The purpose of this book is to provide background information for The Leatherstocking Series of novel written by James Fenimore Cooper. The work include biographical information about the author, his place of residence and his social position. It also provides information concerning the history and geography of Central New York during the period.

The purpose of this selection is to document the military career of Wade Hampton III. Six feet tall and sturdily built, Hampton was no armchair warrior. Noted for his patriarchal and caring manner, Hampton would give all of his own personal fortune for the Confederate cause before the Civil War was over. Wounded five times in battle (severely at Gettysburg), at 42 years of age Hampton was described as the idealized statue of a mounted warrior. Despite his lack of military experience and his relatively advanced age, Hampton was a natural cavalryman-brave, audacious, dedicated, and a superb...

There is a great need today for Americans to further their understanding of the role religion has played in the establishment of the government of the United States. Religion today is viewed with a somewhat benevolent agnosticism by many elected officials and some of its citizens, yet it was important enough to America's founders to reside in the first amendment to the Bill of Rights. Contrary to comments suggesting that Americans cling to their Bibles as a way to explain their frustrations concerning race, immigration, or the economy, religion has been a critical foundation stone of the...

Historians have written much about the issues between Britain and its American colonies in the critical period between 1763 and 1776. Understandably, they have concentrated upon those areas where the conflict was most dramatic such as at the Boston Massacre, Lexington Green, and Concord Bridge. Middle school history teachers are fond of the rhythmic cadence of taxation without representation and the imagery of the Boston Tea Party, but the American Revolution was about more than taxes and tea. More mundane issues that may actually have carried greater moment have rarely been adequately...

The theme of this book is the exploration of the theory and practice of dive-bombing, which tactic proved more precise than that of level-flight bombers and more effective than air-launched torpedo attacks against surface ships. It is also the author's purpose to come to a more general conclusion as to the effectiveness of dive-bombing under actual combat conditions. In this regard the words and observations of several dive-bomber aviators have been incorporated. While the best known dive-bomber was the Stuka, the most successful of the major dive-bombing airframes was undoubtedly the...