The Washington herald., 1910-04-24

The current number OF The Records OF
The Past" contains an account Of Gen.
Wsshington's canoe trip down the Po-
tomac and a fac-simile Of an unpub-
Hshed letter written in 1874. In the
previous number was an article on the
trip around the Great Falls, and the ar
ticle here reproduced was written by
Upham, OF ST. Paul. 1t is as follows.
Among the most precious old manu-
scripts owned by the Minnesota His
torical Society is an unpublished long
letter Of George Washington. which was
presented to this Society in 1870 by Hon.
Wallace B. White. Of Washington, D. c,
who in 1880 had been n resident and
territorial officer OF Minnesota. The let
ter. written on a sheet of paper about
S by 13 inches I'm size, yellow with age
and torn along one Of the creases where
It was originally folded. is now spread
open and framed with glass on each side
TO allow both sides to be read.
On the side first written, bearing the
formal address. the date August T..
1854. and the signature. Washington wrote
Of the military situation and difficulties
to be overcome. Though the name Of
the person addressed is not contained In
the letter. il was evidently Colonel James
Innes, in command Of the North Carolina
troops. as Washington was OF those
raised by Virginia.
Governor Robert Dnwlddie, Of Viz
gria. had commissioned Colonel lines,
on June Of that year, to be commander
petition against The French on the Ohio
and rs tributaries. since ali that country
west from the Allegheny Mountains to
the Mississippi and south Of the Great
Lakes was claimed by the King Of Great
Britain and his American colonies. a
month after Tho date OF his commission,
I1nes and his North Carolina men had
reached WINS creek. on the upper part
OF the Potomac, where Fort Cumberland
was built under his direction. on the site
OF the city OF Cumberland, Maryland.
Washington on MS return from the bat.
tic OF Great Meadows, or Fort Necessity
fought on July 3. I75i, against the
French and Indians on the YoughioCheny
river in southwestern Pennsylvania, met
Colonel Inncs at Wits creek. The pres
ent need OF transportation Of military
supplies and the future needs Of com
merCe between the Atlantic coast and
the interior Of the country west of the
mountains. led both these commanders "a
wish more detailed knowledge Of the
navigability OF the Potomac river as &
part OF tho most feasible route OF com
mupication from the seaboard TO the
Ohio valley Therefore Washington and
a few chosen men made a canoe tourney
Of observation down this river from
Wits creek TO its Great Falls, noting
its conditions for navigation and es.
pecially It's principal rapids and falls.
This journey was made probably about
the middle Of July, in the course OF
Washington's return 10 Williamsburg
then the capitol Of Virginia. to submit
10 Governor Dinwiddie the report of his
eventful western expedition, which had
eliminated IN the battle Of July 3. II
Washington first completed his return tC
Williamsburg. travelling wholly by land
and afterward wens back to Wits creek
for the Potomac canoe trip. ii was made
In the last week of July or early in
August. On the 18th OF August, Wash
in4on wrote at Alexandria bis long let