INTRODUCTORY.

T

THE Publishers herewith present to the public a volume, historical and descriptive, of our Great Western Empire. Its plan and scope are such as must commend it to every patriotic and intelligent American-to every citizen who loves his country, and takes pride in contemplating its vast extent and illimitable resources. The work is divided into two nearly equal parts, the first containing historical sketches of the early explorations and settlements in the West, and the second developing the progress of particular States and Territories by combining historical with statistical and geographical facts.

The first part gives, in a general view, the early explorations and pioneer settlements made; the courage, perseverance, and heroism displayed, the sufferings endured, and the dangers and perils encountered, in adding to our original American Republic, and bringing into our domain of civilization and progress the great Mississippi Valley, embracing the vast region lying between the Alleghanies and the Rocky Mountains, and extending from the Gulf of Mexico to our great Northwestern lakes and the British Possessions; and in annexing to all this the great stretch of territory lying west of these seeming barriers-the Rocky Mountains-and bordering on the Pacific Ocean. This is what we denominate in this work "Our Western Empire." But in fact it constitutes the great body of our nation's vast domain. Without it, how insignificant in territorial extent, and in natural resources, would seem the strip of country east of the Alleghany Mountains on the Atlantic coast, and South-east on the Gulf of Mexico. A history and description of the West, in this enlarged view, may almost be said to be a history and description of the American Union.

The history of the Great West opens with the discovery of the Mississippi River, in 1541, by Ferdinand De Soto, and the first explorations by adventurous fur-traders, and the founding of missions by French Jesuits a century afterward, in the region around Lake Huron. A rapid and graphic delineation is then given of the explorations and first settlements in the Mississippi Valley by the French; their explorations of the Ohio river; the first English settlement in Ohio; the military exploits of the youthful George Washington; the French and Indian war; the relinquishment by France of her pretensions to dominion on this continent; the possession by the English of the

country east of the Mississippi; John Law's celebrated Mississippi scheme, its operations and results; Pontiac's bloody war; cession of lands by the Indians, and the peace that followed; the rapid settlement of the West and North-west; the adventures, perils, and heroic perseverance of Daniel Boone and other pioneers; the claims of Eastern States to Western lands, and their cession to the United States; the first settlements in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee; the successive defeats of Generals Harmar and St. Clair by the Indians, and the retrieving of these disasters by General Wayne; the acquisition in 1803 of the extensive region then called Louisiana, and the formation of new Territories, and the admission of new States in the West, closing with the organization of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska in 1854.

Striking and startling incidents of personal adventure, toil, and suffering, and of savage captivities, cruelties, and massacres in the first settlement of Kentucky and Ohio, follow, with a full account of the early history of the latter State, including a sketch of the introduction of steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers; Samuel Brady and Adam Poe's famous adventures with the Indians; a graphic description of scenery on the Ohio from Audubon, the naturalist; incidents in the early history of Tennessee, and scientific and interesting explorations and descriptions of the mounds and other antiquities in the Mississippi Valley, especially of the mounds at Natchez, and in the American Bottom in Illinois.

A separate section is devoted to the Mississippi River, opening with Schoolcraft's account of its extreme source, and a description of the beautiful lakes near its origin, followed by the famous Indian legend of the Maiden's Rock; a delineation of St. Anthony's and Brown's Falls, and of the Lower Mississippi, with Audubon's pleasant sketch of the Virginia squatter upon its banks; a glance at the keel-boatmen that navigated its waters in early times, with characteristic incidents; the earthquake in 1811, and destruction of New Madrid on the Mississippi.

Missouri receives in this part of the work a large share of attention. Its first settlement by the French is described; its cession by France to Spain, with incidents in its early history; its retrocession by Spain to France, and its cession by the latter to the United States; its rapid increase in population and in the development of its great resources; its admission as a State in 1820; its mineral and other natural wealth, especially its mines of lead, iron, and copper; the mineral wonders of Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob; its fine farming lands, and mild and salubrious climate.

The reader is next presented with sketches of the scenery in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys; the diversities of grand forests, hills, valleys, and plains, with glowing descriptions of the vast and magnificent prairies and their beautiful and varied scenery; an interesting account of the American bison, or buffalo, with Washington Irving's vivid description of a buffalo hunt; the burrowing owl graphically portrayed, and an entertaining sketch of a visit to an Indian village by Audubon in an adventure on a western prairie.

We pass next to a glance at Oregon and the fur trade in the Northwest. Here we find detailed the first discovery of the mouth of the great Columbia River, the Mississippi of the Pacific region; the enterprise of John Jacob Astor, and the establishment, history, and progress of the Pacific Fur Company, and of the settlement at Astoria; the travels and researches of missionaries in the country around the moutk of the Columbia; the great natural curiosities along that river and its branches; a description of the Rocky Mountains and their wonders; the climate, the Indians, and the discovery of gold in Oregon, with travels, hunting, incidents, and adventures in that region in 1851.

Liberal space is accorded to an abridgment of Lieutenant Brewerton's narrative of his trip in 1848 from California over the mountains and through the Great American Desert, or intra-mountain basin, accompanied by the celebrated Kit Carson as guide and leader. The narrative is full of interesting personal adventures and incidents, giving an account of the famous Jornada del Muerto, or Journey of Death; of Bill Williams, the noted adventurer in Lower California; of the Digger Indians, and the journeyings of the party among the Wasatch Mountains, in the country bordering on the Grand and Green Rivers, and in New Mexico.

Lovers of wild sports and of the romantic in natural history, will be interested and gratified with the chapter on Prairie Hunting. It gives descriptions of some of the most noted wild animals of the Western forests and regions, including the bison, or buffalo, the elk, the deer, the panther, northern lynx, the black and grizzly bear, the wolf, etc. The whole is enlivened by entertaining stories, anecdotes, and romantic adventures in traveling and hunting.

Under the caption of "Red River of the North," an interesting account is given of the rivalry between the famous Hudson Bay and North-west Companies; the Earl of Selkirk's attempt to establish a colony on the Red River; the breaking up of the settlement, at different times by the North-west Company; its re-establishment, and repeated disasters from famine, cold, high water, and bad government till its permanent establishment in 1826. This thrilling narrative is closed with an amusing sketch of abortive speculations in buffalo wool, sheep's wool and tallow; of buffalo hunting by the "plain hunters," as they are called, and a pleasant portraiture of a vagabond half-breed hunter in the person of Baptiste l'Esprit.

Passing now to the Pacific coast, we look in upon "California and its Mines," and have a brief history of the country, beginning with the planting of Spanish colonies upon its shores, and closing with its acquisition by the United States, followed by the discovery of gold in 1848 at Sutter's Mill; the development of the mines and the opening up of inexhaustible sources of wealth; the rapid tide of emigration to the new mining centers, and the admission of the Golden State in 1850, with a general description of its rivers and streams of water, its varieties of climate, its mountain ranges and valleys, its forest trees, soil, and productions, its geological features and "gold diggings."

Considerable space is allotted to a long and valuable extract from the

speech of Thomas H. Benton, in Congress, in January, 1855, on the subject of the Pacific Railroad, advocating what was called the great central route for the road, and giving grand and graphic outlines of the general features of the regions between Missouri and California, according to the researches of Fremont and other explorers, closing with an eloquent and patriotic appeal for the construction of the great thoroughfare across the continent, which should ring in the ears of the American people and their rulers till the road is completed and in running order.

The Mormons now claim attention. A lively, condensed, and entertaining narrative traces the rise and progress of this modern politicoecclesiastical movement, embracing a biographical sketch of its founder, Joseph Smith; his pretended discovery of the "Golden Bible;" the early missionaries and apostles of the Mormon sect; their preaching and success; the organization of the Mormon Church; the settlement at Kirtland, Ohio; removal to Jackson County, Missouri; the troubles and persecutions the "Saints" endured; their migration to Hancock County, Illinois; the founding of the city of Nauvoo, and the building and consecration of the Temple; formation of the Nauvoo Legion, and the civil war that ensued; the death of the Mormon Prophet at the hands of a mob, and the exodus of the "Latter Day Saints" out of Illinois and Missouri over desert plains and frowning mountains to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, and their reorganization under the leadership of Brigham Young, then and now the supreme head of the Mormon Church.

The interesting and important explorations of John C. Fremont, in 1842, were given in his report of the famous expedition to the Rocky Mountains and the South Pass. This is followed by his report of the expedition in 1843, to examine the line of travel between Missouri and the country bordering on the Columbia, as well as the entire region between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. These reports are replete with interesting details and descriptions, which every one should read who desires an intimate acquaintance with the vast regions which these expeditions traverse.

The second part of our work gives a minute and detailed description of the country north of 35° of latitude, lying east of and bordering on the Mississippi River, including, also, the States of Indiana and Michigan, and of the whole of our great national domain west of the Mississippi and extending to the Pacific Ocean, with the exception of the small fraction in the north-east corner included in the State of Louisiana. The whole of this vast region, except the country reserved for the Indians, and called the Indian Territory, is now organized into States and Territories. These States and Territories are taken up and described separately-the States in the order of their admission into the Union, and the Territories in the order of their organization. A minute and detailed geographical, statistical, and historical account is given of each, embracing, in general, its boundaries and position; its geology and minerals; its lakes and rivers; the objects of interest to the traveler and tourist; the forest trees and wild animals; the climate, soil,

productions, and agricultural statistics; manufactures and commerce; the state of public education; the counties and county towns, and the population of each county; the population of the State or Territory, and the aggregate vote cast at important elections; a description of the principal cities and towns; the government and internal improvements, and such other matters as have been deemed of general and permanent interest. In making up these details, official documents and the latest and best authorities have been consulted.

Wherever any thing has been found in the history or features of any particular State, of special interest or importance, and not coming under any of the general heads alluded to, such matter has been incorporated and made part of the general description. We specify some instances of this:

In the account given of Michigan, the Lake Superior region, its scenery, climate, soil, and productions, with its geological features and great mineral wealth, developed and in prospect, are particularly set forth, together with a description of Lake Huron, taken from Appleton's American Cyclopedia. Under the head of Wisconsin, is a description of Lake Michigan, from the same source.

California's mines and mining, its wine-making, and big trees afford topics of interest, and are treated of at considerable length, while the romantic and wonderful valley of the Yosemite is described in the language of an accurate, scientific, and admiring observer.

We have embraced in Minnesota's history a full and reliable account of the terrible Indian massacre and war of 1862.

The new State of Nevada, since the great rush, a few years ago, to what were then known as the Washoe mines, has been a point of great attraction. We have, therefore, been diffuse in its description, giving the statistics of counties, so far as the same appeared in the latest accessible official reports. The Nevada mines, and their development, are treated of at length, and with minuteness, particularly the discovery and working of the great Conestock Lode, or ledge, which may almost be said to constitute the State.

Such changes have been made, from time to time, in the boundaries and area of the Territories, that it has been found impossible to follow out fully, in their descriptions, the plan generally adopted in regard to the States; but, so far as practicable, that plan has been rigidly adhered to in the case of the Territories. Some of the striking peculiarities that have been specially noted are these:

As part of the history of Utah, and by far the most interesting and important, we have continued the account of the Mormon organization, from its first location in the Great Salt Lake Valley, to the present time, with a detailed statement of the present novel politico-ecclesiastical government of the Mormon Church.

The Pike's Peak region, the original scene of attraction for explorers and gold-seekers, is specifically and minutely described in the account given of Colorado, with a most interesting, lively, and graphic narrative of a tour through Colorado in the summer of 1865, and a sketch of the development, working, and richness of its gold mines.