Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/610

604 mountains westward, and unloading it from cars into canal-boats to carry eastward. Here we again took the packet-boat and left Hollidaysburg, with three rousing cheers from the crowd on shore. They also cheered Gen. Robert Patterson, who is with us on his way home. Passed Frankstown—once, before the canal and railroad were finished, an important point on the road over the mountains. Passed Williamsburg, Alexander, etc.

Since the-above has been written, the Allegheny Portage Railroad, from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown, and the western division of the Pennsylvania Canal, from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, have all been adandoned and superseded by the great Pennsylvania Railroad route—the extensive inclined planes having been avoided by a gradual grade and tunnel under the Allegheny Mountains.

Thursday, July 20, 1848.—This morning we arrived at McVeytown. Here I had the pleasure of meeting a good many of my old friends, who, as well as myself, were pleased at seeing one another again, having only time to say a few words and shake hands with them while the boat was passing through the lock, making me promise them that I would call to see them soon after my discharge in Philadelphia. As we passed out of the lock they gave us three hearty cheers. Passed on down the raging canal until about one mile above Lockport, or Three Locks, as some call it, where I first saw my brother Frederick on shore. I instantly jumped off the packet boat, and, of course, you can all imagine we were both much rejoiced in seeing one another again. The boat was going on, and I had only time to say a few words to him and give him a hearty shake of the hand, and hurried down to Lockport to catch the boat. Here I met some of my most intimate friends, who greeted me with great joy, and particularly Dr. J. L. Ickes and family. More so by his beautiful and amiable daughter, Miss Catharine E. Ickes, who seemed to be much rejoiced and pleased in seeing me, and I could see by the bright sparkling of her eyes, the pleasing countenance