OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: George Washington's mission to the Ohio [5]
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
April 7, 2000
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Historical Collections of Ohio
Diaries of S. J. Kelly
Plains Dealer
Know Your Ohio
by Darlene E. Kelley
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Continuation of George Washinton's Journel -- Mission to the Ohio-- pt 5
and final --As printed in the Maryland Gazette-- March 21st and 26th
1754.

15th-- The Commandant ordered a plentiful store of Liquor, Provision,
Etc.,to be put on board our canoe, and appeared to be extremely
compliant, though he was exerting every artifice that he could invent to
set our Indians at variance with us, to prevent their going 'til after
our departure; Presents, Rewards, and everything that could be suggested
by him or his officers---- I can't say that ever in my life I suffered
so much anxiety as I did in this affair; I saw every strategem that the
most fruitful brain could invent, was practiced to win the Half-King to
their interest, and that leaving him here was giving them the
opportunity they aimed at---I went to the Half-King, and pressed him in
the strongest terms to go; He told me the Commandant would not discharge
hm 'til the morning. I then went to the Commandant, and desired him to
do their business, and complained of ill treatment; for keeping them, as
they were part of my Company, was detaining me; which he promised not to
do, but to forward my journey as much as he could; He protested he did
not keep them, but was ignorant of the cause of their stay; though I
soon found out;---- He had promised them a present of guns,etc. if they
would wait until morning.

As I was much pressed by the Indians, to wait this day for them, I
consented, on a promise, that nothing would hinder them in the morning. 

16th-- The French were not stack in their inventions to keep the Indians
this day also; but as they were obligated, according to promise, to ive
the present, they then endeavoured to try the power of liquor,which I
doubt not would have prevailed at any other time than this, but I urged
and insisted with the King so closely upon his word, that he refrained,
and set off with us as he engaged.

We had a tedious and very fatiguing portage down the creek, severa times
we had liked to have been stoved against rocks, and many times were
obliged all hands to get out and remain in the water half an hour or
more, getting over the Shoals; at one place the ice had lodged and made
it impassible by water; therefore we were obliged to carry our canoe
across a neck of land, a quarter of a mile over. We did not reach
Venango, till the 22nd, where we met our horses.

This creek is extremely crooked, I dare say the distance between the
Fort and Venango can't be less than 130 miles, to follow the meanders.

23rd-- When I got things ready to set off, I sent for the Half-King, to
know whether he intended to go with us, or by way of water, he told me
that White Thunder had hurt himself much, and was sick and unable to
walk, therefore he was obliged to carry him down in a canoe; As I found
he intended to stay a day or two, and know that Monsieur Joncaire would
employ every scheme to set him against the English as he had before
done; I told him I hoped he would guard against flattery, and let no
fine speeches influence him in their favour; He desired I might not be
concerned; for he knew the French too well, for anything to engage him
in their behalf; and though he could not go down with us, he would
endeavor to meet at the forks with Joseph Campbell, to deliver a speech
for me to carry to his Honour the Governor. He told me he would order
the young hunter to attend to us, and get provisions, etc., if wanted.

Our horses were now so weak and feeble, and baggage heavy, we were
obliged to provide all the necessities that the journey would require;
that we doubted much their performing it; therefore myself an others (
except the Drevers were much obliged to ride) gave up our horses for
packs, to assist along with the baggage; I put myself in an Indian dress
and continued with them three days, 'til I found there was no
probability of their getting in, in any reasonable time; the horses grew
less able to travel every day; the cold increased very fast, and the
roads were becoming much worse by a deep snow, contiually freezing; and
as I was uneasy to get back, to make a report of my proceedings to his
Honour the Governor, I determined to prosecute my journey the nearest
way through the woods, on foot.

Accordingly I left Mr. Van Braam in charge of our baggage, with money
and directions to provide necessities from place to place for themselves
and horses, and to make the most convenient dispatch in.

I took my necessary papers, pulled off my clothes, tied myself up in a
Match Coat, and with my pack at my back with my papers and provisions in
it, and a gun, set out with Mr.Gist, fitted to the same manner, on
Wedesday the 26th. The day following, just after we had passed a place
called the Murdering Town. where we intended to quit the path, and steer
across the country for Shannopins Town, we fell in with a party of
French Indians. who had laid in wait for us; one of them fired at Mr.
Gist or me, not 15 steps, but fortunately missed. We took this fellow in
custody and kept him till about 9 o'clock at night, and then let him go,
and walked all night without making  making any stop, that we might get
a head start so as to get out of the reach of their pursuit the next
day, as we were rest assured they would follow our tracks as soon as it
was light. The next day we continued travelling till quite dark, and
went to the River about 2 miles above Shannapins; we expected to have
found the River frozen, but it was not, only to have about 50 yards from
each shore; the ice I suppose had broken up above, for it was driving in
vast quantities.

There was no way for getting over but on a raft, which we set about,
with but one poor Hatcher, and got finished just after sun setting,
after a whole day's work; we got it launched, and on board of it, and
set off; but before we were half way over, we were jammed in the ice in
such a manner that we expected every moment our raft to sink, and
ourself to perish; I put out my setting pole to try and stop the raft,
that the ice might pass by, when rapidity of the stream threw it with so
much violence against the pole, that it jerked me out into 10 feet of
Water, but I fortunately saved myself by catching hold of one of the
Raft Logs; notwithstading all our efforts we could not get the raft to
either shore, but were obliged, as we were near an island, to quit our
raft and make it.

The cold was so extremely severe,that Mr. Gist had all his fingers,and
some of his toes frozen, and the water was shut up so hard, that we
found no difficulty in getting off the island on the ice in the morning,
and went to Mr. Frazier's. We met here with 20 warriors, who were going
to the southward to war, but coming to a place upon the Head of the
Great Cunnaway, where they found 7 people killed and scalped, all but
one women with very light hair, they turned around and ran back, for
fear the inhabitants should rise and take them as authors of the murder;
They report that the people were lying about the house, and some of them
much torn and eaten by Hogs; by the marks that were left, they say they
were French Indians of the Ottaway Nation, Etc., that did it.

As we intended to take horse here, and it required some time to find
them. I went up about 8 miles to the Mouth of Youghiogheny to visit
Queen Aliquippa, who had expressed great concern that we pressed her in
going to the Fort. I made her a present of a match coat and a bottle of
rum, which later was thought much the best present of the two.

Tuesday the 1st day of January, we left Mr.Frazier's House, and arrived
at Mr.Gist's at Monongahela the 2nd, where I bought Horse , saddle, etc.
The 6th we met 17 horses loaded with materials and stores for a fort at
the forks of Ohio ., and the day after some families going out to
settle. This day we arrived at Willis Creek, after as fatiquing a
journey as it is possible to conceive, rendered so by excessive bad
weather; From the first day of December to the 15th,there was but one
day but it rained or snowed incessantly; and throughout the whole
journey we met with nothing but one continued series of cold wet
weather, which occassioned very uncomfortable lodgings, especially after
we left our tent which was some screen from the inclemency of it. 

On the 11th I got to Belvoir where I stopped one day to take necessary
rest, and then set out and arrived in Williamsburg the 16th, and waited
upon his Honour the Governor with the letter I had brought from the
French Commandant, and to give an account of the proceedings of my
journey, which I beg leave to do by offering the foregoing, as it
contains the most remarkable occurrences that happened to me.

I hope it will be sufficient to satisfy your Honour with my proceedings;
for that was my aim in undertaking the Journey, and chief study
throughout the prosecution of it.

With the Hope of doing it, with infinate pleasure, subscribe myself,

Your Honour's Most Obedient ,
And very Humble Servant.

G. Washington.

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