A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana/Preface
PREFACE.
The writer of the following sheets, duing a residence in the western country for many years, has had occasion to visit several parts, to travel over a large portion of the State of Ohio, in different directions, and to descend the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, as far as New Orleans. In these excursions, opportunities continually occurred for observing, and collecting information respecting, those objects which are interesting to adventurers into a new country, and which may be gratifying to the curiosity of others. Minutes were made of the face of the country, soil, waters, natural productions, and of whatever appeared worthy of particular notice; either from his own observation, or from the information of others which he had reason to believe was authentic.
These notes were made with no other view than for his own satisfaction, and for communications to his friends. Solicitations, however, from a number of his friends, who conceived that an extract from them would be acceptable to the public, especially those interested, or who wish to become interested, in a country so rapidly increasing in population, have induced him to consent to this publication.
Information of those parts of the country which lie west of the Mississippi was collected principally from very respectable officers of the army. Several of these officers were so obliging as to favour the writer with liberty of making extracts from journals which they had kept, while marching in different parts of the country, or commanding at particular posts.
On passing with the troops from Kentucky to New Orleans, Mr. Le Raye applied to the writer for a passage with him in the boat under his immediate command. This gentleman, who is a native of Canada, had been engaged, for several years, in trading with the Indians, on the river Saskashawan, northwest of the Lake of the Woods; but, in the year 1801, he determined to turn the course of his business to the river Missouri. Unfortunately, on his first adventures he was taken captive by a band of Sioux Indians, with whom he remained more than two years and an half, before he obtained his liberty. During his captivity, he kept a journal of the most material occurrences which took place, so far as circumstances would admit. Before parting with him, he very politely presented an extract from it, with permission to make such use of it as might be thought proper. Presuming this journal will be found particularly interesting, it is annexed to this publication.
A general account of the State of Ohio,it is believed, will be acceptable to those who have lands or friends in this State, or who may contemplate emigrating there themselves. The remarks are principally confined to those, which would naturally occur to a cursory traveller, passing, in different directions, through the several countries. It is not improbable that this part of the narrative will appear the least interesting to some, but to others, it is conceived, it may be a species of information that will be desirable. In the arrangement of this publication, it was thought most eligible to begin with the State of Ohio, and proceed to the southern and western parts of the country.