Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-28
Ertract Of Letter from, gentleman attached
to Mr. SHRIvER's Brigade, dated
Ca1np Bear DenS June 5th. 1925

Camp Bear DenS, June 18th, 1925.
g The surveys entrusted TO our Brigade are
from the summit level Westward TO Pittsburgh
Several lines have already been executed from the
inst mentioned point, in direction towards the
mouth of Bear Greek, (the termination of what, YOU
know, is called the middle section, ~ where they
will converge, and whence downwards, in conse-
quence OF the greater simplicity of the examine
zion, the Brigade viii be enabled to move more
rapidly, and with greater convenience. The coun-
try below that place Is pretty much Inhabited, and
the lands cultivated Here are found but few set
tiers; and, as they generally hunters the lands
on which they construct their cabins are almos,
Invariably seen in their native widness, Little at
tenton is paid TO the cultivation of the SOIL and still,
less 10 opening roads
Yesterday we succeeded in pushing onr way to
this place, which, you will probably infer from
the name oil our encampment, is none of the most
delightful situations III the world. Our location at
this time is indeed in extremely wild and desoate
uiT6ed has no doubt for ages past been the undis-
ever od Vicinity f we are s sfsa ID; on hi The
bank OF the onehogeny river, about midway alone
what has recently received the appropria,e anneI7
| lation OF fiOe Mile Fails This place, so little
known, and so remarkable for its grand and maics
TIC scenery, Is where the river, with continued
succession OF falls and rapids, passes through the
gap ct the Winding Ridge mountain. IT presents
serious obsiaclesto ready examination of tie river
along rs course Having, however, reached a
favorable point with our camp, we shall be enabled
hereafter 10 prosecute our surveys with more con-
venience than we had reason to expect hadbcen
over the ground before, and did not SUPPOSE il nos
Sltie TO approach within five miles OF this point
The consequence OF our not being able to do it.
would have been, that walks to and from the
work. daily, would have exceeded eight or nine
miles over the toughest ground Imaginable.
Mr.. Moore, one OF our Jewellers, has for some
7 Time been ENGAGED in tlc Cf
| down this river. As lar This line has been con-
Quoted, the ground has been found generally quite
favorable. Some few rough places have occurred.
6Utnone which present difficulties bv any means as
great as have already been overcome, in the con-
stTuction OF canals in this country 1t will occupy
Us very closely Tor some time to get over the Falls
after which shall strike our tents and without
much reluctance, apPreheEd, make move 10 a
( less lid section.
| Iwish Loould describe to you the FIVE MILE
FILLS, OF the Youghiogeny. To lover Of rude
and teIiic scenery, they would afford delcctabIe
! treat. There Is indeed no one who would not be
greatly gra!ihed in seeing them. would, for
your amusement attempt a long and particular
description OF ITEM If did not feel myself so in
adequate to tie task, or if was not so fully con
vlnccd, that my best efforts in this way yvould fall
lar short otgiving you Just conception OF the grand
scene which they present
Imagine, If you please, deep narrow raviue
worn down some hundTed feet by the operation oil
the river, for perhaps many centuries past through
a great mountain, exposing on its sides innumera-
Die craggy points, and numberess rocks of every
possible shape and appearance Conceive, also.
ariver iretting and foaming along this deem and
rocky channel obsirJctcd and forced from diroc,
tree course, by the Intervention at almost every
point oil immense irregular rocks dlshing its wav
with mad fury, at one moment, over ragged rer.
pcEdcuar ledge, and at the next flriousIy tearipo
lis way through deep, tortuous, and obstricter
clasms Fancy, also, If you can, the deep con
tlnued roaring and brawiing Of stream, thus, seek
ing an outlet, and thus continually checked in IN
progress, aud add 10 such sounds your fancy ma,
invent, their reverberatiOns and echoes saw ina
CINE oil these things and you may possibly have
FAINT dc' Of the five Mile Fails, but can still form
nothing like correct estimate of their character.
II Nature, ~ It's very udes; form--in rs yer,
naSedness and native wlldness-dcscrves The an
pcliaiion OF grandeur. then, indeed, This is one ~
the grandest scenes H the Dor7d. This is strong
language, you will say-it is so. buf TO exspge
rate in this case is impossible. The passage of Tn
2 Potomac river through The Blue Ridge. at Har
pers Ferry, so celebrated for its novelty and bcl
Mr. Jefferson has said - worth crossing the Allan
tic 70 see is, believe, remarkable only for the rId
character Of its scenery, In this respect, if com
pared with the Five Mile Falls Of the Youebiogeny
1t must sink into utter iusgnifcance
la case the Canal should be conducted along thr
e rayinc. It would afford convenient means %
{ viewing with perfect ease and satisfaction tIi.
wild and romantic place, and will venture to pre-
dict that, in this event. thousands and thousand.
B would pass through the Chesapeake and Ohio Ca.
p nal, with no other object or motive than that OF
4 enjoying This, and other rich scenery along the
banks Of the heretofore Unknown and neglected
} YoushiogsnY