From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 135
domains to claim lands was not at all agreeable to them.
In these circumstances Washington undertook the journey, accompanied by his old friend Dr. Craik, and
servant, with two servants of his own. All were mounted, with an additional horse to carry the baggage.
They were twelve days on their way to Fort Pitt, where they took a large canoe to descend the Ohio as far as
the Great Kanawha. Colonel Croghan, at the fort, engaged two Indians to conduct them thither, and John
Nicholson as interpreter.
It was during this trip down the Ohio that Washington enjoyed rare sport. Such herds of deer upon the banks,
and flocks of wild turkeys, and such numbers of ducks and geese upon the river, he had never seen before.
The canoe was loaded with game.
It was on this trip, also, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, that Washington met the old sachem "who lay in
ambush on the banks of the Monongahela, and wrought such havoc in Braddock's army." The Indian chief
came to honor Washington, accompanied with other warriors. After formal introduction, he addressed him
thus, through Nicholson the interpreter:
"I am a chief, and the ruler over many tribes. My influence extends to the waters of the great lakes, and to the
far blue mountains. I have travelled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great
battle. It was on the day when the white man's blood mixed with the streams of our forest that I first beheld
this chief; I called to my young men and said, "Mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat
tribe: he hath an Indian's wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do; himself is alone exposed. Quick, let your
aim be certain and he dies." Our rifles were levelled, rifles which, but for him, knew not how to miss. 'Twas
all in vain; a power mightier far than we shielded him from harm. He cannot die in battle. I am old, and soon
shall be gathered to the great council-fire of my fathers, in the land of shades; but ere I go, there is a
something bids me speak in the voice of prophecy. Listen! The Great Spirit protects that man, and guides his
destinies. He will become the chief of nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a
mighty empire!"
Washington successfully accomplished the object of his mission, and in the end his old companions in arms
received their just dues. "Fifteen thousand acres were awarded to a field officer, nine thousand to a captain,
six thousand to a subaltern, and so on." Stobo and Van Braam, who were with him at Great Meadows,
received nine thousand acres apiece. They were in London at the time, and subsequently Washington
purchased their claims through his London agent.
How perilous his journey was at the time may be inferred from the fact that soon after his return there was
another Indian outbreak on the banks of the Great Kanawha, whither Washington went, and in the engagement
Colonel Lewis and other Virginians lost their lives.
The Virginia Assembly was in session when the Boston Port Bill took effect, and the members voted to make
the day one of fasting. They voted, also, at that session, to call a Congress of the Colonies. Other legislatures
adopted a like measure; and the first American Congress convened in Philadelphia on the 5th of September,
1774. Washington was a member of this body, and took a leading part in addressing an able memorial to the
King of Great Britain.
Patrick Henry was asked who was the first man in the American Congress at Philadelphia, and he answered:
"If you speak of eloquence, Mr. Rutledge of South Carolina is by far the greatest orator; but if you speak of
solid information and sound judgment, Colonel Washington is unquestionably the greatest man on that floor."
The patriots felt the need of divine guidance in their deliberations, and elected Rev. Mr. Duché of