Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 4).djvu/172

168 Extract of a letter from Jared Sparks, Esq., to the editor of the Olden Time.

"Salem, Mass., Feb. 18th, 1847.

"Dear Sir:—There is a copy of the 'Memorial' which you mentioned in the Library of Harvard College which I believe is complete. I shall obtain it soon, and will have the missing pages copied and forward to you the manuscript. I suppose you wish it sent by mail. I once compared this translation with the original and found it clumsily executed, but the substance is probably retained.

"Having heretofore examined with care the details of Braddock's expedition, I am persuaded that the following, as far as it goes, is a correct account of his march from Gist's plantation:

"On the 30th of June the army forded the Youghiogany at Stewart's Crossings and then passed a rough road over a mountain. A few days onward they came to a great swamp which detained them part of a day in clearing a road. They next advanced to Salt Lick Creek, now called Jacob's Creek, where a council of war was