Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-07

| ana 10 fndTh inc ulHeTcHCc vi lHt
then and now While some, no doubt, will re-
ioice in being able to obtain SO grand sight
at so small cost of time and trouble, others
(perhaps many will regret that the facilities
afforded to travellers in these days should have
deprived the enterprise of all its romance, and
wish that they too had lived when.indeed it was
something to have seen the Fallsff Niagara.
Journey to Niagara.
MONDAY, oath June, 1865. Went with my
three companions on board sloop for Albany
"a very hot day, with the wind at south.
After sailing about fifty miles through a very
rocky and mountainous country, the wind came
about contrary and we anchored. Friday, 2Sth.
Arrived at Albany, one hundred and sixty
miles from New York Albany is dirty, i'll
built Dutch town, of about three hundred
houses stands upon Hudson's River. Dined
at Schuyler's. July 3D. Left Albany in
wagon, came to Schenectady. Lay at Sir Will
liam Johnson's; he is superintendent for In
dian affairs in the northern district. Break
tasted at Fort Johnson, where Sir Williams
son lives, eighteen miles from Schenectady;
good land all the way thither. Dined with Sir
William at Johnson Hall. Extraordinary good
land about his house. The Office of superin-
teudent very troublesome. Sir William contin-
ually plagued with the Indians about him, gener-
ally from three hundred to nine hundred in
number-spo his garden and keep his house
always dirty 7rh. Left Sir Williams; lay at
Nicholas Failings, very honest civil Dutch
man. who seemed glad to give US whatever he
had in his house; it is forty-two miles from
| Schenectady. Sth. Got to Nicholas Harki-
mer's, sixteen miles from Failings. 9Th. Fort
Harkimer eightmiles. Theland about it belongs
to old Harkimer, excellent land, settled by
Germans During the war this fort was built
for the protection Of the neghborhood from the
attacks of the Six Nation Indians, who live
round about it. 10th. Discharged our wagon;
went on board batteau; punted and rowed
up the Mohawk river against the stream, which,
on account of the rapidity of the current, is
very hard work for the poor soldiers. Encamp-
| ed on the banks of the river, about nine miles
from Harkimer's.
The inconvenience attending married sub
altern strongly appear in this tour; what with
the sickness of their wives, the squeahng OF
their children, and the smallness of their pay, |
| think the gentlemen discover no uncommon
share of philosophy i'll keeping themselves
from running mad. Officers and soldiers, with
their wives and children, legitimate and lille
gitimate, make altogether pretty compound
oglio, which does not tend towards showing
military matrimony off to any great advantage.
i FTluaN, llII OOb W Iolt iolHuyiSiJ hitSSh
miles from our last nights encampment. A
little block-house, built during the late war not
capable of containing above six or eight people.
Saturday 18th. Had a disagreeable ride
TWENTY-FIVE miles through thick wood, with a
bad path, to Fort Stanwix, built in the year
1859, by General Stanwix. Lieutenant Allan
Grant commanded there.
Monday l4th Went on horseback by the
! side of Wood creek, twenty miles to the royal
| block house, kind of wooden castle; proof
against any Indian attacks 1t is now aban-
doned by the troops, and settler lives there,
who keeps rum, milk, rackoons, ETC., which,
though nothing Of the most elegant, is comfort
able to strangers passing that way.
| This block-house is situated on the east end
of the Oneida Lake, and is surrounded by the
! Oneida Indians, one OF the Six nations.
Some of our batteauX not coming up, we
STAYED next day at the block-house. 10th. En-
barked and rowed to the west end of the lake,
| which is twenty-eight miles, to Fort Brewing
ton, a small stockade, built last war. The
Oneida lake is twenty miles broad from north
to south.
nth. Rowed down Oswego river to the
| Onondaga Falls, thirty miles. These falls
are so rapid that the batteauX were all drawn
out Of the water and rolled twenty yards upon
logs, made for that purpose, below the falls,
where we encamped.
18th Arrived at Fort Ontario commanded
by Captain Lieut. Jonathan Rogers, of the sew
enteenth,( situated on the lake of that name,
near point formed by the lake and Oswego
river Fort Ontario is Of wood, has five bas-
tions, built in 1859.
Fort Oswego which was taken by the French
is on the opposite side of the river, within sight
of this fort.
Pondiach, the famous Ottowa chief, with fifty
headmen of the neighboring Indians, were ar
rived here to meet Sir William johnson, about
matters of consequence.
2lst Sir William arrived.
22d At two o'clock in the morning left
Fort Ontario, encamped on the banks OF Lake
Ontario, about thirty miles from the fort
Odd. Proceeded and encamped.
oath. Arrived late in the evening at Niagara
Fort one hundred and seventy miles from
Fort Ontario. Captain Thomas Morris, of the
seventeenth regiment commanded here Many
civilities received froih him and the officers OF
the regiment.
10th. Rode to Fort Schlosser, about fifteen
miles from Niagara, which is situated on Mag
ara river, about two miles above the famous
Falls.
Mr.. Pfster, a German halfpay lieutenant OF
the royal Americans, lives at Fort Schlosser
.
commander-n-chef to carry all stores, bat
teaux &C., belonging to the army, in wagons
over land, about seven miles, the Falls o
Niagara making the river of that name SC
rapid, both above ard below them, that it is
absolutely necessary for everything going to-
wards Lake Erie to be carried that distance
by land. Every batteau, besides those belong
ing to the army, pay him flO, New York
currency, and upwards, according to then
size.
Batteaux and all heavy baggage are raised
to the top of an high hill on the river by
means of capstan.
f From Fort Schlosser we went to see the
! Falls, which are two amazing cataracts, divided
by an island in the river. We were inclined to
| go down steep rock aud view the Falls from
, the bottom, but, having no rope with us to las
ten to tree above, the dangerous appearance
of the precipice deferred US.
A few DAYS after, we crossed the river rom
= apampblet published in New York IN 1870.