The Life of Isaac Ingalls Stevens, Volume 1 (of 2)

The City of Mexico is situated in the centre of an irregular basin some thirty-five miles from north to south and twenty-five miles from east to west, and is separated from the...

Monday, April 19. This was a lazy day in camp, the general and his staff being occupied with the charge of the prisoners, and preparing the proper dispatches. It was determined...

Governor Stevens regarded his Indian treaties and Indian policy, and his management of the Indians of the Northwest, as among the most important, beneficial, and successful serv...

From Pike Lake the expedition pursued a general course westerly by ten degrees northerly in order to clear the great northeastern bend of the Missouri, and reached Fort Union in...

September 22. This morning we bade adieu to Fort Benton, and separated from the portions of the expedition who were assigned to duty east of the mountains. Before sunrise we saw...

In October, 1850, Major Stevens moved his wife and little ones to Washington, and took quarters at Mrs. Kelley's on Eighteenth Street, opposite Lafayette Square, in a large, spa...

Saturday, August 21. General Scott and staff left San Augustin at eight o'clock; on his way to Coyoacan, he gave orders that Worth should move on Tacubaya, Pillow on Mixcoac, an...

The following letter to his uncle William, written immediately after his arrival at West Point, vividly portrays the mingled emotions that stirred the heart of the raw but ambit...

The triumph of the Democratic party in November, 1853, and the election of General Franklin Pierce as the next President insured a more vigorous policy of exploration and settle...

Vera Cruz, an old Spanish walled town on the Gulf of Mexico, with a population of 12,000, was situated on a sandy plain, which, extending back from the town, was broken by many...

Leaving Washington May 9, and, after spending a day in New York to complete arrangements, going by way of Detroit and Chicago, Governor Stevens reached St. Louis on the 15th. He...

"Fort Union is situated on the eastern bank of the Missouri, about two miles and three quarters above the mouth of the Yellowstone. It was built by the American Fur Company in 1...

Crowned with these well-earned honors, and promoted to be second lieutenant of engineers, July 1, 1839, he accompanied his parents home, expecting to enjoy a long and delightful...

The wedding journey was to New York by Long Island Sound, and thence up the Hudson to West Point, where they spent several days, and were received with flattering attentions by...

Upon learning the results of McClellan's explorations, Governor Stevens proposed to send him up the Yakima again to carry the survey clear across the Cascades to Puget Sound, an...

During the summer Professor A.D. Bache, the distinguished scientist, chief of the United States Coast Survey, found himself obliged to obtain a new "assistant in charge of the C...

MY DEAREST WIFE,--We reached Boston yesterday at half past twelve, after a very pleasant journey from Bangor. The weather was unusually mild, and we experienced very little fati...

MY DEAREST MARGARET,--At the strong desire of the colonel, I must remain here a few days longer. He wishes me to go with him over all the reports in order to get at all the fact...

Governor Stevens, with his family, consisting of his wife, four children, the two youngest being only two and four years old respectively, and the nurse Ellen, a bonny young Iri...

It was indeed a wild country, untouched by civilization, and a scanty white population sparsely sprinkled over the immense area that were awaiting the arrival of Governor Steven...

Returning to the Point after this brief respite, the young cadet resumed his studies with his accustomed vigor. He was appointed assistant professor of mathematics, a position o...

For several days Governor Stevens was busily engaged in examining voyageurs and Indians in regard to the mountain passes and the general character of the country. Additional hor...

About 1640 a mere handful of English colonists went out from Boston, and made the first settlement in the town of Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts. They laid out their homes...

ISAAC INGALLS STEVENS first saw the light at the old Marble Ridge farmhouse, on the 25th of March, 1818. He was a delicate infant, and it was impossible for his mother, with her...

Governor Stevens left Olympia on March 26, and, proceeding by way of the Cowlitz to the Columbia, and by steamer down the coast, reached San Francisco early in April. Here he fo...

attentive to every duty. He possessed mathematical talents of the highest order, standing in this branch, as in every other, at the head of his class, notwithstanding rival clas...

A carat character is used to denote superscription. A single character following the carat is superscripted (example: y^e). Multiple superscripted characters are enclosed by cur...

Beneficent Indian policy--Intention to write account of his Indian service frustrated by early death--Indians of Puget Sound, helpless, ready to treat--Organizes treaty force--D...

Prisoners released on parole--March for Jalapa--Encerro, Santa Anna's country seat--Reaches Jalapa, Eden of Mexico--Prepares memoir on conducting war against guerrillas--Letters...

Wedding journey to West Point--Returns to Newport--Charge of works at New Bedford--Moves to Fairhaven--Halleck asks aid for engineer corps--Journal--Thanksgiving in Andover--Haz...

Lieutenants Saxton and Grover start down the Missouri--March up the Teton via Sun and Dearborn rivers to Cadotte's Pass-- Description of country; game--Governor Stevens proclaim...

Gathering information--Lieutenant Grover to Bitter Root valley--Lieutenant Mullan to Muscle Shell River--Lieutenant Donelson to examine Cadotte's Pass--Mr. Lander to Marias Pass...

Advance to valley of Mexico--Description of defenses--General Scott and staff with Twiggs's division reach Ayotla--Daring reconnoissances of El Peñon by Lieutenant Stevens--Marc...

Washington Territory organized--Exploration of routes to Pacific determined on--Appointed governor--Letter of resignation from army--Colonel Totten's reply--Silver service prese...

General course W. 10° N.--Lieutenant Grover surveys separate route--Country within forty miles examined by side trips--Route passes near Breckinridge, Jamestown, Minot, and Grea...

Moves family to Washington--Pleasant society--Takes hold Fourteen Years' Bill--Reorganization of army--Urges brother officers to do "their duty to their profession"--Army man, n...

Professor A.D. Bache tenders charge of Coast Survey office-- Accepts conditionally--Retains charge of works--Assumes new duties--Estimate of General Taylor--Magnitude of Coast S...

Patriotic emotions on entering West Point--Determines to be head of his class--Better prepared rivals, Biddle, Halleck, and Butler--Distinguished classmates--Extra French lesson...

General Scott and staff enter Tacubaya--Take quarters in Bishop's Palace--Commissioners to negotiate peace--Mexican treachery--Armistice terminated--Battle of Molino del Rey--Us...

Isaac Ingalls Stevens, seventh in descent from John Stevens, 1, one of founders of Andover, Mass., 1640--Deacon Joseph, 2--Captain James, 3, captor of Louisburg; deputy to Gener...

Born, Marble Ridge farmhouse, North Andover, Mass., March 25, 1818--Delicate child--Heroic treatment--Incidents showing character--Devotion to mother--Her death irreparable loss...

McDonald's Indian tales--Chemakan Mission--Settlements in Colville valley--Visits Spokane House--Garry's Lodge--Arrival of main party at Camp Washington--March to Walla Walla--P...

Vera Cruz--Defenses--American army invests city--Lieutenant Stevens's zeal in reconnoitring--Hands torn and poisoned-- Horse bolts to enemy's lines--Throws himself from saddle--...

Proceeds to Washington--Flattering reception--Gives full accounts to Colonel Totten--Joyful reunion with family in Newport--Shoots mad dog--Ordered to Savannah--Letter to brothe...

Description of Fort Union--Alexander Culbertson--The Blackfeet--Making peace--Surveys by side parties--Bugbear stories--Moving westward--Blackfoot war party--Big Muddy-- Missour...

Ordered to Newport, R.I.--Phrenological chart--Lieutenants Mason, Beauregard, Hunt--Ascendency over employees--Newport society--Mr. Stevens welcomed--Personal appearance--Meets...

Appointed assistant professor of mathematics--Leading part in Dialectic Society--Efforts at speaking--Reflections on studies and authors--Long walks--Forbidden sweets-- Horseman...

Leaves Washington--Expedites matters in St. Louis--Dispatches party up Missouri--Up Mississippi to St. Paul--Rouses party in camp before breakfast--Breaking mules--Incessant rai...

Placed in charge of pontoon and engineer train--Delays in embarking--Visits from relatives--Death of Elizabeth--Letters to wife--Sails on barque Prompt, January 19, 1847--Diary...

Warm welcome in San Francisco--Lectures on Northern route-- Advocates three routes--Via Isthmus to New York--Joyful family reunion in Newport--Proceeds to Washington--Complete r...

Steamer from New York--Riotous scenes--Stops at Havana-- Aspinwall--Forlorn place--Cars to the summit--Carusi's pavilion--Scene at night--Proceeds on mule-back--Tropic rainstorm...

Wild country--Scanty population--Character of settlers--Serious problems--Governor Stevens arrives at Olympia--Issues proclamation--Organizes Indian service--Appoints agents--Vi...