Evening star., 1932-02-21

n
writing in his diary. Before him
lay several sheets written in PEN
cil which he was copying into the
record with ink.
The date on the penciled sheets was May 25
OF the same year. Forgive our rudaness if we
read over his shoulder some of the words he is
SO carefully copying.
From Suffolk to Pocoson Swamp. reckoned
about six miles. Pocoson Swamp to Cypress
Swamp about two and one half miles From
the Cypress Swamp we went horseback
without any difficulty into the Great Dismal
The soil was intcrmXed with sand for the first
quarter. Aftcrward blacker and richer with
many young reeds and few pines. which Is the
nature of the Swamp in general"
This is interesting. Are We not watching the
Father of His Country preserve for the infor-
nation of himself and others his own first
hand impressions? He continues to write. The
Oropeak Swamp is mentioned. The Widow
Norfiet's Mill. The Horse Pool. He records
that the land lis dead level, wet and cold in
some places, sandy in Others and generally
poor
But look! He Is writing again. I'VE did not
take the above route but crossed from Elias
Slattens Zone mile above the upper bridge on
Pequemin), from thence along Q new-cut path
through the main Swamp q northerly course
for five miles, to the inhabitants Of what they
call new found land. which is thickly settled.
very rich land We crossed one arm OF the
Dismal three and q half miles wide, with little
OF no timber on it, but very full Of reeds and
excessively rich.'
II We were in truth presuming to peer over
! George Washington's shoulder on q golden
October day in 1763 we would be puzzled at his
care in recording the description Of q route not
traversed by himself. But that Is because we
are unaware of other things which have en-
gagged his attention during the year.
In the preceding Spring Washington had
been absent from home 26 days. travelling and
attending the sessions Of the Burgesses. During
this period he took occasion to go into the
Dismal Swamp, and his observations and the
information he gathered from others 30 inter-
ested him that he formed . company desg-
mated in his papers as the Adventures for
Draining the Dismal Swamp"
The names of all of his companion "Adven-
turers' cannot be ascertained, but Fielding
Lewis BurweH Bassett and John Walker con-
tributed with him to the expenses Of . pre-
liminary examination and the reports being
favorable and Washington having made a Sec
ond visit to the Swamp in October at which
time he does not appear to have gone into 1t.
f60O voted In November to carry on the
work. Application was ne1t made to the Gen.
eral Assembly. and on January 18, 1854, 1t was
ordered by that body THAT leave be given
to bring in q bill to enable certain Adventures
to drain a large tract Of marshy ground In the
counties of Nansemond and Norfolk" Tive
days later the bill was passed, and in due time
received the assent Of the Governor and Coun-
ell It empowered the Adventures ito enter
upon, and have such free passage and make
such canals or causeways, through the lands
of any person whatsoever adjacent to the Dis
NAL Swamp, as may be conducive to the more
effective draining thereof, without being sub
jec. to the action or suit Of any such persons
for the same"
In 1864 Washington and John Robinson sup
piled number of slaves to the undertaking.
The chief product appears to have been shin
giles. Various sums of money were raised In
this year and the two successive years and In
Dec cn1bcr, 1766. first payment was made Ito
the estate of Willis Reddick for land" The
subscribers to this purchase were William and
Thomas Nelson WATERS Mead, DR..
Wa.ker Col. Tucker, Mr.. Farley and George
Washington. The last-named gentleman con-
tinued to visit the Swamp at intervals and
after the Revolution under dates of April 20
to May 5. 1785, we find in his diary detailed
account of trip from Mount Vernon to Rich
mond to attend a meeting of the Dismal
Swamp Co.
In the early days of the Adventures"
Washington and others also bought land In
the vicinity Of the Swamp. An entry in his
diary of September g. 1768, reads: Break
tasted in Suffolk; dined and lodged In the
Dismal Sv'amp at Jno. Washington's" Sep
tembcr 81: Went up to our plantation at Nor
fleets. in Carolina. and returned In the after
noon" September %: went into the Pond
(Lake DrummonO with Colo Lewis. MAR.
vent to ye Majrs."
fo a relationship enekWefn