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 Online Book
DAVID CROCKETT: HIS LIFE AND ADVENTURES
BY
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT
PREFACE
CHAPTER I.
Parentage and Childhood.
The Emigrant.--Crossing the Alleghanies.--The Boundless Wilderness.--The Hut on
the Holston.--Life's Necessaries.--The Massacre.--Birth of David
Crockett.--Peril of the Boys.--Anecdote.--Removal to Greenville; to Cove
Creek.--Increased Emigration.--Loss of the Mill.--The Tavern.--Engagement with
the Drover.--Adventures in the Wilderness.--Virtual Captivity.--The Escape.--The
Return.--The Runaway.--New Adventures. . . . 7
CHAPTER II.
Youthful Adventures.
David at Gerardstown.--Trip to Baltimore.--Anecdotes.--He ships for
London.--Disappointment.--Defrauded of his Wages.--Escapes.--New
Adventures.--Crossing the River.--Returns Home.--His Reception.--A Farm
Laborer.--Generosity to his Father.--Love Adventure.--The Wreck of his
Hopes.--His School Education.--Second Love adventure.--Bitter
Disappointment.--Life in the Backwoods.--Third Love Adventure. . . . 35
CHAPTER III.
Marriage and Settlement.
Rustic Courtship.--The Rival Lover.--Romantic Incident. The Purchase of a
Horse.--The Wedding.--Singular Ceremonies.--The Termagant.--Bridal Days.--They
commence Housekeeping.--The Bridal mansion and Outfit.--Family Possessions.--The
Removal to Central Tennessee.--Mode of Transportation.--The New Income and its
Surroundings.--Busy Idleness.--The Third Move.--The Massacre at Fort Mimms. . .
. 54
CHAPTER IV.
The Soldier Life.
War with the Creeks.--Patriotism of Crockett.--Remonstrances of his
Wife.--Enlistment.--The Rendezvous.--Adventure of the Scouts.--Friendly
Indians,--A March through the Forest.--Picturesque Scene.--The Midnight
Alarm.--March by Moonlight.--Chagrin of Crockett.--Advance into Alabama.--War's
Desolations.--Indian Stoicism.--Anecdotes of Andrew Jackson.--Battles, Carnage,
and Woe. . . . 93
CHAPTER V.
Indian Warfare.
The Army at Fort Strother.--Crockett's Regiment.--Crockett at Home.--His
Reenlistment.--Jackson Surprised.--Military Ability of the Indians.--Humiliation
of the Creeks.--March to Florida.--Affairs at Pensacola.--Capture of the
City.--Characteristics of Crockett.--The Weary March,--Inglorious
Expedition.--Murder of Two Indians.--Adventures at the Island.--The Continued
March.--Severe Sufferings.--Charge upon the Uninhabited Village. . . . 124
CHAPTER VI.
The Camp and the Cabin.
Deplorable Condition of the Army.--Its wanderings.--Crockett's
Benevolence.--Cruel Treatment of the Indians.--A Gleam of Good Luck.--The Joyful
Feast.--Crockett's Trade with the Indian.--Visit to the Old Battlefield.--Bold
Adventure of Crockett.--His Arrival Home.--Death of his Wife.--Second
Marriage.--Restlessness.-- Exploring Tour.--Wild Adventures.--Dangerous
Sickness.--Removal to the West.--His New Home. . . . 155
CHAPTER VII.
The Justice of Peace and the Legislator.
Vagabondage.--Measures of Protection.--Measures of Government.--Crockett's
Confession.--A Candidate for Military Honors.--Curious Display of Moral
Courage.--The Squirrel Hunt.--A Candidate for the Legislature.--Characteristic
Electioneering.--Specimens of his Eloquence.--Great Pecuniary
Calamity.--Expedition to the Far West.--Wild Adventures.--The Midnight
Carouse.--A Cabin Reared. . . . 183
CHAPTER VIII.
Life on the Obion.
Hunting Adventures.--The Voyage up the River.--Scenes in the Cabin.--Return
Home.--Removal of the Family.--Crockett's Riches.--A Perilous
Enterprise.--Reasons for his Celebrity.--Crockett's Narrative.--A
Bear-Hunt.--Visit to Jackson.--Again a Candidate for the
Legislature.--Electioneering and Election. . . . 212
CHAPTER IX.
Adventures in the Forest, on the River, and in the City
The Bear Hunter's Story.--Service in the Legislature.--Candidate for
Congress.--Electioneering.--The New Speculation.--Disastrous Voyage.--Narrow
Escape.--New Electioneering Exploits.--Odd Speeches.--The Visit to Crockett's
Cabin.--His Political Views.--His Honesty.--Opposition to Jackson.--Scene at
Raleigh.--Dines with the President.--Gross Caricature.--His Annoyance. . . . 240
CHAPTER X.
Crockett's Tour to the North and the East.
His Reelection to Congress.--The Northern Tour.--First Sight of a
Railroad.--Reception in Philadelphia.--His First Speech.--Arrival in New
York.--The Ovation there.--Visit to Boston.--Cambridge and Lowell.--Specimens of
his Speeches.--Expansion of his Ideas.--Rapid Improvement. . . . 267
CHAPTER XI.
The Disappointed Politician.--Off for Texas.
Triumphal Return.--Home Charms Vanish.--Loses His Election.--Bitter
Disappointment.--Crockett's Poetry.--Sets out for Texas.--Incidents of the
Journey.--Reception at Little Rock.--The Shooting Match.--Meeting a
Clergyman.--The Juggler.--Crockett a Reformer.--The Bee Hunter.--The Rough
Strangers.--Scene on the Prairie. . . . 290
CHAPTER XII.
Adventures on the Prairie.
Disappearance of the Bee Hunter.--The Herd of Buffalo Crockett lost.--The Fight
with the Cougar.--Approach of Savages.--Their Friendliness.--Picnic on the
Prairie.--Picturesque Scene.--The Lost Mustang recovered.--Unexpected
Reunion.--Departure of the Savages.--Skirmish with the Mexicans.--Arrival at the
Alamo. . . .312
CHAPTER XIII.
Conclusion.
The Fortress of Alamo.--Colonel Bowie.--Bombardment of the Fort.--Crockett's
Journal.--Sharpshooting.--Fight outside of the Fort.--Death of the Bee
Hunter.--Kate of Nacogdoches.--Assault on the Citadel.--Crockett a
Prisoner.--His Death. . . . 340
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