Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War. Founded on Fact

A tender portrait unfolds in the opening pages, following a young woman from a modest household through the hardships of losing both mother and brother. Sent away to a village school and later a New‑York seminary, she navigates grief and education while the world around her steadies for conflict. Her family’s modest home and the quiet strength she discovers set the stage for a personal journey that mirrors the nation’s growing unrest.

Against this intimate backdrop, the author weaves together sketches, verses, and carefully annotated notes that aim to preserve the facts of a looming war between the United States and Great Britain. The text’s dual presentation—original wording alongside sourced corrections—offers listeners a glimpse of 19th‑century literary craft, with a charitable spirit that helped fund benevolent causes. The blend of heartfelt narrative and historical observation makes the early sections both moving and informative.