Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-16

rier" to discover what manner of lands
and waters were lying beyond. The
cavalc, de, consisting of The young
bloods # the cooked hat gentry" under
his lead, set out from the palace gate
at williamsburg and followed mainly
the course OF The "old kings highway"
through the counties of James City,
New Kent, Hanover, Caroline and
Spottsylvania, to Fredericksburg, re-
ceiving additions IA they went. AT
Fredericksburg they left the highway"
and took westerly course to Ger
mamma, on the Rapidan, where the
governor had established iron works
and had settled about them a colony
of Germans, who had planted vineyards
and were making wine from 'stocks
brought from France, Germany aud
Italy. The location WAS near the a.
terward battlefields of the "WildeI
ness" and became we'll known during
the civil wsr. Before leaving Ger
mama and the limits OF civilization the
cavalcade was reinforced ~ several
more gentlemen, ''squad OF rangers"
and TWO Iudian guides, when their Lum-
ber in all was about fifty persons.
They had provided for a veri'ahle
holiday excursion. Packhorses accom-
| panied with tents, an abundance of
substantial provisions and "an extra
ordinary variety of liquors, such as
Virginia red and white wines, Irish
ncquel augh, brandy, shrub, two SORTS
of rum, champagne, Canary, cherry
punch. cider. etc. So, while the
"kniehts" had taken due care to
arrange for bodily subsistence,
they had not been unmindiul
of something to exhilarate their
spirits and keep up their courage as
they rode through the unexplored will
derness on their errantry. They
marched by short stages, as the way
before them WAS in many places en-
tirely impossible until opened and
] cleared by their axemen. When they
camped, right royal were the feass
they bad spread for them under the
branches of the great trees CT the for
ests, by he full, gushing springs and
clear livulels. The season of the year
was pleasant one for the making o.
such journey, and doubtless the days
were serene and all the iandscap'
bright and glorious with the early au-
tumn's tnting. But of this the chroni-
cler has told US nothing. Oaly these
brief records he has left Us which. how
ever, afford interesting glimpsts of the
progress of the expedition
August 27th-Got our horses sho1 AT
Germanpa and our tents ready.
thipoc hauiru happ
ranged we set out from the German
settlement on our intended journey
At five in the afternoon the governor
gave orders to encamp on small
stream three miles from the place OF
starting, which we called Espt diti IL
run, and here we lay sll night. This
first encsm oment was named Bevtr y
camp, in honor OF the historian of Vir
ginia, one of the gentlemen OF our par
ty. We made great fires, supped and
drank good punch.
30th-In the morning about Z of the
clock We We're aroused by the trum
pets call A we sent our servants
and baggage forward and We remained
nrcau;e two of the governors hor e.
had strayed At half-past , we got the
horses. At 8 We mounted and at half
past we came up with our bag -age at
small river thiea miles on the
way, which we called Mine run,
because there was an appearance OF
silver mine by it. AT evening three
miles farther on we came 10 anoIh-r
small stream which We called Mountain
run, where we cemped for the night.
We found good pa.tulage for our horses
and venison in abundance for ourselves,
which we roasted before the fire on
wooden forks.
3lst.-At S O'Clock in the morning
we again set out and after proceeding
five miles came upon the upper part OF
the ksppahannock river. Shot deer
from my horse on the Way Five miles
further on we crossed the same river
and two mills furthur fell in wi h a
bear, which we killed. Killed several
more deer and at night camped on the
Rappahannock. From our eucamp-
ment we could plainly see the Appa-
lachian hills; we made large fires,
pitched our tents, cut boughs 10 lie up
on, had good liquor, and at ten went to
sleep. We always kept sentry ut the
governors door. This we called
Smiths camp Made this day fourteen
miles.
September 1st.-At s we mounted
our horses and made the first five
miles OF our way through very pleas
ant plain, which liss where the Rsppa-
hammock river forks. saw there the
largest timber, the finest end deepest
mould and the best grass | ever had
seen. We had some of four baggage put
out of order and some Of our company
dismounted by hornets singing the
horses. This was some hindrance
and did a little damage, but
afforded great deal Of diversion. We
killed three bears this day which exer-
cised the horses as well "a the men.
Saw two foxes and killed several deer.
About 5 o'clock came to run OF water
at the foot of hill where We pitch
ed our tents. We called the
encampment DR. Robinsons camp and the
stream Blind run. We had good pasturage
for our horses and every one was cook tor
himself. We made our beds with bushes as
before This day we rode thirteen miles.
September 2nd-At 8 o'clock we were all
on horseback and after riding about five miles
we crossed the Rappahannock river almost at
the head We had a rugged way-passed
over a great many runs of w'ter, soue OF
which were very deep, and others very mud
dy. Several of our company were dismount'
ed, some were down with their horses and
some thrown off We saw bear running
down tree, but it being Sunday, we did not
try to kill any animal. Enctmped at five
O'Clock by stream we called White Oak riv-