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TO

E. K. R.

To you we owe the suggestion of writing this book.

Its purpose, as you know better than any one else, is to tell in simple fashion the story of some Americans who showed that they knew how to live and how to die; who proved their truth by their endeavor; and who joined to the stern and manly qualities which are essential to the well-being of a masterful race the virtues of gentleness, of patriotism, and of lofty adherence to an ideal.

It is a good thing for all Americans, and it is an especially good thing for young Americans, to remember the men who have given their lives in war and peace to the service of their fellow-countrymen, and to keep in mind the feats of daring and personal prowess done in time past by some of the many champions of the nation in the various crises of her history. Thrift, industry, obedience to law, and intellectual cultivation are essential qualities in the make-up of any successful people; but no people can be really great unless they possess also the heroic virtues which are as needful in time of peace as in time of war, and as important in civil as in military life. As a civilized people we desire peace, but the only peace worth having is obtained by instant readiness to fight when wronged - not by unwillingness or inability to fight at all. Intelligent foresight in preparation and known capacity to stand well in battle are the surest safeguards against war. America will

cease to be a great nation whenever her young men cease to possess energy, daring, and endurance, as well as the wish and the power to fight the nation's foes. No citizen of a free state should wrong any man; but it is not enough merely to refrain from infringing on the rights of others; he must also be able and willing to stand up for his own rights and those of his country against all comers, and he must be ready at any time to do his full share in resisting either malice domestic or foreign levy.

WASHINGTON,

April 19, 1895.

HENRY CABOT LODGE.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

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PAGE

THE DEATH OF STONEWALL JACK-

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H. C. Lodge

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THE CHARGE AT GETTYSBURG
GENERAL GRANT AND THE VICKS-
BURG CAMPAIGN

ROBERT GOULD SHAW .
CHARLES RUSSELL LOWELL
SHERIDAN AT CEDAR CREEK
LIEUTENANT CUSHING AND
RAM "ALBEMARLE

FARRAGUT AT MOBILE BAY
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

GENERAL GRANT RECONNOITERING THE CONFEDERATE
POSITION

Frontispiece

GEORGE WASHINGTON

DANIEL BOONE IN THE FRONTIER WOODS. AT CLOSE
QUARTERS

"ALL DAY LONG THE TROOPS WADED IN ICY WATER"
WASHINGTON DIRECTING THE ARTILLERY AT TRENTON
THE MARCH TO TRENTON

AT THE BAYONET'S POINT

CHARGE OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIERSMEN

THE STORMING OF STONY POINT

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FRIGATE "PHILADELPHIA"
IN THE HARBOR OF TRIPOLI

"THE FIGHTING SAILOR-MEN SPRANG FORWARD"

THE PRIVATEER AND HER PRIZES

ANDREW JACKSON

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

FRANCIS PARKMAN .

DEATH OF CROCKETT

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THE ENCOUNTER AT SHORT RANGE

STONEWALL JACKSON GOING FORWARD ON the Plank
ROAD IN ADVANCE OF THE LINE OF BATTLE. . 217
BATTLE BETWEEN THE UNION CAVALRY UNDER GREGG
AND THE CONFEDERATE CAVALRY UNDER STUART
MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE A. CUSTER

231 235

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