"Yes," assented the captain; "that was a signal overthrow to British troops on the plains of Louisiana."
"Yes; I remember that was a great victory for our United States troops," said Elsie Dinsmore. "But who of our folks took possession now that it was bought from the French, and just when did they do it?"
"It was on the 20th of December of that same year," replied the captain, "that General Wilkinson and Governor Claiborne, who were jointly commissioned to take possession of the country for the United States, entered New Orleans at the head of the American troops. The French governor gave up his command, and the tri-colored flag of France gave place to the star-spangled banner."
"Oh, that was good," said Elsie Dinsmore; "and was Louisiana made a State at once, captain?"
"No," he replied; "it was erected into a Territory by Congress in 1804. In 1810 the Spanish post at Baton Rouge was seized by the United States forces under General Wilkinson and the territory connected with it added to Louisiana, which in 1812 was admitted into the Union as a State."
"But, papa, was what is now the State of Louisiana all we bought from France by that treaty of 1803?" asked Grace.
"No, by no means," replied the captain. "The territory purchased by that treaty is now occupied by the States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Dakota, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington."
"My, what a big purchase it was!" cried Ned. "But how did France get so much?"
"No doubt she just helped herself," laughed his sister. "The State went out of the Union in the time of the Civil War, didn't it, papa?"
"Yes; on the 26th of January, 1861, but was readmitted into the Union on the 25th of June, 1868."