From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
From Farm House to the White House - 912 Freedom Library
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<strong>Farm</strong> <strong>House</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>White</strong> <strong>House</strong>, by William M. Thayer 84<br />
"Did <strong>the</strong> condition of <strong>the</strong> bodies show that <strong>the</strong> massacre was recent?" Washing<strong>to</strong>n inquired fur<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
"Not very recent; <strong>the</strong> bodies were scattered about, and several of <strong>the</strong>m were much eaten by hogs," was <strong>the</strong><br />
chief's answer.<br />
"Have you any suspicions as <strong>to</strong> who <strong>the</strong> murderers were?" urged Washing<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
"Certain marks which <strong>the</strong>y left behind showed that <strong>the</strong> butchery was done by Indians of <strong>the</strong> Ottawa nation,"<br />
was <strong>the</strong> information given in answer <strong>to</strong> his question.<br />
Mr. Frazier informed Washing<strong>to</strong>n that an Indian queen, living three miles distant, had taken offense because<br />
he did not call upon her on his way <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> fort. As he was obliged <strong>to</strong> wait two days for horses, he paid her a<br />
visit and made her a present of a watch-coat.<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n's final entry in his journal is:<br />
"Tuesday, <strong>the</strong> 1st of January, 1774, we left Mr. Frazier's house, and arrived at Mr. Gist's, at Monongahela, <strong>the</strong><br />
2d, where I bought a horse and saddle. The 6th, we met seventeen horses loaded with materials and s<strong>to</strong>res for<br />
a fort at <strong>the</strong> fork of <strong>the</strong> Ohio, and <strong>the</strong> day after, some families going out <strong>to</strong> settle. This day we arrived at Will's<br />
Creek, after as fatiguing a journey as it is possible <strong>to</strong> conceive, rendered so by excessive bad wea<strong>the</strong>r. <strong>From</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> first day of December <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> fifteenth, <strong>the</strong>re was but one day on which it did not rain or snow incessantly;<br />
and throughout <strong>the</strong> whole journey we met with nothing but one continued series of cold, wet wea<strong>the</strong>r, which<br />
occasioned very uncomfortable lodgings, especially after we had quitted our tent, which was some screen<br />
from <strong>the</strong> inclemency of it."<br />
Washing<strong>to</strong>n arrived at Williamsburg on <strong>the</strong> sixteenth day of January, and immediately reported <strong>to</strong> Governor<br />
Dinwiddie, delivering <strong>the</strong> reply of <strong>the</strong> French commander; <strong>the</strong> belts of wampum from <strong>the</strong> Indian tribes, as<br />
pledges of friendship; <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r with his journal, as his report of <strong>the</strong> expedition.<br />
Weems says, "The governor was much pleased with <strong>the</strong> Indian belts, more with <strong>the</strong> Frenchman's letter, but<br />
most of all with Washing<strong>to</strong>n's journal."<br />
"I shall have your journal published immediately," said <strong>the</strong> governor <strong>to</strong> Washing<strong>to</strong>n.<br />
"I beg your honor not <strong>to</strong> give it <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> public in print," replied Washing<strong>to</strong>n; "it is a very defective document,<br />
written, as it was, in <strong>the</strong> wilderness, under <strong>the</strong> most unfavorable circumstances. It was intended for no eyes but<br />
yours."<br />
"My dear man," said <strong>the</strong> hearty Scotchman, "you are al<strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>to</strong>o modest in this matter. I am sure that <strong>the</strong><br />
document is worthy of <strong>the</strong> greatest publicity."<br />
"But you will grant me <strong>the</strong> privilege of amending it," pleaded Washing<strong>to</strong>n, almost frightened at <strong>the</strong> idea of his<br />
journal appearing in print.<br />
"Indeed, major, <strong>the</strong>re is no time for that now," answered <strong>the</strong> governor. "The Assembly will rise <strong>to</strong>-morrow or<br />
next day, and I want each member <strong>to</strong> have several copies <strong>to</strong> carry home with him. You need not give yourself<br />
any uneasiness, man, for your journal is worthy of a perusal by <strong>the</strong> King of Great Britain, and I intend <strong>to</strong><br />
present him with a copy."<br />
The journal went <strong>to</strong> press at once, and was in <strong>the</strong> hands of members of <strong>the</strong> Assembly before <strong>the</strong> adjournment.<br />
It was received with <strong>the</strong> greatest enthusiasm and praise everywhere, and was published in all <strong>the</strong> papers of <strong>the</strong><br />
Colony. Copies were sent <strong>to</strong> England, and <strong>the</strong>re it appeared in <strong>the</strong> journals of <strong>the</strong> day.