Title: A journey through the West : Thomas Rodney's 1830 journal from Delaware to the Mississippi Territory /
Authors: Rodney, Thomas, 1744-1811.; Smith, Dwight L. 1918-2010.; Swick, Ray.
Publisher: Ohio University Press,
Year: 1997
Subjects: Rodney, Thomas, Diaries.; Frontier and pioneer life Ohio River Valley; Frontier and pioneer life Mississippi River Valley; Ohio River Valley Description and travel.; Ohio River Description and travel.; Mississippi River Valley Description and travel.; Mississippi River Description and travel.
Abstract: In A Journey through the West, Thomas Rodney writes vividly about flea-infested taverns, bad roads, drunken crew members, squatters, Indians, sodden berths, food from the wild, and treacherous waters. His is one of the most detailed early-nineteenth-century travel accounts. Rodney, a Revolutionary War patriot and veteran, had been active in Delaware politics and had served in the Continental Congress. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson appointed him as a land commissioner and a territorial judge in the newly formed Mississippi territory.
Contents: 1. "All my friends lamented": setting out for "Misisipi": Dover, Delaware, to Sideling Hill, Pennsylvania, August 14-28, 1803 -- 2. "Grand and beautiful scenes": into the western wilderness: Sideling Hill to Wheeling, (West) Virginia, August 29-September 5, 1803 -- 3. A sojourn on the Ohio: Wheeling, September 6-19, 1803 -- 4. The launching of the Iris: The river journey begins: Ohio River: Wheeling to Gallipolis, Ohio, September 20-28, 1803 -- 5. Wood nymphs and other adventures: Ohio River: Gallipolis to Cincinnati, Ohio, September 29-October 6, 1803 -- 6. Earthworks, prehistoric bones, and two river towns: Ohio River: Cincinnati to Louisville, Kentucky, October 7-18-1803 -- 7. "Nothing but wilderness": routine chores and everyday necessities: Ohio River: Louisville to Henderson, Kentucky, October 19-26, 1803 -- 8. Treacherous waters, salt works, and a legendary cave: Ohio River: Henderson to cave in rock, Indiana Territory, October 27-31, 1803 -- 9. The last of the Ohio: Ohio River: cave in rock to mouth of the Ohio, November 1-8, 1803 -- 10. Southward bound on "The prince of rivers": Mississippi River: mouth of the Ohio to St. Francis River, Louisiana Territory, November 9-21, 1803 -- 11. A near disaster and journey's end: Mississippi River: St. Francis River to Washington, Mississippi Territory, November 22-December 1, 1803.