In A Journey Through The West, Thomas Rodney Writes Vividly About Flea-infested Taverns, Bad Roads, Drunken Crew Members, Squatters, Indians, Sodden Berths, Food From The Wild, And Treacherous Waters. His Is One Of The Most Detailed Early-nineteenth-century Travel Accounts. Rodney, A Revolutionary War Patriot And Veteran, Had Been Active In Delaware Politics And Had Served In The Continental Congress. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson Appointed Him As A Land Commissioner And A Territorial Judge In The Newly Formed Mississippi Territory. Rodney Kept A Precise Journal And Sent Letters To President Jefferson Documenting His Trek From The Settled East Through The Barely Charted Paths Of The Western Wilderness. He Hobnobbed With Meriwether Lewis, Enjoyed The Hospitality Of Harman Blennerhassett, And Received A Tour Of Cincinnati From Arthur St. Clair. Dwight Smith And Ray Swick Have Compiled, Edited, And Annotated Rodney's Story To Present It In Complete Form For The First Time. 1. All My Friends Lamented: Setting Out For Misisipi: Dover, Delaware, To Sideling Hill, Pennsylvania, August 14-28, 1803 -- 2. Grand And Beautiful Scenes: Into The Western Wilderness: Sideling Hill To Wheeling, (west) Virginia, August 29-september 5, 1803 -- 3. A Sojourn On The Ohio: Wheeling, September 6-19, 1803 -- 4. The Launching Of The Iris: The River Journey Begins: Ohio River: Wheeling To Gallipolis, Ohio, September 20-28, 1803 -- 5. Wood Nymphs And Other Adventures: Ohio River: Gallipolis To Cincinnati, Ohio, September 29-october 6, 1803 -- 6. Earthworks, Prehistoric Bones, And Two River Towns: Ohio River: Cincinnati To Louisville, Kentucky, October 7-18-1803 -- 7. Nothing But Wilderness: Routine Chores And Everyday Necessities: Ohio River: Louisville To Henderson, Kentucky, October 19-26, 1803 -- 8. Treacherous Waters, Salt Works, And A Legendary Cave: Ohio River: Henderson To Cave In Rock, Indiana Territory, October 27-31, 1803 -- 9. The Last Of The Ohio: Ohio River: Cave In Rock To Mouth Of The Ohio, November 1-8, 1803 -- 10. Southward Bound On The Prince Of Rivers: Mississippi River: Mouth Of The Ohio To St. Francis River, Louisiana Territory, November 9-21, 1803 -- 11. A Near Disaster And Journey's End: Mississippi River: St. Francis River To Washington, Mississippi Territory, November 22-december 1, 1803. Edited By Dwight L. Smith And Ray Swick. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Rodney, Thomas, 1744-1811; Smith, Dwight La Vern, 1918-; Swick, Ray

edited by Dwight L. Smith and Ray Swick

United States, United States of America

Athens, Ohio, 1997

Athens, c1997

Includes bibliographical references (p. 256-271) and index.

In A Journey through the West , Thomas Rodney writes vividly about flea-infested taverns, bad roads, drunken crew members, squatters, Indians sodden berths, food from the wild and treacherous waters. His is one of the most detailed early-nineteenth-century travel accounts. Rodney, a Revolutionary War patriot and veteran, had been active in Delaware politics and had served in the Continental Congress. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson appointed him as a land commissioner and a territorial judge in the newly formed Mississippi Territory. To assume his duties, Rodney and a small party traveled overland from Delaware across the length of southern Pennsylvania to Wheeling, (West) Virginia. From there, they boarded their newly constructed boat on the Ohio River and rowed, sailed, and drifted along the borders of (West) Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. Finally they left the clear rapids of the Ohio and entered the muddy yet majestic Mississippi. They traveled southwesterly into a vast, exotic wilderness valley. The western shore of the Mississippi was still owned by Spain, and foreign soldiers were spotted. Under pressure to meet Rodneys deadline for arrival in Mississippi Territory, the travelers were grateful for the Mississippis fast current. Yet in the journeys last days they were faced with adventures and with near disaster when their boat struck a snag and partially sank. Rodney kept a precise journal and sent letters to President Jefferson documenting his trek from the settled East through the barely chartered paths of the western wilderness. He hobnobbed with Meriwether Lewis, enjoyed the hospitality of Harman Blennerhassett, and received a tour of Cincinnati from Arthur St. Clair. Dwight Smith and Ray Swick have compiled, edited and annotated Rodneys story to present it in complete form for the first time. A Journey through the West is both a travel adventure and a colorful glimpse into the life of his day.

xiii, 280 p. : 24 cm
Includes bibliographical references (p. 256-271) and index

2024-07-01