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diff --git a/44823-0.txt b/44823-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..17774d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/44823-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2020 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44823 *** + + NARRATIVE + OF A + JOURNEY + DOWN THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI + IN 1789-90. + + BY + MAJ. SAMUEL S. FORMAN + + + WITH A MEMOIR AND ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES + + BY + LYMAN C. DRAPER + + + CINCINNATI + ROBERT CLARKE & CO. + 1888 + + + COPYRIGHT. + + + + +PREFATORY NOTE. + + +I acknowledge my indebtedness to a friend of the Forman family for +calling my attention to the interesting narrative of Major Samuel S. +Forman's early journey down the Ohio and Mississippi, and for aiding +me in securing a copy for publication. The manuscript of this +monograph, as now presented, has been submitted to friends and kindred +of Major Forman, who knew him long and well, and they have accorded it +their warm approval. + +With their kind approbation, I feel encouraged to offer this little +contribution to western historical literature to an enlightened +public. + + L. C. D. + Madison, Wis. + + + + +MEMOIR OF MAJOR SAMUEL S. FORMAN. + + +Every addition to our stock of information touching early western +history and adventure, and of the pioneer customs and habits of a +hundred years ago, deserves a kindly reception. The following +narrative of a journey down the Ohio and Mississippi, in 1789-90, was +not reduced to writing till 1849, after a lapse of sixty years; but an +unusually fine memory enabled Major Forman to relate such incidents of +his trip as left a lasting impression upon him, alike with interest +and general accuracy. A sketch of the writer will give us a better +insight into his trustworthiness and character. + +Major Forman, the third son of Samuel and Helena Denise Forman, was +born at Middletown Point, Monmouth county, New Jersey, July 21, 1765. +He was too young to participate in the Revolutionary war, during the +stirring period of 1776 to 1780, in New Jersey; but his elder +brothers, Jonathan and Denise, were prominent and active throughout +the great struggle. Major Forman has recorded some incidents of the +war that occurred in his region of New Jersey, and within his own +knowledge, worthy of preservation as interesting scraps of +Revolutionary history. At one time, a cousin of his, Tunis Forman, +about seventeen years of age, met two Tory robbers, and after one had +fired at him and missed, he, getting the advantage of them in the +adjustment of his gun, forced them to throw down their weapons, when +he marched them several miles before him, and lodged them in jail at +Freehold. For this brave act, young Forman received a large reward.[1] + + [1] This incident, occurring in May, 1780, is related in Barber + and Howe's _New Jersey Historical Collection_, 345-6. + +During the period while Major Henry Lee and his famous Light Dragoons +were serving in New Jersey, intelligence came of the marauding +operations of a band of Tory robbers, located in the extensive pine +woods toward Barnegat, in Monmouth county, whose head-quarters were at +a secret cave in that region. Lee dispatched a select party of +fearless men, who approached the dangerous region in a farmer's wagon, +concealed under a covering of straw. Fagans, the robber leader, with +some followers, stopped the wagon to plunder it, when the concealed +dragoons immediately put a ball through Fagans's head, and with his +fall his associates fled. Fagans's body was conveyed to Barkalow's +woods, the usual place of execution for such culprits, and there +exposed on a gibbet till the flesh dropped from the bones. + +Mr. Forman mentions that his father, Samuel Forman, did not escape a +visit from the Tories and British. At one time, they made a descent +upon the village of Middletown Point. There was a mill at this place, +which was well known and much resorted to for a great distance; and +some of these Tory invaders had been employed in the erection of this +mill, and were personally well known to the citizens, and it would +appear that their object was, at least, to capture Samuel Forman, if +not to kill him. They plundered the houses of the settlement, +destroying what they could not carry off, boasting that they had aided +in building the mill, and now assisted in kindling the fire in the +bolting box to burn it down. They had surprised the guard placed for +the protection of the place, killing several of their number, who had +been their schoolmates in former years. Samuel Forman eluded their +vigilance, but lost heavily by this invasion, for he owned almost all +of one side of Middletown Point, and part of both sides of Main +street. He never applied to Congress for any remuneration for his +losses. He died in 1792, in his seventy-eighth year. In this foray, +the enemy burned two store-houses of Mr. John H. Burrows, robbed his +house, and took him prisoner to New York. After several months, he was +exchanged, and returned home. + +My brother, Denise Forman, entered the service when he was about +sixteen years old. He was in the battle of Germantown--in which +engagement eighteen of the Forman connection took part--where the +Americans were badly used, on account of the British having some light +artillery in a large stone house. Our army had to retreat; when that +took place, Lieutenant Schenck, under whom brother Denise served, took +Denise's gun, and told him to take fast hold of his coat, and cling to +it during the retreat. General David Forman conducted himself so well, +that General Washington tendered his aid in securing a command in the +Continental army; but General Forman declined the offer, as he +believed he could be more serviceable to remain with the militia in +Monmouth county, New Jersey, as they were continually harassed there +by the enemy from Staten Island and New York. + +After this, Denise Forman engaged under a Captain Tyler, who had +charge of a few gun-boats that coasted along the Jersey shore, to +annoy and oppose the enemy. When the British fleet lay at anchor near +Sandy Hook, Captain Tyler went, in the night, and surprised a large +sloop at anchor among the men-of-war. Tyler's party boarded the sloop, +secured the sailors, weighed anchor, and got her out from the fleet, +and took her up Middletown creek, all without any fighting. The whole +enterprise was conducted with so much judgment, that the sailor +prisoners dared not speak or give the least sign of alarm. "When we +first touched the sloop," said Denise Forman, "I felt for a moment a +little streaked, but it was soon over, and then we worked fearlessly +to get the vessel under weigh, without alarming the fleet." These +gun-boats were all propelled by muffled oars, that dipped in and out +of the water so as to make no noise; nor did any of the men speak +above their breath. On the gunwale of the boat, a strip of heavy +canvas was nailed, the inner edge having been left unfastened, under +which were concealed their swords, guns, and other implements for use +in a combat, and so placed that each man could, at an instant's +notice, lay his hand upon his own weapon. Even in port, the men +belonging to Tyler's party were not allowed to talk or speak to other +people, as a matter of precaution; and the captain always spoke in an +undertone, and if a man laid down an oar, it was always done as +noiselessly as possible. + +At one time, fifteen hundred British and Tories landed on Middletown +shore, and marched from six to ten miles back into the country. A +beacon, placed on a conspicuous hill, was fired for the purpose of +giving an alarm; and soon the militia of the country, understanding +the notice, gathered, and opposed the enemy. In Pleasant Valley they +checked their advance. Uncle John Schenck and brother Denise so +closely cornered a British or Tory officer of this party in a +barn-yard, that he jumped from his horse, took to his heels and +escaped, leaving his horse behind him. + +Major Burrows[2] happened to be at home at that time, on a visit to +his family. Some of the Americans dressed themselves in British red +coats, which had been captured. The Rev. Mr. DuBois, who, like a good +patriot, had turned out on this occasion, with his fowling-piece, +when Major Burrows rode near by, eked out in British uniform; Mr. +DuBois spoke to Captain Schenck, his brother-in-law, "Look, there is a +good shot," and, suiting the action to the word, took deliberate aim. +Captain Schenck, better understanding the situation, quickly knocked +up the clergyman's gun, with the explanation--"Don't shoot; that's +Major Burrows." Mr. DuBois supposed he was aiming at a British +officer, within point blank shot, who was endeavoring to rejoin his +fellows. + + [2] Major John Burrows was first a captain in Colonel David + Forman's regiment. Forman had the nick-name of "Black David," + to distinguish him from a relative of the same name, and he was + always a terror to the Tories; and Captain Burrows, from his + efficiency against these marauders, was called by those enemies + of the country, "Black David's Devil." January 1, 1777, Captain + Burrows was made a captain in Spencer's regiment on Continental + establishment; and, January 22, 1779, he was promoted to the + rank of major, serving in Sullivan's campaign against the hostile + Six Nations, and remaining in the army till the close of the war. + Several years after, he went on a journey to the interior of + Georgia, in an unhealthy season, when he probably sickened and + died, for he was never heard of afterward. + + Major Burrows left an interesting journal of Sullivan's + campaign, which appears in the splendid volume on that campaign + issued by the State of New York, in 1887. The original MS. + journal is preserved by his grand-daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth + Breese Stevens, of Sconondoa, Oneida county, New York. + +Denise Forman's next move was to enlist with Captain Philip Freneau, +the well-known poet, who sailed from Philadelphia in a letter of +marque, the _Aurora_, against British commerce on the high seas. While +not long out, sailing toward the West Indies, Freneau and his +adventurous vessel were captured by their enemies, sent to New York, +and all incarcerated on board of the _Scorpion_, one of the prison +ships floating in New York harbor and Wallabout Bay, its unhappy +prisoners experiencing almost untold horrors. Captain Freneau, at +least, was subsequently transferred to what he denominated "the +loathesome _Hunter_." These prison ships attained an unenviable +reputation for maltreating and half-starving their hapless and +ill-fated victims, hundreds of whom died in consequence of their +inhuman treatment. This sad experience became the subject of one of +Freneau's subsequent poems, emanating from the depths of his +embittered soul recollections. Brother Denise used to relate to me, +after his return home, that, when on the prison ship, he had to shut +his eyes whenever he ate the sea-biscuit or drank the water assigned +him, so full were they of vermin! Freneau, in his poem, thus alludes +to the fare with which the poor prisoners were treated: + + "See, captain, see! what rotten bones we pick. + What kills the healthy can not cure the sick. + Not dogs on _such_ by Christian men are fed; + And see, good master, see that lousy bread!" + + "Your meat or bread," this man of flint replied, + "Is not my care to manage or provide; + But this, damn'd rebel dogs, I'd have you know, + That better than you merit we bestow. + Out of my sight!" No more he deigned to say, + But whisk'd about, and, frowning, strode away. + +When the survivors were exchanged, after their long imprisonment, they +were so weak and emaciated that they could scarcely walk--perfect +living skeletons; and my brother, after his return home, was confined +to his bed, and for several days nearly all hope of his recovery was +abandoned; but he at length providentially recovered. Denise Forman +received a captain's commission when a war was threatened with France, +in 1798, and when the army was disbanded, he settled on a farm in +Freehold, where he spent the remainder of his days. + +About 1790, Captain Freneau married my sister Eleanor. He was a +prominent Anti-Federalist in his day, and edited various Democratic +papers at different places, and was for a time translating clerk in +the State Department. While he was able to translate the French +documents, he found it cost him more than he received to get those in +other foreign languages properly translated, and after a while he +resigned. He had in early life been a college-mate with James Madison, +at Princeton, and has been aptly called the "patriot poet" of the +Revolution, his effusions having been useful to the cause of the +country during its great struggle for independence. He lost his life +in a violent snow-storm, in December, 1832, in his eighty-first year, +near Monmouth, New Jersey. + +While attending grammar-school, the latter part of the Revolutionary +war, at Freehold, young Forman records: The hottest part of the battle +of Monmouth was about this spot, where my brother-in-law, Major +Burrows, lived after he left the army, and with whom I and some +fellow-students boarded. Our path to the school-house crossed a grave +where a remarkably tall British officer was buried. We opened the +grave; a few pieces only of blanket, which encompassed the corpse, +remained. One school-mate, Barnes Smock, was a very tall person, but +the thigh bones of this unfortunate officer far outmeasured his. I +believe this was the only engagement when the two opposing armies had +recourse to the bayonet,[3] and this was the place of that charge. The +battle took place on the Sabbath. A British cannon ball went through +Rev. Dr. Woodhull's church. Dr. Woodhull was now one of my teachers. +The two armies lay upon their arms all night after the battle. General +Washington and General La Fayette slept in their cloaks under an +apple-tree in Mr. Henry Perrine's orchard. It was Washington's +intention to have renewed the battle the next day, but the British, in +the course of the night, stole a march as fast as they could for their +fleet at Sandy Hook. + + [3] This is an error. Bayonet charges were resorted to by Morgan + at the Cowpens, and in other engagements. + +In the spring of 1783, when peace was dawning, many of the old +citizens of New York City, who had been exiled from their homes for +some seven years, began to return to their abandoned domiciles, even +before the British evacuation. Among them was Major Benjamin Ledyard, +who had married my oldest sister. In September of that year, at the +instance of my sister Ledyard, I went to New York as a member of her +family. Every day I saw the British soldiers. Indeed, a young +lieutenant boarded a short time in our family, as many families +received the British officers as an act of courtesy. + +Even before the British evacuation, the American officers were +permitted to cross over into the city, and frequently came, visiting +the coffee-houses and other places of public resort. Here they would +meet British officers, and some of them evinced a strong inclination +to make disturbance with their late competitors, throwing out hints or +casting reflections well calculated to provoke personal combats. There +was a Captain Stakes, of the American Light Dragoons, a fine, large, +well-built man, who had no fear about him. It was said, when he +entered the coffee-house, that the British officers exercised a +wholesome caution how they treated him, after some of them had made a +feint in testing his powers. But it all happily passed over without +harm. + +It was finally agreed between General Washington and Sir Guy Carleton +that New York should be evacuated November 25th. In the morning of +that day, the British army paraded in the Bowery. The Americans also +paraded, and marched down till they came very close to each other, so +that the officers of both armies held friendly parleys. The streets +were crowded with people on an occasion so interesting. I hurried by +the redcoats till I reached the Americans, where I knew I would be +safe. So I sauntered about among the officer. Presently, an American +officer seized me by the hand, when, I looking up at him, he said, +encouragingly: "Don't be afraid, Sammy. I know your brother Jonathan. +He is an officer in the same line with me, and my name is Cumming."[4] +He continued to hold me by the hand till orders were given to advance. +He advised me to keep on the sidewalk, as I might get run over in the +street. + + [4] This was John N. Cumming, who rose from a lieutenant to be + lieutenant-colonel, commanding the Third New Jersey Regiment, + serving the entire war. + +The British steadily marched in the direction of their vessels, while +the Americans advanced down Queen (since Pearl) street; the British +embarking on board their fleet on East river, I believe, near +Whitehall, and the Americans headed directly to Fort George, on the +point where the Battery now is. Stockades were around the fort, and +the large gate was opened. When the British evacuated the fort, they +unreefed the halyards of the tall flag-staff, greased the pole, so +that it was some time before the American flag was hoisted. At length, +a young soldier[5] succeeded in climbing the pole, properly arranged +the halyards, when up ran the striped and star-spangled banner, amid +the deafening shouts of the multitude, that seemed to shake the city. +It is easier to imagine than to describe the rejoicing, and the +brilliancy of the fireworks that evening. + + [5] The editor, while at Saratoga Springs, in 1838, took + occasion to visit the venerable Anthony Glean, who resided in + the town of Saratoga, and who was reputed to be the person who + climbed the greased flag-staff at the evacuation of New York, + and who himself claimed to have performed that feat. He was then + a well-to-do farmer, enjoying a pension for his revolutionary + services, and lived two or three years later, till he had + reached the age of well-nigh ninety. The newspapers of that + period often referred to him as the hero of the flag-staff + exploit, and no one called it in question. + +After the evacuation, Mr. Forman witnessed the affectionate and +affecting parting of Washington and his officers, when he entered a +barge at Whitehall wharf, manned by sea captains in white frocks, who +rowed him to the Jersey shore, to take the stage for Philadelphia, on +his way to Congress. Mr. Forman also saw General Washington while +presiding over the convention of 1787, to form a Constitution for the +new Republic. The general was attired in citizen's dress--blue coat, +cocked hat, hair in queue, crossed and powdered. He walked alone to +the State House, the place of meeting, and seemed pressed down in +thought. A few moments before General Washington took his seat on the +rostrum, the venerable Dr. Franklin, one of the Pennsylvania +delegates, was brought in by a posse of men in his sedan, and helped +into the hall, he being severely afflicted with palsy or paralysis at +the time. On the adoption of the Constitution, a great celebration was +held in New York to commemorate the event, which Mr. Forman also +witnessed. A large procession was formed, composed of men of all +avocations in life, and each represented by some insignia of his own +trade or profession, marching through the streets with banners, flags, +and stirring music. A full-rigged vessel, called "The Federal Ship +Hamilton," was drawn in the procession, and located in Bowling Green, +where it remained until it fell to pieces by age. + +After spending some years as a clerk in mercantile establishments in +New York City, and once going as supercargo to dispose of a load of +flour to Charleston, he engaged in merchandising at Middletown Point, +New Jersey. Mr. Forman subsequently made the journey down the Ohio and +Mississippi, in 1789-'90, as given in considerable detail in the +narrative which follows. While spending the winter of 1792-'93 in +Philadelphia, he witnessed the inauguration of Washington as +President, at the beginning of his second term of office, and was +within six feet of him when he took the oath of office. "I cast my +eyes over the vast crowd," says Major Forman, "and every eye seemed +riveted on the great chief. On Washington's right sat Chief-Justice +Cushing, and on his left Senator Langdon, of New Hampshire. After +sitting a little while in profound silence, the senator arose, and +asked the President if he was ready to take the oath of office. +General Washington rose up, having a paper in his left hand, when he +made a very short address. Then Judge Cushing stood up, with a large +open Bible before him, facing the President, who laid his hand upon +the sacred volume, and very deliberately and distinctly repeated the +oath of office as pronounced by the chief-justice. When Washington +repeated his own name, as he did at the conclusion of the ceremony, it +made my blood run cold. The whole proceedings were performed with +great solemnity. General Washington was dressed in deep mourning, for, +it was said, a favorite nephew who had lived at Mount Vernon during +the Revolutionary war. He wore his mourning sword. Mrs. Washington was +about the middling stature, and pretty fleshy." + +Mr. Forman now entered into the employ of the Holland Land Company, +through their agents, Theophilus Cazenove and John Lincklaen, to found +a settlement in the back part of the State of New York, where that +company had purchased a large body of land. He accordingly headed a +party, in conjunction with Mr. Lincklaen, for this purpose, conveying +a load of merchandise to the point of operations, passing in batteaus +up the Mohawk to old Fort Schuyler, now Utica, beyond which it was +necessary to open up a road for the teams and loads of goods; lodging +in the woods when necessary, living on raw pork and bread, which was +better than the bill of fare at the well-known tavern in that region, +kept by John Dennie, the half Indian--"no bread, no meat;" and one of +Dennie's descendants indignantly resented being referred to as an +Indian--"Me no Indian; only Frenchman and squaw!" At length, May 8, +1793, the party arrived on the beautiful body of water, since known as +Cazenovia Lake, and founded the village of Cazenovia, where Mr. Forman +engaged in felling trees, and erecting the necessary houses in which +to live and do business, and in this rising settlement he engaged in +merchandising for several years. He held many public positions of +honor and trust; was county clerk, secretary for over thirty years of +a turnpike company; served as major in a regiment of militia early +organized at Cazenovia. + +The latter years of his life he spent in Syracuse, where he was +greatly respected for his worth, his fine conversational powers, his +social and generous feelings. He lived to the great age of over +ninety-seven years, dying August 16, 1862. His closing years were +embittered over the distracted condition of his country, embroiled in +fratricidal war, and his prayer was that the proud flag which he +witnessed when it was placed over the ramparts of Fort George, +November 25, 1783, might again wave its ample folds over a firmly +united American Confederacy. His patriotic prayer was answered, though +he did not himself live to witness it. + + + + +NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY DOWN THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI, 1789-'90. + + +General David Forman,[6] of New Jersey, entered into a negotiation +with the Spanish minister, Don Diego de Gardoque, for his brother, +Ezekiel Forman, of Philadelphia, to emigrate with his family and sixty +odd colored people, and settle in the Natchez country, then under +Spanish authority. + + [6] General Forman was born near Englishtown, Monmouth Co., New + Jersey. He was, during the Revolutionary war, a terror to the + tories of his region, and as brigadier-general commanded the + Jersey troops at the battle of Germantown. No less than eighteen + of the Forman connection were in his brigade in this engagement. + He was subsequently a county judge, and member of the council of + state. He died about 1812. + +I agreed with General Forman to accompany the emigrating party; and, +about the last of November, 1789, having closed up my little business +at Middletown Point, New Jersey, I set out from the general's +residence, in Freehold, with Captain Benajah Osmun, an old continental +captain, who was at that time the faithful overseer of the general's +blacks. There were sixty men, women, and children, and they were the +best set of blacks I ever saw together. I knew the most of them, and +all were well-behaved, except two rather ill-tempered fellows. General +Forman purchased some more, who had intermarried with his own, so as +not to separate families. They were all well fed and well clothed. + +We had, I believe, four teams of four horses each, and one two-horse +wagon, all covered with tow-cloth, while Captain Osmun and I rode on +horseback. After the distressing scene of taking leave--for the +general's family and blacks were almost all in tears--we sat out upon +our long journey. The first night we camped on the plains near +Cranberry, having accomplished only about twelve or fifteen miles. The +captain and I had a bed put under one of the wagons; the sides of the +wagon had tenter-hooks, and curtains made to hook up to them, with +loops to peg the bottom to the ground. The colored people mostly slept +in their wagons. In the night a heavy rain fell, when the captain and +I fared badly. The ground was level, and the water, unable to run off, +gave us a good soaking. I had on a new pair of handsome buckskin small +clothes; the rain spoiled their beauty, and the wetting and subsequent +shrinkage rendered them very uncomfortable to wear. + +The next morning we commenced our journey as early as possible. We +drove to Princeton, where we tarried awhile, and all were made +comfortable. We crossed the Delaware five miles above Trenton. On +arriving at Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, the authorities stopped us, as +we somewhat expected they would do. General Forman had furnished me +with all the necessary papers relating to the transportation of slaves +through New Jersey and Pennsylvania. While Judge Hubley was examining +the papers, the servant women informed me that the females of the +city came out of their houses and inquired of them whether they could +spin, knit, sew, and do housework, and whether they were willing to go +to the South; so, if the authorities stopped us, they could all soon +have new homes. But our colored women laughed at the Lancaster ladies, +who seemed mortified when they learned that we could not be detained. + +In Westmoreland county we had a little trouble with a drunken justice +of the peace and some free blacks. These free blacks, as we learned +from a faithful old colored woman, furnished the two ill-tempered +blacks of our party with old swords and pistols, but nothing serious +grew out of it. + +The weather began to grow very cold, the roads bad, and traveling +tedious. We encamped one night in the woods, kindled a fire, and +turned the tails of the wagons all inward, thus forming a circle +around the fire. Another night we came to a vacant cabin without a +floor; we made a large fire, and all who chose took their bedding and +slept in the cabin, some remaining in the wagons. The captain and I +had our beds spread before the fire. + +One Saturday evening, we were apprehensive of being obliged to encamp +again in the woods. I went ahead, hoping to find night quarters. I +rode up to a log house and went in; it was growing dark, and I began +to ask the landlord to accommodate us for the night, addressing myself +to a tall, lean man. Before I got through with my inquiry, he caught +me up in his arms, as if I were merely a small child, and exclaimed: +"Mighty souls! if this is not little Sammy Forman," and, hugging and +kissing me, added, "Why, don't you remember Charley Morgan? Yes, you +can have any thing I have, and we will do the best we can for you." +This was somewhere in the Alleghany mountains, and here we remained +till Monday, buying wheat, and sending it to mill, and converting a +fat steer into meat, so that we were well provided for, for awhile. +This Charley Morgan entered the regular service as a corporal in my +brother Jonathan's company, when he was a captain, and raised his +company in the vicinity of Middletown Point, New Jersey. He could ape +the simpleton very well, and was sent as a spy into the British army, +and returned safe with the desired information. I was surprised to +meet him in this far-off mountain region. + +Somewhere about Fort Littleton or Fort Loudon, our funds ran out. When +we left General Forman, he told me that Uncle Ezekiel Forman would +leave Philadelphia with his family, and overtake us in time to supply +our wants. But he did not start as soon as he expected, and on his way +in the mountains the top of his carriage got broken by a leaning tree, +which somewhat detained him, so that we arrived at Pittsburg two or +three days before him. + +One morning, while in the neighborhood of Fort Littleton or Fort +Loudon, I offered to sell my horse to the landlord where we took +breakfast; he kept a store as well as a tavern, and was wealthy. The +price of the horse I put very low, when the landlord asked why I +offered him so cheap. I informed him that I was out of funds, and had +expected that Ezekiel Forman, who owned the colored people, would have +overtaken us before our means became exhausted. He replied: "I know +your uncle, and I will lend you as much money as you need, and take +your order on him, as he will stop here on his way. Now, step with me +to the store." Pointing to the large piles of silver dollars on the +counter in the store, he said: "Step up and help yourself to as much +as you want, and give me your order." This was an unexpected favor. +When uncle arrived, he satisfied the order. + +It had taken us near three weeks to journey from Monmouth to +Pittsburg. After our arrival at this place, our first business was to +find situations for our numerous family, while awaiting the rise of +the Ohio, and to lay in provisions for our long river voyage. Colonel +Turnbull, late of Philadelphia, and an acquaintance of uncle, politely +offered him the use of a vacant house and store-room, exactly such +apartments as were wanted. The colored people were all comfortably +housed also. + +The horses and wagons were sold at a great sacrifice--uncle retaining +only his handsome coach horses and carriage, which he took to Natchez +on a tobacco boat, which Captain Osmun commanded, and on board of +which the colored field hands were conveyed. These boats were +flat-bottomed, and boarded over the top, and appeared like floating +houses. Uncle's boat was a seventy feet keel-boat, decked over, with a +cabin for lodging purposes, but too low to stand up erect. The beds +and bedding lay on the floor, and the insides lined with plank to +prevent the Indians from penetrating through with their balls, should +they attack us. We had a large quantity of dry goods, and a few were +opened and bartered in payment for boats and provisions. + +On board of the keel-boat, uncle and family found comfortable +quarters. Mr. and Mrs. Forman, Augusta, Margaret, and Frances, aged +about nine, eleven, and thirteen, and David Forman and Miss Betsey +Church, the latter housekeeper and companion for Aunt Forman, an +excellent woman, who had lived in the family several years, and +occasionally took the head of the table. I and five or six others, two +mechanics, and about eight or ten house servants, were also occupants +of this boat. + +The family received much polite attention while in Pittsburg. By the +time we got prepared for our departure, the Ohio river rose. We +tarried there about a month. Both boats were armed with rifles, +pistols, etc. It being in Indian war time, all boats descending that +long river, of about eleven hundred miles, were liable to be attacked +every hour by a merciless foe, oftentimes led on by renegade whites. + +Uncle fixed on a certain Sabbath, as was the custom in those days, to +embark on ship-board. On that day, the polite and hospitable Colonel +Turnbull, then a widower, gave uncle an elegant dinner, and invited +several gentlemen to grace the occasion with their presence. After +dinner, which was not prolonged, we embarked on board our little +squadron. Colonel Wm. Wyckoff, and his brother-in-law, Kenneth +Scudder, of Monmouth county, New Jersey, accompanied us on our voyage. +The colonel had been, seven years previous to this, an Indian trader, +and was now on his way to Nashville, Tennessee. + +Uncle Forman's keel-boat, Captain Osmun's flat-boat, and Colonel +Wyckoff's small keel-boat constituted our little fleet. The day of our +departure was remarkably pleasant. Our number altogether must have +reached very nearly a hundred. The dinner party accompanied us to our +boats, and the wharf was covered with citizens. The river was very +high, and the current rapid. It was on the Monongahela where we +embarked. + +Our keel-boat took the lead. These boats are guided by oars, seldom +used, except the steering oar, or when passing islands, as the current +goes about six or seven miles an hour. As the waters were now high, +the current was perhaps eight or nine miles an hour. Before day-break +next morning we made a narrow escape from destruction, from our +ignorance of river navigation. We had an anchor and cable attached to +our keel-boat. The cable was made fast to small posts over the +forecastle, where were fenders all around the little deck. When it +began to grow dark, the anchor was thrown over, in hopes of holding us +fast till morning, while the other boats were to tie up to trees along +the river bank. + +As soon as the anchor fastened itself in the river bottom, the boat +gave a little lurch or side motion, when the cable tore away all the +frame-work around the deck, causing a great alarm. Several little +black children were on deck at the time, and as it had now become +quite dark, it could not be ascertained, in the excitement of the +moment, whether any of them had been thrown into the water. +Fortunately none were missing. During our confusion, Captain Osmun's +boat passed ours, a few minutes after the accident, and we soon passed +him, he hailing us, saying that he was entangled in the top of a large +tree, which had caved into the river, and requested the small row-boat +to assist him. Uncle Forman immediately dispatched the two mechanics, +with the small boat, to his assistance. Osmun got clear of the tree +without injury, and the two mechanics rowed hard, almost all night, +before they overtook him. Mrs. Forman and daughters braved out our +trying situation very firmly. + +After we lost our anchor, Uncle Forman took a chair, and seated +himself on the forecastle, like a pilot, and I took the helm. He kept +watch, notifying me when to change the direction of the boat. When he +cried out to me, "port your helm," it was to keep straight in the +middle of the stream; if to bear to the left, he would cry out, +"starboard;" if to the right, "larboard." I was not able to manage the +helm alone, and had a man with me to assist in pulling as directed. +Uncle Forman and I were the only ones of our party who understood +sailor's terms. Ours was a perilous situation till we landed at +Wheeling; it was the most distressing night I ever experienced. + +The next morning, all our boats landed at Wheeling, Virginia, rated at +ninety-six miles from Pittsburg. Here we obtained a large steering oar +for the keel-boat, as the strong current kept the rudder from acting, +without the application of great strength. Having adjusted matters, we +set out again. We seldom ventured to land on our journey, for fear of +lurking Indians. + +One day, we discovered large flocks of wild turkeys flying about in +the woods on shore. The blacksmith, who was a fine, active young man, +asked Uncle Forman to set him on shore, and give him a chance to kill +some of them. The little boat was manned, and taking his rifle and a +favorite dog, he soon landed. But he had not been long on shore, +before he ran back to the river's bank, and made signs for the boat to +come and take him on board. When safely among his friends, he said +that he came to a large fire, and, from appearances, he supposed a +party of Indians was not far off. He, however, lost his fine dog, for +he dared not call him. + +We landed and stopped at Marietta, at the mouth of the Muskingum, +where was a United States garrison. Some of the officers were +acquainted with the family. It was a very agreeable occurrence to meet +with old acquaintances in such a dreary place. The young ladies were +good singers, and entertained the officers awhile with their vocal +music. This night, we felt secure in sleeping away the fatigues of the +journey. Governor St. Clair had his family here. There were a few +other families, also; but all protected by the troops. I believe there +was no other settlement[7] until we arrived at Fort Washington, now +Cincinnati, some three hundred miles below Marietta. + + [7] Mr. Forman forgot to mention Limestone, now Maysville, + Kentucky, some sixty miles above Cincinnati, an older settlement + by some four years than Marietta or Cincinnati. Perhaps it was + passed in the night, and unobserved. And Columbia, too, at the + mouth of the Little Miami, about six miles above Cincinnati, and + a few months its senior in settlement. + +A few hundred yards above Fort Washington, we landed our boats, when +Uncle Forman, Colonel Wyckoff, and I went on shore, and walked up to +head-quarters, to pay our respects to General Harmar, the commander of +our troops in the North-western Territory. The general received us +with much politeness. As we were about taking leave of him, he kindly +invited us to remain and take a family dinner with him, observing to +Uncle, that we should have the opportunity of testing the +deliciousness of what he may never have partaken before--the haunch +of a fine buffalo. It being near dining hour, the invitation was, of +course, accepted. As the general and lady were acquainted with Uncle +and Aunt Forman in Philadelphia, they very politely extended their +kindness by asking that Uncle, Aunt, and their family, together with +Colonel Wyckoff and Brother-in-law Scudder and Captain Osmun, would +spend the next day with them, which was accepted with great pleasure. +General Harmar directed where to move our little fleet, so that all +should be safe under military guard. We then returned to our boats, +and conveyed them down to the appointed place. + +The next morning, after breakfast, and after attending to our toilets, +we repaired to General Harmar's head-quarters, where we were all +received most cordially. Our company consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Forman, +their three daughters, and Master David Forman, Miss Church, Captain +Osmun, S. S. Forman, Colonel Wyckoff, and Mr. Scudder--eleven in all. + +Mrs. Forman and Mrs. Harmar resembled each other as much as though +they were sisters. The general invited some of his officers to share +his hospitalities, also, and we had a most sumptuous dinner and tea. +Before it was quite dark, we took leave of our hospitable friends. I +had the honor of a seat at the table next to the general. While at +dinner, the officer of the day called on General Harmar for the +countersign, so as to place out the sentinels. Captain Kirby,[8] of +the army, who dined with us, was directed by the general to accompany +us on our return to our boats. Just before we came to the sentinel, +Captain Kirby asked us to halt, until he could advance and give the +countersign, which is done with much prudence. I sauntered along, and +happened to hear the challenge by the guard, and the reply of the +captain. The countersign was, I believe, "Forman." + + [8] Neither the _Dictionary of the Army_, the _MS. Harmar + Papers_, nor the _Journal of Major Denny_, who was then an aide + to General Harmar, make any mention of a Captain Kirby. It is + probable, that William Kersey was the officer referred to. He + served in New Jersey during the Revolution, rising from a + private to a captaincy by brevet at the close of the war. At + this period, early in 1790, he was a lieutenant. Probably, by + courtesy of his rank and title in the Revolution, he was called + captain. He attained that rank the following year; major, in + 1794; and died, March 21, 1800. + +In the morning, Captain Osmun said to me, that, after paying our +respects to General Harmar, he wanted me to accompany him to the +quarters of the other officers, as he probably knew all of them; that +they were old continental officers retained in service, and he added: +"They all know your brother, Colonel Jonathan Forman,[9] of the +Revolution, and will be glad to see you on his account." We, +accordingly, after our interview with General Harmar, went to their +quarters. They recollected Captain Osmun, and he introduced me, when +they welcomed me most cordially, and made many inquiries after my +brother. + + [9] Jonathan Forman was born October 16, 1755; was educated at + Princeton College, where he was a fellow-student with James + Madison, and entering the army in 1776 served as captain for + five years, during which he participated in Sullivan's campaign + against the hostile Six Nations; and, promoted to the rank of + major in 1781, he served under La Fayette in Virginia; and early + in 1783 he was made a lieutenant-colonel, and continued in the + army till the end of the war. He headed a regiment against the + whisky insurgents of West Pennsylvania in 1794, and two years + later he removed to Cazenovia, N. Y., where he filled the + position of supervisor, member of the legislature and + brigadier-general in the militia. He married Miss Mary Ledyard, + of New London, Conn., who "went over her shoe tops in blood," in + the barn where the wounded lay, the morning after Arnold's + descent on New London and Fort Griswold, on Groton Heights, + where her uncle, Colonel William Ledyard, was killed in cold + blood after his surrender. General Forman died at Cazenovia, May + 25, 1809, in his sixty-fourth year, and his remains repose in + the beautiful cemetery at that place. + +I think it was in the autumn of 1790 that General Harmar was defeated +by the Indians, and most of these brave officers were killed. At that +period officers wore three-cornered hats, and by that means nearly all +of them were singled out and killed, as they could be so easily +distinguished from others. + +Some distance above Fort Washington, the Scioto river empties into the +Ohio. Near this river was a cave, which the whites had not discovered +till after Harmar's defeat. Here the Indians would sally out against +boats ascending the Ohio. A canoe passed us the day before we passed +the Scioto, which had been fired into at that point, one man having +been shot through the shoulder, another through the calf of the leg, +while the third escaped unhurt. When these poor fellows arrived at +Fort Washington, they waited for us. After our arrival, understanding +that we were going to tarry a day, they set off. Harmar's defeat +caused a French settlement near the Scioto to be broken up;[10] some +of them were killed by the Indians. + + [10] The Gallipolis settlement was much annoyed by the Indians; + some of the poor French settlers were killed, others abandoned + the place, but the settlement was maintained, despite all their + trials and sufferings. + +I must mention an anecdote about my friend, Captain Osmun. At the +battle of Long Island, and capture of New York by the British, many +American prisoners were taken, Captain Osmun among them. He pretended +to be a little acquainted with the profession of physic, but he never +studied it, and could bleed, draw teeth, etc. A German officer had a +very sick child, the case baffling the skill of all the English and +German physicians, and the child's recovery was given up as hopeless. +At last it was suggested to call in the rebel doctor. So Osmun was +sent for. He suppressed as well as he could his half-comical, +half-quizzical expression, and assumed a serious look; felt of the +child's pulse, and merely said he would prepare some pills and call +again. He accordingly did so, giving the necessary directions, and +promised to call at the proper time to learn the effect. When he +called the third time the child had grown much better, and finally +recovered. He said that all he did for the little sufferer was to +administer a little powder-post, mixed up with rye-bread, made into +little pills. He said he knew they could do no harm, if they did no +good, and regarded himself as only an instrument in the hands of the +Almighty in saving the child's life. The father of the child gave him +almost a handful of guineas. Prior to this occurrence he had, while a +prisoner, suffered for the necessaries of life, but thenceforward he +was able to procure needful comforts till his exchange. + +The next morning, after our entertainment by General Harmar and lady, +we renewed our journey, floating rapidly down the Belle Riviere. +Nothing of moment occurred till our arrival at Louisville, at the +Falls of the Ohio. The weather now grew so severely cold, in the +latter part of January, 1790, that the river became blocked with ice. +Here we laid up, disembarked, and took a house in the village, the +front part of which was furnished for a store, which exactly suited +us, and which was gratuitously offered to Uncle Forman by a Mr. Rhea, +of Tennessee. We were remarkably fortunate in this respect, both here +and at Pittsburg. + +Here I opened a store from our stock of goods, and took tobacco in +payment, which was the object in bringing the merchandise. Louisville +then contained about sixty dwelling-houses. Directly opposite was Fort +Jefferson,[11] which was, I believe, only a captain's command. At the +Great Miami was Judge Symmes's settlement,[12] which dragged heavily +along at that time, having been allowed only a sergeant's command for +its protection. + + [11] This is evidently an error of memory; it was known as Fort + Steuben, located where Jeffersonville now is. + + [12] Trivial circumstances sometimes change the fate of nations, + and so it would seem they do of cities also. North Bend might + have become the great commercial metropolis of the Miami country, + instead of Cincinnati, but for an affair of the heart, if we may + credit the tradition preserved by Judge Burnet in his _Notes on + the North-western Territory_. Ensign Francis Luce had been + detailed, with a small force, for the protection of the North + Bend settlement, and to locate a suitable site for a block-house. + While the ensign was keenly but very leisurely on the lookout for + a proper location, he made a discovery far more interesting to + him--a beautiful black-eyed lady, the wife of one of the settlers. + Luce became infatuated with her charms, and her husband, seeing + the danger to which he was exposed if he remained where he was, + resolved at once to remove to Cincinnati. + + The gallant ensign was equal to the unexpected emergency, for he + now began to discover what he had not discovered before, that + North Bend was not, after all, so desirable a locality for the + contemplated block-house as Cincinnati, and forthwith apprised + Judge Symmes of these views, who strenuously opposed the movement. + But the judge's arguments were not so effective as the sparkling + eyes of the fair dulcinea then at Cincinnati. And so Luce and + his military force were transplanted in double-quick time to + Cincinnati; and where the troops were the settlers congregated + for their protection and safety. And so, the Queen City of the + West followed the fortunes of this unnamed forest queen, who so + completely beguiled the impressible ensign. + + In this case there was no ten years' war, as in the case of the + beautiful Spartan dame, which ended in the destruction of Troy; + but, by Luce's infatuation and removal, North Bend was as much + fated as though the combined Indians of the North-west had + blotted it out of existence. Soon after this portentious + removal, Luce, on May 1, 1790, resigned from the army--whether + on account of his fair charmer, history fails to tell us. This + romantic story has been doubted by some, but Judge Burnet was an + early settler of Cincinnati, and had good opportunities to get + at the facts; and when I met the judge, fully forty years ago, + he seemed not the man likely to indulge in romancing. That + General Harmar, in forwarding Luce's resignation to the War + Office, seemed particularly anxious that it should be accepted, + would seem to imply that, for this intrigue, or some other + cause, the general was desirous of ridding the service of him. + +Besides Symmes', there was no other settlement between Cincinnati and +Louisville, except that of a French gentleman named Lacassangue, a few +miles above Louisville, who began a vineyard on the Indian side of the +river; and one day Indians visited it, killing his people, and +destroying his vines.[13] Mr. Lacassangue was a polite, hospitable +man, and gave elegant dinners. + + [13] Michael Lacassangue, a Frenchman of education, settled + in Louisville as a merchant prior to March, 1789, when General + Harmar addressed him as a merchant there. He located a station + on the northern shore of the Ohio, three miles above Fort Steuben, + now Jeffersonville, where he had purchased land in the Clark + grant. In a MS. letter of Captain Joseph Ashton, commanding at + Fort Steuben, addressed to General Harmar, April 3, 1790, these + facts are given relative to the attack on Lacassangue's station. + That on the preceding March 29th, the Indians made their attack, + killing one man. There were only two men, their wives, and + fourteen children in the station. Word was immediately conveyed + to Captain Ashton of their situation, who detached a sergeant + and fourteen men to their relief, and who arrived there, Captain + Ashton states, in sixteen minutes after receiving intelligence + of the attack. The Indians, three in number, had decamped, and + were pursued several miles until their trail was lost on a dry + ridge. The families were removed to Fort Steuben, and thus the + station was, for a time, broken up. + + Mr. Lacassangue must have been quite a prominent trader at + Louisville in his day. About the first of June, 1790, Colonel + Vigo, an enterprising trader of the Illinois country, consigned + to him 4,000 pounds of lead, brought by Major Doughty from + Kaskaskia. Mr. Lacassangue made efforts, in after years, to give + character to his new town of Cassania--a name evidently coined + out of his own--hoping from its more healthful situation, and + better location for the landing of vessels destined to pass the + Falls, to supplant Louisville. The little place, General Collot + says, had in 1796, when he saw it, "only two or three houses, + and a store." The ambitious effort was a vain one, and Cassania + soon became lost to the geographical nomenclature of the country. + Mr. Lacassangue died in 1797. + +A nephew of Mrs. Washington of the name of Dandridge lived with Mr. +Lacassangue. When I returned to Philadelphia, I there met him again; +he resided at General Washington's. While the Dandridge family stayed +at Louisville, they received much attention. It was the custom of the +citizens, when any persons of note arrived there, to get up a ball in +their honor. They would choose managers; circulate a subscription +paper to meet the expenses of the dance. Every signer, except +strangers, must provide his partner, see her safe there and home +again. + +We had scarcely got located before a subscription paper was presented +to Uncle Forman and myself. But the first ball after our arrival +proved a failure, owing to the inclemency of the weather, so that no +ladies could attend. General Wilkinson happened in town, and though he +and Uncle Forman stayed but a little while, the young blades were +disposed for a frolic. Some time before this a ball was tendered to +General St. Clair, when the youngsters had a row, and destroyed the +most of the breakable articles that the house afforded. But such +instances of rudeness occurred only when no ladies were present. + +Not long after the failure on account of the weather, the scheme for a +dance was renewed, and, at length, we had an elegant collection of +southern fair. The ball was opened by a minuet by Uncle Forman and a +southern lady--Aunt Forman did not dance. This was the last time, I +believe, that I saw that elegant dance performed. Then two managers +went around with numbers on paper in a hat--one going to the ladies, +the other to the gentlemen. When the manager calls for lady No. 1, the +lady drawing that number stands up, and is led upon the floor, +awaiting for gentleman No. 1, who, when called, takes his place, and +is introduced by the manager to the lady. So they proceed with the +drawing of couples until the floor is full for the dance. + +I, in my turn, was drawn, and introduced to my dancing partner from +Maryland, and we were called to the first dance. This lady happened to +be acquainted with Uncle Forman's oldest son, General Thomas Marsh +Forman, which circumstance rendered our casual meeting all the more +agreeable. The officers of the garrison over the river generally +attended, and they brought the military music along. I became well +acquainted with the officers. Dr. Carmichael,[14] of the army, used +often to come over and sit in my store. + + [14] Dr. John F. Carmichael, from New Jersey, entered the army + in September, 1789, and, with the exception of a few months, + retained his position till his resignation in June, 1804. + +It was the last of February, I believe, when Uncle Forman and his +little fleet took their departure from Louisville, destined for the +Natchez country. The river was now free from ice. There subsequently +came a report, that when they reached what was called the low country, +below the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, they were captured by the +Indians. I was in a painful suspense for a long time, and until I +heard from them. + +While Uncle Forman and party were sojourning in Louisville, there was, +it appears, a white man there, who learned the names of Ezekiel Forman +and Captain Osmun, their place of destination, and all about them. +This fellow was a decoyer, who lived among the Indians, and whose +business it was to lure boats ashore for purposes of murder and +robbery. At some point below the mouth of the Tennessee, this renegade +saw the boats approaching, ran on the beach, imploring, upon his +bended knees, that Mr. Forman, calling him by name, would come ashore +and take him on board, as he had just escaped from the Indians. Mr. +Forman began to steer for his relief, when Captain Osmun, who was a +little way in the rear, hailed Uncle, warning him to keep in the +middle of the stream, as he saw Indians in hiding behind trees along +the bank where the wily decoyer was playing his treacherous part. +Giving heed to this admonition, Uncle Forman kept clear of the +dangerous shore. + +Then an old Indian, finding that his plot was exposed, ran down to the +beach, hailing the boats: "Where you go?" It is not clear what could +have been the Indian's motive in making a display of himself, and +seeking the information already known to his renegade associate. But +for the circumstance of Captain Osmun being in the rear, and +discovering the exposed Indians screened behind trees, the whole party +might have been lured on shore and massacred. It seems that, after +boats entered the Mississippi, they were not molested by the Indians, +as they were not at war with the Spaniards. + +I was left in Louisville, with a store of goods. When I had disposed +of them, I was directed to join Uncle Forman at Natchez; but some +considerable time was necessary to trade off my stock, and convert it +into tobacco. I spent my time very pleasantly at Louisville. The +southern people are remarkably friendly to strangers. One family, in +particular, Mr. and Mrs. Ashby, were as kind to me as though I had +been their own son. They soon called on Uncle and Aunt Forman, +showing all possible attention, and soon became quite familiar. + +One day, Mr. Ashby called, and inquired of Aunt for "_old_ Mr. +Forman." "I tell you, Mr. Ashby," Mrs. Forman laughingly replied, "you +shall not call my husband _old_. Please to refer to him as Mr. Forman, +and our nephew as Mr. Sam. Forman." Mr. Ashby took the suggestion in +good part, and promised ready obedience. After Uncle and Aunt Forman +left for the Natchez country, Mrs. Ashby would come to my store like a +mother, and inquire into the condition of my lodgings, and sent bed +and bedding, and had a kind old woman examine my trunk, taking out all +my clothing, first airing and then nicely replacing them, and kindly +did all my washing during my stay. Mr. Ashby had a farm a little way +out of town, but he and his family came in very often. Mrs. Ashby +never came without making me a motherly call, and looking over my +clothing to see if any repairs were needed. I never parted with +briefly-made acquaintances with so much regret. + +I became very intimate with a Mr. Smith, from New York, a young +gentleman about my own age. The Virginians, as were most of the +Louisville people, were very fond of dancing. Smith and I agreed to +let each other know when a hop was in agitation, and they were very +frequent. When notified by him of one such occasion, I apologized for +not being able to go, as I had no suitable pumps. "You have +purchased," said he, "a parcel of elegant moccasins for your New York +ladies. You don a pair, and I will another." "Good! good!" we mutually +ejaculated. So we engaged our favorite partners, and attended the +ball. It was something new to appear in such an assembly decked off +in such Indian gear; but they were much admired, and, at the next +dance, almost all appeared in moccasins. So, it seems, we led the ton, +and introduced a new fashion. + +There was but one tavern and one boarding-house in the place. The +boarding-house was kept by a Dr. Walter, who was also the pilot to +take boats over the Falls; and he was, moreover, a great hunter and +fisherman. One day in April, I think, at some public festival, several +of our boarders, the leader was the Commissary of the Army, proposed +to have what they called _a setting_, and asked me to join them. I had +often heard the commissary relate his exploits--drinking egg-nog was +then all the go. I declined to share in the frolic, fearing the +influence of these southern blades on such occasions. In the course of +the night, I was alarmed by the rattling of stones thrown against my +store-door and window-shutters. At first, I thought it might be +Indians. The clatter was kept up, and the glass windows all broken. I +finally concluded that it was the work of the egg-nog party. Not only +were my windows completely shattered, but my store door was broken +open by the pelting of large stones. + +These egg-nog disturbers served Captain Thomas, the landlord, in the +same way as they had done me. The next morning, when we all met at the +breakfast table at our boarding-house, scarcely a word was spoken +during the meal. As I went out of the door, passing my friend, the +commissary, I asked him if he would direct my windows glazed, and some +little carpenter work done. He pretended to be astonished how they +should have been broken. I made no reply, but walked back to my +store, only looked at him and smiled. In the afternoon, at Captain +Thomas's, the business assumed almost a tragical form--dirks were +nearly drawn; however, it was amicably settled. + +The next morning these gentlemen asked me if I would be satisfied if +my windows and door were made whole. I answered in the affirmative, +and asked them whether they had not acted very imprudently, situated +as we were on the frontiers in time of Indian warfare. "You know," +said I, "that it was but a little time since that Captain Thomas and +some others saw Indians in the night making, as they supposed, for my +store, when I kept it up by Bear Grass creek; and a few people got +together in the night, and followed the Indian trail out of the +village without alarming me. The Indians evidently thought themselves +discovered, and retired, hence I escaped. In consequence of this +alarm, I immediately moved from that place to the center of the +village, into the corner building opposite the tavern." + +It was observed one Sunday morning, soon after starting my store, that +it was not opened on that day, as other establishments were; and I was +asked why I kept my store closed--that Sunday had not crossed the +mountains, and that I was the first person who kept his store shut on +that day. I told them that I brought the Sabbath with me. It so +happened that I had the honor of being the first to observe the day in +Louisville. + +Directly opposite to me a billiard table was kept. It was customary at +the south for ladies to indulge in billiards, considering it a genteel +and healthful amusement. During the morning hours, a few ladies used +to honor me with a call, when I would spend a little while in that +pleasant recreation; but I never gambled, and ladies' company is +always more agreeable than gentlemen's. Besides, if you play with +gentlemen, it is apt to lead to gambling; and it was consequently +better to pay for the use of the table with ladies, when one improves +in manners from their refinement. + +One day Captain Thomas brought a little negro boy to my store, +tendering me his services while I remained in Louisville; that he +should be of no expense to me, but live at home, and come over +regularly and do my chores, tote water, sweep my store, clean my +shoes, etc. The captain explained that he had another boy of about the +same age and size, and that one was better than both. I had a spruce +colored barber, who was also a tailor, the pleasure of whose company I +occasionally had in helping out in my labors. + +Sometime about the latter part of May, perhaps, four tobacco boats +arrived at Louisville on their way to New Orleans, under the +respective command of Captain Andrew Bayard, Captain Winters, and +Captain Gano, of New York, and Captain January, of Kentucky. Captain +Bayard's boat received some injury in passing over the Falls of the +Ohio, and he had to unload to repair damages. I had been some time +negotiating with a rich planter, Mr. Buckner, of Louisville. After I +had heard of the accident to Captain Bayard's boat, Mr. Buckner came +into the village. I got him in my store, locked the door, and told him +that now was the time to close our long-talked-of trade, so that I +could have the company of this descending fleet. After spending the +night in conversation, I gave up my bed to Mr. Buckner, and threw +down some blankets and coarse clothes for my own lodging. + +To make a long story short, we effected a trade--closing out my store +of goods to him. He bought me a tobacco boat, loaded her with this +product of the country, and got matters and things arranged so that I +was ready to accompany the descending fleet. Of these tobacco traders, +I was partially acquainted with Mr. Bayard. I had at Louisville a +competitor in trade, a young Irish gentleman, but he could not +succeed. + +My boat was loaded below the Falls, and by some means the hands +suffered her to break from her fastenings, and went a mile or two down +stream before they brought her to. I put my blanket on board of Mr. +Bayard's boat, and got on board with him, and took my tea with him. In +the evening, being moonlight, my canoe, with an old sailor, came for +me. I took some blankets and wrapped them around my arms carelessly. I +jumped into the canoe; and the sailor, it seems, had taken a little +too much whisky, so that when he pushed off from Mr. Bayard's boat, in +order to clear its bow, he leaned over so far as to make the canoe dip +water; and, in recovering his position, he leaned so far the other way +that the canoe filled. My arms being entangled with the blankets, I +was totally helpless. Mr. Bayard's hands jumped into their small boat, +came to my rescue, and saved me from a watery grave. + +Partly from economy, and partly from lack of time to secure another +hand, I attempted to manage my tobacco boat, which was somewhat +smaller than the usual size, with less than the usual supply of +boatmen. This made it come hard on me, whose unskilled strength was +but half that of an ordinary man. I had this old sailor with me for +one watch, and an old North-western man and a Jerseyman for another. +The boats would follow the current, except when passing islands, when +the men must all beat their oars. I believe the old sailor, while on +board, was a little deranged. After I discharged him at Natchez, he +was found, I was told, in the woods, dead. + +Nothing of any moment occurred while descending the Ohio, until we +reached Fort Massac, an old French fortification, about thirty miles +above the mouth of the Ohio. It was a beautiful spot. All of the +captains, and some of the hands, with a small boat, went on shore, +while our tobacco boats glided gently along. When we landed, we +separated in squads, and visited the old deserted ramparts, which +appeared quite fresh. It was in the afternoon, just after a refreshing +shower. Those first arriving at the intrenchment, espied a fresh +moccasin track. We all looked at it, and then at each other, and, +without uttering a word, all faced about, and ran as fast as possible +for the little boat. Some hit its locality, while others struck the +river too high up, and others, too low. + +Those of us who missed our way concluded, in our fright, that the +Indians had cut us off; and no one had thought to take his rifle but +me, and I feared that I should be the first to fall. After we were all +safe on one of the tobacco boats, we recovered our speech, and each +one told how he felt, and what he thought, during our flight to the +boats. This locality of Fort Massac, we understood, was the direct way +from the Ohio, in that country, to St. Louis, and probably the track +we saw was that of some lonely Indian; and, judging from its +freshness, the one who made it was as much frightened from our +numbers as we were at our unexpected discovery. + +I will note a little circumstance that occurred during our passage +down the Ohio. One day, I was ahead of the fleet, when one of the +boats passed by suddenly, when we observed by the woods that we were +standing still--evidently aground, or fast on something below the +surface. I gave notice to the boats behind to come on, and take +position between my boat and shore, hoping, by this means, to raise a +temporary swell in the river, and, by fastening a rope to my boat, and +extending along beside the others, and making the other end fast to a +tree on shore, be enabled to get loose. + +While thus engaged, we heard a whistle, like that of a quail. Some +observed that quail never kept in the woods, and we felt some fear +that it might be Indians; but we continued our efforts at the rope, +and the boat was soon so far moved that we discovered that we were +fast upon a planter--that is, the body of a tree firmly embedded in +the river bottom. At last, the men could partly stand upon it, and, +with a hand-saw, so weakened it that it broke off, and we were +released. + +Another dangerous obstruction is a tree becoming undermined and +falling into the river, and the roots fastening themselves in the +muddy bottom, while, by the constant action of the current, the limbs +wear off, and the body keeps sawing up and down with great force, +rising frequently several feet above the water, and then sinking as +much below. These are called "sawyers," and often cause accidents to +unsuspecting navigators. + +When we arrived at the mouth of the Ohio, we stopped. I fastened my +boat to trees, and the other boats did likewise. We kept watch, with +an ax in hand, to cut the fastenings in case of a surprise by Indians. +Here were marks of buffalo having rested. Where the waters of the +Mississippi and Ohio mingle, they look like putting dirty soap-suds +and pure water together. So we filled all our vessels that were +water-tight, for fear we might suffer for want of good water on our +voyage. But we found out, afterward, that the Mississippi was very +good water, when filtered. + +After we got all arranged, the second day after we embarked, the +captains agreed that we would, in rotation, dine together, which +rendered our journey more pleasant. Mr. Bayard's and my boat were +frequently fastened together while descending the Ohio, but on the +Mississippi, from the turbulence of the stream, it was not possible to +do so. The first day that we entered the Mississippi, we discharged +all our rifles and pistols, as we were then out of danger from the +hostile Indians. In the afternoon, we had a strong wind ahead, which +made a heavy sea, accompanied with thunder and lightning. The waves +ran so high that we felt in danger of foundering. The forward boat +pulled hard for shore, which we all followed. + +Presently, we saw an Indian canoe pulling for that boat. I asked my +North-western man what that meant. He looked wild, but did not know +what to make of it. I directed the men to pull away, and I would keep +an eye upon the suspicious visitors, and at the same time load our +rifles and pistols again. Reaching the advanced boat, the Indians were +kindly received, and no fighting; and, instead of hostile +demonstrations, they lent a hand in rowing. + +After much hard work, we at length all effected a landing in safety. +We then prepared for dinner. It so happened that it was my turn to +receive the captains at dinner. Having a large piece of fresh +beef--enough and to spare, I invited three of our copper-faces to dine +with us. Dinner over, Captain Gano set the example of _pitching the +fork_ into the beef, as we used, in our school days, to pitch the fork +into the ground. So the Indians, one after the other, imitated the +captain, and very dextrously pitched their forks also into the beef, +thinking, probably, that it was a white man's ceremony that should be +observed. + +After dinner, at the conclusion of the pitching incident, I mixed some +whisky and water in the only glass I had, and handed it to one of the +captains; and then repeating it, filling the tumbler equally alike in +quantity, handed it in succession to the others. When I came to the +Indians, not knowing their relative rank, I happened to present the +glass to the lowest in order, as I discovered by his declining it; but +when I came to the leader, he took the offering, and reaching out his +hand to me in a genteel and graceful manner, shook mine heartily; and +then repeated the cordial shake with each of the others, not omitting +his own people, and then drank our healths as politely, I imagine, as +Lord Chesterfield could have done. The other Indians were similarly +treated, and, in turn, as gracefully acknowledged the compliment. They +all appeared much pleased with their reception. + +This ceremony over, our men asked leave to visit the opposite side of +the river, where these Indians had a large encampment. This granted, +they all went to get their rifles. The Indians seemed to understand +etiquette and politeness, and objected to the men going armed. But, +instead of speaking to the men, they addressed the captains of the +boats, saying: "We have no objections to your men going among our +people, if they don't take their rifles. We came among you as friends, +bringing no arms along." We, of course, told our men to leave their +rifles behind. They did so. Returning, they reported that there were a +good many Indians there. By some means, some of our men must have let +the Indians have _la tafia_--a cheap variety of rum distilled from +molasses. At all events, they became very much intoxicated, "and we," +said the visitors, "were very apprehensive of difficulty; but a squaw +told us that the Indians could not fight, as she had secreted all +their knives, and we were very much relieved when morning appeared, so +we could bid good-by to our new acquaintances." + +The next day we arrived at _L'Anse a la Graisse_, which place, or +adjoining it, bears the name of New Madrid, which is the American part +of the little village settled under the auspices of Colonel George +Morgan. Uncle Forman wrote me by all means to call at this Spanish +post, as he had left my name with the genteel commandant there, who +would expect to see me. In the morning, after breakfast, we all +prepared our toilets preparatory to paying our respects to the officer +of the place. The captains did me the honor of making me the foreman +of the party, as my name would be familiar to the commandant. I regret +that I have forgotten his name.[15] We made our call at as early an +hour as we could, so that we might pursue our voyage without any +unnecessary waste of time. + + [15] In July, 1789, less than a year before, Lieutenant Pierre + Foucher, with four officers and thirty soldiers, had been sent + from New Orleans to establish a post at this place, as stated in + _Gayarre's Louisiana_, 1854, p. 268. It is generally asserted + that this settlement was commenced as early as 1780; but the + Spanish census of Louisiana, both in 1785 and 1788, make no + mention of the place. + +Arrived at the gate, the guard was so anxious to trade his tame +raccoon with our men that he scarcely took any notice of us. We went +to head-quarters; there was but little ceremony. When we were shown +into the commander's presence, I stepped toward him a little in +advance of my friends, and announced my name. I was most cordially and +familiarly received. Then I introduced my friends, mentioning their +respective places of residence. After a little conversation, we rose +to retire, when the commandant advanced near me, and politely asked me +to dine with him an hour after twelve o'clock, and bring my +accompanying friends with me. I turned to the gentlemen for their +concurrence, which they gave, when we all returned to our boats. + +I then observed to my friends that the commandant would expect some +present from us--such was the custom--and what should it be? Mr. +Bayard, I believe, asked me to suggest some thing in our power to +tender. I then remarked, that, as we had a plenty of good hams, that +we fill a barrel, and send them to our host; that they might prove as +acceptable as any thing. The proposition met the approval of all, and +the hams were accordingly sent at once, with perhaps an accompanying +note. + +At one hour after twelve o'clock, I well remember, we found ourselves +comfortably seated at the hospitable board of the Spanish commandant, +who expressed much delight at receiving our fine present. He gave us +an elegant dinner in the Spanish style, and plenty of good wine and +liquors, and coffee without cream. The commandant, addressing me, +while we were indulging in the liquids before us, said that we must +drink to the health of the ladies in our sweet liquors. "So," said he, +"we will drink the health of the Misses Forman"--my worthy cousins, +who had preceded us in a visit to this garrison. + +After dinner, the commandant invited us to take a walk in the fine +prairies. He said he could drive a coach-and-four through these open +woods to St. Louis. There came up a thunder-storm and sharp lightning, +and he asked me what I called that in English, and I told him, when he +pleasantly observed: "You learn me to talk English, and I will learn +you French." Returning to head-quarters, we took tea, and then got up +to take our final leave. "O, no!" said he, "I can't spare you, +gentlemen. I'm all alone. Please to come to-morrow, one hour after +twelve, and dine again with me." So, at the appointed time, we were on +hand again. The same kind hospitality was accorded us as on the +preceding day. + +In the evening, we thought we should surely tender the last farewell. +But no; we must come again, for the third day, to enjoy his good +company and delightful viands. That evening, there was a Spanish +dance, all common people making up the company--French, Canadians, +Spaniards, Americans. The belle of the room was Cherokee Katy, a +beautiful little squaw, dressed in Spanish style, with a turban on her +head, and decked off very handsomely. On these occasions, a king and +queen were chosen to be sovereigns for the next meeting. The +commandant was asked to honor them by taking a partner, and sharing in +the mazy dance, which, of course, he declined; and we also had an +invitation, but declined also. The commandant said he always went to +these happy gatherings, and sat a little while, and once, he added, he +played a little while on his own violin, for his own and their +amusement. + +He expressed much regret at parting with us. He said he was so +lonesome. He was a man not over thirty, I suppose, highly +accomplished, and spoke pretty good English. I fear he was, in after +years, swallowed up in the earthquake,[16] which destroyed many; among +them, I believe, a Mr. Morris, who was a brother to Mrs. Hurd; a Mr. +Lintot, from Natchez, who was a passenger with me from New Orleans to +Philadelphia. + + [16] We learn, from Gayarre's _History of the Spanish Domination + of Louisiana_, that, in July, 1789, Pierre Foucher, a lieutenant + of the regiment of Louisiana, was sent, with two sergeants, two + corporals, and thirty soldiers, to build a fort at New Madrid, + and take the civil and military command of that district, with + instructions to govern those new colonists in such a way as to + make them feel that they had found among the Spaniards the state + of ease and comfort of which they were in quest. + + Colonel John Pope, in his _Tour Through the Western and Southern + States_, states, under date, March 12, 1791: "Breakfasted and + dined with Signor Pedro Foucher, commandant at New Madrid. The + garrison consists of about ninety men, who are well supplied + with food and raiment. They have an excellent train of artillery, + which appears to be their chief defense. Two regular companies + of musqueteers, with charged bayonets, might take this place. Of + this opinion is the commandant himself, who complains that he is + not sufficiently supported. He is a Creole of French extraction, + of Patagonian size, polite in his manners, and of a most noble + presence." + + Lieutenant Foucher must have left the country long before the + great earthquake of 1811-12. The Spaniards evacuated their posts + on the Mississippi to the north of 31st degree in 1798; and, two + years later, transferred the country to France, and, in 1803, it + was purchased by the United States. + +On our entering the Mississippi, we had agreed that the foremost boat +should fire a gun as a token for landing, if they saw a favorable spot +after the middle of the afternoon. It was not possible to run in +safety during the night. It so happened that every afternoon we had a +thunder shower and head wind. + +Nothing special occurred, I believe, till our arrival at Natchez. +There was no settlement from _L'Anse a la Graisse_ to _Bayou Pierre_, +something like sixty miles above Natchez. At Bayou Pierre lived +Colonel Bruin,[17] of the Virginia Continental line, who, after the +war, took letters from General Washington to the governor of that +country while it belonged to Spain, and secured a fine land grant. I +once visited Colonel Bruin, with a gentleman from Natchez. That +section of country is remarkably handsome, and the soil rich. The +colonel's dwelling-house was on the top of a large mound, and his barn +on another, near by. These mounds are common in the Ohio and +Mississippi countries, and no tradition gives their origin. + + [17] Colonel Peter Bryan Bruin, son of an Irish gentleman, who + had become implicated in the Irish Rebellion of 1756, and + confiscation and exile were his penalty. He brought with him + to America his only son, who was reared a merchant. In the War + of the Revolution, he entered Morgan's famous riflemen as a + lieutenant, shared in the assault on Quebec, where he was + made a prisoner, and confined in a prison ship, infected with + small-pox, for six months. He was finally exchanged, and at + length promoted to the rank of major, serving to the end of the + war. Soon after settling near the mouth of Bayou Pierre, he was + appointed alcalde, or magistrate, under the Spanish Government; + and when the Mississippi Territory was organized, in 1798, he + was appointed one of the three territorial judges, remaining in + office until he resigned, in 1810. He lived till a good old age, + was a devoted patriot, and a man of high moral character. + +While in Louisville, I bought a young cub bear, and kept him chained +in the back room of my store. He was about a month or two old when I +got him; and when I went down the river, I took him along to Natchez. +When twelve or fifteen months old, he became very saucy; I only could +keep him in subjection. When he became too troublesome, Uncle Forman +had him killed, and invited several gentlemen to join him in partaking +of his bear dinner. + +When our little fleet of five boats first came in sight of the village +of Natchez, it presented quite a formidable appearance, and caused a +little alarm at the fort; the drum beat to arms, but the affright soon +subsided. About this time, a report circulated that general somebody, +I have forgotten his name, was in Kentucky raising troops destined +against that country; but it all evaporated.[18] + + [18] This refers to the proposed settlement at the Walnut Hills, + at the mouth of the Yazoo, under the auspices of the famous Yazoo + Company, composed mostly of prominent South Carolina and Georgia + gentlemen. Dr. John O'Fallon, who subsequently married a sister + of General George Rogers Clark, located at Louisville, Ky., as + the agent and active partner in that region and endeavored to + enlist General Clark as the military leader of the enterprise; + but it would appear that the general declined the command, and + Colonel John Holder, a noted Kentucky pioneer and Indian fighter, + was chosen in his place. But nothing was accomplished. The original + grant was obtained by bribery, fraud, and corruption, from the + Georgia Legislature; and a subsequent legislature repudiated the + transaction, and ordered all the documents and records connected + with it to be burned in the public square. + +Natchez was then a small place, with houses generally of a mean +structure, built mostly on the low bank of the river, and on the +hillside. The fort was on a handsome, commanding spot, on the elevated +ground, from which was a most extensive view up the river, and over +the surrounding country. The governor's house was not far from the +garrison. Uncle Forman had at first hired a large house, about +half-way up the hill from the landing, where he lived until he bought +a plantation of five hundred acres on the bank of St. Catherine's +creek, about four miles from Natchez. This he regarded as only a +temporary abode, until he could become better acquainted with the +country. The place had a small clearing and a log house on it, and he +put up another log house to correspond with it, about fourteen feet +apart, connecting them with boards, with a piazza in front of the +whole. The usual term applied to such a structure was that it was "two +pens and a passage." This connecting passage made a fine hall, and +altogether gave it a good and comfortable appearance. + +Boards were scarce, and I do not remember of seeing any saw or +grist-mills in the country. Uncle Forman had a horse-mill, something +like a cider-mill, to grind corn for family use. In range with his +dwelling he built a number of negro houses, some distance off, on the +bank of St. Catherine's creek. It made quite a pretty street. The +little creek was extremely convenient. The negroes the first year +cleared a large field for tobacco, for the cultivation of that article +was the object of Mr. Forman's migration to that country. + +After my arrival, and while sojourning at Natchez, Uncle Forman asked +me if I intended to apply to the government for lands. I replied that +I did not want any. He said he was glad of it, unless I remained in +the country. He hinted something to the effect that one of the Spanish +officers, who talked of leaving the country, had an elegant +plantation, with negroes for its cultivation, and he thought of buying +it, if I would stay and take it; that if I took land of government, +and sold out, it might give umbrage to the governor, and I, being a +relation, he suffer by it. I told him my father was loath to let me +come away, and I promised that I would return if my life was spared +me. + +After this, Surveyor-General Dunbar,[19] much to my surprise, called +on me, and said that he brought the survey and map of my land, and +presented a bill of sixty dollars for his services. I told him that I +had not asked for land, nor had Governor Gayoso ever said any thing to +me about land, nor did I want any. General Dunbar replied that the +governor directed him to survey for Don Samuel S. Forman eight hundred +acres of land, and that it was the best and most valuable tract that +he knew of in the district, including a beautiful stream of water, +with a gravelly bottom--rare in that country; that it was well +located, near a Mr. Ellis, at the White Cliffs, and advised me by all +means to take it. Uncle Forman happened to be absent, and I was in +doubt what to do. At last I paid the bill and took the papers. The +largest quantity that the Spanish Government gave to a young man who +settled in that country was two hundred and forty acres, so the +governor showed much friendship by complimenting me with so large a +grant. + + [19] Sir William Dunbar, son of Sir Archibald Dunbar, was born + at Elgin, Scotland, and received a superior education in Glasgow + and London. On account of failing health, he obtained a stock of + goods for the Indian trade; and, landing in Philadelphia in + April, 1771, took his goods to Fort Pitt, and about 1773 he went + to West Florida to form a plantation. He suffered much during + the period of the Revolution, and in 1772 settled near Natchez, + became chief surveyor under the Spanish Government, and in 1798 + he was appointed astronomical commissioner on the part of Spain + in establishing the boundary. He was shortly after appointed by + Governor Sargeant, on the organization of Mississippi Territory, + under the United States Government, chief judge of the Court of + Quarter Sessions. He corresponded with the most distinguished + scientific men of his time, and contributed to the Transactions + of the American Philosophical Society. He died in 1810, leaving + many descendants. + +I must go back a little, and state that my good traveling companions, +Messrs. Bayard, Gano, Winters, and January, parted from me, and +continued their journey down the river. Uncle Forman had been +acquainted with Mr. Bayard, in Philadelphia, and their meeting in a +distant and foreign country was very gratifying. The interview was +very brief, for Mr. Bayard and associates were anxious to pursue their +voyage. + +At Natchez we made many agreeable acquaintances. Governor Gayoso, a +bachelor, was very affable and pleasant, and had an English education. +The fort-major, Stephen Minor,[20] was a Jerseyman from Princeton, and +Mr. Hutchins,[21] a wealthy planter, was a brother to Thomas Hutchins, +the geographer-general of the United States. His wife was a Conover, +from near Freehold village, and knew more about Freehold than I did. +Also a Mr. Moore, a wealthy planter, Mr. Bernard Lintot, who moved +from Vermont before the war, and Mr. Ellis, a wealthy planter--all +having large families, sons and daughters, very genteel and +accomplished. These all lived from eight to fourteen miles from us. + + [20] Stephen Minor was a native of Pennsylvania, well-educated, + and early made his way West; first to St. Louis, and then to New + Orleans, and was soon appointed to official station by the + Spanish Government, rising eventually to the governorship at + Natchez, and so continuing till the evacuation of the country. + He then became a citizen of the United States, and was useful + to the country. He died in after years at Concord, Mississippi. + + [21] Colonel Anthony Hutchins was a native of New Jersey; early + migrated to North Carolina, and in 1772 explored the Natchez + country, settling permanently at the White Apple village, twelve + miles from Natchez, the following year, and survived the troubles + of the Revolution, and died when past eighty years of age. + +In the village of Natchez resided Monsieur and Madam +Mansanteo--Spanish Jews, I think--who were the most kind and +hospitable of people. These families, in town and country, formed our +principal associates. Governor Gayoso told us, after we moved out to +St. Catherine, that there would always be a plate for us at his table. + +The year 1790 was a very sickly one for unacclimated persons in the +Natchez country. All our family adults had more or less fever, and +fever and ague. Uncle Forman was severely afflicted with gout--a lump +almost as big as a small hen's egg swelled out at one of his elbows, +with something of the appearance of chalk. Poor Betsey Church was +taken with a fever, and died in a few days; a great loss to the +family, having been a valuable and much respected member of it for +many years. I was the only adult of the family who was not confined to +the house with sickness. + +Stephen Minor, the fort-major, married the eldest daughter of the +planter, Mr. Ellis. Our family was much visited by the Spanish +officers, who were very genteel men; and Major Minor was very +intimate, and seemed to take much interest in us. + +When the time was fixed for my departure, by the way of New Orleans, +and thence by sea to Philadelphia, Uncle Forman said: "Well, you must +direct Moses, the coachman, to get up the carriage, take two of your +cousins with you, and take leave of all your good friends." The +carriage, which had its top broken off crossing the mountains in +Pennsylvania, had been fitted up in Natchez, with neat bannister work +around the top of the body, which rendered it more convenient for the +country. We sometimes took the family in it, and went out +strawberrying over the prairies. + +Cousins Augusta and Margaret accompanied me on my farewell tour. Ours +was the first four-wheeled carriage that ever passed over those +grounds--I can't say roads, for the highway was only what was called a +bridle-path--all traveling at that day was on horseback. When we +visited one place, some of our friends from another locality meeting +us there would ascertain the day we designed visiting their house, +that they might have the cane-brakes along the trail cleared away +sufficient to permit the comfortable passage of the carriage; and we +must, moreover, be on time, or some small gust of wind might again +obstruct the passage. Our visits were all very pleasant save the +unhappy part of the final bidding each other farewell. + +During this excursion, Governor Gayoso had given permission for a +Baptist clergyman to preach one Sunday, which was the first time a +protestant minister had been allowed to hold religious services. The +meeting was held at Colonel Hutchins'. We went from the residence of +some friends in that vicinity. After service we were invited to stay +and dine at Colonel Hutchins'. When we were ready to depart, all came +out of the house to see us off, and I asked the ladies in a jocose way +to join us in the ride, when they began to climb over the wheels as +though they might endanger the safety of the carriage; but this +frolicsome banter over, we took our departure. We spent several days +in performing this friendly round of visits--by-gone days of happiness +never to return. + +When I was about leaving the country, Governor Gayoso asked me what I +intended to do with my land. I replied, that if I did not return in a +year or two, that his excellency could do what he pleased with it. +Some years after, when I lived in Cazenovia, I contemplated going +back, and went to my large chest, which had traveled with me from +Pittsburg to New Orleans, and thence in all my tramps and changes, +where I supposed all my Spanish papers were safe in a little drawer; +but, to my surprise, they were missing, and I never could tell what +became of them, as I kept the chest locked, and retained the key. So +vanished my eight hundred acres of valuable land in the promising +Mississippi country. + +On the arrival of Colonel Wyckoff, with his brother-in-law, Scudder, +from Tennessee, preparations were made for our departure. Uncle Forman +went down to New Orleans with us. It was in June, 1791, I believe, +that we left Natchez. The parting with my kindred was most trying and +affecting, having traveled and hazarded our lives together for so many +hundred miles, and never expecting to meet again in this life. Many of +the poor colored people, too, came and took leave of me, with tears +streaming down their cheeks. Take them altogether, they were the +finest lot of servants I ever saw. They were sensible that they were +all well cared for--well fed, well clothed, well housed, each family +living separately, and they were treated with kindness. Captain +Osmun,[22] their overseer, was a kind-hearted man, and used them +well. They had ocular proof of their happy situation when compared +with their neighbor's servants. It was the custom of the country to +exchange work at times; and, one day, one of our men came to me, and +said: "I don't think it is right to exchange work with these planters; +for I can, with ease, do more work than any two of their men;" and +added, "their men pound their corn over night for their next day's +supply, and they are too weak to work." Poor fellows, corn was all +they had to eat. + + [22] Benajah Osmun served, as Mr. Forman has previously stated, + at the defeat of General Washington's troops on Long Island, in + August, 1776, when he was made a prisoner; he was then, + apparently, a soldier in the ranks. On January 1, 1777, he + was appointed a second lieutenant and quartermaster in Colonel + Shreve's Second New Jersey regiment, which he subsequently + resigned. In September, 1778, he again entered the army as an + ensign in the second regiment; was a prisoner of war on April + 25, 1780; made a lieutenant January 1, 1781, retiring at the + close of the war with the brevet rank of captain. + + In 1802, he was made lieutenant-colonel of the Adams county + militia; and when Colonel Burr visited the country, in 1807, + on his mysterious mission, he was the guest of Colonel Osmun, + who was one of his two bondsmen for his appearance at court, + for they were fellow officers in the Revolution. Colonel Osmun + settled a plantation at the foot of Half Way hill, near Natchez, + became wealthy, and there died, a bachelor, at a good old age. + +Uncle Forman and I stopped the first night with Mr. Ellis, at the +White Cliffs, and next day embarked on board of a boat for New +Orleans. On our way down we sometimes went on shore and took a bowl of +chocolate for breakfast with some rich planter, a very common custom +of the country. The night before our arrival at New Orleans we put up +with a Catholic priest; some gentlemen of our company were well +acquainted between Natchez and New Orleans, and had learned the +desirable stopping places. The good priest received us kindly, gave us +an excellent supper, plenty of wine, and was himself very lively. We +took breakfast with him the next morning; and before our departure the +priest came up to me with a silver plate in his hand, on which were +two fine looking pears, which he tendered me. He looked at first very +serious; but, remembering his good humor the previous evening, I +suspected his fun had not yet all run out. I eyed him pretty close, +and while thanking him, I rather hesitated, when he urged me to take +them. I knew no pears grew in that country. I finally took one, +weighed it in my hand, and looked at him, till he bursted out into a +loud laugh. They were ingeniously wrought out of stone or marble, and +looked exactly like pears. I brought them home and gave them to a +friend. + +Arriving in New Orleans, we took lodgings, and our first business was +to wait on his excellency Governor Miro. Mr. Forman settling within +his government with so large a number of people, under an arrangement +with the Spanish ambassador at New York, Don Diego de Gardoque, gave +him a high standing. Uncle Forman was in person a fine-looking man, +very neat, prepossessing, and of genteel deportment, so that he was +always much noticed. + +As there was then no vessel in port destined for the United States, I +had to delay a couple of weeks for one. At length the brig Navarre, +Captain McFadden, made its appearance, and soon loaded for +Philadelphia. There were a number of Americans in waiting, who engaged +their passage with me, on this vessel. Uncle Forman did not leave the +city until after the Navarre had taken its departure. He suggested +that I should take a formal leave of Governor Miro and his secretary, +Don Andre. The secretary was a large, fine-looking man. I politely +asked him if he had any commands for the cape--Cape Francois, a fine +town in the northern part of St. Domingo, usually dignified with the +designation of the _The Cape_--for which port, I believe, the vessel +cleared. "I know not," said the secretary, "to what cape you are +going--only take good care of yourself." + +After all were on board, the brig dropped down two or three miles, +where the passengers went ashore, and laid in provisions enough, the +captain said, to have carried us to London after our arrival in +Philadelphia. I may mention something about distances as computed in +those days. From Natchez to New Orleans was called three hundred miles +by water, and only one hundred and fifty by land. From New Orleans to +the Balize, at the mouth of the Mississippi, was reckoned one hundred +and five miles. It was said that such was the immense volume of the +Mississippi river that it kept its course and muddy appearance for a +league out at sea. + +There were no ladies among the passengers. We entered into an +arrangement that each passenger should, in rotation, act as caterer +for the party for each day. It fell to my lot to lead off in this +friendly service. We got along very nicely, and with a good deal of +mirthful pleasure, for a couple of weeks, enjoying our viands and wine +as comfortably as if at a regular boarding house. The captain's wife, +however, was something of a drawback to our enjoyment. She was a +vinegary looking creature, and as cross and saucy as her looks +betokened, was low-bred, ill-tempered, and succeeded in making herself +particularly disagreeable. During the pleasant weather portion of our +voyage, she managed, without cause, to raise a quarrel with every +passenger; and what added to her naturally embittered feeling, was +that we only laughed at her folly. + +When we arrived in sight of Cuba, the wind arose, and blew almost a +hurricane, causing a heavy sea. We were in such danger of being cast +away on the Florida reefs that the captain summoned all hands on deck +for counsel. But, providentially, we escaped. For near two weeks no +cooking could be done, and each one was thankful to take whatever he +could obtain in one hand, and hold fast to something with the other, +such was the rolling and pitching of our frail vessel. Most of the +passengers were sea-sick; I was among the few who escaped from that +sickening nausea. One night the rain was so heavy, the lightning so +vivid, and thunder so tremendous, that the vessel trembled at every +clap; when I went to my friend Wyckoff, as well as others who were +asleep, informing them that it was a moment of no little danger and +excitement. + +Captain McFadden was a most profane man. But during the hours of our +distress and danger he became very mild and humble, but it lasted no +longer than the storm. The vinegary Mrs. McFadden, too, was very +sensibly affected during this trying period; for, standing in the +companion-way, leading to the cabin, she very humbly and demurely said +that she would go below and make her peace. We all thought she could +not be too quick about it. She was a veritable Katharine, but he was +not a Petruchio. + +Before we arrived at the capes of the Delaware, an American sailor, +who had made his escape from a British man-of-war at the mouth of the +Mississippi, sickened and died on board our craft. When we got into +the Delaware, the sailors took his remains on shore and gave them a +decent sepulture. At length we reached Philadelphia in safety. + + + + +GENERAL INDEX. + + + Prefatory note, 3 + + Memoir of Major S. S. Forman, 5 + + Forman's narrative, 5 + + Tunis Forman captures two Tories, 6 + + Major Lee's strategy, 6 + + British foray at Middletown Point, 6, 7 + + Major Burrows's loss and captivity, 7 + + Denise Forman's services, 7 + + General David Forman, 7 + + German town battle, 7 + + Capture of a British sloop, 8 + + A British and Tory scout, 9 + + Services of Major Burrows, 9 + + Major Burrows's narrow escape, 9, 10 + + Denise Forman and Philip Freneau, 10 + + Sufferings in British prison ships, 10, 11 + + Captain Freneau's after-life, 11, 12 + + Monmouth battle, 12 + + Fugitives return to New York, 12 + + British evacuate New York, 13-15 + + Lieutenant-Colonel J. N. Cumming, 14 + + Anthony Glean noticed, 14 + + Washington parting with his officers, 15 + + Washington and Franklin in Federal Convention, 15 + + Washington's second inauguration, 16 + + Major Forman settles at Cazenovia, N. Y., 17 + + His subsequent career, 17, 18 + + His narrative--departure for the Ohio, 19 + + Detention at Lancaster, 20 + + Meeting Charley Morgan, 22 + + Scant of funds for traveling, 22 + + Arrival at Pittsburg, 23 + + Flat-bottomed boats for the journey, 23 + + Colonel Turnbull's entertainment, 24 + + Departure down the river, 25 + + Difficulties of navigation, 25, 26 + + Arrival at Wheeling, 26 + + Flocks of wild turkeys, 26 + + Arrival at Marietta, 27 + + Limestone and Columbia, 27 + + Arrival at Cincinnati, 27 + + General Harmar's hospitality, 27, 28 + + Captain Kirby _vs._ Captain Kersey, 28, 29 + + General Jonathan Forman noticed, 29 + + General Harmar's defeat, 30 + + Indian rendezvous at Scioto, 30 + + Gallipolis settlement, 30, 31 + + Anecdote of Captain Osmun, 31 + + Arrival at Louisville, 32 + + Fort Jefferson; Fort Steuben, 32 + + Ensign Luce and North Bend, 32, 33 + + Lacassangue and his station, 33, 34 + + Early dancing parties at Louisville, 35, 36 + + Generals Wilkinson and St. Clair, 35 + + Dr. John F. Carmichael, 36 + + Ezekiel Forman starts for Natchez, 36 + + Effort to lure ashore and destroy Forman's party, 37 + + Louisville incidents; Ashby and family; Mr. Smith; moccasins at + balls, 38, 39 + + An egg-nog frolic, 39, 40 + + The Sabbath kept by S. S. Forman, 40 + + A billiard-table at Louisville, 40, 41 + + A fleet of tobacco boats, 41 + + Mr. Buckner purchases Mr. Forman's goods, 42 + + Mr. Forman's mishap, 42 + + Departure from Louisville, 42, 43 + + Incident at Fort Massac, 43 + + Planters and sawyers, 44 + + Mouth of the Ohio, 44, 45 + + An Indian alarm, 45 + + Indian visit; dinner, 46 + + Visit Indian village, 46, 47 + + Arrival at _L'Anse a la Graisse_, 47 + + Lieutenant Foucher's hospitality, 48-50 + + Lieutenant Foucher noticed, 47, 48-50 + + Colonel Pope's tour cited, 50 + + Colonel P. B. Bruin noticed, 51, 52 + + A cub bear, 52 + + Arrival at Natchez, 52 + + Walnut Hills settlement project, 52, 53 + + Dr. O'Fallon; General Clark; Colonel Holder, 52, 53 + + Natchez and surroundings, 53 + + Sir Wm. Dunbar noticed, 54 + + S. S. Forman's land grant, 55, 58, 59 + + Fine society at Natchez, 56 + + Mons. and Madam Mansanteo, 56 + + Major Stephen Minor noticed, 56, 57 + + Colonel Anthony Hutchins noticed, 56 + + Sickly at Natchez in 1790, 56, 57 + + A round of visits, 57, 58 + + Bad treatment of servants, 59 + + Colonel Osmun noticed, 59, 60 + + Departure for New Orleans, 60 + + A genial priest, 60, 61 + + Voyage and incidents to Philadelphia, 61-63 + + + + +ROBERT CLARKE & CO., CINCINNATI, O. + +HAVE JUST PUBLISHED + +Major Forman's Narrative. + +Narrative of a Journey down the Ohio and Mississippi in 1789-90. By +Major Samuel S. Forman, of New Jersey. With a Memoir and Illustrative +Notes. By Lyman C. Draper, LL.D. of Wisconsin. + +12mo. Paper, 50 cents; cloth, 75 cents. + + +General David Forman of New Jersey in 1789, entered into a negotiation +with the Spanish minister Don Diego de Gardoque, for his brother +Ezekiel Forman of Philadelphia, to emigrate with his family, and about +sixty colored people, men, women and children, and settle in the +Natchez country, then under Spanish authority. Major Samuel S. Forman +accompanied this emigrating party, and in this narrative gives a +minute account of their trip, the places they passed through and at +which they stopped, prominent people they met, with many curious +particulars. + +This book has not been stereotyped, and the edition is a limited one. + +_Sent by mail, prepaid, on receipt of the price._ + + ROBERT CLARKE & CO., _Publishers_, + Cincinnati, O. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Archaic spelling is preserved as printed. + +Inconsistency in the use of apostrophes in date ranges is preserved as +printed. + +Minor punctuation errors have been repaired. + +There were some instances of a single inconsistent spelling of a +proper noun where it appears more than once. These, along with +apparent typographic errors, have been repaired as follows: + + Page 19--Foreman amended to Forman--General David Forman, ... + + Page 37--beech amended to beach--... ran on the beach, + imploring ... + + Page 37--Osmnn amended to Osmun--But for the circumstance of + Captain Osmun ... + + Page 51--à amended to a--... from _L'Anse a la Graisse_ to + _Bayou Pierre_, ... + + Page 57--afflcted amended to afflicted--Uncle Forman was + severely afflicted ... + + Page 58--Pittsburgh amended to Pittsburg--... which had + traveled with me from Pittsburg ... + + Page 60--ta amended to at--... of the country to exchange + work at times; ... + + Page 63--Wickoff amended to Wyckoff--... when I went to my + friend Wyckoff, ... + + Page 66--mocassins amended to moccasins--... Mr. Smith; + moccasins at balls, ... + + Page 67--Madame Mansant amended to Madam Mansanteo--Mons. and + Madam Mansanteo, 56 + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Narrative of a Journey Down the Ohio +and Mississippi in 1789-90, by Samuel S. Forman + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44823 *** |