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Benson J. Lossing, Pictorial Field Book of the Civil War. Volume 2., Chapter 5: military and naval operations on the coast of South Carolina.--military operations on the line of the Potomac River. (search)
ch cannot be conveniently taken away and is likely to be seized by the enemy. Coast Islands. In this connection it is proper to say, that so soon as the report of the existence of a vast quantity of abandoned cotton on these coast islands — cotton of the most valuable kind The Sea Island cotton of commerce is the product of a narrow belt of coast islands along the shores of South Carolina, and in the vicinity of the mouth of the Savannah River. The seed was obtained from the Bahama Islands, and the first successful crop raised in South Carolina was on Hilton Head Island, in 1790. It is of the arborescent kind, and noted for its long fiber, adapted to the manufacture of the finest fabrics and the best thread. It always brought a very high price. Just before the war, when the common cotton brought an average of ten or twelve cents a pound, a bale sent from South Edisto Island brought, in Liverpool, one dollar And tbirty-five cents a pound.--reached Washington, an order we
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), America, discoverers of. (search)
ds of America for the space of over 500 years. It was undoubtedly discovered by Northern navigators early in the eleventh century, and the colony of the son of a Welsh prince. Madoc (q. v.) probably landed on the North American continent about the year 1170. There is no evidence that the Northmen saw more than the coasts of Labrador and New England--possibly Newfoundland; and the landing-place of Madoc is wholly conjectural. On Oct. 11, 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered one of the Bahama Islands, east of Florida. but not the continent. In the summer of 1498 Sebastian Cabot (commissioned by King Henry VII. of England), who sailed from Bristol in May with two caravels, discovered the North American continent at Labrador. He was seeking a northwest passage to Cathay. and, being barred from the Polar Sea by pack-ice, sailed southward, discovered Labrador, and possibly went along the coast as far as the Carolinas. He discovered and named Newfoundland. and found the treasures of
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Bahama Islands, the, (search)
Bahama Islands, the, Were granted by Charles H. (1667) to the eight courtiers to whom he granted the Carolinas. They had sent William Sayle to bring them some account of the Carolina coast. His vessel was driven by a storm among the Bahama Islands, lying eastward of Florida. There he gained much knowledge of them, especially of New Providence, the chief among them. On his return to England, King Charles gave a patent for the Bahamas to the proprietors of Carolina, and they were annexed.Bahama Islands, lying eastward of Florida. There he gained much knowledge of them, especially of New Providence, the chief among them. On his return to England, King Charles gave a patent for the Bahamas to the proprietors of Carolina, and they were annexed. At that time these islands were uninhabited, and the group was a favorite resort for the buccaneers, thus becoming notorious. The island of New Providence had a good harbor, but the arid soil did not invite cultivation. It is now a favorite resort for invalids.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Cotton. (search)
ere exported to England from Charleston, S. C., valued at £ 3 11s. 5d. a bag. There were two or three other small shipments afterwards, before the war. At Liverpool eight bags shipped from the United States in 1784 were seized, on the ground that so much cotton could not be produced in the United States. In 1786 the first seaisland cotton was raised, off the coast of Georgia, and its exportation began in 1788 by Alexander Bissell, of St. Simon's Island. The seeds were obtained from the Bahama Islands. The first successful crop of this variety was raised by William Elliott on Hilton Head Island, in 1790. It has always commanded a higher price on account of its being more staple than any other variety. In 1791 the cotton crop in the United States was 2,000,000 lbs. The invention and introduction of the cotton-gin (see Whitney, Eli) caused a sudden and enormous increase in the production of cotton. In 1801 the cotton crop in the United States was 48,000,000 lbs., of which 20,000,000
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Gansevoort, Henry Sandford 1835- (search)
Gansevoort, Henry Sandford 1835- Military officer; born in Albany, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1835; grandson of Gen. Peter Gansevoort; entered the regular artillery service, April, 1861, and fought gallantly during the Peninsular campaign of 1862, and in several battles afterwards. He first became lieutenant-colonel and then colonel of the 13th N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry, with which he performed gallant service in Virginia. In 1865 he was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers for faithful and meritorious services, and became captain of artillery in the regular army. His health failed, and when returning from the Bahama Islands he died, April 12, 1871.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Gillon, Alexander 1741-1794 (search)
Gillon, Alexander 1741-1794 Naval officer; born in Rotterdam, Holland, in 1741; came to America and settled in Charleston, S. C., in 1766. He captured three British cruisers in May, 1777; was promoted commodore in 1778; and captured the Bahama islands in May, 1782, while commander of a large fleet. He died at Gillon's Retreat, on the Congaree River, S. C., Oct. 6, 1794.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Hopkins, Esek 1718-1802 (search)
Hopkins, Esek 1718-1802 Naval officer; born in Scituate, R. I., in 1718. Governor Cooke commissioned him a brigadier-general at the breaking out of the Revolution. In December, 1775, Congress commissioned him commander-in-chief of the inchoate navy, and he put to sea in the first squadron in February, 1776, consisting of four ships and three sloops, sailing for the Bahama Islands. There he captured a large quantity of ordnance stores and ammunition, and 100 cannon. He captured two British vessels on his return. Complaint was made that he had not annoyed the British ships on the southern coast, and he was arraigned before the naval Esek Hopkins. committee of Congress on the charge. He was acquitted, but unavoidable delays in getting vessels to sea afterwards caused other charges to be made, and he was dismissed the service, Jan. 2, 1777. During his long life he exerted great political influence in Rhode Island. He died in North Providence, R. I., Feb. 26, 1802.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Ponce de Leon, Juan 1460-1521 (search)
f Santo Domingo, and in 1509 he conquered and was made governor of Porto Rico, where he amassed a large fortune. There he was told of a fountain of youth—a fountain whose waters would restore youth to the aged. It was situated in one of the Bahama Islands, surrounded by magnificent trees, and the air was laden with the delicious perfumes of flowers; the trees bearing golden fruit that was plucked by beautiful maidens, who presented it to strangers. It was the old story of the Garden of the Heation, prompted by his credulity, made Ponce go in search of the miraculous fountain, for his hair was white and his face was wrinkled with age. He sailed north from Porto Rico in March, 1513, and searched for the wonderful spring among the Bahama Islands, drinking and bathing in the waters of every fountain that fell in his way. But he experienced no change, saw no magnificent trees with golden fruit plucked by beautiful maidens, and, disappointed but not disheartened, he sailed towards the n
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Shirley, William 1693- (search)
vernor (1741) he was a commissioner for the settlement of the boundary between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As governor he was superior to his contemporaries in the same office in America. He planned the expedition against Louisburg in 1745; and was appointed one of the commissioners at Paris (1750) for settling the limits of Acadia, or Nova Scotia, and other controverted rights of the English William Shirley. and French in America. In 1754 he made a treaty with the Eastern Indians and explored the Kennebec, erecting some forts upon its banks. In 1755 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America. The expedition against Fort Niagara was planned by him, and led as far as Oswego. In 1759 he was commissioned a lieutenant-general. He was governor of one of the Bahama Islands afterwards, but returned to Massachusetts in 1770 and built a spacious mansion at Roxbury, which he never occupied, dying the next year after his arrival there, March 24, 1771.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Stamp act, the (search)
he British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands, a stamp duty of five shillings. 22. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, ohe British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands, a stamp duty of six pence. 24. For every skin or piece of vellum or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper, on whihe British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands (except leases for any term not exceeding the term of twenty-one years), a stamp duty of one shilling and six pence. he British colonies and plantations upon the continent of America, the islands belonging thereto, and the Bermuda and Bahama islands (except commissions of the officers of the army, navy, ordnance, or militia, and of justices of the peace), a stamp d
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