This book collects together a number of essays and articles by William Henry Egle (1830-1901), one of the leading historians of Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. Covering topics as diverse as colonial settlement, the Civil War, and the rise of industry, Egle's work provides a detailed and fascinating insight into the history of one of America's most important states. This new edition includes an introduction by a noted historian, and will be of interest to scholars, students, and anyone interested in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States more broadly. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.