This note fills in details that I omitted in the last note. I am using "The Great Wagon Road", by Parke Rouse, Jr. The source of the Moravian story is "Moravian Diaries of Travels Through Virginia", edited by The Reverend William J. Hinke and Charles E. Kemper in the journal, "Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," XII:375 (1903-1904).
As Leonard Schnell and Robert Hussey (an English convert) walked to the south, sometimes covering up to forty miles per day, they encountered difficulties. Food was often scarce because they depended largely on residents along the road. Sometimes they encountered very few homes. Furthermore, food was not always available because the householders themselves had no bread.
At some of the larger rivers, ferries were necessary. At the Shenandoah, the ferryman was reluctant to take them across until he saw their money. At one point, Schnell used his hatchet to clear the vines from the pathway which was often overgrown. Once he felled a tree to serve as a footbridge across Goose Creek. At night they heard the howls of wolves and other wild animals.
In short, travel was primitive and often very unpleasant. Still, we have underestimated the degree of intercourse between the north and the south, most of which was provided by travelers going back and forth.
*****
I close with an invitation to visit the Hans Herr House tonight, starting at 5:30. The "candlelight" tour held last night will be continued tonight. Visitors on arrival will be introduced to the background of the Anabaptists in general and to the Herr party in particular. (Doing this tonight will be my job.) Guests will leave the visitor's center in an ox-drawn wagon for the short ride to the Hans Herr House. "Christian Herr" will greet his visitors and tell them something about a farmer's life in the eighteenth century. In the kitchen, food will be in preparation to tantalize one's nostrils. In the stube (living room), the Christmas story will be read in German and hymns will be sung in German. Then back outdoors, a large bonfire will warm up at least one side of you. You can sip cider and eat pretzels and perhaps sing some more. Be sure and dress warmly for the outside of yourself while the spirit of the season warms you inside.
Tonight's candlelight tour marks the end of the season for visiting. The House opens again on April 1.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.