Daniel Boone - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V Campaigning With Braddock For three years Daniel lived a hunter's carefree life, and all was well. Then suddenly this joyful, irresponsible existence came to an end, youth was over, and the duties and problems of manhood confronted him. A war was imminent--one phase of the long war between the French and English for the supremacy of the continent; and Daniel, hearing of the impending conflict, was anxious to be up and fighting. After the English had founded the thirteen colonies between the sea and the Alleghany and Appalachian mountains, they explored but little of the land west of the mountain barrier. The French, from their stronghold in Canada, made their way through the interior of the country and down the Mississippi Valley, establishing forts at the most important points of their explorations and claiming all the land from the Alleghanies to the Rockies. The English finally realized that unless they took immediate action the heart of the country would be lost to them forever. Accordingly, a band of merchants and land speculators, known as the Ohio Land Company, planned a colony on the east bank of the upper Ohio River, and obtained a large grant from the king, together with the right to traffic with the Indians in the vicinity. The French became aroused, claiming this land by right of discovery, and at once began to extend their line of forts southward. Certain Indian tribes, meanwhile, had accepted the friendship of the British, but other western Indians declared that neither French nor English had any rights west of the Alleghany Mountains. The friendship of the Indian nations was of the utmost importance, particularly to the French, as the subjects of Great Britain in America exceeded in number and power those of France. Governor Dinwi...