From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library

Farm House to the White House, by William M. Thayer 62
them a part. This, elevating their spirits, put them in the humor of dancing. We then had a war dance. After
clearing a large space, and making a great fire in the middle, the men seated themselves around it, and the
speaker made a grand speech, telling them in what manner they were to dance. After he had finished, the best
dancer jumped up, as one awakened from sleep, and ran and jumped about the ring in the most comical
manner. He was followed by the rest. Then began their music, which was performed with a pot half full of
water, and a deer skin stretched tight over it, and a gourd with some shot in it to rattle, and a piece of horse's
tail tied to it to make it look fine. One person kept rattling and another drumming all the while they were
dancing."
George had never seen Indians in their wigwams until his surveying expedition. He had never witnessed a war
dance nor been brought face to face with these red men until he engaged in this pursuit for Lord Fairfax. The
Indians were friendly, though it was known that they looked upon the encroachments of the English colonists
with suspicion, if not with some bitterness. Occasionally a wandering band plundered defenceless families and
spread consternation abroad. But such hostile demonstrations were exceptional.
"Strange must have been the emotions which at times agitated the bosom of this pensive, reflective, heroic
boy, as at midnight, far away from the haunts of civilization, in the wigwam of the savage, he listened to the
wailings of the storm, interrupted only by the melancholy cry of the night-bird, and the howl of wolves and
other unknown beasts of prey. By the flickering light of the wigwam fire, he saw, sharing his couch, the dusky
form of the Indian hunter, his squaw, and his pappooses."
Other entries in his journal show that George was compelled to submit to privations that were new and strange
to him.
"Travelled up to Solomon Hedges', Esquire, to-day, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, in the county
of Frederick, where we camped. When we came to supper there was neither a knife on the table nor a fork to
eat with; but as good luck would have it, we had knives of our own."
George put in italics the words indicated, evidently to call attention to the poverty and degradation of some of
"His Majesty's Justices." He had a high-sounding title to his name, but neither knife nor fork!
"April 8: We camped in the woods, and after we had pitched our tent and made a large fire, we pulled out our
knapsacks to recruit ourselves. Every one was his own cook. Our spits were forked sticks, our plates were
large chips. As for dishes, we had none."
One "blowing, rainy night," George was startled from a sound sleep by the cry of "Fire! Fire! Fire!"
He sprung to his feet half asleep, scarcely knowing what unearthly sound awoke him.
"Your bed is on fire, George," shouted the same companion. "Narrow escape for you."
Sure enough, George discovered that the straw on which he was lying had taken fire, and, but for the timely
warning of his more wakeful companion, he must have been severely burned.
His diary contained such items as, "The number of acres in each lot surveyed, the quality of the soil, the
height of the hills, the growth of plants and trees, the extent of the valleys, and the length, breadth, and course
of the streams." On these various topics he reported to his employer, furnishing him thereby the necessary
data on which to base a judgment on sale of land.
Mr. Sparks, speaking of the thoroughness of his work as a surveyor, says, "Nor was his skill confined to the
more simple processes of the art. He used logarithms, and proved the accuracy of his work by different
methods. The manuscripts fill several quires of paper, and are remarkable for the care with which they were