Page:Journal of an Expedition 1794.djvu/17

Rh We were, by our delay of yesterday, now put in the rear of all the Pensylvania infantry and their baggage wagons, which made the march very slow and tedious; though not more than seven miles, we arrived in four hours, and found the ground very good for encamping, but no water to be had in quantities nearer than half a mile; this was a serious want to the cavalry. I rode my horse all the way.

12th. Marched for Shippensburg; the cavalry by themselves. This day we passed one of the largest springs, which turned several mills in a few rods from its source, and in three miles there was a number of other mills. This town is pleasantly situated, consists of about two hundred houses, and belongs to the Shippens in Philadelphia, put out on perpetual leases, on a moderate quit-rent.

13th. The cavalry themselves marched for Chambersburgh, a pleasant village consisting of about two hundred houses, much better built than Shippensburg. This town lays on the waters of the famous Conogocheche, near where it was proposed to have the final seat of federal government, and is the county-town of ; has a very handsome court house, a market and some capital mills, and belongs to Capt. Chambers, who has leased on moderate terms. This town has risen suddenly, not having been laid out more than ten years; here we found the best tavern we had seen for a long time. Capt. Chambers was so polite as to invite me, with Gen. White's family, to dine with him.

14th. Halted this day here, to give the Pennsylvanians an opportunity to vote for Congress and Assemblymen. The country down this valley is very fine and good.

15th. This day marched for Thompson's Cove at the foot of the range of mountains called the North, and three miles from Mercersburg. Hero we lay this night, drew provisions, and made ready to scale the mountains in the morning.

16th. Marched, and in one mile began to ascend the mountain, which here is very rugged and seemed to wind round one point after another for three or four miles, until we reached the summit, whence in every direction we could see nothing but hills and mountains towering over each other, as if they were trying who should get the highest. We descended this, and raised another, and after descending that, got into a small valley called Wallace station, where we found just room enough to encamp, and hay to feed our horses, but found the most wretched houses and improvements, and poverty that we had seen.

17th. Marched to the Juniatta, where we encamped, and found Gov. Mifflin with the Pennsylvania troop; here we had but a poor supply of hay and straw; at this place there had been a battle with the Indians, in Braddock's campaign, in which they were foiled; here we had one cf the most merry nights among the officers, they had on the march. Here in a poor hut, we found a poor child, one month old, with a head swelled to the