First Sentence

"That the position occupied by those brave and hardy men, whose gallant struggles gave to civilization so vast an extent of territory, and through whose heroism and terrible privations was prepared the way for the church, the school, the temple of justice and the other institutions, which enlightenment brings in her train to ameliorate all conditions of society, was a noble one, no one doubts or denies, but the efforts to depict the lives, deeds and aims of these men have, so far, proved alike inaccurate and unhappy."