CHARGE OF THE “PALMETTOS” AT CHURUBUSCO 218 BATTLE OF MOLINO DEL REY 222 SERGEANT HART NAILING THE COLORS TO THE FLAG-STAFF, FORT SUMTER 254 FIRST CORPS, SEMINARY RIDGE, 3.30 P.M., JULY 1, 1863 316 ATTACK OF PICKETT’S AND ANDERSON’S DIVISION 324 DEPARTURE OF GENERAL LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER 340 BATTLE OF MANILA BAY 354 THE CAPTURE OF THE BLOCK-HOUSE AT SAN JUAN 366 THE LAST OF CERVERA’S FLEET 372 INTRODUCTION America was discovered in a search for trade routes, but our country has been in larger part maintained and transmitted to us directly or indirectly as the result of war. Almost from the outset there were conflicting claims on the part of Spain, France, and England, and also Holland. The struggles against hostile native tribes along the Atlantic seaboard were followed by war against the aggressions of the French, who would have kept the English-speaking colonies east of the Alleghanies. That long period of strife was followed by two conflicts with England, the first gaining America for Americans as an independent nation, the second confirming it as an independent nationality. While the great Louisiana Purchase was a peaceful acquisition, Napoleon’s willingness to cede this territory was intermingled with his military plans. California and the extreme Southwest came out of conflict with Mexico. The Civil War preserved the integrity of the country which Americans had gained. Hawaii was added through a revolution fortunately bloodless. As a result of the war with Spain, Porto Rico and the Philippines were included within the limits of our authority.