Resurrecting the First American West

appeared a staunch friend to his country. I felt much for him. Tho I informed him of their cruel conduct to our prisoners. which he very much condemned. this day I was directed by Genl Harrison and the Governor to take the command of a fatigue party to make rafts & boats to carry the plunder we had taken down the river. I had, 17 made & we were the whole day bringing it in and had to encamp again in the town & had plenty to eat for ourselves & horses.

October 7th Spent the day in collecting in plunder, the foot army was encamped on the battle ground & our regt in the town about 3 oClock in the morning Col Owings Regt of Regulars came up and took charge of the plunder and the whole Army Marchd off and we sett fire to the town, putting the first torch to their Moravian Church and consumed the whole to ashes and we continued our march down the river to the large plantation where the Coke ovens were and encamped amidst plenty we had four or five hundred prisoners who appear to be not much cast down but all glad it was no worse.

October 8th. we marchd early and crossed the river at the same place we had as we went up and continued on

down the river to a large plantation about one mile below a thick setled village on the north side of the river, and campt without any material accident the foot army with Governor Shelley continued down on the opposite side of the River, the inhabitants in general are very cautious and tho we have taken what we wanted and almost ruin d some men yet they submit to it without a murmur. Genl, Harrison has promised to have compensation made them.

October 9th March d early raining and disagreeable we continued on our march down the river passing a part of Balls Regt & the Pittsburg Blues at the Mouth of the river where our shipping lay and had in our absence taken a British Schooner that had been gone [?] a month up into Lake Huron and was laden with fur she came sailing up to Our vessels and was taken without the fire of a gun as she had no information of our vistories, we then came on down the lake within nine miles of Sandwich and campt for the night and it rained and blew a storm very disagreeable we got corn and oats for our horses which was taken by order of Superior power

which is a solacing scene to a man returning from the hurry of Business & tumult of a Camp

A Representation of the Battle at the Forks of the River Thames on the 4th day of October, as stated in the Journal [sketched map of the rivers/forks and locations describing the battle in the journal]

I have both Elliot & Barton's work. Elliot's I think is the best original botanical work ever published in America. Ihave reviewed the 5 first numbers, & am anxiously expecting the continuation. Barton's Compendium is tolerable; but a compilation in many parts, & has many defects.

I send you my review of Nuttall's, where you will perceive many of the general errors of our Botanists. I send also by mail the Prospectus of my Lectures. I am now lecturing on Natural History to abt 16 Ladies & 12 Gentlemen; the lectures on Botany are delayed till the Spring. I am very well pleased with Lexington, and although every thing is not as it should be, I think upon all that we shall do tolerably well. We have now about 200 Collegiate students, including the grammar School, and abt 35 medical students. Their Catalogue will soon be published.

We mean to take a journey somewhere next Summer, Mr Clifford & I; but are undecided whether to go towards the Lakes, the Mobile or the Arkansas - Springs; in that latter case, we mught visit you in the way perhaps. When will you come here, if you come?

I am publishing my Natural history of the fishes of the Ohio, in our review, & by itself. I shall next month publish the first Annual Number of my Discoveries [or?] Annals of Nature. I am besides writing my travels; my Lectures & many tracts to send to Europe & Therefore I am not idle, & shall not disgrace the Western States; which have adopted me.

Believe memeantime Yours C. S. Rafinesque

P.S. Mr Clifford desires to be remembered to you, & not to forget him & the museum, if you should be able to procure Some Indian antiquities or fossils.

If your amorphous rocks contain shells & they must be Secondary you know. Some may be primitive scattered as in Ohio; but carried there, not in real situation

at the same time & since I left home I directed my wife to endeavour to purchase State Warrants for me as I expected that was the best method for Obtaining lands in this Country tho [I?] do not think so well of that plan at present as the Greatest part of the Goods lands that the people are Anyways Acquainted with are taken by Settlements & presumptions there is about one Million of Acres of the best land that is in that Situation besides the old Surveys [which?] is upwards of Two hundred thousand Acres and the [Claimos?] not near done yet. In short those that as Strangers that Comes out with warrants will be at a very Great loss to locate them tho' I have been here some time & had an opportunity of Seeing the Old Surveyors Book. & [?] of the Claimers in this district I shall be at a great loss to know where the Vacant lands lies upon the whole I thought it was best to [? ?] lands.

Colo. Henderson & Doctr Walker [Commission?][hole in paper] Running the line between Carolina & this state Could not agree before they Gott the Sigth of Cumberland mountain they parted & each went on with these lines & they were two & a half miles apart Colo Henderson when he got to Cumberland Mountain quited his line. Dotr Walker went on down Cumberland River as fair as Price's Settlement wch is some distance down and on the south side of the River & from a late account from him we understand that Price's is twenty Six & three quarters of a Mile in Virginia & that he thinks but a Small part of Cumberland will be in Carolinaif any. Cols. Abraham Bowman arrived here a few days ago who informs me the greatest fact of the stocks of Horses Cattle & Sheep are dead. I understand that there was but one

One of the Sheep alike when he left the Stock Colo. John Bowman has lost one of his Step Sons (David Bryant). We have had the hardest winter in this part of the Country I ever remember to have seen in my Life tho' st preasent it seems to be Breaking, the face of the earth has been covered with Snow for about ten or twelve weaks past tho' is partly gone at preasent. Please to give my Compliments to Doctr. McDonald & Lady & Wm Booth & Lady Wm Hole & the Family & be assured I am with respect Yr Most Able Hble Servt John Williams Junr

P.S. Colo. Bowman is very uneasy that he has not received the Manuals from you I imagine that they will be well laid as Colo Bowman is well [acquainted?] with the Country. [Franc Hile?] has sent his Cerificates to his father & he has mentioned mine to him & if it can be done should be Glad my [Preempn?] warrants could be sent out with his

JW

Farm Bourbon Cy. April 23. 1816

Dear Father

We have built our shed for making brick and the two men are to day at work throwing up the clay. they can throw up sufficient to make 8000 p. day. & Charles can mould two thousand p. day. but can not being to mould until the whole of the clay is thrown up. we calculate two months to finish the brick. the two negroes above mentioned I made out to hire one, for one month, 12$. the other for2. or 4. months as I please at 10.$. I have likewise engaged a boy to [bear?] off brick while moulding at 6$ p mo. he will be with us about 6 or 7 weeks. our man's moulding the brick will reduce the price to less than 50 cents p. 1000. & he is probably as good a moulder as we can find having work'd 7. years in a brick yard as a moulder. We have purchas'd a spade & shovel & [?] I shall have to get moulds which will cost about 6$. & two wheel barrows. The carpenter will come to day to pick out proper timber for joice & we shall send it to mill this week but I have no money to pay for it when it is done. it must be sent now on [?] of water. M. Prentiss will let me have a hand when the one engaged for a month leaves he would before but he has had 12 of his hired negro's which were own'd in Virgiinia taken home by their masters. he let me have the 30 [cents symbol] on [?] of the old cow. & offers to let me have what money I wish until you come out, but shall not get any if I can make out without, but this I can not do until some is sent soon. I have only had offers for the waggon. to barter for

for horses & gigs. which we do not want , shall exchange it for. stock which will be of use to us first opportunity price $.100. We have had of M. Prentiss since you left 87. bus. oats c 25/[Cts?] - 3100 wt. Hay c 20/[Cts?], then there is Wilson's services 2. mo. $15. these you will settle when you come our. Mr. J.P. will go to the eastward in about 6 weeks. & will probably see you. I believe he is about building a chandlery near his Factory, of which Mr. Thom. who has reliquished the idea of going to Indiana will have superintendance Mr. P. wished me to request you if convenient (in case you send out your sheep.) to obtain from Gorham Parsons of Boston. Farm in Cambridge. 4 pigs of the Byfield breed of hogs, as young as drive well. they were brot from Russia and are very superior. W. P. will pay half the cost & charges , on all should you not with two of them. he likewise wish'd me to remind you to improve their English cattle. he paying half or all as you please. from what I can learn in the country it will be quite an object.

We shall be able to buy more corn for our horses as there is work for them these three months. say 12 bbls it is quite scarce (if you are going to fat 100 hogs this fall, you will not raise a sufficiency on 15 acres to do it & feed your stock). It continues very healthy here. we had three hard frosts last week which has injured the peaches, cherries & peas considerably. the apples

being more backward. are not much hurt. we recd the letters by M. Nightingale last saturday. they were sent to Lexington. one mentions that all [Mrs. Hunt?] are coming to this country in April/ (this month) but letters recd. since say nothing more about it.

We have planted sweet potatoes in sheep pen, and plow'd up the lower part of the lane leading from barn for melons &e. have nearly finished plowing in new land and quite in [wefield?]. shall begin to plant corn, beging next week. you did not mention about the boards for flooring, but I shall have them saw'd. I wish you would let me know soon how I shall pay for them & wether I shall employ the Mason & carpenter here or not. I shall [be] oblig'd also to get 1/2 bbl Whiskey for the men making [me] the man who comes out with waggon I suppose wile work on farm. You mention making that part of new house that joins the old one of wood above, but I think that you had much better finish the wales ale round leaving the openings for communication from one to the other. One of our colts died the other day of the horsedestemper. it was the worst of the two [Johns?] is a very handsome horse; the Roan has foald, a handsome horn colt. Shall pole hops tomorrow. our vegetables are planted.

Sub Legionary Orders ~ Adjudant for to Morrow Vance For Gurd Cap^t Springer L^t Gregg & Ensign Wright

Commanding Officers of Companies are to see that Windows, or air holes are Cut in the Huts of their several Companies- and tht a nonCommissioned Officer superintend the clensing of them daily

At a Sub Legionary Court Martial held by this by order of Major Cass