The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-05
From ne Nev York American.

"REMINISCENCES,
OF Voyags do0n me Ohio, m ihs Spring q 1917
and my fra acquaintance irah GEs hARaisoS'
The morning after arrival st fliisoufg, We
purchased falboliomed boat ark az Was eshea'
and hlted up with reference to comfort than was
usual with The voysgers Of those days its ong'n gu
sbed TO divide II into several compartments, WIN
berlhs, hre-plsces &c. Our stores were already on
board, and the point Of enoaIking. wheh
heard Of the arrival OF Gen Harrison from The Ehsi
on HE way 10 Cincinnati one OF the places 10 which
we were bound. We Immediately waited upon him,
aud offered hun passage with US down the I'er whieh
he readily accepted
As we were strangers TO the country and unskilled
in river navigation, then praciced Ia the West we
devolved the eommsnd upon the General; who, on
taking a survey OF our ark and It's accommodations,
told that from the appearance oil our ROOM ne
should Judge were bound for the mouth OF the Mis-
sIssppi rather than TO the falls OF the Ohio-thdt we
had certainly calculated upon good sppeties, II not
upon long voyage, since had on board provisions
sufficient for three months crulse--sddlng with
smile that he regretted that he had not had the pleasure
Of our acquaintance few years before, IN that
case he should certainly have recommended MS as suit
able persons TO furnish supplies for the Northwestern
Army THIS piece Of good hlmored falllery placed us
upon easy aud familiar footing with our new com
mander. Being now all ready, we cast oil, and com
mitted ourselves TO the stream.
Passing down The slow and perturbed Monographs
and sweeping round the angular point OF the town,
WHtIt once slOou ! olu or uu QutsUei
Fort Pi) we opened upon the noblcr stream, aud ie
the force OF the pure aud mpetuous current OF DE
Allegheny whose waters, as II struggling to escape
the destined amalgamaton with It's swauhy and impure
neighbour were seen mhng and eddying IN Impld
masses for miles below. We were now, aud US Tor
the first time, on the bosom Of the Ohio. The river
had been rising for several days, and this moment
appeared IN all It's glory-broad beautiful, aud maJes-
tic
Strong without rage wilhou, o'eiao~iog full
Yet discovered evidences OF its rude encroach
menis The morning after our departure, we
found its surface literally covered with debris OF ience
Of forest and NJ field and what added greatly TO the
picturesque beauty Of tho scene, the number and
variety Of The waercrs That appeared IN every dlrec
around Arks like own, baIges fats aud rails
all filed with human beings, borne along by the same
power and having, doubtless the SEINE general object
that OF lettering their condition
The RATS particularly attracted our attention; some
OF them being OF great extent, and bearing upon then
slight, but buoysnt surfaces, two and sometimes three
separate shanloes from whose peaked roofs columns Of
smoke were seen rising, and mlnglng with the misty
vapours OF the morning In groups around these tenn
poIary dwellings men, women and children,
horses cattle and wagons, with some few articles Of
furniture and farming utensils Nor was there wanting
TO complete the picture, dog two, standing like sen
tnels The edge end Of The raft nearest 10 the next
moving body, # stationed there 10 guard the from
tiers VI the floating Kingdom.
Whenever the wlud favorable, we, being higher
out Of water than nelghbors, overlook and passed
them the way Sometimes, however, at the request
Of the General, We LAID them along side, ard making
fast exchanged saues, and inquired their nhereabouts
The General, commander n-chief, Of course
spokesman and did US credit BY the manifest
of his natural courtesy and good feeling On Of
these OCCASIONS took it into my head throw the
children upon the raft handful Of crackers The Ge-
neral observed it, and turning quickly to me, said,
" That's right, Mr.. - throw them piece OF cheese,
toocfackers aud cheese you know, go welltogether"
Nor did he stop there; but speaking low tone Of
voice, observed, These people, Mr. W, look
poor--toss them and couple OF loaves Of bread;
you've plenty, you know than you want
This hint was sufficient. No boat barge, or raft pass
ed u.s. after that, without receiving least shower Of
crackers and cheese. And If happened at any time
10 be below when approaching any sort Of
craft, had signal from the General apprslng me Of
the fact. Where there aud Children he
would suggest the idea OF throwing them paper Of
tea Of Drowned coffee, OF which had album
dance Sometimes he would permit boitle or two OF
porter, but objected my giving brandy, spirits OF
any kind although he knew we had large and useless
store OF it. Young | then was this lesson OF hu-
man,y not lost npon | felt indebted to the
General for having opened to me Of plea
We arrived at Cincinnati on the morning OF the tenth
day after departure from Piitsburg; aud no ten
days OF my life passed more agreeaby. The Ge-
neral had perfect Knowledge OF the nvei and of every
and topography of The Vest were, perhaps, at that time
better known to him than to any other living His
conversation WAS amusing aud Instructive the highest
degree found him, besides capital scholar and
better read history than any man had ever met with
W.