USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Buffalo Valley, Pennsylvania, 1755-1855 > Part 7
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Mackey, William. . McClenachan, Jas. . Mason, William .. .
80
I
McComb, John . . .
IO
I
2
McGrady, Alex ....
20
2
2
20
I
3
IO
I
I
Nees, John.
2
I
Norcross. John.
Nobel, Robert.
Norconk, Daniel .. .
3
2
2 .
Overmeier, George
40
2
2
2
Poak, James
40
2
4
Patton, Hugh. .
.
IO
2
2
Pearson, Benjamin ..
25
I
2
6
Pontius, John.
20
4
4
I
Pontius, Henry .
15
2
2
[John Lesher lives on site of Mc- Candlish's resi- dence. ] [Now farm-house of Joseph Meix- ell's heirs. ] On William Arm- ștrong's land, [south of New Columbia. ] At Thos. Moore's. New settler.
Moore, Henry ·
.
.
.
McClure, Thomas .. Moore, Thomas ...
12
2
I
2
3 .
On Thos. Hutchin- son's.
McClung, John. . . Martin, George .... McCloud, William. McDonald, Randall
I
Lives with John Hiltman. Lives on Robt. Mc- Corley's land. On J. Thompson's. [Near New Colum- bia.]
72
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1775.
Acres.
Horses.
Cows.
Sheep.
Slaves.
Servants.
Pontius, Andrew.
15
2
I
Reed, William.
20
I
I
Reese, Abel.
40
3
I
Rearick, John. ..
15
2
3
Rinehard, George ..
I5
I
I
Reed, John.
3
Rote, George. .
30
2
5
9
I
Reasoner, John. .
3
2
2
Rorbaugh, George ..
2
I
Sutherland, Thomas
20
I
2
Storms, Christian ..
30
2
2
2
Sierer, John
60
I
2
Smith, Adanı
IO
I
I
Snyder, Michael.
15
2
2
2
Scott, John.
15
I
2
Shively, Christian .
8
I
Smith, David.
7
I
I
2
Seller, Peter
18
Sips, Joseph.
IO
I
I
. .
Swartz, Peter .
20
1
3
3
Stover, Philip.
20
2
3
Smith, Catherine .. .
IO
3
2
Sutherland, Daniel. Smith, John.
50
2
I
2
New settler.
Steen, Alexander. .
4
I
Speddy, William. ..
25
I
2
Shoemaker, Peter .
I
4
Shaw, Hamilton.
2
I
.
[In Limestone, his gr'd children still occupy the old place, near White springs. ] On Rob't. Barber's land.
[The first miller, at Barber's lit- tle mill, called Smith's mill, for many years. ] [ Afterwards cap- tured by the In- dians, on Esquire Lincoln's place. He never came back.] [Lived on late farm of D. Henning.] [ Hon. George F. Miller's place. ] [White DeerMills. ]
Shively, John.
9
.
New settler. Living at Ludwig Derr's.
Redmond, John ...
I
.
.
3
I
73
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1775.]
Acres.
Horses.
Cows.
Sheep.
Slaves.
Servants.
Sample, John.
23
I
2
Sample, Robert
I
3
Dreisbach, Martin ..
30
3
Dreisbach, Jacob ..
Dreisbach, Henry ..
Townson, C .. . .
16
I
Templeton, Ann. .
5
I
2
Thompson, John.
60
2
I
I
Thomas, James
Thornbury, Thomas
I
Tate, John .
I
Tate, Joseph .
50
6
I
1
Titzell, Henry
50
2
2
2
Grist and saw-mill.
Thom, James.
4
Thompson, Robert .. Tavler, Joseph.
IO
I
2
3
Varner, Daniel .. . .
I
I
I
Vandyke, Henry .. .
30
2
3
Wilson, Matthew.
6
I
2
Wilson, Peter
30
2
2
Wolfe, George. . .
40
3
4
Welker, Leonard.
15
I
2
Wise, Jacob.
20
2
2
Watson, Patrick ...
7
On Robert Barber's land.
Wierbaugh, John . .
8
2
3
Williams, George. .
20
2
2
Watson, Hugh ..
20
2
2
Wolfe, Andrew .
I
LudwigDerr's land.
Weyland, George. . Weeks, Joseph .
20
5
Wertz, Dietrich.
3
I
I
Wilson, William.
25
2
I
Young, Matthew. . .
8
I
3
Young, James.
50
2
2
Young, Samuel .
15
2
2
Kennedy, Samuel. .
10
2
3
Anderson, Thomas ..
I2
I
I
Rodman, William. .
60
2
3
[Dry valley. ] On Wm. Blythe's.
Kennedy, John .
I
I
.
6
Living on Jas Mc- Clenachan's.
On John Foster's land. On Ludwig Derr's. William Clark's.
I 2
2
Freeman on John Lowdon's. New settler. [Now Jackson Ri- shel's. ]
Wilson, John .
I
I
2
8
I
New settler. [Now Rev. J. Ro- denbaugh's. ]
74
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1775.
Acres.
Horses.
Cows.
Sheep.
Slaves.
Servants.
Row, Joseph . Johnston, John. . .
30
I
I
S
I
I
Wildgoose, Michael
4
I
I
Glover, John
5
2
2
Whole number of acres cultivated in the Valley, four thousand three hundred and eighty-three ; total horses, three hundred and . forty ; cows, four hundred and fourteen ; sheep, one hundred and forty-one ; taxable inhabitants, two hundred and sixty ; six grist and saw-mills, and five slaves.
In the summer of 1873, John Lesher tore down the old house, known many years as Billmyer's tavern, and afterwards as " Geb- hart's." On taking off the more modern weather-boards, a log build- ing, about forty-four feet square, was disclosed. In the logs were marks of arrows, and many bullet holes. Between the flooring he found a shingle, on which was written, "James Taler ; built, 1775," the name, no doubt, of the carpenter, as William McCandlish was the owner. William McCandlish died in the fall of 1783, and it was sold, in 1784, to Andrew Billmyer, (grandfather of Philip Bill- myer, of Lewisburg,) who sold it on the 21st of May, 1812, to Philip Gebhart. It was the place of rendezvous for the people in the lower end of the Valley during the subsequent Indian troubles, 1776-1783.
In 1815, Michael Shirtz's deposition was taken, in a suit between John Hoy and John Stees. He said he came to live in the neigh- borhood in 1775. That the land in dispute between them was then occupied by Michael Snyder, (east end of Peter Wolfe's warrantee.) He had cleared eight or nine acres and had grain in. It adjoined what was called the "Switzer tract," surveyed in the warrantee name of John James LeRoy, and between it and the Limestone ridge. Snyder occupied it until the country was drove by the In- dian, 1778 and 1779. After that, Martin Rinehart bought the land, and sold part to Andrew Pontius and part to Christopher Boohave, (Bogenreif.) That the first year the settlers returned after the war, he saw Andrew Pontius in possession of it, inclosed in fence and
75
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1775.]
grain growing upon it. The latter sold to John Stees. The deponent moved to the territory of Ohio in 1800.
In the spring of 1775, Yost Hoffman, of Lancaster county, black- smith, bought of Jacob Baker, the place next above Datisman's. His descendants still occupy it. John Forsyth, a deputy for Wil- liam Maclay, made quite a number of surveys this year. These and other surveys are noted, because they show what lands were yet unsettled. The Richard Manning for John Lee, on the river next above the Proprietaries, in Monroe township now. 25th March, the addition to John Foster's order, in the name of John Umstead, near Farmersville. 29th, Jacob Long's, a little north-east of Har- tleton. 31st March, 1775, took Daniel Long's note for surveying fee, £2 IOS. The William Kelly, on Buffalo mountain, Ist April. Jacob Haines, in Union, lately owned by Major Gibson, 6th May. Aaron Levy on Buffalo mountain. "North line open," he says. No wonder subsequent surveyors could not find it.
12th July, Nehemiah Breese, of Sunbury, surveyed the John Sneagon tract, now Chappel's Hollow, then called Haverly's gap. Whoever tabled his notes, (he died not long after,) and made the return of survey, made the N. 20° W. line from the pine one hun- dred perches, instead of sixty, to chestnut, which produced a great dispute afterwards between Abraham Eyer and John Brown.
12th August, Breese surveyed the Thomas Smith tract for Joseph Green, on which the latter built his mill, latterly known as Bellas', on Penn's creek, below White spring. He says, not finding the ad- joining surveyed line on the west of Craig's survey, to extend by the supposed adjoining lands, to include the above quantity to post, thence an open line by vacant land, to make the beginning. One Nees lived on the west of this open line. When Green's land was sold at sheriff's sale, in August, 1784, it was supposed to include Nees' improvement, and so sold by Mr. Awl, who bought at the sheriff's sale, to Badger, so that twenty acres now owned by Miller, Smith, and others, near White spring, has been occupied, bought and sold over and over again for a century, without any title from the Com- monwealth.
27th August, he surveyed a small island for Martin Trester, nearly opposite his house, and another one half mile below his house.
76
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1775.
24th, the Joseph Green, south of Captain T. Green. 8th September, Robert Martin, on north branch of Buffalo creek. 8th September, the Thomas Graham, adjoining McClenachan, in White Deer, west of George Leiser's.
Philip Seebold informed me (1872) that George Overmeier, senior, John Rearick, Christian Shively, and Michael Focht were brothers-in-law. Overmeier settled near where Mr. Seebold still lives ; Shively, at the mouth of White Spring run ; Rearick, near Wehr's tavern ; Focht, in Dry valley; and added the singular fact, that he, Seebold, owned at one time the Overmeier, Rearick, and Focht homesteads. He is a grandson of George Overmeier. Con- rad Sharp settled upon his tract, in Union township, west of Joseph Shannon .- See case reported, 4 Yeates, 266.
The Revolutionary Struggle Inaugurated.
SUNBURY, 20th April, 1775.
GENTLEMEN: The time is at hand when the spirit of Americans that love liberty and constitutional principles will be put to the trial. What has been by them in their different resolves avowed must, perhaps, at last be put in execution. The late alarming news just received from England (which we may depend upon) informs that the British Parliament are determined by force to put in execu- tion every of their supreme edicts, as they style them, together with their late oppressive acts, which we have so long, and with so little or no effect, hitherto complained of. We consider it absolutely neces- sary to have a general meeting of the whole county, in order to form some regular plan, in conjunction with our countrymen, to give every opposition to impending tyranny and oppression, either by force or otherwise. The time of meeting, we think, will be best on the first day of May next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and the place most convenient, at Vandyke's, near Beaver run, in Buffalo Valley. We do, therefore, earnestly request that you will immedi- ately, on the receipt hereof, in the most expeditious manner, notify the inhabitants of your township of this matter, and insist on their attendance without fail there on that day. The place of meeting is such where we cannot expect much accommodation. It will be,
77
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1775.]
therefore, necessary that every man should provide for himself. We are your humble servants.
Signed by order of the committee.
CAS. WEITZEL.
Directed to John Lowdon, Esquire, and Mr. Samuel Maclay, in Buffalo Valley. 1
PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 1775.
GENTLEMEN: Inclosed are resolves of Congress which we have transmitted to you, and request you will use your utmost diligence to have as many of the best marksmen procured to enlist as fast as possible. They are wanting for immediate service at Boston, and we have not the least doubt but the spirit of our people of this Prov- ince will induce them without delay to enter into so glorious a service. You will please to consult with gentlemen of knowledge and interest, as you can, (though not of your committee,) for the more speedy raising of the men, and let us know your sentiments relative to such gentlemen as may be proper for officers, and such as may be agreeable to the men. We hope the counties will advance any moneys necessary, as they shall shortly be repaid by Congress. The honor of Pennsylvania is at stake, and we have not the least doubt but that every nerve will be exerted, not only collectively but individually, to carry this matter into instant execution. You will see by the attestation to be signed by the men, they are to serve one year, unless sooner discharged. This may seem inconvenient, as the enlistments will be in one day. The intention is to discharge on the first day of July, 1776, unless their service may not be want- ing so long, according to the attestation, which may possibly happen to be the case, and they may be discharged this fall. Let the com- mittees or officers give certificates for any moneys necessary for the service which the Congress will discharge. It is expected that Cumberland will raise two companies, York one, Lancaster one, Northampton one, and Northumberland and Bedford one.
You will keep the resolves of Congress as secret as the nature of the case will admit, that the arrival of the men at Boston may be the first notice General Gage has of this matter.
The pay of the officers is on the establishment of the whole army ; but we beg leave to assure the officers that our interest will be
78
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1775.
exerted with our Assembly to the utmost to have an addition to their pay, so as to be equal to the pay of officers of the same rank in the Pennsylvania service last war.
We are, with esteem, gentlemen, your most humble servants,
THOMAS WILLING, JOHN DICKINSON,
JAMES WILSON, THOMAS MIFFLIN,
CHARLES HUMPHREYS,
GEORGE Ross.
JOHN MORTON,
IN CONGRESS, June 14, 1775.
Resolved, That six companies of expert riflemen be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia. That each company, as soon as conpleted, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry under the command of the chief officer in that army. That the pay of the officers and privates be as follows :
A captain, at 20 dollars per M.
A lieutenant, at 131/3 dollars per M.
A sergeant, at 8 dollars per M. A corporal, at 71/3 dollars per M.
A drummer, at 71/3 dollars per M. A private, at 62/3 dollars per M.
To find their own arms and clothes.
That the form of enlistment be in the following words :
I have this day voluntarily enlisted myself as a soldier in the American Continental army for one year, unless sooner discharged, and do bind myself to conform in all instances to such rules and regulations as are or shall be established for the government of the said army.
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
True copy : CAS. WEITZEL, Secretary.
On this paper is indorsed the following : "July 1, 1775, Corne- lius Daugherty enlisted, this day, Robert Tuft, Edward Masters, James Garson, George Saltsman, Robert Rickey, Thomas Gilston, Robert Liney, Robert Carothers, John Hamberton, Michael Hare," in Joseph Green's handwriting.
I have a copy of Captain Lowdon's commission, which is still in
79
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1775.]
possession of Samuel Wright, at Columbia, furnished by the kind- ness of Mr. Thomas Barber's son, who was at school there. It reads :
IN CONGRESS : The Delegates of the United Colonies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Caro- lina, and South Carolina:
To John Lowdon, Esquire :
We, reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, conduct, and fidelity, do, by these present, constitute and appoint you to be captain of a company of riflemen in the bat- talion commanded by Colonel William Thompson, in the army of the United Colonies, raised for the defense of American liberty, and for repelling any hostile invasion thereof. You are, therefore, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of captain, by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And we do strictly charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders as captain; and you are to observe and follow such orders and directions, from time to time, as you shall receive from this or a future Congress of the Uni- ted Colonies, or committee of Congress for that purpose appointed, or commander-in-chief for the time being of the army of the United Colonies, or any other superior officer, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust reposed in you. This commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Congress.
By order of Congress.
JOHN HANCOCK, President. Attest : CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
PHILADELPHIA, June 25, 1775.
Roll of Captain John Lowdon's Company, First Rifle Regiment, Commanded by Colonel William Thompson.
Captain-Lowdon, John.
First Lieutenant-Parr, James. Second Lieutenant-Wilson, James.
80
ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1775.
Third Lieutenant-Wilson, William ; promoted second lieu- tenant January 4, 1776.
Third Lieutenant-Dougherty, John ; appointed January 4, 1776. Sergeants-Hammond, David ; McCormick, Alexander ; Mc- Murray, William ; Dougherty, Cornelius.
Corporals-Henry, Thomas; Edwards, William ; Dougherty, Cornelius; White, John, died January, 8, 1776; Carson, James ; Cochran, Charles.
Drummer-Grosvenor, Richard.
Privates-Adkins, William; All, Joseph, discharged July 31, 1775 ; Bernickle, John, afterwards sergeant in the German regi- ment ; Brady, Samuel, afterwards captain lieutenant Eighth Penn- sylvania ; Briggs, William ; Butler, John, discharged January 25, 1776; Calhoun, William; Carothers, Robert; Carson, James, advanced to corporal, January 4; Casaday, John ; Cealy, Samuel ; Clements, David ; Cochran, Charles, advanced to corporal January 8, discharged July 1, 1776, living in Crawford county in 1819; Condon, Peter ; Davis, David ; Dean, John ; Eicholtz, John, residing in Lancaster in 1813; Evans, John; Finkboner, Jacob; Ford, Charles ; Garson, James ; Ginter, Philip ; Gilston, Thomas ; Hamil- ton, John ; Harris, David ; Hare, Michael ; Hempington, Thomas ; Henning, Christopher ; Humber, William; Jamison, William ; Johns, Samuel; Johnston, James ; Jones, Lewis; Kilday, Thomas ; Kline, Nicholas ; Ladley, John ; Lowdon, Samuel ; Leek, William ; Lines, Robert ; Lobden, Thomas ; Masseker, Reuben, deserted July 31, 1775 ; Madock, Moses ; Malone, John ; Maloy, Charles ; McMullen, Alexander ; McGonigal, Patrick ; McConnell, Cornelius ; McCoy, Martin ; McCleary, James; McMasters, Edward, residing in Ly- coming county in 1823; Morgan, William; Murray, William ; Murphy, Timothy ; Murphy, John ; Neely, John, he was captured at Fort Freeland, July, 28, 1779, and taken to Canada; Oakes, Daniel; Oliver, John; Parker, Michael; Peltson, Thomas, re-in- listed in the First Pennsylvania, and was killed by Joseph Black- burn in 1777; Pence, Peter ; Ray, John ; Richie, Robert ; Roach, Bartholomew; Robinson, John ; Sands, George ; Saltzman, George ; Segar, George ; Silverthorn, Henry; Shawnee, John, (was a Shaw- anese Indian, died at Milesburg-see Jones' Juniata Valley, page 352 ;) Smith, John, (son of Widow Smith, of White Deer Mills ;
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ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1775.]
he never came back from the army ;) Speddy, James, (lived and died at New Berlin;) Sutton, Arad, (lived on Lycoming creek ; the first Methodist society in northern Pennsylvania was formed at his house, in 1791 ;) Sweeney, James, discharged July 20, 1775 ; Teel, John; Tuft, Robert, discharged October 25, 1775 : Valen- tine, Philip, discharged July 20, 1775 ; Ward, Peter ; Ward, John ; West, Charles, died January 4, 1776 ; Whiteneck, Joseph ; Wright, Aaron, (residing in Reading in 1840 ; ) Youse, John; Young, Robert, (died in Walker township, Centre county, in 1824.)
Quite a large number of this company re-enlisted for three years, or during the war, in Captain James Parr's company, first regi- ment, commanded by Colonel Edward Hand, who became colonel when Colonel Thompson was made brigadier.
Of the company, Lieutenant Parr rose to the rank of major, served brilliantly in command of riflemen under Morgan, at Sara- toga and Stillwater, and under Sullivan, in 1779. Second Lieutenant . William Wilson was promoted captain, March 2, 1777, and con- tinued in the army until the close of the war in 1783. He died at Chillisquaque mills in 1813, while an associate judge of North- umberland county. David Hammond rose to the rank of lieu- tenant. He was severely wounded in Wayne's attack upon the block-house at Bergen Point, now Jersey City. He died April 22, 1801, from the effects of his wound, and is buried in the Chillis- quaque graveyard. He was the father of the late General R. H. Hammond, of Milton. Peter Pence was celebrated in border war- fare, and figures conspicuously in Van Campen's narrative. Captain McHenry informs me he died in Crawford township, Clinton county, in 1827. He left a son, John, living in that neighborhood.
Captain Lowdon's company rendezvoused at Sunbury ; marched thence to Reading and Easton ; thence through northern part of New Jersey, crossed the Hudson at New Windsor, a few miles north-west of West Point ; thence, through Hartford, to Cambridge, where it arrived about the 8th of August. McCabe, in his sketches of Captain Samuel Brady, has preserved some few incidents of this service. He says, on one occasion, Brady was sitting on a fence, with the captain, when a cannon ball from a British battery struck the fence, and leveled them both. Brady was the first up, saying "we are not hurt, Captain." I found in a contemporary newspaper an
6
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ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
[1775.
account of the island fight, to which McCabe alludes, when he says: " Lowdon's company was ordered to drive the British from an island on which they had landed to forage. Brady was considered too young to go along, and left behind; but, to the astonishment of the captain, he followed after, and was the second man on the island."
November 9, the British landed at Lechmere Point, one and a half miles from Cambridge, under cover of a fire from their bat- teries on Bunker, Breed, and Copp's hills, as also from a frigate, which lay three hundred yards off the point on which they landed. The high tide prevented our people crossing the causeway for nearly an hour. This time they employed in shooting cows and horses. The battalion of Colonel Thompson took to the water, although up to their armpits, for a quarter of a mile, and, notwithstanding the regular fire, reached the island. Although the enemy were lodged behind stone walls and under cover, on Colonel Thompson's approach they fled, and although the riflemen followed them to their boats with all speed, they could not bring them to an engagement .. Our loss was one killed and three wounded ; English loss seventeen killed and one wounded .- Philadelphia Evening Post, 1775-
In " The Letters of Mrs. Adams," wife of John Adams, page 61, under date 12th November, 1775, is also a notice of this incident : "A number of cattle were kept at Lechmere Point, where two sentinels were placed. In a high tide it is an island. About four hundred men were sent to take the cattle off. As soon as they were perceived, the cannon on Prospect hill were fired on them and sunk one of their boats. A Colonel Thompson, of the riflemen, marched instantly with his men, and though a very stormy day, they regarded not the tide nor waited for boats, but marched over neck-high in water, when the regulars ran without waiting to get off their stock, and made the best of their way to the opposite shore. The general sent his thanks in a public manner to the brave officer and his men."
Colonel Thompson's men are thus described in Thacher's Mili- tary Journal : " Several companies of riflemen have arrived here from Pennsylvania and Maryland, a distance of from five hundred to seven hundred miles. They are remarkably stout and hardy men, many of them exceeding six feet in height. They are dressed in rifle shirts and round hats. These men are remarkable for the
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ANNALS OF BUFFALO VALLEY.
1775. ]
accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance. At a review, a company of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven inch diameter, at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are now stationed on our lines, and their shot have frequently proved fatal to British officers and soldiers." Journal, pages 37 and 38.
PHILADELPHIA, August 13, 1775.
DEAR SIR :- We hope this letter will find you safe at the head of your company, acting in support and defense of American liberty ; a glorious cause, which must stimulate the breast of every honest and virtuous American, and force him, with undaunted courage and unabated vigor, to oppose those ministerial robbers. We hope the contest will be ended where it began, and that the effusion of blood may be providentially prevented, but, at the same time, we hope to see American liberty permanently established, to have the honor, ere long, to serve in her righteous cause ; and we are well convinced that these sentiments prevail throughout this Province. You can't conceive what a martial spirit prevails here, and in what order we are. Two battalions, with the light infantry companies, are very expert in all the manœuvres, and are generally well furnished with arms. Several companies of riflemen are formed in this city and the adjacent counties, who are become expert in shooting ; besides we have sixteen row galleys, with latteen sails, now building. Some of them are already rigged and manned. These galleys are rowed with from twenty-four to thirty oars, and carry each one gun, from eighteen to thirty-two pounds, besides swivel guns, fore and aft. We are told by experienced men that these galleys will prevent any ship of war from coming up this river. All the coast to Georgia is alarmed-prepared to oppose our ministerial enemies. Where, then, can these British bastards, those seryile engines of ministerial power, go to steal a few sheep. God and nature has prescribed their bounds. They can't deluge our lands, nor float their wooden batteries beyond the bounds prescribed, nor dare they to penetrate so as from afar to view those high-topped mountains which separate the lower plains from our Canaan, and from whence, should their folly or madness prompt them to attempt it, would come forth our thousands and tens of thousands, with gigantic strides, to wash the
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