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Oct. 18.

We rose at three; Br. Nathanael held morning prayer. Br. Gottlob reminded us that this was the birthday of our beloved Johannes. The Brn. Gottlob, Haberland and J. Lösch went ahead to Friedrichtown to order various things. We soon followed them with the wagon, having one mile to go to Robert Kornike’s mill, and eleven more to Friedrichstown, for seven of which we found no water. We breakfasted by a creek, and two miles beyond found water again. At noon we passed through Friedrichstown, which consists of about sixty houses rather badly built. One mile beyond Friedrichstown we stopped for lunch near a mill, and bought some bread and corn. The Brn. Gottlob and Haberland rejoined us there. We then drove on, soon came to water again, and had four miles to Jost Haid’s mill, setting up our tent just beyond. Br. Jac. Lösch rejoined us there; he had been to several plantations to buy bread and oats but had been able to get little. We turned our horses out to graze in a meadow as we had no feed for them; the Brn. Lischer and Merkli stayed with them during the night. Br. Gottlob held evening prayers, and we spoke of our dear Johannes, sang several sweet verses of blessing in his behalf, thanked the Lord for his call of grace, and prayed that we might have him among us for a long time yet. Then we lay peacefully down to rest under our tent.

Oct. 19.

Oats, bundled to dry in preparation for being threshed. Image source. About the photograph

We rose about six but had not slept much having been disturbed by the smoke. One mile beyond our camping place we stopped to bake bread, and about nine o’clock started on again. Several of the Brn. went ahead two and a half miles to Neuschwanger, a German, who lives half a mile to the left of the road. There is a straight track cut from his house to the main road. The Brn. procured bread and hay and brought it to the main road, where the rest waited with the wagon. On the plantation Br. Haberland unexpectedly met a man who knew him, — a man who some years ago in London carried the love-feast bread to Bloomsbury. The man was very happy, and told the other Brn. that when he saw Br. Haberland it seemed as if he were in heaven. He told us all about himself, and that he had three years still to serve, and he would be most happy to see other of the Brethren. We went five miles further and came to Baumann’s mill, where we bought several bushels of oats, but we had to wait several hours while it was thrashed. Some Germans visited us and we enquired about the way, but they gave us little comfort, saying that beyond Augusti Court House the road was so bad that it was doubtful whether we could travel it. It was five miles from Baumann’s to Justice Funk’s mill, and it was after dark and rather late when we reached there. The outlook was unpromising for a camp for it was pitch dark, and no wood near; but we set up the tent on the mill creek in a pleasant place under a large tree, all went to work to collect wood for the fire, and in a few minutes all was ready. Some people came to see us and wondered much at us. On the way we had lost a sack of oats, so a couple of the Brn. took a lantern and went back and found it. Otherwise we had a good trip to-day; we could plainly see the Blue Mountains on our right. Some high mountains were directly in front of us. Br. Nathanael held the evening service, and then we went to sleep.

Oct. 20.

Very early the Brn. brought in our horses from pasture. Br. Grube waked the other Brn. by singing a few verses, and after eating our broth we set out about five o’clock. There was a considerable hill just ahead and we had to push hard to help get the wagon up, and reached the top before daybreak. We heard that from here we would see no house for 20 miles, but that we would find water every three or four miles. Several Brn. went hunting, but returned empty handed. Six miles to the left we saw high mountains, which ran toward the south-west. Our course, however, was mostly south by west, the land apparently barren and grown up in pine trees. We drove twelve miles this morning, and stopped for noon by a creek. In this neighborhood, one mile to the left of the road, there lives a man named Jac. Müller where one can always buy oats. Then the road goes up-hill for a while, and when we reached the summit we crossed the “Narrow Passage,” which is so narrow that two wagons cannot pass, and there are very deep valleys on each side. In the valley on the left flows Stone Creek, and another creek in that on the right. The road goes about south on the ridge. We traveled eight miles this afternoon, and put up our tent near the Shanidore Creek, which is about again as wide as the Manakis, but dangerous in high water, and difficult then to cross. We had a pretty camping place to-night, and felt happy, and thankful to the Lord for bringing us safely so far. Br. Nathanael held evening prayers.

Oct. 21.

Aerial view of the Shenandoah River — referred to by the brothers as the “Shanidore.” Image source. About the photograph

We drove five miles and crossed the Shanidore, then camped on the bank for Sunday. The Brn. Jac. Lösch and Kalberlahn were bled, as they were not feeling very well. We turned our horses into the woods. In the afternoon we cooked something good and had a pleasant little tea together. An Englishman came by and drank a cup of tea with us and was very grateful for it. The Brn. Petersen and Herm. Lösch went ten miles off to an Englishman, to help him thrash oats tomorrow. It was very warm to-day, and we and our horses enjoyed the rest. In the evening just as we were about to retire two Germans came up, who had been into the upper part of Virginia to take up land; they spent the night with us. They come from near Yorck on the Catores, and know Br. Philipp Meurer.

Oct. 22.

We set out again at five o’clock. Br. Jac. Lösch went to the plantation where the Brn. are thrashing oats. The South Mountains were about three miles to our left, and looked as high as the Blue Mountains on the road to Gnadenhütten. There are a good many plantations in this neighborhood, but most of them hilly. We stopped for noon by a creek. The Brn. returned bringing eleven bushels of oats. It was warm and sultry weather and we found no water in the eleven miles between our last night camp, and this place. It is 200 miles from here to Williamsburg, the capital of Virginia. We went a mile and a half further to a tavern keeper named Severe and inquired about our way, but could get no definite information. Three and a half miles beyond the road forked. The Brn. Gottlob and Nathanael took the left-hand road and found a woman who told them about it; they returned and we took the right-hand road, but found no water for ten miles, it grew late, and we had to drive five miles into the night to find a stopping place. We had to climb two hills where every one had to help push or we could not have made it, for our horses were quite exhausted. Two Brn. had to keep a little ahead to seek out the road; and so we came at last to Thom. Harris’ plantation, where we bought food for our horses, and set up our tent a little way from the house. The people were friendly and assisted the travelers gladly.

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About this work

From Travels in the American colonies, ed. under the auspices of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, by Newton D. Mereness.

Original source available from Library of Congress.

This edition copyright ©2008. Terms of use

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Definitions

procure v.

To obtain.

bushel n.

Unit of measurement for dry goods, equal to four pecks or eight gallons.

barren adj.

Infertile; producing little or no vegetation.

thresh v.

To separate the edible part of a grain from its hull.