They were a marked and peculiar people.

The good and evil traits in their character were such as naturally belonged to a strong, harsh, and homely race, which, with all its shortcomings, was nevertheless bringing a tremendous work to a triumphant conclusion.

The backwoodsmen were above all things characteristically American; and it is fitting that the two greatest and most typical of all Americans should have been respectively a sharer and an outcome of their work.

Washington himself passed the most important years of his youth heading the westward movement of his people; clad in the traditional dress of the backwoodsmen, in tasselled hunting-shirt and fringed leggings, he led them to battle against the French and Indians, and helped to clear the way for the American advance.

The only other man who in the American roll of honor stands by the side of Washington, was born when the distinctive work of the pioneers had ended; and yet he was bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh; for from the loins of this gaunt frontier folk sprang mighty Abraham Lincoln.
APPENDICES.
* * * * * APPENDIX A--TO CHAPTER I.
During the early part of this century our more pretentious historians who really did pay some heed to facts and wrote books that--in addition to their mortal dulness--were quite accurate, felt it undignified and beneath them to notice the deeds of mere ignorant Indian fighters.