair, at St. Louis, for the purpose of submitting his manuscript of the Story of the Louisiana Purchase for examination. He was directed by Hon. Walter B. Stevens, the Secretary of the Worlds Fair Company, to place it in the hands of Colonel Samuel Williams, of the Press and Publicity Department, and this was done, that gentleman kindly promising to give it a most careful reading. This he did, and on the 9th of May ensuing, Mr...