USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 52
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Captain Brady was not insensible to the danger, or ig- norant of the difficulty of the enterprize. But he saw the anxiety of the father of his country to procure in- formation that could only be obtained by this perilous mode; and knew its importance. Ilis own danger was of inferior consideration. The appointment was ac- cepted, and selecting a few soldiers, and four Chicka- saw Indians as guides, he crossed the Allegheny river and was at once in the enemy's country.
It was in May, 1780, that he commenced his march. The season was uncommonly wet. Every considerable stream was swollen, neither road, bridge, or house fa- cilitated their march, or shielded their repose. Part of their provision was picked up by the way as they crept, rather than marched through the wilderness by night, and lay concealed in its brambles by day. The slight- est trace; of his 'movement, the print of a white man's foot on the sand of a river, might have occasioned the extermination of the party. Brady was versed in all the wiles of Indian "strategie," and, dressed in the full war dress of an Indian warrior, and well acquainted with their languages, he led his band in safety near to the Sandusky towns, without seeing a hostile Indian.
The night before he reached Sandusky he saw a fire; approached it and found two squaws reposing beside it. He passed on without molesting them. But his Chick- asaws now deserted. This was alarming, for it was pro- bable they had gone over to the enemy. However, he determined to proceed. With a full knowledge of the horrible death that awaited him if taken prisoner, he passed on, until he stood beside the town on the bank of the river.
His first care was to provide a secure place of con- cealment for his men. When this was effected, having selected one man as the companion of his future adven- tures, he waded the river to an island partially covered with driftwood, opposite the town, where he concealed himself and comrade for the night.
Leonidas was brave, and in obedience to the institu- VOL. IX.
tions of his country, he courted death and found it in the pass of Thermopyla. But he was surrounded by his three hundred Spartans, and cheered by the Spar- tan Battle hymn, mingled in concert with the sweet tones of the flute.
Napoleon was brave, but his bravest acts were per- formed in the presence of embattled thousands: and when at the bridge of Lodi, he snatched the tri-colour from its terrified bearer, and uttering the war cry of his enthusiastic soldiers, "Vive la Republique," he breasted the fire of thirty pieces of Austrian cannon, and planted it in the midst of his enemies; he was seen and followed by the gallant remains of the consular guard, and laud- ed with the cries and tears of his whole army.
In constancy of purpose, in cool deliberate courage, the Captain of the Rangers will compare with the ex- amples quoted, or any other. Neither banner nor pen- non waved over him. He was hundreds of miles in the heart of an enemy's country. An enemy who, had they possessed it, would have given his weight in gold for the pleasure of burning him to death with a slow fire; adding to his torments both mental and physical, every ingredient that savage ingenuity could supply.
Who has poetry of feeling, or feeling of poetry, but must pause over such a scene, and in imagination con- template its features?
The murmuring river; the Indian village wrapped in sleep; the sylvan landscape; as each wasgazed upon by that lonely but.dauntless warrior! in the still midnight hour.
The next morning a dense fog spread over the hill and dale, town and river. All was hid from Brady's eyes, save the logs and brush around him. About 11 o'clock it cleared off', and afforded him a view of about three thousand Indians engaged in the amusement of the race ground.
They had just returned from Virginia or Kentucky, with some very fine horses. One grey horse in particu- lar attracted his notice. llc won every race until near evening, when, as if envious of his speed, two riders were placed on him, and thus he was beaten. The starting post was only a few rods above where Brady lay, and he had a pretty fair chance of enjoying the amusement, without the risk of losing any thing by betting on the race.
He made such observation through the day as was in his power, waded out from the island at night, col- lected his men, went to the Indian camp he had seen as he came out; the squaws were still there, took them pri- soners, and continued his march homeward.
The map furnished by Gen. Broadhead, was found to be defective. The distance was represented to be much less than it really was. The provisions and ammunition of the men were exhausted by the time they had reach- ed the Big Beaver, on their return. Brady shot an ot- ter, but could not eat it. The last load was in his rifle. They arrived at an old encampment, and found plenty of strawberries which they stopped to appease their hunger with. Having discovered a deer track, Brady followed it, telling the men he would perhaps get a shot at it. He had went but a few rods when he saw the deer standing broadside to him. He raised his rifle and- attempted to fire, but it flashed in the pan; and he had not a priming of powder. He sat down, picked the touch hole, and then started on. After going a short distance the path made a bend, and he saw before him a large Indian on horsehack, with a white child before and its mother behind him on the horse, and a number of warriors marching in the rear. His first impulse was to shoot the Indian on horseback, but as he raised the rifle he observed the child's head to roll with the mo- tion of the horse. It was fast asleep, and tied to the Indian. He stepped behind the root of a tree and wait- ed until he could shoot the Indian, without danger to the child or its mother.
My paper is full, I must resume the narrative in a fu- ture number.
24
186
LIFE OF CAPT. SAMUEL BRADY-METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.
[MARCHE
No. III.
When he considered the chance certain he shot the- Indian who fell from the horse, and the child and its mother fell with him. Brady called to his men with a voice that made the forest ring, to surround the Indians and give them a general fire. He sprung to the fallen Indian's powder horn, but could not pull it off. Being dressed like an Indian, the woman thought he was one, and said, "why did you shoot your brother?" He caught up the child, saying, "Jenny Stupes, 1 am Capt. Brady, follow me and I will save you and your child." He caught her hand in his, carrying the child under the other arm, and dashed into the brush. Many. guns were fired at him hy this time, but no ball harmed bim, and the Indians dreading an ambuscade, were glad to make off. The next day he arrived at fort M'Intosh with the woman and her child. Ifis men had got there before him. They had heard his war whoop and knew it was Indians they had encountered, but having no ammuni- tion, they had taken to their heels and ran off. The squaws he had taken at Sandusky, availing themselves of the panic, had also made their escape.
In those days Indian fashions prevailed in some mea- sure with the whites, at least with Rangers. Brady was desirous of seeing the Indian he had shot, and the offi- cer in command of fort M'Intosh gave him some men in addition to his own, and he returned to search for the body. The place where he had fallen was discovered, but nothing more. No pains were spared to search, but the body was not found. They were.about to quit the place, when the yell of a pet Indian that came with them from the fort, called them to a little glade, where the grave was discovered. The Indians had interred their dead brother there, carefully replacing the sod in the neatest manner. They had also cut brushes and stuck them into the ground; but the brushes had withered, and instead of concealing the grave, they led to the discovery.
He was buried about two feet deep, with all his im- plements of war about lum.
"He lay like a warrior taking his rest, With his powder horn and pouch about him."
All his savage jewellery, his arms and ammunition were taken from hum, and the scalp from the head, and then they left him thus stripped alone in his grave. It is painful to think of such things being done hy Ameri- can soldiers, but we cannot now know all the excusing circumstances that may have existed at the time. Per- haps the husband of this woman, the father of this child, was thus hutchered before his wife and children; and the younger members of the family, unable to hear the fatigues of travelling, had their brains dashed out on the threshhold. Such things were common, and a spirit of revenge was deeply seated in the breasts of the people of the frontiers. Capt. Brady's own family had heavily felt the merciless tomahawk. His brave and honoured father, and a beloved brother had been treacherously slain by the Indians, and he had vowed vengeance.
After refreshing himself and men, they went up to Pittsburg by water, where they were received with mi- litary honour. Minute guns were fired from the time Brady came in sight until he landed.
The Chickasaw Indians had returned to Pittsburg, and reported that the captain and his party had been cut off near Sandusky town by the Indians. When General Broadhead heard this, he said Brady was an aspiring young man and had solicited the command. But on Brady's arrival at Pittshurg, the general acknowledged that the captain had accepted the command with much diffidence.
Thus far I have followed the information of one who, I apprehend, had the best means of acquiring it. I now introduce an incident related to me of this same expedi- tion, by a relative of Capt. Brady, who had it from the captain's own mouth. The respectability of the person who mentioned it to me, assures me of its correctness.
A few days after Brady left Sandusky with his squaw prisoners, keeping a sharp look out in expectation of being pursued, and taking every precaution to avoid pursuit, such as keeping on the driest ridges, walking on logs whenever they suited his course, hc found he was followed by Indians. His practised eye would oc- casionally discover in the distance, an Indian hopping to or from a tree, or other screen, and advancing on his trail. After being satisfied of the fact, he stated it to his men, and told them no Indian could thus pursue him, after the precautions he had taken, without having a dog on his track. "I will stop," said Brady, "and shoot the dog, and then we can get along better."
He selected the root of a tall chestnut tree which had fallen westward, for his place of ambush. He walked from the west end of the tree or log to the east, and sat down in the pit made by the raising of the root. He had not been long there when a small slut mounted the log at the west end, and with her nose to the trunk ap- proached him. Close behind her followed a plumed warrior. Brady had his choice. He preferred shooting the slut, which he did, she rolled off the log stone dead, and the warrior, with a loud whoop, sprung into the woods and disappeared. He was followed no further. KISKEMINETAS.
METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER .-
Extract from the Meteorological Register, taken at the State Capitol-Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, BY JAMES WRIGHT, Librarian. .
FEBRUARY, 1832.
Days of Week.
Days of the Month.
Morning temperat
Noon temperature.
Night temperature
Mean temp. of day
Highest in Morn.
Highest at Noon,
Highest in Even.
Mean height of Ba-
rometer each day
WINDS.
Thermometer.
Barometer.
Wednesd]
1|24|36|37 |32;[29.63 79|70|29.67 ||N E
Thursd'y
2 35 45 48 42
69 73 75
72 N
Friday
3 42 55 55 50
73 76 76
75 NW
Saturday
4 47 46 40 44
74 74 70
72 N
Sunday
5 35 34 30 33
68 69 67
68 NW
Monday
6 23131 33 29
66 70176
70 SE
Tuesday
7 36 44 42 40
70 72 73
71 N
Wednesd
8.32 35 33 33
69 70 70
69 E
Thursd'y
9)30 36 34 33
68 69,68
68 E
Friday
10 35 37 35 35
70 70 71
70 NW
Saturday
11 30 38 37 35
68 68 70!
68 SE
Sunday
12.43 43 45 43
70 70,70
70 S W
Monday
13 30 34 36 33
68 68 69
68 NW
Tuesday
14|33 38 35 35
69 69 69
'69 E
Wednesd 15 37
43 45 41
70 72 73
72 E
Thursd'y 16
131
34 31 32
69 69.69
69 N
Friday
17 123 32 34 29
64 67 69
66 !S W
Saturday
18,39 46,45|43
69 70 70
69 |S W
Sunday
19 43 52 58 51
69.70 71
70 SE
Monday
20142 38 34 38
67 65 65
65 NW
Wednesd 22
23 35 38 32
40
56 59 60;
58 NW
Saturday
25 24 28 31 27
60 63 63
62 SE
Sunday
26 35 44 41|40
65 68 69
67 w
Monday
27 31 40 45 35
52 56 681
58 IS E
Tuesday
28 38 48. 43 41
67 67 68
67 SE
Wednesd 29 40 44 45 43
66 68 70
65 NW
-
Friday
241 7 16 20 14
58 59.60
59 N W
Tuesday
21 19 26 26 23
60 65 67
64 S W
Thursd'y 23 36 43 43
65 68 681
67 SW
1832.]
Thermometer.
Maximum on 3d, Minimum on 24th,
50° 14°
Barometer. Maximum on 3d, 29.75 in Minimum on 24th, 58
-
Difference,
36°
Difference,
17 in
-
Mean,
38º
Mean,
67 in
ATMOSPHERE.
Days of the month.
1 2 10 13 21 22 24 26 27 29 10 part. clear part cloudy
3 5 7 14 16 17 18 23
& Cloudy
4 8 9 11 19 20 25 28 6
1 Snow
12 15
2| Foggy
Days of the month.
Winds.
4 7 16
13 N
1
1 NE
8 9 14 15
14 E
6 11 19 25 27 28 12 17 18 22 23
15 SW
26
I W
2 3 5 10 13 20 21 24 29
19 NW
On the 19th in the evening the Thermometer at 58º highest.
On the 24th in the morning, Thermometer at 7º the Range 51º in the month.
On the 3d at noon, Barometer at 29.76 inches-thic highest.
On the 27th in the morning, Barometer at 29. 52 inch- es-the lowest.
Range 24 hundredths of an inch.
The wind has been 11 days east of the meridian-15 days west of it, and 3 days north.
This Report with the accompanying documents, was transferred by Gov. Vroom, to the Executive of this Commonwealth, on the 27th January last :-
REPORT Of the Commissioners on the Wing-dam near New Hope.
EXECUTIVE OFFITO, 2 Trenton, Feb 29, 1832. 5
To the General Assembly
Of the State of New Jersey:
Immediately after receiving a copy of the joint reso- lutions of the second December last, relative to the al- leged obstructions in the river Delaware, I appointed John Kinney, jr. of the county of Warren, and Nathan- icl Saxton, of the county of IIunterdon, agents, to as- certain the truth and causes of the matter complained of. These gentlemen executed the trust committed to them, with great promptitude and ability; and on the tenth of January, made to me a very ample and satisfactory re- port, clearly showing that the navigation of the Dela- ware was obstructed by .the recent erection of a wing- dam in the river, near the village of New Hope, and that the said dam was erected under the authority of the Board of Canal Commissioners of Pennsylvania.
On receiving this report, I addressed a communica- tion to the Governor of that state, calling his attention to the subject, and requesting that prompt measures might be taken to remove the obstruction; to this, no an- awer has been received.
A copy of the report, together with the documents accompanying the same; and also a copy of my commu- nication to the Executive of Pennsylvania, are herewith transmitted. I'. D. VROOM.
To his Excellency, Peter. D. Vroom, Esquire, Governor of the State of New Jersey.
The undersigned, agents, appointed by your Excel-
lency, in conformity with a resolution of the Council and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, pass- ed on the second day of December last, " to ascertain whether any wing or other dam has recently been built and erected, at or near Wells's Falls, in the river Dela- ware, on the Pennsylvania shore thereof, near to the town of New Hope, and if so, whether it does now, or from its location and dimensions may probably hereaf- ter, materially interfere with and obstruct the free navi- gation of said river, and by whom, and by what author- ity, and for what purpose said dam has been erected," do respectfully report: " That as early as practicable, after the receipt of your Excellency's communication, they visited the point designated in the resolution, and ascertained, that a permanent wing-dam has lately been erected at Wells's Falls, in the river. Delaware, adja- cent to the Pennsylvania shore, below and near to the town of New Hope. The part completed, commences at the distance of about one hundred and ten to one hundred and fifteen feet out in the river, in a direction inclining a little up the stream, from the outer gate of the Union Mills, (which stand on the Pennsylvania shore between the canal and river,) about the middle of the descent, or from six hundred to eight hundred feet below the head of Wells's Falls. The end of the dam, next the shore, is secured by an erection, intended to protect the wheels and other works to be erected be- tween that and the shore, from the ice, of about twenty. six feet front, and rising about four feet above the le- vel of the dam, which, at this point, rises about four and a half feet above the present surface of the water below it.
From this point, the first reach of the dam, including the ice-fender, extends into the river in an oblique di- rection up the stream, at an angle of about 41º 30' with the pier, or walled embankment of the canal, on the Pennsylvania shore, above the mills, about two hundred and eighteen feet; at the termination of this extent, the level of the dam rises about three feet seven inches above the water below it. The second reach inclining still more up the stream, forming an angle of about 5° 15' with the embankment on shore, extends one hundred and fifty-six feet to a point in the river, about three hundred feet from the Pennsylvania shore, where, at present, the dam terminates, rising at that point, about two feet three inches above the surface of the water below it. The cap or summit of the dam is le- vel, and there may be some inaccuracy as to its actual height above the water below it, arising from the Falls, as well as the river above, being almost entirely closed with icc at the time of the observation. The dam is con- structed of timber and stone, substantially put down, secured, and planked, well calculated to endure and re- sist the action of the water and ice; of its position in the river and situation, in relation to the bank and improve- ments on shore, the annexed topographical sketch will afford a view.
Having understood, while making this examination, that the dam was constructed by Col. Torbert, under the direction of Lewis S .. Coryell, Esq. of New Hope; the undersigned called on the latter, to procure infor- mation as to the occasion and purposes of its erection. Ile obligingly gave the information desired, and exhibit- ed a number of documents relating thereto, furnishing full and authentic information on the subject, of which, that the matter might be correctly understood, he per- mitted copies to be taken; they appear in the appendix to this report.
Mr. Coryell stated, that by some inadvertence or want of information, as to the height of the water in the river at its lowest stages, the first level of this section of the'l'ennsylvania canal, from the combined locks below New Hope, (between that and Union Mills, ) for about 8} miles down towards Hristol, had been located with reference to the height of water in the river at the time, which was about three feet above low water mark. That when the river fell to its lowest stage, it was found
187
REPORT ON THE WING-DAM IN THE DELAWARE- RIVER.
,
8|Rain and sleet
16 SE
188
REPORT ON THE WING-DAM IN THE DELAWARE RIVER.
[MARCH
that the canal, which was intended to be supplied with water from the river, at this point, to the depth of four feet, could only be fed with water to the depth of eighteen inches. In consequence of which, and of its being ascertained that the waters of the Lehigh could not be brought to supply the canal further down than to this place, it became necessary to incur the expense of sinking the first level of the canal below this point, three feet, or resortto other means of supplying the ca- nal with water, from this place down to Bristol. That among the powers delegated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the board of canal commissioners, and duties with which they were charged, was that of supply- ing the canal with water; that under these circumstan- ces, the board of canal commissioners, after considering the difficulties and expenses attending other modes of supplying the canal, and a part of that body viewing the scite of the present dam, on the 6th of May last, adopted a resolution, 'directing the supervisor on this part of the canal, under the direction of the principal Assistant Engineer, to construct a wing-dam at Wells's Falls, in the Delaware river, in such manner as not to obstruct the navigation of the river, and erect a water wheel with such other fixtures as might be necessary to supply the canal with water, from the combined locks near New Hope to Bristol. That in obedience to, and under the authority of this resolution, he, as the princi- pal Assistant Engineer, on this part of the canal, had caused the present dam to be erected; that in making this order, the board of canal commissioners merely in- tended to use a portion of the waters of the Delaware, to supply the canal, which it is was supposed they were authorized to do, and expressly disavowed any intention to infringe the compact between the two States, or ob- struct the natural navigation of the river, but that, in executing the work, he had found it impracticable to comply with the strict letter of their resolution, by con- structing the dam in such manner as not to interfere with the navigation of the river; that he was of opinion the dam would be productive of some inconvenience to the ascending navigation, which he thought would be diminished when the wing was continued up the river, as far as was contemplated, about 150 feet farther than it now extends, and might be entirely obviated by con- structing a lock in the canal to communicate with the river below the falls; that he was not authorized to put a lock in the dam, and therefore, had made no provision for that purpose.
For a more detailed view of the particulars above alluded to, the undersigned refer to the document an- nexed.
Upon the important question, whether the wing-dam above mentioned, now does or hereafter may materially interfere with and obstruct the free navigation of the Delaware, the undersigned felt reluctant to decide, upon their own imperfect knowledge of the river, aid- ed by the examination made, without availing them- selves of all the information that could be obtained from a class of individuals, who, from their practical know- ledge of the river and experience of the difficulties at- tending its navigation, are best able to form correct opinions on the subject; they, therefore, proceeded up the river, from place to place, and consulted a number of intelligent and experienced boatmen residing at differ- ent points, on both sides of the river, as far as Easton, among whom, they found a general conformity of opin- ion on all material points presented for their considera- tion, and on which their opinions were requested, such as usually results from a knowledge founded on practi- cal experience.
They all concurred in declaring it to be their opinion, that at certain heights of water: that is, whenever the water in the river is above a boat fresh, or such height as enables them to carry down a full boat load, the pre- sent dam is a complete obstruction to boats ascending through the falls; that to approach it at such times is dangerous, and to pass it, impracticable. That this dif- ficulty cannot be avoided when the Pennsylvania canal
is navigable, but by entering at Bristol and coming up the canal to the outlet at the head of Wells's. That al- though this may often be a convenient and sometimes a desirable channel for boats returning up the river, yet it is attended with inconvenience and delay to boats de- scending to any point between Wells's Falls and Bristol, which is the case with those engaged in stone hacking, and carrying coal, lime, &c., to intermediate points, af- ter discharging their cargoes they have to proceed on down the river to Bristol, to get into the canal; and to all it occasions some additional expense which might frequently be avoided. That the difficulty created by the dam cannot be avoided in this way, or even by a lock communicating between the canal and the river below the falls, in those seasons of the year when the canal is closed and the natural navigation of the river open. That this is the case generally for some weeks in the spring and fall, and it often continues through the grcater part of the winter. That the early navigation in the spring is important to those engaged in boating, and more so to their employers, particularly those deal- ing in flour or other produce, which generally commands the best price as soon as the ice breaks up and the river is navigable, before other communications open and foreign flour and produce gets into the market. That on such occasions, the boats up the river generally have full employment and others from below are often pro- cured to come up and assist them. They farther state that the present dam, as far as it now extends, has pro- duced a visible effect on the descending navigation of the river, through these falls. That it has occasioned a draft or current of water, setting across the channel to- wards the Jersey shore, which at certain heights of wa- ter is so strong as to occasion some difficulty in descend- ing the falls, not experienced before, and although this is not very considerable at present, they are apprehen- sive, it may be increased by an extension of the wing of the present dam farther up the river,
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