(seq. 157)

March 5th.

Joseph l' Italien behaved better than most, tho' I had entertained
but an indifferent opinion of him whilst at Detroit -

I was shown about this time those articles of the treaty of alliance -
between France and America that the Congress thought proper
to have printed and dispersed, these were sent to {Colonel} Clarke by the
Governor of Virginia together with a commission authorizing
him to act as commanding officer of the Eastern Ilinois -

Colonel Clarke told me we were to go by water to the falls of
Ohio, and thence by land to Williamsburgh, that he should send
fifteen horses to the falls for our convenience - this however
was forgot - We immediately procured what shoes & Mocassins
we could for our men, and as we were to have a troublesome march
thro the woods and over mountains, we disposed of several things
to the Colonel and his officers, expecting that our wounded men
and such as he chose should remain would be well treated on this
account, but we were not long of this way of thinking for the provision
alloted us for our Journey to the falls of Ohio was ten days rations
of flour and salt pork, with 14 gallons of Rum, for our whole
party being 50 in the whole, 27 being the number of the Garrison
which {Colonel} Clarke sent off, and 23 the number of our guard,
including two officers; Captain Williams & {Lieutenant} Rogers, who both
behaved very civilly all the way & as kindly as they durst -

I was very impatient to leave this detestable place, where every
object reminded me of the baseness treachery or ingratitude of
the inhabitants -

The Oak Boat in which we had drought a Brass six
with ammunition &ca was alloted to us, we had rowed her with 14
Oars, but they concluded such stout fellows as we could row her
against the current of the Ohio with 7 -- so at length on the