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HARPERS' ENCYCLOPÆDIA

OF

UNITED STATES HISTORY

V.

Vail, ALFRED, inventor; born in Morristown, N. J., Sept. 25, 1807; graduated at the University of the City of New York in 1836; became interested in the experiments of Prof. SAMUEL F. B. MORSE (q. v.), whom he greatly aided in the perfection of the telegraph. In 1837 he constructed a miniature telegraph line on the plan of Morse's invention, which was examined and pronounced practicable by a committee of Congress. Subsequently he built the first Morse machine, and became the assistant superintendent of the telegraph line constructed between Baltimore and Washington. On May 24, 1844, he received from Washington the first message sent over telegraph wires. His inventions include the lever and grooved roller; the alphabetical application of the Morse dot-and-dash system; the first combination of the horizontal lever to move a pencil, pen, or style; a telegraphic alphabet of dots, spaces, and dashes; and the finger-key. He published The American Electro-Magnetic Telegraph. He died in Morristown, N. J., Jan. 18, 1859.

Vail, CHARLES H., clergyman; born in Tully, N. Y., April 28, 1866; received a common school education; studied music in New York and taught; graduated at St. Lawrence University, Canton, in 1892; and later studied theology. He was pastor of All Saints' Church, Albany, N. Y., in 1893-94; and of the First Universalist Church, Jersey City, N. J., in 1894-1901; was nominated for governor of New Jersey by the Social Democratie

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party in 1901. He wrote Modern Socialism; Socialism: What It Is and What It Is Not; The Trust Question, etc.

born

Vail, STEPHEN, manufacturer; near Morristown, N. J., June 28, 1780; received a common school education; became owner of the Speedwell iron works near Morristown, N. J., in 1804, where the engine of the Savannah, the first steamship that crossed the Atlantic, was built. He contributed money to aid Professor Morse in the construction of the electric telegraph, and the first practical exhibition of the new invention was made at his works. He died in Morristown, N. J., June 12, 1864.

Vail, STEPHEN MONTFORD, clergyman; born in Union Dale, Westchester co., N. Y., Jan. 10, 1818; graduated at Bowdoin College in 1838, and at the Union Theological Seminary in 1842; began to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church and founded the first church of that denomination in Brunswick, Me.; was Professor of Languages in Amenia Seminary in 1843; held pastorates in Fishkill, N. Y., Sharon, Conn., and Pine Plains, N. Y.; Professor of Oriental Languages in the General Biblical Institute of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Concord, N. H., in 1849; and became United States consul for Rhenish Bavaria in 1869. He wrote for the Methodist press; and published essays on slavery and church polity. He died in Jersey City, N. J., Nov. 26, 1880.

Vale, GILBERT, author; born in London,

England, in 1788; received a classical education; came to the United States in 1829; engaged in literary work in New York and Brooklyn; editor of the Citizen and of the World for several years, and later of the Beacon, a scientific and literary journal; invented a combined celestial sphere and terrestrial globe as a model for instruction in astronomy. His publications in clude Fanaticism, Its Source and Influence; and the Life of Thomas Paine. He died in Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1866.

Vale-Blake, EUPHEMIA, author; born in Rye, Sussex, England, May 7, 1824; came to the United States early in life; received a private education; and married Daniel S. Blake in 1863. She wrote History of Newburyport, Mass.; Arctic Experiences, etc.

Valentine, DAVID THOMAS, historian; born in East Chester, N. Y., Sept. 15, 1801; received an academic education; removed to New York City in 1817; appointed clerk to the marine court in 1823; was deputy clerk to the common council in 1831-37; published an annual Manual of the Corporation and Common Council of New York in 1842-67, which is highly prized for its historical collections. He also wrote a History of New York (2 volumes). He died in New York City, Feb. 25, 1869.

Valentine, EDWARD VIRGINIUS, sculptor; born in Richmond, Va., Nov. 12, 1838; received a private education: studied drawing and modelling in Richmond and went to Paris for further study in 1859. On his return to the United States he opened a studio in Richmond and exhibited a statuette of Robert E. Lee. Among his works are portrait busts of General Beauregard, Gen. James E. B. Stuart, "Stonewall" Jackson, Edwin Booth, and a marble figure of Gen. Robert E. Lee, in the mausoleum of the Memorial Chapel in Washington and Lee University.

Vallandigham, CLEMENT LAIRD, legislator; born in New Lisbon, O., July 29, 1820; was of Huguenot descent: studied at Jefferson College, Ohio; was principal of an academy at Snow Hill, Md.; and was admitted to the bar in 1842. In 184546 he was a member of the State legislature, and for ten years afterwards edited the Dayton Empire. An earnest Democratic

politician, he was sent to Congress in 1857, in which body he was active until 1863, opposing all war measures of the government, and openly showing sympathy with the Confederates. His utterances proclaiming him to be an enemy of his country, he was arrested at his own house, near Dayton, May 4, 1863, under a military order, on a charge of "treasonable conduct." He was tried by a courtmartial at Cincinnati, convicted, and sentenced to close confinement in a fortress for the remainder of the war. This sentence was modified by President Lincoln, who directed him to be sent within the Confederate lines, and, in the event of his returning without leave, to suffer the

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penalty prescribed by the court. On his release he went to Canada, and while there was the Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio in 1863, but was defeated by John Brough by 100,000 majority. He was permitted to return to his home, and was a member of the national Democratic conventions in Chicago in 1864 and in New York in 1868. While engaged in a suit in court in Lebanon, O., he was mortally wounded by a pistol which he was handling in explaining an alleged fact to the jury, and died there, June 17, 1871.

Valley Forge. Washington's army encamped at Whitemarsh, in a beautiful valley about 14 miles from Philadelphia, where he remained until Dec. 11, 1777, and proceeded with his half-clad, half-bare

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cold and starved with hunger, and there their genuine patriotism was fully tested.

The place was chosen because it was farther from the danger of sudden attacks from the foe, and where he might more The British under Howe had full poseasily afford protection for the Congress session of Philadelphia and of the Delasitting at York. Blood-stains, made by ware below, and Pennsylvania was divided the lacerated feet of his barefooted sol- among its people and in its legislature diers, marked the line of their march to by political factions. General uneasiness Valley Forge. There, upon the slopes of prevailed; and when Washington sought a narrow valley on the borders of the refuge at Valley Forge, the Pennsylvania

legislature adopted a remonstrance against that measure. To this cruel missive Washington replied, after censuring the quartermaster-general (Mifflin), a Pennsylvanian, for neglect of duty: "For the want of a two-days supply of provisions, an opportunity scarcely ever offered of taking an advantage of the enemy that has not been either totally obstructed or greatly impeded. Men are confined in hospitals or in farmers' houses for want of shoes. We have this day [Dec. 23] no less than 2,873 men in camp unfit for duty because they are barefooted and otherwise naked. Our whole strength in Continental troops amounts to no more than 8,200 in camp fit for duty. Since the 4th inst., our numbers fit for duty, from hard

ships and exposures, have decreased nearly 2,000 men. Numbers are still obliged to sit all night by fires. Gentlemen reprobate going into winter-quarters as much as if they thought the soldiers were made of sticks or stones. I can assure those gentlemen that it is a much easier and less distressing thing to draw remonstrances in a comfortable room by a good fireside than to occupy a cold, bleak hill, and sleep under frost and snow without clothes or blankets. However, although they seem to have little feeling for the naked and distressed soldiers, I feel superabundantly for them; and from my soul I pity those miseries which it is neither in my power to relieve nor prevent." At the same time the British army was

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OLD BRIDGE AT VALLEY FORGE.

shout, "The American States." Washington and his wife, and other officers and their wives, attended the religious services of the New Jersey brigade. Then the commander-in-chief dined in public with all the officers. Patriotic toasts were given, and loud huzzas greeted Washington when he left the table. As the season advanced comforts abounded at Valley Forge, the army increased, and on June 18 the encampment broke up and the army began a chase of the British across New Jersey when the latter had evacuated Philadelphia.

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A patriotic movement has been started to have the site of the Valley Forge encampment preserved as a public reservation, and on Oct. 19, 1901, the Daughters of the Revolution dedicated there a monument to the memory of the revolutionary soldiers who died during the encampment. The monument is a handsome obelisk of granite, 50 feet high, and at its base appear two bronze panels, one containing the seal of the society and the other representing a scene of camp-life at Valley Forge. Above these the original colonial flag with thirteen stars has been carved in the shaft. The inscription reads: "To the Soldiers of Washington's Army who made as weak by indulgence in the city Sleep in Valley Forge, 1777-78." as were the American soldiers by physical Valverde, BATTLE AT. General Canby, privations, and Franklin was justified in commander of the Department of New saying, Howe did not take Philadelphia; Mexico, was at Fort Craig, on the Rio Philadelphia took Howe." At Valley Grande, early in 1862. At that time Col. Forge Baron Steuben entered upon his H. H. Sibley, a Louisianian, had invaded duties as inspector-general of the Conti- New Mexico with 2,300 Texas Rangers, nental army. There the joyful news many of them veterans who had fought reached the American army of a treaty the Indians. Sibley issued a proclamaof alliance with France. It was promul- tion demanding from the inhabitants aid gated by Washington in general orders on for and allegiance to his troops. Feeling May 6, 1778. He set apart the next day confident of success, he moved towards as one of rejoicing and grateful acknowl- Fort Craig to attack Canby. His light edgment of the divine goodness in raising field-pieces could not injure the fort, so up a powerful friend "in one of the he crossed the Rio Grande below and princes of the earth." It was celebrated out of reach of the guns of the fort for with tokens of delight. The several the purpose of drawing Canby out. In brigades were drawn up to hear discourses this he was successful. Canby threw a by their respective chaplains. The men force across the river to occupy an emiwere placed in specified positions to fire nence commanding the fort, which it was a feu de joie with muskets and cannon- thought Sibley might attempt to gain. three times three discharges of thirteen There a skirmish ensued, and the Nationcannon. At the first the army huzzaed, als retired to the fort. On the following "Long live the King of France"; at the day (Feb. 21) a considerable force of second, "Long live the friendly European cavalry, artillery, and infantry, under powers"; and at the third there was a Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, crossed the

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