[With the single Moravian brothers going from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, 1753]
Nov. 2. We rose early because the smoke annoyed us during the night. At daybreak we crossed the Roanoke. One horse was still very sick and it was difficult to get it across the ford. After a short distance we had to climb a high mountain. We almost stuck fast in a ditch and were in danger of breaking the tongue of our wagon. To climb the mountain we had to unload half of our wagon and then we only barely made it. The descent was equally steep. We put a brake on the wheels and drug a tree to slow the descent. Another mountain faced us and it looked like rain. We met a man who told us that we should not try to cross the mountain today. He told us we could spend the night with someone on the mountain. The foot of the mountain was too steep for the wagon. We unloaded and carried the baggage on horseback. It rained and the road became slippery. At the top we could not find the house or any water. We were therefore compelled to descend the mountain though it was dark and raining hard. [Probably the mountain was the Blue Ridge at Magotty Gap.]
Nov. 3. We went back across the mountain to get the rest of the baggage and the wagon. Some of the brothers stayed with the tent. Once more we loaded our horses with baggage and took it to the top of the mountain. We made a fire to warm ourselves here. Most of us went back for the wagon and we had to push very hard to get the wagon up the mountain. Then we loaded the wagon and used our usual method of going down steep hills. At the camp, we were all tired and sleepy so we let the angels watch for us.
Nov. 4. We found an almost impassable way and were compelled to remove many trees. Our wagon stuck fast in a mud hole and it took us two hours to get it out. The pulley [block and tackle?] was of much use to us. We passed by Benjamin Reh, an old man of about ninety and his wife who is about a hundred. They are both active and cheerful and they gave us milk to drink and were very friendly. The Warrick road branches to the west here. We watched our horses carefully as we heard there were horse thieves in the neighborhood.
Nov. 5. We rose early and we had a good road. We came to Robert Kohl's, a justice of the peace, and we bought some corn from him. He regretted not knowing that we were coming as he would have met us and showed us a better way which was not entirely complete yet. But with our hands we could have done the job. Some of the brothers stayed with him and helped to husk several bushels of corn which we had bought. Our course was west and southwest and took us over many creeks and mud holes.
Nov. 6. We continued on our way. Bro. Herman stayed to thresh oats with Robert Johnsen from whom we had bought some. Our wagon was in danger of becoming stuck. Many times we had to lift the wheels out of holes. Also the road was very narrow and it was hard to get our long wagon through. About thirty times we crossed creeks which run through the swampy area around here. Brother Herman with the oats caught up to us. Mr. Johnsen had told him that it had been nine years since he had heard a sermon. Even though we had worked hard today, we had traveled only ten miles.
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.