The Ohio River around Logstown presents another day of challenges navigating through shallow water. Lewis complains about the high price residents charge to drag the barge over the ‘riffles’ with their oxen.
A Bow or Neck Yoke
Called oxbows—a name lent long ago to a common feature of nearly every free-flowing watercourse, where a stream’s channel bends back upon itself—the two U-shaped pieces (usually hickory wands) are held snugly in place with metal keepers inserted through holes bored in the wooden bows. The tongue of a wagon or a chain from a sledge is fastened to the iron ring, which is suspended from a U-shaped iron rod called a staple. Many other designs utilizing the same principle have been used, but this is the one most often found in North American agriculture until the end of the 19th century.
Washington’s Description
[Oct. 22, 1770]
The River from Fort Pitt to the Logs Town has some ugly Rifts & Shoals, which we found somewhat difficult to pass, whether from our inexperience of the Channel, or not, I can not undertake to say
—George Washington[1]Archer B. Hubert, “Washington’s ‘Tour to the Ohio’ and Articles of The Mississippi Company.” Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications, (October 1908), … Continue reading
Logstown was originally settled by Shawnees.
Logstown Frustrations
supposed I had gotten over Logtown riffle but find ourselvs stranded again suppose it best to send out two or three men to engage some oxen or horses to assist us obtain one horse and an ox, which enabled us very readily to get over payd the man his charge which was one dollar . . . . the inhabitants who live near these riffles live much by the distresed situation of traveller are generally lazy charge extravegantly when they are called on for assistance and have no filantrophy or continence
—Meriwether Lewis
Checking Temperatures
Thermometer stood at seventy six in the cabbin the temperature of the water in the river when emersed about the same—
—Meriwether Lewis
Lieutenant Hooke’s Update
Pittsburg Sept. 2nd 1803
Sir [William Linnard]
. . . . the river is so very low that I am fearfull [Capt. Lewis] will not be able to prossecute his voyge untill it rises, nowithstanding he took the precaution to send two Waggon loads of his goods by land to Wheelin.
Ms. Hooke[2]Moses Hooke to William Linnard in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 119.
Notes
| ↑1 | Archer B. Hubert, “Washington’s ‘Tour to the Ohio’ and Articles of The Mississippi Company.” Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society Publications, (October 1908), 458. George Washington’s diary provides one of the most accurate descriptions of early Ohio River boating conditions. Lewis had the advantages of a guide book and an experienced pilot. His primary disadvantage was the large size and heavy load of the barge (called boat, barge, and bateau but never keelboat). Washington made his journey in a canoe and was heading upriver when he wrote this day’s entry. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Moses Hooke to William Linnard in Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with Related Documents: 1783-1854, 2nd ed., ed. Donald Jackson (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1978), 119. |
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Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).