HENDERSON, ARCHIBALD. Conquest of the old Southwest. il *$3 (5c) Century 976
20–8247
It is “the romantic story of the early pioneers into Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, 1740–1790,” (Sub-title) now known as the old Southwest, that is told in this volume. The author points out two determinative principles in the progressive American civilization of the eighteenth century as: the passion for the acquisition of land; and wanderlust—the inquisitive instinct of the hunter, the traveler, and the explorer. They gave rise to a restless nomadic temperament which in its turn formed the sub-soil of a buoyant national character. What it did for democracy in the second half of the eighteenth century is the theme of the book. The contents in part are: The migration of the peoples; The cradle of westward expansion; The back country and the border; The Indian war; The land companies; Daniel Boone and wilderness exploration; The regulators; Transylvania—a wilderness commonwealth; The repulse of the red men; The lure of Spain—the haven of statehood; List of notes, bibliographical notes, index and illustrations.
“One expects from Mr Henderson a well-told story, and this volume realizes this expectation. The narrative will interest the scientific historian as well as the lay reader. It is evident that there are grave limitations to Mr Henderson’s interpretation of old Southwest history.” C. W. Alvord
+ − Am Hist R 26:116 O ’20 580w
“An interesting economic and social story to all who know the Mississippi valley settlements mainly as exploits of Boone and George Rogers Clark”
+ Booklist 17:25 O ’20
“This volume is a very condensed history, with a great number of witness-references showing the care with which Mr Henderson has done his work. He has added a valuable and convenient treatise concerning a somewhat overlooked section to the group of histories of the states, and to the history of the formation of the United States of America.” J. S. B.
+ Boston Transcript p6 Jl 3 ’20 650w Freeman 2:69 S 29 ’20 190w + N Y Times p14 Ag 29 ’20 2550w